IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. •ss ^ ^ fe ^)\ 4Lo » / y. ^ 1.0 I.I f IIIIM m llf I4£ M IM 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 .« 6" — ► V] <^ /] ^l '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ iV ^^ A \ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmrjd at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 S • PLATE BOB-WHITE ./ pi' I lit r^r^^F^^^i ;^^. * ;| 01 ASSIj WI ^SSS' -w; ^rJ.A HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA WITH KEYS TO THE SPECIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR PLUMAGES, NESTS, AND EGGS THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATIONS AND A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS WITH INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS ON THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY, HOW TO IDENTIFY BIRDS AND HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BIRDS THEIR NESTS, AND EGGS >/ BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN ASSISTANT CURATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY ; MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS* UNION, ETC. WITH FULL-PAGE PLATES AV COLORS AND BLACK AND WHITE AND UPWARD OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CUTS IN THE TEXT SECOND EDITION NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 189s ACADIA college: library, WQLFYILLE, M.S. ^1^P""«W^P .^. COPYRIOHT, 1895, By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. /S35- I c TO MY MOTHER WHO HAS EVER ENCOURAGED HER SON IN HIS NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELV DEDICATED • » C i'fo PREFACK. If this book h.ad been written in the last century it might have been entitled "Ornithology made Simple, or How to Identify Birds with Ease, Certainty, and Dispatch." It may be unworthy so com- prehensive a title, nevertheless I have made an honest endeavor to write a book on birds so free from technicalities that it would be in- telligible without reference to a glossary, and I have tried to do this in a volume which could be taken afield in the pocket. I have not addressed an imaginary audience, nor have I given my prospective readers what, theoretically, I thought they ought to have, but what personal experience with students of birds has led me to believe would meet their wants. * The preparation of this work has firmly convinced me that the poet would have been nearer the truth had he written " One touch of nature makes the whole world kind." In the succeeding pages I have attempted to express my appreciation of the assistance which natural- ist friends and associates have generously given me, but here I desire to especially thank Miss Florence A. Merriam, Dr. J. A. Allen, and Mr. Ernest E. Thompson for much valuable criticism and advice. Frank M. Chapman. American Museum of Natural Hihtort, New York City, January, ISVS. CONTENTS. I' PAaB Introduction 1 Chapter I. — The Study of Ornith : Gannets .... II. Family Anhingidje: Darters 12. Family Phalacrocoracidje : Cormorants . 13. Family Pelecanidse : Pelicans . 14. Family Fregatidae : Man-o'-War Birds V. Order Anseres : Lamellirostral Swimmers 15. Family Anatida^: Ducks, Geese, and Swans VI. Order Odontogloss^ : Lamellirostral Grallatores 16. Family Phoenicopterida) : Flamingoes VII. Order Herodiones : Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. 17. Family Plataleidn' : Spoonbills. 18. Family Ibidida^ : Ibises .... 19. Family Ciconiid* : Storks and Wood Ibises 20. Family Ardeidre : Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns VIII. Order PALUDicoLiB : Cranes. Rails, etc. 21. Family Gruidw : Cranes .... 22. Family Aramidai: Courliins 23. Family Rallida;: Rails, Oallinules, and Coots IX. Order Limicol^:' Shore Birds 24. Family PhalaropodidiP : Phalaropes . 25. Family Recurvirostrid.-p: Stilts and Avocots 20. Family Scolopaeida* : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. PAOB 41 41 56 56 58 00 05 65 67 85 86 86 86 01 91 92 93 94 95 97 97 97 125 125 125 125 126 127 128 137 137 138 139 147 147 149 150 CONTENTS. IX 18 r [7 F r lo PAOK 27. Family Charadiiida?: Plovers 171 28. Family Aplirizida^: Turnstones, etc 176 29. Family llaimatopodidie : Oyster-catchers. . . 177 X. Order GALLiXiE: Gallinaceous Birds .... 179 30. Family Tetraonidte: Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. . . 178 yi. Family Phasianida? : Pheasants, etc 185 XI. Order CoLUMBi*:: Pigeons and Doves . . .187 32. Family Columbidtt!: Pigeons and Doves . . . 187 XII. Order Raptores: Birds of Prey . . . . . 191 33. Family Cathartida^: American Vultures . . . 191 34. Family Falconida?: Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. . 193 35. Family StrigidiP : Barn Owls 213 36. Family Bubonida^: Horned Owls, Hoot Owls , . 213 XIII. Order Psittaci : Parrots, Macaws. Paroquets, etc. . 222 37. Family Psittacida^ : Parrots and Paroquets . . 222 XIV. Order Coccyges: CucKm)s, Kingfishers, etc. . . 221 38. Family Cuculidjp: Cuckoos 224 39. Family Alcedinida> : Kingfishers .... 226 XV. Order Pici : Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc. . . . 227 40. Family Piuidu' : Woodpeckers 227 XVI. Order Macrocuires : Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds, Swifts, etc 41. Family Capriraulgida) : Nighthawks, Whip wills, etc . 42. Family Micropodida>: Swifts . 43. Family Trochilida' : Hummingbirds. XVII. Order Passeres; Perching Birds . 44. Family Tyrannida* : Flycatchers 45. Family Alaudida^ : Larks . 46. Family Corvida) : Crows and Jays . 47. Family Sturnidai : Starlings 48. Family Icterida;: Blackbirds, Orioles, etc, 49. Family Fringillida?: Finches. Sparrows, etc. 50. Family Tanagrida^: Tanagers . 51. Family llirundini(he: Swallows 52. Family Ampelida*: Waxwings . 53. Family Laniidie: Shrikes . 54. Family Viroonidff: Vireos . 65. Family Mniotiltidtc: Wood Warblers poor- 226 236 239 240 24-3 242 252 253 259 260 271 316 318 323 325 327 888 CONTENTS. 56. Family Motacillida) : Wagtails and Pipits 57. Family TroglodytidsB : Thrashers, Widens, etc. 58. Family Certhiidae : Creepers 59. Family Paridoe : Nuthatches and Titmice. 60. Family SylviidjB : Kinglets and Gnatcatchers 61. Family Turdidas : Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc. Appendix : A B'ield Key to our Commoner Eastern Land Birds List of Principal Works referred to Index PAQE . 375 . 376 . 385 . 386 . 391 394 . 404 . 411 . 415 LiST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FULL-PAGE PLATES. TO FACE PAGE BoB-wniTE Frontispiece. Color Chart 39 Pied-billed Grebe and Young 57 Heads of Ducks 97 Little liLUE Herons 135 Clapper Rail 140 Woodcock and Youno 153 Spotted Sandpiper and Young 169 Ruffed Grouse and Young 181 Sparrow Hawk and Young 211 Hairy Woodpecker; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker . . . 229 Whip-poor-will 2JJ7 Least Flycat( her ; Ph(ebr 245 Bobolink 202 Meadowlark 205 White-throated Sparrow; White-crowned Sparrow . . 3()0 Song Sparrow ; Swamp Sparrow 300 Yellow-throated Vireo; Warbling Vireo .... 330 Louisiana Water-Thrush 308 Wood Thrush ; Wilson's Thrush 395 FIGUREH IN THE TEXT. noURK PAOK 1. A completed birdskin 28 2. Topography of a bird 33 3. (a) Spotted, {h) streaked, (c) barred, {d) margined featliers . 34 4. Rule showing inches and tenths 37 6. Feet of (a) Pied-billed Grebe, (h) Loon, (r) Puffin ... 41 6. {a) Bill of Parasitic Jaeger ; (6) bill and foot of Laughing Gull 41 7. Bill of Common Tern 42 8. Bill of Skimmer 43 xi Xll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FIOUTIE PAOB 9. (a) Bill and foot of Black-footod Albatross; (h) bill and foot of Fulmar 42 10. Foot of Cormorant 4;{ 11. Bill of Yellow-billed Tropic Bird 4a 13. Bill of Gannet 43 13. Bill of Anhinga 4,3 14. Bill of Cormorant . 4^ 15. Bill of Man-o'-War Bird . . 43 IG. Bill of Merganser 44 17. (a) Bill and foot of Mallard; (6) foot of Canvasback . . 44 18. Bill of Flamingo 45 19. Bill and loe-nail of Little Green Heron 45 20. Bill of White Ibis 45 21. Bill of Roseate Spoonbill 45 22. (a) Bill and foot of Clapper Rail : bills of (h) Yellow Rail, (c) Sora, {d) Florida Gallinule ; (e) bill and foot of Coot . 40 23. Bill of Sandhill Crane 40 Bill of Limpkin 40 Bills of (a) Dowitohor. (h) Knot, (c) Black-bellied Plover, (d) Semiftalmated Plover 47 Feet of (a) Red Phalarope, (h) Knot, (c) Dowitcher. (d) Black- bellied Plover, (e) Semipalmated Plover . . . .47 Bill of Ruffed Grouse 48 Bill of Wild Pigeon 48 Feet of (rt) Barred Owl, (b) Iled-shouldered Hawk . . .48 Head of Barn Owl 48 Head of Barred Owl 48 Head of Turkey Vulture 49 Head of Red-shouldered Hawk 49 Bill and foot of Carolina Paroquet 49 Bill and foot of Belted Kingfisher 49 Bill and foot of Yellow-billed Cuckoo 49 (a) Bill and foot of Hairy Woodpecker, (b) fviot of Arctic Three-toed Woodpeek^^r 50 Bill and foot of Nighthawk 50 Bill and tail-feather of Chimney Swift 50 Bill of Hummingbird 50 Fot)t of Robin 51 Bill and wing of Pha>be 51 Bill and hind-toe of Horned Lark 51 (a) Bill and wing of Blue Jay, (ft) bill of Crow ... 51 Bill and wing of Starling 62 24. 25. 20. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 84. 35. 30. 38. 39. 40, 41. 42. 43, 44, 45, LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. XIll FIOURB PAOK 46. (o) Bill and wing of Baltimore Oriole; bills of (b) Moadow- lark, (c) Purple Grackle 53 47. Bills of (tt) Cardinal, ^) Pine Grosbeak, c) Purple Finch, (rf) Red Crossbill, (c) Seaside Finch, (/) G.>ldfinch . . 53 48. Bill of Scarlet Tanager 53 49. Bill and foot of Cliff Swallow 53 50. Head of Cedar VVaxwing 53 51. Bill of Loggerhead Shrike 53 53. Bill of Blue-headed Vireo 53 53. (a) Bill of Tennessee Warbler; (b) bill, wing, and hind-toe of Pine Warbler; bills of (c) Redstart, (rf) Water-Thrush; (c)Chat 53 54. Bill and hind-toe of American Pipit 54 55. (a) Bill of Brown Thrasher, (ft) bill and wing of Catbird ; bills of (c) Carolina Wren, (rf) House Wren - . . .54 56. Bill and tail of Brown Creeper 54 57. (a) Bill of White-breasted Nuthatch, (6) bill and wing of Chickadee 55 58. (o) Bill and wing of Goldan-crowned Kinglet, (6) bill of Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 55 59. (a) Bill of Robin, (b) bill and wing of Bluebird . . .55 60. First primaries of (a) American Herring Gull, (b) Ring-billed Gull, (c) Laughing Gull, {d) Franklin's Gull, (e) Bona- parte's Gull 69 61. First primaries of (a) Caspian Tern, (h) Royal Tern, (c) Com- mon Tern, (d) Arctic Tern, (e) Royal Tern . . . .78 63. Head of Least Sandpiper 160 63 Head of Red-backed Sandpiper 161 64. Wing of Solitary Sandpiper 166 65. Head of Semipalmated Plover 174 66. Head of Wilson's Plover 176 67. Tail of Sharp-shinned Hawk 198 68. Tail of Cooper's Hawk 199 69. Primaries of Red-shoulderod Hawk 203 70. Primaries of Broad- wingod Hawk 204 71. Foot of Golden Eagle 306 73. Foot of Bald Eagle 207 73. Tail-feathers of Yellow-billod Cuc-koo 335 74. Tail-feathers of Black-billed Cuckoo 336 75. Head of Crested Flycatcher 245 76. Head of Prairie Horned Lark 253 77. Head of Cowbird 303 ■•i XIV LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. riOURR 78. Head of Orchard Oriole . 79. Head of Purple Finch 80. Head of Redpoll Ilind-toe of Lapland Longspur Tail-feathers of Vesper Sparrow Tail of Grasshopper Sparrow . Head of Seaside Sparrow . Head of Lark Sparrow 86. Head of Chipping Sparrow 87. Head of Fox Sparrow 88. Head of Dickcissel . 89. Barn, Cliff, Tree, and Bank Swallows 90. Section of primary of Rough-winged Swallow 91. Head of Red-eyed Vireo . 92. Wing of Warbling Vireo . 93. Head of Black and White Warbler Head of Worm-eating Warbler Head of Blue-winged Warbler . Head of Golden-winged Warbler Head of Parula Warbler . Head of Myrtle Warbler . 99. Head of Magnolia Warbler 100. Head of Chestniit-sided Warbler 101. Black-throated Blue Warbler . 102. IIe:id of Black-poll Warbkr . 103. Head of Prairie Warbler . Hemi of Oven-bird . Head of Kentucky Warbler Head of Maryland Yellow-throat Head of Wilson's Warbler Head of Hooded Warbler . Head of Canadian Warbler Head of Yellow-breasted Chat . Head of Short-billed Marsh Wren Head of Long-billed Marsh Wren Head of Red-breasted Nuthatch Head of Tufted Titmouse. Head of Golden-crowned Kinglet 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. PAOB . mi . 281 . 285 . 299 . 290 . 293 . 297 . 299 . 302 . 309 . 315 . 318 . 323 . 328 . 329 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 351 . 354 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 366 . 372 . 383 . 384 . 388 . 389 . 392 A HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOOY. Birds, because of their beauty, the charm of their songs, and the ease with which they may be observed, are doubtless the forms of animal life which first attract the young naturalist's attention. His interest in them gives evidence of an inborn love of Nature. Too often this priceless gift is lost simply through lack of encouragement and instruction. Properly developed it should prove a never-failing source of pleasure and inspiration, if indeed its influence does not become the most potent factor in our lives. Let us hope that the day is not distant when the importance of in- troducing natural-history studies into our schools will be generally recognized. The young student of Nature will then be helped over the repelling technicalities which render so difficult the first steps to a knowledge of his chosen subject. Without a guide he now either loses his way completely or travels under disadvantages which handi- cap him for the whole journey. The uninstructed beginner in ornithology usually expends his en- ergies in forming a collection, and he knows no better way of pursuing his study of birds than to kill and stuff them 1 Collecting specimens is a step in the scientific study of birds, but ornithology would have small claim to our consideration if its possibilities ended here. Prop- erly considered, it includes what may be termed the science of orni- thology and the sentiment of ornithology. As a science it treats of birds as the exponents of natural laws and seeks to determine their place in the scale of life. In the sentiment of ornithology Nature ap- peals to us through the most interesting and beautiful of her animate forms. 9 1 2 SYSTEMATIC ORNITHOLOGY. The Science of Ornithology. — The science of ornithology iray be divided into three branches- -systemutic, philosophic, and economic. The systoinatist aims to classify birds according to what are appar- ently their true relationships. He is the ornithological storekeeper, and having taken an account of stock it is his duty to keep the books of the firm in order. The philosophic ornithologist accepts as a fact the statement of affairs given him by his fellow-worker the systemat- ist, and tries to explain the wherefore and why. He is a seeker of causes. The economist is of a more practical turn of mind. He is impressed by the incalculable influence which birds exert over our agricultural interests, and the necessity for learning with exactness whether this influence is for good or evil. But let us describe these three dep ^♦^^ments of scientific ornithology more fully. Systenmtic Ornitholoyy. — The first step in the scientific study of any group of animals is to name and classify them. Orders, families, genera, si)ecies, and subspecies are to be described and arranged in what appears to be the most natural manner. Thus all the Perching Birds, for example, are placed in the order Pasneres, and this order is divided into numerous families— for instance, the Thrushes or family Turdidce. But how are we to know which are Perching Birds and which of the Perching Birds are Thrushes f The systematist answers, by studying a bird's structure. Generally speaking, orders and fami- lies are based on skeletal, muscular, and visceral charactci"s which may be termed internal characters. Genera are based on the form of bill, feet, wings, and tail, or on external characters, while species and sub- species are based mainly on color and size. Thus all the members of a family or order agree more or less in their principal internal charac- ters : those of a genus agree in extt rnal characters, and the individ- uals of a species or subspecies resemble one another in color and size. The object of classification is to aid us in understanding not alone the relationships of one bird to another bird, or of one family or order of birds to another family or order, or even of living to extinct birds, but also to assist us in explaining the relationships of all the classes of the animal and vegetable kingdoms — mammals, birds, rep- tiles, fishes — and thus down the scale to the lowest forms of life. This systematic study of the relationships of birds has taught us that they have been evolved from reptilian ancestors. There is much evidence in support of this fact, but the most conclusive is furnished by the discovery in the lithographic slate of Solenhofen, Bavaria, of several specimens of a remarkable fossil, part lizard, part bird, which has been named ArchcBopteryx lithographica. It is the earliest known direct progenitor of the great class Aves. PUILOSOPniC ORNITHOLOGY. 8 alone ily or xtinct _ill the rep- rht us much tished itt, of hich rliest The importance of systematic classification in also shown in the ne- cessity of naming objects before we can study them to advantage. As the al|)habet is the foundation of a written language, so this great series of scientific names, which appears so formidable to the student, is the groundwork for all ornithologicul research. Philosophic Ornithology. — Having learned the alphabet of orni- thology, we may pass froui the systematic to the philosophic study of birds ; from the study of dead birds to that of living ones. A study of specimens shows their relationships through structure, but a study of the living bird in its haunts may tell us the cause of structure. In classifying birds we have taken note of their form and coloration; our object now is to determine how these characters were accpiired. As Prof. E. S. Morse has said, " There is no group of animals which exceeds birds in varied jind suggest ie material for the evolu- tionist." Compare a Hummingbird with an Ostrich, a Swallow with a Penguin, and the enormous variation in the structure and habits of birds is brought very forcibly to our miiuls. When we remember that these widely divergent types descended from a reptilian ancestor, we are impressed anew with the trutii of Prof. Morse's remark. A brief review of the more important branches of philosophic ornithology will show how rich a field is open to the student of birds. They are : (1) The origin of birds and their place in Nature ; * (2) their distribution in time and sjiace, and the influences which determine their present range? ; f (3) the migration of birds, its origin, object, ex- tent, and manner; % (4) the nesting of birds, including a study of the significance of sexual dilTerences in form, color, and voice, the location and construction of tlie nest, the number and color of the eggs, together with the habits of birds during the entire nesting season ; (5) the effect ♦ See Newton's Dictionary of Hints (London : Adam and Charles Black, 1893) ; articles, " Anatomy of Birds " and '• Fossil Birds." t Read The Cleogrraphieal Distribution of North American Mammals, by J. A. Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iv. 18!)2, pp. 199-244 ; four maps. The Geo- graphical Orip^in and Distribution of North American Birds, considered in Rela- tion to Faunal Areas of North America, by J. A. Allen, The Auk, x, 1893, pp. 97-150 ; two maps. The Geographic Distribution of Life in North America with Special Reference to the Mammalia, by C. Hart Merriam, M. D., Proc. of the Biological Soc. of Washington, vii, 1892. pp. 1-04 ; one map. X On this subject reod articles by the following authors : J. A. Allen, Scrib- ner's Magazine, xxii, 1881, pp. 932-938; Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, v, 1880. pp. l.M- 154 ; Scott, ibid., vi, 1881, pp. 97-100 ; Brewster. Memoirs Nuttall Orn. Club (Cam- bridge, Moss.), No. 1, pp. 22 ; Cooke and Merriam, Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley (Washington. 1888) ; Chapman, Auk, v, 1888, pp. 37-39 ; xi, 1894, pp. 12-17 ; Loomis, Auk, ix, 1892. pp. 28-39 ; xi, 1894, pp. 26-39, 94-117 ; Stone, Birds of E. Penn. and N. J., Bird Migration, pp. 15-28. 4 GEOGRAPHICAL RACEli'. of climate upon the color and size of birds;* (6) the relation of a bird's color to its haunts and habits.f Besides these general subjects which enter into our study of the lifo-history of every bird, we have the special instances of intelligent adaptation to changed conditions of life, and, most interesting of all, the relation between structure and habits, or the part played by a bird's habits in determining the form of its bill, feet, wings, and tail. Thus the Crook-billed Plover of New Zealand turns over or probes under stones and shells in search of food, not because its crooked bill nuikes an excellent lever or probe, but it has acquired a crooked bill through this habit. Again, the Gallinules of certain islands in southern seas are flightless, not because their wings are too small to support them, but because aftei having flown to these islands they had no further use for wings, which in time, through dis- use, became so small that the birds have lost the power of flight. In other words, it is not because their wings are small that they do not fly, but because they do not fly their wings are small. But to enlarge upon these problems which confront the philo- sophic ornithologist would require a volume. It is imponant, how- ever, that the student should have in the beginning at least a general idea of the effect of climate on the size and color of birds and the migration of birds. The first is well illustrated by our Bob-white or Quail. In New England, at the northern limit of its range, it is a fine, large bird with a light-brown back and a white breast narrowly barred with black. As we proceed southward it becomes smaller, the brown is of a deeper shade, the black bars of greater extent. Finally, when we have reached the humid region of southern Florida, the minimum in size is attained, the back is dark, rich chestnut barred with black, and the breast is almost wholly black. No one who compared this small, dark Florida Quail with the large, pale Quail of New England would consider them the same species. But on examining a series of Quails from all the Atlantic States one sees how gradually this change in color and decrease in size occurs, and that nowhere would it be possible to draw a line separating the two extremes. They are species in process of formation still connected by a chain of natural links. Ornithology presents many similar cases. They illustrate two laws in the evolution of animals — decrease in size southward and greater U * Read Part III of Dr. J. A. Allen's Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. ii, No. 3. Cambridge, 1871. t Consult Poulton's Colors of Animals (D. Appleton & Co., 1890) ; Bed- dard's Animal Coloration (Macmillan & Co.) ; Keeler's Evolution of the Colors of North American Land-birds (Occasional Papers of California Academy of Sciences, iii, 1893) ; also reviews of last two works in The Auk, x, 1883, pp. 189- 199, 3r3-380. V. MIGRATION OP BIRDS. of East intensity of color in regions of greatest rainfall. They are thus evi- dt'Uftvs of an evolution so recent that we can assign its cause. In noinoiK'lature those partly formed species are termed subspecies or races. Under the trinomial system they are distinguished by a third name : thus Colinun viryinianuM Jioridanns is a suhspevies or race of Culinua viiyinianus. IJut if through any change in the earth's sur- face the regions occupied by the largo, light Quail and the small, dai'k one should be separated, the intermediates would disappear and in- stead of a race of subspecies we would have a full species — Culinns JturiJanua. The Migration of Birds. — Certain insects, fishes, and mammals migrate, but no animals compare with birds in the extent of their migrations. Some birds nest within the Arctic Circle and winter in the southern parts of the southern hemisphere, performing this jour- ney of thousands of miles yea." after year and returning to their sum- mer or winter haunts with marvelous certainty and regularity. Not only is the migration of birds an interesting subject in itself, but the almost constant changes it causes in the bird-life of the same region gives an interest to the study of ornithology which is ever re- newed with the changing seasons. Indeed, to the lover of Nature birds are a living calendar. "What was that sound that came on the softened airf It was the warble of the Bluebird from the scraggy orchard yonder. When this is heard, then has spring arrived." A discussion of the origin of bird migration will be found in the books and papers on this subject to which reference has been given. Here it is possible only to outline its principal features as they exist to-day. Generally speaking, birds migrate at the approach of winter, in search of food. The reason why they leave a land of plenty in the tropics and follow the footsteps of retreating winter to nest in the comparatively barren north is a^' yet not satisfactorily explained. As a rule, the extent of a bird s migration depends upon the nature of its food. Insect-eating birds are forced to extend their migrations much farther than the sced-oators, many of which are permanent residents at their place of birth. The land-VMrds of the Western States winter in Mexico. A few cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into Central America, but practically no species cross the Isthmus of Panama. Our Eastern birds have a longer and more perilous journey to perform. They leave the mainland by way of Florida, and some species find congenial winter haunts in the West Indies or Central America, while others go as far south as the Argentine Ii«public. Birds of strong flight, like Swallows, can easily escape from bird- killing Hawks, and so migrate boldly by day. But the shy, retiring inhabitants of woods and thickets await the coming of darkness, and 6 ECONOMIC OHNITllOLOGY. r 1 i! then, monnting high in the air, pursue their journey under cover of the night. Hirds direct their flight by coast lines und river valleys which are easily distinguishable in clear weather. On favorable niglils these natural highways of migration are thronged by a conlinitous stream of ai'rial voyagers passing from dusk until dawn. Looking through a telescope at the moon, one may see numbers of birds cross its glowing surface. From such observations it is com- puted that migrating birds fly at a heiglit of from one t(^ three miles. The eyesight of birds is so far superior to ours that we do not realize its value to them while migrating. The height at which they fly gives them comnumd of u wide range of country, and on clear nights they can undoubtedly distinguish its prominent features with ease. But when fogs or clouds obscure these landnuirks, they lose their way. It is then that lighthouses prove beacons luring them to destruction. The Hartholdi Statue, at the mouth of the Hudson Kiver, is directly in the path of the great streams of migrants which flow up and down this natural highway of migration, and for this reason is particularly destructive to birds which travel at night. On one occasion after a storm no less than fourteen hundred birds were picked up at its base, having been killed by striking the statue or pedestal upon which it rests. But while sight is of the first importance to the older and more experienced birds who know the way, young birds, who are making the journey for the first time, doubtless rely on their hearing to guide them. Birds' ears are exceedingly acute. They readily detect s unds which to us would be inaudible. Almost invariably they respond to an imitation of their notes, and, when under way, frequently chirp and call. When we consider their power of hearing and their abundance in routes of migration, it seems probable that at no time during the night is a bird beyond the hearing of his fellow-travelers. The line of flight once established, therefore, by the older birds, who leave first, it becomes a comparatively easy matter for the younger birds to join the throng. Economic Ornifholo(]y. — This branch of the study of ornithology treats of the relationships of bird to man from the standpoint of dollars and cents. Civilized man is Nature's worst enemy. lie is a disturbing element whose presence is a constant menace to the balance of life. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that wo should acquaint ourselves with the conditions which make a true equilibrium and endeavor to sustain them when it proves to our advantage to do so. The disastrous results which have followed man's introduction of the English or House Sparrow in America, the mongoose in the West ECOXOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. iild II in to Indies, and the rabbit in Australia, dearly show that our attempts to improve upon Niituro must Im; directed, not by haphazard methods, but by knowledge piined through a careful study of Nature's laws. Few persons realize the value of birds to nmn. They are tiie natural check upon the increase of insect life. (. onsider the incal- i!ulable number of insects destroyed by the biids which pass the greater part of each day hunting through our lawns, orchards, fields, and woods for tiie pests that destroy vegetation. Of almost e(iual im- portance are the birds of prey whose food consists largely of the snuill rodents which are iimong the farnu-r's worst enemies. Indeed, it is T'.ot too much to say thai without birds the earth would not long be habitable. As yet we are on the threshold of a., exact knowledge of the value of birds to nuin ; but let us cite one easily demonstraljle case where ignorance of birds' habits resulted in direct pecuniary loss. (Quoting from the report for 1S,S(J of Dr. ('. Mart Merriam, Ornithologist and Mammalogist of the Tnited States Department of Agriculture: "On the 23d of .June, 1HH~), the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act known as the 'scalp act,' ostensibly * for the benefit of agriculture,' which provides a bounty of fifty cents each on hawks, owls, weasels, and minks killed within the linn'ts of the State, and a fee of twenty cents to the notary or justice taking the atTidavit. "liy virtue of this act about !p9(>,0()l) has been paid in bounties during the year and a half that has elapsed since the law went into effect. This represents the destruction of at least 128.571 of the above-mentioned animals, most of whicii were hawks and owls. "Granting that 5,000 chickens are killed annually in Peiuisylvanid, by hawks and owls, and that they arc worth twenty-five cents each (a liberal estimate in view of the fact that n large proportion of them are killed when very young), the total loss would be 1.250, and the poultry killed in a year and a half would be worth ^1,875. Hence ii appears that during the past eighteen months the State of Pennsylvania has expended |J)0,000 to save its farmers a loss of 1 1,875. But this esti- mate by no means represents the actual loss to the farmer and the tax- payer of the .State. I, is within bounds to say that in the cotirse of a year every hawk and owl destroys at least a thousand mice or their equivalent in insects, and that each mouse or its e(piivalent so de- stroyed would cause the farmer a loss of two cents per annum. There- fore, omitting all reference to the enormous increase in the numl)crs of these noxious animals when Nature's means of holding them in •heck has been removed, the lowest possible estimate of the value to the farmer of each hawk, owl, and weasel would be |20 a year, or |30 in a year and a half. 8 SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. i.^ I **' Ilencc, in addition to the |90,000 actually expended by the State in destroying 128,571 of its benefactors, it has incurred a loss to its agricultural interests of at least $3,857,130, or a total loss of $3,947,130' in a year and a half, which is at the rate of 2,631,420 per annum. In other words, the State has thrown away $2,105 for every dollar saved ! And even this does not represent fairly the full loss, for the slaughter of such a vast number of predaceous birds and mammals is almost certain to be followed by a correspondingly enormous increase in the numbers of mice and insects formerly held in check by them, and it will take many years to restore the balance thus blindly destroyed through ignorance of the economic relations of our common birds and mammals." To their credit be it said, the legislators of Pennsylvania were not slow to recognize the error which a lack of proper information had caused them to make. A State ornithologist was appointed, and through his efforts this ruinous and absurd law was repealed. In 1893 the Division of Economic Ornithology and IMammalogy of the Department of Agriculture issued a report upon the food of the Hawks and Owls of the United States based upon the examination of the contents of 2,090 stomachs. It proves conclusively the value * of most of these misjudged birds to the agriculturist. It is need- less to draw a comparison between legislation based upon information derived from such reports and that based solely on ignorant preju- dices. The Sentiment of Onn'fhnlnf/j/.—'We may aecei.c as true Prof. Morse's estimate of the value of birds to the scientist ; we need not qtiestion their importance in the economics of Nature, but we are still far from recognizing the possibilities of their influence upon our lives. An inherent love of birds is an undeniable psychological fact which fip Is its most frequent expression in the general fondness for cage- birds. If we can learn to regard the birds of the woods and fields with all the affection wo lavish on our poor captives in their gilded homes, what an inexhaustible store of enjoyment is ours ! D is not alone the beauty, power of song, or intelligence of birds which attract us, it is their human attributes. Man exhibits hardly a trait which he will not find reflected in the life of a bird. Love, hate; courage, fear; anger, pleasure; vanity, modesty; virtue, ce; constancy, fickleness ; generosity, selfishi\ess ; wit, curiosity, memory, reason — we may find them all exhibited in the lives of birds. Birds have thus become symbolic of certain human characteristics, and the more common species are so interwoven in our art and literature that by name at least they are known to all of us. Shakespeare makes over six hundred references to birds or bird-life. If we should rob il SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. 9 lirrls rdly iove, ce; lory, Sirtls the Ithat ikes rob Wordsworth's verses of their birds, how sadly mutilated what re- inuiricd voukl be ! But why leave a knowledge of birds to poets and naturalists? Go yourself to the field and learn that birds do not exist solely in books, but are concrete, sentient beings, whose acquaintance may bring you more unalloyed happiness than the wealth of the Indies. John Bur- roughs understands ti.is whe; '.e writes of the study of birds : " There is a fascination about it quite overpowering. It fits so well with other things — with fishin;, hunting, fanning, walking, camping out — with all that takes one to the fields and woods. One may go a blackberry- ing and make some rare discovery; or while driving his cow to pas- ture, hear a new song, or make a new observation. Secrets lurk on all sides. There is news in every bush. What no man ever saw before may the next moment be revealed to you. What a new interest the woods have! How you long to explore every nook and corner of them ! " Human friends may pas« beyond our ken. but our list of acquaint- ances in the bird world increases to the end and shows no vacancies. The marsh the Blackbirds loved may become the site of a factory, but no event on the calendar is more certain than that in due time and place we shall hear the tinkling chorus of the epauleted minstrels rising and falling on the crisp morning air. " . . . . Time may come wlien never more Tlie wilderness sliall iicar tlie lion roar ; But, lonbc October 20-30. Mciulowlurk November 1-30. Cowbird Novt'iuber 1-30. Fox Sparrow April 1-15. W iLson's Snipe May 1-10. Kingtisher November 1-30. Mourning Dove November 1-30. Swamp Sparrow November 1-30. Field Sparrow November 1-30. (.Jreiit Blue Heron November 1-30. I'urple Finch November 1-30. Vesper Sparrow Novemljcr 1-30. Savanna Sparrow May 1-i 5. Chipping Sparrow November 1-30. Tree Swallow May 15-31. Myrtle Warl)ler May 10-20. American Pipit April 15-25. Hermit Thrush April 25-May 10. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker April 20-30. Barn Swallow October 1-10. Yellow Paha Warbler April 25-Muy 10. Pine Warbler May 1-10. Louisiana Water Thrush September 20-30. Ruby-crowned Kinglet May 1-15. Green Heron October 10-20. Spotted Sandpiper September 20-30. Whip-poor-will October 10-20. Chimney Swift October 1-10. Lea.st Flycatcher October 1-10. Towliee October 20-30. Blue-headed Vireo May 10-20. Purple Martin September 20-30. Cliff Swallow October 1-10. Bank Swallow October 1-10. Rough-winged Swallow September 1-10. Black and White Warbler October 1-10. Black-throated Green Warbler May 15-25. Oven-bird October 1-10. House Wren October 10-20. Brown Thrasher October 10-20. 16 THE SPRING iMIGRATION. Date of arrival. Date of departure. Ai)ril '.iO-30. Catbird October 10-20. Wood Thrush October 1-10. May 1-10. Solitary Sandpiper May 15-25. Yellow-billed Cuckoo < )ctober 1-10, Black-billed Cuckoo October 1-10. Nit,'litha\vk October 10-20. Rui)y-thr.'asiiville Warbler Sept. 25-()et. ft. I'arulu Warbler October lft-25. Cape May Warbler Sept. 25-Oct. ft. lilaek-throated Green Warbbr October lft-2ft. Black-throated Blue Warbler October lft-2."). Magnolia Warbler October 10-20. lilackburnian Warbler September 20-30. Wilson's Warbler September 20-30. Canadian Nuthatch November 1-30. Red-headed Woodpecker November 1-.30. Blackpoll Warbler October ir>-25. Connecticut Warbler Sei)tember 20-30. Blue-lieaded Vireo October 15-25. Philadelphia Vireo September 20-30. Olive-backed Thrush October 1-10. Bicknell's Thrush October 1-10. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker October 20-30. Junco April 10-May 10. "Wliite-throated Sparrow May 1-25. Myrtle W^irbler May 5-20. Yellow Palm Warbler October 15-,30. Brown Creeper April 1-30. Golden-crowned Kinglet April 1-20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet October 20-30. W'inter Wren April 1-30. Gray-cheeked Thrush October 15-25. Bronzed Grackle December 1-30. Kusty Blackbird December 1-30. American Pipit Oct. 25-Nov. 5. !i ft s 18 THE FALL MIGIIATIOX. Date of departure. JSeptcinber l-lo. September 20-30, Date of arrival. Date of departure. Oct. 1-10. Hermit Thrusli Kovember 1-80. Oetober 10-20. Fo.\ Sparrow Nov. 2r)-I)ec. 5. October 20-ai. Pine Fiiu-h Muy 1-31. Tree Spiirrow April 1-30. Northern Sliriiie Murch 1-31. HlMUEIl KE.SIDhNTS I,K.\VIN(i KOIt TlIK SOITH. Aeudiiin Flyeatelier Oreiiard < )ri()ie Kou;;li-win;;etl Swallow Worm-eatini,' Warbler Blue winju'ed Warbler September 10-20. Baltimore Oriole Purple Martin Yellow Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat ' Hummingbird Kingbird Great-crested Flycatcher Wood Pewee Kose-breasted (Jrosbeak Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Hooded Warbler Louisiana Water Thrush Wilson's Tiirush Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Cliiiimey Swift Least Flycatcher Bobolink Yellow-winged Sparrow Indigo Bunting Scarlet Tanager. Barn Swallow Clitt" Swallow Bank Swallow White-eyed Vireo Black and Wliite Warljler Redstart Oven-bird Wood Thrush Whip-poor-will Nighthawk ^ Red-eyed Vireo Maryland Yellow-throat October 1-10. October 10-20. THE NESTING SEASON. 19 parture. • 1-30. >ec. 5. ). Date of departure. (Jet. lO'-M. October 20-31. November 1-30.* LoiiiT-billeil Mui-sh Wren. Short-billed Miirxli Wren. IIou.se Wren Brown Thriusher Catbird Pluebe Towhee Tree Swullow Woodcock MouriiiiitT Dove Kinj^tislier Ked-winixed Blackbird ... Purple Gruekle Cowbird Vesper Sparrow Field Sparrow Cliippiiij^ Sparrow , Swamp Sparrow DATES AT WHICH BIRD.S BEOIN TO NEST IN THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY. Fob. 28. Great Horned Owl. Mar. 12. Barred Owl. .Vpril 1. Woodcock. 3. Screech Owl. 5. Red-shouldered Hawk. 6. Ketl-tuiled Hawk. 9. American Crow. 9. Lonjj-eared Owl. 10. Bluebird. 17. White-bellied Nuthatch 18. Broad-w-inired Hawk. 19. Duck Hawk. 20. Kobin, 2.'). Purple drackle. 2!). Mournin<^ Dove. M.iy 1. Cooper's Hawk. 2. Fish Hawk. 2. Soujr Sparrow. 3. Cardinal. 5. Cowbird. [In Son;;; Spar- row's nest. ] May 5. Black-crowned Niglit Heron. 6. Green Heron, fi. Wood Duck. 7. Kiuijffisher. 8. I5arn Swallow. 8. PiKebe. 10. Clapper Rail. 10. Killdeer. 10. Rufl'ed (Jrou.so. 10. Sparrow Hawk. 10. Savanna Sparrow. 10. Vesper Sparrow. 11. Flicker. 11. Louisiana W^ater Thrush. 13. Red-headed Woodpecker. 14. Chipping Sparrow. 14. Towhee. lo. King Rail. 1."). Virginia Rail. 1"). Meadowlark. 15. Field Sparrow. * The time of the departure of these birds varies greatly during diflferent years. Should the season be an exceptionally mild one, many of them will re- main until late in December. 20 TlIK NESTING SEASON. i May 15. Swamp Sparrow. May 20. Indigo Buntlnjr. 18. Ucd-winj^ed Hluekhird. 29. Cliestnut-siiled Warbler. lit. Tree SwuUow. 30. Least Flycatcher. 19. Hunk Swalluw. 80. Acadian Flycatcher. 11). Thrasher. 30. Orchiird Oriiile. 20. Yellow Wurblcr. 30. Kose- breasted Cirosbeak. 20. Oven-bird. 30. li(>ugh-win;fcd Swallow. 20. Wood Thrush. 30. Wurblinj,' Vireo. 20. Veery. 30. Cliir Swallow. 20. Cluekiidec. 30. Blue-winu'cd Warbler. 21. Downy Woodpecker. 31. Seaside Finch. 21. Sharp-8hiiined llnwk. 31. Sharp-tailed Finch. 22. I'arula Warbler. 31. Hooded Warbler. 23. Hairy Woodpecker. 31. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 23. Chut. 31. Lemst Bittern. 23. House Wren. June 1. Burtramian Sandpiper. 24. l*uri>le Finch. 1. ripinarts. and an abundance of the hei^l cotton batting money will buy. Now we are ready to begin with a bird, say, the size of a Robin : 1. Plug the bird's throat and nostrils tightly with fresh cotton. If the eyeball is ruptured, pull it out with the forceps nnd fill the cavity MAKING BIRDSKINS. 25 once with meal. 2. Lay the bird before you on its back, its bill pointing to the left ; place your open left hand lengthwise on it, so that the base of your first and second fingers rests on the middle of the breast- bone; use these fingers and the handle of the scalpel to separate the leathers from near the end of the breastbone to the vent, and when the parting is made use the same fingers to hold the feathers aside. 3. With the scalpel make an incision in the skin from just in front of the end of the l)rcastbone, or at the base of the V formed by the spread fingers, to the vent, being careful not to cut through into the abdomen. 4. Sprinkle a pinch of meal along the cut. 5. Lift the skin at the front end of the cut and insert the end of tlie scalpel handle between it and the brea^itbone. If you try to do this lower down on the cut, over the belly, you will find it difficult to separate the skin on which the feathers grow from the immediately underlying skin which covers the abdomen. Separate the skin from the body the whole length of the cut and as far down toward the backbone as possible, thus exposing the bare knee. 6. Take hold of the foot and push the knee fartiior up into view, then take the blunt-ended scissors and, on the inside of the skin, clip the leg entirely in two. 7. Repeat opera- tions 5 and G on the other side of the body. 8. Press away the skin as much as possible on either side of the rump, and place the thumb at the left side (loft, seen from above) of the base of the tail or " pope's nose," with the first finger on the other side (both inside the skin) and the second finger behind (above) on the rump; now with the blunt scissors cut through the flesh between the thumb and first finger toward the second finger, which serves the purpose of a guard to pre- vent you from cutting through the skin. 9. Stand the bird on its breastbone, the belly toward you. and with both thumbs press the tail and skin of the rump over and down off the stump from which you have just cut it. 10. When the stump is free from the skin, take hold of it with the right hand and with the fingers of the left gently press the skin from the body, keeping it constantly turned inside out and using an abundance of meal. IL Soon the win^-bones (humerus) will appear. Clip them oflf at either side close to the body, and re- sume skinning as before. 12. The skin will slip easily over the neck, and you will then meet with an obstruction in the head. 13. Work the skin carefully over the head, using the tips of the first two fingers of either hand, placing the thumbs as a brace farther forward over the eyes.* 14. Pull the ears carefully from their sockets. 15. The eyes * In large-headed birds, like Ducks and Woodpeckers, this Is impossible, and it is necessary to slit the skin down the back of the neck and push the skull through the opening. 26 MAKING A BIRDSKIX. li will now appear; carefully cut the membrane joining the skin and eyeball, making the incision as far back as possible, in order to avoid cutting the skin, which should be pulled forward until it is entirely free of the eyeball. 16. Remove the eyes with the forceps. 17. With the sharp-pointed scissors make an incision directly across the roof of the mouth, inside the branches of the lower mandible, just back of the skin, and below the eye-sockets. 18. With the sharp-pointed scissors make incisions from either end of this cut back along the branches of the lower mandible through the base of the skull on either side of the neck at its junction with the skull. 19. Connect these cuts by a fourth, which passes through the base of the skull just above the neck, and pull the body and neck from the skull. 20. Scoop out what brains remain with the handle of the scalpel. 21. Pull the end of the wing- bone (humerus) inward, skinning the feathers off the bones of the fore- arm (radius and ulna), and remove the flesh. 23. Do the same thing for the legs, but, after cleaning, do not in either case pull tlie bones back. 23. Remove as much flesh as possible from the base of the tail, including the oil-gland at the base of the tail above. 24. Hold the skin over the arsenic and alum box, and with a bit of fluffy cotton at the end of a stick, or held in the forceps, dust it thoroughly with the poison, giving an extra allowance to the base of the tail and bones of the skull, wings, and legs. 25. Pull the legs back into place. 26. Place a fluff of cotton on the end of a wire and roll it into a firm, smooth ball, placing one in each eye-socket. 27. Coax the skin back over the head, using the first two fingers of each hand and placing the thumbs at the base of the skull. When the tip of the bill appears through the feathers, use the fingers outside, on the feathers, pressing the skin back over the head, and keeping the thumbs in the same position. When tlie bill is free, take it with the right hand, and use the fingers of the left to urgo the skin over the skull, being careful to get it in its former place so that the feathers of the head will lie smoothly. 28. Dress the feathers of the head, particularly those about the eye. 29. Take hold of the tip of the bill and shake the skin gently but vigorously to aid in settling the plumage. 30. Lay the skin on its back, the bill pointmg from you, and turn back the feathers about the opening on the belly. 31. See that the wing-bones lie flat on the back of the skin, with their ends tou(!hing each other.* 32. * The most diiflcult part in makinR a birdskin i3 to Induce the winfcs to as- sume anything lilte their natural position when closed. This is because the arti- ficial, cotton body is apt to force them outward on to the sides rather than on the back, where they belong. In the bird in the flesh the wings are held in place by being attached to the body ; In the skin they are loose ond hanging. To remedy this, aft.er drawing =^"^1 SEXIXG. 27 Take a bit of fluffy cotton, press it lightly together, and draw out one end to form a necii. Wiien released from your grasp this cotton body should be but little larger than the body you have removed from the skin. 33. Take the end of the neck with the forceps and insert it gently into tiie neck of the skin, working the skin down on to it in order to avoid stretching the neck, until tlie points of the forceps ap- pear in tlie mouth, then hold the cotton there and withdraw the for- ceps. 34. Carefully fit the cotton body into the skin. 35. Put one or two stitclies in the incision on the belly. 30. Ascertain the sex of the bird (see beyond). 37. Cross the legs, and at the point of intersection attach a label (scj beyond). 38. Squeeze the wing-bones together until you feel the tips of your fingers meet over the bird's back. 39. Pre- pare a sheet of cotton about five inches square and as thin as you can make ii ; lay the bird on this on its right side, the bill pointing to your right hand. 40. Put the left wing in place and dress the feathers about it. 41. Take hold of the sheet of cotton, and turn the bird over in it in order that you may dress the right wing. 42. Roll the bird on to its belly, holding the wings in position with the thumb and first finger of the left hand, and with the right hand bring the tips of the wing- feathers into their proper place over the back. 43. Roll the bird back on to its back, the bill pointing to your right hand ; take the end of the sheet of cotton farthest from you and draw it liyhthj over the bird to the side nearest you. 44. Draw the end nearest you in the opposite direction. 45. See that the feet, tail, and tips of the wings are in their proper position, and place your specimen out of harm's way to dry. It will doubtless take yon from half an hour to an hour to make your first birdskin. It will probably be a sorry-looking object, per- haps minus a head or tail or half its feathers ; but do not let this dis- courage you. An expert can make ten birdskins an hour, and you need only practice to approach this. There are endless variations of the method here described. It is not possible to go into further details here, and if yo»i have taxider- iiiic ambitions I would advise you to procure a copy of Mr. W. T. Horiiiiday's excellent Taxidermy and Zoological Colh^cting (S■• X 03 U1 O o C/5 I ' J a, i'l I". ', .if )' i 5 ■■■9 ■■^iss;?' 1 mEe w -'-"dj^^l Km a: o 3 CQ m g X in a: UJ ID z q: O i / / z X in ID •■-1 .1 -^ 5 o o a r (J Q rr u h- < I U cc 0 _J o u cc o cc Q o ir X a I 1/1 I- UJ -J < i ,«- i It BIOGRAPHIES— ILLUSTRATIONS. 39 In preparing these biographical sketches I have aimed to secure the best material possible, using my own notes only when I felt they were based on adequate observations. Not only have 1 carefully ex- amined the literature relating to the habits of our birds, selecting what seemed to be the most trustworthy accounts of their appearance in life, but through the generous co-operation of fellow-students of living birds I am able to present character sketches of some of our birds, written by observers who are everywhere known for their sym- pathy with birds out-of-doors. Thus I have to thank Mrs. Miller, Miss Merriam, Mr. Bicknell, Mr. Brewster, Dr. Dwight, Mr. Thomp- son, and Mr. Torrey for pen pictures of birds with which they are especially familiar, each sketch being signed by its author. IllusiratioHH, — The colored frontispiece is by Mr. Ernest E. Thomp- son, whom I have to thank for assistance in preparing the color chart and Key to Families. The numerous pen-and-ink drawings, which add so largely to the value of the work, were made by Mr. Tappan Adney from specimens in the American Museum of Natural History. Some of the full-page half-tone plates are from photographs of groups in the American Museum of Natural History ; the larger number, how- ever, were especially designed for this work, with the assistance of Mr. J. Rowley, Jr. The Color Chart. — It must not be supposed for a moment that the colors on the Plate II. represent the colors of all the birds of eastern North America. It does not do so any more than an artist's palette shows all the colors of his picture — in fact, I have called this plate my mental palette, and have frequently used two and even three term^ to describe a given shade or tint. It should be clearly understood, therefore, that when grayish brown, for example, is mentioned, it does not follow that the feathers to which the term is applied are of exactly the same color as the plate, but that they are nearer to this color than to any otl;". in the plate. Used even in this general way, the plate will prove a i.ir more definite basis for description than if every one were left to form his own idea of the colors named. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. Ad. Adult; a fully matured bird. A. V. Accidental visitant (see page 12). B. Bill. B. from N. Bill from nostril. $ The sign cin{)loyed to designate female sex (see page 27). Im. Immature; the term is generally applied to birds less than a year old, or to those which have not acquired the plumage of the adult. L. Total length. S The sign employed to designate male stx (see page 27). P. R. Pornument resident (sec page 13). S. R. Summer resident (see page 12). T. Tail. Tiir. Tarsus. T. V. Transient visitant (see page 12). W. Wing. W. V. Winter visitant (see page 12). i 40 ■fS; I t THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE NINETIETH MERIDIAN. KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES. TUB WAT£B BIHDS. 7). OSS •ed Fio. 6. Order I* Pygopodes.— Grebea, Loons, and Ai'KS. Ducklike liirds with gt'iienilly «hurply pointed bills; feet webbed, placed far back near the tail ; tarsus much Hattened ; hind toe, when present, with a lobe or Hap; bill without toothlike projections; tail very short and sometimes apparently wanting. A. Toes four, tipped with a broad nail. a. Toes with lobate webs. . . . Family Podicipidce'. GuEBEs (FifT. 5, a), p. 5G. b. Toes webbed. . . . Family i'rinatondce: Loons (Fig. 5, 6), p. 58. £. Toes three, tipped with a sliarp nail. . . . Family Alcidce: Auks, Murues, and Puffins (Fig. 5, c), p. 60. a ,^^ Order H. liOn^pennes. — Jaeoers, Gt'LL.i, and Terns. Birds with sharply pointed and frequently hooked or hawklike bills; toes four (ex- cept in one genus — Jimn), the front ones webbed ; wings long and pointed. 41 Fio 6. « I y ,. ''^1 m 42 KEY TO FAMILIES. A. Tip of tlio upper mandible more or less swollen, rounded, and sharply pointed; upper parts, including wings, and sometimes tho entire plumage, dark sooty blackish, sometimes irregularly barred ; tail always dark, the middle feathers longest. . . . Family Uterco- rariidiK : Skuas and Jaeoeks (Fig. (J, a), p. 05. B. Upper mandible curved but not swollen at tlio end; tail generally white, sometimes tipped with black ; the tail-feathers usually of about equal length. . . . Subfamily Larina, : Gui.ls (Fig. 0, i), p. 67. Fio. 7. Fio. 8. C. Bill straight, not hooked and sharply pointed ; outer tail-feathers generally longer than the middle ones. Subfamily Sternince. : Terns (Fig. 7), p. 70. D. Bill thin and bladelike, the lower mandible much longer than the upper one. . . . Family liynchopidoe : Skimmers (Fig. 8), p. 85. , Fio. 9, Order HI. Tubiaares.— Albatrosses, Petrels, and Fi'LMars. Bill hawklike, the tip of the upper mandible generally much enlarged ; nostrils opening through tubes; hind toe reduced to a mere nail, and sometimes entirely wanting. A. Size very large, nostrils separated and on either side of the bill. • . . Family Diomedeidie : Albatrosses (Fig. 9, a), p. 80. B. Size smaller, nostrils joined and placed on top of the bill. . . . Family ProcellariidcR x Petrels, Fulmars, and Shearwaters (Fig. 9, 6), p. 80. ' KEY TO FAMILIES. 43 Fio. 12. Fio. 13. Fio. 11. Fio. 14. Fio. 10. Fio. 15. Order IV. Steganopodes.— Gannets, Cormorants, Pelicans (Fig. 10), etc. All the toes, incliKling the hind one, connected by webs. A. Bill generally sharply pointed, without a liawklike liook at its tip. a. Chin, or space between the forks of the lower mandible, feath- ered. . . . Family Phaethontidie: Tropic Birds (Fig. 11), p. 91. b. Chin bare. 6>. Bill stout and sliglitly curved at the tip; middle tail-featliers without "llutings". . . . Family iSuli(he: Gannets (Fig. 12), p. 92. J*. l}ill straifjht and slender; middle tail-feathers fluted. . . . Family Anhuifjiihv: Dartkrs (Fig. 13), p. 93. B. Bill with a hawklike hook at the tip. a. Lores biire. a>. Bill over 12'00, with a large pouch. Pelicans, p. 95. a*. Bill under 12*00, no large pouch. . cidiV. Cormorants (Fig. 14), p. 94. h. Lores feathered. . . . Family Fregatidce : Man-o'-war Birds (Fig. 15), p. 97. . Family Pelecanidce: Family Phalacrocora- 44 KEY TO FAMILIES. Order V. Ansereo.— Ducks, Geese, and Swans. Toes four, tlie front ones fully webbed ; tarsus not strikinfjly flattened as in the Grebes; tail always well developed; bill with toothliko projec- tions, fluted ridges, or gutters along its sides. 1. Bill very long, narrow, an 1 rounded with numerous toothlike pro- jections along it8 sides. . . . Subfamily Mergincb : Meboanskks (Fig. 16), p. 98. *M*^^^M ■ ' -^^^^^^^*^^^^^ ! % Fio. 16. , Bill more (>r less flattened and ducklike. A. Lores feathered. o. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe, without nail ; scales on its front transverse, more or less square. a>. Hind toe without a flap or lobe. . . . Subfamily AnatincB; River Ducks (Fig. 17, a), p. 100. a*. Hind toe with a flap or lobe. . . . Subfamily FuUgulince; Sea and Bay Ducks (Fig. 17, b), p. 107. ^ 1 3 >5>-^ Fio. 17. b. Tarsus generally longer than the middle toe, without nail ; scales on its front rounded. . . . Subfamily Atiserinm; Geese, p. 119. £. Lores bare. . . . Subfamily Ci/gninw. Swans, p. 124. KEY TO FAMILIES. 45 ed as rojec- pro- 1 its nee: ice; Order VI. Odontoglossse.— FLAMmooEs Large red or rcddisli birds; bill with tootlilike ridges us in some Ducks, the *nd half bent down- ward ; tarsus 12-00 or more in length. , . . Family Pha:nicoj)teridm : Fla- mingoes, p. 125. Order Vll. Herodlomes.— Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. Toes four, all on the same level, slightly or not at all webbed ; lores bare; legs and neck generally much lengthened. Fia. 20. OS Fig. 21. J. Bill straight and sharply pointed ; inner border of the middle toe- nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Anlddix: Herons, Eorets, and Bitterns (Fig. 19), p. 128. B. Bill rounded, more or less curved downward ; no comb on the mid- dle toe-nail. a. Size large, tarsus over 500. . . . Family CkoniidcB : Storks and Wood Ihisi;s, p. 127. b. Size smaller, tarsus under 5-00. . . . Fan;ily Ibidida: : Ihises (Fig. 20), p. 126. C. Bill flattened and much broadened at the end. . . . Family Plata- leidce: Spoonbills (Fig. 21), p. 125. I f • t'i 46 KEY TO FAMILIES. FiQ. 22, Order VIU. Paludicolae.— Cranes, Rails, etc. Toes four; middle toe witliout a comb, generally not webbed; hind toe generally small, liiglier than the front ones, or, if on the same level (Gal- linules and Coots only), tlic bill is then comparatively short and stout and the forehead ) s a bare shield; lores feathered, or (Cranes) with hairlikc bristles. Fio. 24. A. Smaller, bill under 8'00. . . . Family liallidce : Kails, Gallinulkb, and CooTs (Fig. 22), p. 139. B. Larger, bill over 3*00. a. Tarsus over 6-00. . . . Family Oruid(e\ Cranes (Fig. 23), p. 137. b. Tarsus under 6'00. . . . Family AramidiH; Couulans (Fig. 24), p. 138. KEY TO FAMILIES. 47 Order IX* Limicolo* — Phalaroper, Snipes, Plovers, etc. Toes four, or (Plovers) tliree; tlie hind toe, when present, less than lialf the length of the inner one, and always elevated above tlie others ; legs generally long and slender, the lower half of the tibire bare ; bill, except in the Plovers, generally long, slender, and soft, tlie nostrils opening through slits or grooves ; wings long and pointed, the tirst primary gen- erally the longest. 1 toe Gal- itout with .ES, !4), Fig. 26. I. Tarsus over 3-50. . . . Family liecurvirostridae, : Stilts and Avocets, p. 149. II. Tarsus under n-50. A. Sides of the toes with lobes or webs. . . . Family Phalaropodidtz : PiiALAUoPEs (Fig. 26, a), p. 147. B. Sides of the toes without lobed webs. a. Toes four (e.\cept in the Sanderling) ; front of the tarsus with transverse, more or less square, scales. . . . Family ScolojiaciJui : Snipes, SANnpiPEus, etc. (Fig. 25, a, b\ Fig. 2C, h, c), p. 150. b. Whole lower back white, a black band across the rump. . . . Family Aphrizidm; Tikn'stoxes, etc., p. 170. c. Toes three (exce])t in tlio Black-bellied Plover) ; front of the tarsus with small, rounded scales. c>. Bill under 200. . . . Family Charadriidce : Ploveks (Fig. 25, c, d\ Fig. 2<), d, e), p. 171, d>. Bill over 200. . . . Family Hosmatopodidix ; Oystkr-catchkbs, p. 177. 48 KEY TO FAMILIES. THE liAND BiriDS. Order X. Galliiue. — Turkeys, Grouse, Bob-whites, etc, Toes four, the hind one small and elevated above the front ones ; bill generally short, stout, hard, and horny ; wings rather short, the outer primaries curved and much stitt'ened. A. Size very large. . . . Subfamily Mekag- rince : Turkeys, p. 186. £. Size smaller. . . . Family Tetraonidce: Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. (Fig. 27), p. 178. Fio. 27. ( m Order XI. Columbae.— Pigeons and Doves. Toes four, all on the same level, the hind one about as long as the shortest front one; bill rather slender, deeply grooved, the nostrils open- ing in a soft, fleshy membrane or skin. . . . Family Columhidoe ; Pigeons and Doves (Fig. 28), p. 187. Fig. S9. Order XII. Raptores.— Vultures, Hawks, and Owls. Toes four, three in front, the hind one, except in the Vultures, generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; all the toes armed with strong, sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a cere, or covering of skin, at its base, through which the nostrils open, very stout and strong, tlie tip of the upper mandible with a sharply pointed hook. Fio. 80. Fio. 31. A. Eyes set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus generally feathered ; plum age soft and fluffy. >^ ^ ^ KEY TO FAMILIES. a. Middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Owls (Fig. 30), p. 213. b. Middle toe-nuil without a comblike edge. iloRNEU Owls, Hoot Owls (Fig. 29, a), p. 213, 49 Family Strigidm : Barn . Family Bubonidce: Fig. 32, Fia. 33. rally with ig of rong, £. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly bare, plumage firm and close. a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claws blunt ; bill not sharply liookcd ; head generally bare. . . . Family Cathartidce. : American Vultures (Fig. 32), p. 191. b. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons; bill with a sharp hook, head not bare. . . . Family Falconida: Falcons, Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Figs. 29, i, 33), etc., p. 193. Order Xm. Paittaci.— Tarrots, Paroquets, etc. Toes four, two in front and two behind ; bill with a cere. . . . Family Piiittacidih : Par- rots and Paroquets (Fig. 34), p. 222. Fio. 34. 15 um Order XIY. Coccyges.— Cuckoos and Kingfishers. Toes four, the middle and outer ones joined for half their length (Kingfishers), or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stitf and pointed. 6 Fio. 36. 50 KEY TO FAMILIES. A. Middle and outer toes joined for li alt" their length. . . . Fahiily Al- cedinida,: Kinofisiiers (Fig. 35), p. 226. B. Two toes in front and two behind. . . . Family CueuUdoi: Cuckoos (Fig. 30;, p. 224. FiQ. 37, Order XV. Plci.— Woodpeckeus. Toes four, two in front and two behind, or toes three, two in front and one behind ; bill strong ; tail-feathers stiff and pointed ; Jiostrils more or less concealed by bristles. . . . Family Picidce: Wooupeckeks (Fig. 37), p. 227. FiQ. 38. oj^ Fio. :i9. Fig. 40. Order XYI. Macrochires*— Goatsuckers, Swifts, and IlrMMmoniRDs. Feet very small and weak ; bill short and small and mouth large, or bill long and exceedingly slender and mouth small ; wings generally long and pointed. A. Size comparatively large; plumage variegated, black and brown; middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Capriinuhjidoi: NiGHTiiAWKs, Whip-poor-wills, etc. (Fig. 38), p. 236. , B. Size medium ; plumage sooty black ; no comb on the middle toe- nail; tips of the tail-feathers with spines. . . . Ya.im\y Micropodida: Swifts (Fig. 39), p. 239. C. Size very small ; upper parts shining green; bill long and slender. . . . Family Trochilidve: UiMMmoBiRDs (Fig. 40), p. 240. KEY TO FAMILIES. 51: Al- KOOB and e or 37), IDS. bill ind m; 00- er. Order XVH* Passeres.— Perching Birds: Flycatch- ers, Blackbirds, Jays, Orioles, Si'aurows, Finches, Swallows, Vireos, Warblers, Wrens, Tiikusmes, etc. Toes four, without welm, all on the same level ; hind too as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than that of the middle one; tail of twelve feathers. [The following synoptieal table of the eharaeters of the eighteen families which we have in this order seems more satis- factory than an artiiiciul ^'^'■^ C F.O. 41. Family 1. I'yrannidoE. — Flycatchers (Fig. 42). Bill wider than high at the J)nso, slightly hooked at the tip ; ba.se with conspicuous bristles; wings longer than the tail, the second to fourth primaries longest, the first but little shorter and generally equal to the flftli or sixth ; back of tarsus rounded, like the front ; plumage generally olive-green or grayish ; tail, except in the King- bird, without white spots, p. 242. Fio. 42. Family 2. Alaudida,. — Larks (Fig. 43). Bill rather stout and rounded ; nos- trils with bristly tufts ; nail of hind toe much lengthened, as long as the middle too without nail ; back of the tarsus rounded like the front, p. 252. ^U^^^^=^^^^^"^ rio. 43. Family S, Corvidee. — Crows and Jays (Fig. 44). y Large birds, over lO'OO in length ; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts of bristly feathers; fourth to tifYh primary the longest, the first about half as long ; outer tail-feathers shortest ; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 1 52 KEY TO FAMILIES. FiQ. 45. Family 4. Sturnidce. — Stab- linos (Fig. 45). Bill flattened, wider than high nt the base ; tail short and square; wings long and pointed, second pri- mary longest, the first very small, less than half an inch in length, p. 259. |) ; Fio. 46. Family 5. Idcridce. — Blackbirds, Okioles, etc. (Fig. 46). Length 7"00-17*00 ; ba.se of the bill, between the nostrils, extending back- ward and dividing the feathers of the forehead ; nostrils not concealed by bristles ; first three primaries of about equal length ; outer tail-feathers generally shortest, p. 260. \<7 ^■x- li .1 Family 6. Fringillidce. — Spar- rows, Finches, Gros- beaks, etc. (Fig. 47). Length 4-75-9-00, generally under 8-00 ; bill short, stout, and conical, admirably fit- ted to crush seeds; third and fourth primaries gen- erally about the same length, the first never more than half an inch shorter than the longest, p. 271. Family 7. Tanagridxv. — Tanaoers (Fig. 48). Length about 7*00; the males of our species mostly red ; bill finchlike, but less conical, somewhat swollen, the outline of the upper mandible curved, its sides with a slight but generally evident "tooth" near the middle; tail-featliers of equal length, p. 816. ■> Fio. 48. KEY TO FAMILIES. 53 Family 8. Iflru ndini Jos.— HwAhhowa (Fig. 49). Bill short and flattened, much wider than high at the butte ; no bristles at the base of the bill ; wings long and pointed, tips, when closed, generally reaching beyond the end of the tail ; lirst primary the longest ; outer tail- feathers longest; feet small, tarsus short, round in front, narrower and bharpcr in the back, p. 318. Fio. 49. Family 9. Ampelid:^o^ hind toe-nail much lengthened, as -^ 1. 4^«^^^^^^~^^ long as or longer than the toe ; first three primaries of equal length, p. 375. FiQ. 64. Family 14. Troglodytidce. — Thrasii- EHS, Wrens, etc. (Fig. 55). Subfamily Mimince. — Thrashers, MocKiNoiuRus, and Catbirds. Length 8'00-12-00; tarsus scaled; tail rounded, the outer feathers at least half an inch shorter than the middle ones, third to fiftli primary longest, the fii*st about half as long, p. 376. Subfamily Troglodytince. — Wrens. Length 4-00-(5-00; bill moderate, the upper mandible slightly curved, no bristles at its base; third to fourth primary longest, first about half as long ; tail short and round- ed ; brown or brownish birds with indistinctly barred wings and tail, p. 376. Fm. .55. Family 15. Certhiidce. — Creepers (Fig. 50). Bill slender and nnich curved ; tail- feathers pointed and slightly still'ened, p. 385. Fio. 66. KEY TO FAMILIES. 65 Family 16. Paridai. — NrrnATciiES and Titmice (Fig. 57). Suhfuniily Sittina. — Nuthatches. Bill ruthor loii}^ und Hlcndor, the end of the lower mandible slanting slightly upward ; wings long: and pointed, the third or fourth primary the longest, the first very small, not an inch in length ; tail short and square, the outer feathers blotched with white, p. 38(5. Subfamily I'arinw. — Titmice. Length 4-50-0'50 ; bill short, stout, and rounded, less than half an inch in length ; fourth or fifth primary longest, first very short, not more than one third as long; tail rather long, dull ashy gray without white blotches, p. 389. Family 17. Sylviidce. — Kinolbts and Gnatcatchers (Fig. 58). Length 3-50-5-00; bill slender, re- sembling that of some Warblers, but the first primary is very short, only about one third as long as the longest, p. 3,/*.) Ad. in summer. — Tppcr parts, wings, tail, and neck black vith bluish or greenish reflections; spaces on the throat and sides of the neck streaked with wliite ; back and wings spotted and barred with white; breast and belly white; sides and a band at the base of the under tail-coverts black spotted with wiiite. Ad. in winter a;((/ //w.— Upper parts, wings, and tail blackish margined with grayish not spotted with whitt ; under parts white; throat sometimes washed with grayish. L.. 3200; W ., 14.00; Tar., .3-40 ; B., 2-80. A'ar?«7<'.— Breeds from northern Illinois, Minnesota, and northern New Eng- land to the .\rctic Circle; winters from the southern limit of its breeding range tc the Gulf of Mexico. LOONS. 59 Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. 25, Lonjr Island, abundant T. v., common W. V., Sept. to June. Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. and Oct. Cambridge, not common T. V., Apl. to early May ; Sept. to Nov. Nest^ a uliglit depression in the ground within a lew feet of the water. Eijgg, two, grayish olive-brown, thinly spotted with blackish, 3'50 x 2-L'O. This wild inhabitant of our northern lakes and ponds possesses all the characteristic traits of the Divers. Its remarkable notes are thus described by Mr. J. II. Langille: " Beginning on the fifth note of the scale, the voice slides through the eighth to the third of the scale above in loud, clear, sonorous tones, which on a dismal evening before a thunderstorm, the lightning already playing along the inky sky, are anything but musical. He has also another rather soft and pleasing utterance, sounding like who-who- who-who, the syllables being so rapidly pronounced as to sound almost like a shake of the voice— a sort of weird laughter," Loons may be seen migrating by day singly or in small companies, generally at a considerable height. Their flight is strong, raj)id, and direct. 9, Urlnator arcticus (Linn.). Bi-Acic-TiiROATEn Loox. A J. in summer. — Throat, foreneoU, back, wing.s, and tail black, with purplish and bluisli rellections ; a band of white streaks on the throat ; sides of the neck, back, and wings streaked, barred, or spotted with white ; top of head and nape gray; breast and belly white; a blackish band at the biusc of the under tail-coverts. Ad. in winter and //«.— Similar in color to U. imber, not spotted above with white. L., 27-00 ; W., IVOO ; Tar., 2-(J0 ; B., 2-00. litmarkK. — Immature and winter birds may be distinguished from the cor- responding stage of imh(r by theirsnuill size; from lumme by (jrayish mar- gins instead of white spots, bars, or nuirgins on the upper parts. JidiKje. — Breeds in tiie nortliern i)arts of the northern hemisphere; in Niirtli America migrates southward in winter to the northern United States, easiuiUy to Oliio and Long Island. Long Island, A. V., one record. iAV«^, a slight dcj)rcssion in the ground within a few feet of the water. Eggs., two, grayish olive-brown, spotted or scraw led with blackish, 3-20 x 2-10. This species is a very rare winter visitant to the northern l)order of the United States. The most southern record of its occurrence is Long Island {Butcher, Auk, x, 189:3, p. 205), 11> Urinator lumme (^f'»/'/^). Ki D-TunoATEn Loon. Ad. in num- vnr. — Hack, wings, and tail fuscous, more or less spotted witii white; head and neck a.shy gray ; foreneek chestnut ; l)ack of the neck i)lack, streaked with white; brea.st and belly white; longer under tail-coverts and band attliebasc of shorter ones fuscous. Ad. in winter mid //«.— Similar to ['. imbtr, but back spotted witli white. L., 2.i'00; W., ll'OO; Tar., 2'00; B., 200. Range. — Found throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. 60 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. breeclin{» in North America from New Brunswick and Manitoba uortliward, and niigrutini^ irregularly southward as far as South Carolina. Washington, rare VV. V. Long Island, common T. V., rare W, V., (Jet. to May. Sing 8ing, casual T. V. Cambridge, one instance, Oct. Aest, a slight dejjression in the ground witliin a few feet of the water. ^j/f/«, two, grayish olive-brown, sometimes tinged with green and spotted with blackish, 2-80 x 1-75. This is a more northern species than Urinaior imber, which it doubt- less closely resciubles in habits. ^ ■ "■ ■ ( r ^■1 ll h ■ ?i ■■"ij' Family Alcid^. Auks, Murres, and Puffins. This family contains about tliirty species, confined entirely to tho northern p Fratercula arctica ( Unn.). Puffin ; Sea Parrot (see Fig. .5, r). Ad. — Upper parts, wings, tail, and foreneek blackish, browner on the lioad and foreneek ; nape with a narrow grayish collar; sidt^s of the head and throat white, sometimes waslied with grayish; breast and belly white. (Breeding Hrds have tlio bill larger and brighter, and a liorny si)ine over the eye.) L., 131X); W., 6-10; Tar., 1-05; B., l-sr>-, depth of B. at base (in winter), 1-50. Range. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, breeding on the North Anwrican coast from tlie Bay of Fundy northward" (A. O. U.). Migrates southward in winter, rarely to Long Island. m AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 61 ^ Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest in a burrow in the ground or in crevices among rocks. Egg, one, dull white, Bonietinies with obscure markings, a'-i'J x 1-08. Mr. Brewster, in describing his experience with this species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, writes: "The first report of our guns brought dozens tumbling from their nests. Their numner of descending from the higher portions of the cliff was peculiar. Launching into the air with heads depressed and wings held stiffly at a sharp angle above their backs, they would shoot down like meteors, checking their speed by an upward turn just before reaching the water. In a few minutes scores j had collected about us. They were perfectly silent and very tame, passing and repassing over and by us, often coming within ten or fif- teen yards. On such occasions their flight hiis a curious resemblance to that of a Woodcock, but when coming in from the fishing grounds they skim close to the waves, and the wings are moved more in the manner of a Duck " (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 407). ISa* F. ax gUusiaJis ( Temm.). Laroe-billed Puffin. — Similar to the preceding, but larger. W., ('.•80-7-4U; B., 2-00-2-30 (B., B., and K.). Range. — "Coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean from Spitzbergen to Baffin's Bay" (A. O. U.). The Tufted Puffin {12. Lundn cirrhata) inhabits the North Pacific from California to Alaska. Tlie specimen figured by Audubon was said l)y liim to have been procured at the mouth of the Kennebec Kiver, Maine. There is no other record of its occurrence on the Atlantic coast. 27* Cepphus grylle {Linn.). Black Guillemot; Sea Pigeon. Ad. in summer. — Sooty black, lighter below and with sliglit grccuisli retlcctioua above; lesser wing-coverts and terminal half of the greater wing-coverts white, the basal half ■../ the greater coverts black ; linings of the wings wliite. Ad. in winter. — Upper parts gray or black, the feathers all more or less tipped with white ; wings as in summer; under parts white Im. — Ujjper parts as in winter adults; under parts white, mottled with bUick; wing-coverts tipped with black. L., 13-00 ; W., 6-25 ; Tar., 1-25 ; B., 1-20. liange. — Breeds in North America from the Bay of Fundy (Grand Menan) northward, and migrates soutliward regularly to Cape Cod, and rarely to Con- necticut and Long Island; accidental in Pennsylvania. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest.1 in the crevices ami Assures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs., two to three, dull white, sometimes with a greenish tinire, more or less heavily spotted with clear and obscure dark chocolate markings, more numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end. 2'18 x 1-40. '•They were wary and alert, but allowed mo to paddle within easy shooting distance without displaying much alarm. When they finally concluded I was an unsafe neighbor, they lost no time in getting out of sight, diving with surprising suddenness. They usually swum a % 62 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. w 4- • 'f ! ? A li,, /:•!' ill long distance under water with great rapidity, using their wings as well as their feet, and coining to the surface far beyond gunshot range. " The Sea Pigeons are met usually in small flocks of half a dozen or more, and generally feed in the open sea at tiie base of bold clilTs. When on the wing they proceed rapidly and in a straight line, and rarely more than a few feet from the surface of the water. On ap- proaching their nesting-site they rise rather abruptly, and fly directly to their nests" (Chamberlain). 28* Cepphus mandtii (Lidd.). Manht's GriLLEMor. — Resemblca tlie preceding, but the buses of the greater wing-coverts are white instead of "bluck. Range. — ^"Arctic regions of both continents" (A. 0. U.); in America hrceding from Labrador and Hudson Bay northward, migrating southward as far as Massachusetts. A'cA^ in crevices and fissures of clitfs and rocky places. Fggs^ two to three, not distinguishable from those of C. grylle., 2"34 x 1-15. A more northern species than the preceding, which it doubtless re- sembles in habits. 30* Uria. troile {Linn.), Miure. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts, wings, tail, and neclt all around, dark sooty brown, bhicker on the back, wings, and tail ; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white, the sides more or less streaked with blackish. Ad. in winter and Im. — Upper parts, wings, and tail much as in summer; under parts white, the throat more or less washed with sooty brown, the flanks sometimes streaked with brownish, and the feathers of the belly more or less lightly margined with blackisli. L., 16'00; W., 8-00; Tar., 1-40; B., 1-75; depth of B. at nostril, -50. Jtemarks. — Some specimens have a white ring around the eye and a white Btripe behind it. They have been named r. ringvia (Briimi.), but it is un- certain as to whether the species is a distinct one or is based on a mere varia- tion of plumage. liange.—'-'- Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic" (A. O. U.). In North America, breeding from Nova Scotia northward, and migrating southward as far as Massachusetti iVV.v/y ill connnu , side by side on the bare ledges of rocky cliffs. Egg., one, pynlorm, varying from pale blue or grecnisli blue to whitisli or bufty singularly spotted, .scrawled, or streaked with shades of chocolate, rarely un- marked, 3-25 X 2'00. "These birds begin to assemble on their customary clififs in Eng- land early in I\Iay, and crowd together in such numbers that it is not uncommon to see hundreds sitting upon their eggs on the ledge of a rock, all in a line, and nearly touching each other" (Nuttall). " The bird usually sits facing the cliflf, holding the egg between her legs, with its point outward ; if robbed, she will lay at least one more, , 1 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFIN^. 63 less and L, t similar in character. . . . Considerable force is exercised in diving, and the wings are u^ed for propulsion under water " (Saunders). 31* Uria. lomvia (Linn.). Biit'NNMcn's Miukk. Ad. in nummer. — UpiHT iiurt.H, wiii^s, and tail sooty bhiok, foreiicck soniiiwliat browner; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white; base ot" the upper mandible greenish, rounded outward beyond the edf^e of the lower mandible. L., ItJ'iJO ; W., 8--10; Tar., l-.'JO; B., l-:io; depth of B. at nostril, -47. Heinarks. — Adults arc to be distini^ruished from adults of U. tioile by the darker color of the head, which in luinvia is darker than the throat, by the size of the bill and thickening of its cutting edge at the base. Winter and immature birds can be distinguished from those of U. troile only by the size of the bill, which, as the measurements show, is longer in that species. BaiKje. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctio Oceans" (A. O. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Lslands northward; in win- ter migrates as far south as New Jersey. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Neds in connnunities, side by side on the bare ledges of rocky elitls. Ki/g, one, not distinguishable from that of U. troile. "During the winter it lives on the open sea, and in the breeding season assembles in large flocks on bold cliffs and rocky liejullands. It is an expert diver, using wings and feet to get under water and to swim through it " (Chamberlain). 32« Alca torda Linn. Kazor-billed Ack; Tinker. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; forcneck somewhat browner; tips of the secondaries, a line from the eye to tlic bill, ijrcast, and belly white; bill black, crossed by a white band. Ad. in winter. — Similar to ad. in the summer, but witli tlie sides and front of the neck white. Iin. — Similar to ad. in winter, but with the bill smaller and without the white bar. L., lO'oO; W., 7-90; Tar., 1-35; B., 1"2.5. /i'a«s<, on the ledges and in the crevices of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pale bluish white, 1-85 x 1-27. " On the approach of a vessel this bird has a peculiar way of splash- ing along the surface of the water, as if unable to fly, and then divi'ig through the crest of an advancing wave ; it swims rather deep and very much ' by the stern.' . . ." (Saunders). " Its wings are small, but they are moved almost as rapidly as a ITummingbird's, and propel the bird through the air with great rapid- ity. This bird is an expert diver too, and, though awkward on land, swims with ease and grace. . . ." (Chamberlain). JAEGERS AND SKUAS. 65 ORDER LONGIFENXES. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. Family Stercorariid.e. Jaegers and Skuas. Two of tlie six known members of this fiiinily are found in the antarctic regions, while the remaining four inhabit tlie northern parts of the northern hi'iiiispiiere. Excejjt during the nesting season, the Jaegers are as a rule pelagic, though they sometimes visit large bodies of water inland. They generally obtain their food by robbing Gulls and Terns, and have l)een well named the J lawks of the sea. Their greater power of flight enables them to successfully pursue these birds and force them 'o disgorge their recently captured prey. KKY' TO THE SPECIES. A. Bill over l-.'i."); tardus ovtr 1-70; inicUUe tail-ltathers never pointed. a. Hill over \-'M Sf). Skua. h. Bill under MM) 3tl. ri».MAiMNE .lAK(iEU. //. Hill iiikUt l'^") ; tarsus umlor 1-T<'; iiiicUlle tail-tVatliers j,'i'iierally pdiiiteil. O. Scaly shielil on the bill longer tliau the tlistanee from its end to the tip of the bill 37. I'akasitk; Jaeoek. b. Scaly shield on the bill slioitor than tlie distance from its end to the tip of the bill at). Loxu-TAiLEu Jaeoek. 35. Megalestris skua (/>V/m«.). Ski-a. J^/.— Upper jmrts, tail, and wings dark, dirty brown; sliafls of the wing and tail-feathers white, except at the tip ; outer wing-feathers with inner vanes white at the base ; under parts somewhat lighter; neck more or less streaked with whitish. /;w.—" Similar to adult, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on the head and neck." L., 22-00 ; VV., lo-Hl ; Tar., 2-t;.3 ; B., 2-0(; ( liidjrw.).' A'««f/c.— 'M'oast and islands of tlie North Atlantic, chietly northward. South to Spain and Massachusetts. Apparently rare off the (Muist of IS'orth America" (.V. O. U.). Long Island, A. V., one record. yext, on rocky dills. /:>/;/.•>•, two, pale olive-brown or greenish gray spot- ted with chocolate, 2'SO x I-'JO. 36. Stercorarius pomarinua ( T, »n,i.). roMAuixE Jaeoeu. Ad., liijht phnxe.~\iivy siinlhir in cohir to corrcspoiuling jijuise of S. paraKi'fiius, hut with the upper parts darker, nearly black. .(,/., arinj.'ly s\>(>l- ted with slate eolor, ainl li;rlit and dark raw -iinilier niarkin.i^s and l)laek dots, ehietly at the larf.'er end, where they iReunie eDnlluent, 2"J.J x 1-70 (Brewer;. 37* Stercorarius parasiticus ( lAim.). I'AiEAsiTn- Jakokk (seo Flj^. ti, a). All., tiijlit y//(a*<.- Haek, wini.'s, and tail slaty t'useous; top of the liead and lores nearly blaek ; sides of the head and back of the neek straw- yellow, this eolor sometimes spreadinj,' down the sides of the neek and on the throat; brea.st and belly white; sides of the brt^ast, Hanks, lower l>elly, and crissum slaty fuseous; tarsi and feet (in dried speeimens) blaek; middle tail-feathers pointed and extending,' about ;)'0U beyond the otiiers. Ad., dark phase. — Entire i)lumaye dark, slaty brown, ilarker on the top of the head; under parts slightly lighter; sometimes a traee of straw-yellow on the sides and baek of the neek ; tarsi, feet, and tail lus in tlie preeeding. /;«., lujht jihaxe. — L'pper parts, wings, and tail fuseous; the feathers of the baek, neek, and head more or less bordereil, tipped, or barred with bully ; hind-neek and head sometimes butfy, streaked or barred witli fuseous, and varying from this color to i)lain fuseous; longer, lateral upper tail-eoverts barred with burt'y ; tail butfy, whitish at the Imse ; uutler wing-eoverts barred with butly ; under parts white, washed with butfy, and irregularly barred with sooty fuseous; these bars sometimes very numerous when tlie under j)arts looked as if washed with sooty fuseous; again, they may be less numerous and eon- lined to the breast and sides, leaving tlie belly white; central tail-feathers pointed, projecting more or less beyond the rest. //«., 'D Glll. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 Hi 1131 m 1^ |M 2.0 U i 1.6 V] v^ o ^;j /^ / Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ 68 GULLS. |i ' I 6». Primnrics pearl-gray, tipped with white, and with well-defined gray spaces on tlio outer webs of the two outer primaries and on both webs of the third and fourth pritiiurieH. 45. Ki'mlien's Gull. c>. Bill over 200 42. Glaucous Gull. C. Back grayisli, whitish, or brownish, or mottled or spotted with gray- ish or brownish. a. Tail black or blackish, with or without irregular white markings, a*. Wing over 17*50 ; depth of bill at nostril over -70. 47. Black-hacked Gull (Im.). a«. Wing under 17'50; depth of bill at nostril under "70. 51a. Am. IIekkinu Gill (Iul). 51. IIekkinu Gull (Iul). h. Tail white or whitish or grayish brown, with or without black nuirkings. 6'. Bill under 2*00 43. Iceland Gull (Im.). i«. Bill over 2'00 42. Glaucous Gull (Im.). II. Wing under 15-00. 1. Tail pure white. A. Head and throat slaty black. a. Outer primary black or mostly black. a>. Outer primary entirely black .... 58. LAuaniNo Gull. a». Inner half of inner webs of first primary white. 02. Sabine's Gull. 6. Outer primary mostly white. lA. Tip of first primary white 59. Fuanklin's Gull. i'. Tip of first prinuiry black CO. Bon ai'akte's Gull. B. Head white, sometimes washed with pearl-gray. o. Wings white 39. Ivouy Gull. h. Primaries with more or less black. A". Wing over 1100. J«. Hind too very small, without a nail ... 40. Kittiwake. *». Hind toe normal, with a nail ... 54. Rino-billed Gill. c». Wing under 11-00 61. Ross's Gull. 2. Tail marked with black. A. Wing over 13-25. a. Priniaries mostly white ,39. Ivoky Gull (Im.). h. Primaries black or mostly black . 54. Rino-billed Gull (Im.). B. Wing under 13-25. o. Hind toe very small, without a nail . . . 40. Kittiwake (Im.). h. Hind toe normal, with a nail. i». Tarsus 1-50 or over 58. Lauguino Gull (Im.). c>. Tarsus under 1-50. A Secondaries pearl color, tail square. 60. Bonaparte's Gull (Im.). «•. Secondaries mostly white, tail rounded. 61. Ross's Gull (Iin.). 80* GaiVia> alba ((funn.). Ivory Gull. Ad.—EntWa plumage pure white; bill yellow, feet black, /w.— Similar to ad., but the wing and tail GULLS. 69 feathers, and sometimes the wing-coverts, with a black spot at their tips. L., 17-00 ; W., 13-25 ; T., 5-50 ; B., 1-35. Jiamje. — " Arctic »cas, south in winter on the Atlantic coast of North America to Labrador and Newfoundland, casually to New Bruu»wick, and on the Pacific i^ide to Boring Sea" (A. U. U.). Lonjj Island, A. V., one record. A'<-*<, of ffrass, moss, and fcatliers on rocky cliffrt. ///;//*, litrht yellowish olive, marked with small blotches of brown and larger cloudings of lilac, 2-45 X 1-70 (Brewer). "The Ivory Gulls appear to spend most of the time amid the pack- ice, often at a long distance from land' (Chamberlain). d Fio. 00— First primaries of adnll Oiills. seen from below: fa) Am. Horring Oull : {lA Ring-billed Gull ; (c) Laughing Gull ; (d) Franklins Gull ; (e) Bona- parte's Gull. 40* Rissai tridSiCtyUk rZ7N7>.). Ki-rriWAKR. Aarts varying from ashy gray to white, the feathers widely barred, mottleil, or streaked with butfy or ashy gray ; primaries varying from paie smoky gray to pure white; tail ashy or brownish gray; under parts varying from dirty whitish to asliy gray, genenilly darker on the belly, sometimes mottled with butfy or grayish. (Hirds of the second year are said to be pure white.) L., 28-00; W., 17-10; B., 2-3.'i; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, •75 to 1-00; Tar., 2-(iO. /»Vi«f/«'.— Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in North America breeding commonly from soutiiern Labrador northward and migrating eouth- ward to the Great Lakes and Long Island. GULLS. 71 Long Islund, irregular W. V, Neat, of graM.ses, moss, etc., on the ground. E(jg»y two to three, varying from pule olive-brown to grayish white, siiotted or Bi>ccklud with Hhudes of chocolate, 3-10 x 2-20. Mr. Chamberlain remarks that this species combines " with some gull-like traits many of the coarse characteristics of both Falcon and Vulture." " Some observers have reported that flocks are at times very noisy, particularly when settling for the night; but those I have met with in winter have been rather silent. Their cry is harsh and at times very loud ; it sounds something like the syllables kuk-lak, 1 have seen it written cui !eek." 48* liarus leucopterus Faber. Iceland Gi'll. Kcscnibles the preceding species in color, but generally is much smaller; specimens occur, however, which appear to be intermediate. W., l.'j^O-Kl-oO; B., l-OiVl'OO; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, •00--70 ; Tar., 2-05-2-20 (B., B., and R ). Jiange. — Arctic regions; in North America migrates south in winter, rarely to Long Island. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nud^ of grasses, moss, etc., on the ground. Eggs, clay-color with numeroua chocolate markings, 2-7'J x 1-8D. "The flight of the Iceland Gull, its feeding habits. and its manners generally, suggest a close alBnity to the Herring Gull rather than to the Burgoimuster " (Chamberlain). 45* Lams kumlieni />/'('»>/. KimmknV (ii i.u Very similar in gen- eral color to the two preceiling species, but ditfers from them in the color of the primaries. These, instead of being uniformly pure white or but lightly tinted with gray, are marked with sharply defined spaces of ashy gray. The fli"st primary is tipped with white and marked with ashy gray on the outer web and shaft part of the inner web ; the second primary is ashy gray on only part of the outer web; the third and fourth primaries have smaller wliitc tii)s and arc nuirked with ashy gray near their ontls on both webs. W., l.')-.")0- 17'00; B., I*-1*88; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, -GO-'tiG ; Tar., 2-10-2-35 (Brewster). Range. — North Atlantic coast of North America; south in winter to Massachusetts. ^,'est, on "the shelving rocks of high dirt's," " Mr. Kumlien found this bird breeding in considerable numbers near the head of Cumberland Gulf," but, owing to the dilTiculty of distinguishing immature specimens from those of L, iriiroptcrus, its status on our coast in winter is not clearly determined. 47« I open. Cambridge, abundant W. V., Nov. to Apl. Sed, of griis»et<, mo»P, seaweed, etc., on the groiuul, but, wlierc tbe birds have been persistently robi.ed, it is more eompaetly built and plaeed in trees, Hoinetiiiies titty feet or more from the ground. AV/f/«, two to tliree, grayish olive-brown, rarely wliitish, spotted, blotehed, and serawleil witii distiuet and obseure chocolate markingH, 2-iii) x I'UO. This species is by far the most nbundant winter Gull alonjj the coasts of the Middle and Southern States. I'nlike the more pehipc species, it frequents our rivers and harbors, feedinjf about piers and wharves, and near the cities sliowinj; comparatively little fear of man. Sometimes one may see them "bedded" in flocks on the water, where they alight to rest. It is generally this species which follows in the wake of our coastwise vessels, sailing astern, when the wind is from ahead, without the slightest percei)tible movement of the wings. (Kor an interesting life-history of the Herring Gull see Mackay, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 221-228.) The EiKoiEAN IIeimmxo (Jri.i, (.)/. Lams arffentafux) differs from our species in being siigluly smaller and in having the two wiiite spaces at tlio tip of tlie first primary joined, the bhiek spot, tlierefore, being broken or entirely absent. It is of rare occurrence on the Atlantic coar-t of iS'orth America. 64. liBTUS delawarensis Ord. KiNo-mi.i.Ki) (!ri.i,. Ad. in sum- mer.— Back and wings pearl-gray ; first [)rimary black, witli a w iiite spot near tlie tip, the base of the inner half of the inner web pearl-gray ( Fig. (i(», h) ; second prinuiry black, tiie basal half of the inner web pearl-gray ; on tho third to sixth primaries the black decreases raj)idly, and eaeii one is tijiped witli white ; rest of the plumage pure white ; bill greenish yellow witli a black band in front of the nostril. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but the head and nape streaked witli grayish. Im. — Ui)i>er parts varying from asliy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish, to pear' gray, the feathers more or less mottled, spotted, or, on tlie head and neck, streaked with ashy fu8- eous; outer primaries black, tail varying from pearl-gray, more or less mottled with blackish, to white, and crossecl nciir tbe I'ud liy a wide ln'iid of black; basal half of the bill yellowish, end black. L., iH-.jO; W., Uim); T., 6-00; B., l-OO. Hanijfi. — North America, more comnmn in the interior; breeds from southern Minnesota and Newfbundlaiul northward; winters from Long Island to Cuba and Mexico. Wusliington, very common T. V., Feb. to Apl. T); Oct. to Nov.; rare in winter. Long Island, common VV. V., Aug. to Apl. Sing Sing, casual T. V. AV/t^, of grasses, etc., on the ground. AV/f/«. two to three, clay -color, buffy, or whitish, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, '2-30 x l-rt6. :/rr < 1 74 GULLS. I Tlic coast-inhul)iting individuals of this species resemble the Her- ring Gull in habits, and are not easily identiliablc from that sjiecies unless the two be seen together, when the smaller size of the King-bill is noticeable. In the interior, where the species is locally common, it feeds on insects, which it catches both on the ground and in the air. The Mew Gull (56. Larus canus) — a European species — hoH been Ibund once in Labrador. 68* I I««//, Jird plumaye. — " Top and sides of the liead (except forehead and lores), back and Hcapulars grayish brown, tlie longer scapulars bordered terminally witli pale grayish buff; wing-coverts bluish gray tinged witli grayish brown; seconda- ries dusky, edged with pale grayish blue and broadly tipped with white; pri- maries dusky, the inner more plumbeous, all broadly tipped with white. Central portion of the rump uniform light hluish gray ; lateral and {wsterior portions of the rump, upjier tail-coverts, entire lower parts, forehead, lores, jmd eyelids white. Bill brownish, dusky termiiudly ; feet brown (in skin).'' W., 11-25; 13., l-aO; depth through nostrils, -'i'y ; Tar., l-dO (B., B., and R.). liantje. — "Breeds from southern Minnesota and Dakota northward; win- ters in the Southern States, and migrates principally west of the Mississippi Kiver" (Cooke and Merriam). Not found on the .Mlantic coast. ^Stst, of grasses, etc., in reedy or bush-grown marshes. Hijiii^, one to three, varying from dark chocolate to crcan>y brown and sooty white, irregularly marked with small spots or large blotches of umber, and with obsolete liluo shell markings, 2-12 x 1-40 (I'rcston). This inland species reaches our western limits. An excellent ac- count of its habits, by J. W. Preston, will be found in the Ornitholo- gist and Oologist, xi, pp. 54, 55. 60. Lams Philadelphia ( Onl). Bonaparte's Gri.i.. A<1. in iftmmer. — Whole head aiul throat dark, sooty slate-color; nape and siiles of the neck, under parts, except throat, and tail white; back and wings pearl-gray; first primary, seen from above, white, the outer wel) and tip black (EUg. 60, ^); aecond and third priik aries white, tipped with black ; third to sixth primaries with small whitish tips, then large black spaces, the rest of the feather white or pearl-gray ; bill black. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the preceding, but head and throat white, the back and sides of the liead washed witli grayish. Itn. — Top of the liead and nape and a s[)ot on the auriculars more or less washed witli grayish ; back varying from brownish gray to pearl-gray ; lesser wing- coverts grayish brown, secondaries mostly pearl-gray ; first primary with the outer web, tip, and most of the shaft part of the inner web black ; inner mar- gin of the inner web at the end of the feather narrowly bordered with black ; second and third primaries much the same, but with slightly more black at the ends; tail white, bamled with black and narrowly tipped with white; under parts white. L., U-oo ; W., 10-;i0; T., 4-00; B., 1-1'). h'antje. — Breeds from Manitoba northward; apparently no record of its breeding on the .Vtlantic coast, winters southward to the Gulf of Mexico. Washington, common T. V., Mch. to May 5; Oct. and Nov. Long Iiiland, common T. V., a few winter, Oct. to Apl, Sing Sing, rather rare T. V., Apl. and Oct. Acv^, of sticks lined with grasses, etc., on stumps, in bushes or trees four 1 I ; 76 TERNS. to twenty feet from the ground. 2V/f/«, three to four, grayish olive with a greenish tint and Hniall clove-brown siiots, chiefly about the larger end, 1'97 X 1-40(B., B., and K.). "The flight is easy and graceful, each stroke of the long, pointed wings throwing the lx)dy up a little, while the bird peers this way and that in quest of its small prey. If it fly toward one, the wlute front of its wings, added to its white breast and neck, gives it the appear- ance of a white bird with a black head. It often has a noticeable way of turning partly around or cutting backward as it drops in securing some object detected on or near the surface of the water, thus making it appear decidedly lithe and agile on the wing " (Langille). The Little Gull (601. Larua minutuK), a European Rpeeiea, has been taken only once iu America— -on Long Island, in September, 1887 (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 171). Ross's Gill {(11. Uhodostethia rosea), an arctic species, is knov/n from Point Barrow, Aliiska; Melville Peninsula; England, Faroes, and Heligoland ; but has been found in numbers only at the first-mentioned locality. (See Murdoch, Kcp. of the Exp. to Point Barrow, p. 123.) 68* Zema sabinii (Sah.). SakinaV Gill. Ad. hi summer. — Whole head and throat slate-color, bordered posteriorly by black ; back and sides of the neck, under parts, e.\cept throat, and dhjhtly forked tail pure white ; back and win<;sdark pearl-gray; seeoiularlcs tipped with white ; first primary black, the inner half of tlie inner web, except at the end, white; second to fourth primnries similar, but tipped with white; bill black, the end yellow. Ad. in winter. — "Similar to the summer i)lumage, but the head and neck white, except occiput, nape, and auricular rcgicm, whicii are dull, dusky plumbeous" (B., B., and K.). Ini. — Forehead and lores white, rest of the upper parts ashy brown, the feathers slightly tipped with whitish ; tail white, broadly tipped with blackish; under parts white. L., 14-00; W., 10-50; T., 4-50; B., or). Jiange. — Arctic regions, in winter mijrrating only a short distance south- ward and rarely reaching the United States. Long Island, A. V'., one record. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to five, deep olive (vary- ing in intensity, however), rather indistinctly spotted or blotched with brown, 1-78 X 1"20 (Kidgw.). This boreal species is of rare occurrence in the northern United States in the winter. Subfamily Sternince. Terns. Terns arc littoral ; never, I believe, pelagic. They inhabit the shores of bodies of both fresh and salt water, but are more abundant on the seacoast than in the interior. Their principal characters, as compared with the Gulls, are mentioned under the subfamily Larinte. Their TERNS. T7 power of flight has dcsorvedly won for them the name of Sea Swal- lows. They capture their prey of small fish by plunging into the water, freciuently disappearing and swimming a few feet l)encath the surface. They nest in colonies. The nest is usually on the ground. Generally it is simply a slight depression in the sand, shells, or pebbles of a beach, or in the near-by seaweed, moss, or grasses. Sometimes it is scantily lined with bits of grass, seaweed, moss, etc., but these are frequently wanting. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing under 13-00. 1 Entire top of the liead jot-black. A. Bill black, or mostly black. a. Feet black or blackish, a». Under parts black or blackish 77. Black Tern. a*. Under parts white ; bill black . . . . C3. Gill-iulleu Tekn. a*. Under parts white; bill black, broadly tipped with yellow. 67. Cabot's Tern. b. Feet yellowish or oratijre. J*. Outer tail-feathers [lure white ; outer web of first primary blnck. 72. Roseate Tern. J>. Inner web of outer tail-feather gray ; outer web of first primary pray 69. Forstek's Tern. B. Bill mostly or entirely yellowish, reddish, brownish, or oranjre. a. Under parts tinged witli grayish ; outer web of outer tail-feather gray ; inner web wliite. a». Bill broadly tipped with blackish ; tarsus generally over •70. 70. Common Tern. o». Bill without a distinct black tip; tarsus generally under •70. 71. Arctic Tern. b. Under parts pure white ; inner web of outer tail-feather pray ; outer web white 69. Forsteu's Tern. 2. Forehead wliito; lores black; crown jet-black. ^. Wing under 8^00; back pearl -jrruy 74. Least Tern. B. Wing over 8^00; back grayish brown or blackish. a. Back grayish brown; a white stripe from the forehead over the eye. 76. Bridled Tern. b. Back blackish ; white of forehead not reaching over the eye. 7r). Sooty Tern. 3. Forehead or crown white or grayish, sometimes speckled with black ; lores not entirely black. A. Wing pearl-gray, over 9^00. a. Outer tail-feather entirely (iure white. a'. Bill over 1'75, tipped with yellowish a*. Bill under 1^75, without a yellow tip b. Outer tail-feather not pure white. 6». Inner web of outer tail-feather darker than outer web ; outer web . . 67. Cabot's Tern. 72. Roseate Tern (Iin.). I II 78 TERNS. Ill mostly or entirely wliite ; u bluek hjiuco pcncruUy on tho sule of tlio lieud inelosiiij; tlie eye tiV. Fdhstku's Tekn (Ini.). b*. Outer web of outer luil-feuther ilurker tliun inner web; tun«us over "70 70. Common Tkkn (Ini.). i*. Outer web of outer tuil-feuther clurker thai» iinier web; tursus under •70 VI. Aiu'Tic Tehn (Ini.). Ji. Win^' Ijliieki.Hh, over '.»00. a. Under parts blucki.sii 75. Sooty Tern Hni.). b. Under purtt* white 7<>. Hitini.Ei) Teun (Ini.). 4. Crown silvery gray ; lores black ; rest of plumage sooty black. 79. Noddy. II. Wing over 13-00. A. Wing 1. ')■(»() or over; outer primary mostly gray. 64. Caspian Tern. Ji. Wing under 15-00; inner half of inner wob of tinst i»riniary wliite. 65. KoYAi Tern. d Fia. 01.— First primarfps of adult Terns, seen from below, (n) Caspian Tern; (.6) Royal Tern ; (c) Common Tern ; (d) Arctic Tern ; (e) Roscat« Tern. 68. Gelochelidon nilotica Hnssdq. GiLL-niLLED Tern; Marsh Tern. Ad. in summer. — Top of tho head and nape black; baclt and wings pale pearl-gray ; outer web of outer primaries silvery ; tip and shaft part of the inner web darker; inner part of the inner web, except for a narrow mar- t! • li I ll ! TERNS. 79 gin at the ond of the feother, white ; tail wliite, Hlij^htly forked, the middle feathers yayish ; under parts white ; bill and feet black, the former rather short ami ^tout. .1'/. in winCir. — Similar to the alM)ve, but toj» of the head white, aurieulara yrayi^h, and a spaee in front of the eye blackish. L., 14i)0; W., I'iOO ; T., 5-50 ; B., 1-40 ; depth of B. at busc, -50. h'ant/e. — Cosmopolitan ; in North America breeds ulon;: the (Julf coast from Mexico to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast north to V'irj,'inia, straying northward rarely to Maine. Wjushinjjrton, casual. Lonj,' Island, A. V. in summer. Jlijijs, three to live, rather uniform butly white, with numerous distinct and obacuro chocolate markings, 1-80 x 1-30. This is a common species on the coast of our Southern States. It is said to prefer insects, which it catches on the wing, to fish. Its voice is harsh and easily distinguishable from that of other Terns, wliile its heavy black bill will also serve to identify it. 64. Sterna tschegrava Lepfch. Casiman Tkrn. Ad. in i>pHng. — Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white; back and wings pearl- gray; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web (Fig. CI, a) ; bill coral- red, darker near the tip; feet black. Ad. after the hretdimj Ktaann and in toiiiter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black. //». — Top of head streaked with black and white ; back of k and under parts white; back, wing-coverts, and tertials pearl-gray, sp ..ed or barred with brownish black; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web; tail pearl- gray, more or less barred with brownish black ; bill orange-red ; feet black- ish brown. L., 21-00; VV,. ir,-20; T., 6-00; B., 2-80. Range. — A cosmopolitan species of irregular distribution ; in North Amer- ica, breeds locally from Texas lo Great Slave Lake ; migrates througli the in- terior and on the coast, and apparently does not winter within our limits. Long Island, uncommon T. V., Aug. and Sept. Effgs, two to three, grayish white or butfy wiiite, with rather small, dis- tinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2-70 x 1-83. This large Tern of local distribution is to be known by its size and red bill. Unless the two were seen together, however, I do not believe it could with certainty be distinguished in life from the Koyal Tern. 65> Sterna maziiiia /?''/. m-T^W/jf/.— Topand back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white ; back and wings pearl-gray ; inner web of primaries, except at the tij), white ; tip, outer web, and shaft part of inner web dark, silvery slate-color (Fig. til, h). Ad. after the breeding seanon and in winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black and white. Im. — Resembling the young of iS'. tscheijrai'u, but smallc; and with the inner half of the inner web of the primaries wliite. L., 19-00; W., 14-00; T., 7-00; B., 2-50. Itange. — Breeding in North America along the Gulf coast from Texas to p i 'li ;. 80 TERNS. Floridii, and on the Atlantic coast to Vir^jrinia ; occasionally wanders north- ward to the Great Lakes and Ma.ssaehusett8. Loi);l' Island, A. V. in suiiiiiier. Eijtjii, (JUL' to four, more pointed than those of the precedin; in Forster's Tern the inner web is always ilarker than the outer one. Ailult Common Terns have the breast and belly washed with pearl-gray., wlnle in Forster's Tern these parts are pure white. The Common Tern differs from the Arctic Tern in having the bill tipped 7 !! ii i; If 82 TERNS. with black instead of being entirely red ; in having longer tarsi, and in the color of the primuries. lianijc- -" Greater part of the northern hemisphere and Africa ; in North America diiefly confined to the eastern province " (A. (.). U.). Breeds locally both on the coast and in the interior from the Gulf States to the Barren Grounds and Greenland. Washington, 'rregular T. V., sometimes common. Long Island, common S. K., May through Sept. Sing Sing, casual in late summer. Cambridge, casual in Sept. /-V/f/*, tiiree to four, not distinguishable witli certainty from those ot the preceding, but averaging paler and greener, and less iieavily marked, 1-CO X 1-iiO. It is five years since I visited the breeding grounds of the colony of Common Terns on Gull Island, L. I., but 1 can close my eyes and still feel the air vibrate with the harsh, half-threatening, half-pleading chorus of nearly two thousand excited voices. There is a dull, heavy, hopeless monotone, broken only by the scream of some half-maddened bird who fearlessly darts downward to protect its nesl- at ray feet. A shot is fired ; there is a moment of awe-struck silei ,ce, then, with re- newed violence, the screaming is resumed. Panu'^monium reigns: tearr, terrrr, /iwinh ! the air is full of darting, diving, crying Terns. It was useless to attempt to secrete myself. At no time during my stay did the outcry cease or hovering flock disperse. This little, barren, uninhabited, sandy island — only a few acres in extent — and Muskeget Island, off the Massachusetts coast, are the only localities, from New Jersey to Maine, where the once abundant Com men Tern, or Sea Swallow, v»iii be found in any numbers. What an illus- tration of the results of man's greed and woman's thoughtlessness! The fickle fashion wiiiuh indorsed the poor Tern's spotless plunuige has long since found new favorites, and the sadly iMangled pearl-gray feathers have gone to graves in the ash-heap. Now it is the Egret's turn. Evon vhe protection afforded by an insular home was not sufficient. Feather hunters, (^g:g robbers, and self-styled oOI.igists came in boats to drive the Sea Swallows from their last resort ; but the law inter- fered, and both Gull and Muskeget Islands now have a paid keeper whose duty it is to protect the Terns. 71* Stemai paradiflMea liri'mn. Arctic Tern. — Very similar in color to tiie Common Tern, from whicii it differs in liaving less gray on tiio shaft part of the inner web of the outer primaries (Fig. 61,(/) ; in having the tail somewhat longer, the tai*si and bill shorter, while the latter, in the adult, is generally without a bhick tip. L., ITroO; W., lO'So; T., T-fiO; Tar., -65; B.,l-nO. liaiige. — " Northern hemisphere ; in North America, breeding from Massa- TERNS. 83 Egret's niilar in y on tho Lving tho ic adult, 'ar., '65; n Massa- chusetts to the arctic regions, and wintering southward to Virginia and Cali- fornia" (A. (>. U.i. Long Island, rare in pumnier. Eijiji*, tliroe to four, not distinguishahle with certainty from those of tho preceding, l"tJ2 x 1-15. Comparing tho notes of this bird with those of the Common Torn, Mr. Brewster writes: "Their notes are similar, but several of them can be distinguished. The usual cry of S. macrnra [-zz pamdim'a^ cor- responds to the tvarr of S. hirundo, but is shriller, ending in a rising inflection, and sounding very like the squeal of a pig. The bird also has a short, harsh note similar to that of Forster's Tern. At any dis- tance within fair gun-range I could usually separate it from Wilson's [= Common] Tern by '^» longer tail, and by the uniform and deeper color of the bill. In flight and habits the two seemed to me identical " (Birds Observed on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 402). 78. Sterna dougalli Montaij. Roseate Tern. Ad. in ninnmcr. — Whole top of the hi-ad black; back and wings pearl-gray; outer web of pri- nuiries and sliaft part of the inner web slaty black (Fig. 61, e); under parts white, generally delicately tinted with pinkish; tail ^Mr<^ white; bill black, the Vjaae reddish •, feet red. Ad. in u'inter. — Similar to the above, but front of the head white, more or less streaked or spotted wiLh black ; under parts pure white. /m.,Jirst plumat/e. — " Pileum and nape pale butfy grayish, finely mottled or sprinkled with darker, and streaked, especially on the crown, with dusky ; orbital and auricular regions dusky blackish ; remainder of the head, extreme lower part of tlic nape, and entire lower parts white, the nape, and sometimes the breast, finely mottled with bully gray ; back, scapulars, wing- coverts, rump, upper tail-eoverts, and tail pale pearl-l^lue, the back and scapu- lars overlaid witli pale buff irregularly mottled with dusky, eacli feather with a submarginal dusky V-sluiped mark ; prinuiry coverts and primaries dark bluish-gray edged with paler, the inner webs of the latter broadly edged with white ; tail-feathers marked near their ends much like the longer scapulars, their outer webs rather dark grayish ; bill brownisli dusky ; feet dusky." L., 15-50; VV., "J-50; T., 7'50; B., 1-50 (B., B., and R.). Itryige. — Temperate and tropical regions ; in America apparently confined to tho Atlantic coast, V>reeding from Florida northward to Maine; compara- tively rare north of southern New Jersey ; winters south of the L'nited States. Long Island, uncojumon but regular S. R., May through Sept. ^V/.'/AS three, not distinguishable with certainty from those of S.forsteri or S, hirundo, but averaging paler and less heavily marked, 1-65 x 1-20. This species is found associated with colonies of Common Terns, apparently making its nest among theirs. It is a less excitable, wilder bird than hirundo, and its single harsh note, each, may be distinctly hoard above tho uproar of Commou Terns, as it hovers somewhat in I ■Mill t i ' I II 1 1 84 TERNS. the background. Its white breast and long outer tail- feathers also aid in distinguishing it. 74* Sterna antillarum (Le»H.). I^eabt Tern. Ad. in summer.-^ Forehcud wh'itu, lores and crown bhiek ; buck, tail, and winj^s pearl-gray; outer web of outer primaries uiid sliatt part of tlic iinier web slaty black ; under parts white; bill yellow, generally tipped with black; feet orange. Ad. in winter. — Top of head white, more or less spotted with black ; back of head black ; bill blackish. ///*. — L'j>per parts and tail at the eutl mottled with blackish and bufl'y, primuri' s as in the adult, under parts white, bill blackish. L., 900 ; W., O-'JO ; T., 3-r>0 ; B., MO. Jiamje. — Northern South America northward to California, Dakota, and. Massachusetts, rarely to Labrador; breeds locally throughout its range, and winters south of the United States. Washington, casunl T. V. Long Island, rare in summer, E(j(js., three to four, buffy white, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 1-25 X -'JO. This, the smallest of our Terns, resembles its congeners in habits, though it is said to add insects to its usual fare of fisli. Its voice is described as " a sharp squealv, much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother." 76. Sterna ftiliginosa Omd. Sootv Terv. yf(/.— Forehead and a line reaching to the eye white, lores and rest of the liead black ; nape, back, and wings brownish black, nearly as dark as the head; outer tail-feathers white, brownisii on the end half of the inner web; rest of tail-feathers of the same color as the back ; under parts white ; bill and tcet black. ///*., Jirst fil latiatf e.—i^ooty slate-color; linings of the wings and under tail-coverts whitish ; wing-coverts, scapulars, upper tail-coverts, and tail-fcathcs more or less tipped with white. L., 17-00 ; W., 11-50; T., 7-2-); R., 1-75. Ji'ant/e. — Tropical and subtropical regions; in North America breeds rarely 08 far north as Nortli Carolina; occasionally wanders northward to Maine; winters south of the United States. Long Island, A. V. in smnmer. E(/t/s, one to three, whitish or buff, speckled or spotted with eliocolate, 2-00 X 1-45. A regular snmmcv visitant to our southern coasts and occasionally wandering northward. It breeds in colonies in lit tic- frequented islands in the West Indies, and may be seen fishing in flocks, which hover low over the water. The Bridled Tern (7G. Sterna amrthctus), a (ropioal species, has been taken once in Florida, but may prove to be a regular summer visitant to some of the Florida keys. 77« Hydrochelidon ni^ra surinamensis ( Gmel.). Black Terx. //(/. !n mittiiiicr. — Whole head and inider parts, except under tail-coverts, black ; back, wings, and tail slate-color; bill and feet black. Ad. in winter. SKIMMERS. 85 — Forcheatl, nnpo, nml under porta wliite: back of the head bluck mixed with wliite; huek, win^s, and tail deep pearl-jrray. //«. — Similar to the pre- cedin^r, but upper parts more or \cxn washed antl tipped with brownish ; sides washed with prayish. L., lOOO; W., S'.'iO; T., SW; B., 1-00. Jianije. — Temperate and tropieal Anieriea; bneds in th. interior from Kansas and Illinois to Alaska; not known to breed on the . tlantic eoast, where it is found from I'rinee Edward's Island southward p , «u irregular migrant, oeeurring at times in consiilcrable numbers. Washington, irregular T. V., Sejtt. Long Ibland, irregular T. V. in vary- ing nun.bers, Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, A. V^., Sept. A'cxt, of reeds, grasses, etc., rather closely woven, in grassy marshes or vegetation floating in u slough. Af/f/«, two to tliree, grayish olive-brown, rarely whitish, heavily spotted and blotched with clioeolate markings, fre- quently confluent about the larger end, 1'35 x -OS. This is an abundant species at favorable localities in the interior. " It seems not to subsi.st on fish at all, but chiefly on dragon flies and various aquatic insects. It finds both its home and its food in the marshes usually, but its powers of flight are so great thnt it may also be seen far out on the dry open plains, scouring the country for food at a distance of miles from its nesting ground. . . . " The bird may fre(|uently be seen dashing about in a zigzag man- ner so swiftly, the eye can offer no explanati(m of its motive until, on the resumptili ajipcars as a lino from the bill to above the eye. L., bvOO ; W., 10-25 ; T., o-'JO ; B., 1-70. A*a«f/e.—" Tropical and subtropical regions; in America, from Brazil and Chili north to the Gulf and South Atlantic States" (A. <>. U.). Xed, of sticks, grasses, etc., on a mangrove bush, in a tree, sometimes on the beach or in crevices of rocks. Egij^ pale butl'y w liitc, sparingly marked with rufous, 2-05 x 1-35. This is a summer visitant to our South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and nests on some of the Florida keys. Family RYNCHOPiDiE. Skimmers. The three closely allied species constituting this small but distinct family are found in the warmer parts of the earth. Only one species 86 ALBATROSSES. inhabits the western hemisphere. Skimmers are unique both in the form of the bill and in their manner of foeilinj;^- Opening the moutii, tlio bladolike lower mandible is dropped just beneath the surface of the water ; then, flying rapidly, they may be said to literally " plow the main '' in search of their food of small aquatic animals. 80* Bynchops nigrtL Linn. Black Skimmkr; Scissor-kim. (sgo Fijr. 8). J(/.— Forelieml, wides of the head, under parts, and tips of the sec- onchiries wliito; upper parts and \vinj,'s black ; outer tail feathers white, inner onus more or less hrowuish. L., 18-00 ; VV., 14-50 ; T., 4 75 ; B., li'tlO. Jia/iije. — Coasts of tlic wanner parts of Ainerica, brecdinj; ri'f,'ularly as far north as southern New Jersey, and, after tlie breeding season, oceasionally wandering northward as far as tlu; Bay of Fundy. Washington, A. V. Long Island, occasional in sninnier. JVest, a slight depression in the sand or shells of a beach. Ktfffn, three to four, white or bully white, heavily blotched with chocolate, 1-80 x 1*35. A not uncommon species on our southern coasts, resembling other members of this family in habits. If ORDER TUBINARES. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. ?! i Family Diomedeid^. Albatrosses. The Albatrosses, nund)ering eight or ten species, are confined chiefly to the seas of the southern hemisphere. They are endnently pelagic birds, possessed of untiring powers of flight. Four species visit our Pacific coast, but on the Atlantic coast of North Ainerica Albatrosses are almost unknown, and there are but few records of their occurrence. The Wani>kuin(» Albatross {80'1. Diomcdca eru/ans), the largest of all sea birds, with an expanse of wing which measures from twelve to fourteen feet, inliabits antarctic seas, but sonietinies wanders northward, and is said to luive been seen in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Vkllow-nosei) Albatross (8.i. Thahoxnpernn rulminatus) is also a soutliurn species which is said to have been taken once in Quebec (Chamber- lain, NuttalPs Manual, ild ed., ii, p. 277). Family Procellariid^. Shearwaters and Petrels. The seventy known species of Petrels nre distributed over the seas of the world. Some thirty species have been found in North America, of which seven occur regularly on our Atlantic coast. Like their large relatives, the Albatrosses, they are strictly pelagic, and visit the land oidy to nest. The strong, swift flight of Shearwatt. ;, and the graceful movements of the smaller " Mother Carey's Chickens," are familiar sights to those who go "down to the sea in ships." SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 87 KEY TO TllK Hl'K('IES. I. Win}? over 10-50. A. L'lukr imrts artrt bluish gray tti). Scaled Petrel. A'. Upper parts sooty blaek 92. Aidiuon's Shearwater. Ji. Wing under 7-25. a. Upper tail-eoverts more or less wliite. a». Tail forked lOt?. Leach's TETREt. 6'. Tail srownish. fA. Entire under parts brownish 101. Bilwer's Petrel. /''. Breast grayish 110. Whitk-kelliki) 1'etrel. i*. Entire under parts wliite 111. Wihtk-kaied Petrel. 86* FulnULTUS glaciaJis (/.hm.). Filmar; Noddy fseo Fig. 0, /<). Li(jht phani'. — Head, iK'ck. ami under parts white or whitish ; back, wings, and tail slaty gray. Dark phum: — Entire pluiiuiL'e nearly uniform dark, slaty gray. L., IH-OO; W., l.']-(U; B.. 1-r.O; depth of B. at base. -T'- (Uidirw.). Raiuje. — North Atlantic; south in winter on the Amerieaii cf>ast to Massa- chusetts; accidental in northern New Jersi-y. A\xt, on the ledges of roeky dill's, h'ljij, one. dull wliitc, 2-8r) x 2'01. "The Fulninr is a coiistiuit atlciulaiit on wlmlers. soalcrs, etc. — who know it a.s the ' Molliinoko' — in ordor to ohlaiii fatty substances and animal offal : but I never saw it take any while on the vvinj?. and it always settles on the water to feed, like an Albatross. The pinions are often flapped slowly in an owl-like manner, but in scudding they are held very straight — a peculiarity by which it nuiy easily be distin- guished from a Gull at a distance" (Saunders). 86a» F. g, minor h'Juirh. Lkssku Fclmar; Xohdv. "Similar in color to F. fflariaUs, but much smaller. W., 11-80-12-tHi; B., 1-30-1-38; depth of B. at base, •t;0--70." /I'ffwf/c— " North Atlantic, south on Americuu side to coast of New Eng- land" (14idgw.), 88 SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. f'^ 88. PnlBniUI borealls Con/. Cory's Shearwater, ylt^.— Upper parts u-shy fusoous, wings uMtl tail darker; sides of head and neck slightly lighter; under parts white, sonietiincs washed with grayish on the breast; under wing-eoverts and under tail-coverts whitt, the latter more or less mot- tled with gravish ; hill yellowish. L., 21-0(>; W., 14-00; Tar., '2-20; H., 210. Kantje.— \nown us yet only off the Atlantic coast I'rom Massachusetts to Long Island. Long Island, uncommon from Aug. to Oct. iVe*< anhick ; under parts slightly lirowiicr ; upper tail- coverts white, tiie longer ones broadly //yy*t(/ with filtwk ; under tail-coverts mi.\ed with whitish; bill and feet black. L., 5-50; W.,4-80; T., i-'-oO; B., -45. Jiange. — " Atlantic Ocean, south on the American side to the Newfound- land Punks, west coast of Africa and coast of Kurope "' ( A. O. V .). Kest, of a few bits of sticks and grasses in a i)Urrow in the ground or V)e- neath a rock. Kcr tail-coverts Avliite, shorter ones marked with sooty l)lack ; wing-coverts grayisli, margined witli wliitish ; bill and feet black, the webs of the latter mostly yellow. L., 7'00 ; W., 590 ; T., 2-80 ; B., -.TO. ^an,^*".— Atlantic Ocean ; breeds in southern seas (Kcrguelen Island) and migrates northward, spending the summer off our coasts. Washington, A. V., one record. Long Island, connnon from May to Sept. Nest, in the crevices of rocks. E/)'*) is found in tlic " South Pa- cific, West Indies, and northward to Florida," but there are no recent records of its occurrence in the last-named locality. The REn-FooTEi) Boohy {116. iSula pisrator) inhabits the coasts and islands of tropical and subtropical seas, north to ^vestcrn Mexico, and is said to occur in Florida, l)ut, like S. cyanopx, it is of accidental occurrence within our limits. 117» Sula baBSana (Linn.). Gannet. ^1.'ruyish plumes; upper back with numerous elongated silvery white sjiots, wliicli on the scapulars become streaks ; lesser wing-coverts spotted like the back ; ex- posed portion of median and greater coverts silvery gray ; tail ti[)ped with whitish, the outer webs of the michlle pair of feathers with transverse flutings. Ad. i in ?viriter. — Similar, but without the greyish plumes on the head and neck. .id. 9 . — Similar to S , but with the whole head, neck, and breast brownish, darker above, /'ti. — SimiU:r to 9 , l/'it with tlie black parts of the plumage brownish. L., 34-00; W., 13-50; T., 10-50; B., 3-25. lianje. — Tropical and subtropical America; breeds as far nortli as south- em Illinois and South Carolina; winters from tlie Gulf States southward. Kest, of sticks lined with moss, rootlets, etc., over the water in a bush or tree. i\f(/x, two to four, bluish white with a challvv deposit, 2-15 x 1-35. This SI .,ular bird is common in the Gulf States. It has the habits of other members of this small family. 94 CORMORANTS. Family Phalacrocoracid^. Cormorants. Cormorants are found in all parts of the world. Ten of the thirty known species inhabit North America. As a rule they are maritime, but they also frequent bodies of fresh water far from the seacoast. 'J'hey are gregarious at all times of the year and breed in large colo- nies. Their flight is strong and dueklike, but, except when migrat- ing, is generally not far above the surface of the water. They secure their food of fish by pursuing it under water, their hooked bill assist- ing them in its capture. Unlike the Gannets, they do not dive from the air, but from the water or a low perch. 110. Phalacrocoraz carbo (Linn.). Cormorant; Siiao. (Sec Fig. 10.) Ad. in breedin0 ; B., 2-30. h'aiKje, — Eastern North America, breeding from Dakota, and the Bay of Fundy northward; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward. Washington, casual, several records. Long Island, common T. V., .'Vpl. PELICANS. 95 nnd Muy ; Au^j. to ^fov. Sing Sing, A. V., Juno. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Nest, of sticks, seaweed, etc., on the ledges of cliJs, low bushes, bushy trees, ccie» found on the west Gulf i!oust and southward — sometimes wanders up the Mis- sissippi as far as Illinois. Family Pelecanid^. Pelicans. The twelve known species of Pelicans arc distributed throughout the warmer parts of the world. Throe species arc North American, of which two are exclusively jnaritime, while the third is found both on the coast and in the interior. Pelicans are gregarious and nest in large colonies. Their flight is strong but leisurely, six or seven wing- strokes being followed by a short sail, all the members of a flock flap- ping and sailing in unison. Tliey feed on fish, for which some .species plunge from the air, while others capture small fry with their scoop- like pouches while swimming. 185. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus Omd. American White Pelicax, Ad. in breeding pluina/je. — White, prliniiries black, whitish at the base ; an occipital crest and a Iiorny i)rn ivinter. — Similar, but without the crest or iioriiv pnniiim-nce. /in. — Similar, hut top of the head brownish gray. L., (iO'OO; W., 22-00; Tar., 4-50; B., U-00. liUnr/fi. — North .\merica, now rare or accidental on the .•\tlantic coast; breeds from southern Minnesota northward; winters along the Gulf coast. Washington, casual, four records. Long Island, A. V. jVcuf, of small stiiiks, on the ground. AV/f/*, two to four, creamy or bluish white with u chalky deposit, more or less stained, 3'45 x 2-30. 96 PELICANS. t|. if \v i f: The White Pelican winters in numbers on the Gulf coast of Florida and westward, but rarely occurs on the Atlantic coast. Its snowy white plumage renders it conspicuous at a great distance, and a far- away Pelican on the water is sometimes mistaken for a distant sail. The White Pelican catches his food while swimming. A flock of Pelicans will sometimes surround a school of small fry and with beat- ing wings drive them toward the shore, all the time eagerly scooping the unfortunate fish into their great pouches. At the conclusion of a successful " drive " they go ashore or rest quietly on the water and devour their prey at leisure. They migrate by day — and perhaps by night also — flying at a great height, and soraoUmes pausing to sail in wide circles far up in the sky. 126* PelecanuB fliscus Linn. Buown Pelican. Ad. in breed- ing plumage. — Toj) of the head and a spot on tlie upper breast straw-yellow ; lino down either side of tlie breast white ; hind head, neck, and a spot on tho fore neck seal-brown ; sides and back silvery gray bordered by brownish black ; scapulars, win;;-coverts, secondaries, and tail silvery fijray ; priuiariea black ; under parts dark blackish brown narrowly streaked with wliite. Ad. after the breeding seawn. — Similar, but with the hind head and whole neck white, more or less tin^red with straw-yellow. Ji.i. — Similar to the preceding, but the head and neck grayish and rest of the plumage duller. L., 50-00; W., 19-50; Tar., 2-(Jo ; B., 11-00. lianfje. — Atlantic coast of tropical and subtropical America; breeds abun- dantly along the Gulf coast and northward to South Carolina ; occasionally strays to Illinois and Massachusetts. Long Island, A. V. AW, of stick.s, in mangrove bushes or on the ground, Eij(j8.i two to five, similar in color to those of the preceding species, 3-00 x 1-95. Brown Pelicans are abundant residents on 'the Florida and Gulf coast. They are generally seen in flocks of four to eight birds flying one after the other. The leader beats time, as it w^ere, and they all flap in unison for a certain number of wing-beats, then sail for a short distance, and then flap again. The coast line is their favorite high- way to and from their roosts or nesting grouiuls. They fly low over the water just outside the breakers, following the trough of the sea — now disappearing behind the advancing wall of water, now reappear- ing as the wave breaks on the shore. Unlike the White Pelican, this species secures his prey by diving. Singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, they beat back and forth, generally about twenty feet above the water, and when opportunity offers plunge downward with such force that the spray dashes high about them, and the res\ilting nplanh may be heard a half a mile. They sometimes catch fish twelve to fifteen inches in length, but as a rule feed on smaller ones. I Florida ;s snowy d a far- t sail, flock of ith beat- scooping iion of a iter and a great the sky. in hreed- -yellow ; ot on the jrownish iriiuariea ite. Ad. ole neck •eceding, L,., 50-00 ; els abun- isionally 3 to five, m\ Gulf 5 flying they all a short ;e high- 5W over le sea — appear- diving. nerally plunge sm, and letiines eed on ti i j: ii ri ] (I t if 1. Bald pate. 2. Ureeii winded Teal. 3. Blut'-wiiiKt'd Teal. 4. Shoveler. 5. Pintail. (5. Wood Duck. ~. Redhead. 8. Caiivasbaok. it. .\ni. Seaup Duck. 10. Am. (Jolden-eye. 11. Biifflehead. V2. f)kl Stiuaw. Vi. Oreeiilaiid Eider. 14. White-winded Scoter. 15. Ruddy Duck. MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. Family Freqatid^. Man-o'-war Birds. 97 Man-o'-war Birds, or Frigate Birds, are found throughout inter- tropical seas. One of tlie two known species occurs in America. They are strictly maritime, and, •.■,:' Me sometimes observed at great distances from the land, are met with in numbers only near the coasts. They have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their body than any other bird, and in pov/er of flight are unsurpassed. They rarely alight upon the water, but, facing the wind, pass hours resting motionless on outstretched wings, sometimes ascending to great heights and calmly soaring far above storms. It is when feed- ing that their marvelous aerial powers are displayed to the best advan- tage. By swift, indescribably graceful darts they secure fish which are near the surface or capture those which have leaped from the \vater to escape some enemy below. They also pursue Gulls and Terns, and, forcing them to disgorge their prey, catch it in midair. As a rule they are gregarious at all seasons, and nest and roost on bushes near the shore. 188> Fregata aquila {Linn.). Man-o^-war Bird; Frigate Bird, (Scc Fig. 1.').) Ad. & . — Entire pliimujre black, more glossy above. 9 .— Sinii- lur, but browuT; lesser wing-eoverts grayish brown; breast and upper belly white. Im. — Similar to the 9 , but whole liead and neok white. L., 40-00 ; W., 25-00; T., 17-00; B., 4-r)0. A'a/zf/c— Tropical and subtropical coasts generally; in America north to Florida, Texas, and Califoruia, and casually to Kansas, Ohio, and ^'ova Scotia. Long Island, A. V., one record. jS'est, of sticks, in colonies, on bushes or rocks. E(j(/, one, chalky white, 2-65 X 1-75. This species is not uncommon on the coasts of southern Florida, but does not, so far as I know, nest there. It resembles other mem- bers of the family in habits. "" ORDER ANSERES. LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS. Family Anatid^e. Ducks, Geese, and Stvans. The two hundred species included in this family are placed in the five subfamilies, MenjimB or Mergansers, Anntinm or River Ducks, Fnlujulince or Sea Ducks, Anxerinoi or Geese, and Cynuinir or Swans. The characters given in the Key to Families should enable one to easily refer a specimen to its proper group. These subfamilies are so well defined that it seems advisable to treat of each one separately. 8 il Mi ■'[ 98 MERGANSERS. Aside from the general remarks at the head of each subfamily I can add little which will aid in the identification of the species in the field. Ducks are shy creatures, and familiarity with their habits is gained only by long experience. Subfamily Merginm. Mergansers. The Shelldrakes or Sawbills are fish-eating Ducks. They pursue and capture their prey under water, and their serrate bills seem espe- cially adapted to this mode of feeding. The flesh of adult Sheldrakes is rank and fishy; but the Hooded Merganser is an excellent table Duck. KEY TO SPE01E8. A. Bill under 1"75, wing 800 or under .... 131; Hooded Merganser. £, Bill over 1'75, wing over 8-00. a. Head und throat black. a'. Breast and bully white, tinged with sahnon. 129. Am. Merganser ( 6 ad.). a'. Breast brownish, thickly streaked and spotted witli black. 130. Red-breasted Merganser ( 6 ad.). b. Head and sides of tlie neck rich rufous- brown; distance from nostril to end of bill less than 1-50 . . . . 129. Am. Merganser ( 9 and iiu.). c. Crown grayisli brown, more or less washed with cinnamon-rufous; sides of the neck cinnamon-rufous; distance from nostril to end of bill over 1"50 130. Red-breasted Merganser ( 9 and ini.). 189. Merganser americanus {Ca»s.). American Merganser; Goosander; Shelldrake. (8ce Fig. K}.) Ad. S. — Wliole head and upper neck glossy greenish black ; hind neck, secondaries, lesser wing-coverts, and ends of greater ones wliite ; back black, rump and tail ashy gray ; breast and belly white, delicately tinged with salmon. Ad. 9 and Im. — Chin a'ul upper tliroat white ; lower throat and entire top of the liead rufous-brown ; rest of upper parts and tail ashy gray ; speculum* wliite; breast and belly white. L., 25-00; \V., lO-oO; Tar., 1-8.5; B. from N., l-f)0. Ramje. — North .\mcrica generally ; lirccds from Minnesota nnd southern New Brunswick northward; winters from Kansas, Illinois, and Maine south- ward to South Carolina. Wiisliington, rare W. V. Long Island, uncommon W. V., Nov. to Mch. Sing Sing, toleral)ly common T. V., Jan. 1 to Mch. 8. Cambridge, formerly common T. V., Oct. to Dec. AV,s'<, of leaves, grasses, and moss, lined with down, in a hole in a tree or clift'. Eij(j»^ six to ten, creamy Iniff, 2-05 x 1-75. " This bird is fond of plunging beneath rushing currents for its food, and should it encounter a raft of floating rubbish or an ice-cake ♦ A patch in the wing formed by the end half of the secondaries, which ia Ducks are generally of a different color from the rest of the wing-feathers. MERGANSERS. 99 Moh. tree or lor its -cake lich in it will readily pass undornoath it. It swims so dooply as to afford tlie gunner but a small mark, and dives so quickly at the snap or flash of his gun that he stands but a small chance of killing it. '• On being surprised the Goosander may rise directly out of the water, but more connnonly pats the surface with his feet for some yards and then rises to windward. A whole flock thus rising from some foaming current affords a spirited scene. Once on the wing, the flight is straight, strong, and raiiid" (Langille). 130« Merganser serrator (Linn.). KKu-nREASTEo Mekganser; SiiELLDKAKE. Ad. 6. — Wliole lictid und tlirout black, inorc greenish above; a wliite ring around tlie neck; a broad cin/ta/non-rti/oua band with black streaks on the upper breast and sides of the lower neek ; lestor wing-eoverts, tips of greater ones, secondaries, breast, anil belly wliite; rump and sides finely barred with black and wliite. Ad. 9 (tml fin. — Top and back of head grayish brown wasiied with einiiainon-rufous; sides of the head and tiiroat cinnainon-rufous, paler on the throat; rest of under parts white; back and tail ashy gray; speculum wiiite. L., '22'0O; W., DOO; Tar., 1*70; B. from N., 1-80. Hemarks. — Adults of tiiis and the jtreeediiig species may always be dis- tinguisiied by the color of the breast; females and young, by tiie ditferently colored heads, while the position of the nostril is always diagnostic. h'ange. — Northern parts of the northern hemispliere; in .Vnierica l>reed8 from northern Illinois and New Brunswick northward to the arctic regions; winters from near the southern limits of its breciliiig range southward to Cut)a. Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, abundant T. V., Mcli. 1 to May 1 ; ^)ct. IT) to Dec. 1, a few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Dec. to Apl. 30. Cambri'lge, casual, one instance, Oct. Kest., of leaves, grasses, mosses, etc., lined with down, on the ground near water, among rocks or scrubby bushes, t^ggs^ si.K to twelve, creamy bulf, 2-55 X 1-75. This is a more common species than the preceding, which it resem- bles in habits. Its note is described as a " croak." 131* liOphodsrtescucullatus (/.//"!.). IIoodeo Mcrganser. Ad. s. — Front part of large circular crest blaek ; remaining i)art white, bordered by black ; rest of head, the neck, and bad: black ; breast and l)elly white; sides cinnamon-rufous, linely barred with black. Ad. 9 . — Upper throat white ; head, neck, and upper breast grayish brown, more or less tinged with cinnamon, especially on the small crest; lower lireast and belly white; sides grayish brown ; back fuscous. //w.^Similar, but with no crest. L., 17".')"; W., 7'r)0; Tar., 1-10; B., 1-45. Range. — North Amcriea generally, south in winter to Cuba and Mexico ; breeds locally throughout its North American range. Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, uncommon T. V., rare W. V., Nov. to May. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Mch. Cambridge, formerly common T. v., Oct. to Dec. immm I 1 ! I I i 1 ( 100 RIVER DUCKS. JVe«<, of grasses, leaves, moss, etc., lined with down, in a hollow tree or Btuinp near water. /iV/j/«, eight to ten, butty white, i!*lu x 1*75. According to Ernest E. Thompson, both the preceding species fre- quent chiefly " living " or running water, while this bird prefers " dead " waters, or quiet ponds and lakes. In Florida it lives in small ponds in the hummocks, where one expects to find Wood Dncks, and feeds on roots, seeds, etc. It visits also the lakes frequented by Black Ducks, Mallards, and other Anatince. The male is a striking bird in life, and can not be mistaken for any other species. Subfamily Anatince. River and Pond Ducks. The Ducks of this subfamily are distinguished by the absence of a lobe on the hind toe. They are, for the most par<:, northern breeding birds, and appear on our waters chiefly as migrants. At this time they differ but little in habits, and as a rule frequent sluggish streams, shallow ponds, arms of bays, and marshes. In comparison with the deep-water FutiguUnm they might be called "dabblers" or "tip-ups," and any one who has seen them dabbling along the shore, or with up- turned tail and head immersed probing the bottom in shallow water, like a flock of animated tenpins, will recognize the appropriateness of these terms. They feed upon mollusks, crustaceans, insects and their larvjp, seeds and roots of aquatic plants. The "gutters" on the sides of the bill act as strainers, and, after probing the bottom, the mere act of closing the bill forces out the mud and water taken in with the food. As a rule, they feed more commonly by night than by day. They do not gather in such large flocks as the Sea Ducks, and in our waters are generally found in groups of less than fifty. They spring from the water at a bound, and on whistling wing are soon beyond the fowler's reach. Their speed is variously estimated for different species at a hundred to a hundred and sixty miles an hour. Doubtless the first-named distance is nearer the truth. Their nest is composed of twigs, rootlets, grasses, leaves, moss, feathers, etc., lined with down from the breast of the incubating bird. All our species, except the Wood Duck, place their nest on the ground, generally in grassy sloughs or marshes, but sometimes in dry places some distance from the water. KEV TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing under S-SO. a. Lesser wing-coverts gray. 139. Green-winged Teal. 138. Et-ROPEAN Teal. b. Lesser wing-coverts blue. 6». Cheeks slate-color, a broad white mark near the front of the face. 140. Blue-winged Teal ( i ad.). i h: RIVER DUCKS. 101 moss, bird, round, places Teal. b*. Cheeks and under partachcHtnut-rufoufl. 141. Cinnamon Teai,( a ad.). c>. Cheeks finely streaked with Muekisli. c'. Under purtt* whitish, soiuftiiues washed with brownisli, streaked or spotted with hhiekish 140. lii.i K-wiMitu Tkal 9 . c*. Under parts lieavily wash<.d witli chestnut-rufous and mottled with black 141. Cinnamon Teal ». II, Wing over 8-50. A. Belly white or grayisli white, not conspicuously streaked or spotted. o. Whole head sliinin;^ dark j^recn 132. Mam.aki* ( S ud.). b. Center of head white or whitish, a large streak behind the eye. 137. Baldpate ( S ad.). c. Throat white, crown green or grayish greon, tips of primaries greenish. 144. Wooii Duck. d. Throat blackish, center of crown buffv, rest of head rufous. I'M. Wii)iiKi)N ( (J ad.). e. Throat and side-i of head olive-brown, darker on the crown. 14.}. I'lXT/Mi, { 9 ad.). /. Throat, crown, and sides of head more or less finely streaked with blackish. y*. Wing-coverts with more or less chestnut .... 135. Gauwall. y». No cliestnut in wing-coverts. . Lesser wing-coverts ashy blue 142. Siioveler9. 6>. Lesser wing-coverts l>rownish gray, bordered witli white or tipped with black. /A Speculum + purple 132. Mallard 9. fts. Speculum gray and white . 130. (Jadwall 9 . b. No white in wihg-covcrts. a. Throat fulvous or hurty witluiut streaks. . . 1.34. Flouida I)i-ck, b. Throat finely streaked with i)lack 133. Black Dick. C. Belly fhestnut 142. SnovELEit S . 13S. Anas boSChaS Linn. >{ALLAiti> (see Fig. 17, a). A<1. S .— Whole head and iliroat irl"ssy greenish or bluish black; a white ring around the neck; breast rich chestnut; belly grayish white, finely marked witli wavy black lines; under tail-coverts black ; Mpjier back ilark grayish brown ; rutnp and upper tail-coverts black; longer upper tail-coverts recurved; speculum rich purple, bordered at the lu.se aiul tip by narrow bands (A'hiark and ir/n'fi'. Ad. 9 . — Top and sides of head streaked with fuscous and butl'y ; back fuscous. e. ad.). • See Fig. 64. + A colored patch in the wing. 102 RIVER DUCKS. the feathers witli internul rings or loops and sometimes horderH of pale ochra- ceouM Imrty ; s|>fC'iiluMi as in the precediii),'; lireufst uiul )w\\y oeiiraceous bully, mottled with du.sky >^niyi«h brown. J^., "Jiioo; \V., lloo; Tar, l-7r); B., 2-25. Kanye. — Northern parts of the northern hemisphere ; in Ameriea breeds in the interior fmiii Indiana and Iowa, and on the Atlantic eoast rarely south of Labrador, nortiiward t<> the aretie regions; winters from southern Kansas and Delaware southward to Central Ameriea and the island of (iranadu, Washiiif^ton, eomnion W. V. Long Island, uneonnnou T. V., Sept. to Apl. Sing Sing, rare T. V., (Jet., Meh. h'ljijK^ six to ten, pale greenish or bluish white, 2'30 x 1*70. The Mallard is far more common in the interior than on the coasts. Its loud, sonorous quack is not distinguishable from that of its domes- ticated descendants. 183. Anas Obscura Gmtf. Black Dci'k; DrsKY Dick. Ad.— Top of the lieud rieh fuseous, sliglitly streaked with pale butty ; sides of the head and throat pale bulfy, thickly streaked with blackish ; rest of under jiarts fuscous brown, the fei'.thers all bordered by oehraeeous-burt"; back slightly darker and narrowly margined with butty; speculum rich purple, bordered by black. L., 22-00; W., 11-00; Tar., 1-7;'); 15., 2-20. A'/;/.a Ditk. Jd. — Top of head streaked with black and bufty ; sides of the head and entire throat butty, without strxth ; rest of under parts rich bulfy oeliraeeous, widely streaked with black ; back black, the feathers broadly margined and sometimes inter- nally striped with ochraccous-butt'; speculum rich puri)le bordered by black; bill olive-yellow, its nail black. L., 20-00; W., 10-50; Tar., l-fiS; B., 2-05. h'eoiarh.—VAisUy ilistinguished from ./. obscura by the absence of streaks on the throat. Niuiije. — Florida and Gulf coast to Louisiana. /;>^/^ Aii. 9. — Head and throat as in the male; back fuscous margined with butl'y ; breast and sii/es ochruceous butfy, thickly spotted with blackish ; belly and under tail-coverts white, more or less thickly s|K)tted with blackish; little or no chestnut on wing-coverts; speculum ashy gray and wliite; axillars and under wing-co verts /ii/r« wfiite. L., l'J-50; W., 10'4(t; Tar., l-nr); R., 1-70. A'rt«f/er bieast vinaceous, lower 1)reast and belly white; «/., U-.'tO; W., 7-00 ; Tar.. MO : B., V'i'\ yiVfWf/f.— North America; breeds from Minnosnto and New Brunswick northward ; winters from Kansas and Virginia southward to the West Indies and Central America. Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. v., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. ; Sept. 11 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., Apl.; Sept. to Nov. Eggs, six to twelve, bufliy white or creamy buff, 1'80 x 1-25. RIVER DUCKS. 105 "In autumn the males usually keep in separate flocks from the femak'H ami younj;. Tlu'ir notes arc faint and pipin;;, and tlieir wings make a loud wiiistling during (light. . . ." (B., H., and i^). Tho EiRopKAN Tkai. { IdiS. ^««« creccrt) is of uoauiil oi'currenoc in North Anieriou. Tlic adult iiiulo rcsc'iiiblcs that <>f .(. vnro/i/n /inin, Imt tlic wliitc bur in front of the \vin<,' h- luckiu;;, and the iiuiur .Hcu[>ulars arc enamy Ixitf, witli a sliarjily di;tliicd bhiek mark on thuir outer webu. The fuiiiulo can not bo distinguished from that of A, carolinetisia. 140. Anas discors Linn. Hlvz-vhsuku Tkai.. .(7. S. — Crown fuscous, ciilii aiui silk's of tho base of tlie bill l)lack , a bri'ud white band across tlie front of tiie head, its hinder nuirj;in bordered by black ; rest of tho lieud and tliroat dark usliy with purplish reflections ; breast and belly cinnu- mou-rufous, thickly spotted with black ; back fuscous, the leathers with cres- cents of ochruceous-butf ; leaner anil mei/iu/i wiiitj-mvirts t/nii/inh blue, end luilf of the greater ones wldte ; speculum green. .\roeds from Kansn.«, northern Ohio, and New Brunswick northward; winters from Virginia and tho Lower Mi.ssissip.pi Valley lo northern Soutii America. Washington, common \V. V., Sept. to Apl. Loiii,' Island, common T. V. in Sept., rare T. V. in spring. Sing Sing, common T. V. in fall, Sejit. '-'4 to Oct. 17. Cambridge, rare in spring; very common iiit least formerly) Aug. to Oct. £'ff(js, six to twelve, butty wliite or creamy huflf, VB.I x 1-30. This generally silent species flies in densely mussed, small flocks, which move as one bird. The white face-mark ran be discerned at some distance, and, in connection with the bird's small size, is a good field-mark. Tlio CiNN'AMo.N Tkai. (I4I. .(//'rv ('.'/'/""/'Avv?), a species of western North America, sometimes occurs east of the .Mississippi. It has })cen recorded frnm Illinois and Florida. Tlic male has the utnlcr parts deep cinnamon; tho female closely resembles the same sc.x of our .1/*^^ ilitirorn. 142. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). Shovki.ku. ./'/. <^.— Mead and neck fuscous. glo.s.seil with bluish green ; back and a broken line down the back of the lower neck fuscous; rest of the lower neck and breast white; lower breast and belly rufous-clicstnut; upper and under tail-coverts dark greenish ; lesser wing-coverts grayish blue, greater ones brownish gray tipped with white; speculum green. Ad. 9. — Throat bufty white; head and neck streaked, with bufly and black ; rest of under jiurts more or less washed with '■■■ ^ 106 KIVER DUCKS. I li i U bulFy ocliraceous, everywhere indistinctly spotted with fuscous except on the niitkUe of tlie belly ; buck fuscous, the feathers with inari,Mns and internal crescents of wliitish and butfy ; \vin;,'-coverts and speculum much as in the male. Im. — The im. 6 is intermediate between the ad. 6 and 9 ; the ini. 9 resemble the ad. S , but the winj,'-coverts are slaty trray, the speculum with little or no green. I.., '2000 ; W., y-.W ; B., 2-50 ; greatest width of B., 1-20. JidiKje. — Jsorthern hemisphere; in America, more common in the interior; breeds regularly from Minnesota northward and locally as fur south as Texas; not known to breed in the Atlantic States; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southwanl to northern South America. Washington, not uncommon W. V. Long Island, rare T. V. Sing Sing, A. v., Oct. Ji(J(j8, six to ten, pale bully white or bluish white, 210 x 1-50. The Shoveler, like most of the members of this subfuniily, is more common in the Mississippi Valley than on the coast. It is generally a silent bird, but its note in the breeding season is said to be *' took, took.'^ It feeds largely by tipping in shallow water. 143. Daflla acuta {Linn.). Pintail; Spriotail. Ad. <$ .-— Head and throat olive-brown ; back of the neck blackish, bordered by white stripes, whicli pu.ss to the breu>t ; breast and belly white ; the abdomen faintly and the sides strongly marked with wavy lines of black and white ; back some- what darker than the sides; scapulars black, bordered or streaked with bulfy wliite ; wing-coverts brownish gray, the greater ones tipped with rufous ; speculum green ; central tail-feathers glossed with green and much elongated. Ad. 9 . — Throat white or wliitish, crown and sides of the liead streaked with blackish and butty ocliraceous, darker above; breast washed with butty ochraceous and spotted with blackish ; belly white ; abdomen more or less indistinctly mottled with blackisli ; sides with bars and lengtiiened black and white crescents; under wing-coverts /Vavom*', bordered icith whltixh f axillars barred or mottled u ith bhick ; back fuscous, tlie featiiei's with borders, bars, or crescents of white or buH"y; speculum grayish brown bordered with white. S in breeding /)/MWiavt'.—" Similar toad. 9 , but wings as in spring or winter plumage" (Ridgw.). Im. — The im. 5 is variously intermediate between the ad. i and 9 ; the im. 9 resembles the ad. 9 , but the under parts are more heavily streaked or spotted. L., 4, 2800, 9, 22-00; W., 1000; T., & , 7-50, 9 , 3-t)0 ; B., 2-00. Ji'eniitrkx. — The female of this species is a rather obscure-looking bird, but may always be known by its broad, sharply pointed central tail-feathers and dusky under wing-coverts. /iVi«f/f. -Northern iiemisphere ; in America, lireeds from Iowa and Illinois to the Arctic Ocean ; not known to breed on the .Vtlantic coast ; winters from Virginia southward to the (ireater .Vntilles and Central America. Wasliington, W. V., Oct. to Apl. TiOng Island, very comn\on T. V., Sept. IT) to Apl. 1") ; a few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl. 10; Sept. 2C to Dec. 4. Cambridge, casual T. V., Apl. ; Sept. and Oct. £(f(jti, eight to twelve, bully white or pale bluish white, 220 x 1-50. ir SEA DUCKS. 107 inois rrom fipt. 10; The Pintail is frequently found associated with the Bhicic Puck and Widgeon. As a rule it is voiceless, but is said to utter "a low- toned quack at night." The long neck and tail of the male make its identification easy even at a distance. 144« Alz sponsa (Linn.). Wood Duck. Ad. $. — A line from the bill oviif the eyo, a similar line at tlie base of the Hide of the crest, and some of tiie eloii;j:ated ereMt-feuthors wiiite ; throaty a band from it up the side of the head, and a \vi. Back finely barred with black and white. i». Back of hjad generally with purplish reflections; wing generally under 8'io ; nail of bill generally under "J5 in width. 149. Lessek Scaup Duck & . Js. Back of liead generally with greenish reflections; wing gener- ally over 8-2r); nail of bill over -2.") in width. 148. .\m. Scaup Duck $ . b. Head and neck rufous or rufous-brown, sharply defined from the black breast. 6». Head and upper neck rich rufous; bill 2-00 or under; flanks finely barred, like the back , 140. Reumead 3 . 6». Head and neck rufous-brown ; crown blackish ; bill over 2-00 ; flanks very slightly if at all barred 147. Canvas»acr3. c. Head and neck brownisli or grayish, c'. A white patch in the wing. t». Feathers at base of bill white ; wing generally under 8'2r) ; nail of bill generally under •2.'i in width . . 149. Lesser Scaup Duck 9 . c». Feathers at l)ase of liill wliite ; wing generally over 8"25 ; nail of bill generally over -25 in width . . . 148. Am. Scaup Duck 9 . . Head and throat steel-ljlue; white patch at base of bill l-OO or more in height 152. Bajjkow's Goi.oen-eve $ . tt«. Head and throat steel-green; white patcii at base of bill less tiian 1*00 in heiglit 151. Am. Golden-evk 3 . lie Ml lie |t- SEA DUCKS. 109 b. Whole head and throat brown, sharply defined from the gray or white neok ; a white patch (wpeeulam) in the winj^. i>. Nostril nearer the tip than the base of the bill. 151. Am. Goli>en-eye 9 . 6'. Nostril in the middle of tlie bill . 152. Baukow's Goldkn-kvk 9. c. Wl';?le liead and neck black l(i;i. Am. Scotkk S . d. A wliite patch on tlie back of the head and another on the back of the neck KJO. Sikk Scotkk S . e. Middle of crown black, bordered by chestnut ; front half of the face ''^■I'i^e 1,5.1. llAui-EytiN Dick S . /. Head and neck whitish, grayish, or brownish ; no white in the wing, /«. Bill over 1-25. y*. Fcathei-s on culnien reaching much farther forward than those at the sides of the bill 166. Sirf Scoteh 9 . /». Feathers on oulmen reaching little if any beyond those at the sides of the bill HJ3. Am. Scoteh 9 , gK Bill under 1-25. (J*. Central tail-feathers longest, sharply pointed , uiuler tail-coverts white 154. . Upper parts grayish or brownish, with somctin:es rutbus markings, i*. Lining of wing blackish ; under parts grayish. I'i8. Masked Duck 9. b*. Lining of wing whitish ; under parts grayish. 107. RiDDv DrcK 9 . b. Tail-feathers normal ; upper tail-coverts about half as long as tail, 153. BlFFI-EIlEAD. II. Feathers at sides or top of bill extending forward generally as far as nostril, A, Featiiers on sides of bill not reaching nostril. a. Nostril narrow, elongate ; feathers on culmen extending forward in a narrow line, a V-shaped mark on throat , , , , 162, Kino Kidkh, b. Nostril large, rounded; featiiers on culmen not extending furward it. a narrow line 16."). WiiriE-wiNUEU ScoTEit, B. Feathers on sides of bill extending as far as nostril, «, Bare base of bill on top narrow, ending posteriorly in a sliarp point, 15!t, (Jkee.nland EiDEii, b. Bare base of bill on top broad, the posterior end roundeii. 160. Am. Kidek. The RfKors-cnESTED DrcK (/^5. Nettn rufina) is an Old-Worid species which has been taken once in America, The record is based on an imiiiaturo male found in Fulton Market, New York city, which was suppced to have been shot on Long Island, 110 SEA DUCKS. li f 146. Aythya americana (Ay.). KEDiiEAn. Ad. s.—Uead and throat briglit rufous; lower neck, lireiist, Imek of tlie ncok, anil upjicr hauk black ; rest of the back ami .scapulars finely barred with wavy black and white lines of ^^«a/ width,' winf other species. 148. Aythya marila nearctica Stejn. Am. Scm-p Ditk : Greater Scaup Duck; Broadbill ; BuKiuLr. ; Blackhead. Ad. S. — Head, neck, breast, and upper back black, the top and sides of the head with genendly greenish reflections; back and scapulars with wavy black and white bars; speculum white; upper and under tail-covcrts black; belly white; lower belly strongly and sides faintli/ marked with wavy black bars. .((/. 9 . — Region around the base of the bill irhite ; head, neck, breast, and upper back umber, margined with ochraceous on tlie breast; back and scapulars fuscous- brown ; sides dark grayish brown, both generally marked with tine, wavy bars of white; speculum and belly irhite. $ L., is-.W; W., S'To; Tar., 1-40; B., l-{)o; greatest width of B., 1-00. 9 L., IT-aO; W., 8-25; Tar., l-SG; B., 1-05; greatest width of B., 1-00. Range. — North America; breeds in the interior rarely from Minnesota and regularly from Manitoba northward to Alaska; reported on the Atlan- tic from as far nortii i * (Jreenland, but not known to breed and not conunon north of Massacliusetts ; winters from Long Island to northern South America. Washington, rather eonunon W. V. Long Island, abundant T. V., Sopt. 25 to May 1, some winter. Sing Sing, conunon T. V., Mch. 22 to Apl. 13; Oct. 4 to Dec. 3.* '*' The presence or absence of Ducks in the winter depends upon whether the river is frozen or open. t IP i ' I 112 SEA DUCKS. i JVest, on the ground, in gnisay sloughs or marsliy lake skies. Fffffs, six to ten, pale olive-butt', 2"r>4 x 1-71. This is one of our most common Bay Ducks. While with us it seems to prefer salt and brackish water. It feeds largely on mollusks, which it obtains by diving. Its note is said to be a discordant scaup. 149. Aythya aMnia(f^!/t.). Lesser Scaup Duck; Little Black- head; Little Blueiull ; Ckeek Bkoadrill. Ad. S. — Similar to the pre- ceding species but smaller, the head, as a rule, glossed with purplish instead of greenish, and the flanks strongly instead of faintly marked with wavy black bars. Ad. V . — Similar to the V of the preceding species, but smaller. 6 L., lt3-50; W., 8-00; Tar., 1-35; B., 1-60; greatest width of B., -95. 9 L., lti-50; W., 7-fiO; Tar., 1-30; B., 1-55; greatest width of B., -90. Jienmrks. — The Scaup Ducks resemble each other so closely that it is sometimes impossible to tell them apart, but they may generally be distin- guished by the characters given above. Jidiiffe. — North America; breeds only in the interior, rarely from Iowa and commonly from Manitoba northward; not common on the Atlantic coast north of Massachusetts; winters from Virginia to the Greater Antilles. Washington, not uncounnon W. R., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, common T. V. Sing Sing, common T. V., Jan. 28 to Apl. 12; Aug. 31 to Nov. Cam- bridge, common in Oct. and Nov. ; rare in spring. JVest, on the ground, in grassy sloughs and marshy lake sides. -E(7gs^ six to ten, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2-25 x 158. Tliis species has much the same habits as the preceding, but is more often found in fresh water, and I think is more southern in its distri- bution during the winter. It is by far the most abundant Duck in Florida waters at that season, where it occurs in enormous flocks in the rivers and bays along the coasts. 160. Aythya collaris (Donov.). Ring-necked Duck. Ad. S .— Chin white ; head, neck, brettst, and upper back black, the head with bluish reflections, the neck with a not sharply defined chednut collar; back and scapulars black., speculum aray ; upper and under tail-coverts black, belly white, lower belly and sides finely barred with wavy black lines; bill black, the base and a band across the end hluink 0; Tar., l-2r); B., 1-80. Ji'eiiiarh.—'rha male Ring-neck may be known from any of its allies by its chestnut collar and other excellent characters ; the female resembles the female Redhead, but is smaller and generally browner. liaiiije. — North America, breeiling only in tiie interior from Iowa north- ward ; not common on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia. SEA DUCKS. 113 Waaliinston, not ruro, W. V. Long Isluiul, A. V. Sing Sing, A. V., Aiil. Cambridge, cu-sual ; one instance, Nov. A'ent, on tlie ground, in grassy slougiis or marshy lake sides. Ef/i/a, six to twelve, similar in eolor to tiioso of the two preetding siiceics, -l-M x VM. Thi>< is more of ii frosh-Wiiter bird than citlier of tlie preeoding. It is not coiuinoii in tiie Atlantic States nortli of Florida, where during the winter it is abundant on fresh-water lakes. 151. Glaucionetta dangula americana (Bonnp.). Amkrican Golden-evk; WnisTi.Kit. Ad. ^ .— Head and throat dark, glossy (ji-eeit, a circular white patch at the base of the bill measuring, along the bill, less than half an inch in height; neck all around, breast, belly, exposed part .of wing-eo'verts, speculum, and most of the scapulars white; rest of plumage black. Ad. 9 .—Head and throat cinnamon-brown, fore neck white; upper breast, back, and si.les ashy gray bordered with grayish ; wing-coverts tipped with white ; speculum, lower breast, and belly white. L., 20-(i0 ; W., tcoo ; B. from anterior margin of wiiite patch to anterior nuirgin of nostril, I'OO; from anterior margin of nostril to tip, •75. Iia))(je.—KnT\.\\ America, breeding from Manitoba and Maine northward, and wintering from the southern limit of its breeding range to Cuba. Washington, not rare, W. V. Long Island, coimnon T. V. and W. V., ISov. IT) to Apl. ir.. Sing Sing, common T. V. and W. V., Nov. to May. Cambridge, rather common, Oct. and Nov. iWsC, in a stump or hollow tree. Ayj/.f, six to ten, pale bluish, 2-35 x 1-75. The rapidly moving wings of most Ducks make a wliistling sound, but tliis species excels in wing music. As a diver it can also claim high rank. 168. Glaucionetta islandica (Gmel.). Bakrow's Golden-eye. All. 6 . — Ileail and throat dark, glossy, purpl/'-ih blue, an irretrular, somewhat 8j)read-wi/Hj-shui)iid wiute patch at the base of the bill measuring, along tlie bill, about one inch in lioight ; neck all around, breast, belly, speculum, lesser wing-coverts, ends of greater ones, and the shaft part of the scapulars white; rest of the plumage black. Ad. 9 .— Kcsendjles the 9 of the precedinir species in color; there is some ditrerence in the size and proportions of the l)ill, but the two birds can not always be distimruished with certainty. W., 9-25; B. from anterior nuirgin of white patch to anterior nuirgin of nostril, -SO; from anterior margin of nostril to tip, •()»!. AV/«Y(/'^w. — The males of this and the preceding species may always be distinguished by the ditfcrence in tlic color of tlie head and siz( and shape of the white spot at the base, of the bill. Ranffe. — Breeds in the far north — Greenland, Iceland, and .Maskn— and southward in the Rocky Mountains; winters as far south as Illinois and Vir- ginia. Washingtf)n, A. V.. one record. Long Island, .\. V. iV<;»<, in a stump or hollow tree. I'^ijys., six to ten, palo bluish, 2-40 x 1-70. 9 I' ;» M. :f I 114 SEA DUCKS. A more ncrthem species than the preceding, wliich it resembles in habits. 163. Charitonetta tdheola,iLinn.). Bi'fpleiiead; Bctter-ball; SpiuiT Dlck. Ad. 6 . — A broud whito bund i»ii»«e« uround the back of the liead frotn eye to eye ; rest of the lieiul, upper neck, and t)iroat beautifully (j;lossed witli i)urj)le, f^reenish, and bluish ; lower neek all around, breast, belly, wing-eoverts, speeuluiu, and outer seapulars white; baek black; upper tail- eoverts and tail asliy-^rayish. Ad. 9 . — A white patoh on either side of the head, throat, and entire upper parts fuscous-brown; speculum, breast, and belly white. L., U'Tf) ; W., G-SO ; Tar., 1-25 ; B., 1-05. A'rt//f/(,'. — Nortii America; breeds from Iowa and Maine northward; win- ters from near the southern limit of its breeding range to the West Indies and Mexico. Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, common T. V. and W. v., (Jet. 1 to Apl. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, common in Oct. and Nov. AV«<, in a stump or hollow tree. £(jfffi, si.x to twelve, dull light butt", 1-98 X 1-4G (liidgw.j. This small Duck has won deserved distinction through its powers as a diver. Like the Grebes, it " dives at the flash," though this well- worn expression has lost half its meaning since flintlocks and percus- sion caps have become things of the past. The Bufflehead feeds to some extent on small fish, which it pursues and catches under water. 154. Clan^ula hyemalis ( Linn.). Olp Sqi-aw ; Old Wife ; South Southerly. Ad. $ in winter. — Sides of the front of the head waslied with grayish brown ; sides of the hack of the head and sides of the npy>er neck black, more or less margined with oohraceous; rest of the head, neck all around, upper back, scapulars, and lower belly white; hack, breast, and upper belly white ; tail pointed, the middle feathers very long and narrow ; band across the end of the bill yellowish orange. Ad. $ in summer. — Sides of the front of the head white ; crest of the liead, neck, throat, breast, and upper belly black ; back and scapulars black, the latter margined with dark huffy ochraccous; lower belly white; tail and bill as in the preceding. 9 in icinter. — Upper parts black or fuscous; scapulars and upper back more or less margined with grayish or grayish brown ; sides of the head and neek and sometimes the back of the neck white or whitish ; breast grayish; belly white ; tail pointed, but without tho long feathers of the male ; under wing- coverts dark. Ad. 9 in summer. — Generally similar to the above, but the sides of the head and throat mostly blackish, and the feathers of the upper parts more or less margined with ochraceous. L., 3 , 21-00, 9 , 16-00 ; W., 8-60 ; T., ,J,8-00, 9,2-.'50; B., 1-05. Rftnarh. — The male Old Squaw is too distinct to bo confused with any other species, its long tail-feathers being its most striking character; the female bears some resemblance to the female of the Harlequin Duck, but has the belly pure white instead of grayish dusky. SEA DUCKS. 115 Range. — Nortliern lictnisphoro ; breeds in the fur north, and, in Arnqrioa, winters as fur soutii us tlie upper Mississippi Vulley and Vir>,'inia. Wushin^'ton, rure W. V., Nov. to Apl. Long Islund, ubundant W. V., Nov. 1 to Apl. 15. Sin^^ Sinj^, tolerably eoinnion W. V., Dec. 4 to Apl. G. Cuinbridjje, ruther coninion in Oct. und Nov. A'e)tt, on the ground near water, under low bushes or tall gru-xses. Eggt^ six to twelve, pule bluish tinged with olive, 2*05 x 1-4'J. In The Auk for 1892, pp. 330-337, Mr. George II. Miickay gives a capital account of the habits of this .species in our waters. lie speaks of them as the swiftest flying as well as the noisiest (in the spring) of ail the sea fowl which tarry with us, and gives their curious scolding or talking notes as o-onc-o-onc-oiigh, egh-ough-egh. Their flight is gen- erally near the water, and when shot at while flying they sometimes dive from the wing. He also mentions their habit of towering, " usually in the afternoon, collecting in mild weather in large flocks if undis- turbed, and going up in circles so high as to be scarcely discernible, often coming down with a rush and great velocity, a portion of the flock scattering and coming down in a zigzag coarse similar to the Scoters when whistled down." 166> HistrionicushlstrioniciUl ('/''/'/'■). Harlequin Dick. Ad. 6. — Center of the crown black, margined by white and rufous ; front of tlie sides of tlie head, a spot on the ear, a stripe back of it, and a collar around the back and sides of the neck white ; rest of the head and throat rich slaty blue ; a band in front of the wing white, margined with black ; inner scupulurs white; back and breast bluish slate ; belly fuscous; sides rufous-chestnut. Ad. 5 .— Front of the head wliitish ; a white spot on the ears; upper parts brownish fuscous ; throat, breast, and sides lighter ; belly grayish brown, margined with whitish. L., ir-00 ; W., 7-80 ; Tur., 1-50 ; B., 1-05. Eanqe.—'-'- Northern North America, breeding from Newfoundland, the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, northward; south in winter to the Middle States and California" (A. O. U.). Long Island, rare W. V. Nest, on the ground or in hollow stumps near water. Eggs, six to eiglit, yellowish buff or greenish yellow, 2-30 x l-t;2 (Davie). Unlike other members of this subfamily, this species passes the breeding season on rapid dashing streams, but during the winter it occurs as a Sea Duck off our more northern coasts. 166. Camptolaimus labradoriua (Gmel). Labrador Duck; Pied Duck. Ad. & .—Center of crown black ; rest of head, throat, and upper nock white; a black band around the lower neck connected behind with the black back ; primaries fuscous, rest of wing white ; front and sides of the upper breast white, lower breast and belly black. Ad. 9 .—Brownish gray, the speculum white. Im. $ .—Like the 9 , but with the throat and ends of the greater wing-coverts white. L., 2000 ; W., 840 ; Tar., 150 ; B., 158. 1 116 SEA DUCKS. r I ! f I lianffe.—Formor]}', Nortli /Vtlantio onast, breeding from T.ahrndor north- ward, and in winter niij,'rating soutlnvurd to Long Island; doubtlewj* now extinet. In ft rooont paper* on this species Mr. William Dutcher quotes the lute Mr. George N. Lawrence, as follows: "I recollect that about forty or more years ago it was not unusual to see them in Fulton Market, and without doubt killed on Long Island; at one time I remember seeing six fine males, which hung in the market until spoiled for want of a purchaser; they were not considered de- sirable for the table, and collectors had a sufficient number, at that time a pair being considered enough to represent a s])ecies in a col- lection." The cause of this Duck's extinction is unknown. The last speci- men, so far as known, was taken at Grand Menan in ISTl.f Forty-two specimens have been recorded as existing in collections. Stelleu's Duck f l'>7. Eniconetta stelhfi), an arctic species, was observed by Kumlien in Greenland. 159. Somateria mollissiina borealis (Brthm). Gregxlanu EiDEK. Ad. 6 . — Tup of the head black, a greenish white line on the crown; rest of the head, throat, neck, upper breast, back, scapulars, and lesser wing- coverts white, tinged with greenish on the sides and back of the licad, and with vinaceous on the breast; middle of the rump, upper and under tail- coverts, lower breast, and belly black. Ad. 9 . — Head, throat, and neck buffy ochraceous, darker above and streaked with black ; back black, the feathers all widely margined and sometimes partly barred with butty ochraceous ; breast butty oeliniceous, barred with black; belly grayish brown or olive- brown, indistinctly margined or barred with butty. Int. — Similar, but dis- tinctly marked with butty. L., 23-00 ; W., 11-00 ; Tar., 1-80 ; B., 2-10. JidiKje. — Breeds from Labrador northward ; winters southward to Maine. Nesty on the ground, amiil coarse herbage and rocks. E(j(js., live to eight, pale bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 2-95 x 200. This is the American representative of the Eider Duck of north- ern Europe, from which it differs only slightly. The highly prized Eider down is taken from the nest of this bird and its allies. As in- cubation progresses the sitting bird plucks the down from her breast to serve as a nest lining. In Iceland, according to Saunders, the aver- age yield from each nest is about one sixth of a pound. When the fenuiles begin to sit the males leave them and, gathering in small flocks, live at sea. 160* Somateria dresseri Slutrpe. American Eider. Kesemblcs the preceding in color, but dittcrs in the featiiering of the base of the cul- ♦ The Auk, vol. viii, 1891, pp 201-216. t Ibid., vol. xi, 1894, pp. 4-12. SEA DUCKS. 117 men. In both species the culnien \» diviiled hy a wodffo of fcnthers roneliitijj forward from tlie forehead. Looked at from tliu tip of tliu hill, tlie biuse of the culiiieM m thus V-shapid. In (/rcuseri the uriim of thu V ure very broad and rouiiihd ut the cnd^, while in horenlis tln-y iirc muoh niirrowtr and gen- erally pointed ut the ends. L., -JiSOO ; W., ll-iRi ; Tar., 1-T<" ; H., '2 1<». Jiaiiije. — Breeds from the Hay of Fundy to Lal)rador; winters Bouthward to Delaware; oeeu.siouul in winter on the (ireat Lukes. Long Lslund, rare \V. V. 8ing Sing, A. V., Dee. AV«i<, on the ground, generally sheltered by roeks. /!'ijff«,&vc to eighty pale bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 300 x 2"00. This species is of more southern distribution than the preceding, which it re.seinl»les in habits. During their visits to the coasts of the United States the Eiders are true Sea Ducks, living .some distance off shore, generally over a bed of mussels, which they secure by diving, and which constitute their chief food, 168. Somatcria specto.bili» (Linn.). Kivo EinEK. Ail. i.— Kegiou about the ba.se of the upper mandible and a large V-sfuiped mark on the throat blaek ; top of the liead bluish gray ; eheeks greenish ; neek all around white; front and .sides of the breast ereamy butt'; ui>per buek, sides of the rump, and wing-coverts white; rest of the plumage blaek. Ail. 9. — Head and throat butty ochraeeous, the former streaked with black ; back blaek, the feathers widely margined witli ochraeeous or rufous ; under parts varying from brownish gray to fu.scous, more or less wardie*c of the bill, wbidi in this .species does not, as in the two preceding, reach to the nostril. /i'«//f/r.— Breeds from Gulf of 8t. Lawrence noithward. and winters south- ward more or less regularly to Long Island and tlie Great Lukes; casually as far as Virginia, and on one occasion Georgia. Long Island, regular W. V. Xext., on the ground, among rocks or herbage. £j/j/«, six to ten, light olive- gray to grayi.sh green, S-li; x 1-92 (Davie). While in our waters this species does not differ from the preceding in habits. 163* Oidemia americanai iSV. and Rich. Amerkav Rcoter; Black Coot. Ad. i . — Entire plumage black, feathers on the side of the bill e.xtending little if any forward beyond the corner of the mouth ; bill black; upper mandible orange or yellowish at the base. L., 19 00; W., O'OO; Tar., 1'70; B. along eulmen, l-TA ; B. along side, 1-8.'). ^ffawffe.— Coasts and larger lakes of northern North America; breeds in 113 SEA DUCKS. *: ' Lubriulor ami the northern interior; Houth in winter to Virginia, the Cront LukcH, niid Culitornia. VVusliinjrton, eimual W. V, I.ong Island, common \V. V., Oet. throu-fh Apl. Sin),' Siii>f, rare T. V., Oet. ('aml)rid)fe, oeeasional in fall. Aent, on the jjroiinil, near water. /;'[/[/», "six to ten, pale dull hurt' or palo brownish buH', 2-56 x 1-80" (Kidgw.). All throe species of Surf Sfeoters, or "Coots,'' nre abundant winter resitlents off the eoast!* of the New England and northern Middle States. At this time their habits are practically alike — indeed, they are often found associated. As a rule, they frequent only the sea and its estuaries, where they live over beds of mussels, clams, or scallops, which they obtain by diving; but they are sometimes found in ponds near the coast, where food of this nature is abundant. In The Auk for 1891. pp. 279-2ttO, Mr. George II. Mackay gives the results of a long-continued study of Scoters on the Massachusetts coast. The Velvet Rcoteb ( W4- Ohlfmia fvsca) is an Old- World species which liBS been recorded from Greenland. 166* Oldemia deglstaidi lionnp. WniTE-wTNOEn Scoter; White- winoei) Coot. Ail. 0; B. along side, ir.."). liemarl-d.—lhG wliite speculum and feathering of the bill will olways serve to distinguish this species from its allies. Range.— "^rinhcm North America, breeding in Labrador and the fur countries ; south in winter to Virginia, soutliern Illinois, and Cnlifornia. \Va.-«hington, casual W. V.. Oct. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., Sept. l.") to May 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, occa- Hional in fall. N(H, on the gro\md, beneath bushes, frequently some distance from water. .£f7j7»,"8i.\ to ten, pale dull butf, varying to cream-color, 2'68 x 1-83" (Kidgw.). 166. Oidemla perspicUlata {Linn.). Sukf Scoter; Se\ Coot. Ad. S .—A square mark on the crown and a triangular one on the nape white, rest of the plumage black ; bill orange-yellow, a large circular black spot on its side nt the base ; feathers on the culmen extending nearly to a level with the nostril, feathers on the side of the bill not extending forward. Ad. 9 and //«.— A whitish spot at the base of the bill and on the ears ; upj^er parts fuscous brown ; throat, breast, sides, and lower belly grayer, belly white. L., 20-00 ; W., 9-30; Tar., I'W ; B. along culmen, 1-55; B. along side, 2-30. Remarks.— TliQ forward extension of the feathers on the culmen will GEESE. 110 alwayH diHtinjjumli tlim spocics from fK timtrhnnnyVthWc it may bo known tVoni dnjlauili l»y tlio ul>ni'iioi: <»t" wliito in the wiri^fs, liitiHji,-~\\vvxdn t'r<»in till! tJulf of St. Luwronctj n(trthwunl; wintcTM nouth- wurd to tliu (>ri-ut Lakc-H and Virv(iniu, and (.'lu^ually t<> Florida. Wa.sliinj^toii, citsuai W. V, \.i\\\)i Inland, cominon \\ . \'., «»ct. tlirt>U:,'li Ajil. Sin'j 8in]|r, connuun T. V., Ui-t. 7 to (At. -ii. C'uinl)iid);c, ortuKional In full. A>/»<, in tjill jrrnssi'fl near water, /-'yj^;*, " fl vi' to ci;.'lit, pule huff or pulo orcuniy bulf, 'J^T x 170 " ilkidgw.j. 167* Erlamatura mblda i W'lh.). Kiddy Dick. a,L j.— Topot tlic lieud hluok, cliuuks and chin white, throat and buck rutbuH-i'luHtnut, lower buck blucki«h ; breu.>*t and bully silvery white; iijiper tail-eovertft riry Bhort, tail-featherrt dif and pointed. Ad. 9 niitl Int. — Tppcr part.s dark trray- ish brow II, the feather?* marked with line wavy barn of Imlly ; hid»H of tho head and upper throat whiti.>. Back grayish brown, rumj), belly, and wing-eoverts gray, the lat- . ter not conspicuously margined with white. ItJO.l. Blce Goose (Ad.). Ji, Bill black, throat and sides of the liead white, lores black. 175. Barnacle Goose. n. Head and neck brown, bill yellow or yellowish. A. Nail of bill bbick, rump fuscous. 171«. Am. WniTE-FRONTEi) Goose dm.). Ji. Nail of bill yellov, rump gray Ki'.t.l. Bue Goose (Im.). in. Head black or brownish black, bill black. A. Throat white . . . \7:i. Canada (Joosf. 172«. lIiTcniNs's Goose. £. Tliroat black or brownish black, neck speckled with white. a. Belly white 173. Brant. b. Belly brownish gray 174. Black Brant. 169. Chen hypertiorea ( PuI/.). Lesser Snow Goose. .(//.—En- tire plumage, except the jirinuirics with their coverts, white; primaries black, their bases and coverts asiiy. /m. — " Head, ni'ck, and upper parts i)ale gray- ish, the feathers of the latter with whitish edges and (especially wing-eoverts and tertials) striped medially with darker; rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, and lower parts plain white. L., 23-00-'_'S-on ; W., 14-r)0-17-00; B., M)r)-'.i'30; Tar., li-SO-S-LT)" (Kidgw.). A'awf/^. — Western North America, breeding in .Maska ami migrating south- ward to the Gulf; rarely found east of the Mississippi. i'ffffs, uniform dirty, chalky white, ;5'4(i x ii-'JO ( B., B., and U.). 160aw C h. nivalis ( Foivf.). Greater Snow Goose. — Rese'nb'.cs the preceding in color, but is larger. L., 30-00-3«-o0; W., 17-;35- 17'o0; B., 2-o5- 2'70 ; Tar., n-ir^-S-m (Kidgw.). 7>*a;(j/f.— Eastern North America, breeding in the far north (exact breed- ing range unknrer 'iiul lateral \ippcr tuil-coverts white; breast somewhat lighter than tlie throat, ..lorc or less irregularly marked with black, and fading gradually into jiure white on tl e lower belly ; sides like tin- l)ack. //». — Similar, but no white at the base of the hill or black iiuirks on the breast; nail of the bill black. " L., 27'('(>-30-{iO; W., U-'-T) 17-,-)0; H.. l-80-i>-;i.') ; depth of nuuuUble at base, •HO-l-jO; width, •Sa-l-O.-) ; Tar., -J-i'iO-.-i-jo" (Ridgw.). IlniKje. — "North America, brccdiiiir far nortiiward; in wintiT south to Mexico and Culia " (A. 0. U.) ; rare on the .Atlantic coast. Long Island, A. V. Kest^ on the ground, of grasses lineil with down. K(jijs, six to seven, dull greenish yellow with obscure darker tints, ;!iO x -jm)? (Davie). "Those birds are rarely mot with on the Atlantic coast, but are quite common in the Mississippi Valley and ubundfiiit on tlio I'acific slope. They prefer low, wot grounds in the vicinity of timber, or where the prairie is dotted here and there with bushes; and, while they occasionally forage of? the wheat fields and other grains on the i ; I 122 GEESE. bottom lands, they seldom visit the high, dry prairies like the Snow and Canada Geese " (Goss). The EcKopKAN White-fronted Goose (171. Aneer alhi/rons) rcHembles its American representutivo in color, but averages smaller. It is American only tts it occurs in Greenland, where gambeli is apparently unknown. 178* Branta canadensis {Linn.). QwiKHK Goosb. Ad.~Thtoat and a large patch on tlie side of the head behind the eye wliite or wUiti.sli ; chin and rest of tlie head and neck black ; back and wings grayish brown, more or less edged with lighter ; tail and shorter upper tail-coverts black, longer and lateral one« white ; breast and belly grayish, fading to white on the lower belly ; sides like the back. Im. — Similar, but throat and cheeks sometimes mixed with blackish. " L., 35-00-43'00 ; W., 15-GO-21-00; Tar., 2-45-3-70; B., 1-55-2-70" (Ridgw.). Range. — Temperate North America ; breeds in the northern United States and British provinces ; south in winter to Mexico. Washington, W. V. and rather common T. V., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Oct., some W. V. Sing Sing, tolerably com- mon T. v., Mch. 11 to May 21 ; Oct. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Oct. to Dec. Nest^ of sticks lined with down, on the ground in the open prairie, on the shores of streams, on tree stumps and sometimes in trees, when a de- serted nest of the Osprey is generally used. Eggs, four to five, buHy white, 8-50 X 2-35. Probably the mij^jration of no bird attracts more universal interest than that of the Wild Goose. Ornithologists talk of "waves" and "flights" of migrants passing in the night, but the biannual pilgrim- age of the Canada Goose appeals to lis all with the directness of a per- sonal experience. We see the living wedge of long-necked birds pass- ing high overhead; the unbroken sonnd-waves bring the sonorous " honks " with unexpected distinctness to our ears ; and we receive an impressive lesson in the migration of birds. They are embarked on a journey of several thousand miles, but they come and go as surely as though they carried chart and compass. 172a* B. C. hutchinsli («S'"'. <{• liich.). IIi'TcuiNa''s Goose.— Resem- bles the preceding in color, but averages smaller. L., 2.'J00-3't'00 ; W., 14-7r>- 17'7r); Tar., 2-25-3-20; B., l-20-l-'.tO (Ridgw.). Range.— '•^ North America, brceiling in tlie arctic regions, and migrating Boath in wint< chiefly through the western United States and Mississippi Valley; eastern Asia" (A. 0. U.). Long Island, A. V. 178c* B* C* m<^ two to three, dull wliite with a soft calcareous deposit, U'To x 1-75. This is a locally common species in Florida. Sr' , Family ARDEiDiE. Herons and Bitterns. This family contains about seventy-five species distributed in most parts of the globe, but more numoroiisly in the intertropical i-egions. Generally speaking, Herons are gregarious, nesting and roosting in flocks. While feeding thoy are more solitary, but each night they regularly return to roost with their kind in a " rookery." Bitterrjs do not associate in flocks, and are generally found singly or in pairs. As a rule, they feed in grassy marshes, while Herons more commonly resort to the shores of lakes, rivers, bay.s, or salt-water lagoons. Some species secure their food of frogs, fish, small reptiles, etc., by standing rigiuly motionless and waiting for it to come within striking distance, or by wading for it with the utmost caution. Others run rapidly and noisily through the water, trusting to their agility and the rapidity of their spearlike thrusts to supply their wants. Herons, unlike our Ibises and Cranes, fly with their folded neck drawn in between their shoulders. Their voice is a hoarse squawk. KEY TO XnK SPECIES. I. Wing over 13-00. A. Plumage pure white. a. Wing 17'00 or over; feathers on the lower neck long, narrow. 192. GiJEAT White IIeuon. • h. Wing under 17'00; neck-fcathors not lengthened . lOG. Am. Euuet. B. Upper parts generally slaty or grayish blue. 193. Waud's IIerox. 194. Great Blue Heron. 11. Wing under 1300. 1. Crown without streaks. A. Crown white or whitish. a. Wing over 11*00. a>. Plumage entirely or mostly white . . . 198. Reodisii Ecret. a*. Plumage gray streaked with black ; throat and sides of neck black 203. Yellow-crowneu Nioiit Heron. HERONS AND BITTERNS. 129 b . Wing: uiuk'r U'OO. A». riuii lagc pure white ; legs and bill black ; feet yellow. 1 •7. Snowy IIkrov. h\ Tips of priiimries slate-oolor ; pluinaire wliito, soiiu'tiiiii's irregu- larly iiiiirUed with slaty liluo . . -IW. I.ITT1.K ] >LLK IIekon {\n\.). R Crown ui ni)er nr ri'iulish brown. a. Head and neck reddish brown; body slate-eolor. 198. KKDDISn EllKKT. h. Neck con.«picuoiisly streaked ; body variejjated . ICO. Am. liirrtitN. C. (.'rown slaty or slate-i>liie with sonietiiiies a purplish east. a. Wing-eo verts more or less niuryined with rufous. 199. Louisiana IIkuoj^. h. VVinu-covcrtf witliout rufous 200. Little Blue IIeuon. I). Crown greenish or bluish blaek. a. Wing over 10-00; entire under parts pure white. L'02. Hlac'k-cuownei) NiaiiT IIekon. b. Wing under 1000. A>, Wing-coverts green 201. Little Gueen IIeuon. c>. Wing-coverts rufous-cliestnut and butf. c*. Under parts l)utiy, more or less strcaketl . l!tl. Least Bittf.un. (S. I'nder parts rufou.s-eliestnut . 191.1. Couv's Least Bittekn. 2. Crown streaked. A. Wing under 1000; upper parts greenish 201. Little Gkeen Heron. £. Wing over 1000; upper parts brownish or blackish brown streaked with svhite. a. Upper parts light brown ; outer edge of primaries reddish. 202. IJlack-cuownei) Nkjut IIeuon (Ini.). b. Back dark brown; crown nearly black with white streaks; prima- ries dark slate-color . 203. Vellow-chownei) Night Heron (Im.). 190. Botaurus lentig^OSUS { Af">ita(/.). American Bittfien; Marsu Hen. Ad. — A glo.ssy black streak on either side of the upper neck; top of the liead and back of the neck bluish slate, more or less washed with butFy ; back brown, bordered and irregularly mottled with huffy, and butfy ochraceous, wing-coverts similarly nuirked, i>ut the ground ■ or grayer; un- der parts creamy bull, tlie feathers all widely streaked w..ii butfy brown, which is finely speckled witli bulTy aud narrowly margined by brownish gray. Im. — Similar, but the butfy everywhere deeper and more ochraceous. L., 28-00 ; W., lu-50 ; Tar., 3-50 ; B., TvOO. i?aMf/t.— Temperate North America; breeds but rarely soutii of Virginia; winters from Virginia southward. Washington, rather connnon W. V., Aug. to Ajil. Long Island, common T. v., Apl. and Sept. to Nov. Sing Sing, rare S. li., Apl. 11 to Oct. Tt. Cam- briiigc, not connnon S. R., .\pl. IT) to Nov. A'lst, of grasses, etc., on the ground in nuirshes. Iu/'Jk, three to five, pale olive-butf, 1-90 x V-Oy. The liiltern makes its home in extensive grassy meadows with plenty of water, but in the season of migration may be found and 10 I 130 HERONS AND BITTERNS. hoard " booming" in smaller and more accessible swampy places. Like the other members of its family, it excels in .stiiiuling still, and will hold its head erect and motionless amid the tall grass till the watcher tires of looking and pronounces the suspicious object nothing but a stick after all. The Bittern's fame rests upon its vocal performance, or ''boom." This is sometimes exactly like the working of an old-fash- ioned wooden pump, and sometimes — even with the same bird — like the driving of a stake in a bog. It can be heard for a long distance. The performance is best witnessed in spring, while the grass is still low. That it is not so very difficult at that season to steal a march upon the bird may perhaps be considered as established on the testi- mony of a man who has never lived near a Hittern meadow, and yet has watched the performance at much length and at near rang« on several occasions. His first experience of this kind is described some- what fully in The Auk, vol. vi, page 1. The strange notes are deliv- ered with efpuilly strange contortions, as if the bird were horribly nauseated, and are preceded by a succession of quick snappii.g or gulping sounds — "hiccoughs," one observer has called them. No water is employed in the operation, in spite of the circumstantial as- sertions of several persons who profess to have seen the bird swallow- ing and then ejecting it. — Bradford Torrey. 191. Ardetta ezilis (Gmd.). Least Bitteun. Ad $ .—Top of the head, back, and tail shiiiiui? black ; hack of the neck clicstnut-rufous ; most of tlie greater wincj-ccverts and outer vanes of the secondaries darker; lesser wing-coverts and part of the ^'reater ones huffy; under iMir{s,i>teIvrlin(f under ta/'l-coiwrts, waslunl witii bufVy ; a blackish patcli at either wide of the breast. Ad. 9. — Similar, but liead browner and back lifrlit, glossy umber; under parts darker and more or les.s streaked with brownish. Im. * . — Similar to ad. S, but the back waslicd and tipped with chestnut; under parts darker and litrlitly streaked with black. Iin. 9 . — similar to ad. 9 , but the back rufous, marjxined with buffy ochraccous. L., 13-00; W., 4't)0; Tar., l-OO; B., 1-80. liaiKje. — Temperate and tropical America; breeds in North America as far north as Maine, Ontario, and Manitoba; winters from southern Florida southward. Wasliinjjton, not very numerous S. R., May .5 to Sept. 25. Long Island, common S. R., May to Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., to Aug. 10. C'and)ridgc, rather conunon S. R., May 15 to Aug. Ai'nt^ of jjrrasses, plant stems, etc., in tnarslies nmouu ru.slies, sometimes in a small bush. K(j[is^ three to six, pale bluish white, 1"20 x ■92. Wet, grassy marshes such as Rail love, or reed-grown ponds that Gallinules frequent, are the resorts of these retiring, secretive little birds. With outstretched necks and lowered heads they make their way without difficulty through the jungle of roots and stalks. Some- times they climb up a slender reed, and, hanging on like Marsh Wrens, HERONS AND BITTERNS. 131 I survey their surroumlinfrs. They take wing almost from beneath one's feet, and, with a low, frightened qiKu fly slowly for a short distance and then drop back into the grass. During the breeding season one may hear what presumably is the voice of only the male — a soft, slowly repeated, dovelike voo, roo, coo, coo, coo. It floats over the marsh like the voice of a s[)irit bird. 191. 1. Ardetta neozena (''>r>/. CouvV Bitteun. Ad. s .— " Top oC the head, buck, aiul tail ilark ^'reenish bhick, showing a grct.. gloss wlien lu-id in the light. Sides of the lieuil and tiiroat rufous-chestnut, the f'eatljers on the back of the neck showing greenish-black tips; breast and under parts nearly unitbnn rufous-chestnut, sluiding into dull black on the sides ; wing-coverts dark rufous-chestnut, all the reiniges entirely slaty pluniljeous; undyr tail- coverts uniform dull black. W., 4-30 ; Tar., 1-40 ; B., 1-80 " (Cory, orij;. descr.. Auk, iii, 1880, p. 2iJ2j. This small Bittern was described from a specimen taken in the Everglades of Florida. Si.K additional specimens have sijice been secured in the same region, to which, until recently, the species was supposed to be confined. Within the past few years, however, five specimens have been taken in the Toronto marshes, where A. exilis is common, and one is recorded from IMichigan. It seems to me not un- likely that, as Mr. W. E. D. Scott suggests, neoxena may prove to be a color phase of A. exilis. (Cf. Scott, Auk, viii, 1891, p. 309; ix, 1898, p. 141.) 192* Ardea OCCidentalis Aud. Great Wmite IIehox. .1'/.— En- tirely white; in l)rceding plumage, with long, luirrow, stitt'ened feathers on the back and lower foreneck, and two narrow plumes on the back of the crown. "L., 4r)-00-54-00 ; W., 17-O0-21-0O; B., t)-00-7-00; Tar, 8-00-8-7r>" (Kidgw.). JiatKje. — Jamaica and Tuha north to the coasts of southern Florida, casu- ally to Anclote River and Micoo. Nfst^ a platform of sticks in colonics in mangrove buslies. E(j-(J-oO ; Tar., 7'l)5-8-iJ5" (Rid^'w.). 193* Ardea> wardl lildijw. Wauh's IIkkon. — This is the Florida rep- resentative of A. hiroilidn. It is Itelieved l)y some ornitholo;,'ists to he a dis- tinet speeics, but in my opinion is a peninsular raee. The averaj,'e tlitlerenecH in color between it and ,1. hirodidn eonsist in its whiter lower parts, darker neek, and olive instead of blaek lejfs. These ilitl'i'reiices, however, ean not always be relied upon, and size is the eharaeter l)y wliii'h tlie two birds ean be.st bo distini^uished, wardi beinjjr the larger, as the follow iiij,' nieasurement.s Bhow: L., 52-00; \V., mr)-2(K)0; H., ()-.to-i;-80 ; Tar., 8-00-8-50. Jiange, — Florida, from Alaehua County southward. J\«#<, a platform of stieks, in colonies, generally in cypress trees. Eggs, three to four, pale, dull blue, 2-05 x 1-85. This is the Florida form of the preceding, which it resembles in habits. It is more common than the (iroiit Ulue Heron, and is gener- ally distributed throughout the peninsula from Gainesville southward. 194* Ardea herodias Linn. Gkk.vt Bi.ie IIkuon; Bli-e Crane; Sanduill Cuank. Ad. in breeding jdumage. — Center of the crown and throat white, sides of the crown blaek, this color meeting on the back of the head, where the feathers are lengthened to form an occipital crest : neck pale gray- ish brown, a narrow black, white, ami ochraceous line down the midille of the forencck ; feathers of the k)wer foreneck narrow and much lengthened, whitish with sometimes black streaks; back, wing-coverts, and tail slaty gray, the scapulars paler, narrow, and much lengthened ; bend of the wing ehestnut-rufous ; a patch of black and white feathers on the side of the breast; breast and belly streaked with black and white and sometimes palo rufous ; feathers on legs dull rufous, legs and feet l)lack, upper mandible olive- yellow, the eulmcn blacki.sh; lower mandible yellow; lores blue. Im. — Similar, but entire crown black, throat white, neck brownish gray wi'shcd with buify ochraceous ; no idack at the sides of tlic breast or plumes on tlio lower neck; under parts streaked with black, .'ulc, dull l)lue, ii'.V) x \-:>i). Is it due to the influejico of ihe nrtists of the Orient that these long-legged, long-necked birds are so fre»{Ueiitly nnsealled " Cranes "t With head drawn in and legs trailing on behind, they flap slowly over the water, resembling, no doubt, the "Oranes" of fans, screens, and bronzes; nevertheless, they are Herons. With all a Heron's ininiovablo alertness they watch patiently for passing fish, sometimes wading with extreme caution, placing one foot slowly after the other. They feed both by day and night. Fishes, frogs, reptiles, even small mi»;e, all arc welcome ; and all are powerless to escape the lightning thnist of the spearlike bill. Their voice is harsh and rasping. When alarned they ntter a croak which is sometimes prolonged intoaseriesof ,sY/«a/.''Aa. They nest and roost in colonies, but at other times are solitary birdb, The KiRf>PKAN (lUKAT Bi.iK IIkuov ( lf)5. Ardrd ciiitrca) is aeeidontal in southern (Ireenlanil. It iiuiy he distinguished iVoiii our species \>y the whito instead "•'"ufous feathers ou the legs. 19tf« Ardea egretta Umel. American EdKET. Ad. in hreeding jdumaiji'. — Entire j)luiiia;,'e jmre white; about tifty a//v//;///^ ''aijrrctte" i)luiiies grow I'roiu the iiitei"seapular rejxion and reueli beyond the tail ; legs and feet black ; bill yellow ; lores orange, bonlered below by greenish. Ad. after the hi'i'fdiiKj stdson. (tint Ii)i. — Without the interscapular plumes. L., 41'00; W., 15-00 ; Tar., r)-r)0 ; H., 4-r>0. Jiantje. — Tropical and temperate America ; breeds as far north as southern Illinois and Virginia; after the breeding season Mometimes strays northward as tar as Manitoba, (Quebec, and New Brunswick. ■Washington, not conuuon and irregular S. K., May to August. Long Island, rare from July to Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. J\'est, V. j)latform of sticks, in colonies, in hushes over water. J'-''Julars and lower neck feathers lengthened and narrowly pointed; lores blue; legs and feet black. Iiii. — White, tiie plumage sometimes more or less washed with slaty; tin tijix of tin- privmrlix rkk (sec Fig. I'J). Ad. — Crown and a sliort line below tlie eye glossy greenish black ; throat butty white, this color extending down the foreneek us a narrow linu mixed with blackish, widening on the breast; rest of the head and neck rufous-chestnut glossed with vinaceous; back, with lengthened interscapulars, green, more or less washed with bluish gray ; wing-coverts green, margined with white or butly ; belly ashy gray, more or less washed with buHy. Jm. — Similar, but with the neck and untler parts streaked with blackish ; back without lengtiiened featliers or wash of blue-gray ; wing -coverts widely mar- gined with butty ochraceous. L., 17*00; W., 7"^i); Tar., 1-90; B., 2-00. Ji'anije. — Tropical and temperate America; breeds us far nt>rtli as Mani- toba, Ontario, and the liay of Fuiidy; winters from Florida southward. Wasliington, very common S. K., Apl. 15 to Sept. Long Island, conunon S. K., Apl. to Oct. Sing Sing, common S. K., Apl. 6 to Sept. 2(j. Cambridge, couunon S. li.. May 5 to Sei>t. Aed, a platf(jrni of sticks in a bush or low brunch of a tree. I^i/gs, three to six, pule, dull blue, rr)0 x 1-14. The shores of wooded streams or ponds are frequented by this small Heron in preference to more exposed situations. It is most active in the early morning or at nightfall, and during the day rests quietly in some sheltered situation. When startled, it springs into the air with a frightened sqvnivh; and, alighting at a safe distance on a tree or on some elevated perch, with upstretched neck watches the intruder, be- traying its apprehension by nervous twitchings of the tail. It is a solitary bird, and, unlike most Herons, is never found in flocks. 202. Nycticorax nycticoraz nsBvius {Bodd.). Rla( K-ruowNKn Nionr Hkkon; Qiawk. Ad. — Forehead, lores, neck, and muler parts wliite or wliitisli ; crown, upper back, and scapulars glossy, greenisli black; lower liack. wings, and tail asliy gray ; legs and feet yellow ; lore greenish ; two (>r three white rounded occipital ]ibmies about 8-00 in length, lin. — Upper i)arts grayish brown, the feathers streaked or with wedge-sliuped spots of white or buffy ; outer web of ]irimaries ]>alc rufous; inider parts white, streaked with blackisli. L., 24-00; W., 12-00; Tar., 3-20; B., .'5-00. /iV/wyc.— Hreeds from ^^anitoba and New Brunswici. southward through Soutii .America; winters from tiie (Julf States soiitliward. AVasiringt to Oct. 20. Cand)ri(lge, I*. R., most conunon in Auir. and Sejit. Ntst., of sticks, in coloiues, generally in tlic upper parts of tall trees, sonuv times in bushes or on the ground. Kgijs^ four to aix, pule, dull lilue, 200 x 1 40. CRANES. 137 These birds live in colonics composed sometimes of thousands of pairs. Their day begins after sunset, when they leave their roosts and start for their feeding grounds. Occasionally they utter a loud, hoarse qiiawk, the origin of their common name; and looking up we nuiy catch a glimpse of them hurrying through the gloom. Daring the nesting season the demands of the young force them to feed both by day and night. S03> Nycticorax violaceus (lAini.). Yellow-cieownkd Niout Hekon. .!(/.— Crown wliite, guULTuUy wa»iheil with hiitly ; eur-coverts whito; rt'st of tlie head and throat Ijlaek ; neck, breast, and liully Mui'-j^Tay; baek tlie same; the lengthened interseaimlars, seai>ulars, anil wing-eoveits streaked with black; two or three blaek and white rounded occipital plumes; lores greenish yellow ; legs greenish. //«. — ("rown hhicl; the leathers streaked with white or butty ; restot'tiie u]iper parts, including wing-eoverts, fuscous-brown with welaco8. E(jff8, two, olive -iill ; C'ovr- i.AN. (Soc l'"ij^. 24.; All. — Glossy olivu-lirown, tiie t'l'sitiier.-s of tlie lieiul and ncek narrowly, tiuisu of tiie l)ody broadly, stript'd with wliiti'; win^jts aiid tad more bronzy. Im. — Similar, but paler and duller. L., l'.^'Ou; NV., l;5-00; Tar., 4-50 ; B., 4-25. Ji'aiujv. — Central Aiiieriea and Wct^t Indifs north to Rio Grande Valley and Florida. A'fAC, of li'avL's. twiu's, etc., in a bush or Piiiall tree. I'^'fj", four to seven, pale bully white, blotched, stained, and speckled w ith light ciiuuunou-brow n, 2-30 X 1-70. This is a locally disti'il)nted species in Florida. Its general habits are described in the remarks on the family Aramida. Family Rallid.e. Rails, GALLiNa'LES, and Coots. The one hundred and eighty species contained in this family are distril)uted (hronghoiit the greater part of the world, fifteen sneeies inhabiting North America. Kails and Oallinules are not strictly gre- garious, but are generally iissocnated through a comnumity of inter- ests; Coots, however, are usually found in flocks. Kails iidiabit grassy marshes, in which they seek safety by ruiniing or hiding, taking to wing when pursued oidy as a last resort. Their flight is then short and labored, and with dangling legs I hey soon drop back into cover. Nevertheless, they perform extemlcd nngrations, traveling hundreds of miles without resting. (Jallinules live JU'ar the marshy borders of bodies of water, while the more arpiatic Coots resemble some Ducks in habits. KKV T(j TIIK SPKCIKS. I. Rill over l-T.'. A. ("hecks below the eye cinnaiiion-nifuus. lik<' the breast; flaid. Toes vitli lartrc kcuUoikmI vvclw or (lups ut tlio side. -2:^1. A.m. Coot, /A Toes without tliii>.s or welw '2V.i. Fi.okida {;.\j,i,inlle, R Win^' midiT GnO. a. Wiuj,' under 3-.")0. a>. "?ack lilucki.-ili, with .small round, white spf)ts . 2K.. Black Kail, a». Back hlacki.sh, barred witli white and uiurgincd with bully. 215. Yellow Kail. b. Wing over 8-.")0. A>. Bill over lUU 212. Vikoinia Rail. (■». Bill under ItiO. (■*. Win^ over4'r)0, lesser win)i-riifiiiiii ; bi'lly and sides f'vscoitu, sharply barred with white. Doivny io«/((/— Glo-s.sy black. L., laOO; W., 0-50 ; Tar., 2-20 ; B., 2-40. liamje. — Ea.stern Nortli America; breeds as far north as Missouri and soutliern f'onnecticut, and oeciusionally strays as far as Wisconsin, Ontario, aiul Maine; winters from Virginia southward. Washiiiirton, uncommon S. R., almost a 1'. R. Long Island, rare S. R. AV.v^, of grasses, on the ground in fresh-'.\atcr marshes. Kijijx. seven to twelve, bufl'y white, more heavily spotted and s])eckled with rufous-brown than those of the ne.\t species, l-t58 x l'2(t. The Kin<; Tijiil is the fresh-wator reprosontative of the Clapper Kail. It is, however, a much less coininon liinl, and less is known of its haliits. Like otiier Kails, it is a skulker, and never flies when it can escape by running or hidinfjj in the den.se gra.ss of its home. On three occasions I have heard what I am quite sure was the King Ivail's call, n loud, startling Jihp, Inip, htip, hup, Mtp, uttered with increasing ra- ])idity until the syllahles were barely distinguishable, then ending, soine- wiuit as it began. The whole perfdrnuince occupied about five seconds. Sll. Rallus long^ostris crepitans (CinclA. Clai-i>kr Kail; Mausu 11i:x. (St'c Fig. 22, a.) .b/. ~ L'jipcr parts very jude greenish olive, the feathers widely margined with gray; wings and tail grayish brown; wing-coverts pale cinnamon, much washed with gray: throat white; neck and breast j>nl<', between ochraceous and crcam-butl', more or less washed with grayish ; belly and sides gray or brownisli gray, barred with white. Dowinj r-)K//f/— (Mossy black. L., It"')!.); W., .'i-OO ; Tar., 2-00; B., S-.W. litinarks. — The Clapper Rail may always be known from the King Kail RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. 141 by ita gcneriilly {rrnyisli infttoml of hrownlsli or blaokiHli upper parts, hy its much piik-r brctist iirul tluiiks ami paler wiiiy-covorts. Jia/K/e. — Urcfda in suit-water iiiarslies of cawturn Nortli America from Conneetieut to tlu; (iiilf of Mexico; winters in sniull numbers from near tho norlliern limit of its ratij,'e southward. Wasiiint,'ton, A. V., one record. Long Island, common ^. K., Apl. to Oct., a few winter. Siiijr Sing, A. V. Sent, of grass"s, on the ground, in grass-grown, salt-water marslios. f.'•(;-) ; Tar., 1-07 ; B., 2'27 " (Kidgw. ), Jiantje. — Coast of Louisiaiui. 811b. B. 1. scottii iSenn.). Fi.ohida Clappeu Kail. — Differs from crepitdnti in l)cing l)lack, fuscous, or olive-brown above, with olive-gray mar- gins to the feathers; in having the neck and breast cinnamoi. -rufous washed with brownish, and in having the belly and Hanka black instead of gray. In fact, the general color of srnftii suggestf- a King Kail, but the latter may always 1)0 known ])y its rufous wing-coverts and char cinnamon-rufous neck and breast. W., 5-50 ; Tar., 1-90 ; B., 2-40. Range. — CJulf coast of Florida. 812. Ballus virginianus Z;//' /. ViiKiixi.' Kail. vlli, osf>ocially if it has beds of cat-tail flags or scattered tliickctsof low bushes and briers, one may lic^ar in May and June, particuhirly in tiie early morning, hite afternocm, or during cloudy weather, a succession of grunting sounds not unlike those ol a hungry pig. Although by no means loud, they have a penetrating quality which makes them carry to a consi(ierat)le distance ; and they are apt to attract attention even when, as is usually the case, they mingle with the songs of innumerable Ued-wingcd IJlackl)irds, Marsh Wrens, and otlier swamp-loving birds. It is no easy matter to trace them to their author, but if you are persevering and at the same time fortunate, you may at length discover him skulk- ing under a bush or behind a tuft of grass. He is the V^irginia Hail, an odd-looking bird about the size of a Snipe. If you remain motion- less, he nuiy presently come out into fairer view and walk slowly around the edge of some pool, lifting and putting down his large feet with curious deliberation, cocking up his absurdly short tail nt each step, and every now and then stopping to thrust his bill deep into the ooze in search of food. As he pauses to look at you, you are struck by his half-quizzical, half-sinister expression, due, no doubt, to the fact that his eyes are blood-red and deeply sunk in their long, narrow head. Startle him by some sudden movement, and he will do one of three things — dart back into cover as swiftly as a frightened mouse, skip across the pool over the floating leaves of the water plants, using both wings and feet, or rise with feebly fluttering wings and hanging legs to fly only a few rods before dropping beyond some intervening screen of grass or bushes. In any case you are not likely to find him again on this occasion. Besides the grunting sound, the Virginia Rail utters during the breeding season, especially at night and in lowering weather, a gut- tural rut, cuttit-cnttn-vutla, often repeated at brief intervals for hours in succession. This cry apnears to be peculiar to the male, and is, no doubt, his love song. When heard at a distance of only a few yards it has a vibrating, ahnost unearthly qiuility, and seems to issue from the ground directly beneath one's feet. The female, when anxious about Ij^'r eggs or young, calls Iciki-ki in low tones, and Ida much like a Flicker. The young of both sexes in autumn give, when startled, a short, explosive h'p or kik, closely similar to that of the Carolina Kail. Willi A. M Brewster. KAILS, OALLINULKS, AND COOTS. 143 214. Ponana Carolina (L 2t», c.) Ad. IJ.iriMiMil" ///».). SoRA ; Takomna T?Air.. (See Fiff. lilt tlic I'iiM' lit" tlu' li'ill, I'fiitrr nt' crowTi, and ii lino ilowii tlie iiiidiUo of till- iici'k l)lai'k ; rc.-*t of tin- lircast and tliroat, nides of the licail, and tVont jiart (•!' tlic crown palo tilui-Lrfay ; rest of tlie upper parts olive-hrown, most ot' the featliiTs with hiack eeiiters, the scapulars and hack Htreukeil on eitiier side with white; wind's fuscmis-hrown, their coverts jrray- ish elnnaiiion, outer edi.'e ot tirst primary white; lower heily white, flanks hurred witii hlaek and white. //«.- Similar, hut without hhick at tiie base of the hill or on the throat; l)reast washed with einnaiiion and upper parts darker. L., H-nO; W., 4-30; Tar., MiO; H., -so. h'aiuje. — Breeds from Kansas, Illinois, and Lonj/ Island northward to Hudson May; winters from Soutii Carolina to northern South .America. \Vashin;fton, common T. V., Mch. ; duly to Nov. I.onjr Island, eoiii- nion T. v., Apl. and .May; .\u;:. to Oct.; rare S. R. Sim,' Sinj.', common T. v., .May; Auj,'. H» to Oct. ',i-4. Canil)ridge, very common S. K., Apl. 20 to Oct. L'O. Mid, of frrasses, on tlie jrround in niarslies. fjjijn, eii.dit to fifteen, hutVy wliitc or oehrueeous-hntl', spotted and spei'kled with rufous-iirown, I'li-f x -'JO. The Soras' suniiner home is in fresh-water mar.shcs, whore, if it were not for their notes, the reeds and grasses woidd long keep the secret of their presence. But knowing their calls, yon liave only to pass a May or Jinio evening near a marsh to learn whether they in- habit it. If there, they will greet you late in the afternoon with a clear whistled h-r-ivec, which soon comes from dozens of invisible birds about you, and long after night has fallen it continues like a springtime chorus of piping hylas. Now and again it is interrupted by a high-voiced, rolling w/iinni/ which, like a call of alarm, is taken up and repeated by different birds all over the marsh. They seem so absorbed by their musical devotions that even when calling continuously it requires endless patience and keen eyes to see the dull-colored, motionless forms in places where one would not sup- pose there was sullicicnt growth to conceal them. Floating silently near the shore on my back in a canoe, I have seen them venture out to feed. With tails erect they step gingerly along, evidently aware of their expo.sed position, for on the least alarm they dart back to cover. Sometimes they cross snudl streams by swim- ming, and they are expert divers. In the fall they gather in the wild-rice or wild-oat (Ziziinin aquat- mO marshes, and a well-directed stone or uinisual noise nuiy biing a series of protesting interrogative kukx or pfcp.^ from the apparently deserted reeds. At this season "gunners" in small flat-bottomed boats are poled through the flooded meadows, and the Soras, waiting until the last moment, rise on feeble wing — a nuirk which few can miss. Numerous [)uffs of snu)ke float over the tall grasses, and the dull reports come booming across the nuirsh with fateful frequency. i 1 II ■BMHBI 144 RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. The Spotted Crake {21t' Porzana porzaim) — an (Jld World representa- tive of our Sora— is recorded aa •occusional in Greenland." 215. Porzana noveboracensis (^/ //««'/.). Yellow Rail. (Sec Fig. 22 h.) All. — Upper jiartn black, tlie tVatliers bonlered with ochrace()Us-l)utf and with from one to tiiree narrow white bars; breast oehraeeous-butl; mid- dle of the belly wliitc ; side.s and lower belly black or brownisli, barred with white. L., 7-00; VV., 3-40 ; Tar., -'Jo; B., b->. JiaiKje. — "Eastern Nortii America from Nova Scotia and Hudson Bay west to Utah and Nevada; no e.\traliniital record except Cuba and the Ber- mudas" (A. O. U.). Washington, rare T. V., Mcli. and Oct. Loni,' Lsland, uncommon T. V. Cambridj^e, rare T. V., Apl. and May ; Oct. and Nov. A<»<, on the ground in grassy marslies. /v/ys, si.x or more, creamy buff, densely sprinkled and si)eckled on larger eu^ with rusty brown, 1-12 x -83 (Uid-w.). This little Rail inhabits marshes with others of its family. With them it seems to know that it can escape its enemies much more easily by hilling in the tangled grasses of its home than by taking wing, and it Hies only to avoid actual capture. It can be hunted successfully, therefore, only with dogs. Nuttall describes its notes as "an abrupt and cackling cry, 'Art^A; ^kri'k, 'krek, 'krek, 'kiik, Ic'kh" and compares them to the croaking of the tree frog. S16. Porzana jamaicensls {(rind.). Little Black Rail. Ad.— Head, breast, and ujiper belly slate-color; lower belly, back, and wings brownish 'lack, barred or spotted with white; nape dark reddish brown. L., 5-00; W., 2-80; Tar., \sO ; B., MIO. Rnnfje. — "Temperate North America, nortli to Massachusetts, northern Illiiiois, and Oregon; south to West Indies and in western South i^ '"erica to Chili" (A. O. U.). Probably breeds throughout its North America . ^3. Washington, rare T. V., several in Sept. Long Island, rare T. V. iVi.s'^, of grasses, on tlu' ground in marslies ^V/;/.v, ten, white, thinly sprin- kled with redJisl) brown dots, more numerous at the larger end, I'OO x "80 (Nelson, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, i, 187(), p. 43). Tliis bird is about as diHicuit to observe as a field mouse. It is said to prefer grassy meadows, where, like otliers of its family, it never flies when it can escape by running or hiding. It is ipparently not common. The only description of its notes I know of is given by Mr. INIarch, of Jamaica, who, as quoted by Dr. V>\\ ,ver, writes its call as " rhi-cki-cro-croo-rroo, several times repeated in sharp, high-toned notes, so as to be audible to a considerable distance." The Corn Crake {317. f^rex crex), a bin! of Kurope and northern Asia, is casual in Ureenhind, Bermudas, and eastern Nortli .\nierica. It > about tlic si/e of a Clapper Rail, but has a bill no larger than that of the Sora. The #«' RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. 145 general color of the upper parts is between ochriiceous-bufT nnil erenin-hulf tlie leathers witli hlack centers; the wing- coverts and most of the (quills are pule rufous ; the breast is pule ochraceous-butt' ; the sides are tlie same, burred with white; the iniddle of the l)ully is white. 818. lonornismartinicafZ//'/'.). PrRiM.KCiAi.MNrLE. Ail. -Front of tlie crown with a bare l)luisii pluMil)cous j>latc ; rest of the liead and under parts rich dark purplish blue; under tail-coverts wiiite; back shining; olive- green; wings light blue, tinged with greenish; bill carndne, tipped with pale greenish (in skins, reddisii orange, tipped with yellowish); legs yellow, /i/i. — Upper parts more or less washed with l)rownisli ; under parts more or less mottled with wliite; plate on the head smuller; bill without orange-red. Downy youiitj. — Glossy black, liead with mmierous wiiite, hairlike feathers; base of the bill yellowish, end black. L., U'-OO; W., T'lO ; Tar., 2'-10; li. from posterior margin of nostril, SO. JiaiKje. — Tropical America; breeds as far nortli as southern Illinois and South Carolina, and rarely strays northward to Wisconsin and Maine; win- ters from southern Florida southward. Long Island, A. V, JV*<, a platform of reed stalks l>uilt in rushes over the water or in j'rassy marshes. Aj/^/.*, eight to ten, butl'y wiiite, tinely speckled with rufous- brown, l-OO X 1-15. This is a common bird in the Sonthern States. It winters from southern Florida southwiud and mijj^rates northward in iVpril. It is generally found a^^soeiated with the Fk)rida Gallinule, which it resem- bles in habits, but its much brighter color is api)arent at a distance. 219. Galliniila g^aleata (/^/('/'^.). Flouida Gai.lim-i.e. (8cc Fig. 22, (/.) ,((/. — Dark bluish slate-cdlor; back and 8ca])ulars washed with olive- brown; belly whitish; flanks with a few conspicuous white utr^'dh ; under tail-coverts white; crown with a bare, bright-red plate; bill the same color tijiped with yellowish ; legs greenish, reddish at the tibiiP. Im. — Similar, but under parts grnyisli white; crown plate much smaller and with tlie bill brownish; no red on the legs. Dnwinj young. — "Glossy black, the lower parts sooty along the median line; throat and cheeks interspersed with sil- very white hairs" (Ridgw.). L., 13-50; VV., 7-00; Tar., 2-\'^\ B. from poste- rior margin of nostril, -.so. liaiKje. — Temperate and tropical America ; breeds locally as far north as Minnesota and southern Maine; winters from the Gulf Slates southward. Washington, rare T. V., Apl.; Aug. to Oct. Long Island, uncommon T. v., May; Sept. and Oct. Sing Sing, rare S. R., June 5 to Nov. 5. Cam- bricbrt', uncommon S. R., May 10 to Oct. 1. XeMy of rushes on a bed of ruslies or similar slight elevation in marslies, lagoons, or swampy lake sides, A'//;/.?, eight to thirtei-n, bulfy white or ochra- ceous-butl, spotted and speckled with ri'fous-brown, VSU x l-^o. There is sometliing about the appearance and habits of Galliiudes which always suggests to mo the thought that they are chickens wlio U • ftl ; 1 :■ 1 140 RAILS, GALLIXULES, AND COOTS. I )'i ,f!' for unknown reasons have been forced to adopt the ways of both Coots and Kails. Indeed, now I think of it, the names Water-hen and !Moor- hen are applied to near relatives of our bird. They fretpient marshy, reed- or bush-grown shores of ponds and lakes, walking gracefully through the tangled vegetation. Th.'ir flight is short and, like a Rail, with dangling legs they drop awkwardly to the ground. They swim readily, and when on the water resemble a Coot, though they are by no means so acjuatic. Their notes are loud and varied, and during the nesting season they are unusually noisy. Their c'Mnmon note is a loud, exi)losive chuck ; other calls are suggestive of the barnyard, and remind one of the protest of a disturbed brooding hen or even the squawking of a struggling fowl. In The Auk, vol. viii, pages 1-7, ^Ir. Brewster gives a detailed account of his study of a pair of Gallinules. 281> Tulica amerlcaiut Gmel. American Coot; Mid-iikn; Ckow Dl'ok; Blue rETEU. (See Fig. '22, c.) Ad. — lleuil and neck blackish; rest of the plumage dark, bluish slato-color, paler below ; edtre of the wing, ti2)s of the sccom/arieii, and uiulcr tail-coverts wliite; bill whitisli, two s])ots near its tip ami crown i)latc brownish ; lci,'s and feet greenish ; toes with Kcalhiped flapii. Ini. — Similar, but much whiter below, a slight brownish wash above; erosvn plate much smaller. Downy yoiiiuj. — lUaekisli, white below ; throat luid upper parts with lumierous hr\\i\\\. oraiuje liairlikc feathers; lores red ; bill red, tipi)e(l with black. L., 1500; \V., VoO; Tar., ti-iS ; li. from posterior margin of nostril, -SO. Ii'tmarh. — Tlie Coot bears a geuprnl resemb:.i,ice to the Florida (Jallinule, but, aside from the ditfcrcuccs in color, the scalloped webbed feet of the Coot will always serve to distinguish them. liatuje. — North America as far north as Alaska and New Rruuswick, and casually Greenland ; breeds locally throughout its range; rather rare on the Atlantic coast during the nesting season. Washington, common T. V., Mch, to May ; Sejit. to Oct. 15. Long Is\md, uncommon T. V., \\A. ; not uncouuuon, Sept. to Nov. Sing Sing, common T. v., Apl. 28 to May K? ; Sejit. 22 to Nov. 13. Cambridge, T. V., rare in Apl. ; conuuon Sept. to Nov. Xi'd, of reeds, grasses, etc.. among reods in fresli-wnter marshes. A)/f/«, eight to liftcen, pale, butl'y white, iiuely and uniformly speckled with choco- late or black, 1'85 x 1-2.'). As one might imagine after seeing their lohed feet. Coots are more aquatic than either of the (Tallinules. In the Miildle States they are fouiul in creeks and rivers with nnirshy ami reed-grown shores, while in Florida they resort in enormous numbers to lakes covered with the yellow lilies locally known as ** bonruHs" (iV"(//;/inir) ; and in some of the large, shallow rivers, like Indian River, they may be found in myriads, associated with Lesser Scaui> Ducks. In my exi)erienco they are as a rule qtiite shy ; but near the long IS : ' •1 1 It I PIIALAROPES. 147 railway pier at Titusville, Florida, where sliooting is prohibited, they are as tame as domestic Dueks. They evidently know the boundary lino between safety and danger, however, and when beyond the i)ro- tectod limits show their usual caution. Coots swim easily, with a peculiar bob))iiig motion of the head and neck. When alarmed they patter over the water, using their feet as much as their wings. The sound i)roduced is a characteristic one. They are noisy birds, and when alarmed break out into a great chorus of high, cackling notes which 1 have heard at a distance of half a mile. Their ivory-white bill is an excellent field mark, and readily servos to distinguish Coots from Gallinules. The Eiitni'KAN Coot (220. Fulica atrn) inhabits the nortlieni imrts of the Old World, aiul soinetimes occurs in (ircenluuil. It closely nsciuhU's tho Auu'rican Coot, luit lacks the white niarkings on tlie edge of the wing and under tail-cuvcrts. ORDER LIMICOUE. SHORE BIRDS. Family Phalaropodid^e. Phalaropes. There are three known members of this family: one is confined to the interior of North America, the other two may be called Sea Snipe, and are foinid in the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. The webbed feet of these pelagic species enable them to swim with ease, and during their migrations they may be found in flocks resting upon the sea far from land. Their presence on our sliores is largely de- pendent upon the weather, and during severe storms many are some- times found upon our coasts. Contrary to the usual rule, the female in this family is the larger and more brightly colored — indeed, in the domestic economy of the Phalarope household the female is nuile, ex- cept in the prime essentials of sex. She does the wooing, takes the lead in selecting the nesting site, and, although she lays the eggs, the duties of incubation fall upon the male. KEY TO TIIK SI'Ki IKS. A. Bill over 110 2'J4. Wilson's Piiai.auoi'k. II Bill under 1-10. a. Bill very slender ; winir under 47') . . • 22S. Nokthern Pii.m.auope. h. Bill stout; wing over 4-Tr) 2'-"2. Hki> riiAr.Aitoi'E. 822. Ciymophilus Ailicarius (/./"".I. Mv.u i'iiAi.Auoi>K; (iu\v PiiAi.AUoi'K. (See Fig 'Jt;, a.) Ail. in xiniinn r.—Vnwsn aixl chin fuscous; cheeks white; hack blai'k, the featiiers hordered with creani-hutl ; wii.gs gray ; some of tiie seconduries and tips of greuter coverts wl'ite ; upper tuil- ' y •' I \U\ ^!'! i 148 PIIALAROPES. coverts rufouH ; under parts tlull, reddish brown. Ad. in winter. — Top of tho heud und under parts white ; rej^ion about tiie eye and back of tiie neek fus- cous; buck and scapulars tlark pearl-gray; winjrs ^'rayish fuscous, tiie coverts and secondaries tipped witli wliite ; rump and tail fuscous. Ym.— " Top of tho head, liind neck, back, and scapulars dull black, the feathers edired with (K'hra- ceous; wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts plumbeous, the midille coverts liordered with pale bull", the tail-coverts with oehraceous; liead and neck (except as described above) and lower i>arts white, the throat and chest tinged with brownish bulf. L., b-1'.i; \V., if'M ; U., v^7 ; Tar., •f^'.i"' (Kidgw.). lianije. — " ISortiiern parts of northern hemisi)here, l>reeiling in llie arctic regions and migrating south in winter: in the United States, south to the Middle States, Oliio Valley, and Cape St. Lucas ; chietiy maritime " ( A. O. U.). Washington, casual, one record, Oct. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; Aug. to Nov. JSed., a slight hollow in the ground lined with a few bits of moss and gra.s»es. J^ PhalaroirasIobatus(Zi>«/<.). Nuktiiekn IMiai.auope. Ad. 9 in eumiiter. — Upper parts slaty gray ; back and scapulars edged with ocliraceous- butt"; sides and front of the neck rufous, more t>r less mi,\ed with slaty gray ; rest of under parts white. Ad. $ in sionnier. — Similar, but upper parts black, and with more oehraceous; sides and front of the nock mixed witli fuscous. Ada. in wiutit: — Upper parts grayish, more or less mixerl with white ; tips of greater wing-eoverts and sometimes part of the secftndarics whit(\ occasion- ally with trUces of rufous on the sides of the neek ; under parts wliite. more or less mottled witli grayish on the breast. Im. — Upper parts black, edged ■with straw-color; forehead white ; under parts white, breast sometimes lightly waslied with huffy. L., T'Tn; W., 4-50; Tar., -80; B., -85. liaufn'. — "Northern portions of the nortliern hemisphere, breeding in arctic latitudes; south in winter to the tropics" (A. (). U.). Washington, casual, one record, Se[>t. Long Island, common T. V., Aug. to Nov. ; May. Neat., a slight liollow in tlie ground lined witli grass and mosses. Eritjn, three to four, pale olive-gray heavily blotched with deep chocolate, 1"18 x -BS. During its presence off our coasts this species resembles the pre- ceding in habits. It is, however, more common, and under proper conditions sometimes occurs in larger flights. I have seen it in great numbers about one hundred miles off Rarnegat, New Jersey, in May. For several hours the steamer passed through flocks of these Sea Snipe, which were swimming on the ocean. They arose in a body at our approach, and in close rank whirled away to the right or left in search of new feeding grounds. 284. Phalaropus tricolor ( fifilL). Wu.son's rnAi.AnopE. Ad. 9 in summer.— To\) of the head and middle of the back i)earl-gray, napo AVOCETS AND STILTS. 140 white; a black strriik imsscs tliroiijili tlu' e}o to tlii' side of tin; neck and, c-liaii;,'in<,' to rutburt-elR'stiiut, eoiiliiiueH down tlie widen oftlie imek and on tlio Beaiuilars; ueek and uipper brcaxt wa.slied witli \m\v, ln'ow iiisii nit'ous ; ivst of the under parts and iijijier tail-eovertw wliite. .h/. 6 /««'//«;//(»•.— I'liper jiartrt fu.seous-hrown, bordered witli ^'rayisli brown; iijiper tail-eoverts, nape, and a line over the eye wliite or wliitish ; sides of the neek and breast washed witli rufous; rest of the under parts white. Adfi. in m'///^i v.— Ipjier parts irray, niarjfined with white; upper tail-eovi-rts wliite; winjrs fuscous, tliiir eoviTts nuiriL,'ined with Itutfy ; under i)arts white. Jut. — ''Top of head, baek, and Beai>uh .'s dusky blaekish, the feathers distinetly Ixirdered witli Imtl'; wint,'- coverts also l)ordered with i>ale liull or whitish ; ujjper taibeovcrts, sni>ereiliary stripe, and lower parts white, the neek tin^red v.ith luilf " ( Hidirw.). i L., S-Tf); W., 4-7r); Tar., 1-20; IJ., ]-2n. 9 L., icr.o ; \\.,r>-2r>; Tar., l-;!(): H., IS'.O. liaiiije. — " Temperate North Anieriea, ehietly in the interior, breediuir from northern Illinois and Utah north wartl to the .Saskatchewan region; south in winter to Brazil and I'ata.ironia" (A. (). U.). Lonj; Island, casual, Aujr., ^^e})t., and Oct. AW, a shallow tleiiressidii in .soft earth lined with a thin layer of fra;r- nient.-i of grass. I:\i'Jk, three to four, ereuin-butf or butly white, heavily blotched with deep chocolate, b'JS x -94. (See Nelson, Bull. Mutt. Orn. Club, ii, 1»7'J, pp. 36-4;j.j "These birds are nire in the Eastern States, abundant in tlie Mis- sissippi Valley, and quite connnnn westward witliin their raiifje. They inhabit the marshes, swale.s, and edges of shallow ponds, feeding upon minute snails and other simiU forms of life that abound in tlieir aipiatic haunts, procuring tlio same ehielly by running over the moist ground or wading in the short growths of water gra.>ises. They swim buoy- antly, but seldom long at a time or far from the shore, and 1 never saw one dive or nudve an attempt to do so, but, when frightened, pre- fer to escape by flight, w ; b is strong, but at such times in a zigzag and wavy manner, dropping back as soon as out of danger. A» a rule they are not timid, and are easily approached. Their motions, whether upon the land or water, are easy and pleasing, gracefully nodding the head or picking from side to side as they go" ((io.ss). Family Recurvirostrid^". Avocets and Stilts. Tho eleven species comprising this family arc distril)uted throimh- out the warmer parts of the world. They arc generally found in flocks, and may be called Wading Snipe. They feed in shallow water, wading to their heels, and when necessary swiiruning with ease. 8S6. Recurvirostra americana dm t. AMianr.w Avockt. Ad. in suihincr. — Head ami neek cinnarnon-rufous, back and tail white, scapidars and primaries black ; middle eovert.s, ti[».s of the greater ones, aniortli America; rare or aciMilftitul on tliu Atlantic eoaat; breeds from Illinois, ami rarely Texas, northward to tiie SasUatciic- wan ; winters alonj,' the Gulf coast and southward. Lon>; Island, A. V. Ncd^ a Hli(L,'iit depression in the ground in marshy jjlaces. /i'lyi/*? three to four, pale olive or bulfy clay-color, thickly spotted with chocolate, T'Jo x l-3o. Avocets are coinmon birds in parts of the interior, but are rare on the Atlantic coast. Tlioy frequent shores and shallow pools, and in searcliing for shells, crustaceans, etc., their peculiar recurved bill is used in a most interesting manner. Dropping it beneath the surface of the water until its convexity touches the bottom, they move rap- idly forward, and with every step swing their bill from side to side, as a mower does his scythe. In this way they secure food which the muddy water would prevent them from seeing. S26. Himantopus mezicanus {Midi.). r>i.A('K-xK('Ki':i> Stilt. Ad. i. — A wiiite spot above and another below the eye; front of the head, front of the neck, lower back, rump, and under parts white; tail grayish ; rest of the plumage glossy, greeni.sh black. Ad. 9. — Similar, but with the back fuscous-brown. Im. — Similar to the preceding, but heatl and neck more or less marked witli white ; back and scapulars bordered with w lute or whitish. L., lo-OO; W., !i-00; Tar., 4-1 5; B., •>-m. liarujc. — Tropical America, l)reeding northward to the Gulf coast and "locally and rarely" up the Mississiitpi Valley as tar as Minnesota; rare on the Atlantic coast north of Florida, but straying soinetinies as far as Maine. Long Island, A. V. AW, a slight depression in the ground lined with grasses. AV^/.v three to four, olive or butfy day-color, thickly spotteil with chocolate, 1-70 x I'LT). Stilts are fond of wading in shallow ponds in salt marshes, and are graceful and alert in their movements. During the nesting season they become very noisy, and at nightfall I have heard t'lMn utter their froglike croak as they darted erratically about over the marshes. Famil«^ Scolopacid^. Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. About one hi Ired species are considered as belonging io this family. They are distributed tiiroughout the world, but during the breeding season are mostly confined to the northern parts of the north- ern hemisphere. Some forty-five species are found in North America. With the Plovers they constitute the great group known as Shore Birds or Bay Birds, and with few exceptions they are rarely found far from the vicinity of water. Generally speaking, they are more abun- dant on the coast than in the intciior, but many species are quite as numerous inland as they are near the sea. As a rule, they migrate SNIPES, SANDPIPKIIS, ETC. 151 and pass the winter in flocks, but they are not gregarious during the nestuig season. Their h)ng bills serve the purpose of both probes and forceps. Most of the species probe the soft mud for food, while some are known to have the power of moving the upper mandible independently of the lower one, curving it at the tip as one would a finger. Snipes are not supjiosed to be song birds, but during the breeding season many species are highly and peculiarly musical, and at other times of the year they utter characteristic whistles. These are sus- ceptible of imitation, and the birds are quick to respond lo an imita- tion of their notes. The sportsnum concealed in his " blind," there- fore, calls to passing birds, and with the aid of wooden decoys easily draws them within gunshot, KKV TO TIIK SI'KCIES. I. Bill 2-00 or over. A. Axillurs * barred with lilia'k. «. Bill curved tlowinviinl. a>. J}i 11 over a-00, uikIlt 4-50 205. IIidsonian Ctklew. a'. Bill under 3-00 2iii'.. Eskimo Ciulew. a'. Bill over 4"oO 2»j4. Lonu-imlleu Ciulew. b. Bill .straight or curved slii.ditly upward, ii. Tail -feathers with numerous l)hick liars. i». Wing over 7'00, primaries black or fuscous. 'JM. (il!E.\TEU VEH,f>W-I,KOR. 6*. Wing over 7'00, inner wch of primaries l)Ull'or rulnus. 249. MAitnLEi) (JoDwiT. h*. Wiuir under T'OO. bill widened and jiitted at the tip. 2;)1. J)()WIT( IIEU. 'J'i'J. I.oNii-HII.I.KIl DoWITCUKIt. 0*. Tail black with a broad rufous tip or marktd with rufous, c'. Outer web of primary with rufous bars. 227. Eiijoi'E.w WooorocK. ('S. Primaries not barred 230. Wilso.n's Snii'e. a. Axillars not barred. a. Axillars rufous or ochracoous-buff. a>. Bill over H-OO, uuich curved downward. 2CA. LoNT.-mi.I.EI) OlHI.EW, a'. Bill nearly straight, between 3-50 and 5-()0. 240. Mauulei) Godwit. «8. Bill straight, under S-aO 228. A.meuk an Woodcock. b. Axillars black. i'. Under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black. 2'il. IIlDSoNIAN' (JoDWIT. J'. Under parts white, with or without blackish bars. 25JS. WiLi.ET. 2bXft. Westekx Willet, If fi -i * See Fig. 64. p:^'^" 152 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. II. Bill uiidtr iiOO. A. Tuil witli eroHs-burw, a. VViiifjr over r>-75. a*. Outer tuil-l'futlier« wliite, more or lesH burred; outer prhnary with- f>"t bars -^ J, Vklluw-leus. a*. Outer i)riiuury with numerous black bars. 2(!1. Kautkamian Randi'II'kk. a*. Outer primary without bars; outer tuil-t'eutliers brownish gray. 2(i0. KiKK. b. Wing under STo. 6*. Under parts white, with numerous round lilackish spots ; upper parts brownish gray, barred witii blackish . . 'Mi. Si-ottei) Sandi'ii-eh. i«. Under parts white, breast streaked with blaekisli ; upjier parts fus- cous, spotted with white 2"n;. Soi.itauy Sandimi'EK. b: Under parts tinged with buff'y, inner web of outer primary speckled with blackish 202. Buff-bkeasteu Sandpipek. Ji. Tail without cross-bars, toes 4. a. Bill over 110. a*. Middle upper tail-coverts with cross-bars or streaks. a». Tarsus over 1 -50 233. Stii.t SANnriPEK. a». Tarsus under l-r>0, wing under 600. . 244. Ciulew Sandpipek. a*. Tarsus under 1-50, wing over 6-00 234. Knot. 6*. Middle upper tuil-coverts black or fuscous, without bare; bill straight. 6'. Tarsus under l-.'JO ; upper parts blackish, more or less margined with gray 235. I'ukple Sandpipeu. b*. Tarsus under \-M ; upper jmrts more or less margined with rufous. 2311. I'ectohal Sandpipek. h*. Tarsus over rSO 2C.0. Kief. (•>. Middle upper tail-coverts grayish, bill curved slightly downward. 243«. liEU-BACKED SaNDPIPEU. 6. Bill under 1-10. bK Wing under 4-00. b*. Toes partly webbed. 24(i. Semipalmated Sandpipeu. 247. Westekn Sandpipek. ft*. Toes not webbed 242. Least Sandpipek. c'. Wing over 4'00, inner webs of j)rimaries plain. (*. ]?reiist white or whitish, streaked or spotted with blaekisli ; mid- dle upper tail-coverts white . . 240. White-kimped Sandpipek. c». Breast buffy, heavily spotted or streaked w itli blackish ; middle upper tail-coverts black, slightly margined with rufous. 239. Pectokal Sandpiper. rgined with buffy. 241. Baird's Sandpiper. a*. Wing over 4-00, inner weos of primnvies si)eckled. 2t)2, Blff-bkeasted Sandpiper, C. Tail without cross-bars, toes 3 24S. Sanderlino. mm o a o o I SNIPKS, SANDIMPHIiS, HTC. l.-:} 288« Philohela minor (^/mc/.). Amkimcan Wimix ock. .1'/. — Front of till! crown .>liity, wioliol witli luitl, aii iiuli^tiiu't Mackisli line in its i-ciiliT, uml unotlier from tlic fvc to the !)ill; Imck of tliu licatl Mack, with two or tlireo l)arrt of ochracfoiirt-lmtf ; rest of thu iipiHr part.s hUiok, iiiartritu'il with shity iiiul l)urrt'oiu,'atii ; uiuKt parts lictwci'ii ochrac<'ous-l)Utf and rufous; tlirci" outer iiriniarius very narrow and much siillcncil. L., ll'Oi'; \V., 5-40; Tar., l-J.'); IJ.. -j-imi. Ritiiiji'. — Kastcrn North America nortli to Lahrador aiiil Maiiitoha, lireetl- iii!,' lU'arly tliroui^hout its raiiire, l>iit not commonly in tiie soutiiern part of it; winters from soutiiern Illinois and Virj^iniu southward. Washiiiirtoii, ratlu'r common from Feb. to Nov.; a few winter. Lonif Island, common S. li. ; a fi'W winter. Sinj,' Sim,', common 8. U., Fel>. l',t to Dee. 2. Cnnd)ridi.'e, S. K., fonnerly common, fjust heeomin^' rare ; Meli. to Nov. Xtxt, of a fi'W dry leaves, on the irround in the woods. Kijij", four, butly, distinctly and obsi-urely spotted with shades of rufous, POO x \Si. Duriiif? the sprin;; and oarly siuniix^r this Owl ainoiij; Siii;)e haunts h)W. wooded bottom-lands; in .Anefust, while mating;, il resorts toeorn- fields near woods, antl in the fall niii;ratin^ birds frecjiient wooded up- lands. But at nil times it re(iuires a soft, moist earth in which it may easily probe with it.s lonjjj bill for its fare of earthworms. The holes it makes are known as •'borin<^s." They are generally found in littlo groups, and are. of course, certain evidence of the presence of Wood- cock. It has recently been discovered by Mr. (iurdon Trumbull tliat the Woodcock can move the tip of its upper mandible iiulependently of the lower one, and this organ is made to act as a finger to assist tho bird in drawing its food from tiie ground. Tho flight of the Woodcock is sometimes accompanied by a high, whistling sound produced by its narrow, stitrened {)rimaries in beating the air. When lluslied near its nest or young, the parent bird gen- erally feigns lameness or a broken wing, and leads the intruder soino distance from its treasures before taking wing. The cloak of night always lends a certain mystery to the doings of nocturnal birds, and more often than not their habits justify our un- usual interest in them. How many evenings have I tempted the; ma- laria germs of Jersey lowlands to watch the Woodcock perform his strange sky dance! lie begins (m the ground with a formal, periodic jtevnt, ppcnt, an incongruous preparation for the wild rush that follows. It is repeated several times before he springs from the ground and on whistling wings sweeps out on the first loop of a sjiiral which may take him ;}00 feet from the ground. Faster and faster he goes, louder and shriller sounds his wing-.song: then, after a moment's pau.se, with darting, headlong flight, he pitches in zigzags to the earth, uttering as he falls a clear, twittering whistle. He generally returns to near tho 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 "pa IIIIIM I.I IIIU |||m i^ ^ 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 .4 6" - ► V] <^ /a '^. m. o'S VI c% (W w />' ^ew .> .> A y /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 'W ^ vV I 154 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. place from which he arose, and the peent is at once resumed as a pre- liminary to another round in the sky. Tlie Eumn'KAN WoourorK (227. Scolopar rusticohi) hears n general re- semblance to our Woodf'X'k, but i» much lartjer; the under parts are barred with black, the winga are barred with rufous, ami the outer primaries are not emarginate. It is of accidental occurrence in eastern North America. 280. Gallinafi^ delieata < Ord). Wilson's Snipe ; Enclisii Snipe. Ad. — Upper i)arts black, barred, bordered, and mottled with dillerent shades of cream-butf ; vings fuscous; outer edge of outer primary and tips of greater coverts white; throat white; neck and brea.st ochraceous-bulf, indistinctly streaked with blackish; belly white, sides barred with black; under tail- coverts burty, barred with black ; outer tail-feathers barred with black and white, inner ones blnf^k. barred with rufous at their ends and tipped with whitish. L.. \V2r>\ W., 5-l«ek and more or less oehraeious-liutl"; j)rima- ries fuscous; under parts dull, jialt- rufous, wliitisli on the lielly, more or lew* spotted and barred witli black. Ail. in irintir. rppcr parts brownish u'ray ; rump and tail barred with bUifk ami white; throat ami l)rtasl waslu'd with ashy, billy whiti'. sitlcs and under tail-i'overts liai'ri'd with black, /m. - Ijipcr ])arts black, the featlu-rs edircd with rufous; rump and tail barrcil with black and white, atiil sometimes waslu'd with rufous; secondaries widely edtred with white; under parts more or less washed with ochraceous-buH ami oi)scurely Bpotted with blackish. L., lO.W; W., TvT.'i: Tur., VW; H., 2-05-'.i-r)0. Uetnarh. — The barred tail and tail -coverts, with tlie peculiar flattened, pitted tip of the bill, are eliaracteristic of this and the next species. , /I'rtw^i". -Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and winterinjr from Florida to South America. Washiiiu'ton, casual, one specimen, Sept. Long Ibland, common T. V., May; July Xei Sept. 15. h'tjiix, four, liirht bulfy olive, distinctly spotted and speckled, especially about the larjjer end, with deep brown. l-il5 y li.'5 i Ilidf/w. ). The Dowitchers are among our best-known Bay Birds. They migrate in compact flocks which are easily attracted to decoys by an imitation of their fall. Mud-flats and bars exposed by the falling tide are their chosen feeding grounds. On the Gulf coast of Florida I have M^MI 156 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. seen several hundred guthered in such close rank that they entirely concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 238> Macrorhamphua acolopaceus (Sa>/). Lono-billed Dow- itciiek; Wksteun Dowitcheu. Ad. in nummer. — Similar to the preceding, but averaging larger; the bill ewpecinlly is longer, the under parts are more uniformly rufous, and the sides are more lieuvily barred with blaek. Ad, iii, winter and hn. — To be distinguisiied from the corresponding stages of J/, yri- seus only by their larger size. VV., tiOO ; Tar., l-;Vi ; B., '.i-lO-'J-KO. liange. — " Mississippi Valley and western {)r<)vinee of North America from Mexico to Alaska; less common, but of regular oc-urreuee along the Atlantic coast of the United States" (A. 0. U.). Washington, casual, seven .shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. A>/f/«, four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding species. This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our coasts as a rare but regular late fall migrant. It resembles the pre- ceding species in habits, but the baynien who "gun" for Snipe say they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Wood- cock, Wilson's Snipe, and its near ally, M. griseus, the male utters a flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 833* Micropalama himantopus (lionap.). Stilt Sandi'iper. Ad. in su.mmer. — L'[>per parts black, bordered with grayish and butty; ear- coverta and an indistinct line around the buck of the luad ru/ouK ; second- aries grayish, edged with white ; primaries fuscous ; rump asli y ; upjHr tail- coverts barred with black anil white; outer tail-fcatiicrs with br ki-n dusky bars, inner ones with central streaks or nuirgins of brownish gr., or white; under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ad. in tr/w^t-r.— Upper parts brownish gray; ujiper tail-coverts white ; tail white, margined with brownish gray; under parts while; the throat, neck, and sides indistinctly streaked or washed with grayish. Im. — Similar to the preceding, l)ut the upper parts black- ish, margined with oehraceous-bulj^ L., 8-2."); W., .I-OO; Tar., l-fiO; B., l-r)5. liciiinrkK. — The distinguishing characters of this species are the flattened, pitted tip of the bill, in connection with the very long tarsi. /»'««*/<'.— Kastern North .\mcrica, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and wintering as far south as South America. Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; July to Oct. 10. AV/f/.f, three to four, pale grayish hull, or grayish butfv white, boldly spotted with rich vandyke-brown and purplish gray, 1-4'i x l-OO ( Ridgw.). Colonel N. S. Ooss, in his admirable Birds of Kansas, writes that he has observed this species along the edges of old channels of rivers or muddy pools of water, in which it wades while feeding; immersing the head and feeling with its sensitive bill in the thin mud for food. It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sandj)ipers, and at times will try and avoid detection by squatting close to the SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 157 ground, flying only as a lust resort, and then darting swiftly away with a sharp tweet, tweet. 834. Trimg^ canutus Li/m. Kxot; Kobix Smi>k; Gkay Rmpe. (See Fi{j:s. 2;"), i, M,b.) Ad. in nunimrr. — Upper purts burred and streaked witli blaek and white and rufous; tail ashy gray, narrowly margined with whitish ; under parts dull rufous; lower belly white or wJiitish, sides soiuetiuies with blaek burs. (According to George II. Mackay, it requires about four yeura for binls to acquire this plumage. See Auk, x, l»y3, p. 25.) /m. — Upper parts plaui brownish gray ; up[>er tail-coverts burrod with black und white, tail brownish gray ; breast und sides barred with V)lack, belly white. Yountj. — Upper parts pale brownish gray; head streaked with blackish; back, wing- coverts, und scapulars with distinct bluck and white bordei's; upper tail-cov- erts barred with bluekisli ; tail ashy gray, narrowly margined with white; under parts white ; breast finely streaked or !oly as they wheel into the stools that the entire flock is sometimes killed by a single discharge. Mr. George IT. Mackay. in one of his careful and detailed studies of our Shore Birds, describes their notes as a soft UHih-qiioit and a little hank. The first is particulnrly noticeable when flocks are coming to the de- coys (see Auk, x, 18fl3, pp. 25-35). 236* Trillj^ maritima Brihtn. Piupf.e SvNnpirER. Ad. in mnn- mer. — tapper parts bluck, margined with oohracoous-hutf und cream-bntf; winirs fuscous-gray, greater coverts muru'incd with white and some seconiln- ries entirely white; upper tnil-eoverts /'(//fcoww, outer tail-fi'athers ashy gray, inner ones fuscous; tliroat and brenst brownisii gray, streaked with bluck; belly wliite, sides and under tail-eoverts streaked with brownish gray. Wln- ti'r pjiirnntfi'. — lleud. neck, breast, and sides asliy. tlie two latter mariritied with wliite ; buck fuscous, murffined with ushy ; wiuL's fuscous, the coverta, Becnnduries, und tertiuls distinctly bordered with white; iijipcr tull-eovorta and middle tuil-feutliers bluck or fuscous, outer tail-feathers ashy ; l)elly and linintrs of the wings white. L.. 0-00 ; W., 5(>o ; Tar.. O-oo ; Ii., 1-40. RemarlcK. — The brownish gray or ashy breast of this species is a good distinguishing eharacter. Range.— '■^ Northern portions of the northern hemisphere; in North Amer- 158 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. ica chiefly in tiie nortli eastern portion, Itroodin},' in the liijfli north," south in winter to the (Jrout Lakes uml l^oiitj; Isliiixl, and etLsually to Florida. Lonfjf Ishind, uueoninion W. V., Nov. 1 to Mch. 1. Caiubritlge, casual, one instance, Oct. AV/r/«, three to four, olive clay-color or brownish lishy, heavily marked with rufous-brown, 1-45 x 1'08. This bird might be called Winter Snipe or Rock Snipe. Indeed, I find the latter name has been a|)plied to it from its habit of freciuent- ing rocky coast.s, where it secures its food in the algaj attached to rocks exposed by the falling tide. 289. Txinga, maculata r«V/7/. I'ectoral Sandpipek; Kkieker. Ad. ill ««;////(«/•.— Upper jtart.s black, the feathers all heavily bordered with pale ocliraceous-butt ; rump and upper tail-eovcrts b/(t. Cambridge, irregular and uncommon in Sept. and Oct. Eijatt, four, drab, sometimes witli a greenish tinge, blotched with clear amber-brown markings, more numerous at the larger end, l-oO x 1-0'J (Mur- doch ). The names Grass Snipe and Krieker describe with equal truth and conciseness the haunts and notes of this Snipe. It frequents wet, grassy meadows rather than lieaelies. and. although it flies in flocks, the birds scatter while feeding and take wing one or more at a time. They thus remind one of Wilson's Snipe. Their note is a squeaky, grating whistle. They will respond to an imitation of it. but do not decoy so readily as the larger Bay Birds. :Mr. E. W. Nelson writes* th.it during the brooding season the male inflates its breast and throat until they are double their normal size, and utters a deep, hollow, reso- nant note. 840. Tringa ftiscicollis \"n!ll. Wuite-iumped SANnpiPEii. Ad. in «MWOTfr.— Upper parts black, edirod with nifous; rump grayish .\iscou8, margined with ashy ; longer upper tail-coverts white, witli nomctimes brownish- • Rep. on Nat. Hist. Colls, made in Alaska, p. 108. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 159 gray markings ; contnil tuil-fcnth jn* fuscous, outer ones brownisli fjray ; upper throat white; ueek, breast, and t^idtH distinctly streaked and sjmtted wl;,h black and more or less washed with ochraeeous-bull. WiuUr plumage. — " Upper parts plain brownish gray, witli indistinct, narrowed, mesial streaks of dusky; otherwise as in sununer, but streaks on clie.st, etc., less distinct" (Ridjfw.). Iin. — Similar to summer examples, but the feathers of the upper parts with roundtU whitisli or ocliruceous-buti' tlj)K ; breast less distinctly Btreakcd. L., T-.W; W., 4-l»0; Tar., -'JO; B., -nr,. Jiemarh. — The white upper tail-coverts ilistin^ruisli this species. Jiamje. — Eastern North America, breeding in the arctic regions and win- tering as far south as the Falkland Islands. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., July 20 to Oct 10. Sing Sing, casual T. v., Sept. A>/(/», three to four, liglit olive, or olive brownish, spotted ( usually ratlicr .finely) with deep brown and dull, purplisli gray, 1'37 x •\iA (Kidgw.). "They fre(iuent the sandy beach as well as the marshy shores upon the coast, but inland seem to prefer the edges of pools of water upon the uplands. They move in small flocks, arc very social, often associating with other waders, are not as a rule shy or timid, and, when startled, usually fly but a short distance, drop back, and run about in an unconcerned and heedless manner, picking up the minute fonns of life that usually abound in sufh places, occasionally uttering a rather sharp, piping weet, wi'i't. Their flight is swilt and well sustained " (Goss). , 841> Trin^^ bairdil ( Coues). Baiiu>*s Sanoph'KK. All. in fummer. — Upper parts fuscous; fcatliers of the crown and nape riuirgined laterally with pale butfy ; back and scapulars tipi>ed with pale butfy or brownish gray ; middle upper tail-coverts _/'a#<'OM«, sometimes tipped witli butfy; central tail- feathers fuscous, margined with whitish, outer ones pale brownisli gray ; tliroat white; breiist washed witii butfy and //V/A/^y spotted or streaked with fuscous; fidt8 and belly wliite. Im. — Similar, but the back, 8cai)ulars, and wing-eov- erts with rouinlfd white tips. (In the winter these tips are more or less worn otf. ) L., 7-40 ; W., 4-90 ; Tar., -(tO ; B., -85. Remarks. — This b' d most closely resembles T.fumcolUn. In any plum- age it may be known from that species by the fuscous instead of wliite middle up'per tail-coverts. In summer it ditlers also in the absejice of rufous above, the less heavily spotted throat, auil tlie white insteail of si")ttcd sides. In winter the chief distinguisiiing marks of the two species, aside from the dif- ferently colored upj)er tail-coverts, are the bully breast and generally jnder upper parts of hainlli. Range. — Interior of North America, breeding in tlic arctic regions and migrating southward to South America; rare on the Atlantii! coast. VVa.shington, casual, one record. Long Island, casual, Aug. Egg», tliree to four, liglit, creamy buff, sometimes tingetl with rusty, thickly speckled and spotted with deep reddish brown or chestnut, l'30x'93 (Kidgw.). HIPMlll 160 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. Fig. 62.— Least Sandpiper. (Natural size.) " In habits they aro simihir to the White-rumped (which they so closely resemble), but are more inclined to wander from the water's edge. I have flushed the birds on high prairie lands, at least a mile lio.n the water" (Goss). 242* Trin^^ oiinutilla yieill. Least Handpiper ; Meadow O.xf.ye; 1'kkp. Au. in Kuiiimcr. — UiipiT j)artH black or fuscous, t'i.li,'eil uiul tijipcd witli burty or rufous; rump and iiikkliu upi)or tail-covert« plalu black or fuH~ court; central tuil-foathei-s black or fu.scou.s, outer ones ashy ;,'ray ; upper tliroat white ; neck and l>rea.st white or bully, streaked with fuscous; belly and sides white, /w.— Similar, but feathent of the back with r««//(/(er j)arts brown- ish (^ray, sometimes with more or less black in the centers of the feathers ; breast white or ashy, not distinctly streaked. L., G-00; W., 3-50; Tar., •70 ; B., -75. livyinirks. — This is the smallest of our Sandpipers, and can be confused only with A'reii/ittes piinilinn, from which, however, it nuiy always l)e distin- gui.siied by the absence of Webs between the biuses of the toe.s. /Id fi'je.— North America, breeding in tlic arctic regions and wintering from the (Julf States to South .\merica. Wiushiiigton, uncommon T. V., May; Aug. to Oct. Long Islaml, abun- dant T. v., Apl. 25 through May; July through Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., May 9 to May 22; Oct. 3. Cambridge, very common T. V., May 2.5 to May 31 ; -luly 20 to Aug. 3L AV/f/^, three to four. i>aie, grayisli l>uffy, varying to pale brownish, thickly spotted, s})eckled, or sprinkled with deep chestnut and dull, purplish gray, 1-15 X -83 (Kidgw.). This, the smallest of our Sandpipers, is frequently associated with its larger cousin the Scmipalmated Sandpiper on the shores and beaches, but it also visits the grassy meadows, and for this reason is known by baymen as the " Meadow Oxeye." 243a> Tringfa alpina paciflca ( 6^<'>t/^/('). REn-RACKEn Sandpiper; Leadra(-k. A<1. in summer. — V\)]n'r parts broadly margined with rufous, the centers of the feathers black, wings brownish gray ; breast whitish, lightly streaked with blockish ; middle of the belly with a lanfe hhtck patch, lower bolly white. Im. — Upper parts blackish, the feathers with roundctl tips of rufous or !)uffy ; breiust washed with bufty and indistinctly streaked with blackish ; belly spotted with black. Winter plumaije. — Upper parts bn)wn- ish gray ; middle upper tail-coverta fuscous ; wing-coverts brownish gray margined with buffy ; throat white ; breast ashy, indistinctly streaked ; belly SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. ir.i white, the sidea Homctiiiii'.s Hpotted witli black. L., 800; W., 475; Tur., VOO; B., 1-50. Kemarks. — Tlu-rc is, of course, every de^Teu of iiiterjrradation between Buniiiier atul winter plumage, but the «peeies may always be known by its slightly curved bill. lianije. — Nortli America, breeding in the arctic regions and wintering from Florida southward ; rare in tlie interior. Washington, ruru T. V., Apl. ; Uct Long Inland, T. V., uncommon in FiQ. 63.— Red-backed Sandpiper. (Natural size.) spring, Apl. 1 to May 15; common in fall, Aug. 31 through Oct. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. in fall, Oct. 3 to Oct. 24. Cambrulge, casual, one instance, Oct. K{f(js, three to iour, varying from pale, bluish white to ocliraccous-butf, heavily marked with chocolate, chietly at the larger end, 1-43 x 101. Generally speaking, this is a shore or beach bird, though it also visits grassy marshes. It flies and feeds in flocks, and is an unsus- picious, rather stupid little Snipe, less active than most members of this family. The gray-plumaged fall birds are known as " Leadbacks," while in the spring they go by the names " IJlackbreast " or " Redback." The Dunlin (f^?. Tringa alpina) is the Old-World representative of our Red-backed Sandpiper, from which it differs only in being less brightly colored and somewhat smaller. L., about 7*40; W., 4'12-4-50; Tar., -78-90 ; B., l-05-l'25. It is of casual occurrence in North America. The CvRLEw Sanopipeb (244- Tn'/u/n ferrufjinea) inhabits the eastern hemisphere, and occurs casually in eastern fsortli Atiicrica. It lias been re- corded from Ontario, Nova Scotia, Maine, Massachusetts, and Long Island. 246« Ereunetea puaillu8(/.//"J.). SKMiPAi,MATEnSANi>rii>KR; Sand O.XEYK ; Peep. Ad. in nutnmer. — Upper parts black or fuscous, nuirgined with brownish gray and a gvtall amount of rufous; rump grayish brown; upper tail-coverts blackisli ; tail-featliers brownish gray, central ones darkest; breast etreaked or spotted with blackish. Im. — Similar, but upper parts and wing- coverts blackish, with rounded rufous or butfy tips to the feathers ; breast un- 12 1C2 SNIPES, SANDPIPEIIS, ETC. streakcc], tinted with huffy. Winter pfumoije. — Upper part« hrownish (tray, with darker «hafl wtreaku; upper tail-eoverts darker; under partH wliite, »uiiic- tiiiiet* with faint streaks on tiie breast. L., (J'SO ; W., S*"') ; Tar., '75 ; B., •;h Brazil. Washington, rare T. V., May ; Aug. to Oct. J^ong Island, tibundant T. V., May; July through Sept. Sing Sing, connnon T. V. in fall, Aug. 14 to Oct. 20. Cambridge, very common in -Vug. and Sept. E(jgif, three to four, pale, dull grayish buff, sprinkled, speckled, or spotted with dark brown and purplish gray, 1'21 x "85 (Kidgw.). The thought of these little Sandpipers always creates a mental pic- ture of a long stretch of dazzling beach with its ever-changing surf- line. I hear the oft-repeated booming of the rolling, tumbling break- ers, and in the distance see a group of tiny forms hurrying to and fro over the sand smoothed by the frothy waves. With what nimble grace- fulness they follow the receding waves, searching for treasures cast up by the sea I What contentment and good-fellowship are expressed by their cheery, conversational twitterings! Up and down the beach they run, now advancing, now retreating, sometime.^, in their eagerness, ven- turing too far, when the waters threaten to ingulf them, and in momen- tary confusion they take wing and hover back to a place of safety. Suddenly, as though at a signal, they are off; a compact flock moving as one bird, twisting and turning to right and loft, now gloaming white as the sun strikes their snowy bodies, now dark again like a wisp of sunless cloud flying before the wind. 847. Ereunetes occidentalis Lawr. Western Semipalmated Sandpiper.— This bird closely resembles the preceding, from which, in sum- mer plumage, it differs in having the upper parts conspicuously margined with rufous and the breast more heavily streaked. In fall and winter plum- age the differences in coloration arc not so apparent, but the birds are to bo distinguished at any season by the size of the bill, which in the western spe- cies always averages longer. W., 3-80; Tar., 80; B., -Rri-l-'iO. /i^a«j7«^.— Western North America; breeds in the arctic regions, and win- ters from the Gulf States to South America; occasional on the Atlantic coast. Long Island, uncommon T. V., occurring with E. pusilftis. F<7«js, three to four, deep cinnamon buffy, sprinkled, speckled, or thickly spotted with bnght rusty brown or cliestnut, the general aspect decidedly rusty, 1-24 x -87 (Ridgw.). This western representative of the fyrocoding species is sometimes found on our coasts associated with its eastern relative. In Florida, particularly on the Gulf coast, it occurs in numbers during the winter. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 103 848. Calidrla arenaria (/.//;».)• Sandkri.ino; Sckf Snipk. Ad. in summer. — Feuthurrt of the ujiper parts with >;i'ru'rully black centers, bor- dered uiid HonietimeH burred with jmic rufoua und tipped with iwhy white ; wiii)fH t'usi'ous, tlie buxul hull" of the outer web of the inner iiriinarieH white ; win>;-eovertH (grayish fuse< us, tiie ureuter one broadly tippeil with white; tail brownish jrruy, narrowly niarj^iiud with white; throat un»l upper breji.st wu«hed with pale rn/oun uud spotted with blaekinh ; rest of t!ie umler parta pure white. Fall plumnt/e. —i'<\mihir, but upper parts without rufous, jflossy bluek, the feathers sometimes bordered witli wiiite, but generally with two wiiitc sjMitrt ut their tips separated by the black of the central part of the feather; nape gruyish white, lightly strenked witli bluckish; under purtM pure white, with occasionally u few spots on the breast. W i/ittr jilunimje. — Upper parts pale brownish gray, wings as in the preceding ; under i>aTt»pure white. L., 8 00; VV., 5-00; Tur., 1-00 ; B., 100. lieinarkn. — Tlie Sumlerling is the only one of our Snipes or Sandpipers having three toes, and it may always be known by this character in combi- nation witli it« booted or transvei-sely scaled tai-si. liaiKje. — " Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in arctic und subarctic regions; migrating, in America, south to ("hili and J'atagoniu" (A. (>. U.). Washington, casual T. \'., two records. Long Island, connnon T. V., Mch. 15 tlirough May ; Aug. 1 tlirough Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., to June 5; Sept. 9 to Oct. 5. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Kg(iK, three to four, liglit olive-brown, tinely spotted or speckled with darker, the markings larger ond moro blended on tljc larger end, 1-41 x "91 (Kidgw.). This is a true boach bird, and is usnally found on shores washed by the sea. It frequently associates with tlie Seinipalmated Sandpiper or Oxeye. which it resembles in habits, but its larger size and lighter colors distinguish it from that species. 849« Limosa fadoa (Linn.). Marbled Godwit; Bkown Mari.ik. Ad. — Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked with butty, the back barred or tlie feathers spotted on tlio sides and sometitncs tipped with butty or oclirnceous-butt'; inner web of the outer primaries and botli webs of the inner ones ochrdcenyK-huf or pale butty, speckled with black ; tail ochraceous- buff" l)arrod with Idack ; throat white, rest of tlic under parts pale buff"y, spotted or l)arred with black; bill curved sli>r)itly upward, yellowish at the base, black at the end. Im. — Similar, but the under parts with few or no bars except on the flanks and under tail-coverts. L.. lS-00; W..^-?'); Tar., 2-7ri; B., 4f'0. Ranije. — North America, breeding cliiefly in the interior, from western Minnesota, and rarely Iowa and Nebraska, northward, and migrating -south- ward to Central America and Cuba; rare on the Atlantic coast. Long Island, rare T. V., Aug. and Sept. EggK., three to four, clay-color or brownish ashy, blotclied, spotted, and scrawled with grayish brown, 2"15 x 1*60. Colonel Goss writes that this species " inhabits the salt- and fresh- water shores, marshes, and moist ground upon the prairies. It feeds 164 SNIPKS, SANDPIPKIiS, ETC. upon cnistacpa, insects, worms, larva>,etc., moving about in a horizontal position, picking anil probing as it goes. Its flight is easy and well sustained, though not very rapid ; in alighting, raises the wings over the back as it touches the gnjund. These l)irds as a rule are shy, and keep well out of reach. . . ." 861* Iiimout haBnUMtica (/.inn.). Hcdhoman Godwit; Kinu- TAii.Ki> Maki.in. .liiir.—\J\>\wr parts l>luck, the head and neck streaked and the back spotted or barred with wliite or asliy ; upper tnil-coveits white, more or less liarred with ])lack ; tail white or asiiy, barred witli black ; breast heavily Piuitted with black ; sides barred with black ; middle of the belly white. Winter plumaffe.—^'unWur. but upper parts brownish pray, edged with whit- ish ; sides of the scapulars, tertiuls, and wing-coverts with blackish and whitish spots; breast only lightly streaked with blackish, u. sides slightly barred. L., 1400 ; W., 7-70 ; Tar., 2-40 ; B., 2-20. Kitfifje.—'Sorth America ; breeds from Minnesota and rarely northern Illi- nois ami .\nticosti northward ; winters from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Washington, rather common T. V., Apl. and May ; July 25 to Nov. Long Island, common T. V., Apl. 10 through .May; July 15 through Oct. Sing Sing, common T. V., to June 5 ;— to Oct. 28. Camliridgc, common T. V., Apl. 15 to .May 25; Sept. and Oct. ^f7f/, Totanus flavipes (^/mcA). VKi.i.ow-i.Kds; Scmmkk Yki.low- LE08. Ad. in oumt/DT. — L'jipor {nirts ffem-rttlly lirownisli jrray, tlic ht'iid and neck streiikt'd with Miii-k and white, the lnu'k, sca]iu!ars, and wiii^'-oovcrtj* with sonietinies i)iac'k cfnti-rs, spotted or tipped with w)iitish or browni«h pray ; upper tail-eovert» wliite, more or lens liarreil with blaek, tail varying from wliite to brownish (fray, witii numerous blaek or blackish eross-bars; breast heavily sjMitt )r streaked and Hides barred with black ; belly white, legs yellow. Win phnudije. — Similar, but upper parts brownish pray, tlic sides of the feathers with whitish spots; tail-bars prayish ; broay liphtly streaked with ashy. T^., 107r); VV., (J-tO ; Tar., ^n-); H., l-4t). lifiiarkH. — This bird eloselv resend)les the (ireater Vellow-lcs in color, but may always Ijc distinpuished by its smaller si/e. n'liiiiff. — North .Vmericii, breedinp eliiefly in the interior from Minnesota, northern Illinois, Ontario County, N. V., northward to the arctic regions; winters from the (Julf States to Pataponia. Washinpton. rather common T. V., Apl. to .\fay IS; Aup. to Nov. Lonjf Island, T. V., very rare in sprinp, abundant in fall; .luly If) to Oct. 1. Sing Sinp, tolerably conunon T. V. in fall ; Aup. "Ji") t<» Oct. 5. Cambridpc, rare in May; sometimes common in Aup. and early Sept. AV/f/i, tliree to four, butfy (variable as to shade), distinctly (sometimes broadly) siMittetl or blotched with ilark madder- or vundyke-lirown and pur- plish pray, VtV.t x 1*1.5 (Hidpw.). This species closely resembles the preceding in notes, habits, and choice of haunts. It decoys, however, more easily, aiul, geiu'rally sjwaking, is more common. The GiiEEN-.'iiiANK (25S. Totanus nchulnriux) is an Old-World species, of wliich three specimens were taken by ,\udubon, .May 28, I8:i'2, near Capo Sable, Florida. It resembles our Greater Yelbnv-leps, but ditlers chietly in Juiving the lower back and rump white. The Green Sandpiper {257. TotfinuK ochropUH) is an Old-World sfwetes which has been recorded once from Nova Scotia. It rcBcmbles our Solitary 166 SNIPES, SANDPIFERS, ETC. SftiKl^iper, but is larger (W., 5-75), and has the upper tuil-covcrts pure white. 866. Totanus solitarius ( Wih.). Roi.itaky Sam>i>ii>ek. Ad. in summer. — UpjKT part« olivc-fusccjus, witli n slight greeniwli tinge, tlie lieud and neck Mtrenked and tlie back spotted with wliite ; upper tail-covertH fus- cous, with fine whitisli spots on their sich's, the liitcral ones sotnetimes l)aried; central pair of tail-feathers fuscous, the others wiiite, barred with black; Fig. 64.— Inner view of wing of Solitary Sandpiper, showing barred axillars. breast streaked, and sides sometimes barred with black ; belly white ; a.xillara barred with bluek and white ; legs greeni.sli fuscous. Wintir pliimaye.. — Sii.i- lar, but upi)er parts grayish brown ; head and neck geruraily unstrcaked, and the back only lightly spotted with bully white; breast struaked with brown- ish gray. L., »-40; VV., 5-25; Tar., 1-20; B., M5. Jiuiitje. — Ea.stern North America; breeds locally and rarely from norths rn Illinois, western Pennsylvania, and Maine northward ; winters in South America. Washington, common T. V., Apl. to May 25 ; July 2!i to Nov. Long Island, common T. V., May; .July 15 to Oct. 1. Sing Sing, common T. \\, May a to 80; Aug. 27 to Oct 2, Cambridire, common T. V., May 15 to 25; July 20 to Oct. h'fff/s, known from only one example taken by .Tenncss Hichardson, near Lake Homba/ine, Vermont. May 2S, 187'*, and dcscribeil by Dr. lirewer as light drab, with simill, rounded, brown nuirkings, some quite dark, nowhere confluent, and at the larger end a few faint purplish shell-marks, 1"9 x -{K^. This is a wood Sandpiper. It is rarely found on tlio bcaclios or salt marshes near the sea, but froquciits fresh-water jjonds, or lakes and woodland streams, both in the lowlands and monntains. It is gener- crally observed during the migrations, ami although it occasionnlly breeds in the Middle States its skill in concealing its nest has defied the search of eulogists. It is a quieter, more dignified bird than the S|)otted Samlpiper, and as a rule only utters its " low, whistling notes" when flushed. 268. Symphemia semipalmata (^^mc/.l. Wim.et. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upjicr parts l)rownisli gray, the head and neck streaked, and the back barred with black, and sometimes bully, the centers of the feathers being oc- casionally wholly black ; basal half of the jirimarics and greater part of sec- ondaries white ; upper tail-coverts white with a few blackish bars; central tail-feathei'sasliy, indistinctly L'.rrvd witkhl(ifkiiih ; outer ones whitish, lightly » ■ SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. Ifi7 f, mottled with grayish ; forcneck heavily streaked; breast and sides heavily barred with dark brownish gray and more or less washed with huily ; belly generally white, with sometimes a few bars. Winter pluvtaoe, — Upper parts brownish gray, unmarked ; tail without bii;s ; rump and wings as in the adult; breast washed with grayish ; belly white ; axUlam black. L., 16-00; W., 8-00; Tar., 2-30; B., 2-15. 7i'a»ia.r) is an ()ld-Wor!d species which occa- sionally wanders to eastern Nortli .\merica. It has been taken in ;>Iaitie, Massachusetts, Ontario, Ohio. Long Island, and New Jersey. The adult male may be known by its enlarired rutf. whicli varies in color from black, chest- nut, and rufous to buft'y and whitish. The female is witliout a ruff, and is otherwise very different from the male. Tlic upi>er parts are grayisli l)rown, the back, scapulars, and tertials are brondly tmrrcil with black, the outer tail-feathers are ashy, the inner niies are burred with buffy and hhick, the breast is ashy, with concealed black l)ars, tlic lielly is wliite. In winter tlio upper parts arc light grayish brown with few or no bars. $ L., l2-r>0; W., 7-50; Tar., 1-90; B., V50. 9 L., lOOO; W., t!-nO; Tar., 1-40; B., Mo. 261» Bartramia lon^cauda ( /}>r?nack 1)ni\Nner and without bars. L., T-r.o ; W., 4"20 ; Tar., -'M^ : H., ".ir.. /(''///^^('.^Nortli .Viiicrica north to Hiulson I'ay ; breeds throughout its range; winters southward to IJrazii. Washington, cinnmoii T. V., not eominnii S. H., Apl. ,'> to Sept. W. T to Oct. Sing Siuir, er.mmon S. I{.. .\p!. -Jlt to Oct. '2-'!. Cambritlge, cotumon S. K., .\p]. •_'»! to Sept. Ki/'jn, four, creamy l)utf or white, tliickly siiottcd and spcekled with choco- late, chietly atithc larger ' nd, t"J.") x •",(.'>. Pew Shore Birds are more generally known than this widely dis- tributed little Sandpiper. It frequents the margins of Ijodies of both fresh and salt water, but is more common inland on the shores of our rivers, ponds, and lakes. During the summer it is prac^tioally our only fresh-water Sandpiper, aiul is fatuiliarto most of us iiiuler its common names. It runs rapidly along the beach, then {lausing bobs, bows, and ''teters" in a nu)st energetic iiuitnuM*. When flushed it takes wing with a sliarf) wvct-irref ircrt-uw'f, and after a few wing-strokes scales over the water to the beach beyond. It apparently dislikes to go be- yond certain limits, and after several flights makes a wide circle and returns to the starting point. 170 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. m S64. NumeniuB lon^irostris Wil«. Luno - billed Curlew ; SicKLE-niLL. Ad. — Head aiid nuck Htrtakcd, und buck barred with buft'y and bluck; wing-covcrts, inner webb of priaiiirisoM.iN Ciklew; Jack Cnii.Ew. y((/.— I 'ppir parts grayish brown, the sides of the feathers with whitish spots; rump and tail barred with butty and blackish ; inner web of outer primaries and both webs of inner ones barred with, butty or whitish and black ; under parts butty or whitish, the neck and breast streaked and tiie sides and under wing-coverts barred with black. L., 1700 ; W., 9-50 ; Tar., 2-20; B., 3-75. AV»«_(7e.— Breeds in the arctic regions and winters from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Long Island, T. V., rare from May 20 to 30; common from July to Oct. 1. E(/ij)>, three to four, [)ale olive, spotted with dull brown, 2-27 x 1-57 (Kidgw.). This is a much comm .ler bird on our coasts than the preceding, which it resembles in habits but not in notes. 866. Numenius borealis (ForstX Eskimo Curlew; Fute; Douoii-BiRD. yl(/.— Upper parts black, margined and tipped with buffy or PLOVERS. 171 whitish ; upper tail coverta bnrred with buffy and black ; tail brnwnish pray, cdf^ed witli butfy and burred with blaek ; priiiiaricH fuscous withmtt bars; nmler parts butty or whitish, the breast streaked, the sides and under wing- coverta barred with black L., 13-50 ; W., 8-40 ; Tar., 1-75; B., 2-40. Itange. — Breeds in the arctic regions and migrates soutliward, chiefly through the interior, to Tatagonia. Long Island, rare T. V., Sept. AV/f/zt, three to four, pale olive-greenish, olive, or olive-brownish, dis- tinctly spotted, chiefly on the larger end, with deep or dark browi; , 2'04 x 1-43 (Kidgw.). This Curlew is far more common in the interior than on the At- lantic coast. It is more of a field bird than either of the two pre- ceding species, and frequents the dry uplands to feed on seeds and insects. Mr. ii. II. Mackay, in his biography of this species,* writes: "Most of their habits closely resemble those of the Golden Plover. In migration they fly in much the saujc manner, with extended and broadside and triangular lines and clusters similar to those of Ducks and Geese at such times. They usually fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, apparently looking it over, generally standing motionless for quite a while after alighting, which, owing to their general color approximating so closely to th*^ withered grass, renders it diflicult at times t(j perceive them. . . . The only noto I ever heard them make is a kind of squeak, very much like one of the cries of Wilson's Tern {Sfi-rna hirundo), only finer in tone." The WiiiMBUKL {^1)7. X'niii'iii'f.s j)hivnj)iin), an Old-World species, is of accidental occurrence in (irciiiland. Family Charadriid.e. Plovers. The one hundred species contained in this family are, as a whole, of less boreal distribution than the Snipes, and during the nesting season are distributed throughout the world. Only eight species are found in North America. Their habits in a general way resemble those of the true Snipes, but their nmch shorter, stouter bills are not fitted for probing, and they obtain their food from the surface. Probably for this reason several species are as frecpiontly found on the uplands as near the shores. KEY TO THE SPKCIE9. I. Toes three. A. Back spotted or streaked with black and white, rufous, or golden yciUow. 27'J. Am. (toi.DKN Plover. B. Back ashy, gray, brown, or brownish gray. a. liuMip rufous 27;5. Killdeeb. b. Kunip not rufous. • The Auk, vol. ix, 1892, pp. 16-21. 172 PLOVERS. II. 6». Bill over ■5i\ h'*. A l)liick or hrownish Imi.d on the hreost . 280. Wilson's Plover. bi*. No band on the brea.st; Imek j,'ruyish brown, inur^fined with rufous. 2bl. Mountain I'lovek. c«. Bill under -.50. t*. A Iduck line from tlie eye to the bill. 274. Skmipalmatek Plover. L*. No line from the eye to the bill. 277. Pii'iNo I'lovek. 277«. Bklted Pumno Plover. Toes four 270. BLA<:K-nELLiEu Plover. The Lapwing {209. Vanellus vaneUus) is an Old-World species of acci- dental occurrence in America. The only record lor eastern North America south of (Ireenland is based on a specimen shot ut Merrick, L. I., in Decem- ber, 18S3 (Dutcher, Auk, iii, 186(J, p. 438). S70. Charadrius squatarola {Linn.). Black-bellieu Plovkr; Beetle-head, (isee Fig. 26, c, 26, d.) Ad. in nummer.^U i^yvr jiarts black, bordered with white ; tail wliite, barred with black ; bat to ,Tune .1; Aug. 1 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, A. V. Ftftjfi, three to four, liirht buffy olive, spotted and speckled with dark brown and brownish black or deep Idack, 2-04 x 1'4.'? (Ridgw.). The followinjj notes iirc abridged from ^Ir. Maekay's extended ac- count of the habits of this species (Auk, ix. 1802, pp. 143-ir)2). They are in a fjreat degree tide birds, and seek a hirge part of tlieir food on sand-flats left by the receding water. As the tide rises they resfirt to adjoining inarslies or uplands, beaches, or the exposed crests of sand- bars. In migrating they fly in lines and also in ranks, like Ducks and Geeso. When on the ground they usually run very fast for four or five yards, then stop, elevate the head, and look around. They strike at the object they are going to pick up and eat with a very quick motion. They have two calls : one of .several notes, with the accent on the sec- ond one, is mellow, clear, and far reaching; the other is low, and is uttered when they are at ease and contented. PliOVERS. 173 072. Charadrius dominictis MiiU. Amekk-an i.i>KN Tlovku; Gkeknkack. Ad. in monmer. — I'pj/cr parts bluck, niMittcd uiid mur^fint-d with Kolilf'i yellow ; tail browiiisli gray, iiulisuiiftly imrred with whitish; Bid(!H of tiiu Idiast whit« ; rest of the under parts, iiieludiiig witles of tlie lieud. hlack ; under wiiiir-eoverts ashy. Whiter plumule, — Upper partH and tail fuseous, .si>otted or liarred witii wiiitish or yellow; under parts whitish, more or less streaked or barred with brownish gray. J>., lO.')!*; W., TOO; Tar., l-t;o ; B.. -ttO. Ji'diiark-!!. — Iinnittture birds are sometimes confuse., w ith those of the Hl/iek- bellied Plover, but, aside from dilferenees of size and eolor, the absenee of the fourth toe in tlie present species will always distin>;uish it. liamje. — Breeds in the arctic regions ; winters from Florida to Patagonia. Washington, rare and irregular T. \ . Long Island, T. V., very rare in May; connnon from Aug. 15 to Nov. 10. />>/reast, lower breast, and belly white; front of the crown, lores, a ring around the neck, and a band on the breast black; crown and back grayish brown tipped with rufous; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous; inner tail-featliers grayish brown, outer ones becoming rufous and wliitc, all tipped with black and white. L., 10-50; W., r.-50; Tar.. 1-35; B., -75. A'(f/(f/^.— North .Vmorica north to Newfoundland ami Manitol»a. breeding througliout its range; winters fnmi the lower Mi.^.sissippi Valley and Vir- ginia to northern Soutli America. 174 PLOVERS. ■Wiisliinjitcm, P. R., most abundimt in iniKnitions. Lotif^ IhIuikI, not com- mon T. v., rwordinl in every inontli but .hiii. Sinif Siiij;, rurc T. V. in full; Sept. i^H til Oct. Hij. C"uinl)ri(ij,'t', A. V., two inhtaiici's, Sept. h'ljiji^ three to four, l>ully white, .siioiteJ uiiil Moruwled w ilh ehoeolute, chicHy ut the larger end, ir>0 x l*lt». In localities where this bird is coininoii it is tlilTicult to get beyond the reach of its notes. Lakesidcs, meadows, pastures, and cultivated fields all attract it, but it is more numenjus in the vicinity of water. It is a noisy, restless bird, running rapidly when on the ground, and when on the wing flying swiftly and sometimes pursuing a most irregular course. As a rule it is found in flocks, which scatter when feeding but unite when taking wing. At the first sign of danger it utters its half-plaintive, half-petulant Idll-dce, kill-dci', and when thor- oughly alarmed its outcry increases until, beside itself with fear, it reaches the limit of its vocal powers. Although by no means shy, the Killdeer never seems to gain confidence in man, and at his ap|)roach always gives voice to its fear. Even at night I have lieard it cry out at some real or fancied danger. S74. .S^alitis semipalmata/'o //"/>. Semipai.m atep Pi.ovKTy Rixa- NECK. (See Fig. 25, r, from which it differs in liaviiii; the bands on either side of the breast joined, formim,' a coiitiimous brcastband. Bailee. — Breeds from "northern Illinois and Nebraska northward to Lake 176 rLOVEIlS. Wirir.ppcj.'," and onKtward to tlu' MMj,'ria> interpres (/.inn.). TtuNHToNE; Rkant Bird; rAi.ir<>-iiA< K. .1'/. in Kiiintnir. V \\\wT purtu, iiu'liidin).' wind's, flrikin^rly viirii'triitfd with nit'cuis, Itliu'k, and wliitc; tiiil wliitc at the l)asi', a lilaik liaiul ni'ar its Olid, mill tipjii'd with wliiti' ; tlimat and iiroast lilaok and wliito ; liolly wliitc. Wii'trr jifuiiKKjf. — UppLT parts Mackisli, liDnU'ivd with hrc>wni>h ((ray or asliy ; lower hack wliitc ; loinrcr upper tail-fuvcrts white, ^hnrter mies hliuU ; tail as in the adult; throiit white, hreast hlaek niai^'ined with white, belly white. I.., '.*•■>*> ; W., tion; Tar., •'.•->; B., l(Mt. A'"«f/»'.— Nearly eosiiiopDlitun ; breeds in the urctic regions, and in Amer- ica iniirrates southward to I'litaironia. VVasliin(,'ton, rare and irre>,'ular T. V. Lon<,' Island, eoniinon T, V. May; Auj(. and Sept. Sin>r Sinjr, A. V. J:' Miuritiine species is fuimd iin^ly or in small flocks, generally on the outer beaches, where it obtains its food by turning over shells an \ pebbles in search of insects, crustaceans, etc. I Family H^ematopodid^. Oyster catchers. The Oyster-catchers number ten sjiecies, represented in most of tiic warmer parts of the globe. Hut three specie.-^ ar(> found in North America, and only one of these occurs in the Eastern State:. They are strictly maritime birds, and resort to the outer bars and })eaches in search of clams, mussels, etc., exposed l)y the tide. Their str'Mig bill is used as an oyster-knife to force open the shells of these bivalves. # 286. Hsematopus pallialus T>/nm. Amkuk-an <)vsti:i{-(-at<-iikr. Ad. — Head, neck, and upper breast ^^lossy black, hack and wiiiir-coverts olive- brown, secondaries wliite, primaries fuscous, upper *ail-coverts white, base of the tail white, end t'uscous, lower breast and belly white, /m. — Similar, but head and neck blackish and upper parts more or less mari,'ined with bully. L., 10-00; W., 10-r)0; Tar., '2-40 ; H., C40. lidiige. — Seaeoiusts of temperate and tropical America, from New Jersey and Lower California to Patagonia; occasional or accidental on the Atlantiu coast north to Massachusetts and (Jrand Meiian. Long Island, A. V. A'j/f/.f, three to four, buffy wliitc or creamy buff, rather evenly spotted and blotched with chocolate, '2"20 x Vao. A not uncommon species from southern New Jersey southward; conflned exclusively to the coast. It agrees in hab'*-^ with other mem- bers of this small family. , Tho European OvsTER-cATfiiEit (285. Ilcemntopus ostraletjus) is of acci- dental occurrence in Greenland, 13 178 GROUSK, BOIi-VVIllTES, ETC. ORDER GALLIXiE. GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. Family Tetraonid^. Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. Of the two hundred species contained in tliis fjiinlly, one hundred belong in the subfamily Pi'rdiciii(e or Old-World Partridges and C^uails, sixty in the subfamily Odontophorina' or New-World Par- tridges and Bob-whites, and twenty-five in the subfamily TttraonincB or Grouse, inhabiting the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Generally speaking, these birds are non-migratory, though there are some striking exceptions among the IVrdicinm. After the nesting season they commonly gather in "coveys" or bevies, usually composed of the members of but one family. In some species these bevies unite or "pack," forming large Hocks. As a rule, they are terrestrial, but may take to trees when flushed, v/hile some species habitually call and feed in trees. They are game birds par excellmre, and, trusting to the concealment afforded by their dull colors, attempt to avoid detec- tion by hiding rather than by flying, or, in sportsman's [ihruseology, " lie well to a dog." Their flight is rapid and accom|)anied by a start- ling whin; caused by the quick strokes of their small, concave, stiff- feathered wings. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Tiirsi V)iire 289. Bob-wmite. 280a. Fi.oimoa Bon-wiiiTE. £. Upper tliird or liulf of tarsi feathered. .".00. Ri'KKEi) (iKorsE. 300(1. Canada Rcffed Guoi'se. C. Tarsi ciiitirely feiitlu'reil, toes bare. a. Witli bunche.s of elonnfated, stiffened feathers spriniifinir from eitlier side oftlieneek 305. Prairie Hen. 30ti. Heath Hen. b. Feathers of neek normal. i'. Outer web of primaries spotted with white. 308ft. PlJAIRIE SuARr-TAILEO TiUorsE. /A Priniarios not spotted witli wliite 20H, Canai a Guovse. /). Tansi and toes entirely featliered 301. Ptaumkian and races. 889. Colinusvirglnianus( Z/////.). Bok-wiiite; (iiAu. ; pAUTiMonE. Ad. $ ill wiiitiV. — H|>i)er i)arts varyin<^ from reddlsli brown to eliestiiut ; in- terscapulars with broken and sometimes complete black bars; inner vane of tcrtials widely maririned with cream-biilT: rump grayish brown, finely mottletl. and witli a few streaks of lilaekisli ; tail asliy trray, the inner feath- ei-s finely mottled with huffy; front of the crown, a band from the bill to be- neath the eye, and a band en the upjM'r l)reast black ; throat and a broad lino from the bill over tlie eye white; sides rufous-chestnut, margined with black and white; lower breast and belly white barred with black. Ad. 9 in win- ter.— Similar, but the throat and line over the eye, forehead, and lores pale ociiract'ous-buff; little or no black on the upper breast. Summer v\iin\\Ac» GROUSE, BOB-VVrilTES, ETC. 179 of hotli soxcs liiivo tlie rrown Mackcr, the Imily markings pcncrnlly paler. L., lO'iM); \V., 4-.")0; T., \i-r)i); H. from N., •:]'). JittiKje. — ila«U'rn North AtiuTicii, from southern Maine and Minnesota southward to til'- (tulf of Mexico; residiTit wherevt'r found. \V:i.shingtun, eommon 1'. K. Sini,' Sin^f, eommon I'. U. Camhriilge, com- mon V. R. ^^W, on the ground, in grassy fields. /;';/'/•>■, ten to eighteen, white, 1-20 X -OS. Taking the Old-Workl species of the genera Cottirnix niul Cnccahia as the types respectively of Quails and Partridges, neither of those lat- ter names can properly be ap[)lied to our Colinus, which should there- fore be known under the distinctive title Bob-white. During the nesting season Bob-whites are distributed in pairs through clearings and cultivated fields. The members of a brood constitute a bevy or covey, though occasionally two families or broods are found in one bevy. In the fall they frequent grain fields, but as winter approaches draw in toward thickets and wooded bottom-lands, sometimes passing the coldest weather in boggy alder swamps. They roost on the ground, tail to tail, with heads pointing outward ; a bunch of closely huddled forms — a living bomb whose explosion is scarcely less startling than that of dynamite manufacture. Like most grass-iidiabiting birds whose colors harmonize with their surround ing.s. Bob-whites rely on this protective resemblance to escape detection, and ti'AO wing only as a last resort. Sometimes they take refuge in trees, but usually they head for wooded cover, where they remain if the growth is dense, but if it is open the'' generally run the moment they touch the ground. About May 1 they begin to pair, and rival males may then be seen battling for mates like diminutive gamecocks. The name '* i{ob-\vhite " originated in the spring call of the male. Mounting a fence or ascending to the lower branches of a tree, he whistles the two clear musical, ringing notes Jioh-white ! Sometimes they are preceded by a lower one which can be heard only -hen one is near the singer. After the breeding season, when the birds are in bevies, their notes are changed to what sportsmen term " scatter calls." Not long after a bevy has been (lushed and perhaps widely scattered, the members of the disunited family may be heard signaling t(» one another in sweet minor calls of two and three notes. When excited they also utter low, twittering notes. 889a» C. V. floridanus (^ ')'/>. vV Fi.oiunA Ror-whitf. ; Qiaii. ; Par- TiMixiK.— Similar to the preceding, hut snudler, the plumage tliroughout darker, the black of the buck more extensive, the rump and upper tail-coverts grayer, 180 GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. the h\fuk tliroat-band wider and sometimes reucliiiin down upon tlie hrcnst, tlie rutous-chcstnut of the «idert more extensive, tlie blacii burs ol" tlie breast and belly mu<-h wider. L., H'jO ; W., 4-40 ; T., '2r)0. liaiKje. — Florida, except tlie northern border of tlie State. A comnif.-n bird throughout the pine-grown portions of tlie Florida peninsula. It is csjK'ciully numerous on old pLintations, where it fre- (jueiits patches of " cow peas." It resembles the northern Bob- white in habits, but is, I think, more inclined to take to the trees when flushed. I have seen a whole covey fly up into the lofty pine trees, where, wiuatting close to the limbs, they bocanic almost invisible. They Ijcgin to pair early in March. Tlic EriioPEAX or Miokatouy (.lv\iL(('()tiirni.r coturnir) lias been intro- duced intr<>adly tipped with wiiite, except mi the middle of the lower breast; bare skin al>ove the eye bright red in lifti. Ail. 9.— Upper parts barred with black and pale ru nus and tijiped with asliy gray; tail black, mottled anped with rufous; throat and ujiper breast i)arred with pale rufous and black : sides mottled with blade and iiaie rufous, the ends of the feathers with white shaft streaks; rest of the iiii"J x 1-13. Of all the chariictei'istics of tliis superb gaino bird, its habit of ilruinniing is perhaps tiie most remarkable. This loiul tattoo begins with the measured tluimp of the big drum, thea gradually changes anil dies away in the rumble of the kettle-drum. It may be briefly rep- resented thus: Thump thump thump — thump, thump; thump, thump-rup rup nip rup r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r. The sound is produced by the male bird beating the air with his wings as he stands flrndy braced on some favorite low perch; and it is now quite well known to be the call of the male to the female; an announcement that he is at the old riMid(!ZV()us — a rendezvous that has perhaps served them for more tlian one season, ami a place that in time becomes so fraught with delight- fid associations that even in autumn or winter the male, when he flnds himself in the vicinity, can not resist the temptation to mount his wonted percli and vent his feelings in the rolling drum-beat that was in si)ringtiuie his song of love. Hut now, alas ! there is no lady Grouse to come, shy but responsive, at the sound of his reverberating sum- mons. There is good reason for supposing that tlu^ RulTed Grouse is po- lygamous, and that the male, if he drums in vain at one place, will fly to another retreat and there seek the society of some more compli- ant fetnale. The young Grouse can run about as soon as they are hatched, and can fly well when about a week old. Their mother is celebrated for the variety of expedients she puts in practice to save her brood from threat- ened (huiger, and their father has fre(|uently been known to divide the charge with her. The young usually continue with their parents till the following spring, though it is rare at this time *'<) see more than three or four surviving out of the original twelve or fourteen. The food of this Grouse is largely insects and berries during the summer; in the autumn it adds seeds to the list, and when the ground is covered with snow the staples are catkins, leaves, and buds. Its toes are provided dtiring the winter with a curious fringe of strong, horny points which act as snowshoes. In the northern j)art of its range this bird commotdy burrows into a snowdrift to pass the niglit during the season of intense cold ; but in the summer and in i t- 182 GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. the warmer region of its range it roosts habitually among the thickets of evergreen. — Ernest E. Thompson. 800a» B. u. togAtSL (Linn.). Canadian Rifkeo Gkol'se; Pak- TRiDOE. — To ha tlistiii!_'iiisliecl from tlio precediiii.' hy the prevailinj; color of the upper piirtrt, which are ^Tiiy instead of rufous, and t!ie more distinctly barred under parts, the bars (ju tlie breast and belly bein;jf nearly as well dc- tined us those on the side ; the tail is fjenerally ly^ray. Rtihije. — iS'ovu Scotia, nortiicrn half of Maine, northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York northward and weslssard to Hudson Bay uud Oregon. 301. TOLgoptia laigopus (Linn.). Willow I'rAKMKiAN. AiL $ in suwincr. — I'revailinj^ color above rii/ous, or black thickly barreil or nu)ttled with rufous and bully or whitish; tail fuscous, tipped with white; middle tail-feathers like the back; tliroat, breast, and sides like the head and iicok ; belly wlute. Ail. 9 /;i «M/rt/«er.— Similar to the male, but the l)ara both above and below broader and more numerous. Winter plunKKje. — Outer tail-feathers as in summer, rest of the i>luma.i,'e white. 1j., lo'UO; W., T'oO; T., ii^o; H. from N., •4'J; dejith of H. at N., 44. Jii'nin)'k;s. — Hotli tiiis species and its subspecies (dhni may be distin<,'uis: ed from our other I'tannigans by their more rufous color and larger bills. linmje. — " Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, .south in winter; in America to Sitka, Alaska, the Hritisli I'rovinccs, and occasionally within the northern border of the I'nitcd States'' (Ilendirc). ^AV.«<, on the ground. A;/f/s, seven to eleven, varying from cream-butT to rufou.s, heavily spotted and blotched with blackish, Vl'o x 1"J0. This abundant anil characteristic arctic bird does not nest south of central Labrador, but migrates southward in winter to the St. Jjaw- rence, and has once been taken in northern New York and once in New Brunswick. An extended account of its habits will be found in Nelson's Report on Natural History Collections made in Alaska, p. 131. It is quoted by Captain Beudirc in his Life Histories of American Birds (p. 70), where will be found jiractically all we know concerning the habits of this and the following members of this genus. sola* Ij. 1. alleni SUjn. Allen's Ptaumioan. — Differs from the pre- ceding in having the "sjiafts of secondaries black, and quIMs (sometimes a few of the wing-coverts also) more or less blotchol or mettled with dusky. Summer plumaircs and yoiuig unknown" (Kidgw.;. Rmiiji'. — Newfoundland. •' It frequents rocky barrens, feeding on seeds and berries of the stunted plants that thrive in these expo.sed situations" (Merriani, Orn. and OoL, viii, 1883, p. 43). 302. Iia§^pusrupestrls(^;//^V.). Rock PTARMiriAN; Rookeu. Ad. S in summer.— (iaimval color above )j;ruyish, tlie feathers black basally ; liead GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. 183 I ' and neck barred, nnd back marked with niimernus fine wavy lines of pray and wliitc or huliy; central tail-tVatlicrs like tlic back, outer ones fi'scous, generally tipped with white; breast and sides like the head and necK ; belly wliite. Ad. 9 in summer. — Above black, barred witli ochraceous-bulT and maririnetl with irrayish ; niiddle tail-feathers the same, outer ones as in the male; middle of the belly white, rest of the under parts like tiie back, hut with more ochraeeous-lmtr. W inter pi ninaml)le alhits [= L. Itif/ojius], but does not retire so far into the wooded coun- try in the winter" (B,, LJ., and li.). 302a. L. r. reinhardti (IlrihuA. riUKF.xi.Ayn Ptaiimican. '■'■ Smn- vier w«A'.— Similar to corresiHUiding stage of L. ru/nsfrls, but less regu- larly and coarsely barred above. SiininKn'feninh'. — ^Above chietly blaeU.this varied irregularly with pale grayish })uf!', mostly in form of borders to the featliers and spots alonjr their cdires. or occasionally imperfect bars, these hit- ter most distinct on wings, where tlu^ two colors are in about ccpuil [)ropor- tion; lower parts light grayish Imtf, everywhere coarsely barred with black" (Ridgw.). Ji'aiuje. — Nortliern parts of Labrador northward to (Jrecnland. "They prefer more open ground, nnd rarely straggle even into the skirts of the wooded traets. The hilltops and barrens (henee often called the Barren Ground Bird) are iheir favorite resorts" (Turner). 803. Lagopus welchi />n>rsf. Wklcu's PTAHMi(iA\. .(7. ^, hi .iirts black, the head and neck barreil with white nnd o-'hra- ceous-hutb the back and winir-coverts finely and irreL'uhirly marker }<}umiufe. — White, tail fuscous, the central feathers tipped with white; lori;» hlach, W., 7"'2r) ; B. from N., -or); depth of B. at N., -32. Jfeuturl's. — Tills species with L. rupestris is to lie distinguished from Lagopus lagopus by the ochraeeous-butt' instead of rufous markings, the fine 184 GROUSE, rOB-WIIlTES, ETC. grayish wavy bars on the upper parts, ami the smulkr liill. For a compariHon of wetcki with rujxxtn's see Auk, ii, 188.0, p. IVl!. yt^a/tj/e. — Newf'ouiiilhmd. A'est and tz/tjn unknown. "According to Mr. Wclcli, those Ptarmigan are nnmerotis in New- foundhind, where they are strictly confinod to the bleak sides and snni- niits of rocky hills and mountains of the interior" (Brewster, /. r.). 306. Tympanuchus americanus (Rn'rh.). Pkatkik Hen. Ad. S. — upper parts liarred witli ru to us and hlaek and spotted wltii rufous; sitles of tlie neek w ith tufts generally eoinposed of ten or more narrow, still'ened hlaek feathers nuirked with butfy and rufous, their ends rotim/eil^ the skin beneath these tufts bare; tail ?•««//(/(//, t'useo us, the inner feutliers somewhat mottled with oeliraeeous-butf, tip white; throat bully; breast and belly white, evenly barred with blaek. Ar. Phairie SnAKP-TAii.Ei) (iitidsi;. All. 6. — I'revaiiing eolor of tiie ujiper parts oelira- ceous-burt', barred and irregularly marked with bhick; no neck tuftn ; outer web of the primaries spotted with white; middle tail-feathers projeeting about an ineh beyond the others, ochraceous-l)ufr and blaek ; throat buffy; breast with V-shaped marks of black ; sides irregidarly barred or spotted with blaek or buffy; middle of tlie belly white. .\ii ; W., H-no ; T.. 4-r)0 ; H. from N . -.W. Kanije. — Western United States from New Mexico northward to Manitoba, east to Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Ntfiti on the ground. Eijijx. eleven to fourteen, creamy butf or pale olive- brown, generally slightly spotted with line, reddish brown markings, 1-05 x 1-22 (Bendirc). This partially migratory species lives on the prairies during the summer and in wooded regions in the winter. A capital account of its habits is given by Ernest E. Thompson in his Birds of Manitoba. Family Phasianid^e. Pheasants, etc. With the exception of the Yucatan Turkey and the four races of our Wild Turkey, the some lunety species included in this family are inhabitants of the Old World, and are most numerously represented in southern Asia, where are found the Peacock, many of the Pheasants, and the Jungle Fowl, from which the varieties of our domesticated fowls have descended. 186 WILD TURKEYS. 310. Melea^ris g^allopavo Linn. Wild Tirkky. — Tho Wild Turkey may he (Ji.stiuj^uished from tlie common domestic ruee chieHy by tho cliestmit instead of white tips to the upper taii-coverts and tail. " -10 ll).s." ( Kid;;w.). RdiKje.. — Kastern United States from Pennsylvania Kouthwurd to Florida, west to Wisconsin, the Indian Territory, and Texas. Washintrton, rare P. K. ^'(.v<, on the j^round, at the base of a bush or tree. K(jgi*, ten to fourteen, pule eream-buU, finely and evenly speckled with grayish brown, ii"4o x 1115. This noV)le game bird is rapidly decreasing in numbers, and in comparatively few years will doubtless be found only in the purls of its range which are unfit for the habitation of man. Except during the breeding season, Wild Turkeys are found in small flocks of six to twelve or fifteen individuals of both sexes. They roost preferably in the trees in wooded bottom-lands, returning each night to the same locality. At the opening of the breeding season in March the male begins to gobble. As a rule, he calls only early in the morning, before leaving his roost. Later ho sails to the ground and at once begins his search for breakfast, or, attracted by the plaintive piping of some female, he struts and displays his charms before her. It is at this time that bat- tles between the males occur. They are polygamists, and the victor becomes sultan of the harem. During the period of incubation, and while the young require their mother's care, the females do not associ- ate with the males, who then flock together. The calls of both sexes so closely resemble those of the domestic birds that it requires a practiced ear to distinguish them. In locali- ties where both birds might be expected to occur. I could never be sure whether I was listening to the challenge of some defiant gobbler perched in a cypress in the valley below, or to the vainglorious effort of the lord of the poultry yard. The Wild Turkey is divided by ornithologists into four closely re- lated races. Mileagru gallopnvo is the bird of the Eastern States; J/, g. osecnla, as stated below, is found in southern Florida; M. g. elliofi inhabits southeastern Texas and northeastern ^lexico; M. g. mexicana ranges from western Texas to Arizona, and south over the table laiuls of Mexico to Vera Cruz. It is this race, with white-tipped upper tail-coverts, which was first introduced into Europe, where it had become established as early as looO. 310b. M. g. OSCeola ScDtt. Fi-ohiha Wn.n TtRKEV. — Resembles M. ffaUo/javo, but is snuiUer, and the primaries, instead of being regularly and widely barred with wliite, as in tliat bird, have nmch smaller, broken white markings. Weight. S l'2--22 lbs.; 9 4-75-9 lbs. (Scott, Auk, ix, 189'2, p. 115). Range. — Southern Florida. PIGEONS AND DOVKS. 187 OIIDEB COLUMB^. PIGEONS AND DOVES. Family Columbid^. Pigeons and Doves, About one third of tlic three hundred known .species of Pigeons and Doves are found in tlie New World, but (jf tliis number only twelve sjiecies occur in North America. The birds of this family dilTer widely in their choice of haunts. Some are strictly arboreal, others as st rictly terrestrial. Some seek the forests and others prefer fields and clear- ings. Some nest in colonies, others in isolated pairs, but most species are found in flocks of greater or less size after the breeding season. When drinking, they do not raise the head as other birds do to swal- low, but keep the bill immersed until the draught is linislied. The young are born naked and are fed by regurgitatiou. KEY To THE SPECIES, A. Tuil widely tipped with wliite or grayish wliito. a. Tail poiiiU'd. a'. Buck '>rruini> liluisli slat('-oolor 3ir). rAf. Crown l)luc, a wliite line below the eye. 323. BLfE-HEAOEO QUAII. DoVE. r'. Crown pinkisli or like the hack 3^0. (iuoi xu Dove. 314* Columba> leucocephaUt Lim). WuiTE-rRow.vEn Pioeon. Ad. S. — Rich slate-color; crown wliite; liaek of the head ]uiri>lisli elu'Sfinit ; back of the neek with trreenish rcllectioiis, each feather with a black iionler. AiL 9. — Similar, but paler; crown asliy, less pur])lish chestnut: back and sides of tlie n;'ck brownisli ash witli metallic reflections and black margins. L., 13m0; W.,7-'>0; T., rr\n; P,., -TO. /i'lini/e. — Florida Keys, We.st Indies, and coast of Central .Vnierica. Ked, in low bushes. /;;7.'AS tw,'ton, rare and irre;,'ular T. X. or W. V. Sin;; Siiij,', formerly rare S. li. and connnon T. V., Apl. !'> to May 17; Au;,'. "21 to Uct. 11; la.st .seen Oct. 11, ISSS. Cambridire, rare and irrejrular T. V. A'tKt, a platform of sticks, in u tree. Aj/f/.s one to two, white, 1-45 x M)'J. Wilson, writing about 1808, cstimiited that a flock of Wild Pigeons observed by him near Frankfort, Kentucky, contained at least 2,230,- 272,000 iniiiviiluals. Captain Hcndire, writing in 1892, says:" ... It looks now as if their total extermination might be accomplished witliin the present century. The only tiling which retards their conij)lete ex- tinction is that it no longer pays to net the.se birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in the more settled portions of the couii- tr' , and also, perhaps, that fronj constant and unremitting persecution Oh their breeding grounds they have changed their liabits somewhat, the majority no longer breeding in colonics, but scattering over the country and breeding in isolated pairs" (Life Histories of North American Birds, p. Vi'l). An article by William Firewster on The Present Status of tlie Wild Pigeon as a Bird of the United States, with some Notes on its Habits (Auk, vi, 1889, pp. 285-291), gives much information concerning the recent history of the bird in Michigan, one of its last strongholds. According to an informant of Mr. Brewster's, the last nesting in Michi- gan of any importance was in 1881. "It was of only moderate size — perhaps eight miles long." The largest known Michigan nesting oc- curred in 187G or 1877. It was twenty-eight miles long and averaged three or four miles in width. In the Atlantic States the Wild Pigeon is now so rare a bird that during tlie past sixteen years I have seen only one pair. 316* Zenaidura macroura (/)i/m.). Moi-kmnq Dovk. Ad. $.— Upper parts olive grayish brown; forehead vinaceous ; crown bluish slate- color; sides of the neck with metallic reflections, d xtnall hUtfk mark below the car; middle tail-feathers like the back, the others, seen from above, slaty gray for the basal half, then banded witli black and broadly tipped with ashy and white; brea.st vinaceous; belly cream-butf. Ad. l . — Similar, but with less iridescence ; breast and forehead waslied with grayish brown. Iin. — PIGKOXS AND noVKS. 189 Much like till' 9, liiit till- iVulliiTs tii>i.(;il with wliilish. L., ll-sr>; W., .V7'2; T.. .vr.o; n., M. hVmiirlM. 'Vho Dov*' is woiiictiiiic.H mistaken for tlic Wild I'i^'con, Imf, ftsidc from the clitrcrciu'fs iti f\:'.r, may always Ik' distiiiu'iiishfil liv its dlive j^rayisli hrown instt-ail of Muisii sluti'-ooior iumi>, the hlack mark below the ear, and otluT ehanieterrt. A''j«j/t'.— -North AiiHTiea, lireeiliiii,' from Piiha north to Ontario, (^uehec, anil southern Maine, and wintering' from soutiiern Illinois and Nu\v York to the (Irealur Antilles and I'aiuima. Washinjiton, 1'. K. ; eommc^n, exct'i't in winter. Sirit,' Sim;, eonunon S. K., Mel), 'i to Nov. 27; a few winter. <'amliri;rountl; rarely on the j,'round in the Kastern States, /"^j'/x, two, wliite, l-U" x -^3. Doves resemble Wild Pij^eoHs, but are much smaller, and their rapid flight is accompanied by the whistliu;^ sound of wings, while the flight of the Wild Pigeon is said to be noiseless. During the nesting season they may be found in pairs, generally in open woodlands or tree-bordered fields. They