CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY Gift of SO, x Khe. ‘MYRTICE A. BLATCHLEY “io Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022533578 COLOR KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS By FRANK M. CHAPMAN Curator of Ornithology in the American Museum of Natural History HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA Third edition. With introductory chapters on the study of Ornithology; how to identify birds and how to collect and preserve birds, their nests and eggs. 20 full-page plates and 150 cuts in the text, 12mo, Library edition. Pocket edition. BIRD-LIFE A guide to the study of our common birds. With 75 full- page colored plates and numerous> text. drawings py Ernest Thompson Seton. Containing an Appendix, es- pecially designed for teachers. 12mo.° Cloth. BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA A fascinating account of the habits of'common birds, with descriptions of the largest bird eolevias existing in eastern North America. The author’s phenomenal success in photographing birds in Nature not only lends to the il- lustrations the charm of realism, but makes the book a record of surprising achievements with the camera, 12mo. Cloth. WARBLERS OF NORTH AMERICA A full description of our “most beautiful, most abundant. and least known birds.” Ilustrated with colored plates of every species and photographs of nests and eggs. Imp. 8vo. Illustrated. CAMPS AND CRUISES OF AN ORNITHOLOGIST The story of eight years’ experience ‘in travel, in which the author covered over 60,000 miles ‘in his search for material with which to prepare a series of groups of American birds, to exceed in beauty and scientific value anything which had heretofore been attempted in this line. The illustrations, over 250 in number, are from Dr. Chapman’s photographs, and beyond question form a re markable series of pictures of bird-life. 8vo. COLOR KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS This work may be described as an illustrated dictionary of North American birds. It is the most complete publi- eation of its kind, and makes an admirable introduction to the study of birds and the literature of Ornithology and at the same time is an authoritative work of reference. Over 800 pictures. OUR WINTER BIRDS An introduction to the study of birds. The author be lieves that the study of Ornithology should begin with the winter birds as they are fewer in number and easier to approach. Divided into convenient groups such as field birds, forest birds, home birds, etc. Illustrated. 12mo. THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS A series of chapters on bird migration, describing birds as travelers, why they travel, dangers by the way, night flyers and day flyers, ete. Many illustrations from draw- ings. Illustrated. . WHAT BIRD IS THAT? A bird book for beginners with 801 birds in color. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK TOPOGRAPHY OF A BIRD Bluebird (natural size) - COLOR KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS With Bibliographical Appendix mee FRANK M. CHAPMAN CURATOR OF ORNITHOLOGY IN THE \MERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Author of ‘‘ Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America,’* “ Bird-Life,’’ Etc. With Upward of S00 Drawings BY CHESTER A REED, B.S Revised Edition NEW YORK D. APPLETON & COMPANY 1912 at Oy: Ce al 5. (2: 389844 COPYRIGHT, DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. 1903 COPYRIGHT D, APPLETON & CO.. 1912 Published November 1912 Printed in the United States PREFACE. O LEARN to call a bird by its right name is the first step in the study of ornithology. We may propose to investigate the structure, food, and habits of the birds of the world, or desire merely a super- ficial knowledge of the species found in our garden, but in either case we are at once confronted by this question of identification. From the scientific point of view there is but one satisfactory way to identify a bird, A specimen of it should be in hand in order that its form, color, and size may be accurately determined, when, with the aid of analytical keys, with which most text-books are provided, it is a simple matter to ascer- tain the bird’s name. Wide experience has shown the writer, however, that where one dead bird is identified, hundreds of attempts are made to name the living bird in nature. This is to be expected. It is the natural outcome of the recent remarkable interest in the study of birds which, fostered by Audubon Societies and nature study teachers, has assumed an ethical and educational importance of the first magnitude. We cannot place a gun in the hands of these thousands of bird-lovers whom we are yearly developing; indeed most of them would refuse to use it. Specimens, therefore, are rarely available to them and we should make some special effort to meet their peculiar wants. The present volume has been prepared with this end in view. Identification of the bird in the bush is its sole end; an end, however, which we trust will prove but the beginning of a new and potent interest in nature. Frank M. Cuapman American Museum of Natural History, New York City, 1908. vii PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION. In the present edition of the Color Key the body of the book, aside from the correction of typographical] errors, remaing as it was in the preceding edition. The Systematic Table has been reset and brought up to July, 1912, the date of the publication of the latest supplement to the third edition of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s ‘Check-List of North American Birds.’ Two Appendixes are added. The first includes al] the changes in nomencla- ture and descriptions of new birds which have been accepted by the A. O. U. Committee on Classification and Nomenclature since the publication of the Color Key in 1908; the second contains a list of faunal ornithological papers which it is hoped will add greatly to the reference value of the book. American Museum of Natural History, F.M.C. New York City, October, 1912. viii CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION ........ Beene eee nee eee e een een sense eeeee How to Learn a Bird’s Name ....sssceecceecceteeeeereeaceee How Birds Are Named .... 1 1 Synopsis or OrpErs aND Famiuies or NortH American Birps........ 9 Coxor Key tro NortH AMERICAN BIRps .....2. 0.0 e eee e eee e neces o. 41 Sysrematic Tapre or NortH AMERICAN Binns ........00eeeeee eee e257 Aprenvix I, Apptrrons, SuBsTRACTIONS, EMENDATIONS.......6+00+++ +298 Appenpix II. BIBLioGRAPHY ......... cece eee eee eigenen . 805 INDEX oo cece ence cece ences t neces nen seereeentenseeeees (BOR ILLUSTRATIONS The illustrations in this volume are designed to aid the student in identi- fying birds in their haunts by giving, in color, those markings which most quickly catch the eye. They do not pretend to be perfect reproductions of every shade and tint of the plumage of the species they figure, but aim to present « bird’s characteristic colors as they appear when seen at a distance. It was impracticable to draw all the birds to the same scale but all those on the same page are so figured. Reference should always be made, however, to the measurements given at the beginning at each description. The figures are based on the male bird. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. $. The sign of Mars, signifying male. 2. The sign of Venus, signifying female. Ad. Adult, a bird in fully mature plumage. Yng. Young, a fully grown bird which has not yet acquired the plumage of the adult. ; L. Length, the distance from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. This measurement is made from dead birds, birds in life appear somewhat shorter. W. Wing, the distance from the ‘bend’ of the wing to the end of the longest feather. T. Tail, the distance from the insertion of the tail-feathers to the end of the longest one. Tar. Tarsus, the distance from the heel to the insertion of the toes, or of the so-called ‘leg.’ B. Bill, the distance from the feathers at the hase of the bill above to its tip. Norz. All measurements are in inches and tenths, and a variation of about ten per cent. from the figures given may be expected. The number before the name of each species is that of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s ‘Check-List of North American Birds.’ INTRODUCTION HOW TO LEARN A BIRD’S NAME “How can I learn to know the birds?” is the first question of the seeker after bird-lore. The scientist’s reply, “By shooting them and studying their structure and markings in detail,’ may do for the few who, like himself, desire to know the birds scientifically; but it is emphatically not the answer to give the ninety and nine who, while they desire to secure an intimate, accurate knowledge of birds, will not gain it at the sacrifice of bird-life. In the present volume, therefore, an attempt has been made so to group, figure, and describe our birds that any species may be named which has been definitely seen. The birds are kept in their systematic Orders, a natural arrangement, readily comprehended, but, furthcr than this, accepted classi- fications have been abandoned and the birds have been grouped according to color and markings. A key to the Orders gives the more prominent characters on which they are based; telling for example, the externa] differences between a Duck and a Grebe. In comparatively few instances, however, will the beginner have much difficulty in deciding to what Order a bird belongs. Probably eight times, out of ten the unknown bird will belong to the Order Passrres, or Perching Birds, when one has only to select the color section in which it should be placed, choose from among the colored figures the bird whose identity is sought, and verify one’s selection by reading the description of the bird’s characteristics and the outline of its range. How to Learn a Brap’s Name In the case of closely related species, and ‘particularly subspecies, the subjects of range and season are of the utmost importance. Most subspecies resemble their nearest allies too closely to be identified in life by color alone, and in such cases a bird’s name is to be learned by its color in connection with its distribution and the season in which it is seen. During the breeding period, unless one chance to be in a region where two races intergrade, subspecific names may be applied to the bird in nature with some certainty, for it is a law that only one subspecies of a species can nest in the same area; but during migrations and in the winter, when several subspecies of one species may be found associated, it is frequently impossible to name them with accuracy. For example, during the summer one neéd have no hesitancy in calling the Robins of the lowlands of South Carolina the Southern Robin (Planes- ticus migratorius achrusterus) but later, when the Northern Robins (Planes- ticus migratorius migratorius) begin to appear, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish them in life from the resident birds. Tf it were possible to impress the student, who proposes to name the bird in the bush, with the absolute necessity for careful, definite observation he would be saved many disappointing and discouraging experiences. It is not possible to examine your bird too thoroughly. Never be satisfied with a superficial view and a general impression. Look at your bird, if you can, from several points of view; study its appearance in detail, its size, bill, crown, back, tail, wings, throat, breast, etc., and av oNcE enter what you see in a note-book kept for that purpose. In this way, and this way alone, can you expect to compete with those who use the gun. ; It does not follow, however, that because one does not collect specimens of birds one cannot study them scientifically. While the student may not be interested in the classification of birds purely from the standpoint of the systematist, he is strongly urged to acquaint himself with at least the ar- rangement of the Orders and Families of our birds and their leading struc- tural characters. How to Learn A Birp’s NAME To the student who desires to prepare himself for his work afield such a study may well come before he attempts. to name the birds. But where the chief end in view is to learn a bird’s name, the more technical side of the subject may be deferred. In any event, it should not be neglected. This orderly arrangement of knowledge will not only be practical benefit in one’s future labors but it will bring with it that sense of satisfaction which accompanies the assurance that we know what we know. As one learns to recognize bird after bird it is an admirable plan to classify systematically one’s list of bird acquaintances under their proper Orders and Families. These may be learned at once from the systematic table at the end of the book, where the numbers which precede each species are arranged serially, and hence systematically. In some instances, as an aid to identification in the field, descriptions of birds’ notes have been included. It is not supposed that these de scriptions will convey an adequate idea of a bird’s song to a person who has never heard it, but it is hoped that they may occasionally lead to the recognition of calls or songs when they are heard. An adequate method of transcribing bird’s notes has as yet to be de- vised and the author realizes only too well how unsatisfactory the data here presented will appear to the student. It is hoped, however, that they may sometimes prove of assistance in naming birds in life. As has been said before, the aim of this volume is to help students to learn the names of our birds in their haunts. But we should be doing scant justice to the possibilities of bird study: if, even by silence, we should imply that they ended with the learning to know the bird. This is only the beginning of the quest which may bring us into close intimacy with the secrets of nature. The birds’ haunts and food, their seasons and times of coming and going; their songs and habits during courtship, their nest-building, egg-laying, incubating and care of their young, these and a hundred other subjects connected with their lives may claim our attention and by increasing our knowledge of bird-life, add to our love of birds. HOW BIRDS ARE NAMED Birds have two kinds of names. One is a common, vernacluar, or popular name; the other is a technical or scientific name. The first is usually given to the living bird by the people of the country it inhabits The second is applied to specimens of birds by ornithologists who classify them. Common names in their origin and use know no law. ‘Technical names are bestowed under the system of nomenclature established by Linnzeus and their formation and application are governed by certain definite, generally accepted rules. The Linngan system, as it is now employed by most American ornithologists; provides that a bird, in acldition to being grouped in a certain Class, Order, Family, etc., shall have a generic and specific name which, together, shall not be. applied to any other animal. Our Robin, therefore, is classified and named as follows: CLASS AVES, BIRDS. ORDER PASSERES, Percuine Brrps. SuB-oORDER Oscines, SINGING PERCHING BIRDS. Famity Tursdide Thrushes. Sus-FAMILyY Zurdine Thrushes. Genus, Planesticus, Thrushes. SPECIES, migratorius American Robin. The Robin’s distinctive scientific name, therefore, which it alone pos- sesses, is Planesticus migratorius. There are numerous other members of the genus Planesticus, but not one of them is called mzgratorius and this combination of names, therefore, applied to only one bird. 4 How Bios art NamMep The questions Why use all these Latin terms? Why not call the bird “Robin” and be done with it? are easily answered. Widely distributed birds frequently have different names in different parts of their range. The Flicker (Colaptes auratus), for instance, has over one hundred common or vernacular names. Again, the same name is often applied to wholly different birds. Our Robin (Planesticus migratorius) is: not even a member of the same family as the European Robin (Erithacus rubecola.) If, therefore, we should write of birds or attempt to classify them only by their common names, we should be dealing with such unfixed quantities that the result would be inaccurate and misleading. But by using one name in a language known to educated people of all countries, a writer may indicatc, without danger of being misunderstood, the particular animal to which he refers. Among people speaking the same tongue, where a definite list of vernacular names of animals has been established, they can of course be used instead of the scientific names. Such a list of North American birds has been prepared by the American Ornithologists’ Union. It furnishes a common as well as scientific name for each of our birds, and is the recognized standard of nomenclature among American ornithologists. The names and numbers of birds employed in this Color Key are those of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s ‘Check-List of North American Birds.’ It will be observed that in this ‘Check-List,’ and consequently in the following pages, many birds have three scientific names, a generic, specific, and sub-specific. The Western Robin, for example, appears as Planesticus migratorius propinquus. What is the significance’ of this third name? In the days of Linneus, and for many years after, it was supposed that a species was a distinct creation whose characters never varied. . But in comparatively recent years, as specimens have been gathered from through- out the country inhabited by a species, comparison frequently shows that specimens from one part of its range differ from those taken in another part of its range. At intervening localities, however, intermediate specimens will be found connecting the extremes. 5 How Birps are Namxp Generally, these geographical variations, as they are called, are the result of climatic conditions. For instance, in regions of heavy rainfall a bird’s colors are usually much darker than they are where the rainfall is light. Song Sparrows, for example, are palest in the desert region of Arizona, where the annual rainfall may not reach eight inches, and darkest on the coast of British Columbia and Alaska, where the annual rainfall may be over one hundred inches. In going from one region, however, to the other the gradual changes in climate are accompanied by gradual changes in the colors of the Song Sparrows, and the wide differences between Arizona and Alaska Song Sparrows are therefore bridged by a series of intermediates. Variations of this kind are spoken of as geographic, racial, or sub- specific and the birds exhibiting them are termed subspecies. In naming them a third name, or trinomial is employed, and the possession of such a name indicates at once that a bird is a geographic or racial representative of a species, with one or more representatives of ‘which it intergrades. Returning now to the Robin. Our eastern Robins always have the outer pair of tail-feathers tipped with white and, in adults, the back is blotched with black; while Robins from the Rocky Mountains and westward have little or no white on the outer tail-feathers, and the back is dark gray, with- out black blotches. These extremes are connected by intermediate specimens sharing the characters; of both eastern and western birds. We do not, therefore, treat the latter as a species, but as a subspecies, and consequently, apply to it a subspecific name or trinomia], Planesticus migratorius propin- quus, (propinquus, meaning nearly related.) A further study of our eastern Robin shows that in the southern parts of its breeding range (the Carolinas and Georgia), it varies from the northern type in being smaller in size and much paler and duller in color : and to this second geographical variety is applied the name Planesticus migratorius achrusterus, (achrusterus, meaning less highly colored). After the recognition of western and southern races of the Robin under three names (trinomial) it would obviously be inconsistent to apply only two 6 How Binps are Namep names (binomial) to our eastern bird, the former being no more subspecies of the latter than the latter is of the former. In other words, to continue to apply only generic and specific names to the Eastern Robin would imply that it was a full species, while the use of a trinomial for the Western or the Southern Robin shows them to be subspecies. As a matter of fact we know that there is but one species of true Robin in the-United States, consequently in accordance with the logical and now generally accepted method, we apply to that species the name Planesticus migratorius, and this is equally applica- ble to Robins from east, south or west. When, however, we learn that the Eastern Robin is not a species but a subspecies, we repeat the specific name by which it was made known and call it Planesticus migratorius migratorius. It may be asked, Why give names to these geographical races? Why not call Eastern, Western and Southern Robins. by one name, Planesticus migratorius, without regard to their climatic variations? In reply, two excellent reasons may be given for the recognition of sub- species by name; first, because in some cases they differ from one another far more than do many species, when it would clearly be inadvisable to apply the same name to what are obviously different creatures. For example, it has lately been discovered by Mr. E. W. Nelson that the small, black- throated, brown-breasted, Quails or Bob-whites of southern Mexico, through a long series of intermediates inhabiting the intervening region, intergrade with the large, white-throated, black-and-white breasted, Bob-white of our northern states. It would be absurd to call such wholly unlike birds by the same name, nor could we give a full specific name to the Mexican Bob- white since at no place can we draw a line definitely separating it from the northern Bob-white. Furthermore, the use of only two names would conceal the remarkable fact of the intergradation of two such strikingly different birds; a fact of the first importance to students of the evolution of species. For much the same reason we should name those birds which show less pronounced variations, such as are exhibited by the Robin, Here we have a species in the making, and in tracing the relation between cause and effect, v4 How Brirps arg Namep we learn something of the influences which create species. Thus, climate has been definitely proven so to alter a species, both in size and color that, as we have seen in the case of the Song Sparrows, marked climate changes are accompanied by correspondingly marked changes in the appearance of certain animals. In naming these animals we aré, in effect, giving a ‘handle to the fact’ of their evolution by environment. Since it is evident that a bird may vary much or little, according to the governing conditions and its tendency to respond to them, no fixed rule can be laid down which shall decide just what degree of difference are deserv- ing a name. It follows, therefore, that in some cases ornithologists do not agree upon a bird’s claim to subspecific rank. In North America, however, questions of this kind are referred to a committee of seven experts of the American Ornithologists’ Union, and their decision establishes a nomenclature, which is accepted as the standard by other American ornithologists and which has been adopted in this volume. Foreign birds of wholly accidental occurrence, most of which have been found in North America but once or twice, are included in the systematic list of North American birds, but are not described or figured in the body of the book, where their presence would tend to convey an erroneous im- pression of their North American status. Furthermore, records of the presence of birds so rare as these can be properly based on only the capture of specimens. : In the preparation of the following pages both author and artist have had full access to the collections of the American Museum of Natural History, and they are also glad to acknowledge their indebtedness to William Brewster of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Robert Ridgway, Curator of Birds in the United States National Museum, and to C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Biologic Survey, for the loan of specimens for description and illustration. : SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. The figures are all life-size, except as stated. WATER BIRDS. OrvpER I. Greses, Loons, anpD Auks. PYGOPODES. (3 families, 32 species, 3 subspecies.) Duck-like birds with the bill usually pointed, never wider than high, and without flutings, ‘gutters,’ or serrations-on its side; wings short, never with a bright colored patch or ‘speculum’; tail rudimentary, nut noticeable; toes webbed or lobed. Color usually blackish above, white below; the throat often dark. The Grebes and Loons, when pursued, dive rather than fly; the Auks usually take wing. PIED-BILLED GREBE. Family 1. GREBES. PODICIPIDZ. + ; Toes four. with lobate webs; tipped with a broad nail; tail wanting. FOOT OF RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 9 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES: LOON. Family 2. LOONS. GAVIIDA. Toes four, webbed; toe-nails not broad and flat; tail present, Family 3. AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. ALCIDA. Toes three, webbed; toe-nails sharp; tail present. ORDER II. Guris, Terns, Jancrrs, Erc. LONGIPENNES. (3 families, 42 species, 1 subspecies.) Birds generally seen on the wing, as a rule, over water. Bill strong, thick; hooked in the Gulls and Jaegers; sharply pointed in the ‘Terns; often colored in part yellow or red; wings very long, the outer feathers much the longest; tail usually short and square in the Gulls, long and forked in the Terns; toes webbed. Color usually pearly gray above, white below in adult Gull and Terns; Jaegers and Imany young Gulls are dark. PARASITIC JAEGER. Family 4. SKUAS AND JAEGERS. STERCORARIIDA. : Toes four; three front ones webbed; bill with swollen, hooked tip, its base with a scaly shield. 10 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. 14g 79 ae Error COMMON TERN, Family 5. GULLS AND TERNS. LARIDA. FS : Toes usually four, three front ones webbed; upper mandible curved and hooked; tail usually square (Gulls, subfamily Lavine). Bill straight and pointed; tail often forked (Terns, subfamily Sternine). = WS AY BLACK SKIMMER. 11 SvNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. Family 6. SKIMMERS. RYNCHOPIDA. Toes four, three front ones webbed; bill thin and blade like, the maxilla longer than the mandibic; tail slightly forked. ORDER III. ALBATROSSES, SHEARWATERS, PETRELS, Erc, TUBI- NARES. (2 families, 30 species, 1 subspecies.) Sea-birds keeping, as a rule, well off shore, and flying low, near the water, often skimming over the waves. Bill, with upper mandible hooked; nostrils opening through tubes; wings long and pointed; tail short; feet webbed; hind-toe rudimentary or. absent. Color usually gray or black and white; no bright markings. BILL OF SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS. Family 7.5 ALBATROSSES. D:OMEDEIDA. Nostrils opening tirough tubes, separated and on either side of the bill. FULMAR. LEACH PETREL. Family 8. FULMARS, PETRELS_ AND SHEARWATERS. PROCELLARIID £. Nostrils joined and situated on top of the bill. 12 SYNOPSIs OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. Oxver IV. Cormorants, PELICANS, GANNETS, MAN-O’waR Birps, anpb Tropic-Birps. STEGANOPODES. (6 families, 19 species, 5 subspccics.) Large birds, two feet or more in length, varying widely in appear- ance and habits; in external structure agreeing only in having all four toes joined by webs. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. Family 9. TROPIC BIRDS. PHAETHONTIDA. Bi.l pointed, somewhat tern-like; central tail feathers much elongated; chin feathered. as Wwe j A\Nat. Size. GANNET. 3, Family 10 GANNETS. SULIDA. L Bill stout, its tip not hooked; chin and eye space bare; tail pointed, its feathers not, “fluted.” 13 Synopsis OF ORDERS AND Fami.izs. ANHINGA. Family 1. ANHINGAS; SNAKE-BIRDS, ANHINGIDA. Bill straight and slender; chin and eye space bare; tail rounded, luted. RENIN VIOLET-GREEN CORMORANT. Family 12. CORMORANTS. PHALACROCORACIDA. 7 Bill with a hooked tip; a small pouch at its base; plumage usually black or blackish. MAN-O' WAR BIRD, 14 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. BROWN PELICAN. Family 13. PELICANS. PELECANIDA. saa Bill hooked at tip, with a large pouch; tail short, square; eye space bare. Family 14. MAN-O’ WAR BIRDS. FREGATIDA. Bill hooked; pouch small; tail long and forked; eye space feathered. OrvER V. Ducks, GEESE, AnD Swans. ANSERES. (1 family, 49 species, 6 subspecies.) Birds of familiar form; bill, except in Mergansers or Saw-billed Ducks, broad and with rows of ‘strainers’ or ‘gutters’ on either side; wings short, in the Ducks usually with a bright colored patch or speculum; tail generally short; legs short; feet webbed. Most species, unlike the Grebes, take wing rather than dive when pursued. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 15 Synopsis or OrnprRS AND FAmILizs. Family 15. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. ANATIDA. Bill long, narrow, and rounded with tooth-like projections along its sides. (Mergan- sers. Subfamily Merging.) Bill broad, flattened, typically duck-like; tarsus or leg with transverse scales; hind toe without alobe. (River Ducks. Subfamily Anating. ) Bill and tarsus as in preceding, but hind toe with a broad lobe or flap. (Sea and Bay Ducks. Subfamily Fuliguline.) Bill proportionately narrower than in the River or Bay Ducks; gutters on its sides less developed; scales on front of tarsus rounded. (Geese. Subfamily Anserina.) Large, usually white birds, wits bare eye space.. (Swans. Subfamily Cygnine.) Orprer VI. Framincors. ODONTOGLOSSA, (1 family, 1 species.) Bright red or pink and white birds, standing four feet or more in height; side of the bill with gutters, its end bent downward; wings rather short; legs long; feet webbed. 16 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. AMERICAN FLAMINGO. Family 16. FLAMINGOES. PHOENICOPTERIDA, Characters of the Family similar to those of the Order. OrpEeR VII. Herons, Birrerns, Izises, AND SPOONBILLS. HERODIONES. (4 families, 19 species, 3 subspecies.) Long-legged wading birds, generally found along shores or on muddy flats; bill variable; in the Herons straight and sharply pointed; in the Ibises, slender, rounded, and curved downward; in the Spoon- bill, flattened: wings rounded; tail short; legs long; toes all on same level, long, slender, without webs. Herons and Bitterns fly with a fold in the neck, the head being drawn in;-Ibises and Spoonbills fly with the neck straight, the head being extended. Wy Synopsis OF ORDERS AND FAmILigs. i i i iT —— ai: mi ay ROSEATE SPOONBILL. Family 17.5 SPOONBILLS. PLATALEIDA. Bill flattened and much broadened at the end; crown and face bare in adults; toes partly webbed. WIIITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS. Family 18. IBISES. IBIDIDA. Bill long and curved down: its side with grooves; toes partly webbed. eae a as i ° + Nat Size WOOD IBIS. Tamily 19. STORKS AND WOOD IBISES. CICONIIDA. Bill stout, without grooves; tarsus reticulate. 18 Synopsis oF ORDERS AND FAMILiEs. GREEN HERON. Family 20. HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS. ARDEIDA. Bill usually straight and sharply pointed; lores naked; head feathered; tarsus with transverse scales; middle toe-nail pectinate or with a comblike edge. OrpeR VIII. Cranzs, Rats, Coors, GarrinuLes, Erc. PALU- DICOLA. (3 families, 16 species, 3 subspecies) Birds varying greatly in size and appearance, but all agreeing (and differing from Herodiones) in having the hind-toe elevated, that is, leav- ing the foot at a higher level than the front toes; tail short; legs usually long. All fly with the neck extendcd, a fact by which Cranes in flight may be known from Herons. Rails are short-winged skulkers in grassy marshes; Gallinules frequent reedy shores; Coots, which alone of the Order have webbed (lobate) toes, are as aquatic as Ducks, fron which they may be known by their pointed, white bill, nodding motion of the head when swimming, aud habit of pattering over the watcr when alarmed. SANDHILL CRANE. 19 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. Family 21. CRANES. GRUIDA. Large birds over three feet in length; head partly bare in adults. SNot. Size LIMPKIN, Family 22. COURLANS. ARAMIDA. Bill long and slender; head wholly feathered; toes not webbed. CLAPPER RAIL. 20 SyNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. AMERICAN COOT, Family 23. RAILS, COOTS, AND GALLINULES.. RALLIDA. Bill variable; toes always long, webbed (lobed) in only one species; wings short and rounded; tail short. i OrprR IX. Snips, Sanpprerrs, CuRLEWS, PLovers, Etc. LIMICOL., .(7 families, 55 species, 4 subspecies.) Generally long-legged, slender-billed birds of shores and mud flats, and sometimes fields. Most of them are under a foot in length; none are so large as the Ibises; wings long and pointed; tail short; toes long and slender, usually without webs; color generally brown or blackish above, mottled and streaked with whitish and buff. Many species utter characteristic piping whistles as they fly or when they take wing. NORTHERN PHALAROPE, Family 24. PHALAROPES. PHALAROPODIDA,- _ F ‘Nront toes with lobes or webs; tarsus flattened; plumage thick; swimming Snipe. 21 Synopsis OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. BLACK-NECKED STILT. 22 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FamILizs. Family 25. AVOCETS AND STILTS. RECURVIROSTRIDA. Long legged, wading Snipe; iri Avocets toes four, front three webbed; bill recurved; in Stilts toes three, almost unwebbed; bill straight. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. WOODCOCK. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. Family 26. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, CURLEWS, ETC. SCOLOPACIDA. Toes usually four; tarsus with transverse scales; bill generally long, slender, and soft, used as a probe. 23 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FamILies, BLACK-LDELLIED PLOVER. Family 27, PLOVERS. CHARADRIIDA. id Toes usually three, or when four, the fourth rudimentary; tarsus with rounded scales; till, as compared with that of Snipe, short and stout. TURNSTONE, Family 28. SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. APHRIZIDA. Toes four, tarsus with transverse scales; bill short, rather hard. 24 SyNopsiIs OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. Family 29. OYSTER-CATCHERS. HAMATOPODIDA. Toes three, webbed at base; tarsus stout, with rounded scales; bill heavy, com- pressed, and said to be used for opening shells. MEXICAN JACANA. Family 30. JACANAS, JACANIDA. Toes four, with their nails greatly elongated to support the bird while walking on aquatic vegetation; wing, with a sharp spur; bill with fleshy lobes at base and, in some species, on its sides. LAND BIRDS. OrperR X. Grouse, Partrivces, Bos-Wuites, Etc. GALLINA. (3 families, 24 species, 25 subspecies. ) Ground-inhabiting birds of chicken-like form; bill stout, hen-like; wings short and rounded; tail variable; feet strong; hind-toe elevated. Color usually mixed brown, black, and buff, or bluish gray. 25 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. RUFFED GROUSE. Family 31. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. TETRAONIDA. Characters the same as those of the Order; tarsus naked in Partridges and Quails; more or less feathered in Grouse and Ptarmigan. 26 SyNOPSsIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. — Me Ww So a n ah vi AQ) ar SV} yh hi AM iW TURKEY. Family 32. TURKEYS, PHEASANTS, AND CHICKENS. PHASIANIDA:. Tarsus naked, often spurred, tail remarkably variable (for example, Turkey, Peas cock); head often with a comb, wattles, or other excrescences. CHACHALACA. Family 33. CURASSOWS AND GUANS. CRACIDA. Large tree-haunting, pheasant-like birds; toes four, all on same level. OrpER XI. Picrons anp Doves. COLUMBAR. (1 family, 13 species, 3 subspecies.) Walking birds, feeding both on the ground and in trees; bill slender, grooved, nostrils opening in a fleshy membrane; tail variable, short and square, or long and pointed; feet stout, often reddish. Color usually grayish brown. Call-notes a characteristic cooing. MOURNING DOVE. Family 34. PIGEONS AND DOVES. COLUMBIDA. Characters those of the Order. 27 Synopsis OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. RAPTORES. OrpER XII. VULTURES, Hawks, AND OWLS. (4 families, 56 species, 33 subspecies.) oked bill; strong, heavy feet, and long, usually square. Generally large birds with ho: cucved nails ; wings large; tail rather long, TURKEY VULTURE. Family 35. AMERICAN VULTURES. CATHARTIDA. Bill not strongly hooked; toe-nails comparatively: weak; nostrils large, piercing the bill; head and more or less of neck, bare. RED-TAILED HAWK. 28 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. FOOT OF RED-TAILED HAWK. \ \ Family 36. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. FALCONIDA. Nostrils opening in a cere at the base of the bill; hook of bill and claws well developed; plumage firm and close; tarsus usually largely bare. wine A N} Nt HG 3 Not Size. BARN OWL. 29 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. Family 37. BARN OWLS. STRIGIDA, Eyes black, set in a somewhat triangular facial disc; bill more or less concealed by feathers; nostril opening at the edge of a fleshy cere;-inner edge of middle toe-nail serrate; no ‘ears’; tarsus feathered. ‘ai y NWN Vil ghosts ) i ean \ 4 Nat. Size, SCREECH OWL, Family 38. HORNED OWLS, ETC, BUBONIDA. Eyes yellow or black, set in a circular facial disc; bill’ more or less concealed by feathers; nostrils opening at the edge of a fleshy cere; tarsus feathered. ORDER XIII. PaRoguets AND Parrots. PSITTACI. (1 family, 2 species.) Usually bright green birds with a heavy hooked bill, broad scoop- shaped lower mandible; long, pointed wings; tail, in Parrots, generally square; in Paroquets, pointed; feet heavy, two toes in front and two behind. CAROLINA PAROQUET, Family 39. PARROTS AND PAROQUETS, PSITTACIDAL. Characters the same as those of Order, 30 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. ORDER XIV. Cucxkoos, TRocons, KINGFISHERS, Etc. COCCYGES, (3 families, 8 species, 2 subspecies.) A composite Order of several groups of birds bearing no close rela- tion to each other. Cuckoos have slightly curved bills, long tails, and two toes in front and two behind. Trogons have short, rather broad, stout bills, and soft, loose plumage, often green above, red below; moder- ately long tails; small feet with two toes in front, two behind. King- fishers have long, rather stout, pointed bills; wings, long; tail, medium; three toes in front and one behind; middle and outer toes joined for half their length. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Family go. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. Cucutina. ; Toes two in front, two behind; bill, usually, more or less decurved; tail, long and rounded, the outer feathers being, generally, much shorter than the middle pair. COPPERY-TAILED TROGON. Family 41. TROGONS. TROGONIDA. Toes two in front, two behind; bill, short; upper mandible decurved and dentate: tail square; plumage, soft, loose, and generally shining green above. BELTED KINGFISHER. 3] SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. Family 42. KINGFISHERS. ALCEDINIDA:. 7 Legs short; feet small; toes, three in front, one behind; third and fourth toes join ed; bill, stout and long. . ORDER XV. WooprecKers, PICI. (1 family, 24 species, 22 subspecies.) Climbing birds with stout, pointed bills, bristly nostrils, pointed, stitfened tuil feathes, strong feet and nails; two toes in front and two behind, except in Picoides, which has two in front and one behind. Prevailing colors, black and white, the males usually with red on the crown. FOOT OF THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. PILEATED WOODPECKER. Family 43. WOODPECKERS. PICIDA:. Characters the same as those of the Order. 32 Synopsis OF ORDERS AND FaMILIEs. Orver XVI. GoatsucKEerRS, SwirTs, AND HUMMINGBIRDS. MACROCHIRES. (3 families, 27 species, 6 subspecies. ) Bill, in the Goatsuckers and Swifts, small; mouth large; in the Hum- mingbirds, bill long, slender, needle-like; wings and tail variable; feet, in all three groups, small and weak. Color, in Goatsuckers, mixed brown, buff and black; in Swifts, black and white; in Hummingbirds, usually shining green above with resplendent throat-patches of varied hues. WHIP-POOR WiLL. Family 44. GOATSUCKERS, ETC, CAPRIMULGIDA:. ; , : Feet usually small and weak: toes, three in front, one behind; middle toe-nail pectin- ate or combed; bill small; mouth very large and usually beset by long bristles. CHIMNEY SWIFT, Family 45. SWIFTS. MICROPODIDA. Bill small, triangular when seen from above; mouth large, no bristles; tail variable, in Chetura with projecting spines; wings long and narrow; feet small and toes short; plumage usually dark. i RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Family 46. HUMMINGBIRDS. TROCHILIDA. Bill long and slender; feet slender; wings large and pointed; tail exceedingly variable, often assuming the most striking shapes. 33 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. ORDER XVII. FLycaTcHERS, JAYS, BLACKBIRDS, FINCHES, SWAL- Lows, WARBLERS, THRUSHES, AND OTHER:PERCHING Brrps. PAS- SERES. (18 families, about 325 species and 226 subspecies.) Bill, wings, and tail variable; feet with four toes not connected, the hind-toe as long as the middle one; its nail generally longer than that of the middle toe. This Order contains more species than the re- maining sixteen Orders put together. In it will be found over 80 per cent. of the birds commonly seen by field students. It is difficult of definition, but almost any small perching bird may, with more or less certainty, be referred to the Passeves. PHOEBE. Family 48. FLYCATCHERS. TYRANNIDA. ; Bill broad, flat, hooked at tip, its base with bristles; wings rather pointed, the sec- ond to fourth primaries longest; tarsus rounded behind as well as in front; feathers of crown generally somewhat lengthened, forming when erected, a small crest; pose, when perching, erect; food of insects usually captured on the wing; voice generally unmusical. HORNED LARK, Family 49. LARKS. ALAUDIDA. : Hind toe-nail much lengthened; bill rounded, straight; tarsus rounded behind as well as in front; our species with a tuft of feathers on either side of the head; outer primary short or rudimentary; walking birds, singing while on the wing. 34 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. BLUE JAY. Family 50. CROWS AND JAYS. CorviDa. Large perching birds, usually twelve inches or more in length; bill stout; nos- trils covered by projecting bristles; feet heavy; outer: tail-feathers usually shortest; fourth to fifth primary longest, first about half as long. PURPLE GRACKLE. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Family 52. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. ICTERIDA. Base of bill, between nostrils, extending back and dividing feathers on forehead; nostrils not concealed by bristles: first three primaries of equal length. REDPCLL SONG SPARROW. 35 Synopsis oF ORDERS AND FAmILtzs. EVENING GROSBEAK. CARDINAL Family 53. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. FRINGILLIDA. Bill short, stout, conical; third or fourth primaries longest; first about half an inch shorter; the majority are small birds and but few are over eight inches in length. SUMMER TANAGER. Family 54. TANAGERS. TANAGRIDA. Bill somewhat finch-like but more swollen in outline; the upper mandible, in typica forms, tuothed or dentate. TREE SWALLOW. Family 55. SWALLOWS. —HIRUNDINIDA. Bill short, broad and flat; feet small and weak: wings long and narrow; tail notched and sometimes forked; birds of the air, feeding while on the wing. 36 SyNopsis OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. CEDAR WAXWING. Family 56. WAXWINGS. AMPELIDA. Bill short, stout, and rounded, its tip notched; wings rather long; head crested. NORTHERN SHRIKE, Family 57. SHRIKES. LANIDA:. Bill stout, its mandible hooked and hawklike; feet truly Passerine; pose, in perching, erect; solitary grayish birds. RED-EYED VIREO. Family 58. VIREOS. VIREONIDA. Bill small, but distinctly hooked; outer primary usually very small and sometimes apparently wanting; olive-green gleaners among the leaves. 37 Synopsis OF ORDERS AND FAmILizs. AMERICAN REDSTART. Family 60. WARBLERS. MNIOTILTIDA. Bill, in most of the species, slender, sharply pointed, and without a notch or hook at the tip; in the genera Wilsonia and Setophaga, flat and flycatcher-like; in Jcteria stout; back of tarsus compressed into a thin ridge; three outer primaries of nearly equal length. AMERICAN PIPIT, Family 61. WAGTAILS. MOTACILLIDA. Hind toe-nail much lengthened; bill slender, nostril not covered with bristles, as_in true Larks; back of tarsus thin, not rounded; terrestrial, walking with a wagging motion of the tail. AMERICAN DIPPER. amily 62. DIPPERS. CINCLIDA. hick-set birds with short wings and tail; plumage. thick and water-proof; tarsus scaled; semi-aquatic in habit, haunting mountain streams. 38 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. BROWN THRASHEFP, HOUSE WREN Family 63. WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. TROGLODYTIDA. Tarsus scaled; tail rounded, the outer feathers being shortest; third to fourth primary longest, the outer half as long; bill in Thrashers utten decurved, its base with bristles; in Wrens, bill without bristles; brown or grayish inhabitants of lower gro'vth. BROWN CREEPER. Family 64. CREEPERS. CERTHIIDA. Bill slender and much decurved; tail usually pointed and stiffened. CHICKADEE. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Family 65. NUTHATCHES AND TITS. PARIDA. Fourth or fifth primary longest; first an inch or less in length. Chickadees (sub- family Paring) have a short, stout bill, the nostrils covered with bristles; the tail is rather long and rounded. Nuthatches (subfamily Sittina) have a long, slender bill, short, square tail, and large feet. 39 SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES, as GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, Family 66. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, ETC. SYLVIIDA:. Bill slender and Warbler-like, but first primary only one-third as long as the tourth. WOOD THRUSH. Family 67. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. TURDIDA. Tarsus ‘booted’, without scales, (see foot of Robin under Synopsis of Order Passeres); tail square; mandible notched and slightly hooked; outer primary an inch or less in length; second to fourth of about equal length. COLOR KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS ORDER I. DIVING BIRDS. PYGOPODES. - Family 1. GREBES. Popicrrip#. 6 species, Family 2, LOONS. Gavupa. 5 species. Family 3. AUKS, MURRES, and PUFFINS. Arcm#. 21 spe- cies, 3 subspecies. Grebes are at home in reed-grown ponds or sloughs where their nests are made on rafts or islets of water-soaked vegetation. Their eggs number from four to eight, are dull white in color, and are usually covered by the bird with a portion of the nesting material when it leaves its home. Grebes occasionally rest on the shore, but are rarely found far from the water. When on land they may lie flat on their breasts or sit ercct on their tails and entire: foot, or tarsus. Their progress on land, as a rule, is awkward and they may use their wings as.fore feet to assist them. In diving, Grebes sometimes spring part- ly from the water and then plunge downward head first, or they may quietly sink with scarce a ripple to mark the place of their disap- pearance, Loons generally pass the summer on some large lake, and in the winter many of them live at sea. They nest, as a rule, on the shore, but so near the water that the parent bird may slide off its two dark brown, inottled eggs into its favorite element. Like the Grebes, Loons are expert divers, and birds of both families so often seek safety under the water rather than in the air that it is frequently difficult to make them fly. The young of both Grebes and Loons are born covered with feathers and take to the water shortly after birth, often using the back of the parent bird as an ever present island on which they may rest at will. The Auks, Murres, and Puffins are sea birds which nest usually in large colonies on isolated islets or rocky, inaccessible shores of the northern part of the northern hemisphere. They lay one or two eggs, sometimes in an exposed position among the rocks with no attempt at nest-building, somctimes at the end of a burrow excavated by the birds. In the latter case, the young are reared in the nest; in the for- mer, they sometimes enter the water at an early age. The one egg laid by Murres is remarkable both in color and in shape. In color it varies from bluish green to buff, and is usually heavily scrawled with black. In outline it is pyriform or pear-shaped. When moved it does not roll away as would a hen’s egg but revolves about its own tip. In this manner it retains its place on the narrow ledges often chosen by Murres for nesting-sites. 42 2. Holbell Grebe (Colymbus holbelli). L. 19. Ads. Crown and hindneck glossy black; back blackish; throat, cheeks, and underparts white; foreneck and sides rufous. Winter. Above blackish brown; throat and underparts white; foreneck pale rufous. Yxg. Similar but no rufous. Notes. “An explosive up’? and ‘‘An exceedingly loud harsh voice not unlike that of an angry Crow, but of much greater volume. The calls were also given more slowly and indeed with singular deliberation, car, car, three or four times, sometimes lengthened to caar, and again, broken and quavering like ca-a-a-r or ca-a-a-a-r.” (Brewster. ) Range.—North America, eastern Slverla, and Japan; breeds locally in the Interior from about Lat. 50° northward; winters from Maine and British Columbia southward to South Carolina, Nebraska and southern California, chiefly on the coasts. 3. Horned Grebe (Colymbus auritus). L. 13.5. Ads., summer. Crown, hirdneck, and throat glossy black; plumes behind eye deep buff; back and wings blackish; foreneck, breast, sides, and lores chestnut; abdomen white. Winter. Above grayish black; be- low white. Range.—Northern Hemisphere: breeds largely in the Interior from eastern Quebec, northern Illinois, St. Clair Flats, North Dakota, and British Columbia northward; winters from Maine and British Columbia south to Gulf States and southern California, 4. American Eared Grebe (Colymbus nigricollis caltfornicus). L. 13. Ads. Above, neck all around, and upper breast brownish black; cheek tufts yellowish brown; flanks chestnut; belly white. Winter. Grayish brown above; white below. Range.—Western North America east to Kansas; breeds locally from Texas and middle California north to Manitoba and British Col umbia; winters from British Columbia, on the Pacific coast,and Texas southward. 5. Least Grebe (Colymbus dominicus brachypterus). L. 10 Ads. Throat black; cheeks slaty, above blackish; below grayish. Winter. Similar but no black or slate on throat or cheeks. Smallest of our Grebes. Range.—Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southern Lower California south to northern South America. 6. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps). L. 13.5. Ads., summer, Ab .ve brownish black; throat and band on bill black; foreneck, breast, and sides brownish; belly white. Winter. The same, but throat white, breast more rusty, bill without black band. Notes. A loud, sonorous, ‘‘cow-cow-cow-cow-cow-cow-cow-cow-cow- uh, cow-uh, cow-uh, cow-uh.”” Range.—Argentine Republic; north through Mexico and West Indies to Lat. of Hudson Bay; breeds locally throughout its range, but chietly northward; winters from New Jersey, Illinois, and southern California southward, 43 Grebes and Loons Grebes and Loons 1. Western Grebe; Swan Grebe (Echmophorus oc cidentalis). L. 26. Ads., summer. Crown and hind- neck black; back grayish brown; sides of head and un- der parts white. Winter. Crown and hindneck like back. Notes. A loud, rattling, grating whistle. Range.—Western North America; in summer eastward to Shoal Lake, Manitoba; northward to_seuthern Alaska; breeds locally from northern California and Nurth Dakota northward; winters from British Columbia to central Mexico. 7. Loon (Gavia timber). L. 32. Ads., summer. Above, including whole neck, glossy black; throat and neck with white streaks; back and wings with white spots or bars; belly white. Winter Above blackish margined with grayish; no white spots; below white. Notes. A loud, maniacal taugh. Range.—Northern hemisphere; In North America, breeds from Maine, northern Illinois, Minnesota, and northern California north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from about southern limit of breeding range south to Gult of Mexico, chiefly on coasts. 8. Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsizZ). L. 36. Similar to No. 7, but larger and bill yellowish or whitish. Notes. Similar to those of No. 7, but harsher. (Murdoch.) Range.—‘‘Arctic America west of Hudson Bay, and northern Asia; asual in northern Europe."’ (A. O. U.) 9. Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica). Tia W. 12. Ads., summer. Foreneck and pack bluish black; throat, neck, and back streaked or barred with white; crown and nape gray; belly white. Winter. Similar to No. 7, but smaller. Notes. A dismal ‘‘too- too-e-e.”? (Turner.) Range-—Northern part of northern hemlsphere; In America, breeds from Hudson Bay north to Arctic coast; winters south to British Col- umbia, the Great Lakes and, casually, to Long Island. 10. Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica). Similar to No. , but foreneck in summer reflecting deep blue or green; Pindneckk paler; smaller, W.11. Notes. Aharsh ‘‘kok, kok, koh.” (Murdoch.) Range.—Western North America; breeds _at Point Barrow, Alaska, ana eastward; winters suuth along Pacific Coast to Mexico. 11. Red-throated Loon (Gavia lumme). L.25. Ads., summer. _Foreneck chestnut, head and neck ashy. Winter. Similar to No. 7, in winter, but back spotted with white. Notes. A harsh ‘‘gr-r ga, gr-r, gr-r-ga, gr-r.’’ (Nelson.) Range.—Northern part of northern hemisphere; in North America breeds from New Brunswick to Greenland and Hudson Bay, and northwest to Alaska; winters south to South Carolina and southern California. 44 Auks, Murres and Puffins 12. Tufted Puffin (Lunda cirrhata), L. 15. Ads., summer. Cheeks white; a pair of long straw color plumes from behind eyes; rest of plumage sooty. Winter. Cheeks sooty, plumes usually absent. Yung. S.milar to winter adult, but breast and belly whitish. Range.—Northern Pacific; resident locally from Santa Barbara d4slauds north to Alaska. Accidental in Maine. 13. Puffin (Fratercula arctica). L. 13; W. 6; B. 1.8. Ads, Above, and foreneck blackish; cheeks and under puts white; bill in summer touched with bright red. Notes. A hoarse croak. Range.— North Atlantic; breeds from Bay of Fundy north to Green- fand; winters south to Long Island. 13a. Large-billed Puffin (F. a. glacialis). W. 7; B. 2.1. Similar to No. 13, but larger. Range.—Arctic Ocean from Spitzenbergen to northern Greenland, 14. Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata). Simi- lar to No. 13, but in summer with the throat blackish. Notes. ‘‘A hoarse snuffling, rattling note’? (Nelson.) Range. “Northern Pacific from Kuril Islands to British Colum- bia.” (A. O. U.) 15. Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata). L. 15.5. Ads., summer. A horn on base of bill; ¢wo pairs of white tufts; above blackish; throat and breast gray- ish; belly white. Winter. Similar,but nohorn. Yung. Similar to winter ad. but no tufts. Range.—"North Pacific: breeding south (formerly) to the Far- allones; In winter south to Lower California and Japan."" (A. O. U.) 45 Auks, Murres and Puffins - 16. Cassin Auklet. (Ptycoramphus aleuticus). L. 9. Ads. A white spot above eye; above blackish; throat and breast grayish; belly white. Notes A shrill, squealing ‘‘Come bear-r-r, come hear-r-r.”’ Range.—"‘Pacific Coast of North America from Aleutian Islands to Lower Gallfornia;breeding south to San Geronimo Island (Lat. 30° ).”" (A. O. U.) 23. Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). L. 9.7. Ads., summer. No crest; above dark brown, finely mixed with rusty; below white, all feathers edged with brown. Winter. Wholly different; above gray; head dark; below white; a nearly complete white nuchal collar. Yug. Similar to winter ad. but blacker above; sprinkled with blackish below. Range.—North Pacific; breeds from Vancouver north to Aleutian Islands; winters south to southern California. 24. Kittlitz Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris). L. 9.5; B., from feathers on top, .4. Ads., summer. Above gray, mottled with buff; breast and sides mottled with buff and black; belly white. Winter. Sides of head, to above eye, and lower parts white; above gray; outer tail-feathers white. Range.—Northern Japan, Kamchatka and Aleutian Islands, east to Unalaska. (A. O, U.) 25. Xantus Murrelet (Brachyramphus hypoleucus). L. 10. Bill slender. Ads. Above slaty black; under surface of wing white; inner webs of outer primaries white. Range.—Pacific Coast from Monterey south to Cape St. Lucas; breeding as far north as Santa Barbara Island, 26. Craveri Murrelet (Brachyramphus —craveri). L. 10. Bill slender. Ads. Above slaty or brownish black; sides slaty; under surface of wings dusky, some: times mixed with white. Range.—Coasts of Lower Callfornia, from Cape St. Lucas north to Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California, and to Natividad Island (lat. 28°) on the Pacific side. (A. O. U.) 34. Dovekie (4lle alle). L. 8. Ads., summer. Above blackish; inner wing feathers tipped with white; throat and breast blackish brown. Winter. Similar, but throat and breast white or mixed grayish. Range—North Atlantic and East Arctic; In America breeds from Lat, 68 ° northward; winters south to Long Island, rarely to Virginia. Ac- cidental in Michigan. 46 Auks, Murres and Puffins 17. Paroquet Auklet (Cyclorrhynchus psittaculus). L. 10. Ads., summer. No crest; a white plume from behind eye; above blackish; throat grayer, rest of un- der parts white. Winter. Throat white. Notes. “A luw, sonorous, vibrating whistle.” (Nelson.) Range. “North Pacific, from Sitka and the Kuril Islands north- ward.’” (A. O.U.) Five records for coast off San Francisco in win- ter, 18. Crested Auklet (Simorhpuchus cristatellus). L. 1o. Ads., summer. Bill red; acrest of slender re- curved feathers; a pair of white tufts from behind eye; above sooty black; below grayer. Yung. Similar but bill brown; no crest or tufts. Notes. “A chirping note,’ (Nelson.) oe Ne Pacific from Kadiak and Japan northward.” (A, O, 19. Whiskered Auklet (Simorhynchus pygmaus). L. 5. Ads., summer. White feathers at base of sides of bill and, much lengthened, from above and below eye; acrest of slender recurved feathers; above, and throat dark slate fading into white belly. Yxg. Similar but no crest; little or no white on head. Notes. “A low chattering note.” (Nelson. Rangi—‘‘North Pacific, from Unalaska through the Aleutian chain to Kamchatka.” (A. O. U.) 20. Least Auklet (Simorhynchus pusillus). L. 6.5. Ads., summer. No crest; sides of head with white feathers; above blackish; chin sooty; throat white; under arts white, marked irregularly with_sooty. Wanter. ittle or no sooty on breast. Yng. Similar to winter ad., but no white plumes. Range.—"‘North Pacific, from Sitka and Japan north to Bering Strait.” (A. O. U.) 21. Ancient Murrelet (Syxthkboramphus antiquus). L. 10.5. Ads., summer. Nocrest; head and throat black; broad white stripes behind eye; back gray; breast and belly white. Winter. Similar but throat white; no white head stripes. Notes. ‘‘A low plaintive whistle.’’ (Nelson. ) Range.—North Pacific, from southern Vancouver Island and Japan northward; south in winter to Monterey, California; accidental in Wis- consin. 47 ——— Auks, Murres and Puffins 217. Black Guillemot (Ceppbus grylle). L. 13. Ads., summer. Black; greater wing-coverts white, black at base; under surface of wings white, Winter. Above gray or black tipped with white; below white. Range.—Coasts of northern Europe and North Atlantic; In Ameri- ca breeds from Knox Co., Maine north to southern Greenland; win- ters south to Quebec and Massachusetts; rarely to Toronto, Con- necticut, and Long Island. Fe 28. Mandt Guillemot (Cepphus mandti). Similar to No. 27, but bases of greater wing overts white. Range.—Arctic regions; breeds from Labrador and Hudson Bay north to northern Greenland and northern Alaska; in winter migrates butlittle southward; no satisfactory United States record. 29. Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba). Similar to No. 27, but inner surface of wings sooty gray. Notes. A squealing, vibrant whistle. Range.—North Pacific; breeds from Santa Catalina Island north to Bering Strait, west through Aleutian Islands to Kamchatka and northern Japan; winters in same region. 30. Murre (Uria troile). L. 16; B. 1.7. Ads., sum- mer. Above and neck sooty brown; under parts and tips of secondaries white; sides with blackish streaks. Winter. Similar, but throat white washed with sooty. Notes. A hoarse murre and squawking a-r-r-r-r-r-rh. Range.—North Atlantic; breeds in North America from Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands, north to southern Greenland; winters south to Maine and, rarely, Ontarlo. 30a. California Murre (U. ¢. californica). Similar to No. 30 but larger, W. 8. 2; B. 1. Range.—North Pacific; breeds from Pribilof Islands south to Farall- ones; winters south to southern California. Be 31. Brunnich Murre (Uria lomvia).. Similar to No. 30, but bill shorter, 1.2. In summer, head and throat browner, lower mandible swollen at sides and grayish at base. Range.—North Atlantic and eastern Arctic; breeds in North Amer- Ica from Bird Bock, Magdalen Islands, north to Greenland; winters south to New Jersey and along St. Lawrence to Lakes Champlain and Ontario, rarely to Lake Michigan, Be 3ta, Pallas Murre (U. 2. arra). Similar to No. 31, but larger; W. 8.6; B. 1.5. Notes. ‘‘A peculiar growling or hoarse chattering note.’’ _(Nelson.) Range.—North Pacific; south to Kadiak and Kamchatka. 32. Razor-billed Auk (Aca torda). L. 16.5. Ads., summer. Above sooty black, foreneck browner; tips of secondaries, line from bill to eye, and under parts, white. Winter. Similar, but foreneck white. yng Similar to winter ad. but without eye line. Notes. A hoarse grunt or groan. Range.—North Atlantic; breeds from Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands, north to Greenland; winters south to Long Island and, rarely, to On- tarlo and North Carolina, 33. Great Auk (Plautus impennis). L. 295 W. 5.7. Ads. Above blackish; a large white spot before the eye; secondaries tipped with white; sides of neck and the throat seal brown; belly, white. Resembling No. 2 in general appearance but body much larger; wing, jowever, shorter. Range.—Formerly, the coasts and Islands of North Atlantic, south 0 American side to Florida (in winterr); now extinct. 48 ORDER II. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. LONGIPENNES. Family 1. SKUAS andJAEGERS. Srercorarupat. 4 species. Family 2. GULLS and TERNS. Lari. 37 species, 1 subspecies. Family 3. SKIMMERS. Ryncnoripa. 1 species. Skuas and Jaegers are pirates among the birds of the high seas. Bold and dashing, they pursue the swift flying Terns or much larger Gulls with equal success, forcing them to drop the fish they have cap- tured and catching it ere it reaches the water: Gulls (Subfamily Lavine) are usually considered so characteristic of the sea that ‘Sea Gull’ is the name popularly applied to all members of the subfamily to which they belong. Several specics, however, are equally at home, both in the winter and when nesting, on the larger bodies of water in the interior, and one species is rarely or never found on our sea coasts. Gulls nest on the ground, on drifts of marsh-grass, on cliffs, and one species, at least, among American Gulls (the Herring Gull) has as a result of persecution, acquired the habit of nesting in trees. Gulls feed from the surface of the water, picking up their food with their strongly curved bills in passing or while hovering, not by plung- ing into the water, asdo the Terns. They are, in fact, the scavengers of the water, and perform a service of great value to mankind by de- vouring the bodies of various forms of aquatic animals which, in dying, come to the surface and, if cast ashore, might, in decaying, prove a source of disease. For this reason it was especially unfortunate that the plumage of these birds became fashionable for millinery purposes, with the result that thousands of them were destroyed for their wings and breasts. In this country, however, through the efforts of the American Ornitholo- gists’ Union and the Audubon Societies, laws have been passed pro- hibiting the killing of these beautiful and useful birds, and wardens have been placed on their nesting grounds to protect them. Gulls often rest in great flocks on the water, sitting high up and riding the waves buoyantly, but the Terns (Subfamily Sverninc), after they have acquired the power of flight, are rarely seen on the water. They are lighter, more active birds than the, Gulls, with longer wings and tails, and sharper, more pointed bills. They feed largely on small 49 : Lonc-wINGED SWIMMERS. fish (the species called silversides being a favorite) of no value to man, which they secure by darting from the air with great speed and direct- ness. When looking for food, Terns usually fly with the bill down- ward, a habit which will aid in distinguishing them them from the Gulls, whose bill is carried in a line with the body. Terns usually nest in large colonies on the beach of some isolated islet either on our sea coasts or in the interior. The nest is generally composed of a few wisps of sea-weed or grass, or the two or three eggs are not infrequently laid in a slight hollow in the sand or among the shells and pebbles. Like the Gulls, Terns have been slaughtered in enormous numbers for millinery purposes; but in this country, at:least, effective efforts are now being made to preserve them. Skimmers nest in numbers on our Atlantic Coast from Virginia southward, laying their four eggs in a slight depression in the sand. In feeding, their mouth is held open and the longer, thin, lower mandi- ble is dropped beneath the surface of the water, when, flying rapidly, they readily pick up food. In young Skimmers, however, the two mandibles are of equal length and the lower mandible does not become appreciably longer than the upper one until the birds begin to fly. During the flightless period of the bird’s life, the bill may be used to pick up food along the shore, but when the power of flight is acquired and with it ability to feed in the characteristic Skimmer manner, then the peculiar bill of these birds becomes fully developed. The young of all the Gulls and Terns are born covered with down and can leave the nest a few hours after birth, The Noddy, however, is said to be several weeks in its stick nest, which, unlike other mem- bers of its group, it often builds in bushes. The young are colored to harmonize with their usual surroundings. Young Skimmers are pale, sandy brown, of the same color as the sand in which they are hatched. Young Terns are darker, and young Laugh" ing Gulls born in nests of reeds or meadow grasses, are the darkest of the three, 7 All young Gulls and Terns have the habit ‘of squatting low near the ground in the presence of danger and remaining motionless until act- ually touched when they seem to realize that they have been seen and trust to their legs for safety. 50 35. Skua (Megalestris skua). L.22. Ads. Above dark, dirty brown; below paler. Yxg. Similar, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on head and neck. Range.—North Atlantic, chiefly eastern; breeds from Shetland Islands northward; winters south to Gibraltar, and rarely Long Island. ‘One specimen from California coast. 36. Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus). L. 20; B. 1.5. Middle tail feathers rounded. Ads. tight phase. Cap black; throat, breast, and neck, all around, white tinged with straw; back, lower belly, upper and under tail coverts brownish slate. Ads. dark phase. Dark brown, paler below. Yug. Above blackish brown margined with rusty; below white margined with dusky and buffy. Notes. “A low, hoarse, chattering cry.’”’ (Nelson. ) Range.- Northern hemisphere; breeds north of Lat. 70°; winters, mainly at sea, south to South America, southern Africa and Australia. 37. Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus). L. 17; B. 1.1; its scaly shield Jonger than distance from end of shield to tip of bill. Ads. Both phases simi- Jar in color to No. 36, but central tail feathers potnted, 8.6long. Yng. Similar in color to No. 36 butsmaller, bill shorter, middle tail feathers more pointed. Notes. “Loud wa.ling cries, interspersed with harsh shrieks.” (Nelson. ) fange.—Northern_hemlsphere; breeds In Arctic regions; winters mainly at sea. from California, Great Lakes, and Massachusetts south to South America, 38. Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus). L. 21; B. 1, its scaly shield shorter than the distance from its end to the tip of bill. Ads. In both phases resemb- ling No. 36 but central tail feathers pointed and 12 in. long. Yung. Like No. 36 and No. 37, but to be dis- tinguished by differences in bill measurements. Notes. “A hoarse qua, a shrill phéd-phéit-phéu-pheo, when flying; or a rattling Ar-r-r-r-, hr-r-r-r, hr-r-r, hré-hré-. kré-kré, the latter syllables shrill and querulous.”’ (Nelson.) Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds in Arctic regions; winters mainly at sea, south to Gibraltar and Gulf of Mexico; one California record. 51 Skua and Jaegers Bills of 38 and 37 Nat.size Gulls 39. Ivory Gull (Pagopbila alba), L.17. Ads. Pure white; bill yellow; feet black. Yung. Similar, but wings and tail tipped with blackish; throat dusky. Range.—Breeds in Arctic regions; winters south to Great Lakes and British Columbia; rarely to Massachusetts. 40. Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). L. 16." Hind toe aknob. Ads. Head; neck all around, underparts, and tail white; 3 in. or less, of tips of primaries black. Yng._ Tip of tail, ear-coverts, nape and wing-coverts with black; bill black; inner web of primaries with white. Notes. A rapidly uttered Azt-a-wake, hit-a- wake, 7 Range.—North Atlantic and eastern Arctic regions; breeds in Amer- Ica, from Gulf of St. Lawrence to Greenland; winters south to Great Lakes, Long Island and, rarely, Virginia, 40a. Pacific Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris). Similar to No. 40, but hind toe more developed; black tips to 3 outer primaries, 3 in. or riore in length. Notes. “A shrill, harsh cry when disturbed and a low whistle when communicating with each other.”’ (Nelson.) Range.—"‘North Pacific and Bering Sea; south in winter, casually to southern California."’ {A. O. U.) 4l. Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris). Ads. Similar to Ad. of No. 40, but legs red, back and inner web of primaries darker; bil! shorter, 1.2. Yxg. Sim- ilar to No. 40, but no blacix on tail or wings. Range.—Coasts and Islands of Bering Sea.” (A. O. U.) 54. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), L. 18. Ads., summer. bill greenish yellow, a black band across tip; ends of primaries black, a white spot near tip of outer one. ds. Winter, Similar, but head and neck streaked with grayish, Yng. Tail grayish with a broad black band; primaries black; back brownish gray and whitish; belly white; end half of bill black. Range.—North America, coast and interlor; breeds from Newfound- Jand, southern Minnesota, and British Columbla northward; winters from Nova Scotia and British Columbla south to Cuba and Lower California. 55. Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus). L. 175 B. 1.50 Ads., summer. Head, neck, tail, and underparts. white. Two outer primaries tipped with black, their white spaces followed by black; remaining primaries tipped with white. Yxg. Grayish brown; basal half of tailpearl. Notes. ‘A sharp querulous Awew-Awew,’’ (Nelson.) Range.—North Pacific; breeds In Alaska and interlor of northern. British Columbia; winters on coast from British Columbia to southern California. 52 42. Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus). L.28; W. 17. 1; B. 2.35. No black in plumage. — Ads. rimaries white tinted with pearl; bill with red spot at end of lower mandible. Yung. Dirty white or gray, mottled with dusky and buffy, chiefly above; primaries white; outer webs brownish. Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds In America, from Labrador er winters south to middle California, Great Lakes and Long island. 42.1. Point Barrow Gull (Larus barrovianus). Similar to No. 42, but bill through angle not so deep, (.8 as compared with .9 in glaucus); primaries more distinctly tipped with white. Notes. ‘“‘ka-ha-kt, ka- ha-ki, hi-léé-06, kn-léé-60, h&-léé-00, ha-hn-kf, hie ka-ki, the ka-ka hoarse, the rest a shrill screaming.” (Nelson. ) Range.—'‘Bering Sea and contiguous waters; northeast to Point Barrow, southwest to Japan.” (A. O. U,) 43. Iceland Gull (Larus leucopterus). L. 25; W. 16; B. 1.75. Similar in color to Nos. 42 and 42.1, but smaller. Range.—Atlantlc; breeds In Greenland; winters south in America to Great Lakes, and rarely, Long Island. 44. Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens). L. 27. Ads., summer. Head, tail, and underparts white; back pearl; primaries pearl, tipped with white. Ads., winter, Head and neck streaked with brownish. Yng. Brownish gray, more or less mixed with white, including wings and tail. Range.—North Pacific; breeds from British Columbia to Bering Straits; winters south to southern California. 45. Kumlien Gull (Larus mlieni). W. 16.25 B. 1.75. Similarto No. 43, but primaries with well de- fined ashy gray spaces; outer primary tipped with white, with ashy gray on outer web and shaft part of inner web; second primary ashy gray on only shaft part of outer web. Range.—“North Atlantic coast of North America, breeding in Cum- berland Gulf; south in winter to the coast of the Middle States.” (A. 0. U.) 46. Nelson Gull (Larus nelsont). ‘‘Wing 18.25, culmen 2.35. Ads. In plumage exactly like L. kum- dient; depth of bill through angle .80; tarsus 3.055 middle toe (without claw) 2.40.”’ (Ridgway.) Range.—"Coast of Norton Sound, Alaska.” (A. O. U.) 53 Gulls Gulls §ram Ste yneqor 47. Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus). Li 29. Ads., summer. Back and wings slaty black; wing feathers tipped with white. 4ds., winter. Similar, but head and neck streaked with dusky. Yung. Back grayish brown margined with buffy white; ramp whiter; primaries black; below white more or less marked with dusky. Noles. “A braying ha-ba-ha, a deep keow, keow, a short barking note, :and a long-drawn groan, very loud and decidedly impressive.”” (Brewster.) Range.—North Atlantic and northern Europe; breeds in North America from Noya Scotta to Greenland; winters south to Great Lakes and South Carolina. 48. Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus). L. 26. Ads., summer. General appearance of. 47; back lighter; primaries as figured. Ads., winter. Head and neck streaked. Yug.. Above brown margined with buff and white; primaries brown; tail brown with little or no mottling; below brown. Range.—'‘North Pacific, chiefly on the Aslatlc side; Herald Island, Arctic Ocean, and Alaskan coast of Rering Sea.” O.U.) 49. Western Gull (Larus occidentalis). L. 24. Ads., summer. Head, neck, tail, and underparts white; back slaty gray; outer primaries black, a large white spot near tip of first one. “Ads., winter. Crown and hind neck streaked w.th brownish. Yung. Grayish brown mixed with white; wings and tail fuscous. Notes. Ooéék, o08ék, 0086} ca-ca-ca, and other calls. Range.—Pacific coast; breeds and winters from Lower California t¢ British Columbia. 7 57. Heermann Gull (Larus heermanni). L.1i7. Ads. summer, Bill red;head and throat white, snading into slate above and below; tail blackish, tipped with white; primaries black. 4ds:, winter. Head and neck streak- fo with grayish brown. 7g. Uniform grayish rown, Range.—Pacific coast of No.th America, breeds from Mazatlan, Mexico, north to Lower California; occurs regularly north to Van~ couver Island; winters south to Panama. 54 51. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), L. 24. Ads., summer. White spaces at end of outer primaries sometimes joined. Ads., winter. Similar, but head and neck, streaked with grayish. Yung. Above ashy brown, margined and marked with buffy; wings brown- ish black; tail the same; sometimes margined with buffy; below ashy brown, sometimes lightly barred or streaked with dusky. Notes. Cack-cack-cack; hah, hah, hah, and other notes. Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds in America from Maine, Great Lakes, Minnesota, and British Columbia northward; winters south to Cuba and Lower California. 52. Vega Gull (Larus vege). Similar to No. 51, but back said to be darker; feet yellow. Range.—"Bering Sea and adjacent waters; south in winter to Cal- [fornia and Japan.” (A. O. U.) 53. California Gull (Larus californicus). L. 20 Ads. Similar to No. 54 but larger; a red spot near tip of lower mandible; white spot on outer primary, larger and nearerend. Yxg. Similar to No. 54 but darker; tail nearly uniform fusi.ous. Range.—Western North America; breeds chiefly In interior, from Utah to Lat. 68 ©, 30’; winters from British Columbia to Mexico. Gulls sh. \romotture Gulls 58. Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla). L.16, Ads., summer. Head dark. slate; tail white; bill with red- dish. Ads., winter, Similar, but head and throat white with grayish on nape and behind eyes. Yng. Tail grayish with a broad black band; nape and bac! ashy brown; forehead and under parts white. Notes. A nasal cow-ow, also. cwk-cuk-cuk, and a high, long- drawn laugh. Range.—Eastern North America; breeds from ‘Texas and Florida to Maine and Nova Scotia; rare in interior; winters from South Carolina tonorthern South America. 59. Franklin Gull (Larus franklini). L.15. Ads., summer. Breast with a rosy tinge; outer primaries with wide black spaces near ends, bordered at base and tip with white. Ads., winter. ‘Head mainly white, with [its] sides and back grayish dusky.” Yung. ‘‘Top and sides of head and back grayish brown; quills dusky, tipped with white; tail with subterminal band of dusky; fee tail, under parts, forehead, and eyelids white.’ ailey. + ( Beye) cick North. America; breeds from Iowa and Minneso- ta northward to Great Bear Lake; winters from west Gulf States to South America, 60. Bonaparte Gull (Larus philadelphia). L. 14. Ads., summer. Outer: web of outer primaries and tip black; inner web and shaft white; bill black. ds., wine ter. Similar, but throat and head white, its back grayish. Yung. Tail.white, tipped with black; outer primary black, inner two-thirds of inner web and space near tip white; rest of plumage much as in young of No. Range.—North America; breeds In interfor from Hudson Bay and Manitoba west to the Yukon; winters trom British Columbia and Maine to Lower California and Gulf of Mexico. “61. Ross Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) L. 13.5. Bill small, .7; middle tail feathers longest. Ads., summer. White areas tinged with pink; a black collar. Ads., winter. No collar; a black spot before eye. Yug. Lesser coverts black, margined with whitish; tail white, central feathers tipped with black; back pearl; ear spot and space about eye dusky; crown white, washed with pearl. Range.—‘‘Arctic regions; south In_autumn and winter to Kamchat- ka, Point Barrow, Alaska and Disco Bay, Greenland.” (A. O. U.) 62. Sabine Gull. (Xema sabinit). L. 14. Tail slightly forked. Ads., summer. Head and_ throat slaty black, margined behind with black; bill black tipped with yellow; outer pimaries black, small tip and inner half of inner web white. Ads., winter. Similar, but head and throat white; nape region dusky. Yng. Tail white, tipped with black; crown and back ashi brown; forehead and: underparts white. Notes. ‘A single harsh grating note.” (Nelson.) Range —Arctic regions;: breeds in America from St. Michaels, Alaska and Melville Bay, Greenland, northward; winters south on At- lantic coast, rarely to New Yorks; casually to Texas, and on Pacific coast to Peru, 56 64. Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia). L. 21. T. 6, forked 1.5. Largest of our Terns. Ads., breeding. Bill red; cap black; above pearl; below white; primardes frosty black. After breeding, crown_streaked black and white; bill more orange. Yng. Similar to last but wings and tail with blackish. Notes. A loud, harsh “hay-awk’’ or ‘*hev-rak.’? Range.—Cosmopolitan; breeds In North America, locally from Texas to Newfoundland and Great Slave Lake; winters’ mostly south of United States; three California winter records. 65. Royal Tern (Sterna maxima). L. 19; T. 7, fork- ed 3.5; B. 2.5. Ads., summer. Primaries frosty black, white on inner two-thirds of inner web except at tip, where frosty; bill orange red; crown black; above pearl; below white. Ads., winter. The same, but head white with black streaks. Yang. Similar to winter ad. but wings and tail with grayish. Range.—Middle America; breeds from southern Brazil and Peru to Gulf States, Virginia, and California; wanders north to Great Lakes and Massachusetts; winters from Gulf States and Callfornia southward. 66, Elegant Tern (Sterna elegans). L. 16.5; B. 2.7 Similar to No. 65, but smaller; bill longer and more slender. Ads. Tinged with shell pink below. orange Pactsc coast of America from California to Chill.” (A. . UL) 67. Cabot Tern (Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida). L. 16; T. 5.5, forked 2.7. ds., breeding. Bill black, the tip yellow; crown black; above pearl; below white; primaries much as in No. 65. After breeding, head white; nape with black streaks. Yung. Similar to last but with back and tail with blackish; tip of bill less yellow. Range.—Tropical America; breeds on east side of Mexico north along Gulf Coast to Florida, and Atlantic coast to South Carolina; wanders to Massachusetts; winters south of United States to West Indies and Central America. 57 Terns Mite Terns 63. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). L. 14.5; T. 5.5. Ads., summer. Bill thick, short, black; tail short, forked only 1.5; crown black; above pearl; below white. Ads., winter. Head white, with black patch before and behind eye. Yung. Similar, but above edged with buffy; head and neck streaked with gray- ish. Notes. A high,thin, somewhat reedy #ee-tee-tee, sometimes suggesting a weak-voiced katydid. Range.—Cosmopolitan; breeds in North America from Mexico to Florida and north to Virginia; wanders north rarely to New Bruns- wick; winters from southern Texas southward. 73. Aleutian Tern (Sterna aleutica), L. 14. Te 6.7, forked 3. Ads., summer. Above and below pearl gray, browner below; throat white; crown black; fore- head whites line from bill to eve black. Ads., winter. “With rather more white on forehead.”? (Cat. B. M.) Notes. ‘‘A thin, clear, trilling whistle.’”’ (Nelson.) Range.—Alaska from Kadiak to Bering Strait, southwest to Japan, 74, Least Tern (Sterna antillarum). L. 9; T. 3.5, forked 1.7. Ads., summer. Bill yellow, black at tip; forehead white; a black line from bill to eye; crown black; above pearl; below white. 4ds., winter. Crown white; nape black; bill dark; tail shorter. Yang. Sim- ilar to last, but above with buffy or brownish. Notes. “A sharp squeak much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother.’”’ Range.—Western hemlsphere; breeds locally from northern South America northward to Massachusetts, Dakota, and southern Call- fornia; winters south of United States. 76. Bridled Tern (Sterna anathetus), L.15. Ads. Forehead and line over eye white; Jores and crown black; nape whitish; back sooty gray or sooty brown; outer tail feathers white, except at tip; inner ones grayish brown. Notes. A soft qua. Range.—Tropical regions; north In Atlantic to the Bahamas; casual \n Florida. * 58 69. Forster Tern (Sterna forstert). L. 15; T.7, forked. 4.. Ads., summer. Inner web of outer tail feather dusky; below pure white; bill orange, blackish at end; crown black; back pearl. Ads., winter. Crown white or grayish; a large black spot about eyes; bill black. Yung. Similar to winter ad. but above with brownish. Notes. A long drawn, deep, reedy cack and tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet, Range.—North, America; breeds locally north to Calffornia, and from Texas along coast to Virginia and in Interior to. Manitoba; wan- ders to Massachusetts; winters from southern California and Texas south to Brazil. 70. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). L. 15; T. 5.5 forked, 3.2 Ads., summer. Outer web of outer tail feather dusky; below white, washed with dusky; bill ved, blackish at end; crown black; back pearl. 4ds., winter. Forehead and underparts white; bill black. Yng. Similar to last, but above with brownish: tail shorter: Notes. A vibrant, purring, tearrr, and other calls, Range.—Northern hemlsphere; In America, chiefly east of Plains; breeds locally un coast and in interior from Gulf States to Barren Grounds and Greenland; winters south of United States to Brazil. 71. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradiswa). L. 15.5; T. 7-2 forked 4.5. Similar to No. 70, but swmmer ad. with bili wholly bright red; tail longer; tarsus shorter, -6 instead of .7. Notes. Like tearr of No. 70, but shriller, ending in rising inflection, like squeal of a pig. (Brewster.) Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds from Massachusetts north to Greenland and northwest to Aleutian Islands and Alaska; winters south to California and Virginia. 72. Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli). L.15.5;T.7.5, forked, 5.2. Ads., summer. Bull black, reddish only at the base; below white tinged with shell pink; tail wholly white; crown black; back pearl. 4ds., winter. Fore- head with white; no pink below. Notes. A reedy cack. Range.—Temperate and tropical regions; breeds In North America on east ccast only, from Florida north to Nova Scotla; rare north of Virginia; winters south of United States to Venezuela. 59 Terns it) it ere Foot of NWo.70 Terns and Skimmer 75. Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa). L. 17. Ads., summer. Above blackish, forehead and underparts white; tail black, except outer feathers which are mostly white. Yxg. Sooty slate; linings of wings white; scapulars, upper tail coverts, and tail feathers tipped with white. Notes. A squeaky guack, a nasal her-wacky-wak, and other calls Range.—‘Tropical and subtropical coasts of the globe. In Amer- {ca trom Chili to western Mexico and the Carolinas, and casually to New England.” (A. OQ. U0” 77. Black Tern (Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis). L. 10. Ads., summer. Head and underparts black; back, wings, and tail slate. Ads., winter. Forehead, nape, and underparts white; head gray. Yng. Simi- lar to last, but above with brownish margins. Notes. A sharp peck. Range.—Temperate and tropical America; breeds in interior from California, Kansas, and Illinois to Alaska; irregular migrant on Atlan- tic coast from New Brunswick southward; winters south of United States to Chill. . 79. Noddy (Anous stolidus). L.15. Ads. Crown silvery white; rest of plumage sooty brown. Yung. Sim- ilar, but al! sooty brown except white line from bill to eye. Notvs , guttural epp-p-rererer. Range. —Tropical' and subtropical regtons; In America from Brazil and Chili north to the Gulf and South Atlantic States.” (A. O. U.) 80. Black Skimmer (Rynchops nigra), L.18. Ads. Lower mandible longer than upper; forehead, under- parts, part of secondaries, and tail white; rest of plum age black. Yng. Plumage widely margined with buffy. Notes. Varied, nasal, penny-trumpet-like; also ca-you, ca-you, like a hound’s voice. Range.—North America, chiefly eastern; breeds from southern New Jersey southward; wanders rarely to Nova Scotia’ winters from Gulf States to northern South America. 60 ORDER III. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. TUBINARES. Family 1. ALBATROSSES. Diomrprip#. 4 species. Family 2. FULMARS, SHEARWATERS, and PETRELS. Pro- CELLAKLIDA. 26 species, 1 subspecies. : The Albatrosses, of which about ten species are known, are birds of far southern seas, where they nest on isolated islands. After the young are reared, several species migrate northward and are found off our Pacific coast. The largest known species, the Wandering Alba- tross, which has been made famous by Coleridge’s “Rime of the Anci- ent Mariner,’’ measures from twelve to fourteen feet in expanse of wing, and, like other members of this family, is a tireless ocean wan- derer. In the museum of Brown University, there is a mounted Wandering Albatross, killed off the coast of Chili by Capt. Hiram Luther, Decem- ber 20, 1847. When captured, a small bottle was found tied around the pird’s neck, containing a slip of paper from whichit was learned that the bottle had been attached to the bird December 12, 1847, by Capt. Edwards of the New Bedford Whaler, ‘Euphrates,’ when about 800 miles off the coast of New Zealand, or about 3,400 miles from the point at which, eight days later, the bird was secured. The Fulmars, (genus /u/marus), are northern birds and nest in im- mense numbers on isolated islets, somewhat like certain Gulls. Comparatively little is known of the nesting places of our Shear- waters, but it is believed that most of them breed on the islands of the South Atlantic and South Pacific, and pass their winter, (our summer) off our coasts. One of the Petrels, (Wilson Petrel),is known to have this habit. 1+ has been found nesting on Kerguelen Island, in S. Lat. 49° 5%, in February, and in May it appears off our coasts for the summer. Petrels nest in holes in the ground, laying one white egg. They are never seen near their homes during the day, the bird then or. che. nest waiting until night to feed, when the one which has bec at sea re- turns to assume its share of the task of incubaticu. Tucse birds are therefore both diurnal and nocturnal. 61 Albatrosses Raras VEWeD Tmo Reeve. 81. Black-fouted Albatross (Diomedea nigripes). Le Fa Ads. Sooty brown, lighter below; region about ase of bill whitish; upper mandible broad and rounded at its base. Notes. A whining groan, uttered when contesting for food. (Turner). Range.—North Pacific; north to Lat, 52°; south at least to Lower California. 82. Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus). 36. Ads. White; the head straw; tail and primaries gray brown; upper mandible broad and rounded at ase. Range.—North Pacific, north to Bering Strait; south, at least, to Lower Callfornia. 82.1. Laysan Albatross (Diomedea immutabilis). L. 32. Ads. Head, neck, rump, upper tail coverts, and whole under surface white; lores next to the eye sooty black; back, wings, and end of the tail dark sooty brown; interscapulat region paler; base of the tail whitish. (Cat. B. M.) Range.—Laysan Island, Paclfic Ocean; casual off the coast of Lower California; 83. Yellow-nosed Albatross (Tbalassogeron culmin- atus) L. 36. Ads. Above slate brown, grayer on head; rump white; below white; neck sometimes grayish; tail gray. Range—"“Indian and southern Pacific Oceans; casual off the coast of Oregon; accidental in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.” (A. O. U.) 84. Sooty Albatross (Phebetria fuliginosa). L. 35- Ads. Sides of lower mandible conspicuously grooved; en- tire plumage sooty brown, except a white eye-ring. Range —‘‘Oceans of southern hemisphere. north to the coast of Oregon.” (AO. U.) 62 Fulmars and Shearwaters 86. Fulmar (Fulmarns glacialis). L.19; W. 13; B. 1.5. Ads. Light phase. Head, neck, and under parts white; back, wings, and tail slaty gray. ‘Dark phase. Uniform dark slaty zray. Notes. Silent. Range, —North Atlantic, breeds from Lat. f9° northward; winters south to Lat, of Massachusetts, and rarely to Virginia. 86b. Pacific Fulmar (F. g. glupischa). Similar to No. 86, but nasal tubes light. Range.—North Pacific; breeds from Ber!ng Sea north; winters south to Mexico. 86.1. Rodger Fulmar (fulmarus rodgersit), Sim- ilar to light phase of No. 86, but kack with white .eathers; no dark phase. Range.—“Bering Sea and adjacent parts of North Pacific." (A.0.U.) 87. Slender-billed Fulmar (Priocella glactaloides). L. 78.5. Ads. Head and underparts white; back and tail pearl; primaries black, white on inner web. Range.—Southern Seas; north on Pacific coast to Washington. 94, Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus juliginosus), L. 17. Ads, Sooty gray, lighter below. Range.—"‘Atlantic Ocean, breeding In the southern hemisphere; a sea visitor off our coast, from South Carolina northward.” (A. 95. Dark-bodied Shearwater (Puffinus griseus). L. 17. Ads. Above dusky black or brownish, paler be- low; under wing coverts white and dusky; bill black. Range.—South Pacific; north In summer on the American coast to California. 96.1. Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Pufinus cuneatus). L. 17. T. 5.4, pointed. 4ds. Above brown; below white; sides of neck mottled with gray; middle tail feathers nearly 2. longer than tateral ones. (Cat. B. M.) Range.—"'North Pacific Ocean. from the Hawaiian Islands north to the Bonin Group and Lovver Calitornia."’ (A. Q.U.) 63 Se Billo§ 86~ Size. 86. GrayPhase Billo§87- ksine, Shearwaters 88. Cory Shearwater (Pufinus borealis). L. 21. Ads. Above grayish, brown; below, including under wing coverts and under tail coverts, white. Range.-—North Atlantic; recorded only off the coast from Massa- chusetts to Long Island. 89. Greater Shearwater (Pujinus gravis). L. 20. Ads, Above grayish brown or blac! tips of longer upper tail coverts white; below white; middle of belly and under tail coverts ashy gray. an Range.—‘‘Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope north to Arctic Circle.” (Av O. U.) 91. Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus). L. 19.5. Ads. Above dusky gray or brown; below white; sides and lower belly with grayish; longer under tail coverts dusky brown; feet, fles -color; bill yellowish. Range.—Pacific Ocean north on the American coast in summer aud fall to middle California. 92. Audubon Shearwater (Puffinus therminiert). L. 12. Ads. Above black or brownish black; below white; under tail coverts sooty. Range.—Middle Atlantic; breeds In West Indies and Bahamas; wanders north to Long Island. 93. Black-vented Shearwater (Pujfinus opisthomelas.). L. 15. Ads. Above dusky black; below white; sides of breast grayish; under tail coverts dusky brown; bill black Range.—'*Pacific Ocean, chiefly southward; coast of Lower Call- fornia north to Santa Cruz, Cal." (A. O. U.) 93.1. Townsend Shearwater = (Puffinus auricu- tarts). Similar to No. 93, but bill and feet smaller, B. 1.2; above darker, nearly black; black of head ex- tending below eye. (Townsend.) Range.—Pacific Ocean (Clarion Island, Lower California). 96. Slender-billed Shearwater (Puffinus tentrostris), L. 13., bill slender 1.2: Ads. ‘Above dark sooty slate; beneath deep sooty gray, paler on throat where some- times inclining to whitish.” (Ridgw.) Range.—North Pacific, from Japan and Kotzebue Sound south on the American coast to middle California. 64 98. Black-capped Petrel (£strelata hasttata). L. 14, Ads, Above sooty brown; back of neck and up- ber tail coverts white; base of tail white. Range.—Tropical Atlantic; Irregular in United States (Florida, Vir- ginla, New York, Kentucky, Vermont, and Ontario.) £03. Least Petrel (Halocyptena microsoma). L. 5.7. dds, Sooty blackish brown, lighter below. Range.—"‘Coast of Lower California south to Panama.” (A. O. U.) 105. Forked-tailed Petrel (Oceanodroma jurcata). L. 8 7. Ads. Tail forked; bluish gray, wings darker; a blackish space about eye. Range.—North Pacific; breeds in Aleutian Islands; recorded north to Bering Strait; winters south to California. 105.1. Kaeding Petrel (Oceanodroma kaedingt). W.6. Ads. Similar to O. lencorrhoa, but much smaller with much less deeply forked tail. (Anthony.) Range.—Pacific Ocean; (Socorro Islands, Lower California.) !08, Ashy Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa\. L. 8.5. Ads. No white on rump; tail forked; sooty black above, browner below; wing coverts grayish. Range.—'‘Coact of California; breeds on the Santa Barbara and Farallone Islands." (A. ©. U.) 65 Petrels Petrels 104, Stormy Petrel; Mother Carey’s Chicken(Pro- cellaria pelagica), L.5.5. Ads. Sooty black, bruwn- er below; upper tail coverts white, tipped with bla... Range.—Nor.* Atlantic; : winters south to western Africa and New Brunswick, 106. Leach Petrel; Stormy Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). ‘4.8, W. 6.2. Ads. Tail forked; above sooty brownish black; below browner; lesser wing cov- erts grayish brown; longer upper tail coverts of tipped with black. Notes. An elfin-like crow of eight notes. Range.—North Atlantic and North Pacific; breeds from Maine to Greenland and_ from Farallone to Aleutian Islands; winters south to Virginia and California, 106.1. Guadalupe Petrel (Oceanodroma mucro- dactyla). L. 8.4; W. 6.4; T. 3.9, fork1in. deep. Ads. Similar to O. leucorhoa, but with much longer and more deeply forked tail, larger feet, shorter bill, and very broad dusky’ tips to the upper tail coverts. ‘Ridgw. in Cat. B. M.) Range.—Pacific Ocean; (Guadalupe Island, Lower Callfornla.) 107. Black Petrel. (Oceanodroma melania.) L. 9. Ads. Sooty black, paler below; wing-coverts grayish, tail forked. Range.—South Pacific, north to Santa Barbara Islands; breeds on Corunados Islands, southern California. 108.1 Socorro Petrel (Oceanodroma socorroensis). W.5.5. Ads. Similar to No. 1o8, but wings longer; tail shorter and less.deeply forked; sides of rump whitish; no white on under surface of wing. (Towns.) Range,—Pacific Ocean; (Socorro Island, southern California.) 109. Wilson Petrel; Stormy Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). L. 7. Ads. Webs of feet with yellow patch; tail not forked; longer upper tail coverts not tipped with black. Notes. A weak weet, weet, and a hoarse chattering patret-tu-cuk-cuk-tu-tu, (Wilson.) Range. Atlantic Ocean; breeds In Southern seas, (Kerguelen Is land in February), and migrates north to Newfoundland, spending summer off coast of eastern United States. 66 ORDER IV. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. STEGANOPODES. Family 1. TROPIC BIRDS. Puagraonripa. 2 species. Family 2, GANNETS. Svutipa. 6 species. Family 3. DARTERS. ANHINGID#. 1 species. Family 4. CORMORANTS. Puaracrocoracip#. 6 species, 5 subspecies. Family 5. PELICANS. Prrecanipa#. 3 species. Family 6. MAN-O’-WAR-BIRDS. Frecaripa. 1 Species. The members of this Order agree in having all four toes connected by webs, but in other respects they differ widely in structure and, con- sequently, in habit. The young of all the Steganopodes are born naked, unlike the young of most of the other water birds, which, as a tule, are hatched covered with: feathers and can swim or run about soon after birth. The nests of the Steganopodes are, of necessity, therefore, more complex structures than those of birds whose nests are merely incubators and not cradles as well. Tropic Birds resemble the larger Terns, when in the air, but their wing strokes are more rapid. They usually nest in holes in the face of cliffs, and lay one whitish egg, marked with chocolate, Gannets are true sea birds, but, as a rule, do not live very far from the land. When breeding, Gannets are usually associated in great numbers. Their nests, as a rule, are placed on the ground or on cliffs, and one or two chalky white eggs are laid. At this season the birds are exceedingly tame and in localties where they have not been much molested, one may walk about among the sitting birds without their taking flight. Gannets are powerful birds on the wing. Their vigor- ous wing strokes are interrupted at intervals by short sails. They feed on fish which they capture by diving from the air. The Darters or Anhingas number four species, distributed through- out the tropical parts of the globe, only one species inhabiting America. ‘This is generally called the Snakebird or Water Turkey in Florida, where it is a common species on the more. isolated rivers and lakes. 67 ToTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. The name Snakebird is derived from the bird’s habit of swimming with the body submerged, when the long, sinuous neck, appearing above the water, readily suggests asnake. Atother times Snakebirds mount high in the air and sail about, like Hawks, in wide circles. They build a large, well-made nest in a bush or tree, generally over the water, and lay four bluish white, chalky eggs. Cormorants nest in large colonies, generally on isolated islets, but sometimes in remote swamps. The nests are placed closely together on the ground, in bushes, and less frequently in-trees, according to the nature of the bird’s haunts. Cormorants feed on fish which they catch by pursuing them under the water. They dive from the surface of the water like Ducks, or from a low perch, but not from the air, as do the Gannets. Pelicans nest in colonies, generally on some small island, building their nests on the ground or in bushes, and laying two or three large, white, chalky eggs. Brown Pelicans secure their food by plunging on it from the air, gen- erally from about twenty feet above the water. The sides of the bill are then bowed outward, the opening'widened, forming, with the pouch, an effective net in which fish, twelve and fourteen inches long, are cap- tured. White Pelicans, on the contrary, feed from the water, scooping up fishes as they swim. At times a flock of these birds may surround a school of small fish in shallow water and drive them shoreward, at the same time actively filling their pouches, Young Pelicans are fed on fish which they take from the pouch of the parent bird by thrusting their bills and heads well into it and prod- ding actively about for the food to be found there. -Young Cormorants secure their food in a similar manner. Frigate Birds, of which only two species are known, have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their body than any other bird. Their power of flight is consequentty unexcelled and they may spend days in the air without tiring. Their fect are as weak as their wings are strong, and are of use only in perching. The food of Frigate Birds consists chiefly of fish, which they catch from near the surface of the water, or rob from Gulls and Terns by pursuing them, forcing them to disgorge their prey, and catching it ere -t reaches the water. 68 Tropic Birds and Gannet £12. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird (Phaéthon american us). L. 30; T. 19. Ads. Bill yellow; no bars above; middle tail feathers lengthened. Yng. Above barred with black; middle tail feathers not lengthened, Range.—Tropical coasts; breeds in West Indies, Bahamas and Ber- mudaé; casual In Florida; accidental In western New York and Nova Scoila. 113. Red-billed Tropic Bird (Phaéthon «thereus). L. 30; T. 20. Ads. Bill red; above barred with black; long middle tail feathers pure white. Range.—Coasts of tropical America, north on the Pacific coast to Cape Colnett, Lower California; accidental on the Newfoundland Banks, Breeds on San Pedro Martir and other Islands in the Gulf of California.” (A. OQ. U.) 117. Gannet (Sula bassana). L. 35. Ads. White; head and neck tinged with straw; primaries blackish. Yng. Grayish brown with white spots. Notes. harsh gorer-r-rok. Range.—North Atlantic; breeds, in America, only on Bird Rock and Bonaventure Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence; winters off the coast. south to Florida \mmoture. Boobies 114. Blue-faced Booby (Sula cvanops). L. 28. Ads. Body and lesser wing ‘coverts white; central tail feath- ers whitish, others dark brown. Yng. Above plain dark grayish brown with some grayish streaks; below white; flanks streaked with grayish. Range.—Tropical seas; north In America to Lower California and Bahamas; casual in southern Florida. 114.1. Blue-footed Booby (Sua sebouxii), L. 33. Ads. Head, neck, and underparts white, the first two streaked with grayish; back dusky brownish, tipped with whitish; legs and feet bright blue. (Goss. ) Range:—Pacific coast of America, from Gulf of California to Gal- apagos and Chili. (Cat. B. M.) 115. Booby (Sula sula). L. 30. Ads. Breast and belly white; bill and feet yellow. Yxg. Entirely brownish, lighter below; bill blackish; feet yellow. Notes. A harsh, guttural bork, hork. (Audubon). Range.—"‘Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia. Also, West Pacific and Indian Oceans.” (A. O. U.) Ac- cidentalon Long Island. No United States breeding record. 115.1. Brewster Booby (Sula brewster) L. 30. Ads. Similar to No. 115, but head and neck paler, bill blue, feet greenish. Range —‘Coasts and Islands of the eastern south Pacific Ocean, north t0 Lower California; breeding as far north as Georges Island at the head of the Gulf of California.” (A. O, U.) 116. Red-footed Booby (Sula piscator). L. 28. Feet reddish. Ads. White; head and nape straw color; primaries hoary grayish brown; tail white. Yng. Above sooty brown; head, neck, and lower parts light smoky gray. (Ridgw.) us Ammatuve Range.—Tropical seas, except Pacific coast of America (Cat. B. M.); north in Atlantic to Bahamas and, rarely, southern Florida. 70 Cormorants 119. Cormorant (Fralacrocorax carbo’. ‘. 36; T, 7.5, of 14 feathers. Ads. Chin and sides of throat whitish; back glossy biownisl, distéectly margined with black; below uniform shining black. 3 Breeding plumage. Head and throat with white plumes; a white patch on flanks. Yung. Belly white; above olive grayish brown, margined with black; throat whztish; neck brownish, Range.—North_ Atlantic; breeds from Nova Scotia to Greenland; winters south to Carolinas. 119. "shoe 120. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax dilophus). L. 30; W. 12.5; T. 6.2, of 12 feathers. ds. Back brownish with distinct black margins; below shining black. Breeding plumage. With tufts on either side of head black, sometimes mixed with white; throat pouch orange. Yung. Back browner; head, neck, and lower belly brown; breast whitish. Range.—Eastern North America; breeds locally from Bay of Fundy, Minnesota, North Dakota, northward; west to Assiniboia; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward. {20a. Florida Cormorant (P. d. floridanus). Simi- lar to No. 120, but blacker and smaller. L.. 25. Range.—South Atlantic and Gulf States; breeds north to North Carolina and southern Illinois. 120b. White-crested Cormorant (P. d. cincinatus). Similar to No. 120, but larger, L. 36; nuptial crests white, janie: Pacis coasts; breeds In Alaska; winters south to Cal- Ifornia. 1200. Farallone Cormorant (P. d. albociliatus). Similar to 1zob., but smaller, L. 28. Range.—Breeds on California coast and In interior, south to Socorra Island. (Ridgw.) 12. Mexican Cormorant (Phalacrocorax mexican- us). L.25.W.10. Ads. Narrow border at base of pouch white. Breeding plumage. Neck with white plumes. Yung. Head and hindneck brownish; back grayish, margined with black; throat, foreneck and breast brownish white; belly black. Range.—Breeds In West Indies and Central America to west Gulf a Sisteernorth in summer rarely to Kansas and southern Illinois. wind toe. 71 Fost oh Commovact. Cormorants 122. Breeding Plumage. 42300 ‘Breeding ~Plumage. 124, Branding Wamage, 122. Brandt Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicilla~ tus), L. 35; T. 6. Chin and sides of throat buffy white or brownish, Ads. Above blue black, faintly margined with black; below green black. Breedsn, plumage. With white, hairlike plumes from back an neck; no white on flanks; throat pouch blue. Yng. Above dark brown; throat and belly whitish; breast and sides brown. Range.—Pacific coast from Cape St. Lucas to Washington; resi- dent. + 123. Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus). L. 28; W. 10; T. 6.2. Forehead feathered; back feathers ot margined. ds. Above glossy green and urplish black; below bottle green. Breeding plumage. With white plumes on neck and rump and white patches on flanks; nape and forehead, crested. Yug. Above greenish dusky: brown, less green below. Range.—“‘Aleutian and Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka, south to Japan.” (A.O, U.) 123a, Violet-green Cormorant (P. p. robustus). Similar to No. 123, but larger; bill stouter, W. 10.8, GB apegyy Sosst of Alaska, from Norton Sound south o Washington.” 123b. Baird Cormorant (P. p. resplendens). Sim- ilar to No. 123, but smaller; bill slenderer; W. 9.5. Notes. A croaking, guttural note. Range.—Pacific coast from Washington south to Mazatlan, Mexi- co. 124, Red-faced Cormorant (Phatacrocorax urile). L. 34. Forehead as well as lores bare. Ads. Above green and purple; head and_neck blue black; belly green. Breeding pluvage. With forehead and nape crests and white patches on flanks. Notes. ‘‘A low, droning croak.”’ (Nelson. Range.—"Pribilcf, Aleutian, and Kuril Is!snds, and coast of Kam chatka, South in winter to northern Japan.” (A, O, U.) 42 Anhinga, Pelicans, and Man-o’-War Bird 7118, Anhinga; Snakebird; Water Turkey (4n- binga anbinga). L.36. Ad. 3. Black; grayish head and neck plumes which, in winter, are absent. Ad. @. Resembles male but whole head, neck, and breast brownish. Yxg. Similar to 9 but black parts duller. Notes. A rasping, clattering croak, uttered when fighting or in coming to the nest. Range.—Tropical and subtropical America; breeds north to south- ern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from Gulf States southward. 125. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythror« hynchos). L. 60. Ads. White; primaries black; bill in breeding season with a knob, Yug. With crown brownish. Range:—North America; breeds in interior from eastern California, Utah, Yellowstone Park, Minnesota (?) northward to Lat. 6c°; win- ters trom Gulf States and southern California, south to Central Amer- fea. 126, Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). L. 50; W. 19.5. Ads. Pouch greenish; head white, rarely yellowish; neck brown. In fall, no brown on neck. Yng. Brownish gray, white below. Notes. Adults as a tule silent; young before flying, very noisy. Range:—Atlantic and Gulf coast of tropical and subtropical Amer- fca; breeds from northern South America to South Carolina; has strayed to Illinois and Nova Scotia; winters from Gulf States south- ward, 127. California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus californ- teus). Similar to No. 126, but larger. L. 54; W. 21; pouch in breeding season, red. Range.—Pacific coast from Galapagos north to British Columbla; oreeds north only to Los Curonadus Islands. 128. Man-o’-War Bird; Frigate Bird (Fregata aquila), L. 40. Ad. f. Black, glossy above; ouch “scarlet or orange.”? Ad. et Browner; reast and belly white. Yung. Similar to 2, but head and neck white. Notes. Usually silent; rarely a croaking note. Range:—Tropical and subtropical coasts; in America north to Florida, Texas, and southern California; casually to Kansas, Ohlo and Nova Scotia; winters from southern Florida and Lower Cal- fornia southward. 73 ORDER V... DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. ANSERES. Family 1. DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS. -AnaTID#. 49 species, 6 subspecies. The Anatide of North America are placed in five well-marked sub- families, the Mergansers (Merging), River Ducks (Anating), Sea Ducks (Fuliguline), Geese (Anserine), and Swans (Cygninz). The Mergunsers, Saw-bills, or Shelldrakes are fish-eating Ducks and their rounded bills, set with toothlike projections along the sides, are of evident use to them in holding their prey. - The River Ducks include such well-known species as the Mallard, Black Duck, and Widgeon. They differ from the Bay or Sea Ducks in not having a well-developed web or flap on the hind-toe. As a tule they feed in shallow water by tipping, standing on their heads, as it were, while reaching the bottom for food. The Bay or Sea Ducks have the hind-toe webbed. They feed, as a tule, in deeper water than the River Ducks, sometimes descending to the bottom in water over one hundred feet deep. During the winter they gather in flocks often of several thousand individuals, and fre- quent the larger bodies of water. With both the River and Bay Ducks the sides of the broad, flat bill are set with gutters which serve as strainers, retaining the mollusks, seeds and roots of aquatic plants on which these Ducks feed, while the mud or water taken in with the food is forced out the sides of the bill as-it closes. Geese are more terrestrial than Ducks and often visit the land to nip the grass. This is particularly true in the west where large flocks of Geese, especially Snow Geese, may be seen feeding on the prairies. On the water they feed over shallows by tipping and probing the bottoms, Swans also feed from the surface of the water either by simply im- mersing the head and neck or by half submerging the body, when, with the tail pointed to the zenith, the length of their reach is greatly in- creased, E In spite of their comparatively short wings the large muscles attach- ed to them give to the Anatide great power of flight. Not only do they make extended journeys, when migrating, without a rest, but they attain a speed which is surpassed by but few birds. Some of the smaller species, when alarmed, doubtless flying at the rate of one hundred miles an hour. In common with other diving water birds the Ducks, when molting, lose most of their wing feathers all at once, and for a time are there- fore unable to fly. During this: comparatively helpless period the brightly colored males assume in part the plumage of the females and 74 Ducks, GEESE, AND SWANS. are thereby rendered less conspicuous. With the return of the power of flight, however, they regain their distinctive, male plumage, which is usually brighter than that of the female. With our Geese and Swans there is no sexual difference in color. Most of our Ducks and Geese breed in the north, some within the Arctic Circle, and winter from the southern limit of frozen water south- ward. The American Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Buffle-head, Golden-Eyes, Tree Ducks, and possibly Harlequin Duck nest in hollow trees, at times some distance from the water. The young of the American Golden-eye and of the Wood Duck have been seen to reach the water by jumping from the nest-hole and fluttering down in response to the calls of the parent below. It is said that they are also brought down in the bill of the old bird, but this statement apparently lacks confirmation. The remaining species of our Ducks, Geese, and Swans, nest as a tule, on the ground generally near water, From five to fifteen and, in the case of the Fulvous Tree Duck, possibly as many as thirty eggs are laid. In color they vary from white to buffy and p: le olive and are al- ways uniformly colored. Incubation is performed by the female alone. The males at this period among most Ducks deserting their mate to un- dergo the partial molt before mentioned. While incubating the females surround their nest with soft down plucked from their bodies and when leaving the nest to feed, this down is drawn over the eggs with the double object, doubtless, of concealing them and of, keeping them warm. With Eider Ducks this down constitutes the larger part of, if not the entire nest. Saunders states that in Iceland the down in each nest weighs about one-sixth of a pound. This is gathered by the natives, who, however, are careful to afford the sitting bird an opportunity to raise her brood without further molestation. The collection of Eider down thus furnishes an admirable illustra- tion of proper economic relations between man and birds. The down is an important source of income to the natives of the comparatively barren, northern countries in which the Eiders nest. So long as man can remember it has been gathered annually. Still the Ducks con- tinue to return in numbers year after year to the same region, per- haps the exact spot in which they nested the year before. Less intelligent methods would perhaps rob the bird of its second, as well as of its first nest and, unable to reproduce its kind, the species would become extinct within a comparatively short period. The evils which would follow such a course are, however, thorough- ly understood. The Ducks, in the first place; are encouraged in every way. Itis said that should one walk into a peasant’s cabin and pre- empthis cot as a nesting-site, the peasant would gladly give up his bed to so valuable a visitor. 75 Ducks 129. American Merganser (Merganser americanus). L. 25; B. from nostril, 1.5; nostril midway between eye and tip of bill. 4d. g'. No band of streaks on breast; nocrest. Ad. %.and Yng. Chin white; crown and throat reddish brown; rest of underparts and spec- ulum white; above and tail ashy. Range.—North America; breeds from New Brunswick, rarely mountains of Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and mountains of Colorado and California nurthward; winters from Maine and British Columbia south to South Carolina and southern California. 130. Red-breasted Merganser (Merganser serrator). L. 22; B. from nostril, 1.8; nostril nearer to eye than to tip of bill. Ad. Q. Breast with a broad cinnamon band streaked with black; head feathers lengthened. Ad. 9 and Yng. Crown grayish brown, washed with tusty. Chin and throat paler; rest of underparts and speculum white; back and tail ashy. Notes. When alarmed, several low, guttural croaks. (Elliot.) Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds, in America, from New Bruns- wick and northern Illinots north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from southern breeding limits, south to Cuba and Lower California. 131. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). L. 17.5. 4d. . Alarge, circular black and white crest. “Ad. Q Yng. A small cinnamon crest, head, neck and breast grayish, brown; back, blackish; belly white. Notes. “A hoarse croak, like a small edition of that of the Red-breasted Merganser.”? Elliot.) Range.—North America from Cuba and Lower California north to Labr: dor and Alaska; breeds locally throughout its range, chiefly in interior of British America; winters from Batish Columbia, Ilinots, and Massachusetts southward. 132. Mallard (Anas boschas). L. 23. Speculum (patch in wing) purple bordered by black and white; under surface of wing pure white. Ad. g'. Head green; breast chestnut, a white neck-ring. Ad. Q. Above blackish and buffy, below rusty buff mottled with dusky grayish brown. Notes. The familiar quack of the barnyard Duck. Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds, in America, from Labrador, Indiana, lowa, and California north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from British Columbia, Kansas, and New Jersey to Central America and West Indies. 143. Pintail (Dafila acuta). L. G', 28; 9,22. Ad. $ Central tail feathers black, 7.5 long, pointed. 4d. . Tail 3.5,; feathers sharply pointed; brownish black, w.th buff bars; under wing-coverts dusky and buffy back blackish with internat buff loops. Notes. A lou quack, less sonorous than that of the Mallard; alow mellow whistle, and a harsh rolling note. (Nelson.) Range.—Northern hemisphere; breeds, In America, from New Bruns- wick, Towa, Illinols, and British Columbla northward; winters from British Columbia, Iitinols, and Virginia, south to Central America and ‘est Indies. 76 133. Black Duck (Anas obscura). L. 22. Ads. Speculum bluish purple tipped with b/ack; no white in wing; lining of wing white and dusky; crown without paler margins; throat, usually, without markings; legs ‘olivacedus brown”? bill “greenish black, dusky olive, or olive-green.’’ Notes. A quack resembling that of the Mallard. Range.—Eastern North America; chiefly east of Misslsslppl; breeds locally from New Jersey and Illinois north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters from Maine to West Indies. _133a. Red-legged Black Duck (4. 0. rubripes). Similar to No. 133 but larger; crown edged with buff or gray; throat spotted; legs red; bill yellow. Range.—Summer range not definitely known, but breeding speci- mens have been taken in northern Labrador, James Bay, and west shore of Hudson Bay; in winter south to Virgiaia and Arkansas. 134, Florida Duck (Anas fulvigula). L. 20. Ads. Throat and front of neck plain buff, usually unmarked; speculum sometimes tipped with white; belly rusty buff; broadly streaked with black. Notes. A quack sim- ilar to that of No. 133. Range.—Florida to coast of Louisiana; resident, é (34a, Mottled Duck (4. 7. maculosa). Similar to No. 134, but underparts mottled with black the mark- ings being rounder. Range.—Eastern Texas; breeds (at least) from Corpus Christi noith to Kansas; winters on west Gulf Coast. 135. Gadwall (Chaulelasmus streperus). L. 19.5. Under wing coverts and axillars pure white. Ad. os. Wing-coverts chestnut; breast ringed with white. Ad. 9. Head and throatasin . monticola). Similar to No. 393c, but pure white below; larger, size of No. 3934. Range.—Rocky Mountain region from northern New Mexico north to British Columbia. 393f. Queen Charlotte Woodpecker (D. v. picoideus) Similar to No. 393c, but middle of back barred and spotted wae black;: flanks streaked with black. (Osgood.) Range. Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. 394. Southern Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). L. 6; W. 3.5. Suter tail-feathers white with terminal black marks. da. Nape- band red; smallest of group, underparts eet than in No. ee ley white of less extent; .wing-coverts spotted. i Similar but nape-band, white. Notes. A aes peek and a rattle similar to that of No. 393, but not so luud. Range. South Carolina, Georgia, and Guit States to Texas. 394a. Gairdner ‘Woodpecker (D. p. gairdnerit). Similar to No. 394b, but underparts sooty gray; the darkest below of any form in the group. change. —Pacific coast from northern California north to British 394b. Batchelder Woodpecker (D. p. bomorus). Similar to No. 394c, but wing-coverts with “few or no white spots, under tail-coverts without dusky streaks. Range: — “Rocky Mountain region of the United States." (A. O. "3940. Northern Downy Woodpecker (D. p. median- us). L. 6.5; W. 3.7. Similar to No. 394, but largeti wilter below; white markings of greater extent. Range.—Eastern North America south to South Carolina, 394d. Alaskan Downy Woodpecker (D. p. nelsoni). W. 4. Similar to No. 394c, but still larger and whiter; largest of the group. Range. eataska” LB 150 394e. Willow Woodpecker (D. p. turat’). Simi- lar to No. 304a, but smaller, W. 3.8. superciliary patch and .underparts whiter; tertials always more or less spotted with white. (W. K. Fisher.) Rangs.—‘California, except; desert ranges and eastern slope of Sierra Nevada, coast region north of Marin Co., and region north of upper end of Sacramento Valley,” (W. K, Fisher.) 395. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates bore- alis). L. 8.4. Sides of head and neck white bordered by black below. 4d. 3. A nearly concealed red tuft on either side of the hindhead. Ad. Q. Similar, but noredon head. Notes. A loud, hoarse, yank, vank. Range. Southern United States; west to eustern Texas; north to Virginia and Arkansas. 396. Texan Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris bairdi). L. 7.5. Outer tail-feathers barred to their base; nasal tufts brownish. Ad. ¢'. All crown feathers tipped with red; back barred: below brownish white, spotted and streaked with black. 4d. 9. Similar but top of head wholly black. Range.-_ Northern Mexico, north to Texas boundary, New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern’ Nevada, southwestern Utah, and south~ eastern California. 3964. Saint Lucas Woodpecker (D. s. lucasanus). Similar to No. 396, but outer tail-feather barred with black only on terminal half or less, except sometimes on inner web. (Ridgw.) , Range.—Lower California, north, rarely to Colorado Desert, Cali- fornia. 397. Nuttall Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii). L. 7.5. Below white ouly siightly soiled; outer tail- feather barred only on end half. dd. 3%. Crown black streaked with white; nape red. Ad. 2. Similar but top of head entirely black, usually with a few white spots. Yng. Topof head dull red. Notes. A sharp quee-quee-quee-queep; a diminutive chittah. (Bail- ley.) Lou rateling notes. (Henshaw.) Range.—Northern Lower California, north locally, to southern Oregon. 398. Arizona Woodpecker (Dryobates arizone). L. 8.2. Above brown. below spotted. Ad. 3. A red nape band. 4d. @. Similar but no red on nape, brown of crown continuous with that of back. Yug. Whole crown red. Range.—Northwestern Mexico north to southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. 399. White-headed Woodpecker (Xenopicus albo- larvatus), L. 9. Whole head and part of wings white. Ad. g'. Nape red. Ad. 9. Nape white. Notes. A sharp, clear witt-witt; a rather silent bird. (Bendire.) Range—.Mountains of western United States from southern Call- fornia north to southern British Columbia; east to western Idaho and western Nevada. 151 Woodpeckers Woodpeckers 402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius). L. 8.5: W. 4.8. 4d. jf. Crown and throat red; a whitish band from eye to eye across nape; belly washed with yellow: breast patch black 4d. ii Similar, but throat white; crown rarely black. Yng. Breast gray- ish with internal dark.rings or bars; crown dirty yel- lowish margined with dusky; red feathers soon appear on throat and crown. Notes. A clear ringing cleur ree peated; a low snarling cry resembling mew of Catbird. (Brewster.) Range.—Eastern North America: breeds from Massachusetts and northern Illing!s north to about Lat. 63° 30'; south in Alleghanies to northwest Georgia; winters from southern Illinols and southern Virginia to Central America, 402a. Red-naped Sapsucker (S. v, nuchalis). Sim- ilar to No. 402, but slightly larger. W. fi the nape band red; red of throat encroaching on black bordering streaks; female the same but chin white. Range.—Rocky Mountain‘region; breeds from Colorado and north- eastern California (?), north to British Columbia; winters from south- ern California south to northwestern Mexico. 403. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber). L.9. Ads. Crown, whole throat and breast dull red; in other respects resembling No. goz. Notes. Jay or chaé, peeve, pinck, and peurr. (Bendire.) Range.—Breeds in mountains from northern Lower California north to suuthern Oregon. 7 403a. Northern Red-breasted Sapsucker (S. 7. notkensis). Similar to'No. 403, but colors deeper, red brighter; belly yellower.. Range.— Pacific coast region from Santa Cruz Mountains, Call- fornia, north to southern Alaska. 404. Williamson Sapsucker (Spkyrapicus thyrot- deus). L.9. Belly bright yellow; rump white. 4d. 3. Above black; a red stripe on throat; lesser wing-cov- erts white. Ad. 9. Crown and throat brownish; back and lesser wing-coverts barred black and whitish. Yng. Similar to 9, but breast barred like sides. Notes. A shrill bust-buct uttered when flying. (Bendire.) The roll of this Woodpecker is not continuous, but is brok- en or interrupted. Range.—Higher mountain ranges of western United States; breeds from northern New Mexico, Arizona, and southeastern California north to Wyoming and southern British Columbla; winters from southern California and western Texas into, Mexico. 408, Lewis Woodpecker (4syndesmus torquatus). L. 11. Ads. Breast and a collar around the neck gtay; region about base of bill dark red; belly pinkish red; above shining green black. Yng. No gray collar; crown suffused with red. Notes. A weak. peepine twitter. (Lawrence). Generally a silent ird. Range.— Western United States: breeds from New Mexlco, Arizo- na, and southern California north to southern Alberta and British Columbia; winters from southern Oregon aud Colorado south to western Texas and southern California. 152 406. Red-headed ooarecker (Melanerpes erythro- cephalus). L. 9.7. Ads. Whole head and breast red: end half of secondaries white. Yxg. Whole head and breast grayish streaked with blackish; back black margined with grayish; end half of secondaries white with black bars. Notes. A tree-toad-like ker-r-ruck, er-r-ruck. Range.— Eastern United States west to Rocky Mountains: breeds from Florida and Texas north to New York and Manitoba; local and irregular in northern parts of range; winters from Virginia, and oc-