= oe ee ye * “i bg ate A) me = = eer As by OKs Ho Rae co Me eS i ‘ANOLSNUOGL “LOT THE GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA A DESCRIPTIVE CHECK -LIST BY FRANK A. BATES President ‘‘ Boston Scientific Society,” and formerly Associate Editor ‘‘Ornithologist and Oologist.”’ Jllustrated BOSTON BRADLEE WHIDDEN 1896 COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY BRADLEE WHIDDEN. S. J. PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS, BOSTON In considering the preparation of this list, the first point was — “‘ What is a game bird ¢” What gunner will admit that his favorite bird is not game, although it be tabooed by his neighbor? And here again another difficulty arose, for many a man shoots Meadow Larks and Reed-birds, and would scorn the imputation that he was not a sportsman, or that these birds were not game. To avoid one horn of the dilemma without getting hooked by the other, I have manufactured this definition : A game bird is one which is suitable for food and which is habitually pursued by man for sport, demanding skill and dexterity for its capture. I take it for granted that every sportsman is a gentleman, and would not slaughter more game than he could find a use for, and that he would not descend to the level of the pot-hunter, who will kill Robins and other insectivorous birds simply because they are fit to eat. With this explanation, I apologize beforehand to any- one whose corns I have trodden upon, offering as an excuse, my desire to afford a convenient reference list adapted to the sportsman’s needs without compelling him to wander among a mass of useless matter. I have also marked with a star (*) those birds which are not generally accepted as game, although it has been very difficult to draw the line. awk. 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GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. Trinator timber. Predominating color, a deep greenish-black in old birds, brownish-black in young, marked with small white spots. Breast and under parts white, and a patch of white lnes on the throat. The old birds have a band of white lines about the neck. Iris of old bird, red; young, brown. Extent of wings about 4 feet; length from tip of bill to tip of tail, about 3 feet. The largest one I ever heard of measured 48 inches in length and weighed 17% lbs. Feet and bill black, the latter straight and tapering. Legs set far back on the body. Habitat — Entire Northern Hemisphere ; in winter goes as far south as the Gulf of ‘ 8 THE GAME BIRDS Mexico. Common, in summer, in the large fresh-water ponds; earler and later in the season in the bays and harbors. Exceedingly wary and difficult of approach, diving at the shghtest suspicion of danger and with remark- able powers in this direction. The flesh has a decidedly fishy taste, but ‘baked breast of loon” and * loon stew” are esteemed as delicacies by many. : Its con geners are 2. .* BLACK-THROATED. LOGON: Urinator arcticus. General color like No. 1, but with less white on throat. Somewhat smaller, meas- uring 83 feet in extent and 2% feet in length. Habitat — More northern than the loon. 5. * PACIFIC LOON. Urinator pacificus. Still smaller than No. 2; otherwise nearly the same. ‘This bird measures only 2 feet in length. Habitat — Pacific coast, Alaska to Gulf of - California. 4, *RED-THROATED LOON. Urinator lumme. About the size of No. 3 and with the same general colors, but the sides of the head and OF NORTH AMERICA. 9 throat are gray, with a patch of rich brownish- red on the throat in the old bird, which is lacking, or nearly so, in the young birds, which, however, are easily recognized by the numerous white spots on the back. Habitat — About the same as No. 1, but somewhat more confined to the salt water. 5. *AMERICAN MERGANSER. GOOSANDER. POND SHELDRAKE. Merganser americanus. Predominating color, black; under parts dirty yellowish-white. Head with a slight crest. Wing mostly white. Female of more subdued colors. Iris of eye carmine red in male, yellow in female. Feet generally yel- low; bright red in the male in the spring. Bil red, saw-toothed on the mouth, with a pronounced hook on the end. Average length about 2 feet; extent nearly 3 feet. The female is much smaller than the male. 10 THE GAME BIRDS Habitat — Entire North America. Breeds in the northern section; not uncommon any- where in the ponds and large rivers during the various seasons, as it migrates south with the approach of cold weather. They are ex- pert divers, feeding upon fish. Their flesh is rank, but will fill the belt cavity when noth- ing else presents itself. 6. *RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. SALT-WATER SHELDRAKE. SAWBILL. Merganser serrator. Resembles No. 5, but has a white ring about the neck of the male, and the crest is more pronounced. ‘The great feature of dis- tinction is the brownish-red color which adorns the breast. The female is unlike the male, but is quite recognizable. Habitat — Northern sections. Not so com- mon in the United States as No. 5. They are principally confined to the seacoast, and their habits are much like the last named. 7. *HOODED MERGANSER. Lophodytes cucullatus. Back of male black, under side white; a beautiful white crest, fronted and bordered with black, decorates the head. The female is a little smaller; brownish, with a much smaller crest, but with much more than No..6. OF NORTH AMERICA. rs Eyes yellow. A much smaller bird than the rest of the family, being only 14 feet long, and a little over 2 feet in extent. Habitat — North America in general, south to Cuba. This beautiful bird is generally regarded as a prize by gunners, as it is not particularly common anywhere, and the male bird attracts admiration by its graceful car- riage and elegant plumage. It is an active diver, feeding upon small fish and aquatic insects, living principally upon the fresh water. Like its relatives, its flesh is but in- ferior food. 8. MALLARD. GREEN-HEAD. WiLD DUCK Anas boschas. Breast of male in spring silver gray, with fine markings of darker. Back black. Head ie ee olossy green, with a white band around the neck. The wing bears a beautiful green 12 THE GAME BIRDS patch, framed in black and white. The fe- male is dusky brown and mottled with darker. In the summer the drake loses his green head, but can be easily distinguished from the fe- male by the wing patch and the upcurled tail. Eyes brown; feet reddish; bill black, spotted with orange. Length 2 feet. Extent 3 feet, or a little less. Average weight of males 2 lbs. 9 oz., females a little less. Habitat— The whole of the Northern Hemisphere. They are not at all common in New England, but are very plenty on the inland lakes and rivers, as they are essentially fresh-water birds. This species is the progenital stock of our domestic duck, and has no doubt often been mistaken for such by gunners. They hybrid- ize easily with the Black duck, and such OF NORTH AMERICA. aS birds make excellent decoys for shooting from blinds. They are easily domesticated, and, wild or not, their flesh is of fine flavor and clean, as they are vegetable feeders. - BEACK -.DUCK” DUSKY “DUCK. Anas obscura. Predominating color, dark brown; hghter on the breast, head and neck. The edges of the feathers are shaded with dusky, giving the appearance of shell work or scallops. The wing patch is violet; the eyes are brown, the bill yellowish- Ute ; feet orange, with dark webs. About the same size as No. 8, averaging a little less in weight, and re- sembling the female of the mallard to a great degree, differing in having no white mark- ings except on the inside of the wings. The male and female are much alike, but the lat- ter is generally of a hghter shade. Habitat — Eastern North America. This bird favors the salt water more than the mal- lard, and will be found in immense flocks in our bays and harbors, although it drops into the large ponds during its migratory flights, and is there shot from blinds by means of decoys. Our gunners on the New England coast will insist that there are two varieties, viz, the Red-leg or Southern duck, and the Black-leg or Winter duck, although no lists to-day recognize a difference. My friend Leonard, of Marshfield, Mass., writes me as follows: ‘In my opinion they are different 14 THE GAME BIRDS birds. The Red-leg is larger, tamer, and does not winter here with us. It leaves us here Cat. 42° N.) about the middle of November and does not appear again until the last of February, when they go north. The Black- leg is with us till next May and sometimes breeds here.” The Red-leg weighs nearly 8 Ibs. The Black-leg about 21 lbs. I shall not attempt to decide the question, for I have no desire to add my name to the list of variety makers (there are too many already), but there is food for thought in the above, coming as it does from one of the best informed market gunners on the coast. The Black duck is one of the finest table birds, and always commands a call in the markets. 10, FLORIDA DUCK. MOTTLED DUCK (VARIETY). Anas fulvigula. Resembles No. 9 very closely, but the cheeks, chin and throat are more inclined to a buff color, and the light-brown markings of that bird are replaced by the same color. There is a black spot at the base of the bill which the Black duck does not have, and the wing patch is bluish-green; size is about the same. The Texas variety, known as the Mottled duck, is found as far north as Kansas, and differs very slightly. Habitat — Southern United States. There a ae OF NORTH AMERICA. 15 are some three varieties of this bird, differing only in minor points, due doubtless to climatic influences. They seem to prefer the fresh water more than do the Black duck, which they so closely resemble that the ordinary sportsman will hardly recognize the differ- ence without close observation, though the distinction is well marked, being somewhat lighter in general color than its near relative. iM GADWALL, “GRAY . DUCK: Anas strepera. Predominating color, gray with a yellow tinge ; back and breast darker, nearly brown. The scaly appearance noted in No. 9 is very noticeable in this variety, as the edges of the feathers are nearly white. Wing patch white. Bill blue-black, in the female lighter and blotched with orange. Legs orange, with dark webs. Eyes red-brown. Belly white, with gray lines. Extent of wings, a little less than 3 feet. Length of bird a little less than 2 feet, being a trifle smaller than either No. 8 or No. 9. Weight about 2 lbs. Habitat — Northern Hemisphere in general, principally in the interior, as it prefers the fresh water. These birds do not go in large flocks, but they make up for numbers by the noise they make; a small flock will create more disturbance than a raft of Black duck. They are comparatively bold; are clean feed- ers, and are excellent eating. 16 THE GAME BIRDS 12. BALDPATE. AMERICAN WIDGEON Anas americana. Predominating color, gray with fine wavy lines of darker, belly white, as is also the body of the wing, while the tips are brownish- gray. Wing patch green. The body of the head is buff color, shaded with greenish- black and brick-red, and the old drakes have a broad distinct patch of green on the sides of the head, backwards from the eye; the distinguishing feature, however, is the dis- tinctly white forehead, which is present to a ereater or less extent in all the different ages. The females and the young males are darker in general tone and the shell markings are more distinct, while the white crown is less so. ‘There can be no mistake in identifying the species however, from the great amount of white on the wings and under parts. About the same size as No. 11; will aver- age smaller. Bill bluish-cray. Feet a trifle duller. Eyes brown. A very difficult bird to describe, from its great variability in differ- ent ages. Habitat — North America at large, but probably less plentiful in New England than in the Southern States and the Mississippi Valley. In fact the local gunners hardly know the bird. They are shoal-water birds, and feed upon aquatic plants. ‘They have the curious habit of thieving the succulent deep-water plants OF NORTH AMERICA. 17 from the deep-divers and hastening out of reach before they recover from their surprise. They winter on our southern border, where they congregate in large flocks. On the Pacific coast we sometimes find a bird almost identical in appearance, but the top of the head is creamy instead of white ; there is scarcely a shade of green on the sides of the head, which is cinnamon-red instead of grayish. This is the European widgeon, and is only an occasional visitor. It is re- ported to be not uncommon on the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. 13. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Anas carolinensis. Prevailing color gray; under parts white. Old drakes have a rich chestnut-brown head and neck, with green marking, as in the Bald- pate. Breast dotted with dark; wing spot green. The females and young males have dark and light brown as their predominating colors, and sufficiently resemble the old males that there need be no mistake in their identi- fication. Smaller than any of the other ducks, the length being only a little over a foot and the extent less than 2 feet. Bill black; feet light blue; eyes brown. Habitat — Entire North American conti- nent. Although small, it is one of our finest came birds and one of the most prolific. They are 18 THE GAME BIRDS found generally in small flocks on the edges of shallow ponds. ‘They are finely flavored and a good game bird. The European va- riety, closely resembling the American, is a rare visitor to our North Atlantic coast. 14. BLUR-WINGED TEAR. Anas discors. Predominating color brown, under parts lighter than the upper; head lead-color, nearly black on crown with a white crescent in front of each eye. The feathers of the back have edgings of the lighter color, and the breast is spotted with the darker; wings sky-blue with green patch ; bill grayish-black ; feet yellow; eyes brown. A little larger than No. 18. Weight 12 ozs. Habitat — During migrations this bird cov- ers the greater part of the country east of the Rocky Mountains. Its habits are very much like the Green-wing, and like them they are very swift of flight. While feeding they are very unsuspicious and can be easily ap- proached with a due amount of caution. 152" "CINNAMON DEAL: Anas cyanoptera. The female is very similar to No. 14, but the male is of a rich cinnamon-brown color ; wings blue as in No. 14, and with green patch. OF NORTH AMERICA. 19 About the same size as the Blue-wing; bill black; feet orange; eyes orange in male, brown in female and young. Habitat — Rocky Mountains, north to Ore- gon. A South American variety, rarely found outside the above limits. i¢. SHOVELLER. SHOVEL—BILE. Spatula clypeata. Broad-bill; although this latter name is more often applied to the Ruddy duck. Back of male black, with each feather tipped with a lighter color. Head dark glossy green; breast white; belly chestnut-brown with a purple shade; shoulders blue; wing spot ereen, bordered with white; tips blackish; a white spot at each side of the tail; bill brown, and broad at the tip, which is twice as large as at the base; feet and legs red; eyes reddish-yellow. The female and young males are of a soft brown color, shaded with lighter, 20 | THE GAME BIRDS as is usual in nearly all the ducks. Eyes yel- low. Size about that of the Widgeon (No. 12), but a trifle smaller. Habitat — Entire continent; but rare on the Atlantic coast. Very abundant in Florida in the winter. ‘They delight in shallow pools, where they float, with their heads under water the most of the time, feeding upon the aquatic grasses and insects. Audubon pro- nounced them as the finest duck for the table in America, even better than the noted Can- vas-back. Their flesh is very finely flavored, and, after all, much of the fame of the latter is due to a customary idea. i=. PINAL. -GRAY]DUCK Dafila acuta. Back of male bird gray, marked with wavy white lines; under parts white. Wings dark, speculum green, with coppery reflections. Head and upper part of neck dark brown. The tail is from 5 to 9 inches long, form- ing a distinctive feature. Bill black, edged with gray; feet gray-blue; eyes brown; size a little smaller than the Mallard, but more eracefully formed. Weight about 2 lbs. The female and young drakes are somewhat smaller, and lack the long tail. The back is brown, mottled with cream-color, while the under parts are light yellow. ‘This plumage is liable to be somewhat varied, as they often cross with the Mallard. OF NORTH AMERICA. A Habitat — West of the Alleghenys; not at all common east, as they prefer the shallow ponds, where the bottoms are covered with herbage. C.J. Maynard says that there are more of these ducks in Florida in the winter than of all other species put together. They seldom or never dive, but stand nearly on end, feet in the air, while pulling the roots from the bottom. They are very swift of flight and quite wary. 18. WOOD DUCK. SUMMER DUCK. Aix sponsa. Back of drake very dark brown, belly white, sides marked with gray; breast is red- dish-brown with triangular white spots. The top of head and its crest, which is quite long, is dark green, with purple reflections. The throat is white and a section of it branches up toward the eye. A line of white extends backward on each side of the head from the face of the bill and another from just behind the eye. Bull black, with pinkish-white sides, and red at base; feet orange; eyes red. In June the male changes its plumage, and then resembles the female, but by October they have nearly regained their full plumage; dur- ing this period, it is said that the drakes flock together. The female would hardly be rec- ognizable as the mate of its gaudily dressed partner. The back is slaty-brown and the belly white ; the breast and sides of body are ps THE GAME BIRDS light brown, mottled with dark gray and brown and there is no crest, but the feathers of the nape are elongated. Habitat — Temperate North America. This bird, formerly so plentiful, breeding as it did near all the wooded streams of the United States, is yearly becoming more scarce. Ten years ago there was scarcely a stream in New England but had its pair, which lived and reared their young near its banks ; but the beautiful plumage of the male bird was a bait for the sportsman, and the tender and savory flesh for the epicure. In the fall, when they cram their crops to the utmost with acorns, they are in the finest flavor and fit for a mon- arch. Now these places know them not, and they are plentiful only in the more sparsely settled localities. 19. RED-HEAD. AMERICAN POCHARD Aythya americana. Back of male mixed black and white in very fine zig-zag lines, giving ita gray appear- ance ; belly” gray, gradually verging into the color of the back ; wings darker ; ‘br east black ; head and neck rich chestnut-brown ; bill blu- ish, broad and flattened; feet gray-blue with dark webs; eyes orange. The female and young are much like the above, but the head is dull brown, lighter near the bill, and the back 1s brown, with no zig-zag mar kings ; 5 eyes yellow ; leneth a little less than 3 feet; ex- tent of wings a little less than 2 feet. OF NORTH AMERICA. as} Habitat — Arcties to the Gulf. This is like the next, a deep-water duck, culling its food from the bottom and there gathering mollusks, fishes, and submarine plants. It is often mistaken for the famous Canyas-back, which it much resembles and for which it is often sold, as the novice can scarcely distin- euish the difference, though it is plainly marked. The bill is broader and more flat- tened, and blue, with a black belt at end, while in the latter it is blackish throughout. 90. CANVAS—-BACK. Aythya vallisneria. Resembles No. 19 very much, in fact the Red-head is often sold for this bird, but the head is closer feathered and the bill black, not so br oad, and higher at the base ; the back is lighter in ceneral. color; eyes of ae red ; of female red-brow n; the size is a trifle larger than the Red-head. Habitat — Same range as the Red-head, and its habits apply as well in one case as the other. They were formerly abundant on the Atlantic coast, and while feeding i in the Chesa- peake Bay on the wild celery ( Vallisneria spi- ralis), they attained a flavor which gave them a world-wide reputation as a table bird, which was, In a measure, undeserved, and oe this reason were slaughtered in thousands. In consequence they are now getting scarce in this locality, and the principal supply comes 24 THE GAME BIRDS from the Mississippi Valley. These Western birds are not possessed of the same delicacy of those from the Chesapeake, and it is a mat- ter of serious doubt whether it is ever the peer of the Shoveller, much more the superior. Audubon pronounces in favor of the latter, while Wilson inclines to the former, but Audubon was original, while Wilson, with all his genius, from which I would not for the — world detract one icta, was more swayed by other’s opinions. ‘These birds are famous for their diving and swimming small s and when wounded will often escape in this way, oftentimes seizing a sunken root with a death erip and never arising to the surface. 21.: AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK. BLUE-BILL. BROAD-BILL. RAFTDUCK. A ythya marila nearetica. Head, neck and breast black, in the drake, as is also the rump, tail, and body of wings; more inclined to a brownish shade in the fe- male. Wing tips hehter than body, and the wing patch is white; belly nearly white, and baci black and white in zig-zag lines, much like the Canvas-back ; bill blue; feet black ; eyes yellow. ‘The female has a distinct white face, formed by a white ring around the upper part of the bill and just back of it. Length about 20 inches. Extent of wings eenerally over 30 inches. OF NORTH AMERICA. 25 Habitat — North America in general. Dur- ing the breeding season they frequent the in- land ponds and marshes, but at other times they are not uncommon on all the salt-water bays of our coast. They are good divers and feed upon a general course of aquatic diet. The resemblance of this bird to the next is so close that they are sometimes hardly dis- tinguishable. Opinions vary as to their qual- ities as food. Coues says they are good when fat. The gunners eat them, but shore men will even eat gulls with gusto; for my part, excuse me. 220 Shot kh SCAU P DUCK: RUE EEE vBLUE-BILL: Aythya affinis. This bird is not easily distinguished from No. 21, except that it is somewhat smaller, measuring 15 to 18 inches in length, and under 30 inches in extent. Habitat — Same as last, which it resembles almost exactly, except for being a little smaller. Like them they form rafts or flocks on the water, and when they rise make the air re- sound with the sound of their wings, but un- like them they prefer the more brackish water of the river mouths, and the great rivers and ponds of the interior. bo oP) THE GAME BIRDS 23. KING-NECKED DUCK; RINGED=NECK SCAUP. Aythya collaris. Bill darker colored than No. 22, brown ring around the neck of drake. Wing brown- ish-slate, wing patch gray, feet gray-blue, with darker webs. Back nearly black. Fe- male is more like No. 22, but the white face is not so apparent, and it has a white ring about the eye. This bird may also be distin- guished from the others by the bill; Nos. 21 and 22 have a plain blue bill, while No. 23 has black tip and base, and a narrow stripe of white defines the central blue band on either side. Habitat — Generally about the same as the Little Scaup, which it also resembles in its habits. The same remarks apply to one as well as the other. - 24. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. WHISTLER. GARROT. Glaucionetta clangula americana. Head and back black, neck, breast and un- der parts white, with white markings on the wings. Head richly glossed with green. The distinctive feature of the Whistlers is the white patch on the side of the head at base of bill, but not touching it. In this spe- cies the spot is round. Length 1% feet; ex- OF NORTH AMERICA. a tent 24 feet. Bill black, feet orange with dark webs. Eyes bright yellow. ‘The female has a brownish head without the white spot, and the general tone is duller, and the bird a little smaller. Habitat — North America in general, and a common winter duck in the United States on both coasts and often in the interior. A bird of beautiful plumage in the male, an expert diver, fond of the flats. Opinions differ as to the edibility of their flesh. Coues says: “ Meat bad—rank and fishy,’ but gunners on the New England coast eat them at times, and in olden times roast Whistler was often on the spit, and that when other ducks were more plentiful than now. 25. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHISTLER: Glaucionetta tslandica. Habitat — More northern than the last named, although it breeds in the Rocky Moun- tains. It comes in the winter down the coast and rivers, but is never so common as_ the other form. It is possible that it is often confounded with the common Whistler, but can be easily distinguished by the white spot before the eye, which is triangular in this species and oval in the other. ‘There is also a crest on the top of the head and a parti- 28 THE GAME BIRDS colored bill, while the gloss of the head is purple in the Barrow’s and green in the American. Both birds get their common name from the whistling Som given off by the wings in flight. D6. aBURE LE AeA). BU PERER =p Adno: SPER I= DUCK. DIRE. Charitonetta albeola. Back and head of male black, the latter with a large white patch extending from the eye back to the edge of the nape, fort ming a con- tinuous patch. The head is v ery puffy; hair cut a la pompadour ; neck and under parts white. The female has no orited head; back brown, under parts dirty white, with white wing patch and onside of head. Bill of drake dull blue; of female, dusky. Feet of drake flesh-color ; of female, blue-gray, with dark webs. Eyes brown. W eielit about 18 ozs. ; female a little less. Habitat — North America at large. The male of this bird is a beauty and no mistake, but Heaven help the man who tries to eat one. I can eat almost anything when I am hunery, but I prefer to hunger rather than eat a Dipper. ‘They can dive like a Kanaka, and are only excelled by the little Grebe (the hell-diver of the vernacular), which can elude a rifle ball and dodge a sunbeam. Their habits are like their relatives, the Golden-eyes. OF NORTH AMERICA. 29 27. OLD-SQUAW. LONG-TAIL DUCK. SOU-SOUTHERLY. COCKAWEE. Clangula hyemalis. Predominating color of the drake, white ; breast, back and wings black, the latter with a patch of long white feathers; head with a patch of gray- -blue about the eyes, shading into black toward the back of neck. Two long black feathers protrude from the centre of the tail. In the spring the white feathers of the side are mingled with reddish ones. Bul black, tipped with orange; very light when fresh. Feet blue; eyes red. Female brown on back, shaded white beneath; no long feathers on tail nor shoulders ; bill and feet dusky-greenish; eyes yellow. Weight about 2lbs. A very hard bird to describe, as there are so many variations to its plumage in its different forms. The summer and winter coats are very different in both sexes, but there is no chance of mistake after one of the birds have once been noted. Habitat — Northern Hemisphere. Of all the inveterate old gabblers, this bird carries off the palm; a good-for-nothing tattling set of old gossips. The flesh is rank and fishy, as they are fish feeders, but the males are very pretty in their dresses of black and white, decked out with drab and brown. They are often shot for their beauty, but never, I think, for food. 30 THE GAME BIRDS 28. HARLEQUIN DUCK. LORD AND LADY. PAINTED DUCK. Histrionicus histrionicus. Sexes very unlike. Predominating color of the drake dull purple, darker on the up- per parts than on the lower, changing to chestnut on the sides; marked with white as follows: a patch in front of. eye, curling over it toward the crown, where it changes to brown; a round spot on side of head, just below which is a long patch on side of neck; a collar about the neck, and patches on wings and each side of the root of the tail, besides a white crescent on breast in front of each wing; bill greenish-yellow; feet gray-blue with dark webs; eyes red-brown. Predomi- nating color of female brownish-gray, to whitish on under parts ; a whitish spot before the eye and behind the ear; bill and feet bluish; eyes brown; length 14 feet or a little less; extent of wings 2 feet or over. Habitat — Northern hemisphere, south in winter to latitude 40° north. These beauti- ful ducks are not common farther south than the coast of Maine on the east coast, and northern California on the west. ‘They are well known to gunners principally from their rarity and their variegated plumage, than from any qualities as a food bird. The fe- male is much smaller, and entirely different in general appearance from the male. OF NORTH AMERICA. on 29. LABRADOR DUCK. PIED DUCK. Camptolaimus labradorius. Former habitat Atlantic coast, breeding from Labrador northward, descending in winter southward to the Chesapeake. The adult male, a rather large duck, is in general, black, head and upper neck white, with a strip of black on the crown and around the neck; wings pied with black and white. Length about 20 inches. Extent about 30 inches. Weight nearly 2 lbs. Female is a sort of dappled dark gray, ighter on the wings. This bird is now nearly extinct if not quite so, but only forty years ago they were onsale in our markets, and there is a bare chance that another may yet be taken. Strange as it may seem, this bird has disappeared during that space of time, and now bids fair to follow in the footsteps of the Great Auk. The main opportunity of securing one more of these birds (there are only 38 in existence, and these are valued at about %500 each), seems to be either in finding one among the treas- ured trophies of some coast gunner of the north, or that one may yet be “taken among the flocks which come down our coast in the winter, and this note is written in the hopes that gunners will heed the universal cry and look out for them. Be THE GAME BIRDS 30. AMERICAN EIDER. SEA DUCK. Somateria dressert. Predominating color of drake white; rump, tail and under parts black ; top of head blue- black; back of head sea-green. The bill, which is dirty-yellow, runs on each side far up toward the eye. Feet greenish; eyes brown. Length 2 feet and over; extent 3 to 34 feet. Female very unlike the male. Pre- dominating color brown or tan, barred all over with black. Habitat — North Atlantic coast; south in winter to Long Island Sound. They princi- pally frequent the rocky shores of our coast, but occasionally are seen on the large lakes. Their flesh is not particularly delicious at all times, but is supposed to be palatable under favorable conditions. The down from the breast is of well-known superior quality. 31, PACIFIC EIDER. Somateria v-nigra. Habitat — North Paeie coast, south? to California. The habits are much the same as those of No. 30, and the same remarks will apply to both. The distinctive feature which divides them is that this latter bird has a black V-shaped mark on the throat. Co Co OF NORTH AMERICA. 32. KING EIDER. Somateria spectabilis. Habitat — Circumpolar ; south in winter, in very small numbers, to lat. 40° N. This bid varies much in appearance from the others of the family, and may be distin- guished by the presence of the black V throat mark, from the Eastern variety, and from the Western by the different configuration of the bill, especially in the summer. aoe. DAE RaGAN SCOTERR. = SEA> COOT: BUYEER-BILEL: Oidemia americana. Color of drake entirely black; bill very peculiar, having a very prorounced hump at the base, which is y ellow, changing to black on the tip. Weight 2} to 3lbs. The female is smaller, dusky oe paler beneath, with- out hump on the bill; feet dark ; eyes brown. Habitat — North American coast and Great Lakes. I have now touched on ground ‘“ where angels might fear to tread,” for none are so jealous of their favorite bird as the “coot shooter,” and there is no family so diversely named and regarded by mankind. A young bird may be a luscious dish for an epicure, and *coot stew’”’ is famous, but an old bird 34 THE GAME BIRDS is simply infamous in flavor, and I never saw a bird so young as to equal a stew of old boots flavored with fish oil. Pardon me, friends, devotees of the wily coot, my educa- tion has been sadly neglected. I can eat sculpin, but do not ask me to eat coot. The females and young of this bird, and also No.35 are known to gunners collectively as gray coot, and weigh from 2 to 3 Ibs. 84. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. sal iCOOT: Oidemia deglandi. Plumage of drake black, with white spot on wing and another under the eye; bill black, with knob at base, but not so large as No. 88; eyes white; feet red, with black webs. Female sooty-brown, with same mark- ings, except bill is less bulging, and there is more white on the head; eyes brown. Length 12 feet; extent over 3 feet. Weight 3 to 4 Ibs. OF NORTH AMERICA. 305 Habitat — About the same as the other coots, and resembling them in general habits. 30. SURF SCOTER. SKUNK-HEAD. Oidemia perspreillata. Male bird black, with white spot on fore- head, and another on back of neck ; bill prom- inent, orange at top and tip, mottled with black at base, a large black spot at base on each side, in front of which is a bluish-white patch ; eyes white; feet orange, webs dark. Female brown, whitish on sides of head and be- neath ; bill dark gray ; feet dirty-yellow, webs black; eyes brown. Weight about 24 to 34 Ibs. A little smaller than No. 34. This seems to be the most plentiful of this family, at least about the shores of New Ene- land, where they are most sought for by gun- ners, but the comparison is rendered variable by local conditions. In Massachusetts Bay — the Mecca of “ cooters ” — they strike in about August 15 and the flight is over about September 20, but the birds stay about all winter. They feed upon the flats, but are then extremely difficult of approach by floating. They are mostly shot outside the harbors as they fly by and are called down by decoys. Curiously enough, although they reach the bay so early, they are seldom seen below Cape Cod until October 1. 36 THE GAME BIRDS 36. RUDDY DUCK. BLUE-BILL. BROAD-BILE. Hrismatura rubida. Butter-ball. But this latter name must not confound it with the Buffle-head. Predominating color of full plumaged male, rich brownish-red. Top of head black, throat and sides of head white, belly silvery or gray- white. Generally this bird is brownish, hight beneath. Bill and feet bluish. Eyes red- brown. Easily distinguished from ducks of its size, by its broad, flat body, shovel-bill, and short neck and legs. Length 14 feet. Extent less than 2 feet. It habits the entire continent, and is now better known on inland waters than on the eastern coast. They are easy of approach but gently slide beneath the water on slight provocation. Expert divers, they am for some distance beneath the water, reappearing out of gun- shot. They feed upon seeds, roots and shell- fish, and are very edible, being fairly well flavored, fat and juicy. When food is plenti- ful, they gorge themselves to the utmost, and then are in prime condition for cooking. OF NORTH AMERICA. 37 37. LESSER SNOW GOOSE. Chen hyperborea. 38. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. WHITE: BRANT. WAVEY. Chen hyperborea nivalis. Color white, wing tips black, head stained with rusty. Bill red, with black on edge of mouth. Legs same color. Eyes dark brown. The young birds look like No. 39. Weight ‘aon ee walle Habits the western sections and interior of North America, a few visiting the Atlantic coast in the winter, common in the interior. These two birds are so near alike that I do not attempt to separate any notes on the two varieties. The lesser variety is only about 2 Ibs. lighter than the other, and evading up to it, so “that it is nearly impossible to distin- cuish them. Their coloration is identical. The bird which is found in the East is gener- ally, perhaps invariably, the larger form. In the East they are much in ali like other geese, feeding in the bays and harbors, though I have never heard of their being shot in the ponds. I see no reason why they should not be, as in the West they swarm the prairies to such an extent as to destroy whole fields of wheat. The flesh is dark colored, and not so finely flavored as some of its relations. 38 THE GAME BIRDS A near form is the 39° BLUE GOOSE. Chen ccerulescens. Which was long considered but the young of No. 58, ora colored phase of the same bird. It is about the size of No. 37, and with about the same habits. Head white, body dusky eray-blue, shading into lighter below. ‘Tips of wings black. Not common. 40.. ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE. HORNED WAVEY Chen rossitt. This little goose, not larger than a Mallard, is an Arctic Poth descending i in winter to te lower latitudes. Its habits and characteristics are but little different from others of the family. 41. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. LAUGHING GOOSE. Anser albifrons gambelv. Predominating color grayish-brown, under parts whitish, blotched with black; this white extends backward around the base of tail, which is black, tipped with white. The dark color is mottled with brown on the tips of the feathers. The characteristic mark of the bird is the white forehead. Bill smooth, pink ; feet yellow, eyes brown, About the same size as OF NORTH AMERICA, 39 No. 88. The young birds are darker and lack the white forehead, and the bill and feet are darker. This bird is quite common on the Pacific coast and the Mississippi valley; seldom com- ing east, although they are occasional visitors. They are more shy than the other geese and hue to inaccessible places very closely. They feed mostly upon aquatic plants and their flesh is of fine flavor. 42. CANADA GOOSE. Branta canadensis. Upper parts brownish-gray, shading to a lighter below; bill, head, neck and legs black. A broad white patch on the chin, extending up to nape, and white over and under the tail, eyes brown; extent, 5 feet, length, 3 feet, weight 8 to 15 lbs. when in good condition. The common wild goose of the entire country, breeding in the north and going south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico. Their migratory flights are strong and rapid, and their V-shaped skeins passing over have drawn out many a farmer to try a shot, and many a one has fallen in this way, and many more have been decoyed to blinds on the shores of the ponds where they had stopped to rest and feed, and never gone on with the rest of the flight. Their flesh is justly esteemed for the table, and their feathers for beds and pillows. 40 THE GAME BIRDS 43. HUTCHINS’S GOOSE. Branta canadensis hutchinsii. This is a small variety of No. 42, about the size of No. 88, and frequents the western country more than the east. Another variety is the 44, WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. Branta canadensis occidentalis. Which is a Pacific coast bird; and still an- other, 45. CACKLING GOOSE. Branta canadensis minima. Smaller than any of the others and from the same section. There is no doubt that all these varieties are entitled to separate mention, but for our purpose they are about the same thing. Every gunner likes to know, however, what his game is, and for purposes of distinction I give Coues’s method of separating the varieties : — Large, no collar of white on neck, No. 42. Saal ees Paes ee = No. 48. Large, with “ Ke ss No. 44. Small. 5 ts 66 No. 45. OF NORTH AMERICA, 41 46. BRANT. BRANT GOOSE. Brenta bernicla. Head, neck, back and wings black, some of the quills of latter, whitish on the inside. This color is in some places shaded with brown. Under parts gray, barred with black- ish; back of legs it is white, which color extends up over the base of the tail. Sides of neck marked with several white streaks. Bul and feet black, eyes brown. Length 2 feet, extent 4 feet. This bird habits the Atlantic coast, coming south to the United States. only in the migra- tions, as far as Florida. They collect in lar ve flocks in the shoal waters, where they feed upon the shell-fish, plants, etc. They seldom dive when feeding, but standing nearly on end, they pull their food from the bottom. They are wary and avoid the shore except when feeding. The sand bars are often black with them while they are dusting. Their flesh is very edible, and they are much esteemed for both food and sport. 47-~ BLACK BRARE: Branta nigricans. Much like No. 46, but the black of the neck runs down on the breast, and the white marks on the neck nearly form a collar. Size of No. 46, and is found on both coasts, but most plentiful on the Pacific; in fact, it is really rare on the Atlantic. 42 THE GAME BIRDS 48. *EMPEROR. GOOSE. PAINTED GOOSE. Philacte canagica. Predominating color hght blue, with wavy marks of lilac, and clearly defined shell-shaped markings of black. Head, back of neck and tail white ; throat black, speckled with white ; feet flesh-color; eyes brown. Habitat— Extreme northwest, coming south to Alaska, and lower in the winter. A little larger bird than the Brant. A sea-goose, and not worth the powder used to kill it for its edible qualities, as it is rank and fishy. 49. BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK. Dendrocygna autumnalts. Predominating color black; head and neck chocolate, lighter on the chin, white under tail, on the flanks and on wing’; bill red; feet pink; length 1,8, feet; extent 8 feet or more. Lives on the Rio Grande. A very good market bird. There is another of these peculiar ducks, the 00. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. Dendrocygna fulva. Which is yellowish-brown, darker on the head, no white on wing; black bill and bluish feet ; about the same size and same locality, but comes farther up the Gulf coast. OF NORTH AMERICA. 43 dl. WHISTLING SWAN. Olor columbianus. Color white in full plumage, sometimes with rusty markings about the head; bill and feet black, the former with a small yellow spot in front of the eye; length under 5 feet; extent 6 to 7 feet. Young birds are smaller, ashy- gray, with a tint of reddish on the head; bill and feet flesh-color. They habit the entire continent of North America, but are rare on the North Atlantic coast. They feed on aquatic plants and in- sects, which they glean from the bottom with their long necks ever and anon poked up in the air and then thrust down to the mud, but they never dive while feeding. It is a much debated question among sportsmen naturalists whether they ever line or not; they are, how- ever, credited with this feat when in danger, but they are seldom approached very closely without taking wing. Their voice is loud, and they are exceedingly noisy when feeding, but it is needless to say that “the sweet ware bling of the dying swan” is “all in your eye.” They couid not warble if they wanted to. 022. TRUMPETER SWAN. Olor buceinator. This bird is hardly to be distinguished from No. 51 except by its larger size, being about 5 feet long and 8 feet in extent of wines, 44 THE GAME BIRDS weighing about 40 Ibs. There is one point of difference in full-grown birds, which should be constant, viz., No. 51 has twenty feathers in the tail and No. 52 has twenty-four. Both these birds are good eating, and sportsmen need not quibble over the feathers in the tail if they have an opportunity to bring one to bag, for they are the cream of bird-shooting. OF NORTH AMERICA. 45 THE WADERS: 53. * WHOOPING CRANE. Grus americand. Old birds white, with black wine-tips ; bill greenish; tegs black; head naked, car- mine color, sparsely covered with hair-like black feathers; eyes yellow. The young birds are gray ish- white, with patches of cinna- ai acuieae head feathered, of the same brown color. Length 43 feet ; extent, 73 feet, weight 12 to 30 lbs. Female a little smaller. It principally habits the Southern States and the Mississippi Valley. Its voice is loud and can be heard a long distance. These birds feed upon grains, vegetables, worms, mice, reptiles, or in fact almost anything which comes within their reach. They are strong fliers and keep up a continuous croak as they carry their Indian file through the air. They are exceedingly wary, and are best shot from blinds, as they come to feed in the shores of the shallow ponds of the South. I scarcely am able to distinctively class this bird and its succeeding allies as game birds, although their flesh is not bad eating, and is much relished by some, so I have admitted 46 THE GAME BIRDS them under the hypothetical list, as almost any sportsman would drop them if he-had an opportunity. 54. * LITTLE BROWN CRANE. Grus canadensis. Plumage of old bird lead-gray; wing-tips alittle darker. Head nearly ‘bare, as in No 53, crimson ; bill and feet black; eyes red. Young, with head feathered, and plumage patched with rusty-brown. Length 3} feet. Extent, 6 feet and over. The only record of the weight of this bird is one shot in Texas, viz., 11g lbs., but it is stated that they weigh as much as 17 lbs. The habits of this bird are very similar to No. 538, and, like them, they exhibit strange antics in the mating season. In fact they conduct a war dance, in which the fe- males join as well, and the whooping and circling are equal to a country dance. There is another bird which is closely re- eited=— thie Do.) AND) Ei CRANE. COMMON BROWN CRANE. Grus mexicana. Plumage and habits exactly like the last, and in fact it was alw ays considered one species until very lately, but the variety OF NORTH AMERICA. AT makers have decided ‘that they shall be di- vorced, basing their decree upon the differ- ence in size ot birds. The size of this bird is: Extent, 63 feet; length, nearly 4 feet. 56. KING RAIL. RED-BREAST RAIL. FRESH-WATER MARSH-HEN. Rallus elegans. Predominating color olive-brown, streaked with very dark brown; plain brown on top of head and neck ; chestnut-brown on wings ; reddish-brown below; lighter on the belly. ‘The sides are darker and streaked with white. Length, 14 feet; extent, 2 feet. Bill and feet yellow-brown; eyes red. Is found in the fresh-water marshes of the eastern United States, south of lat. 40° N., where it skulks and hides in the high grass and_ reeds, and can even take to the water on approach of the dog, flying principally by night, and not starting easily when approached. They feed upon insects, reptiles and seeds of the aquatic plants and grasses. Their flesh is good, well flavored, and this, combined with their size, makes them a favorite game bird. He Ch APPER RATA SALT WATER MARSH-HEN. Rallus longirostris crepitans. Varieties — California Clapper Rail, Louis- lana Clapper Rail. 48 THE GAME BIRDS General appearance something like No. 56, but considerably smaller, and a little Hehter in general tone. ‘The lower parts are more melee to a grayish color, as, in fact, is the whole bird. Length 15 inches ; extent about 20 inches. The two varieties are only such as are pro- duced by difference of climate and local sur- roundings, and are so nearly alike, that the average sportsman could not distinguish them ~unless laid side by side. Jt may be very well for our ultra scientific workers to devote their time to finding varieties, and these va- rieties may be valid and constant, but it seems to the average sportsman that they would be better employed otherwise. These birds frequent the salt and brackish water marshes of our shores on both coasts, on about the same range as No. 56. They take to the water more freely even than the fresh-water bird, but afford excellent sport if properly hunted. ‘The most approved plan is to place a good poler in the stern of a skiff, while the gunner stands in the bow, and is propelled through the reeds which the birds occupy as a home. This sport requires a quick eye and a steady hand and_ balance, while the poler must be steady and quick to ‘mark ”’ the birds as they fall. In the autumn they are very good eating, as they are clean feeders themselves at this season. OF NORTH AMERICA. 49 08. VIRGINIA RAIL. Rallus virginianus. Not often known to sportsmen as being more than a smaller bird of No. 56, or a dark colored bird of No. 59. In plumage it is al- most an exact copy on a small scale of No. 56, measuring about 9 inches in length and 133 in extent. They are more or less abundant in the marshes, both salt and fresh, from Massachu- setts southward, of course leaving its more northern range when cold weather approaches. They also are found in small numbers on the western coast, and are not rare in the interior. Their home appears to be in the marshes from New York to Carolina, and here they are found in considerable numbers, affording good sport, but there is not meat enough upon them to make them of much value as rood: The old sayine “as thin asa rail,” might have been a comparison with this bird, without deviation from the sense. Our birds in the north in summer are not near so numerous as the succeeding species, but only a few gunners make any distinction, so that perhaps more are seen than are reported. 50 THE GAME BIRDS 09. SORA. CAROLINA RAIL. CAROLINA CRAKE. Porzana carolina. Predominating color rich yellowish-brown, with numerous streaks and spots of white; head shaded with black, sides hehter, barred with white, and belly nearly white. In younger birds the colors are not so clearly de- fined, the impression being that of a faded bird. Length about 9 inches; extent of wings about 1 foot or more; bill and legs yellowish-green ; eyes brown. Inhabits the whole of North’ America ; most common in the temperate regions, where it swarms in the reedy marshes. This is the common rail of gunners, and is deservedly a favorite with them. Many are the hours OF NORTH AMERICA. Fae spent in wading the meadows in pursuit of these birds. They do not rise much more readily than others of the family, and have a way of skulking which is conducive of bad language. 60. YELLOW RAIL. Porzana noveboracensis. Predominating color dull yellowish, barred with black and white; belly lighter, but with a more yellowish tinge than any of the other varieties. Bill darker than the others; feet and legs flesh-colored ; eyes hazel. A smaller bird, about 6 inches long and a foot or less in extent. This bird is not common anywhere, more reserved in his habits, not so noisy, and moves about mostly in the twilight. It ranges all over the continent. 61. BLACK RAIL. Porzana jamaicensis. Very dark colored, and finely speckled with white, with some bars ; bill black; legs and feet greenish-yellow; eyes red. Smaller than any of the others, being under 6 inches long and about 11 inches in extent. Also widely distributed, but not commonly seen. The reason that I note these birds is that sportsmen may look for them and report their capture that their relative abundance may be better known. SS) a THE GAME BIRDS The succeeding three birds I admit to this list under protest, as I do not consider them game in any sense of the word, although I would not cast reflection upon any man who shoots them. Perhaps aman may be pardoned for taking that which is pleasing to the ar- tistic sense by reason of its beautiful colors or graceful form, as well as he who caters to the demands of an epicurean appetite. These birds are beautiful ; they are sometimes eaten ; they are shot, hence they are here at the solicitation of parties interested. 62. *PURPLE GALLINULE. BLUE MUD-HEN. lonornis martinica. Color above, greenish shaded with the purple of the head and under parts, darker in belly and wings; the bill is red, tipped yellow, and above it is a sort of shield of blue color; legs yellow. South Atlantic and Gulf States, sometimes north to lat. 40°. Length 1 foot, extent nearly 2 feet. A beautiful bird with many of the characteristics of the Coots, and like them living in the marshes and on the edges of the ponds. I found one of these birds, in captivity, in possession of Mr. Andrew Downs, of Halifax, Nova, Scotia. It was captured in that place, and when I saw it there in 1889, was reason- ably tame. It would feed upon the seeds OF NORTH AMERICA. ae thrown in the aviary for the other birds, and would come down and eat with them. It passed a portion of the time in the branches of a small tree, which occupied the centre, and roosted there at night, placing its long toes over the spreading twigs where they forked, as it could not clasp its toes around the branches. 63. *FLORIDA GALLINULE. Gallinula galeata. Back dark slate-color; head, neck and breast brownish or black, becoming lighter on the belly; edges of wing white, w ith stripes of same color on the sides ; bill, which has a helmet like the last named species, is red with ereen tip; legs greenish; eyes red, brown in young birds. Weight about 1 lb.; a little larger bird than the ieee and inhabiting ae the same country, except that these birds regular visitors to the North for breeding, ee they are more inland in their habits. Like the Rails, they dangle their feet when they fly, and soon drop. 64. * AMERICAN COOT. MUD-HEN. MEADOW-HEN. Fulica americana. Predominating color Sslate-blue; > much darker on the head and neck, and tinged with brownish on the back; edge of wings white, 54 THE GAME BIRDS and same color under the tail; bill white, shaded with very dark red at tip and _ base. Legs greenish slate-color, and the joints of the toes are furnished with broad flaps. Eyes red. Length 17 feet, extent 2 feet or over. Its habits are very much lke the Gallinules, inhabiting the marshes where the reeds are thick and the water plenty, and though they delight to sport in the open water, they quickly take to their reedy coverts when disturbed. The reason that I objected to their intro- duction here was on account of the general verdict of gunners that they were unfit for food. I never tried but once; I never shall try again; a thought of the first experience is enough, and in my younger days any one who would eat a ** mud-hen” would eat crow. But I have found many advocates of the bird, as many as of the ** Sea-Coot,” another of the same ilk as regards epicurean tastes, and hence it is here. OF NORTH AMERICA. 55 65. RED PHALAROPE. WHALE-BIRD. Crymophilus fulicarius. The adult birds, in summer, are nearly uniform wine-color on the under sides, and the top of the head is almost black. The rump is white, and the sides of the head are the same color, which markings extend over the back of ile neck. The back has a tawny appearance, because the black feathers are all edged with brownish. The wing feathers are “all marked with white. Eyes brown. Legs black ; bill yellow- ish at base, black at tip. Extent 143 ‘inches, length 74 inches. Sportsmen seldom see this bird in the full plumage, as they are then generally in the far North, and they pass this Section of the coast without coming on shore, except by accident, about the first two weeks in May. In winter they are more common in civil- ized latitudes, but would har dly be recognized as the same bird. The back is dark gray, and the head and under parts are nearly white. The white markings on the wings are also noticeable. It is hardly fair to class these birds as shore-birds, as they only come to land when blown in by heavy w inds. I think that this bird is typically a sea-bird, and like the Stormy Petrel, makes its bed upon the waves, and sleeps with both eyes open. During heavy northeast storms, I have had it reported 56 THE GAME BIRDS thirty miles inland, but do not remember of ever hearing from it on other conditions. 66. NORTHERN PHALAROPE. Phalaropus lobatus. Whale-bird. Adult birds in summer plu- mage are among our most beautiful birds. The back is gray, banded with ochre-yelow. The under parts are white, and the neck is nearly encircled by a band of beautiful brownish-red. The wings are darker than the back, and plainly marked with a band of white. [yes dark brown, bill and feet black. A _ trifle smaller than No. 65. They vary much from this plumage at different ages and seasons, the immature and winter birds being darker, and with the reddish neck less evident. Much like No. 65 in general habits, living mostly at sea, where they feed upon the float ing weeds which carry the insects and small crustaceans which they favor. They occa- sionally go inland, and I think are found over the greater part of North America. 67. WILSON’S PHALAROPE. Phalaropus tricolor. Although all the Phalaropes are peculiar, iieorgaeen the female is larger and more hand- somely colored than is the male, in none is it OF NORTH AMERICA. 5t better exemplified than in this instance. Her neck is of a beautiful purplish-red shading into velvety-black upon the sides of the head, and this color can be traced back to the wings ; the back and top of head are gray, becoming lighter at the base of the tail, and the wings are slightly darker. Under parts pure white, breast shaded with buff. Eyes brown, bill and feet black; in size larger than either of the others of the family. The male is much smaller, and, although he has about the same marks, they are not so bright. The young, and the old birds in winter, are light-gray above, white beneath, and breast shaded darker. These birds are exceedingly rare in the East, but quite common in the interior and westward. They are to be found on the ponds and marshes, and feed upon the insects and snails. All these birds are at home upon.the water, but seldom or never dive. This pecuharity of the sexes has given vise to many tales of female supremacy and domination, but I fear that it will follow those of the song of the dying swan, * It’s all in your eye.” Although, perhaps, these birds do not come distinctly within the limits of my definition of game, I never saw a sportsman who would not shoot one, and should consider him lack- ing in mental capacity if he did not. 58 THE GAME BIRDS 68. AMERICAN AVOCET. Recurvirostra americana. Predominating color of the full plumaged birds is white, shading to a hght brown on the neck and head, which seems to fade aw ay, as winter approaches, to a dull gray. Wings black. The bill is extremely long, being about one-fifth the length of the whole bir d, curved upward and black. Eyes heht brown. Legs very long; dull blue. ‘Extent Ze Leet, length nearly 13 feet. This is a very curious bird, with its small body and long legs and bill, and parti-colored plumage. It feeds upon the aquatic insects which inhabit the shallow pools about which it loves to wade, immersing its long bill to the bottom, skimming the top in rapid succes- sion, but they do also sometimes invade the orass fields, and wander over them in their search for food. They are now very rare in the Eastern United States, but seem to be common on the Pacifie coast, and the Eastern markets often receive them in consignments oS of game from the Mississippi Valley. 69. BLACK-NECKED STILT. LONG SHANKS. Himantopus mexicanus. Under side, forehead and base of tail white, and a large spot of same color on each side of the head back of the eye. ‘Top of head, nape OF NORTH AMERICA. 59 of neck, back and wings black ; eyes and legs red; bill black. The female and young birds are similar, but not so bright. Length 15 inches (variable on account of the length of the bill, which is from 2} to 5 inches long) ; extent 2} feet. Another long-legged bird, and in habits and distribution much like No. 68, but more southerly. I have never seen this bird in the East, but it has been reported as occurring here, and doubtless is often in our markets. They are said to be social, feeding in large flocks, and not particularly wary. 0. AMERICAN WOODCOEK: Philohela minor. There are a number of vernacular names for this bird, but I think that all will recognize it without difficulty. It is almost outside the ee @ limits of the power of man to describe the magnificent marking of russet-brown and black which characterize the plumage of this 60 THE GAME BIRDS bird, which, however, is easily recognizable - on the long bill, short legs, stub tail, and the position of the eyes, which are set high up in the head, and far back ; eyes black ; pill and legs flesh-colored. Average weight about 6} oz., but have been taken weighing 9 oz. The habitat is Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, which is now the finest place for this bird within reach of Eastern sports- men. When I was there in the fall of 1889, big bags were reported during the last of September, and while at Kentville, in the centre of the Province, one man brought in 28 birds taken by himself, and this did not appear to be considered out of the usual course of things. The sportsmen of the Southwest have apparently a bountiful field in the low river bottoms which intersect that country. Many characterize this bird as the a King of Game Birds,” and he is entitled to surely a princely rank, if not the head. There is a bird which has been taken in this country, one-third larger, but with about the same coloration and markings. ‘This is the European Woodcock, and is so very rare that a bird weighing over 9 oz. should be pre- served by its fortunate captor, at least until it has been examined by ornithologists. I have a record of a woodcock we eighing 12 oz., shot in Maine by a Dr. Gardner, “put I have been unable to get more details. If not the Eu- ropean variety, I think it heads the list for weight. OF NORTH AMERICA. 61 71. WILSON’S SNIPE. Gallinago delicata. Known as English Snipe, but this latter name should hardly be used, for the European Snipe is not unknown on this side of the water. Upper side varied brownish-black and tawny; top of head black, with a tawny stripe down the middle; breast and _ sides brown, spotted with darker; belly nearly white; eyes brown; feet and bill greenish, the latter about 2? inches long; weight 3} to 44 oz.; length 11 inches, extent 18 inches. The females will average a trifle less than this, but in all other particulars are similar to the male. This bird inhabits the fresh marshes all over the continent, and its “Scaipe” and twisting flight is well known. ‘This is prob- ably one of our most difficult birds to shoot, as the moment it is fairly launched into the air it assumes an erratic course of flight pro- ductive of misses and profanity. Half-lee deep in the bog, with a crazy bird in front, about the safest plan is to snap at the bird as soon as it starts, and before it fairly gathers itself. This needs a quick eye and “finger, and few men are sure of their bird. They are most delicious birds for the table. 62 THE GAME BIRDS iz.) DOW LTECHER: RED-BREASTED SNIPE. BROWN-BACK. Macrorhamphus griseus. Back brownish-black, mottled with light reddish-brown. Under parts of the same light color, shading to almost white on the belly inside of wings white, marked with sack rump white, showing very plainly during flieht; tail black, barred with white. In winter the general tone is grayish, mottled with darker; white below, shaded with gray- ish on the breast, sides and throat; bill and legs greenish-yellow; eyes dark reddish- brown; length about 11 inches, of which 2} inches is bill; extent 18 inches. Supposed to inhabit only Eastern North America, and to be replaced in the West by a variety CM. yg. scolopaceus) which rarely comes East. This latter bird differs only in averaging larger in size; the bill averages longer, and the belly is cinnamon-brown, in- stead of whitish. The variety makers have decreed that they shall be twain, and they are so laid down; but I doubt if any average sportsman could distinguish them if laid side by side. They are both excellent game birds, and finely flavored, coming to decoys nicely, and alight ina bunch. ‘Those that are not killed when a flock is fired upon, wheel around over their dead and wounded com- rades, returning again and again, although OF NORTH AMERICA. 63 repeatedly fired at. They frequent the low flats and marshes, in tide waters following the ebb and flow. ia. SLERE SANDPIPER. Micropalama himantopus. Predominating color black, mottled with white and brown; a reddish spot is on each side of the head and also a dusky line. Tail eray, under side reddish, mottled and barred with black and white; bill and feet dark ereen; eyes brown; length 8} inches; extent about 16 inches; legs very long. In winter they change to a gray color, mottled with lighter, and the legs are paler in color, with the under parts of breast and belly nearly white. This bird may be considered as really not common anywhere. ‘Their range extends all over the continent east of the Rockies, and the only place where they may be considered as any way common is on the outlying points of our Eastern coast about the first of August, when they roam the flats in company w ith the sanderlings and tattlers. (4-9 KNOT. *“RED-BREAST PLOVER. Tringa canutus. Sometimes called Robin Snipe, in common with No. 72. The young are known as gray backs. The adult birds are black on the back, 64 THE GAME BIRDS this color being broken by each feather being tipped with dirty white; breast and belly reddish-brown ; tail gray, edged with white, short and even; bill stout and greenish-black ; legs same color; eyes dark brown; extent 20 inches; length 103 inches. One of our handsomest shore birds, inhabit- ing almost the whole world. In this country most common on the eastern coast, becoming rare westward, about the great rivers and lakes. The young birds are gray, marked with white above, and white, with a tinge of reddish, below. The markings on the back remind one of a succession of black and white semicircles. ‘The spring migration passes lat. 40° N. about May, and returns early in August, at which time they are very fat, and a bonne bouche for an epicure. They feed on shell-fish and marine crustaceans, which the pick up on the flats at low tide. They follow the flow of the waves upon the beach, running back and forth vivaciously, and not seeming to mind when they were not quick enough to avoid an incoming wave, which took them from their feet and floated them along. The call of two sharp notes — ** Wheep, wheep ” —is easily imitated, and they will often come within range, without blinds or decoys. OF NORTH AMERICA. 65 io. PURPLE SANDPIPER: at haere Tringa maritima. Predominating color of the bird which is generally known to sportsmen, is dark purple on upper parts and wings, the latter edged with white ; breast lighter, each feather edged with white. This color extends along under the wings, but the belly is pure white : legs and bill flesh-color, the latter with black tir . The adult breeding plumage is seldom seen, as the bird has a circumpolar range, coming South only in the autumn and winter. Their length is 9 inches, and extent about 16 inches. They are rarely seen before the first of Oc- tober, and confine themselves to the rocky beaches, so that only a few have ever seen them, and still fewer have shot them. There are two birds closely allied to this one, but they probably never come farther south than Alaska. I never saw one, and know nothing about them. ‘They are the Aleutian and Prybilof sandpipers. 76. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. GRASS-BIRD. JACK-SNIPE. Tringa maculata. The color of the upper parts is a mixture of ashy and reddish markings on a dark brown ground; under parts white; breast and sides of neck dull hight brown, marked with streaks 66 THE GAME BIRDS of darker; patch of white under the chin, and a white line over the eye. The crown is a mixture of streaks of dark brown and light chestnut, and the nape of the neck is lighter, being streaked with two shades of a dull yellowish cast. Wings darker than body. In the young fall birds the breast has more of a yellow tinge. Base of tail black; eyes brown; legs greenish-yellow. Length 9 inches; extent 17 inches. These birds are found all over the country, and I think are, as regards habits, pretty much the same wherever found. They love the low, muddy shores and flats, and the grassy meadows above tide water, feeding upon the crustaceans, grasshoppers and other small insects. They are a favorite game bird, although small; as they are quick of flight, somewhat resembling the snipe, and when ‘“ walked up” give a good shot an opportunity to show his skill. They are fine food, although small, and one never need throw them one side as useless. There are two other birds closely allied to this, and to the casual observer differing but. little. >The first: Ti. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER: Tringa fuscicollis. Differs principally in the base of the tail being white; the breast without the dull color; aaa OF NORTH AMERICA. 67 smaller size. Length 7} inches, and extent 15 inches. Eyes brown, legs brownish. Found on the beaches as well as on the marshes. Gunners on the east coast have found a smaller bird mingling with flocks of No. 76, and they often have remarked that they are a different species. I have never been able to secure one of the smaller birds, but have no doubt that it will prove to be 78. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: Tringa bairdit. Rare on the coast but plentiful in the in- terior, and differing from No. 76 in its smaller size, the length being 7 inches, and extent of wings about 15} inches. The neck is the same color as the crown. The mark- ings on the back have a tendency to yellowish rather than chestnut, and red as in the Grass- bird. The shading on the breast is ight, and the bill and feet are black. 79° LRAST: SANDPIPER. PEEP. BUMBLE-BEE. Tringa minutilla. Back of full plumaged birds ashy-gray, mottled with black and brown; throat and sides, grayish ; under parts white ; eyes brown ; bill and feet, greenish-slate ; length, about 54 inches ; extent, 11 inches. This bird hardly 68 THE GAME BIRDS needs especial description, as its small size is sufficient to distinguish it from the others, although No. 82 is but little larger. In habits, this species is but little differ- ent from the rest of its tribe, running about among the pools of water left by the receding tide, picking up the insects and shell-fish. They are exceedingly restless, and seldom in one spot for more than amoment. They breed in the far North, but are so irregular in their movements that they are with us nearly every month in the summer. Tam much in doubt whether to admit these birds in the list, but they are so closely asso- ciated with others of “ like ilk,” that I am in a measure obliged to describe them. It would take about a dozen to make a mouth- ful, but when that mouthful is obtained, it is one of the sweetest morsels that ever titillated the palate of an epicure. My mouth waters at the thought of ‘ peep-stew,” and I can pardon the man who calls them game, though they be not larger than sparrows. °80. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. DUNLIN. FALL-SNIPE. OX-BIRD. Tringa alpina pacified. In the full summer plumage, the back is a reddish-brown, mottled with black and shaded with grayish touches; wings, mottled gray and brown, shaded with white; the head, neck and breast are ashy, marked with elon- OF NORTH AMERICA. 69 gated spots of darker; belly black, rest of un- der part white. The winter plumage is so much different, that they are often esteemed as separate birds. They then lack the red back and the black belly. The upper parts are mottled gray, and the under parts nearly white, the breast being streaked with dusky; eyes dark brown; bill and feet black; length, 83 inches ; extent, 15 inches. This is deservedly a favorite bird with sportsmen, both from its beautiful plumage, and for its edible qualities. They are on our New England shores about the first of May, and again during October. They feed on the sandy flats, and in the autumn are easily captured, any boy being able to walk them up or call them down. They inhabit the whole of North America, breeding in the Arctics. There is aslightly smaller bird, which can be only distinguished by its size, and dis- proportionately elevated bill. This is the European Dunln, a rare visitant to our Atlantic shores. 81. CURLEW SANDPIPER. FERRUGINEOUS SANDPIPER. Tringa ferrugined. Top of head and back, bright greenish- black, mottled with a clear reddish ; neck and under side, reddish-brown; bill and legs, 70 THE GAME BIRDS ereenish-black ; the former long and curved downwards, and the latter long and slender. This bird is a very rare visitor to our Atlantic shores, and there are only about fifteen in- stances of its occurrence here recorded. Itis with the hope that more may be reported that this note is inserted. The length is about 81 inches, and the extent about 14 inches, nearly the size of the Dunlin. 82. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER. PEER. Hreunetes pusillus. Predominating color grayish-brown, formed by the intermingling of black in the field of each feather, surrounded by red and tipped with white; pure white below. In winter and in the young birds the color is gray- ish, and in both dresses the breast is shaded OF NORTH AMERICA. TA with dark. Length a trifle over 6 inches, extent about 12 inches; eyes dark brown; bill and legs greenish-black. This bird much resembles the other peep (No. 79), and probably but few sportsmen recognize a difference between them, and for their purposes no distinction is necessary, as their habits are similar. Many a sportsman, when the larger birds are not flying, makes out his day’s sport with these little birds, and when they are wild it will require some patience and craft to secure more than a dozen or so unless they are very plentitul. 83. WESTERN SANDPIPER. Ereunetes occidentalis. This is another case of hair splitting on the part of our ornithologists, and I do not think that over one in fifty of my readers could dis- tinguish this bird from the last if they lay side by side, so for all readers west of the Rockies, for No. 82 read No. 83.. 84. SANDERLING. GRAY-BACK. BULL PEEP. Calidris arenaria. In the summer plumage the back is mottled with shell-uke markings of black, gray and reddish, formed by each feather having a black centre and a reddish or gray tip. This 764 THE GAME BIRDS marking is a very difficult one to describe in unscientific language, and must be seen to be appreciated. The belly is pure white and the breast mottled. The winter and young plumage lacks the reddish and the breast is shaded with buff. Length 8 inches; extent over 15 inches; eyes brown; bill and feet black. This bird is found at various seasons over the entire continent, and for beauty is sur- passed by but few. It passes Massachusetts, going northward, early in May, and returns in July, the adults coming first and the young following in August. They feed upon the sandy beaches and flats almost exclusively, and seem to be in constant motion. They will follow a “ breaker” down until they are wading in the rolling surf, and skurry back to avoid the rush when it returns. Since the approach of civilization has driven the larger birds away from our shores, more of these birds are shot than formerly, but they are as deserving as the plovers of a place in the game bag. They are a good table bird, and are oenerally in good condi- tion, especially the young birds in the fall. OF NORTH AMERICA. fie 85. MARBLED GODWIT. MARLIN. Limosa fedoa. Predominating color dark brown, variegated with reddish-brown spots and markings. ‘The under parts are of a rusty color, and the markings are finer. The bill is long, curved aA ® upwards slightly, flesh-colored, with dark- brown tip. Legs long, blackish. Length 18 inches; extent about 33 inches. Eyes brown. Distinguishing Features. — Rump and up- per side of tail barred; lining of wings red- dish ; markings on under side in short streaks ; bill 4 to 43 inches long. This, one of the largest of our “shore birds,” is not very common on our Eastern shores, but will be found in goodly numbers south of Cape Hatteras, where they congre- gate on the marshes; in the interior they fre- quent the wet prairies. They are shy birds, but come to decoy well, and, if one is wounded, the others will often hover over, affording another shot, if the gunner is not in too much of a hurry, and will call them back. 74 THE GAME BIRDS There is another bird of this family, which is common in Alaska, known as the White- tailed Godwit, but it so seldom comes within our range that I do not give it especial men- tion. It is common in the Old World. 86. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. SPOT-RUMP. Limosa hemastica. Predominating color more of a grayish cast than No. 85; and the under parts are reddish- brown, barred with dusky and whitish lines. The winter plumage is gray, and under parts erayish-white, with but few markings. Bill like the last-named bird, but much shorter (22 to 8} inches). Legs slate-colored; eyes darkish-brown. Length 15 inches; extent 27 inches. There are variations of plumage in every combination between the two stages. Distinguishing Features. — Tail — black, g tipped with w hite, and with white base, ceiving the common name of “Spot-Rump ” ; lining of wings blackish. This bird is somewhat smaller than the Marbled Godwit, but the habits are very similar. Its range is over the entire con- tinent, south to South America, except west of the Rocky Mountains, but it nowhere seems to be common. 30th these birds are delicate in flavor, and are true game birds. They are often con- founded with the curlews, but are readily distinguished, as the bill turns up, and in the other it turns down. OF NORTH AMERICA. 1d 87. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. WINTER YELLOW-LEGS. TATTLER Totanus melanoleucus. Back nearly black, speckled with white. Head and neck lighter, due to the white be- ing in the form of streaks; a white line above the eye, and the rump white, slghtly barred. Under side white, marked with a few lines toward the breast, which is much streaked with gray. Eyes brown. Bill black and long (24 inches), slightly turned upwards. Legs long and slender, chrome-yellow in color. Length about 18 inches; extent 2 feet. The young plumage is hghter, with fewer dark markings. These birds arrive early from the South, are gone to the far North before summer opens, and on their return linger in the temperate latitudes until the cold weather is fairly upon us. I know not whether this bird is the more admired as a game bird, or hated by gunners for its noisy, vociferous cries when it sees them: many a good shot at plover has been spoiled by one of these birds setting up its infernal ** cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu’’ when they were crawling upon a flock of birds. Still they are not difficult to secure; are easily called to blind on the edge of the sedge, as their call is not difficult to imitate. They feed principally upon the small fish which swim about in the little pools left upon 76 THE GAME BIRDS the flats by the receding tide, and they wade about in the shallow water, following its edge as it recedes and advances, continually keep- ing up a bobbing motion, as if they kept up the motion so as to strike more quickly when occasion served. 88. YELLOW-LEGS. LESSER YELLOW-LEGS. Totanus flavipes. A miniature counterpart of No. 87 so far as all practicak purposes go. Length 11 inches; extent 20 inches; bill 1} inches and straight ; the legs are longer in proportion to its size than im..No.-37. dt. is-iound in “thessame localities as its larger prototype, and resem- bles it in habits. In New England, however, itis known as Summer Yellow-legs, since it arrives from the North about the middle of July, and leaves for the South as early as September 15. It is, in autumn, a fat, fairly flavored bird, but is so easily captured that one soon tires of shooting them. ‘They will come again and again to the blind, where lie outstretched a number of their fellows, who have just fallen, and do not seem to mind the showers of lead which are poured into their midst. I have often wondered where they passed in their spring migration northward, as we seldom see them at that time upon the New Lis fi OF NORTH AMERICA. ay England coast, and I am inclined to think that they go up the valley of the Mississippi, and spread out after they pass the Canadian range of mountains. 59.) SOLITARY SANDPIPER, Totanus solitartus. Above, greenish-brown, finely speckled on back and streaked on the head and neck with white; white on the under side, the sides of the body and neck marked and barred with dusky; tail barred white and black; bill black ; feet greenish ; eyes brown. The shades are lighter in the younger birds. Length 8} inches; extent 161 inches. It seems strange that this bird does not fivure more in the more popular treatises on game, for itis not an uncommon visitant to all sections of the country. It prefers, I think, the fresh water, although often found feeding from the pools of salt water near the shore. ‘They are very shy, and more or less like the little “ Tip-up ” in their behavior, bobbing about on the shores of the shallow streams and ponds. They are very quiet and reserved, and seldom whistle except when started. 78 THE GAME BIRDS 905 WILERET. HUMELIEY-. Sym phemia semipalmata, Predominating color of old birds in full plumage dark ashy-gray, varying in shade with the age, and more or less marked with black- ish, in interrupted bars; there is also a shad- ing of brown; under side white, with brown- ish shade, and marked on the breast and sides with black ; rump white, and there is a white band on the wings which is very appar- ent during flight; eyes brown; bill black; legs bluish. The young plumage is heght ashy-gray, under side white, and there are numberless intermediate shades between this stage and full plumage. Length 16 inches; extent 28 inches. It is claimed that there is a variety, ot. WESTERN Wie. Symphem ia semipalmata inornata, Which occurs in the district west of the Miss- issippi. ‘The distinguishing trait is only apparent in full plumaged birds, except for the sheht difference in size, the western bird being a trifle larger, bill longer and slenderer, general tone lighter, and markings not so apparent. I am not going to quarrel over a shade in color, but whether you find the bird in Kan- sas or in New Jersey you will find him the OF NORTH AMERICA. T9 same shy, suspicious yelper who starts into the air at the first smiff of danger, sounding his alarm note, to the end of warning all the birds within hearing, and discomfiting the gun- ner. They will, however, come to stool in very fair shape, but when secured are not of much value, as they are tough and of not particularly good flavor. Their haunts and food are much like No. 87. 92. WANDERING TATLER. Heteractitis ineanus. Predominating color dark gray, under side white, sometimes shaded on the throat, and in other phases of plumage streaked and barred with dark. Bill black, length 10 in- ches, extent about 18 inches. This bird is found along the extreme Pacific coast, and I know nothing about it, and never saw but two specimens. 93. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. UPLAND PLOVER. Bartramia longicauda. Predominating color dark brown, each feather being edged with reddish. The neck and breast are lighter, which color extends to and upon the head, the top of which is dark 80 THE GAME BIRDS brown. The breast bears the V-shaped mark characteristic of many of our shore birds. Under parts dirty white. The tail is barred with black, the centre feathers being darker than the others. Eyes hazel-brown. Bill yellow below, black above and at tip. Legs greenish-yellow. Length 12 inches. Extent 22 inches. These birds differ from the majority of its kind in frequenting the high fields, pastures, and prairies, in their search for food, which consists of grasshoppers, crickets, etc.; and it is seldom seen on the shores. They are exceedingly variable in their spring migrations, arriving here (Lat. 42° N.) from the middle of April anywhere along un- til the same time in May, and then perhaps there may only a very few appear, where the season before they were plenty. They return in July, and are with us about a month. Here in the East a more wary bird does not exist, not even barring the grouse, and a good bag of these birds is a rarity. I have heard that on the Western prai- ries sportsmen ride them down, and no doubt many a gunner here wishes he could, as he sees a scared flock go “ over the hills and far away ” before he can get within range. They must be stalked, or, if the gunners work in pairs, they may often be driven over. They are delicious eating, and justly much esteemed. OF NORTH AMERICA. 81 94. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Tryngites subruficollis. Prevailing color mottled dark-brown with a greenish shade, each feather above being tipped with yellowish. The distinguishing feature, however, is the buff-colored breast and belly, unmarked save for a few spots, where it commences to shade into the darker color of the back ; this color is deeper in the spring, and in adult birds. Length 8 inches. Ex- tent 16 inches. Eyes brown. Bill dark brown. Legs yellowish-green. This bird is rare along the Eastern coast, and I think common nowhere. It seems to fly in company with No. 76, and, being about the same size and of similar habit, I have no doubt is often taken for that bird in the fall migrations. 95. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. TEETER. FELP-UP; “OX—EY E. Actitis macularia. Color olive-gray, finely mottled with black. Under side white, spotted with black, and there is a white mark over the eye. Length 74 inches. Extent 13 inches. Eyes dark brown. Bill flesh-color, tipped with black. Feet pinkish-white. I hardly know whether to class this bird as a game bird, but it is hard to say “ where 82 THE GAME BIRDS the chicken ends and where the hen begins.” It is as large as a Peep, Nos. 79 and 82, and many a sportsman has made out an otherwise meagre bag with these birds, so why not tmleerers 2 Phey come here in, April sane stay allsummer, feeding and breeding on the shores of the ocean, and, in fact, almost any small pond or river which will afford them food. The motion of bobbing the tail while moving or standing is as characteristic as 1s the bobbing of the head indulged in by the Tattlers. I have never seen these birds take to the water, but have been told that they will even swim under water for a short distance. They seem to prefer the calm pools to the surfy shores. I cannot say how they would do for eating, but should think they would be very good if enough could be obtained to make a show- ing. 96. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. SICKLE-BILL. Numenius longirostris. Predominating color reddish-brown, barred or spotted with darker. Under side cinna- mon-brown, unmarked save for a few faint streaks of darker. Length about 2 feet. Ex- tent over 3 feet. Eyesdark brown. Bill black, OF NORTH AMERICA. 83 the under side yellowish, and very long, much curved downward. This is a distinguishing feature of the bird, often measuring 6 or 8 inches in length. Legs bluish. Weight averages about 30 ozs. This is one of the largest game birds which visit our shores, and is accordingly much prized by sportsmen, although asa table bird MS it is far inferior to the Plovers. They will stand a heavy dose of lead without coming down, and as they fly high, are not always captured when seen. When they were more common, they were easily “ whistled’ down, but they have be- come rare on our shores, although not un- common in the Southern States in winter. They feed on the flat sand-bars upon crabs and other small crustaceans, which impart to their flesh something of their characteristic flavor. 84 THE GAME BIRDS 97. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. JACK-CURLEW. Numenius hudsonicus. Very similar in general appearance to No. 96, but smaller and lighter in color. More gray in general tone than reddish, and whit- ish underneath. Length 18 inches. Extent 32 inches. Bill black, and much shorter in proportion than that of No. 96, seldom being over 33 inches long, but with the decided downward curve peculiar to the family. This is our common Curlew, although the Dough-bird, No. 98, is most often seen in the market, being more prized for its flesh; the “Jack” being ranker, more like its larger relative, No. 96. The flight of any of the Curlews is not very rapid, but is strong and well sustained. 98. ESKIMO CURLEW. DOUGH-BIRD. Numenius borealis. Very similar in appearance to the other Curlews, but smaller than either of the others, and of a generally richer tone of color than No. 97, from which it varies in having V- shaped marks on the breast instead of short bars; but the size of the bird is the best point of difference. Length about 13 inches. Extent 28 inches. Bill- blackish, about 22 OF NORTH AMERICA. 85 inches long, and more slender than in the others of the family. Legs dark blue, with a greenish shade. Eyes dark brown. This bird is found farther from the shore than the other Curlews, as it loves the dry marshes, and the fields and pastures along the seashore, where it can find its favorite food of grasshoppers and crickets, and the higher land berries, when these are to be found, and which impart to their flesh the more pleasing flavor than is characteristic of the other Cur- lews, and which renders them of more value as a table bird, hence commanding a higher price in the market. There has been much debate over the orth- ography of its common name, Dough or Doe- bird. I have given preference to the former, merely from the individual opinion, backed by that of local New England market gunners, based on the description of its fat condition, which conveys the idea of a lump of dough. 99. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. BEETLE-HEAD. Charadrius squatarola. In full breeding plumage, the upper part of the head and neck is nearly white, with faint eray markings; the back is nearly black, mottled with white and brown. ‘Tail barred with black and white. The sides of the head, throat, and under side of body, is deep black, 86 THE GAME BIRDS shading into white at the base of the tail. Feet and bill black. In the immature and winter plumage all this is changed, however, and the bird loses nearly all its black color; the back becoming mottled brown and white, the breast nearly white, with a few darker markings; even the legs and bill assuming a lighter tone; and these birds shot at the different seasons of the year assume all the various grades between these two plumages. ® oe These birds are often confounded, more particularly in the gray phase, with No. 100, but they are easily distinguished by the pres- ence of the minute hind toe, which is lacking in the Golden Plover (see No. 100). Extent of wings 25 inches. Length of bird 111 inches. Eyes brown. This bird is found in nearly every quarter of the globe, and migrates North and South with the changes of the season. ‘The flocks frequent the beaches at low water, and, when the flats are covered, they retire to the marshes, there to await the fall of the tide to OF NORTH AMERICA. ST uncover their favorite food of small shell-fish, although they eat the insects of the higher beaches. They are shot from blinds at high water, over decoys, and whistled down, as they fly from the flats as these are covered by the flow- ing tide. But the gunner must be a good “caller,” or his bag will hang light, for an old ‘“‘beetle-head” is as crafty as a fox, and an experienced gunner will not even use decoys on the high beaches, as the old birds will often not come down to them, but he will pick out a spot which was occupied, on a former tide, by the birds, dig a hole in the sand, cover it with boards and sand, leaving openings to shoot from and knock them over as they come up. On the flats a sink-box is built on a bar, either natural or artificial, and the birds will approach, as it is uncovered before the sur- rounding flats are bare. I know of no bird which is a more univer- sal favorite with sportsmen, as it requires the ereatest skill for its capture, and affording, as it does, a fitting reward for the trouble un- dertaken. The flesh is delicate, and the birds gener- ally plump. 88 THE GAME BIRDS 100. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. GREEN-BACK. BULL-HEAD. Charadrius dominicus. Prevailing color brownish-black, in the old birds, marked on the back with numerous round spots of golden yellow, under parts black. This plumage changes in the autumn to a duller shade on the back, and the black disappears from the breast. which is now dirty white, irregularly blotched with dark brown spots which disappear in the winter, when both old and young birds are dark brown above; the light markings are larger than in the spring, giving a generally lighter tone. LADY f Wiz LTP ae LIELALETFY The under parts are now dull white, with erayish spots, which wholly disappear towards the base of the tail. Length about 10 inches. Extent about 22 inches, being a little smaller than No. 99. Feet and bill dark “bluish: Eyes dark brown. This bird is often confounded with the Beetle-head (No. 99), but is easily distin- guished by the absence of the little hind toe. There aré many other points of difference, as may be seen by comparison of these notes, but this is always constant and easily ap- parent. OF NORTH AMERICA. 89 It shares with its relative (No. 99) the esteem of sportsmen, and rivals it in its deli- cacy as a table bird. It frequents the high beaches and neighbor- ing uplands, and in habits and food much re- sembles No. 98, with which it much associates. These birds are shot on their flights, from holes dug in the ground and used as a cover for the gunner. 1016 SK LLEDEER. Aigialitis vocifera. Top of head and upper parts dark grayish- brown. Forehead, stripe over the eye, and under parts white, with two black bands on the throat. Rump bright chestnut. Wings and tail variegated with black, brown and o white. Leneth 10 inches. Extent 20 inches. Legs yellowish-gray. The immature plumage is similar but not as bright. They frequent the pastures and marshes and the borders of muddy ponds, and are very abundant in the West. They were formerly very plentiful on our Eastern shores, but of late are seldom seen. ‘The only time that any number have lately been seen Kast, was in November of 1888, when thousands were driven upon our shores by the great gale of November 25, and was then announced by me in the Boston Transcript of December 12. It was thought by some that these birds 5S were now to return to their old haunts, but 9() THE GAME BIRDS they have never been seen since in any numbers. In the West, where they are abundant, they are easily found, as their vociferous cries of “kill-deer, kill-deer,” are constantly ut- tered, and they are not difficult to approach. 102. SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER. RING-NECK. Ligialitis semipalmata. Upper parts dark gray. Under parts white. A broad black band encircles the neck, bor- dered in front with white, and a white stripe on forehead surrounded by black. Length 7 inches. Extent 15 inches. Bill yellow, black tipped. Legs flesh-color. Eyelids orange. Toes partly webbed. I presume that I may be criticized for in- cluding this among game birds, but it affords good sport when larger birds are scarce, and is good eating. They frequent the flats and beaches, going to the higher beaches to roost. 103.) PEPING EOWA: Aigialitis meloda. Pale and ashy-gray above. Forehead, sides of head, under side and ring around neck white. ‘There is a black bar across the top of head between the eyes, and another which OF NORTH AMERICA. 91 -more or less encircles the neck. (There is a variety in the West, occasionally found on the Atlantic coast, which has the black band on the neck completely encircling it, and this has been named A. m. circumcinctus, but it differs in no other way.) Bill yellow, black at tip. Legs orange-yellow. A colored ring around the eye. Length about 6% inches. Extent about 14 inches, being a trifle smaller than No. 102. They are very pretty birds to shoot, but, if wounded, will run like a witch, and are then a good test of marksmanship. 104. SNOWY PLOVER. Mgialitis nivosa. A little lighter in color than No. 103, and with a reddish tinge on the top of the head, which is nearly surrounded by a band of black. There is also a patch of black on either side of the neck, but it makes no attempt to encircle it as in No. 108, and there is no black band on breast as in No. 105. Biull black and slender. Legs black. Length 7 inches. Extent about 14 inches. Eyes and eyelids dark brown. This bird is found upon the Western shores and sometimes about the Gulf of Mexico and the salt lands of the interior. I know nothing of its habits, but am informed that it resembles No. 102. 99 THE GAME BIRDS 105; WILSONS- PEOVER. Migialitis wilsonia. This bird resembles No. 104 very closely, but differs in having a black band on the neck which does not extend over upon the back. The bill is very stout and large, and the legs are flesh-colored. Shghtly larger than No. 104; that is, a small specimen of this species would be about the same size as a large specimen of the other. It is found quite commonly on the shores of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 106. MOUND AIN {PEOVER Mgialitis montana. Prevailing color grayish-brown. Entirely white beneath. Forehead white, bordered with black. In winter, or in the young birds, the black marks on the head are not present, and the plumage has a rusty tinge. Bill black and slender. Legs pale brown. Length about 10 inches. Extent 18 inches. Eyes dark brown. These birds inhabit the high prairies, and seldom are found near marshy lands. They feed upon insects. OF NORTH AMERICA. 93 107. TURNSTONE. CHICKEN PLOVER. CALICO-BACK. Arenaria interpres. The adult male in breeding plumage is dressed like a harlequin, the back being blotched with black, white, brown and chest- nut. The under side is pure white, broken by a broad patch of black upon the breast. The lower part of the back is white, with a black patch on the rump, and the tail is black bordered with white. The wings also, bear a large white patch. The head is mottled black, brown and white with a broad black patch on either side extending down to the sides of the neck and connecting with the breast patch. The colors of the female are similar but the chestnut color is replaced with brown, and the general effect not so bright. Immature and winter plumage mostly brown and gray. The bright colors of the back are generally a distinguishing feature sufficient for recognition. The bill is black. Feet orange. Ey es black. Length 9 inches. Extent 18 inches. There is a variety on the Pacific coast in which the characteristic red color is replaced by black. These birds are found in nearly all quarters of the globe, and generally in small flocks of three to twelve, feeding upon the marine animals which it collects upon the shores by turning over the small stones, whence its name. ‘Their favorite haunts seem to be O4 _. THE GAME BIRDS the pebbly beaches, but they are often taken upon the marshes and upon the low sand flats and bars. They are one of the most conspicuous shore birds, and once seen will be easily recognized. Their flight is very rapid, and, while on the wing they incessantly repeat their short, sharp, whistling note, which is especially hard to imitate, but they are not very shy, and will come down to almost any of the shore-bird decoys. I never tried to eat them but once, and was not favorably struck by their flavor, which resembles that of fish oil. 108. AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER. Hematopus palliatus. Predominant color smoky-brown, with black head and neck. Under parts white, and the wing bears a conspicuous white patch. (There is a variety on the Pacific coast, ZH. niger, whichis entirely black.) Bill 3 to 4 inches long, varying in every specimen, and often thin on the end and bent to one side, from its constant use in opening the shells of mollusks; coral red, yellow tipped. Feet and legs livid. Eyes and eyelids red. Length 18 to 21 inches. Extent 380 to 36 inches. Said to be non-edible, although I can see no reason why it should be so, as they feed almost entirely on shell-fish. OF NORTH AMERICA. 95 E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of Massachusetts, tells me that this bird is very good eating, if quickly cleaned. And it is probable that many of those birds, which are ordinarily not esteemed fit for food, if drawn as soon as killed, and soaked a little while in water, would be found very palatable. 96 THE GAME BIRDS LAND BIRDS. 109. —BOBW HITE. -QUAIE: VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE. Colinus virginianus. Predominating color reddish-brown, mottled and streaked with black and darker brown, lighter on the under parts. The male has the forehead, line over the eye, and throat white, bordered with black, which color is re- placed in the female by buff. Bill dull black. Legs gray. Eyes dark brown. Length 93 to 105 inches. Extent 14} to 151 inches. Weight about 7 ozs. There are two so-called varieties of this bird. Its range extends from Massachusetts to Texas and westward throughout the east- ern United States. The bird described above is the one from the northern section. As we follow the species southward it gradually be- comes smaller and darker colored on the east- ern coast, producing the Florida variety ( Colinus virginianus floridanus), and in the ex- treme southwest, becomes more gray, which variety is called C. v. texanus, but they are all practically bobwhite just the same. OF NORTH AMERICA. QT There is no game bird more universally known and admired, for to the sportsman he affords a tempting mark as he flushes before the dogs, and whirrs off through the sharp air of autumn, his little body blending closely with the gray-brown of the fading fohage, to drop, after a short flight, in the first con- venient covert, where he is soon located by the keen scent of the dog, to fall perhaps, at the gun’s report. The bobwhite frequents the semi-open fields and pastures which afford him cover in the short brush and food in the open. At night, clustered together, the flock passes the sleeping hours, and during bad weather, in these same covers, and often in severe storms of sleet, they are frozen under by the accumulation of the frozen snow, to mis- erably perish. I know of none of our game birds whose very existence is so constantly in danger; a prey to the prowling fox by night, and chased and harassed by birds of prey by day , added to the other evils of destruction. It is a wise provision of Providence that they are so prolific, a single hen bringing up each year two litters of ten to fourteen chicks. They feed upon insects and the seeds of weeds, and no better ally can the farmer have for the protection of his crops than a few coveys of quail in his fields. 98 THE GAME BIRDS 110. MOUNTAIN PARTRIDGE. PLUMED QUAIL. MOUNTAIN QUAIL. Oreortyx pictus. I shall not here attempt to separate the two varieties now laid down in the list, as they are practically thesame bird. Predominating color olive-brown, with a coppery lustre. Breast slaty-blue, shading into the olive at the back, and finely marked with black. Throat and belly chestnut. There is a black line, bordered above with white, on either side the neck, and the sides are banded with broad bars of white and black. The distinguishing feature of this bird is the two black arrowy plumes on the crown of the head, which are 3 to 4 inches long in the male and much shorter in the female.. Bill and feet brown. Length 12 inches. Extent 17 inches. This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the mountainous regions of the northwest, haunt- ing the underbrush. ‘They are not fast flyers, and will often try to skulk off when ap- proached, which tactics are extremely suited OF NORTH AMERICA. 99 to the thick covers which they frequent. The opinions of my various correspondents differ as whether they will lie well to the dog, some say yes and some no, but all agree that they furnish fine sport. iis -SCALED PARTRIDGE. BLUE QUAIL. Callipepla squamata. Predominating color leaden-blue, darker on the back. The distinctive feature of this bird is the peculiar shell-ike marking of the neck and breast, produced by the black edgings of the feathers. The crest is short, and com- posed of several feathers, but is not so promi- nent as in others of the crested quails. There is a large patch of reddish-brown on the belly, which in some specimens shades into chest- nut, giving rise to a variety known as casta- nogastris. ‘This latter variety inhabits the lower lands; and the main species, the table- lands of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Length 11 inches. Extent 15 inches, being a little smaller than No. 110. 112. CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGE. VALLEY QUAIL. (var.) Callipepla californica. Predominating color ashy, shaded with olive-brown. The breast is bluish-slate ; be- low this, on the under side, is a patch of 100 THE GAME BIRDS chestnut, shading into tawny brown toward the edges, with the tips of the feathers edged with black. The head of the male is marked with a white line over the eye and a white forehead. The head is surmounted with a crest of 6 to 10 black feathers, curved for- ward. The female has not the black throat nor the head markings, and the crest is smaller. Length 11 inches. Extent about 16 in- ches. It inhabits California and Oregon east to the Colorado River. Much has been written concerning the comparative merits, asa game bird, of this, as compared with our eastern quail, and, from what I can gather, I am inclined to think that bobwhite is on top. The Califor- nian does not he well to the dog until they OF NORTH AMERICA. 101 have been badly scared, and then they go like a “blue streak.” However, they are a good table bird, and afford considerable sport, since they are quite numerous. They habit the thick cover of chaparral and weeds. 118. GAMBEL’S PARTRIDGE. Callipepla gambeli. This bird is own cousin to the last (No. 112), differing in having a black forehead in- stead of white; no white line beneath the eye ; back of head chestnut instead of smoky- brown; sides chestnut with white stripes; and the middle of the belly jet-black instead of chestnut. Otherwise in appearance and habits like its Californian relative. 114. DUSKY GROUSE. BLUE GROUSE. Dendragapus obseurus. Predominating color very dark brown, finely marbled with gray, shading into bluish- eray on the under sides. Cheeks black. Tail rounded, of 18 to 20 feathers, dark brown like back, tipped with a band of gray. Bill black. Eyes golden-brown, with a comb above. Length 20 to 24 inches. Extent about 30 inches. Weight 5 to 4 lbs. The female is of a lighter shade than the above, and a little smaller than the male. 102 THE GAME BIRDS This great bird is a native of the Rocky Mountains, the darker varieties known as Richardson's and Sooty Grouse occupying the northern limits. From all that I can gather from my corre- spondents in relation to its habits, it seems to be a somewhat stupid, lazy bird, not easily flushed, but a strong, rapid flyer, when startled; frequenting the high coniferous trees during the most of the year. From all accounts, it affords but comparatively poor sport, aside from its great size and abundance, as it must be shot while sitting, and it appears to have the ability to so adjust itself upon the limbs as to almost completely hide from the gaze of the observer. One correspondent tells of killing six by throwing stones at them, and another of shooting them out of the high trees 100 feet from the ground. In some places they are shot when flushed, and, in the other instances, they should afford good sport with a rifle. 115. CANADA GROUSE. SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. Dendragapus canadensis. Prevailing color of adult male, black, lighter on the back, waved and spotted with white and tawny. ‘Tail of 14 to 18 feathers tipped with brown. The female and imma- ture male are somewhat lke the above on the back, but not so dark, and the under side is OF NORTH AMERICA. 103 variegated white and tawny, waved with blackish. There is a red comb over the eye. Length about 16 inches. Extent 22 inches. There is a slightly differing variety in the Northwest. The habitat of this bird is the northern part of the continent, south into the northern border of the United States. Although a very handsome bird, it is little sought for by sportsmen, since its flesh, though sometimes not bad, is generally so impregnated with the flavor of the spruce buds upon which it feeds, as to render it utterly uneatable. And it affords but little sport, for it is so stupid as to allow the approach of man within a few yards, and is even taken with a slip-noose on the end of a pole. I saw three of these birds breeding in cap- tivity at Kentville, N.S., and I believe that their owner, Mr. Bishop, enjoys the unique honor of being the only person who has suc- ceeded in their domestication. 116. RUFFED GROUSE. PARTRIDGE, PHEASANT. Bonasa umbellus. Prevailing color variegated grayish-brown (in some specimens shading into a reddish- brown with bronze lustre). Whitish below, barred with brown. The male has a ruffle of glossy black feathers about the sides of the neck, which in 104 THE GAME BIRDS the female is smaller and of a brown color. The tail, normally of 18 feathers, is rounded, and bears a band of black near the tip. There are three varieties, due to climatic agencies, and they grade into each other insensibly. Bill and legs light brown. Eyes brown. Length 16 to 20 inches. Extent 23 to 25 inches. Weight 14 to 2 lbs. I have heard of ‘“ King-partridges” as large as a turkey, but never saw one: and a 2-pound bird is a big one. The birds inhabit the greater portion of civilized North America, except the South- west, and, except where seldom hunted, are, taken all in all, the most noble game bird of which this country boasts. I have seen these birds flush from the ground and settle upon a tree not over 200 feet away, and eye me as curiously as if I was a dime museum freak, and I have been threatened with condign punishment by correspondents in the North and West for the above remark. But if any of these friends will have a try at these birds here in our Eastern States, I will wager that they change their minds. ‘The sportsman who brings in a good bag of these birds here is Wor thy of a place in the front ranks of the euild. It is warier, and filled fuller of strat- egy, pound for pound, than any lying bird on our soil. Like nearly all gallinaceous birds, the male has the habit of strutting during the sexual period, which is accompanied by various OF NORTH AMERICA. 105 sounds calculated to attract the female and exalt it in her estimation; and, in the case of the ruffed grouse, the act is termed “ drum- ming.” At this time they seem to be oblivious of all else, but he is a good man who can sur- prise the bird even then. Any discussion of the habits of the bird would seem superfluous; volumes have been written on the subject, and more will follow just as long as man can walk the fields. 117. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. Lagopus lagopus. There is no American bird which exhibits such peculiarities of plumage as do the Ptar- migans. For they are constantly moulting, and there are no two weeks in the year when a bird would correspond to any accurate de- scription ; and no bird exhibits such a complete change, for even the horny coverings of the bill and toes are cast off with the “feathers, and the plumage varies in every gradation of color, from the beautifully mott! ed summer coat of blacks and browns to the nearly uni- form white of winter. In the full spring breeding plumage, the predominant color is rich brown, inclined to tawny, mottled and barred with black and white; the most of the wings and the abdo- men white. The female is similar, but more tawny, including the abdomen. ‘The legs are feathered to the toes; the winter plumage is 106 THE GAME BIRDS white, except that the tail is black. Ornith- ologists have lately divided this species into two. The principal point of difference being that the original species has the quills of the outer wing feathers white, and the variety (allent) black. Bill black and stout. Eyes hazel. Length about 17 inches. Extent about 24 inches. This bird takes the place in the North of the grouse in the South, and they afford as fine sport in their haunts as do their relatives of the South. They are strong flyers, and lie well to the dog. They are found on the marshy lands, and their numbers, in those sections where they have not been too much molested, is some- thing incredible, their cry of “Go back, go back” resounding from every quarter when disturbed. 118. ROCK PTARMIGAN. Lagopus rupestris. This bird much resembles the foregoing, but is smaller, and the color is more of a brownish-yellow, and in the winter there is a black stripe on each side of the head, which is not possessed by No. 117. The bill is more slender. Length 14 to 15 inches. Extent about 22 inches. There are three varieties of this species described by the later ornithologists, and an- other bird from Newfoundland (L. welcht) OF NORTH AMERICA. 107 which has been considered sufficiently distinct to form a new species. But they are suff- ciently similar to be considered as one and the same, so far as our purpose goes, and in view of the numerous variations of individual plumage, the subdivision is extremely prob- lematical, except to the expert. 119. WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. Lagopus leucurus. Habitat— Rocky Mountains. Size and appearance similar to No. 118; but the tail remains white throughout the year, and the wings and abdomen are of this color in the summer plumage. Found on the mountain ranges, from the timber-line upward, coming lower down in the winter, as the other forms come southward at the same time. 120. PRAIRIE HEN. PINNATED GROUSE. Tympanuch us americanus. Predominant color grayish-brown, heavily barred with black. Head buffy, underside dirty white, barred with brown. Top of head and stripe on each side, black. Tail dusky, tipped with white. The most peculiar feature of this bird is the black tuft of feathers 108 THE GAME BIRDS which adorns the neck on either side, beneath which is a large, bare patch of yellow skin which in the breeding season the male distends. The female is very similar, but the neck tufts are shorter. Length 17 to 18 inches. Extent 28 to 29 inches and over. Eyes brown. Bill brown. Feet yellowish. This bird, while not for a moment to be classed with the ruffed grouse, is still a great favorite with sportsmen. ‘Their flight is not so rapid as that bird, but more protracted and unaccompanied by the disconcerting whir-r-r of the other, although they can raise up quite a racket when suddenly disturbed. Their flesh is dark, and does not compare favorably with that of the ruffed grouse, but being more plentiful they occupy a favorite place in the market. Their habitat is the open prairie, seldom visiting the timber. In former days, this bird, or a representative of the family (the heath- hen), was not uncommon on our Eastern plains, but they have gradually dwindled away, until only one colony now exists, upon the island of Martha’s Vineyard. And such is the greed for gore and gain, that were it not for the strenuous efforts of a few far- sighted men, who can see more than a foot beyond their noses, these birds, too, would have long since gone the way of the Great Auk and the Labrador Duck. I cannot speak in too strong words of contempt of the action of those, who, even now in spite of the pro- OF NORTH AMERICA. 109 tecting laws, seek to remove the last of this race which once was found commonly dis- tributed over our land. There is a variety of the prairie hen which is found in the South, smaller and lighter in color. The characteristic bars are narrower, and brown or grayish, rather than black. The length is 15 to 17 inches, and the extent 27 inches. Otherwise it differs, neither in habits nor appearance, from the usual form as com- monly seen. In fact, it is merely a form, which, by reason of its surroundings, has be- come changed from the original type, and being isolated from it, has in progress of time become perpetuated. 121. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. Pediocetes phasianellus. This is the northwestern representative of the prairie-chicken, and is somewhat similar in habits, but not at all in appearance. The predominant color is ashy-gray, marked with irregular spots and bars of black, white and tawny-brown. The underside is nearly white, and marked with U-shaped spots of brown. The throat is light buff color, and there is quite a pronounced crest on the top of the head. Unlike the preceding species of grouse, this bird has no neck ornaments, but a close ~ examination will disclose there the character- istic bare spots, which are seen during the breeding season. Two varieties have been 110 THE GAME BIRDS made of this species. ‘The Northern form is darker, with but few brown markings, and the spots on the breast are V-shaped; and, curiously enough, the lighter and browner form, of the extreme South, also exhibits this V-shaped mark, although separated from the other by the common type. A distinctive feature of this bird is the tail, which is trian- eular in shape, when in a natural position, the middle tail feathers being about four times as long as the outer. From this arises thename. Jill and feet brown. Eyes brown. The legs are feathered to the feet. Length 18 to 20 inches. Extent 25 to 380 inches. As compared to No. 120, this bird ranks high as a game bird. Its flight is strong, swift and direct, and its flesh much superior to the other bird. An attempt, undoubtedly so far successful, is being made to introduce this bird to our eastern fields. While it will probably never take the place of our ruffed grouse in the estimation of our sportsmen, any addition to our feathered game will be welcomed, to afford a bag to those who desire to hunt over our fields, now rapidly being depleted of game birds. 122. SAGE GROUSE. SAGE COCK. Centrocercus urophasianus. The monarch, so far as size is concerned, of the grouse, but, alas! there his dominion OF NORTH AMERICA. 14a ceases. Many times the tyro sportsman has been sadly left, when he has thought himself possessed of a good dinner in an old sage cock. A correspondent writes: “I never attempted but once to eat an old bird, and I shall never try again, I would rather eat a broiled plug of tobacco; but for a fine morsel, commend me toa young bird in the summer. I could not believe such a transition possible ; they beat a woodcock ‘all hollow’ at that time.” The color is gray, variegated with black, brown and buff on the back, and dirty white below, and the neck has two bunches of hair-like feathers, beneath which is the air sac which can be extended to enormous proportions. The tail is long and composed of twenty stiff and narrow feathers. The full-grown cock is over 2 feet long, while the hen will seldom reach this measure. ‘The ex- tent is about 3 feet, with about the same pro- portion for the female bird. Weight 3 to 5 lbs. When this great bird gets up in front of the gunner, he is apt, if not accustomed to the bird, to have a severe attack of ague, although one friend tells about kicking them out of the sage-brush. The flight is strong, and when a wild bird is started, don’t try to follow him, he may go a mile. 112 THE GAME BIRDS 123. 0 WEED TRY RIGA Meleagris gallopavo. There are two species of this bird in North America, else I should deem it unnecessary to give any description. The wild turkey proper was formerly distributed generally over Eastern North America, but it is now found only in those portions but little visited by man, and not even there are they, by any means, common. ‘The general color of this bird is black, with a coppery lustre, each feather being margined with velvety black. The tail feathers are dark chestnut, with. numerous bars of black. This same color characterizes the sides and coverts. The southern species, which is the original of the domesticated turkey, has the feathers at base of tail, on the back, chestnut, tipped with whitish, and the tips of the tail feathers are whitish. In both species the head is bare of feathers, colored blue, with reddish excres- cences. The forehead is furnished with a depending, fleshy, cone-shaped process, which is erected in moments of excitement. There is also a hairy tuft upon the breast. Length dto4feet. Extent 4}to5 feet andover. Eyes brown. Bill brown. Legs dark and reddish- purple. This monarch of game birds, ike similar representatives of human bipeds, is rapidly disappearing before the march of civilization OF NORTH AMERICA. 113 and progress. Once common in New Eng- land, it is there extinct; and this noble bird must now be followed by sportsmen to the forest fastnesses of the South and Southwest. A few still exist in the Allegheny range, but they are seldom taken. A successful turkey hunter is the embodi- ment of all that appertains to woodcraft ; and he who can call a gobbler within range is worthy of a place in the front ranks of the sportsman fraternity. Their food is a mixture of nuts, seeds, and insects, and their flesh is as much esteemed for the table as that of the domestic bird. 124. PASSENGER PIGEON. Lictopistes migratorius. Color blue above, reddish-brown beneath, becoming lighter toward the tail, which, composed of 12 feathers, is brown in the middle and blue on the sides. These blue feathers, when pulled apart, show a web of white on the inner sides. The neck is beauti- fully glossed with a golden-violet. Bill black. Legs bluish. Feet red. Eyes red. Length 16 to 17 inches. Extent about 2 feet. This is the bird popularly known as the wild pigeon. It was in former years com- monly distributed over the entire country, passing North and South during their migra- tions, in immense numbers. Even now, scat- tering birds are seen in the East, but we 114 THE GAME BIRDS. must now go to the West to find the flocks, and, there even, their numbers are greatly lessened. It could hardly be called sport to hunt them when they were common, for a shot fired into the midst of a flock would bring down numbers of them, but they are now somewhat followed as game. They are fine eating; and it takes a good shot to secure a single bird, as their powers of flight and its velocity are wonderful. They migrate in flocks, some- times of immense size, but although they re- main in colonies, they breed in single pairs. Avocet Baldpate Beetle-head Blue-bill Bobwhite Brant ‘ Black White Broad-bill Brown-back Bufile-head Bull-head Bumble-bee Butter-ball Butter-bill Calico-back Cock-a-wee . Coot, American Bull Gray Sea : Crake, Carolina Crane, Common Brown Little Brown Sandhill A Whooping Curlew, Eskimo Hudsonian Jack --.. P Long-billed . Dipper . ‘ Diver, Great Northern, Dough-bird Dowitcher Dunlin ‘ Duck, Black . Canvas back Dusky Eider. Florida . Golden-eye “6 Barrows. - Gray Harlequin Labrador Long-tail Mottled 116 Duck, Painted Pintail Pied Raft : Red-head Ring-necked . Ruddy Z Scaup Sea Shoveller Spirit Summer Tree Wild Wood Gadwall . : : Gallinule, Purple . Florida . Garrot . : Godwit, Marbled Hudsonian Goosander Goose, Blue Brant Cackling Canada . Emperor Hutchins’s Laughing Painted Ross’s Snow. White-cheeked White-fronted Grass-bird : Gray-back Green-back Green-head Grouse, Blue . Canada . Dusky Pinnated Richardson’s Ruffed . : sage aise tailed Sooty Humility Killdeer . Knot : Long Shanks . Loon : Black- throated Pacific . Red-throated Lord and Lady Mallard : Marlin INDEX. "94, INDEX. 117 Marsh-hen, Fresh-water. ; : : : : : : 47 Salt-water . : : : ; . ‘ : : ’ 47 Meadow-hen . : : : : : . é ; : j 53 Merganser, American . : : : : : 3 ; : 9 Hooded . : j ‘ : ; ; : : : ‘ 10 Red-headed . ; i : ; A : 3 2 : 10 Mud-hen. : : 3: ; F : . P : ; ‘ 53 Blue ; ; j . ; : - : : : : 52 Old-Squaw .. ‘ ‘ Z : : ‘ : : : : 29 Ox-bird . ‘ F j ‘ F : : : : : : 68 Ox-eye . : : ; : : : ‘ : : P F 81 Oyster Catcher P ‘ : : : : F : : j 94 Partridge ‘ : P P ; : : ; : P 2 103 California . ‘ : ; ; : ? : : F 99 Gambel’s 2 : : j ; ; P ; : LOT Mountain. ‘ : ; : : J , F ? 98 Scaled . ; : ‘ 3 ; : : : f : 99 Spruce . ; F , 5 : : : ; : = A Virginia : . ‘ : ‘ : ; : ; : 96 Peep : : ; ; - : : ; : : : 67, 70 Bull 5 : : ‘ j : : : : : : Phalarope, Northern . ; - : : : : ; ; 56 Red : : : : : : : : : ‘ : 55 Wilson’s : : : : : : ; : ; : 56 Pheasant F : ; F : ; , i ; : a 03 Pigeon, Passenger ; : é : : . : F 5 WLS Plover, Black-bellied . : ‘ : ; : ; Sa 85 Chicken : : : : : : 4 Z : : 93 Golden . , : : ; ; : : : : F &8 Killdeer : ‘ : Z : : . F 3 : 89 Mountain. : : ; . : - : : : 92 Piping . - ; . : 2 - : ‘ : - 90 Red-breast . : : ; : : : : : : 63 Semi-palmated . : : : ‘ : ; ‘ ; 90 Snowy . ; p : : : : : ‘ : : 91 Upland . ; : , : j P : : C : 79 Wilson’s : . ; F : 4 : : : ; 92 Pochard . : ; ; : ‘ : - : : : ; 22 Prariie Hen . ; : , ; : ‘ : : F lz Ptarmigan, Rock . ; . : : ; : S d . 106 White-tailed : ; é : : : : 2 5S unr Willow . ; ‘ F ‘ : ‘ : , : 2) 105: Quail : : : : : : : ; ; : j ; 96 Blue : F : ‘ ; : ; : 2 : ‘ 99 Gambel’s : : 5 ‘ ‘ : : : , > 101 Mountain . : ‘ F : : . : i , 98 Plumed : : : : : : : i ; ; 98 Valley . , ; : - ; ‘ ; ‘ : : 99 Rail, Black . é : ‘ : ‘ P : 5 : : 51 Carolina P : é : : 2 : ‘ : ; 50 Clapper : “ : ‘ : : ; ‘ ; 2 47 Kanios 9: ; : : : j : ‘ 3 : : 47 Red-breast . : ; ‘ ; ; ; ‘ ; ; 47 Sora ‘ ; : : : : 5 : ; , : 50 Virginia : : ; F : . : : : : 49 Yellow . ‘ ‘ z . ; : : : c ; 51 Ring-neck 2 é 5 3 ; ; F : : - : 90 Sage Cock : , : : ; . - : : . 5 IL 118 INDEX. Sanderling. Sandpiper, Baird’s. Bartramian ; Buff-breasted Curlew . Ferrugineous Least Pectoral Purple . Red-backed . Semi- palmated Solitary Spotted . Stilt Western : White-rumped Sawbill : j Scoter, American . Surf : White- -wing . Sheldrake, Pond Salt-water Shovel-bill Sickle-bill Skunk-head Snipe, Fall Jac. Red- breasted Robin . Wilson’s Sora Sou-southerly Spot-rump c Stilt, Black-necked Swan, Trumpeter . ‘Whistling . Tatler ee Oerne Tattler . Teal; Blue-winged | Cinnamon Green-winged Teeter . : ; Tip-up Turkey, Wild Turnstone Wavey . Horned . Whale-bird Whistler < Rocky Mountain Widgeon j Willet Western Woodcock c Yellow-legs, Greater Lesser Winter. ay Nice aed ae ; : ’ Ne Or i, > ar Os aR) © AM At aehal F PRR a ok Sb Ei Ba : Aes SF @ bf et St b aaa as ‘ el eee a tbe Ha hod 5 Ny i? - ’ ‘ eats x ' pty . ‘ ari “ae. i, ad ¥ ’ gas mr pik. i < . m os Die 7 . NM RRC Mee ARS : Mb Sta eo We Rg Sa 1 ¢ . Yi ‘ . ‘ é - set ai kee peg 5 are aN . é ’ e 4 5 oa . . 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