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OF THE

UNITED STATES

AND

BRITISH POSSESSIONS

OR THE

~ SWAN, GEESE, DUCKS, AND MERGANSERS

NORTH AMERICA

WITH ACCOUNTS OF THEIR HABITS, NESTING, MIGRA-
TIONS, AND DISPERSIONS, TOGETHER WITH DESCRIP-
TIONS OF THE ADULTS AND YOUNG, AND KEYS
FOR THE READY IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPECIES

A book for the Sportsman, and for those desirous of knowing how to
distinguish these web-footed birds and to learn
their ways in their native wilds

BY

DANIEL GIRAUD ELLIOT, F. R. S. E., ETc.

Ex-President of the A merican Ornithologists’ Union

Author of the New and Heretofore Unfigured Birds of North America ; of
the Illustrated Monographs of the Ant Thrushes (editions 1863 and
1895), Grouse, Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, Hornbills, Cats,
etc.; of the Classification and Synopsis of the Tro-
chilide ; of the Shore Birds, and Gallinaceous
Game_ Birds of North America; of
Wolf’s Wild Animats, etc., etc.

WITH SIXTY-THREE PLATES |

ld
£
“ :
Oi 4
BY

LONDON

SUCKLING & CO.,W\ ,, COLLECTION }

1898 2a Muse SP

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THE AUTUMN FLIGHT.

From the strongholds of the North
When the Ice-King marches forth,
The Southern lands to harry with his host;

The fowl with clang and cry
Come speeding through the sky,
And steering for the shelters on our coast.

I hear the swish and swing
Of the fleetly moving wing,
I see the forms drawn faintly ’gainst the sky,
As the rush of feathered legions
From out the frozen regions,
Sail onward ‘neath the silent stars on high,

Like a cloud that’s borne along
By a mighty wind, and strong,
Then parting, disappears in vapor light,
They glide o’er lake and sea
O’er mountain, moor, and lea,
And, passing swiftly, vanish in the night,

They seek a sunny clime,
A land of blooms and thyme,
The tranquil surface round the southern Key;
A home of peace and rest
On the friendly water’s breast,
Of lake, or flowing river, or the murmuring sea,
The gently heaving bosom of the sea.

vi

PREFACE.

THE Swan, Geese, and Ducks naturally become the
subjects for the third volume of what may be called the
series, or trilogy of ‘“‘ North American Game Birds.”
While engaged upon this book, I felt that I was writing
the history of a rapidly vanishing race, whose serried
hosts, at a time not far distant, were spread over the
entire length and breadth of the continent as they winged
their swift flight in the annual migrations. But inces-
sant persecution and unrestrained slaughter have been
waged against these fowl, in all manner of ways: by kill-
ing the mated birds in the spring on their way to the
breeding grounds, by robbing the nests, by murdering
the young perhaps even unable to fly, and by continued
shooting during their southern journey and in their win-
ter residence—until to-day but a remnant is left of the
myriad fowl that at one time fairly darkened the air with
their mighty legions.

And although it is apparent to all, save those who will
not see, that only a brief period can elapse, if the same
conditions continue, before, like the buffalo, our Water
Fowl will mostly disappear, yet little is done to save them
from destruction, and the ruthless slaughter goes gayly
on. Improved firearms of all kinds and devices of every
sort to reduce their numbers, each one more dangerous
and effective than its predecessor, are continually being
introduced, and there is hardly a spot all over our broad
land where a wild Duek or Goose can rest a moment in

vii

Vili PREFACE.

peace. From the time the birds leave the frozen North-
land, until the survivors return to it again in the ensuing
year, the hunted fowl run the gantlet of a nation in arms;
and no sooner do they pass the boundaries of the land
they seek in the spring for the purpose of reproduction,
than the natives continue the slaughter of the birds until
they depart for southern climes. Is it any wonder that
their numbers are diminishing; is it not rather a wonder
that so many are left? Doubtless these fowl are one of
the important means for sustaining the lives of those who
exist in Arctic solitudes, but the natives, before they were
taught the white man’s ways, carried on no war of exter-
mination, and the number of the invading army did not
diminish, as is proved by the myriads that once entered
the United States every autumn. But now, provided
with modern firearms, in place of the spear and the bow
and arrow, the savages slay the birds not alone for their
own consumption, but also to supply the demands of
commerce and of fashion, while the eggs are collected by
boatloads in order that certain pursuits may be made
more profitable. By such mischievous methods the mis-
guided inhabitants of the Arctic regions are destroying
one of their own means of existence, and joining with
civilized man in southern climes, to hasten the extermi-
nation of the race.

Few families of birds have more admirers than that of
the Anatidz, and in the early autumn the Honk of the
Goose, or the whistling wings of the advancing army of
Ducks, heard overhead at night as they arrive from the
North, cause many an eye to glisten, and many a pulse
to beat faster throughout the land. Duck-shooting has
a host of votaries,—perhaps no kind of field sport has so
many,—who follow it enthusiastically in spite of its often
attendant hardships and exposures.

PREFACE. ix

This volume is arranged on the same plan as those of
the “Shore Birds” and “ Gallinaceous Game Birds,”
now pretty familiar to my readers. The species, how-
ever, which are contained in this book are fairly well
known to most people, at all events the males are; but as
the females of different kinds often resemble each other
closely, I have endeavored in the Keys, when necessary,
to draw comparisons between them and call attention to
their most marked characteristics. In the arrangement
of the Family, occasionally in the selection of genera
necessary to designate the different groups, and in cer-
tain cases also, in the choice of specific names, as well as
in the general disposition of the species, | have found
myself obliged to depart widely from the method adopted
in the A. O. U. Check List, which seems in a great degree
to have been constructed without sufficient consideration
of the affinities the North American Anatide might pos-
sess to the exotic members of the Family. Of course no
natural arrangement is possible, for none exists, but I
have endeavored to bring together those groups which
were most in accord and produce a proper order of suc-
cession, although fully aware that gaps occur.

No birds vary more, even if as much, in their relative
dimensions, as do the members of this family. Not only is
there great divergence among the species of a genus, but
also even among those which are members of the same
species. In fact it is not easy to find any two Ducks or
Geese which are exactly alike in all their measurements.
To ascertain how great these differences are, it is only
necessary to consult Mr. Ridgway’s “ Manual,’ when it
will be seen that for a large proportion of these birds an
average measurement is given, instead of an EXACT one,
and I have found so much variation existing that in
many cases, when the dimension of a species is recorded,

x PREFACE.

I have been compelled to qualify it with the word,
“about.”

3earing this fact in mind, therefore, I consider it
most unwise and injudicious to create even a subspecies
whose only character is that of size, especially when it is
attempted to separate birds of different lands which are
so exactly alike as not to be distinguished apart until
the tape-line is applied, and even then the test fails at
times, as they are often found to be of the same dimen-
sions. It will be observed, then, that in certain cases I
have not recognized such so-called subspecies or allied
forms, believing that, should I do so, I would only con-
fuse my reader and perplex any student conscientiously
desirous of studying specific relationships. The fact that
a species is found in Europe and America is no reason
whatever that the specimens from the two hemispheres
must be specifically, subspecifically, or in any other de-
gree separable, simply because they come from different
localities. Yet it would seem that in certain cases some
writers were convinced that such must be the fact.
A comparatively slight difference in size alone, however,
is utterly unreliable as a distinguishing character, and
should receive little consideration, save when accom-
panied by other and more important distinctions.

In the Appendix will be found Keys to the Subfamilies,
Genera, and Species, and such critical remarks as more
properly find there a place.

The Author has studied the Anatidz for many years,
and he has with but few exceptions met all the species
mentioned in this book in their native wilds, and the ac-
counts given of their habits are derived from his own ob-
servation. The majority nest in places not difficult of
access, but for a history of the ways, in the breeding sea-
son, of the few species that are then found only in the far

PREFACE. xi

Arctic regions, the Author has relied upon the naturalists
who have had opportunities of observing them in those
distant localities. The position and names of the feathers
of the Wild Fowl] do not differ from those of other birds,
and they can readily be ascertained from the plate given
in the ‘* Shore Birds ” which serves the purpose of an ex-
planatory map. The drawings of a considerable number
of the species were made by the Author at a time when he
was contemplating another work on the Water Fowl, and
these have been reduced by Mr. Edwin Sheppard to the
proper dimensions for this book. Four are reduced
copies of paintings made by the great artist Joseph Wolf,
for the Author’s work on the “ Birds of North America.”
The remainder of the plates have been drawn by Mr.
Sheppard, who illustrated the two previous books of this
series, and these exhibit the same care and fidelity in
their execution as characterize the plates in those
volumes.

For the loan of specimens from which the drawings
by Mr. Sheppard have been made, I am indebted to my
friends Mr. R. Ridgway, Curator of Birds in the
National Museum, Washington, and Mr. Witmer Stone,
Curator of Ornithology in the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, to whom I desire to express my
thanks for their assistance.

In classifying the various groups of the Anatidz it is
of slight moment whether one begins with the so-called
highest or lowest form, naturalists having not yet agreed
upon this point, although it would seem advisable in the
construction of a pyramid to begin at the bottom and not
at the top. In the arrangement of the genera and
species in this book, however, I have reversed the order
in the Check List of the American Ornithologists’ Union,
because I desired to begin with the most important

xii PREFACE.

species of the Water Fowl, and therefore commence with
the Swan instead of the Mergansers.

In this and the two preceding volumes have been in-
cluded all the birds inhabiting North America, north of
Mexico, which can be considered ‘“ Game,” save perhaps
the Rails, which by many are deemed worthy of being
so classed. It is a noble list; one few countries of the
globe can equal in importance and variety. For numer-
ous reasons, not the least of which are the economic,
these birds are a most valuable possession to the people
of this land, to be protected with watchful care. Have
we been faithful to our trust?

In the willful destruction of all our feathered creatures
that has been permitted without restraint for a long
period throughout North America, and which receives
but little check to-day in some districts; in the lack
of all intelligent treatment of them within our limits;
and in the non-enforcement of laws passed for their
protection, our birds (not only, alas! those entitled
to the epithet of “ game”) are being carried rapidly
onward toward extinction. Our wild quadrupeds,
also, are fast disappearing. One, the grandest of all,
is even now practically extinct, and unless stringent
measures are soon taken and the laws for both their pro-
tection and for that of all other wild creatures rigidly en-
forced, waters without their beautiful, joyous tenants, and
plains and forests despoiled of their graceful inhabitants,
will bear silent but eloquent witness to the folly of a
people unable to appreciate the valuable gifts Nature had
bestowed upon them.

D.1G. E,

TABLE OF ‘CONTENTS:

Tue AUTUMN FLIGHT, :
PREFACE, . ‘ 2 ;
List oF ILLUSTRATIONS,
INTRODUCTION, . j
WHISTLING SWAN,
TRUMPETER SWAN,
WHOOPING SWAN,

BLuE GOOSE,

LESSER SNOW Gonee
GREATER SNOW GOOSE,
Ross’s SNow GOOSE,
WuitE-FRONTED GOOSE,
BEAN GOOSE,

EMPEROR GOOSE, : 4
CANADA GOOSE,
Hutcuins’ Goose,
WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE,
CACKLING GOOSE,
BARNACLE GOOSE,

BRANT GOOSE,

Buiack BRANT,

Woop Duck,
BLAcK-BELLIED Te Sie
Futvous TrEE Duck,
RuppY SHELDRAKE,
MALLARD,

Dusky Duck,

Fioripa Dusky Duck,
MorrLep Duck,
GADWALL, :
EvuROPEAN WIDGEON,
WIDGEON,

SPRIGTAIL,

BLuE-WINGED sete

xiii

oo
106
109
III
113
116
118
122
128

XiV TABLE OF CONTENTS,

PAGE
CINNAMON TEAL, : : ‘ : : ; : 5 seeIg2
EUROPEAN TEAL, . : : : : : 3 3 . 134
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, : ; 5 , 2 ‘ : gO
SHOVELER, ; j 4 ; : : ; : = : 140
RuFous-CrEstED Duck, . ‘ , : : : : . 144
Canvas Back, : : 3 ‘ : f ‘ . ? 147
Rep* Heap, : : E E ; : ; : : ae uty
Scaup Duck, ‘ ; : : . : ; : : 160
LEssER Scaup Duck, , é ; ; : ; ; lod!
RincED NrEck Duck, . : : : 3 : ; ; 169
LABRADOR Duck, : , ' ‘ : ; : : wih 72
GOLDEN EYE, : ; : ; : : . : : 176
BarRkow’s GOLDEN EYE, . ‘ : : é : ; > eL8O
BuFFLE HEAD Duck, . 4 : : : : ; : 184
Lonc-TaILED Duck, 3 F , A ‘ : : yeahs.
HarLEQuIN Duck, : : ; : A : ‘ 195
SuRF SCOTER, . : : ; : : : : F 205
American SSoTER, : : : : 2 : - : 206
VELVET “S€GGER, : . : : : ; ; : e200
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, ‘ ‘ F ; ‘ ; : 212
STELLER® Duck, ; ; P : : 2 ; ; . . 216
SPECTACLED EIDER, ; : : ; : : ; : 219
AMERICAN EIDER, ; : : , : j : ; BORE:
EIDEk, ; : : 5 : A ‘ : : ; 225
PaciFic EIDErR, : F ; : ; : : ; = 1229
Kinc EIDER, 3 . ; F : ; : ‘ : 234
RUDDY. Duckie. ; : , : ; 4 % ‘ C257
MaskeED Duck, : ‘ : : : 3 : ; ; 242
AMERICAN MERGANSER, : : : : , : eas
ReED-BREASTED MERGANSER, : : : : : : 249
HoopED MERGANSER, ; ; 5 ; : : : . 254
SMEw, . : : : : , : ‘ 3 : ; 259
APPENDIX, : : : ; : : . : ; e203
L’Envol, , : ; : : : : : ; : 301

INDEX, : A : ‘ 5 F : : ; ; . 303

EIS? OF IELUSITRATIONS.

PorRTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR,

1S

Io.

Leal
=

12.

WwW HN KH HN YN YN WDD HH HH HH HH AR A
Brose ey Ansan nos Sa Ans w

CSI AKR YP

WHISTLING SWAN,
TRUMPETER SWAN,
Wuooprine SWAN,

BLUE GOOsE,

LeEssER SNOW GOOSE,
GREATER SNOW GOOSE,
Ross’s SNow Goose,
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE,
BEAN GOOSE,

EMPEROR GOOSE,
CANADA GOOSE,
HuTcuHIns’ GOosE,
WHItTE-CHEEKED GOOSE,
CACKLING GOOSE,
BARNACLE GOOSE,
BRANT Goose,

Biack BRANT,

Woop Duck,

Biack-BELLIED TREE Duck,

Futvous Tree Duck,
RupDDY SHELDRAKE,
MALLARD,

Dusky Duck,
Fioripa Dusky Duck,
MorTrLep Duck,
GADWALL, :
EuROPEAN WIDGEON,
WIDGEON,

SPRIGTAIL, ‘
BLuE-WINGED TEAL,
CINNAMON TEAL,
EvuROPEAN TEAL,

xV

Frontispiece

Opposite page

I9
28
31
33
35
39
43
45
50
52
57
69

100
106
109
IIl
113
116
118
122
128
132
134

Xvi

EVSDTAOR TLEGSTRATLLON SS:

GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
SHOVELER, : :
Rurous-CrestED Duck,
Canvas Back,

Rep Heap,

Scaup Duck, F
Lesser Scaup Duck,
RINGED-NeEck Duck,
Lasprapor Duck,

GoLDEN Eye,

BArRrow’s GOLDEN-EYE,
BurFLe Hrap Duck, .
Lonc-TatLep Duck, Summer plumage,
Lonc-TaiLep Duck, Winter plumage,
HARLEQUIN Duck,

SuRF SCOTER,

AMERICAN SCOTER,

VELVET SCOTER,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
STELLER’s Duck,
SPECTACLED EIDER,
AMERICAN EIDER,

EIDER, é

Paciric EIpEr,

Kinc Erber,

Ruppy Duck,

Maskep Duck, :
AMERICAN MERGANSER, .
ReEpD-BREASTED MERGANSER,
HoopEep MERGANSER,
SMEw,

Opposite page 136

140
144
147
154
160
164
169
172
176
180
184
188
190
195
201
206
210
212
216
219
222
225
229
234
237
242
245
249
254
259

INTRODUCTION.

AN HE family of the Anatidz is composed of web-footed,
swimming birds, having a bill covered with a soft
skin, and a protuberance, sometimes hardly perceptible,
at the tip, and contains the Swan, Geese, Ducks, and Mer-
gansers, constituting Huxley’s order CHENOMORPHA
(Greek xnv, chen, a goose, + popdy, morphé, form).

The family is divided into several subfamilies, the
number varying according to the views an ornithologist
may have as to their necessity, but never less than five,
viz.: CYGNIN®, Swan; ANSERIN#, Geese; ANATINZ,
Fresh-Water Ducks; FuLicuLIN&%, Sea Ducks, and
Mercin#, Mergansers. In this book the subfamilies
are seven, as, in addition to those just named, there have
been adopted, PLECTROPTERIN#, in which, among sev-
eral other species all exotic, is included the genus Ex
represented in North America by our beautiful Wood
Duck (and which in most lists is placed far from its ap-
parently true position), and ERISMATURIN&, containing
the spine- or stiff-tail ducks. In addition to these there
are four other subfamilies; ANSERANATINA, CEREOP-
SINZ, CHENONETTIN2, and MERGANETTIN#®, whose
species are all exotic to this continent.

These eleven subfamilies possess something like two
hundred species, about sixty of which are found in North
America. A conspicuous feature of these birds is a hard
bony expansion at the end of the bill, occasionally occu-
pying the whole tip and frequently bent over, forming a

xvii

XVuil INTRODUCTION.

hook. This is called the nail, whence the Family is
sometimes named UNGurrostres. (Latin Ungus, nail,
and rostrum, beak).

The ANATIN# and the GALLIN are probably, to those
who are not ornithologists, the most familiar of the feath-
ered creatures. Like the Gailinaceous birds, the Water
Fowl bear a very important relation to man, as they are
the source of all domesticated races of web-tooted
birds, and they provide one of the chief means of sub-
sistence to the inhabitants of boreal regions. Among
civilized people they are regarded also as of great value
from an economic point of view.

Usually these birds have a stout, full, rather heavy
body, with a moderate or short neck (exceedingly long in
the Swan), short legs, placed posteriorly in most in-
stances, and generally hidden in the body feathers half-
way to the heel, with the tarsus covered with scutellate
or reticulate scales, sometimes with both, as in DENDRO-
cyGNA; feet palmated, hind toe simple or lobed; oil gland
present, and a large and fleshy tongue. Bill various in
shape, from broad and flat, which is perhaps most usual,
to long and very narrow. Lamelle (plates or toothlike
processes inside edge of bill), are frequently present,
sometimes exceedingly prominent, numerous, and close
together, and vary from those like the teeth of a fine
comb suitable for sifting ooze, etc., to a rather coarse
hooklike form, pointing backward to prevent the escape
of any prey that may have been seized.

The sternum is broad and rather long, with a notch on
each side, and sometimes the keel is hollowed out for the
reception of the windpipe. This organ exhibits curious
modifications in the various species. In some of the
Swan it enters a hollow in the sternum, doubles on itself,
forming a coil, and then emerges, passing onward to

INTRODUCTION. Mix.

the lung. In certain species of Geese it forms a coil be-
tween the skin and breast muscles; and in a large num-
ber of the Ducks and Mergansers, several lower rings of
the trachea are united together and enlarged, producing
a capsule in the throat. These convoluted windpipes in-
crease the volume of the voice, as in the case of the
Trumpeter Swan, and in numbers of other Families the
twisting ‘and winding of this organ are carried to an ex-
treme within the breast bone, as is seen in the Whooping
Crane (Gris americana) and other species.

The wings vary in shape and in comparative length to
the body. Some species have these very short, and
they are moved with great rapidity, sometimes appear-
ing devoid of outline’ so swift is their action, and their
possessors go buzzing through the air more like insects
than birds. Again the wings are long and pointed, and
when the bird is flying are moved more slowly. Most of
the Anatide, however, are rapid flyers, and even large
species like Swan and Geese, although their flight may
appear labored, proceed with much speed.

The plumage is dense and consists of a coating of
down next to the skin, protected by the overlapping outer
feathers, affording a very warm covering. Most of the
species have a subdued coloring, but some are arrayed
in a gorgeous dress of many hues, frequently exhibiting
the brilliancy of metallic iridescence. The tail is of va-
rious shapes, rounded, cuneate, or with the median pair
of feathers moderately or greatly elongated. The bills
also vary greatly, from those that are broad, low, and flat,
through a shape short, high at base, and rather pointed at
tip, to one long, narrow, hooked, and serrated. The bill is
covered by a skin, which in the Swan extends to the eye,
leaving the lores bare. The sternum or breast. bone
being broad and flat with little or no keel, the pectoral

XX INTRODUCTION.

muscles are consequently wide but not deep, differing
in this respect from gallinaceous birds, which have a large
keel to the sternum, and correspondingly deep breast
muscles.

As I have already mentioned, the economic importance
of the species of the ANATID# is very great, and fortu-
nately therefore their broods are large, and their num-
bers, although very much lessened in past years by
constant slaughter, are fairly maintained in some portions
of the continent. Of course, among so many kinds there
is a great diversity in the quality of the flesh, and while
some are eagerly sought for their high excellence there
are others of which little can be said in praise. Those
species that subsist upon rank grasses or animal sub-
stances are usually impregnated with the flavor of their
food, and therefore not greatly desired for the table. Of
these may be enumerated many of the Sea Ducks, some
Geese, and the Mergansers. The birds of this Family
place their nests (which are mostly formed of feathers
and lined with down, plucked from the breast of the
female), in the majority of cases upon the ground, but
some build amid the branches of trees or occupy hollows
in the trunk, and a few even seek holes in the banks, near
streams. The eggs number from eight to twenty, are
without markings, and vary in color from white to pale
green. The young run and swim as soon as they escape
from the shell, either seeking the water themselves, or
else, as in the case of those hatched in a tree, are carried
to it in the bill of the female. She incubates the eggs
and cares for the young, in certain species the male assist-
ing in watching over the brood; but generally the males
are very remiss in these duties, and, especially among the
Sea Ducks, frequently desert the females after incubation
commences, and go away by themselves, forming a

INTRODUCTION. xXXx1

group of idle fellows, whose only idea of life is amuse-
ment and sustenance.

Between the sexes of the Ducks and Mergansers great
difference in the color of the plumage is observable,
males and females rarely resembling each other either in
the hues or markings of their feathers, but among the
Swan and Geese the sexes are similar. One characteris-
tic mark of many species of Ducks is the speculum, or
conspicuous spot on the wing formed by the coloration,
often metallic, of the terminal portion of the secondaries.
This sometimes serves to identify the species, especially
in the case of the female, and is frequently of brilliant
hues in both sexes, though brighter always in the male.

The various groups into which the Family has been
divided are closely united, and although there are many
artificial sections easily recognized among them, known
as genera, yet all the species are more or less nearly re-
lated, and the Family is a very compact one, and easily
distinguished from all others.

The Wild Fowl are migratory; some, indeed the great
majority,—comprising all those breeding in boreal
regions,—pass Over an immense extent of the continent
twice a year, spring and autumn. On such occasions
they proceed in great flocks, usually some veteran bird
leading the way, guided by the experience derived from
travels of many years. The large species, Swan and
Geese, journey in a V-shaped formation; Ducks also fre-
quently adopt this same method, but they often also
travel in a curved line, occasionally even all abreast.
This last formation is not continued for any great dis-
tance. The few species inhabiting the temperate por-
tions of North America, and which breed there, make
very brief migrations, if indeed any at all. North
America at one time probably contained more Wild Fowl

XXil INTRODUCTION.

than any other country of the globe, and even in the
recollection of some livinz, the birds came down from
the Northland during the autumn in numbers that were
incredible, promising a continuance of the race forever.
I have myself seen great masses of Ducks, and also of
Geese, rise at one time from the water in so dense a cloud
as to obscure the sky, and every suitable water-covered
spot held some member of the Family throughout our
limits. But those great armies of Wild Fowl will be
seen no more in our land, only the survivors of their
broken ranks. Let these, then, have the protection which
is their due, and our advantage and profit to accord; stop
all spring shooting within our borders, a time when the
birds not only are usually poor in flesh, but are mated
and journeying northward in obedience to the command,
“be fruitful and multiply ”; frown down all such bar-
barous customs as “ killing for count,” and then, with the
impartial enforcement of the laws upon all the people, a
remnant at least of our noble Water Fowl may be pre-
served to future generations.

‘URMS SulpsIyM “T

WATER FOWL.

WHISTLING SWAN.

OF the two species of Swan indigenous to North

America, the present one is the smaller and more
widely dispersed. It ranges in the northern portions of
the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from
the Arctic regions south to California on the west, and to
the Carolinas on the east coast, being very abundant in
winter in Currituck Sound, North Carolina. It is also
found in the Mississippi Valley south to the Gulf of Mex-
ico, and is common in Galveston Bay, Texas. It breeds
on both sides of the mountains in the Arctic regions; in
the interior chiefly, if it stops short of the Arctic Ocean,
but if not,then on the coast and contiguous islands of that
sea. It nests in the marshes at the mouth of the Yukon,
and also along that great river above the Delta, and
on the shores about St. Michael’s. On the Alaskan
coast by the Arctic Sea this:Swan is rare, and it is not
found in any of the islands, wor on the Siberian shore of
Behring Sea, but is met with on the far western islands
of the Aletitian chain, though it does not breed on any of
them.

This species arrives near the mouth of the Yukon the
latter part of April or beginning of May, coming down
the river from the interior, and not along the coast from
the south, and as they return the same way, it is supposed
they cross the mountains near the head waters of this

20 WATER FOWL.

stream. The nest is placed upon an island in some small
lake, or on its borders. It is a large structure—some-
times six feet long, four and a half wide, and two high,—
composed of grass, dead leaves, moss, and other rubbish.
The eggs are pure white or fulvous, and the number
seems to vary from one to six, but I should imagine the
latter to be very exceptional, or else there must be a great
mortality among the cygnets, as it is unusual in winter
to see a pair of these birds accompanied by more
than two young. The eggs usually lie hidden in the
moss, artfully concealed by the female. By the last of
June the young are hatched, and are led by the parents
to the nearest water,and soon after the adults moult, when
many are killed by the natives, who spear the defenseless
birds unable to fly, and sometimes capture them alive.
Toward the last of September they gather in flocks, and
by the second week in October all have departed for
southern waters.

While on their journey to and from their winter quar-
ters, this Swan deserts the coasts and proceeds inland,
traveling at a great height and making long flights with-
out halting. The migrating host from the far north, on
entering the United States, separates into three divisions:
the western keeping to the Pacific slopes, the center to
the valley of the Mississippi (where the species is much
more rare than the Trumpeter Swan), and the remainder,
or eastern flank, bearing away to the broad waters of the
Chesapeake and the sounds of North Carolina. The
flocks are strung out in long, divergent lines, headed by
* some sagacious old bird, whose powerful wings beat the
air, and break a passage, so to speak, for those that fol-
low. Whenever he becomes fatigued by this extra
labor, he utters a note that seems to be well understood
by the others, and falling out of line, his place is supplied —

WHISTLING SWAN. 21

by another; the late leader taking a position back in the
ranks. Before alighting, the ground and water beneath
them are carefully examined for any hidden foe, and after
the leader is satisfied that all is right, with graceful
curves, and easy sailings on their great wings, the birds
alight upon the water and commence to feed.

This Swan makes its appearance on the Atlantic
coast about the beginning of November. It is rare
north of the Chesapeake, but very numerous on
the littoral waters of North Carolina, and appar-
ently is more abundant there every year. They
arrive in small flocks, succeeding each other on some
days in rapid succession; passing at times over the
beach, again over the ocean, or the water inside the
beach. They fly usually at a considerable height,
and the beat of their great wings is so short as to
give these the appearance of being almost motionless.
The black feet extend beyond the tail, and with the long
neck stretched out to its fullest extent, the great birds
survey the landscape beneath them. Occasionally the
peculiar flageolet-like note is uttered by the leader, the
syllables sounding something like Whd, who-who, in a
very high key, and this being responded to by other
members of the flock, a chorus of weird sounds from out
the upper air floats downward to the ear of the watcher
below. Beautiful indeed, the splendid birds appear, sail-
ing onward in the blue sky, the bright rays of a midday
sun glancing from their immaculate plumage, causing it
to glisten with the sheen of burnished silver, or, if the
birds are passing directly overhead, the light streaming
through the feathers of the wings reflects on the under
side and also on the body, a glow like the faint blush on
the petals of arose. With redoubled cries the glad birds
welcome the well-known waters of their winter home,

22 WATER FOWL.

and gradually lowering themselves from their lofty alti-
tudes, turn head to wind, and checking their momentum
by a few rapid wing beats, launch themselves into the
waters of the sound. Should there be any Swan in the
vicinity, and the newcomers are the fewest in number,
they swim to them, otherwise little attention is paid to
other flocks.

Their journey having provided them with sharpened
appetites, they soon commence to feed by immersing
their heads and dragging up the grass from the bottom.
If the water is deeper than the length of the neck, the
hinder part of the body is tilted up and held in position
by paddling with the feet, until a quantity of tender grass
is torn from the bottom. While feeding, usually one or
more birds keep a lookout for approaching danger,
and should any be descried, a warning riote is sounded,
and the flock begins to swim away, heading to windward,
if possible. If undisturbed, Swan are very noisy, keeping
up a continual medley of cries, usually uttered in so high
a key as to render it impossible to imitate without arti-
ficial aid, but if alarmed, the birds immediately become
silent, and remain so until the object of their fear has
departed. Upon the water this Swan floats lightly and
presents a beautiful appearance. When congregated
together in large numbers they seem, from a distance,
like snow islands, so pure and white is their plumage.
As they move gracefully along, propelled by a powerful
shove of one webbed foot after another, the neck is
usually carried upright, though occasionally with a
graceful curve the head is lowered for a sip of water, or
to seize upon a morsel of floating grass.

Where Swan have been feeding for any length of time
great holes are hollowed in the bottom, the mud or sand é
having been scooped out by their powerful bills and feet

WHISTLING SWAN. 23

and piled up on the side, and when the water is
moderately shallow, I have known a sailboat to be
frequently grounded upon the lumps thus formed.
In this way these birds do great damage to feed-
ing grounds, and destroy very much more edible grass
than they consume. For this reason they are not
altogether regarded with favor by sportsmen, as they
soon render useless large tracts of grass-covered bottom
to which Ducks and Geese would resort for a long time,
but which they are forced to desert on account of the
wasteful destruction of their food committed by the
Swan. Asa rule this species pays but little attention to
decoys, or wooden representatives placed among a num-
ber of live Geese tied out for the same purpose. Most
of the birds that are procured are shot from points over
which the Swan fly as they pass up and down their feed-
ing grounds; or are killed from boats sailed down upon
them before the wind. Swan being so large and heavy
cannot easily take wing, but are obliged to force them-
selves over the water, and against the wind, by rapid and
powerful beats of the wings and feet, until, obtaining
the requisite momentum, they are lifted into the air.
Of course then, when a boat approaches them down
wind, they are obliged as it were, to run toward it, before
they are able to fly away, and it not unfrequently happens
that a person in a sailboat can thus get within shooting
distance of these wary birds. Large shot and heavy loads
of powder are needed to bring them down; an ounce
or an ounce and a half of double T., with five drams of
powder, is a good load for them. When a flock is
shot on the wing the birds rarely swerve from their
course, and even when one falls the rest close up the gap
and keep on as if nothing had happened. If very near
the sportsman, however, when he fires, the birds will

24 WATER FOWL.

swing to one side or the other, but immediately after re-
turn and continue on their original direct route. If they
see anything unusual in their line of flight the leader im-
mediately slightly alters his course, closely followed in
regular order by the birds that succeed him. When a
Swan is killed in the air, he doubles all up in falling; head
neck, wings, and legs appearing to be mixed up together;
and on striking the water, unless this is very deep, the
weight of the bird and the impetus acquired by its fall
will frequently carry it quite to the bottom. I have
known them to fall where the water was fully three feet
deep, and rise to the surface covered with mud obtained
from the bottom. When mortally wounded in the air,
the Swan will usually set its wings and sail slowly toward
the earth or water, whichever it may happen to reach.
The song of the dying Swan has been the theme of
poets for centuries and is generally considered one of
those pleasing myths that are handed down through the
ages. I had killed many Swan and never heard aught
from them at any time, save the familiar notes that reach
the ears of everyone in their vicinity. But once, when
shooting in Currituck Sound over water belonging to a
club of which I am a member, in company with a friend,
Mr. F. W. Leggett of New York, a number of Swan
passed over us at a considerable height. We fired at
them, and one splendid bird was mortally hurt. On re-
ceiving his wound the wings became fixed and he com-
menced at once his song, which was continued until the
water was reached, nearly half a mile away. I am per-
fectly familiar with every note a Swan is accustomed to
utter, but never before nor since have I heard any like
those sung by this stricken bird. Most plaintive in char-
acter and musical in tone, it sounded at times like the soft |
running of the notes in an octave.

WAISTLING SWAN. 25

‘« And now ’twas like all instruments,
Now like a lonely flute;
And now it is an angei’s song
Which makes the heavens be mute,”

and as the sound was borne to us, mellowed by the dis-
tance, we stood astonished, and could only exclaim, ““ We
have heard the song of the dying Swan.”

I made inquiries among the gunners as to whether any
of them had ever heard notes different from those usually
uttered by the Swan, when one was mortally wounded,
and some said they had, and on my asking them what
kind they were, they described something similar to
those we had heard and of which I have endeavored to
give an idea. We recovered the bird, which was an
adult in perfect plumage, and the skin made into a screen
adorns the drawing room of my friend.

The young of this species is gray, sometimes lead
color during its first year, and the bill is soft and reddish
in hue. In the second year the plumage is lighter, and
the bill white, becoming black in the third year, when
the plumage, though white, is mottled with gray; the
head and neck especially showing but little white. It is
probable that it takes fully five years before the pure
white dress is assumed and the bird becomes such an
ornamental object. The flesh of the old birds is tough
and unfit to eat, and boiling is necessary before it
can be masticated, but the young or cygnets are tender
and well flavored. The Swan is supposed to live to a
great age, but this is one of those problems very diffi-
cult to solve. The length of time the domesticated bird
may live is no criterion (on account of its altered mode of
life) to estimate the age of the wild Swan, and of course
for the latter it is impossible to acquire any data to enable
a judgment to be formed. From fifteen to twenty years,

26 WATER FOWL.

I should suppose would be the average limit of the bird’s
existence.

This species loves to keep near the shores of marshes
and islands, and is frequently seen standing on the bank
dressing its feathers. This habit is taken advantage of
by the gunner, who selects a day when the wind is blow-
ing hard, and landing upon the opposite side of the
marsh or island on which the birds are standing, and
availing himself of the shelter of the reeds, creeps upon
the unsuspecting Swan, who cannot hear him on account
of the wind, and shoots them down at close quarters.
When the weather becomes severe and the sounds and
bays are frozen, the Swan are seen standing on the ice,
surrounded by the more watchful geese. If the severe
weather continues to close the waters, the birds depart
for more southern climes, until a change of temperature
occurs, when they at once return to their old quarters.

At the advent of spring the Swan begin to show
signs of uneasiness, and to make preparations for
their long journey to the northward. They gather
in large flocks and pass much of the time preen-
ing their feathers, keeping up a constant flow of
loud notes, as though discussing the period of their
departure and the method and direction of their
course. At length all being in readiness, with loud
screams and many Wh0d-whd’s they mount into
the air, and in long lines wing their way toward their
breeding places amid the frozen north. It has been esti-
mated that Swan travel at the rate of one hundred miles
an hour with a moderate wind in their favor to help them
along. The American Swan is monogamous, and once
mated the pair are presumed to be faithful for life. The
young keep with their parents for the first year, and these.
little families are only parted during that period by the

WHISTLING SWAN. 27

death of its members. A wounded Swan is very diffi-
cult to capture, for it immediately swims away right in
the wind’s “ eye,’”’ and so rapidly can it propel itself by its
broad feet that a man in a boat has great difficulty in
capturing it. When overtaken, it is found to be no mean
antagonist, for it can deal severe blows with its wings,
sufficiently powerful at times to break a man’s arm, while
the great feet are capable of committing severe injury
with their long claws. It is therefore necessary to be
somewhat careful in approaching a wounded Swan.

In addition to its smaller size the present species can
be distinguished from the Trumpeter Swan by the pres-
ence of a yellow oblong spot on the naked skin near the
eye, this part in the other species being all black. It
weighs from twelve to twenty pounds, some exception-
ally large birds perhaps a few pounds more. In
Louisiana this species is called Cygne.

CYGNUS COLUMBIANUS.

Geographical Distribution.—America, generally; Commander
Islands, Kamchatka. Accidental in Scotland. Breeds in Arctic
regions.

Adu/t.—Plumage, pure white; occasionally individuals have
rust color spots or blotches on head and neck, sometimes also on
the body. Lores naked, with a small yellow spot. Biil and feet
black. Total length, about 50 to 55 inches; wing average, 21;
tarsus, 44; culmen, 4.

Young.—General color, gray; sometimes nearly a lead color
during the first year, and the bill reddish in hue. Second year the
plumage is lighter and the bill is white, turning to black in
the third year, when the plumage is white, mottled with gray on
the body, the head and neck being mostly all gray. It requires
about five years before the plumage becomes entirely pure white.

Downy Young.—Pure white. Bill, legs, and feet, yellow.
From a specimen taken at Franklin Bay, Arctic America, by
MacFarlane in 1869, now in the Philadelphia Academy of Nat-
ural Sciences.

TRUMPETER SWAN.

‘| HS splendid bird differs from the American or

Whistling Swan in its larger size, absence of yellow
near the eye, and the peculiar arrangement of the wind-
pipe. Itis found in the interior of North America and on
the Pacific coast, but never appears on the shores of the
Atlantic unless as a straggler. It breeds on the islands
and in the low reedy grounds around Hudson Bay, also
in the Barren Grounds near the Arctic coast, and in the
interior probably on both sides of the mountains, but
is not known to breed in Alaska. A single speci-
men was procured by Dall at Fort Yukon, which is the
only record given of its appearance in the Territory. In
the United States, the Trumpeter, in the interior, winters
from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico, and breeds from
Towa and Minnesota northward. The nest of this species
is a large structure composed of grass, leaves, down, and
feathers, and is placed usually on elevated ground. The
eggs, which are a uniform chalky white with a granulated
surface, are quite large, from four to four and a half
inches long, and two and a half to three in breadth.
From five to seven is the complement, and the young are
hatched in July, and are led by the parents to the fresh-
water ponds and lakes in the vicinity. In August the
adults moult and are then for a time unable to fly, and
about the beginning of September the birds commence
to journey southward, and are among the first of the

28

2. Trumpeter Swan.

TRUMPETER SWAN. 29

great migratory host to enter our limits, and also to leave
them again in the spring.

The Trumpeter swims rapidly and easily, and when
going before the wind raises its wings and uses them as
sails to help itself along. It flies very high and in
lengthened lines, like the Whistling Swan, and its speed
in the air is about the same, possibly one hundred miles
an hour under favorable conditions. Its voice is very
different from that of the other species, being loud and
sonorous, resembling the notes of a French horn, the
tone being caused by the various convolutions of the
windpipe.

I do not think that this species, in the localities it fre-
quents, is as numerous as is the Whistling Swan in its
habitats. It is the prevailing species in California, where
it visits the inland fresh waters, and is apparently most
abundant on the rivers emptying into the lower Miss-
issippi, along the Gulf of Mexico, and in Western Texas,
where it is fairly common in winter. It does not differ
in its habits from the other species to any appreciable
extent. It feeds on roots of aquatic plants, grasses, shell
fish, crustacea, etc., and procures its food in the same
way as the Whistling Swan by immersing the head and
neck, and pulling the desired objects from the bottom.
It associates in small flocks by itself and is very shy and
suspicious. The weight of this Swan varies from twenty
to thirty pounds, being, on the average, considerably
heavier than the other species. It is a trim, well-shaped,
handsome bird, and when congregated in numbers on
the water has all the beautiful appearance characteristic
of its relative.

Cygne is the popular name given to this species in
Louisiana, the same as that applied to the Whistling
Swan.

30 WATER FOWL.

CYGNUS BUCCINATOR.

Geographical Distribution.—Interior of North America, west
to the Pacific coast, from the Arctic regions to the Gulf of Mex-
ico. Breeding from Northern United States, as Iowa and the
Dakotas, northward. Accidental on the Atlantic coast.

Adult,—Entire plumage, white; sometimes a wash of rust color
on the head. Bill, lores, and feet, black. Average total length,
about 63 inches; wing, 244; tarsus, 4%; culmen, 44.

Young.—General plumage, gray, with rust color on head and
neck, Bill, basal end flesh color, dusky for remaining portion.
Legs and feet, grayish,

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WHOOPING SWAN.

T can hardly be considered that this Swan is a North
American species, as it has never yet been found upon
this Continent. Its claim to be included in our avi-fauna
is based on the supposition that it is still a visitor to
Greenland. The Whooping Swan is a native of the Old
World, found throughout the British Islands and the
Continent of Europe, going as far south in winter as
Egypt and eastward through Asia to Japan. ~
It breeds in high northern latitudes in Iceland and
Finnish Lapland, and in the vast marshes of the Arctic
regions. The nest, which is very large, and said to be
occupied by the same bird for a number of years should
it survive, is placed on some tussock, and is composed of
rushes, grass, and similar materials. Incubation lasts
forty-two days, and the number of eggs, which are yel-
lowish white, varies from four to seven, the former being
the most usual. The young, which are generally hatched
in June, are not able to fly until August, and are care-
fully guarded by the parents, who protect them from their
numerous enemies, becoming the aggressors on slight
provocation, and are antagonists not to be despised. It
is a handsome bird, though, on account of its shorter
neck, not so graceful as the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor),
so commonly seen on ornamental waters in Europe. It
frequently comes upon the, land to pull up the grass,
which it does in the manner of geese, and it walks easily
if not gracefully.
The Wild Whooper is a very shy bird, and permits
nothing of which it is suspicious to approach. It goes in

31

32 WATER FOWL.

moderate-sized flocks and the birds fly in V-shaped lines,
and continually utter their trumpet call. In winter they
gather together in considerable numbers. This Swan
is a large bird and will weigh from twelve to twenty
pounds. + Although of greater dimensions, it bears
more resemblance to Bewick’s Swan than to any
other European species, but is readily distinguished
by having nearly two-thirds of the maxilla, or upper
part of the bill, yellow. Swans mate for life, and
the same pair will usually return to the last year’s
nest. Among young males, or old males which have
lost their mates, fierce fights take place during the breed-
ing season, or until most of them have become mated.
The habits of the Whooping Swan are similar to those of
the Mute Swan, which are known to all who have
watched this bird in a domesticated state in Europe.

In Greenland this present species formerly used to
breed, as stated by the Eskimo, near Godthaab, but was
exterminated when moulting and unable to escape. It
has occasionally reappeared in South Greenland during
the past thirty or forty years, but so irregularly, and
usually single individuals only, that it would seem
these were merely stragglers coming from Iceland, where
the bird is known to breed on the large marshes.

CYGNUS CYGNUS.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern parts of eastern hemis-
phere, occasional in Southern Greenland,

Adult,—Plumage, entirely white. Basal portion of bill and
lores, yellow, this color surrounding the nostrils, remainder black.
Legs and feet, black. Average total length about 57 inches;
wing, 24; tarsus, 4; culmen, 4}.

Young.—General color, grayish brown. Bill, base and lores,
greenish white ; remainder black, with a reddish orange band
across the nostrils.

Downy Young.—All white.

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BEUETGOOSE,

FOR a long time this fine species was considered to be

merely the young of the Snow Goose, although in its
adult dress it bears no resemblance to that bird. Very
little is known of either its economy or habits, and it is
seldom seen upon any of our seacoasts, keeping chiefly
to the Mississippi Valley, where it is a migrant, going
in winter to the Gulf. The breeding grounds of this
Goose are unknown, but the Eskimo say they are to be
found in the interior of Labrador, among the impene-
trable bogs and swamps that are so numerous in that
country. It is refreshing to learn that some birds have
inaccessible retreats where they can rear their young
without molestation. According to Mr. G. Barnstone,
this species crosses James Bay (in the southern part of
Hudson Bay), coming from the eastern coast, while the
Snow Goose comes down from the north, seeming evi-
dently to indicate that their breeding places are distinct.
Hearne, who met with this Goose in the last century,
states that its flesh was very palatable, quite as good as
the Snow Goose, and that it was seldom seen north of
Churchill River, but very common at Fort York, and at
Fort Albany. It is occasionally seen in company with
the Snow Goose. The Blue Goose has been taken
on the coast of Maine and at Grand Menan, but is very
rare along the Atlantic. In the west it is more com-
mon and numbers are killed every winter, but it has not
been found anywhere upon the shores of the Pacific.
This species is usually distinguished from the Snow

33

34 WATER FOWL,

Goose, as the Blue, or Blue Snow Goose, Bald-Headed
Goose, White-Headed Goose, Oie Bleu, and Blue Brant
in Louisiana, and in the north where all Snow Geese are
called Waveys, as the Blue Wavey. It is a very hand-
some bird in its adult summer dress, the handsomest in
my opinion of all our Geese, and doubtless could be
domesticated and become an ornament to our farmyards.

CHEN CAROULESCENS.

Geographical Destribution.—Hudson Bay, through interior of
North America, along the valley of the Mississippi to the Gulf of
Mexico. Very rare on the coast of Maine, but not found farther
south on the shores of the Atlantic, nor anywhere on the Pacific.

Adult.—Head and upper part otf neck, white; sometimes a
blackish brown line extends from top of head along middle of
hind neck. Rest of neck, breast, back, and wings, grayish
brown. Wing coverts, and rump, bluish gray. Secondaries,
blackish brown, edged with white. Primaries, blackish brown.
Flanks, grayish brown; feathers, tipped with pale brown. Under
parts, white or whitish; upper and under tail coverts, whitish.
Tail, brownish gray, edged with white. Bill, pale pinkish; nail,
white; a black line along the edges of the maxilla and mandible.
Legs and feet, reddish color. Total length, about 28 inches;
wing, 16; tarsus, 345; culmen, 2;%,.

Young.—Like the adult, but with the head and neck dark
grayish brown; chin only white.

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LESSER SNOW GOOSE.

HIS bird, the smaller of the two Snow Geese, is the

western representative form, ranging from the Arc-
tic Sea, south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico and
Southern California. It does not breed south of the
Arctic circle, and during its migrations makes no tarry-
ing in Alaska, stopping but a brief period to rest and
feed on the marshes, and then continuing its jour-
ney northward. The flocks arrive cn the Yukon from
the heginning to the middle of May, and are more nu-
merous in spring than in the autumn, when they return
re-enforced in numbers by their young families. None
pass the winter in any part of Alaska, and the species
does not seem to visit the Aleutian Islands at any time.
On their return journey when they appear in the United
States, about the beginning of September, they come in
flocks numbering sometimes over one hundred individu-
als, but are not seen upon the coast, performing their
migrations apparently over the land.

In Washington and Oregon and throughout California
this Snow Goose is very common in winter, and fre-
quents the plains and marshes near the sea. It arrives
in October, and remains until March, and like the
larger species is shy and watchful. In the interior of the
Continent and along the Mississippi Valley it is a regu-
lar migrant, and is quite abundant. It arrives there
about the same time as the members of the western army
do on the Pacific coast, from the beginning to the mid-
dle of October, flying very high in a long, extended

35

36 WATER FOWL.

curved line, not nearly so angular as the V-shaped ranks
of the Canada and other Geese. With their snowy forms
moving steadily along in the calm air, the outstretched
wings tipped with black, glowing in the sun’s rays with
the faint blush of the rose, they present a most beautiful
sight. Usually they fly silently with hardly a perceptible
movement of the pinions, high above

““. . . the landscape lying so far below
With its towns and rivers and desert places,
And the splendor of light above, and the glow
Of the limitless blue ethereal spaces.”

Occasionally, however, a solitary note like a softened
Honk is borne from out the sky to the ear of the
watcher beneath. Should they perceive a place that at-
tracts them they begin to lower, at first gradually, sail-
ing along on motionless wings until near the desired
spot, and then descend rapidly in zigzag lines until the
ground or water is almost reached, when with a few
quick flaps they gently alight. It is difficult to get close
to them, as they are very watchful, and if they become
suspicious an alarm is sounded and the flock betakes
itself to some other locality. Sometimes, in passing from
one place to another, they fly low enough to give the con-
cealed gunner a chance for a successful shot, but I have
never known them to decoy at all well, and the majority
of those procured are birds passing to and from their
feeding grounds.

As an article of food I have never held this bird in any
great esteem, for if it was tender it had very little flavor,
and if the latter was clearly perceptible it was generally
of that kind one would prefer to have absent. When
this Goose first arrives it is very apt to be lean, having.
had but little time on its long journey to stop and feed

LESSER SNOW GOOSE. 37

sufficiently to fatten, but after a short stay upon the
plains and waters of more southern climes, where food is
abundant and easily obtained, it soon recuperates and
becomes fat and in fine condition.

At times this species assembles in such multitudes as
to give the landscape the appearance of being covered
with snow, but if the sportsman, misled by their numbers,
thinks he certainly can secure some individuals out of
such a vast concourse, and attempts to get within
shooting distance by any ordinary means, he will prob-
ably find himself greatly mistaken, for long before the
desired spot is gained, he will see the vast white sheet
rise, and countless wings winnow the air. Sometimes
they will permit a wagon to be driven almost into their
midst, or a man on horseback can charge at full speed
and get up to them, and many are occasionally taken by
these methods, but they soon learn what dangers to
avoid, and are very successful in doing so, although they
may immediately afterward be deceived by some more
simple but novel stratagem. The young are always un-
suspicious, and can easily be distinguished from the old
birds, even in the air, by their grayish plumage, which
makes them very noticeable among the pure white mem-
bers of the flock, and 3t a little distance, they appear as
if they had soiled their feathers in mud, which had after-
ward become dry.

The Lesser Snow Goose does not differ in appearance
from the larger species, and it will be often necessary to
measure a specimen to know to which form it belongs.
Size is at all times a most unsatisfactory distinction.
This bird is called Baily (white) Goose, by the Russians,
and Oie Blanche and White Brant in Louisiana, and the
same names are also applied to the succeeding form in
that State.

38 WATER FOWL.

CHEN HYPERBOREUS,

Geographical Distributoon.—Western North America from
the Valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific coast, and from
Alaska to Southern California. Breeds within the Arctic circle.

Adu/t.—Primaries, black; their bases and coverts, ashy. En-
tire rest of plumage, white. Bill, purplish red; nail, white;
space between maxilla and mandible, black. Legs and feet,
orange red, Iris, dark brown. Total length, about 254 inches;
wing, 15%; tarsus, 4; culmen, 2,5.

Young.--Head, neck, and upper parts, light gray; feathers of
back, tertials, and wing coverts, with dark centers, and edged
with white. Primaries, black. Rest of plumage, white.

Se ty
ne ae § a

a

Lan oe

GREATER SNOW GOOSE.

ie is somewhat difficult to define accurately the limits

of the present bird and the preceding, when there is
nothing to distinguish them from each other but a differ-
ence of a few inches in their total lengths; and unfortu-
nately wild birds object to be measured, so it is impossible
to verify one’s observations with that degree of certainty
so much desired by all naturalists, and so rarely obtained.
But since it has been decided that there are two forms of
this Snow Goose in North America, the present is con-
sidered as that one which is found east of the Mississippi
Valley and chiefly along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean,
going occasionally as far south as Cuba. Like its
smaller relative its breeding places are in the far north,
on the Barren Grounds, and on the borders of the Arctic
Ocean east of the Mackenzie River. It is very common
in summer during its migrations about Hudson Bay, so
abundant that formerly a single hunter has been known
to kill a thousand to twelve hundred in a season. A
much smaller number than this has to suffice at the
present time. Snow Geese flock by themselves, and
although they may be feeding on the same marsh or
plain, or stretch of water with other Geese, never mingle
with them. They feed chiefly on grass which, if on land,
they bite off with the side motion of the head and jerk of
the neck in precisely the same way as tame Geese are
wont to do. These birds also eat bulbous roots and soft
portions of various water plants, and their peculiarly
shaped bills are admirably adapted for cutting or pulling

39

40 WATER FOWL.

apart such kind of food. In summer, according to Rich-
ardson, in the northern regions they feed on berries, and
frequent the shores of lakes and rivers, and seldom are
seen on the water except at night or when moulting.
MacFarlane discovered on an island, in a lake near Liv-
erpool Bay, some nests of the Snow Goose which were
mere holes or depressions in the sandy soil well lined
with down. The eggs are large and yellowish-white.
The young are on the wing by the middle of August, and
feed at first chiefly on insects and rushes, and later on
berries. They are excellent for the table, and form, with
the adults, the staple article of food for the natives in that
region.

Previous to starting on their southern journey the
birds desert the marshes, and keep near the edge of the
water as it ebbs and flows, dressing their feathers con-
tinually. Then, all being ready, they take advantage of
the first wind from the north and, mounting into the air,
are borne at.a high speed by their own efforts and favor-
ing breezes, away from the ice-bound shores to sunnier
climes, leaving the cheerless land that had been their
summer home to lapse into the silence and darkness of
a continued night.

‘* With mingled sounds of horns and bells

A far-heard clang, the Wild Geese fly,

Storm-sent from Arctic moors and fells,

Like a great arrow through the sky.”
On the northern portion of the Atlantic coast the
Snow Goose cannot be said to be common, and in
many parts is seldom seen. Small flocks are occa-
sionally met with on the waters of Long Island, but
the species becomes more abundant on the shores
of New Jersey and the coasts of Virginia and North-
Carolina, where, in the latter State in the vicinity of Cape

GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 41

Hatteras, and along the beaches and inlets of Albemarle
Sound, it sometimes congregates in great multitudes.
Occasionally flocks of considerable size may be seen on
the inner beach of Currituck Sound where the water is
brackish, but the birds do not remain any length of time
in such situations. They present a beautiful sight as
they stand in long lines upon the beach, their pure, im-
maculate plumage shining like snow in the sun, against
the black mud of the marshes or the dingy hues of the
shore. It is very difficult to approach them at such
times, as they are exceedingly watchful and wary, but
occasionally a few may leave the main body, and, if flying
by, will draw perhaps sufficiently near to Geese decoys,
or live Geese tied out in front of a blind, to afford an
opportunity for a shot. The chances are better, however,
for the sportsman, when these Geese are moving in small
flocks of six or seven, as they are then more apt to come
near the shore looking for favorable feeding places, or
spots on the beach to sand themselves.

It is a very silent species, and save for exceptional
reasons such as becoming alarmed, or when about to
migrate, it rarely utters a sound. The bill of this Goose
is very strong and highly colored, with the edges of the
upper and lower parts widely gaping, giving it a grinning
expression, but it is an instrument admirably adapted for
the employment given it by the owner, that of forcibly
pulling reeds, grasses, etc., up by the roots. Beside the
name of Snow Goose, both this species and the allied
form are known throughout the land as White Brant.
In the “ Fur countries” the Greater Snow Goose is
called the Common Wavey, also along the Atlantic coast
it is known as Red Goose, probably from the color of its
bill and legs, and Texas Goose, for no reason that I can
see whatever.

42 WATER FOWL.

CHEN HVPERBOREUS NIVALIS.

Geographical Distribution.—Shores of the Arctic Ocean east
of the Mackenzie River, occasionally going south as far as Cuba,
and from the Valley of the Mississippi to the Atlantic Ocean.
Breeds in the Arctic regions.

Adult,—Resembles the Lesser Snow Goose in the color of the
plumage, but is somewhat larger in its measurements. Average
total length, 34 inches; wing, 1774; tarsus, 3); culmen, 2,5.
The average difference between the Greater and Lesser Snow
Geese as given in Ridgway’s ‘‘ Manual” is, total length, g inches;
wing, 174; culmen, 3; tarsus, 75.

From these measurements it will be perceived that it would be
practically hopeless to try to originate any method for accu-
rately separating these birds, for a specimen of the Lesser Snow
Goose might be found larger than one of its supposed big
‘* brothers.”

Downy Young.—Lores, dusky. Two black stripes from bill,
passing above and beneath the eye. Top of head, dark olive
brown. Sides of head, neck, and entire under parts, light yellow.
Upper parts, dark olive brown. Bill, black; nail, yellowish
white. Specimen in Academy of Natural Sciences, procured roth
July, 1893, at Glacier Valley, Greenland, together with the adult
female; Lieutenant Peary’s Expedition.

“asoO0r) MOUS SSsox

a2

ROSS’S SNOW. GOOSE.

HIS is one of the smallest Geese known, a fully adult
bird weighing only about two and a half to three
pounds. It is remarkable for the curious carunculations
at the base of the bill. It breeds in some part of the
Arctic regions, but its nest and eggs have not as yet been
discovered. Ross’s Goose has never been found on the
Atlantic coast of the United States, but it is not uncom-
mon in parts of California in winter, and has been seen
in the San Joaquin Valley in considerable numbers. Its
journey to the south seems to lie to the westward en-
tirely, and but little is known of its habits beyond the few
observations made in California, and I have always re-
garded it as the rarest of our Geese. It has a cry like that
of the Cackling Goose, and usually associates with the
Lesser Snow Goose, and accompanies flocks of that bird
in the air, flying on one side or the other, or else is scat-
tered throughout the ranks of the main body of the larger
birds. It was discovered by Hearne, who called it the
Horned Wavey and said that two or three hundred miles
west of Churchill, which is near the west shore of Hud-
son Bay, he saw them in as large flocks as the Common
Wavey or Snow Goose. The flesh, he says, was ex-
tremely delicate, and as a proof of it he ate two of them
one night for supper, which was doing very well, even for
an Arctic appetite. It is a beautiful little bird, and it is
to be regretted that more do not enter within our limits.

43

44 WATER FOWL,

EXANTHEMOPS ROSSI/,

Geographical Distribution.—Arctic America, south in winter
to Southern California, east to Montana.

Adult,—Entire plumage, pure white, with the exception of
the primaries, which are black. Bill, dull red; nail, white, with-
out any black line along the gape. Basal portion of maxilla
covered with wart-like excrescences. Legs and feet, reddish.
Average total length, 23 inches; wing, 14,3,; tarsus, 24%; cul-
men, 1,5.

Young.—Resemble those of the Lesser Snow Goose, but are
of a generally lighter color.

98004) poyUOL-9Y MA

8

ae panda US

att Hol

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.

HE White-fronted Geese from the Old and New

Worlds have been separated into a species and sub-
species, based solely upon size; the American birds
averaging a little larger, something like one inch in total
length and in the tarsus and culmen about half an inch
each. As all critical remarks are reserved for the
Appendix it is not necessary here to discuss the wisdom
of separating these birds, but merely to state that as there
is no difference in their plumage, and the only way to
distinguish a specimen (if two forms are recognized) is
by the locality and the tape-line (and one cannot
always then be certain), I have not deemed these
distinctions as of sufficient importance to separate the
European and American examples, and in this book
have considered them as one species. The White-
fronted Goose is found generally throughout North
America from the Arctic Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, and
Cuba, and also occurs in Greenland. It is rare on the
Atlantic coast of the United States, occasional indi-
viduals having been taken as far south as Long Island,
but in its migrations it tends more to the westward,
is found in winter throughout the Mississippi Valley, and
is common in various parts of Texas. On the Pacific
coast it is very abundant from Alaska to Mexico. It
breeds throughout the Arctic regions from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, nesting on the lower Anderson River from
its mouth to Fort Yukon; frequents the Siberian shore
of Behring Straits, is found on the Commander Islands,

45

46 ; WATER FOWL.

and various others in Behring Sea, and also about the
islands of the Aleutian chain, but is not known to
breed on any of the last named. At St. Michael
Island this species is abundant in May, and is
called the Tundrina Goose or Low-ground Goose.
Mr. MacFarlane, who found many of their nests on
the Anderson River, states that these were depressions
in the soil, and in nearly every instance lined with dried
grass, down, and feathers. In Alaska the nest is placed
in a hollow in the sand, or on the bank of some large
pond or grassy flat, and is lined, like those on the eastern
side of the continent, with grass or moss. But as the
eggs are laid, the female plucks down from her breast,
increasing the quantity until, the complement having
been reached, the eggs are fairly covered. These are
dull white, very similar to those of the Snow Goose.

The White-fronted Goose reaches its breeding
grounds early in May, and is a very noisy bird, and an-
nounces its presence by loud cries. Mating accom-
plished they scatter in pairs, selecting sites for their nests
and preparing for the serious duties of incubation. They
remain about the fresh-water lakes and ponds, and sub-
sist upon grasses, berries, and such like food. The
parents attend the young until the latter are able to fly,
usually in August, and later gather together in large
flocks preparatory to starting on their southern journey,
which is begun toward the last of September. This
species usually makes its appearance within the limits of
the United States in October, and is most numerous, as
already stated, on the Pacific side of the continent. It is
often seen associating with other Geese, especially the
Snow Geese, with which it appears to be on most friendly
terms. The birds seek their feeding grounds, if away
from the coast, in the early mornings, and as they often

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 47

follow the same line of flight going and returning, many
are shot by sportsmen who have taken positions along
their routes. When much hunted they become very shy
and wild, and permit nothing to approach them, and have
sentinels posted to give due warning of danger, -and as
soon as an alarm is sounded each individual throughout
the flock is on the alert, and if the cause of their sus-
picion remains, the entire company takes wing for an-
other locality. Although the name by which this species
is generally known to the gunners of the west is Brant,
it has also various others in different parts of its disper-
sion. Some of these are Laughing Goose,—on account
of its cry, supposed to resemble the sound man makes
when laughing,—Prairie Brant, Speckled Belly, Speckled
Brant, Gray Goose, Pied Brant, Yellow-legged Goose,
etc.; and Oie Caille and Gray Brant in Louisiana. This
Goose is a most excellent bird for the table, especially
if young, as it receives from its customary diet no strong
or disagreeable flavors, and can rank as an article of food
with any other species of Goose, excepting possibly a
young bird of the salt-water Brant. The downy young
are very pretty little creatures, as they appear in their
various colors of sooty brown relieved by olive and
lemon yellow. This plumage lasts but a short time, when
they begin to assume the mature dress, and early in the
autumn they can hardly be distinguished from the adult,
differing chiefly in not having the white on the head at
the base of the bill, and less black on the lower parts.

In the Old World this Goose is dispersed throughout
the northern portions, and ranges eastward as far as
China and Japan. As is its custom in America it flies in
V-shaped flocks, sometimes at a very considerable
height, frequents low marshy districts and feeds upon
water plants and grasses. At times it resorts to culti-

48 WATER FOWL.

vated fields and picks up the grain scattered over the
ground, but as a rule it is a vegetable feeder. It is not
uncommon on the coasts of Great Britain, and in Egypt
I found it the most abundant of the Geese that are accus-
tomed to resort to the Nile. This species breeds near
fresh-water ponds not far removed from the coast, de-
positing its eggs in a depression in the ground, lined
with down. These are like those laid in America
as may be supposed, yellowish-white, and six to eight in
number. This Goose was well known to the ancient
Egyptians, and its portrait frequently appears upon their
monuments, and one of the earliest pictures of birds
known to exist was found in a tomb at Mayoum, Egypt,
and represents this species.

ANSER ALBIFRONS.

Geographical Distrtbutzon.—Northern portions of both Hem-
ispheres, extending eastward to Japan. General throughout
North America, south in winter to Cape St. Lucas, Mexico, and
Cuba. Rare on the Atlantic coast. Greenland.

Adult.—Fore part of head, white, bounded posteriorly with a
narrow, almost imperceptible,.line of black. Rest of head and
neck, dark brown; in some specimens the upper part of head and
nape is very dark brown, causing this part to appear like a cap.
Back and wings, grayish brown, feathers tipped with white.
Greater wing coverts ash gray, tipped with white. Primaries,
black. Rump, slate brown. Lower parts, grayish white, blotched
with black, the amount of these blotches varying greatly among
individuals, Upper and under tail coverts, white. Tail, dark
grayish brown, the feathers edged and tipped with white. Iris,
dark brown. Bill, orange yellow; nail, white. Legs and feet,
orange or orange red. Average total length, 28 inches; wing,
about 154; tarsus, 24; culmen, 1,5.

Young.—No white on the head, which is all dark brown, and
no black marking on the under parts; nail of bill, dusky.

Downy Young .—Middle of crown and entire back, including

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 49

the upper surface of the wings and outer side of thighs, sooty
brown, with an olive shade. From the bill a band extending
back through the eye is of a slightly darker shade than surround-
ing feathers. Nape and back of neck, olive yellow. Entire
lower surface rich lemon yellow, washed with lighter on the
abdomen (Nelson).

BEAN GOOSE.

‘T HIS is another species from the Old World, taken

into our list of American birds on a statement
that a specimen was seen or procured in North
Greenland. However, this is not of much impor-
tance to those who shoot Wild Fowl, because it
is not at all likely that they will ever meet this
bird in the flesh in North America, and it is prob-
ably a very exceptional occurrence that one even goes as
far west as Greenland. But there is a specimen in the
zoological museum at Copenhagen stated to have come
from that land, and on this testimony the Bean Goose
becomes an American bird. We are not informed what
are the reasons for believing the specimen came from
Greenland, and museum examples have been known to
bear wrong localities upon their labels, but let us hope
this is not the case in this instance, and although we can
never expect to see the Bean Goose flying free within our
limits, it will be satisfactory to believe a venturesome in-
dividual did get at one time as far westward as Green-
land. In many parts of Europe and Asia it is a common
species, frequenting the coasts, and also inland localities
more often than is usual with other species of Geese. It
is a wary bird and keeps to open places, and has sentinels
posted to warn the flock of approaching danger. It
breeds in high latitudes.

ANSER FABALIS,

Geographical Distributzon.—Northern Europe and Asia, in
winter to southern Europe and Northern Africa. Very acci-
dental in Greenland.

50

9.

Bean Goose.

BEAN GOOSE. 51

Adult,—Head and neck, grayish brown, darkest on head,
white patch on forehead. Back and scapulars, dark brown
feathers edged with grayish white. Rump, blackish brown.
Wings brown, grayish on coverts, which with secondaries and
tertials are edged with white. Breast, pale brown; sides and
flanks, brown, edges paler. Upper and under tail coverts,
abdomen, and vent white. Bill, middle part deep orange,
remainder with nail black. Iris, dark brown. Legs and feet,
orange. Total length, about 32inches. Wing, 19; culmen, 2,55;
tarsus, 275.

Female,—Like the male, but is usually somewhat smaller.

EMPEROR -GOOSE,

‘T HIS handsome Goose is one of the very few water

fowl that are met with in North America that I have
never seen alive, and on account of its very limited disper-
sion, one desiring to study its habits in its native haunts
must visit that portion of Alaska lying between Behring
Strait on the north and the Aleutian Islands on the south.
This species breeds about the mouth of the Yukon, and
around St. Michael’s, and probably on the north coast of
Siberia west of Behring Straits, and passes the winter
about the eastern islands of the Aleutian chain. It is
seldom seen within the limits of the United States, but
occasionally a straggler is taken within our borders, as
in the winter of 1884 when one was procured in Hum-
boldt Bay, Northern California, by Mr. Charles Fiebig,
who says the Emperor Geese occur there at long
intervals.

Mr. E. W. Nelson, to whom we are indebted for much
of our knowledge of the habits and economy of the va-
rious birds that periodically visit the Arctic regions, has
given some interesting notes of this species, of which the
following is a transcript. From the 22d of May to June
1 this Goose becomes daily more common at St.
Michael’s, until at the latter date the main body has ar-
rived, and their forms and notes are as familiar as are
those of the White-fronted and White-collared or Cack-
ling Geese. The first comers are very shy, but become
less so when they begin to arrive in flocks. At a long
distance they can be distinguished by their heavy bodies,

52

D.G. El (ot.

10. Emperor Goose.

EMPEROR GOOSE. 53

short necks, and quick wing-strokes, resembling those
of the Black Brant. Although not so rapid on the wing
as that species, nor in fact, as are other Geese, they are
nevertheless swift flyers. When on their way between
feeding grounds they utter a hoarse, deep, strident Cla-
ha, cla-ha, cla-ha, very different from the note of any other
Goose. Soon after their arrival mating begins, and in
couples they fly about keeping close to the ground, rarely
rising thirty yards above it. The males are jealous and
pugnacious, making a vigorous onslaught upon any one
of their kind or any other species of Goose, should they
draw near. When a mated pair are feeding, the male is
restless and watchful, and if alarmed the birds draw near
each other, and before taking wing, both utter a deep
ringing U-ligh, ti-liigh. There is a peculiar deep hoarse-
ness about this note impossible to describe. By June
the females begin to lay on the flat marshy islands near
the sea, and at low tide the broad mud flats on the shore
are thronged with them, end after feeding, they congre-
gate on the bars until forced to leave by the incoming
tide. Most of the nests were placed on the marshes, and
sometimes the eggs were deposited amid driftwood below
high-water mark. It is not always easy to distinguish
this Goose when on the nest, even when there is
not much cover, as the bird extends her head and neck
flat upon the ground, remaining perfectly motionless, and
does not leave the nest until the object of her alarm has
passed, when she usually moves off with a startled cry.
The eggs are placed in a depression in the ground, and
in number they range from five to eight, and when fresh
are pure white or nearly so, but become a dirty brownish
white after remaining in the nest a brief period. As the
number of eggs increase, the female forms a bed of fine
grass, leaves, and feathers, the latter plucked from her

54 WATER FOWL.

own breast. When disturbed the female usually flies
straight away, sometimes for half a mile before alighting,
and betrays little concern for her treasures. The male is
rarely seen in the vicinity of the nest. By the last of
June or beginning of July the young are hatched, and
from the last of July to the middle of August the adults
moult. At this season tens of thousands of Geese of all
kinds are killed by the Eskimo, who set long nets across
the marshes and drive the moulting birds into them. This
slaughter is bad enough, but is rendered still more repre-
hensible from the fact that the savages kill thousands of
young birds that are at such times entrapped, to prevent
them, as they say, from being in the way for the next
drive. Is it to be wondered that the Wild Fowl in North
America are rapidly marching, in so many cases, toward
extinction, when such practices are indulged in, even on
their very breeding grounds? The eggs of the Emperor
Goose are eagerly sought for both by the natives and
whites, and take the place of meat on the daily bill of fare.
When again able to fly, these Geese gather along the sea-
coast, and remain there until winter drives them to the
Aleutian Islands a few hundred miles south. The
natives south of the Yukon make dresses from the skins
of this bird, as they do also of those of other species of
Geese.

The Emperor Goose is difficult to kill, and it requires
a heavy charge of shot to bring it down. It is hardly fit
for food, the flesh being coarse, rank, and with a de-
cidedly unpleasant odor, says Turner; but Dall states
that though the flesh has an intolerable odor of garlic,
which makes the process of skinning a very disagreeable
task, yet this passes away when the bird is cooked, and
he found it tender and good. This species visits the
Prybilof Islands, but only as a straggler. In the

— —

EMPEROR GOOSE. 55

month of October, usually from the 7th to the 2oth, says
Turner, a strong north-northeast wind blows, attaining
at times great velocity. This has the effect of lowering
the waters of Norton Sound to a remarkable degree,
sometimes as much as eight feet below the lowest mark
attained. At such times the Emperor Geese visit the
vicinity of Stewart’s and St. Michael’s Islands to feed on
the shell fish exposed by the receded water. By the 15th
of November they depart for the south side of the penin-
sula and the Aleutian Islands, arriving at Unalaska by the
Ist of December and remaining until the next April.
The Russian name of this bird is Sa sar ka, which
means Guinea Hen, as they fancy there is a resemblance
in the coloring between that bird and this Goose. In
the Aleutian Islands it is-called the Lidenna Goose, and at
Norton Sound it is known as the White-headed Goose.

PRITACTE CANAGICA.

Geographical Distribution.—Coast of Alaska, between Behr-
ing Sea and the Aleutian Islands. Mouth of the Yukon, possibly
on Siberian coast, west of Behring Straits. Commander Islands,
Kamchatka; casually in winter on the Pacific coast of the United
States as far south as Humboldt Bay, California.

Adu/t.—Head and back of neck, white. Forehead and cheeks,
frequently stained with rustcolor. Throat and fore part of neck,
brownish black, feathers on lower part of neck, with a small
white spot at tip. Back and under parts, bluish gray, the feath-
ers having asubterminal black bar and white tips, much more
distinct on the back than on the lower parts. Secondaries,
brownish black, edged with white. Primaries, blackish brown.
Lower back and upper tail coverts, bluish gray, the subterminal
bar and whitish tips indistinct. Basal half of tail, slate color,
remainder white. Iris, hazel. Bill, maxilla pale purplish, washed,
with fleshy white; nail, horn white, edges dark horn color; man-
dible, horn color, with white spot on each side. Membrane of

_

nostrils, livid blue. Legs and feet, bright orange yello

son). Total length, 26 inches; wing, 144-154; tarsus, ie Spa 1-

men, 145. :
Young.—Similar to the adult, but with the head and neck

brownish black; the feathers on top of the head, speckled with

white.

eee ee ee a OR ee ye pee th eh a

‘QSO0r) BpeURD

sata

“pandds US WMApT

CANADA GOOSE.

pBE common Wild Goose is distributed generally

throughout North America from the Arctic Sea to
the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, breeding as far south as Colorado, near lakes at
high elevations. No species of our Wild Fowl is better
known, nor its advent within our borders more eagerly
anticipated. It breeds in many parts of the northern
United States, and thence northward throughout the
Arctic Regions, chiefly, however, to the east of the moun-
tains. In Alaska it is rare upon the coast, though it is
met with along the Yukon River, but is supplanted in
that Territory by several allied though smaller species.
It has been found nesting by Richardson on the lower
Anderson River, but he says it does not go to the coast.
It seems to prefer the interior of the country during the
breeding season, selecting wooded and swampy districts,
and apparently at that time avoids the neighborhood of
the ocean. Its arrival in the northern latitudes from
the South is always hailed with joy by the inhabitants
of those cheerless regions, as they depend largely upon
these birds for their means of subsistence. It is among
the first of the Wild Fowl to appear in the spring, and
soon begins to prepare for its matrimonial duties.

In about three weeks after their arrival the birds have
selected their mates, and are dispersed throughout the
country, choosing sites for the nests in secluded places
in the vicinity of quiet water, and where the cover of
erass or plants is sufficient for concealment. The nest is

57

58 WATER FOWL.

usually upon the ground, although it has been found
upon the stump of a tree surrounded by water, and also
in the branches of a tree at a considerable height. It is
composed of various materials, such as dry plants, dead
leaves and grass, or sticks and moss, lined with feathers
and down, and is quite large. The eggs vary from six to
nine, sometimes more, when the bird is domesticated, and
they are a uniform ivory white. During July the young
are hatched, and the old birds moult. This is a danger-
ous period for them, as their means of escape are limited
to hiding away in the marshes, at which they are very
skillful, or else keeping out in the center of lakes or other
large bodies of water. Many, however, are killed at this
period, and sometimes whole flocks are captured alive,
of which fact Hearne relates an instance when some In-
dians drove into Fort Prince of Wales, on the Churchill
River, forty-one old and young birds which were incapa-
ble of flying, and which-were herded as easily as if they
had been domesticated.

As the days begin to shorten, and ice to form upon the
inland waters and along the borders of the sea, the Wild
Geese commence to prepare for their journey South.
Much conversation is indulged in, and doubtless the
various routes are discussed, and instructions to the
young given as to how they must behave in the trying
times before them; as there is no doubt that birds and
other animals can converse as intelligently with each
other as men can, so far as making their wants and inten-
tions known. Feathers having been thoroughly preened
and cleansed, and protected by an abundant dress-
ing of oil, everything is in readiness, and a favorable -
wind from the north having sprung up, the flock, usually
consisting of a single family (although sometimes two or
three may join together), with loud cries and much flap-

CANADA GOOSE. 59

ping of the wings, and beating of the water with the feet,
rises in the air and takes a direct course for the winter
home. Led by some experienced gander, who has also
the extra duty of cleaving the way through the air, which
becomes at times most fatiguing, the birds are strung
out in a lengthened V-shaped line, each one protected
to a certain extent against the wind, if adverse, by the
‘one in front, and with slow, heavy beating of the wings,
the flock speeds on by day and night with great rapidity.

‘«Then stood we shivering in the night-air cold,
And heard a sound as if a chariot rolled
Groaning adown the heavens; and lo! o’erhead,
Twice, thrice the wild geese cried; then on they sped,
O’er field and wood and bay, toward Southern seas; :
So low they flew that on the forest trees
Their strong wind splashed a spray of moonlight white;
So straight they flew, so fast their steady flight.
True as an arrow they sailed down the night;
Like lights blown out they vanished from the sight.”

There is nothing to intercept their course; in the great
fields of air through which they move, there are no
bounds or limits, nor barriers of any kind; the route is
free and open. At least so it appears to us as we watch
them steering across the blue vault of heaven, sending
down at intervals from out the sky a note of recognition
to the inhabitants of earth.

But all is not so free and without restraint, even to the
voyagers of the trackless wastes of the airy regions, for
in their path rises occasionally ‘a fleecy mist that obscures
all landmarks, and although it might be supposed that
birds like these, whose instincts are so keen and unerr-
ing, would never lose the points of the compass, yet
when shut in by a fog or encompassed by a storm of
snow, the Geese become confused, seem to lose all knowl-

60 WATER FOWL,

edge of their course, and frequently descend and alight
upon the ground. Passing over large cities, or forests
of shipping, sometimes has a similar effect upon them.

Migration is performed usually at night, though at
times many flocks are seen journeying by day. When
desiring to rest and feed, the ground beneath is care-
fully scanned, in order to select the place offering the
best sources of nourishment, as well as affording se-
curity from all danger. A suitable spot having been
found, at a call from the leader the birds begin to de-
scend, lowering themselves rapidly, and at times sailing
along on motionless pinions. If they have decided sud-
denly to stop, they will frequently drop abruptly in
a zigzag course, as is described in the articles on cer-
tain species of Ducks, and, when nearing the ground or
water, turn against the wind and settle gently down.

When traveling the leader often utters a Honk, as if
asking how those following him were getting on, and is
answered with an ‘‘ All well” reply from the rear. If he
becomes fatigued by the extra labor of cleaving the air he
falls out to one side, and some other old bird moves up
and takes his place, the former leader dropping into the
ranks again without disturbing their regularity or check-
ing the speed. This movement is accomplished with an
ease and smoothness that could only come from long
practice, and is most pleasing to witness.

Toward October, or, if the season is late, some time in
November, these Geese begin to arrive on the waters of
our sea-coasts, and throughout the interior of the United
States, seeking their winter quarters. They come in
comparatively small flocks, succeeding each other
rapidly, generally flying high in the air, and, on alight-
ing, congregate together in masses, often containing
many hundreds of individuals. They are usually very

———

CANADA GOOSE. 61

noisy, the Honks, in many keys and variations of inflec-
tion, resounding from every side. They seem delighted
to have successfully reached what may possibly be
the termination of their journey (though doubtless many
a member of the little band has fallen by the way), and
splash about in the well-known waters, wash and dress
their feathers, and maintain an uninterrupted flow of
conversation. They keep much to themselves, whether
on the prairie or on the water, associating at times with
the Swan, if any are in the vicinity; though they make
no objection to flocks of various species of Ducks remain-
ing with them, and it is no unusual sight, on large bodies
of water in winter, to see flocks of Geese surrounded and
mixed up with great multitudes of deep-water Ducks,
and even Mud Hens or Blue Peters (Fulica americana),
which on calm days are in the habit of gathering in large
numbers on the open water away from shore.

At all times the Canada Goose is a vigilant and
wary bird, having sentinels posted at various points
when the members of a flock are feeding, which with
outstretched necks remain motionless, keeping a keen
watch around. These are not neglected by their fellows,
but, after a spell of duty, are regularly relieved by others.
While trusting in a large degree to their guardians, the
other members of the flock are by no means neglectful
of all proper precaution, and each one also is on the alert
for danger even when engaged in feeding. They sub-
sist upon berries in their season, grasses, roots, and leaves
of various marine plants, which they dig up from the
bottom with their bills. This Goose does not dive when
feeding, but, keeping in shallow water, tilts up the hind
parts as do the Mallard and other Ducks, holding itself
in position by paddling with the feet, and reaching down
to the full extent of the long neck, grasps and pulls up

62 WATER FOWL.

the tender grass and plants growing beneath. Some-
times the flocks dig large holes in the bottom, but com-
mit nothing like the damage, nor waste such quantities
of food as do the Swan. Canada Geese have no special
time for feeding, and seem to find much pleasure in the
occupation both during the day and night. If they de-

sire to seek their food in the marshes, they generally.

enter them at night, two or three hours after sundown,
and their arrival in such places is always known by the
honking of the birds as they prepare to alight, or as
those already on the ground salute the newcomers.
While feeding, if feeling secure, they are often very
noisy, and keep up a continual calling. Soon after the
rising of the sun they leave the nlarshes and retire to the
bays and sounds, and usually keep well away from
the shore.

When a flock is on the wing, its members always give
an intimation of their desire to alight by sailing on mo-
tionless pinions for a short distance. Unless frightened
away, this action is almost universally the precursor of
a cessation of flight. The Wild Goose is very fond of
sanding, as it is called, and daily will visit the beach or
bars in the rivers or sounds to obtain this much-desired
article, and if undisturbed will gather in such places in
immense numbers at certain stages of the water or tide.
Advantage is taken of this habit by sportsmen, and holes
are dug in the sand, into which boxes are placed large
enough to hold one or two men, and sand piled about
them as a breastwork, or surrounded by reeds stood up-
right. Wooden or live decoys are placed about this
blind, according to the direction of the wind, for the
Geese will always swing round so as to come up to them
against the wind before alighting. A flock of these large
birds approaching the decoys is a beautiful sight, and we

Ee

CANADA GOOSE. 63

will take our position in such a box and see how thicy
appear as in all confidence they draw near the dangerous
spot. The boxes are either long enough for a man to
lie down in at full length, or deep and wide enough to
enable him to sit upon a bench or plank nailed across it
about halfway down.

We take our places in one of the latter kind, and look
out through the reeds over the water. If we have live
decoys they are strung out in diverging lines, each bird
tied by the leg to his perch or post, on which is a plat-
form just below the surface for him to stand on when
tired with swimming. Before us stretches the wide ex-
panse of the sound or bay, traversed at times by small
skiffs, which, with their white sails, resembling birds’
wings, dart hither and thither. Various kinds of Ducks
are speeding along in undulating lines high in air,
or just skimming the surface of the water, while with a
whiz and a buzz, a Hooded Merganser, or Ruddy Duck,
or Buffle Head will swing in toward our hiding place
and then dart by at a speed an express train would be
unable to equal. But moving slowly along apparently,
on heavy wings, a dark mass comes into view,
piercing the air with its wedge-shaped phalanx. At
times a faint cry is borne to our ears, like a chal-
lenging note, and the decoys cease for a moment
from struggling with their straps, or from preening their
feathers, and with lifted heads stand motionless, listening
for a repetition of the well-known sound. The flock, at
first so indistinct, now is well in view, and the call
of the leader, responded to by his followers, comes
over the water in clear and unmistakable tones. The de-
coys are at once alert, and their ringing notes of invitation
are uttered earnestly and in quick succession. The on-
coming birds hear the call, and, catching sight of their

64 WATER FOWL.

brethren supposedly enjoying themselves in a most favor-
able location, turn in their course, and rapidly approach
the spot with answering cries. As they draw near the de-
coys become silent, and the advancing birds also cease
their calling, and even though members of their
own race are standing in full view, with that wariness
and suspicion which is their very nature, they gaze with
watchful eyes about the place. Usually, seeing nothing
but their own kind before them, and stillness reigning
around, they set their wings preparatory to alighting.
Nothing in Wild-fowl shooting than this oncoming
phalanx is more beautiful or attractive to the sportsman,
—sitting like a stone image in his box, hardly daring to
breathe, gripping his gun as if his fingers would sink
into the metal of the barrels,—as he peers between his
enveloping rushes. Onward they come, the birds float-
ing on silent wings, at equal distances apart, looming
up to the eyes of the stiffened gunner in his crouch-
ing posture until they seem as large as Swan, and twice
as near as they really are. The decoys, as if they knew
what would be the result of this arrival of their brethren,
and (so like is bird nature to much of human
nature), rather exultant at the success of their share
in the deception, remain still and watch the approaching
birds. Getting nearly abreast of the leading decoy, the
flock swings around toward the wind and, facing the
breeze, with a few flaps glide gently into the water.
They now gather together in a bunch and, having satis-
fied themselves that they have nothing to fear, swim
gradually up to the decoys, and frequently commence
to fight with them, but finding that they are fastened to
something, and some of the captives beginning to
struggle for freedom, their easily aroused suspicions are
awakened, and they begin to move away. .

ed

CANADA GOOSE. 65

The sportsman, who has been waiting for a favorable
opportunity to get as many heads in line as possible, so
as to secure the most birds at the first shot, seeing this
action, is obliged to accept the chance he can get before
they swim out of gunshot, and aiming where the heads
are thickest, without rising discharges his first barrel,
and springs to his feet, to avail himself of the next best
opportunity. With the roar of the gun, the Geese rise
en masse, and the air is full of twisting birds and flapping
Wings, a mixture of varying strokes and moving forms
most bewildering to the novice, who, distracted by the
commotion, probably fires his remaining charge in the
air, expecting most of the birds to fall. Not so the cool
and experienced shot, who, knowing full well that he can
only get a single bird, except by accident, selects the one
giving the most favorable opportunity, and adds it to
those floating on the water. The remaining Geese
rapidly take themselves away from such a dangerous
neighborhood, and with many Honks express their
disapproval of the whole business. It is astonishing how
speedily such large birds can get upon the wing and out
of range on such an occasion as the one described. The
decoys, which have remained quite silent during all the
commotion, and have witnessed the slaughter of their
brethren, now express their satisfaction by splashing the
water over themselves, swimming about and gabbling to
each other rapidly in low tones, and then mount
onto their platforms to watch for more Geese to
allure to destruction. The dead birds float back
upward, if shot on the water, with the head and
neck immersed, while the wounded ones, laying
the head and neck flat upon the surface, try to
skulk away, paddling toward the marsh or beach to
hide, or directly in the wind’s eye for the open water. It

66 WATER FOWL.

is wonderful how skillful wounded Geese are in getting
away, and how difficult it is to see one skulking at any
distance upon the water if it is at all rough. They can
dive and go quite a little distance under the surface, and
they avail themselves of all the artifices at their command,
to escape capture. If a wounded bird succeeds in gain-
ing the marsh or an extensive bed of reeds, nothing but a
good retriever is able to capture it.

Sometimes when a flock has settled before the decoys
and is swimming toward them, and the sportsman is get-
ting ready to fire, a Honk is heard above, and another
flock comes sailing in to join the others, thus necessitat-
ing a cessation of hostility for the time being: I remem-
ber on one occasion when, as I was about to fire at a
number of Geese before me, I was stopped by hearing the
call of an old gander as he led his company up to my
blind, and he was succeeded by flock after flock arriving
in succession in the same way, keeping me in a con-
strained, uncomfortable position, for I did not dare to
move, the birds being both over and around me, until at
least one hundred Geese were gathered in front of my
position. It is such occasions that try the nerve of a
sportsman, and compel him to exert himself and control
his natural impulse to shoot at the many birds in close
proximity, and patiently wait for the more favorable
chance upon the water. The flight of the Wild Goose,
though apparently labored, is really not so, and the bird
moves at a rapid speed, and is able to protract it for a
considerable length of time. The beat of the wings is
steady and performed with great regularity, and their
wide expanse is one of the causes of the fine appearance
of the birds when sailing up to the decoys.

The Wild Goose is easily domesticated, and will breed
in confinement, and often is as contented in captivity as

CANADA GOOSE. 67

the common farmyard bird. Individuals that have been
wounded and captured, after they have recovered, often
make excellent decoys for their wild brethren, honking
with great vigor at every flock which comes in sight.
They are easily kept in confinement, only evincing a de-
sire to depart when the time for the annual spring migra-
tion comes, and then they watch for their brethren on the
wing bound for the northern breeding grounds. In the
interior the Wild Geese visit the grain-fields in great
numbers, and many are killed in such places, from blinds
made in the stacks of straw, or in holes in the ground.
Also the latter device is employed out on the open prai-
rie in the route the birds have adopted during the even-
ings and mornings, when flying to and from their feeding
grounds.

As spring draws near and the green of the reviving
grass and rushes, and the swelling of the buds upon the
trees denote the beginning of another summer, the
Wild Geese grow uneasy and congregate together, keep-
ing up an incessant honking and gabbling, with much
dressing of the feathers and general preparation for a
great event. As the days lengthen and the sun grows
warmer, a few flocks will be seen high in air, headed to
the northward, and at length the time comes when, all
being ready, the main body, with many Honks as in one
great chorus of farewell, takes leave of its winter home,
and starts on its long journey toward the Pole. Some
linger on, keeping company perhaps with wounded
birds unable to conquer the long route northward,
and some remain to breed even in . latitudes that:
may be considered southern. But after the month
of April, in most localities, unless the season is
exceptionally late, the great armies of this species
have left our limits, and the sounds and_ bays

68 WATER FOWL.

and wide sheets of water, which during all the
dreary months have echoed with the stirring calls, and
been enlivened by the moving, active figures of these
gamy birds, will lie silent and in many instances de-
serted, until with the chill winds of another autumn are
heard the joyful cries of the returning squadrons, recog-
nizing again their winter home.

This species has very many trivial names, and besides
those already employed, is called by some Cravat Goose,
Bay Goose, Black-headed Goose, Reef Goose, and Gray
Goose, while in Louisiana it is known as Outarde.

BRANTA CANADENSIS.

Geographical Destrzibution.—Throughout North America,
from the Arctic Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Ocean. Breeds in Northern United States and
throughout the Arctic regions, mainly east of the Rocky Moun-
tains.

Adu/lt.—Head and neck, black. A triangular white patch on
each cheek, extending over the throat, sometimes divided on the
latter by a black line. Upper parts, dark brown, the feathers
tipped withlight brown. Primaries, rump, and tail, black. Lower
parts gray or brownish gray passing gradually into the white of
the anal region. Upper and under tail coverts, white. Bill, legs,
and feet, black. Iris, brown. Tail feathers from 18-20. Individ-
uals vary greatly in size, but the average will be somewhat as
follows: Total length, 38inches; wing, 18; tarsus, 3; culmen, 2t.

Young.—Similar to adult, but the white cheek patches are
speckled with black, and the black neck grades into the grayish
hue of the upper part of the breast.

Downy Young.—Patch on occiput and upper parts, olive
green; under parts, light greenish ochre.

|
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‘asoor) suTyo NEY

Zl

HUTCHINS’ GOOSE.

UTCHINS’ Goose during the winter season frequents
chiefly the western portions of the United States. It
breeds in the far north on the shores and islands of the
Arctic Sea, and in the Delta of the Yukon, also at St.
Michael’s. It is abundant in the Aleutian Islands and
nests on Atka and the Nearer Islands. The nests are
placed on the shores near fresh water, or on small islands
in the lakes or large ponds, and consist of a quantity of
dry grass and leaves with some down and feathers inter-
mingled. The number of eggs is generally six, and in the
Aleutian Islands Dall says this species chooses hilltops
for its breeding places, and the young were unfledged on
July 10. In its habits and economy Hutchins’ Goose re-
sembles the Cackling Goose, but in appearance perhaps is
nearest to the Canada Goose, though greatly inferior in
size, its average total length being about ten inches less.
In its migrations it usually keeps to the sea-coast, but in
the United States it passes through the Mississippi Val-
ley to the Gulf, but not in any great numbers, while on
the Pacific coast it is one of the most abundant of the
Geese. It associates with the Canada Goose, and once
I shot a fine specimen of Hutchins’ Goose from out a
flock of its larger brethren at Puckaway Lake, Wiscon-
sin. This specimen is now in the Museum of Natural
History in New York. The flock was flying by, and
noticing a small bird toward the rear of the line, I killed
it, and found I had a fine specimen of Hutchins’ Goose.
In California this species frequents the marshes on the
coasts and also visits the plains in the interior, and joins
69

70 WATER FOWL.

the procession of Water Fowl as it moves, morning and
evening, to and from its feeding grounds. The flocks
are often approached by the sportsman, who keeps him-
self hidden behind an ox trained to walk slowly along,
feeding as it goes, until their vicinity is reached and the
gun can be discharged with deadly effect. Sometimes
a wagon, drawn by oxen, can be driven near enough to
bring the birds well within range. In Texas this Goose
is also common, but upon the Atlantic coast is not fre-
quently met with, so far as my experience goes. It may
have been more common years ago in certain localities,
and there may be others it occasionally visits at the pres-
ent time, but I regard it as a scarce bird in the Eastern
States.

Hutchins’ Goose is known to sportsmen and baymen
under various names, many of which are bestowed on
account of its small size. Some of these are, Lesser
Canada Goose, Small Gray Goose, Little Wild Goose,
etc. It is also known as Bay Goose, Prairie Goose, Mud
Goose, and Eskimo Goose in the far North; Winter
Goose, Flight Goose, and Goose Brant. The specimens
of this bird vary somewhat in their measurements, but
the largest of them is only a miniature representation of
the Canada Goose. The flesh of this species is excellent,
and when the bird has become fat, feeding upon the ten-
der grasses and water plants, it is a most desirable ad-
dition toa menu. The eggs are pure white in color, and
of an oval form. Among the Aleutians this bird is called
the Tundrina Goose.

BRANTA CANADENSIS HUTCHINSI.
Geographical Distribution.—Western North America from

the Arctic Sea, through the United States from the Valley of the
Mississippi to the Pacific, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Rare

HUTCHINS’ GOOSE. 7°

on the Atlantic coast. Breeds on islands and along the shores
of the Arctic Ocean and on the islands of the Aleutian chain.

Adult.—A small edition of the common Wild or Canada Goose,
this bird is almost precisely similar in the color of its plumage,
but is less in all its dimensions and has only from fourteen to
sixteen tail feathers. The under parts are light brownish gray,
gradually fading into the white of the anal region. The chin is
black, but sometimes there is a white spot at the base of the
mandible beneath. Like all the species of Geese the measure-
ments vary considerably among individuals, but the largest
Hutchins will rarely, if ever, equal in size the smallest Canada
Goose. The number of tail feathers, however, will always
serve to distinguish the two species. Total length will average
about 30 inches; wing, about 164; tail, 5; tarsus, 2%; and bill
along culmen, 14. Tail feathers, 14-16.

WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE.

THs is purely a western bird, ranging from Sitka, in

Alaska,along the Pacific coast to California in winter.
It resembles very closely the Canada Goose, but the gen-
eral plumage is perhaps a little browner than that of the
commoner form; the white throat patches are separated
in some examples, by a black stripe, and a white collar is
around the lower part of the neck. This collar seems
only to be possessed by birds in the fall and winter,
gradually disappearing in spring, and becoming obso-
lete in summer. The habits of this subspecies do not
differ from those of the Canada Goose, but its range is
much more restricted. It does not appear to go north
of Sitka, in Alaska, and was not seen around the Delta
of the Yukon or vicinity of St. Michael’s by any of the
naturalists who have visited those districts. It is not im-
probable that this form is often found associating with
flocks of the Canada Goose, and individuals may have
been killed in various parts of our country, but as it
would require an expert to distinguish them from the
well-known species, and even if the white neck ring was
noticed, it would probably be deemed an accidental
occurrence and of no consequence, few instances of its
appearance have been reported away from its usual line
of migration. At St. Michael’s Island this bird is called
by the Russians the Lidenna Goose, the name given to
’ the Emperor Goose on the Aleutian Islands.

72

Blu 9 ye Sh RP chet

13. White-Cheeked,Goose.

WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 73

BRANTA CANADENSIS OCCIDENTALIS.

Geographical Distribution.—From Sitka, Alaska, along the
Pacific coast to California.

Adult,—Head and neck, black, the former having a large
white patch covering sides of head and throat, sometimes sep-
arated by a black line on the throat, and extending upward to
above and behind the eye. Chin, black. At the base of the
black neck is a more or less distinct white collar. Back and
wings, brown, lighter than in &. canadenszs, with a grayish
tinge, each feather tipped with white or brownish white. Pri-
maries, black. Rump, black. Underparts, dark brownish gray,
ending abruptly at the anal region, which, together with the
upper and under tail coverts, is white. Tail, black. Bill and
feet, black. Tail feathers, 18-20. Total length, 33-36 inches;
wing, 164-18; tail, about 6; tarsus, 2;4,; culmen, 1,5.

CACKLING "GOOSE.

pS INS the Geese that frequent the Territory of

Alaska during summer this species is the most
abundant, breeding in great numbers from Point Barrow
on the Arctic Ocean all along the coast to the mouth of
the Yukon, and up the rivers into the interior; and also
in the Aleutian Islands as far to the eastward, accord-
ing to Turner, as Unalaska Island, beyond which it does
not go. In winter it comes south to California, where
it is abundant, and sometimes reaches the Mississippi
Valley, having been taken as far to the eastward as
Wisconsin.

It commences to appear in its northern breeding
grounds toward the latter part of April, and the birds
have usually all arrived by the middle of May. It isa
great event not only for the Geese themselves, but also
for the natives of the region, who have been living for
many weary months on a diet of fish, and who welcome
the opportunity to vary their monotonous bill of fare with
the more generous article of flesh. Many birds are
mated, Nelson says, when they arrive, but the males
who have not yet succeeded in obtaining wives fight hard
for the possession of the females. Nelson’s description
of these encounters is somewhat as follows. The females,
keeping by themselves on the muddy banks of the river,
a favorite resort, doze away the hours, or dabble in the
mud. The males scatter about and are very uneasy,
moving incessantly from place to place, and uttering loud
cries. Occasionally two of these belligerently inclined

74

rome
Sap ce REINS Sah

& clwow Sheppard.

14. Cackling Goose.

CACKLING GOOSE. 75

birds will cross each other’s path, when, uttering notes
resembling low growling or grunting, each seizes the
other’s bill, and with wings hanging loosely by their
sides, haul and twist one another, until suddenly coming
close together, each strives to beat his rival with the
wings, striking with so much force that the sound of the
blows can be heard a long distance away. Not much
damage is done, however, in these encounters, for the
strokes are usually warded by the wing of the other bird,
and the conflict terminates by the weaker breaking away
from his antagonist and running off.

Mating having been at length accomplished, a spot
for the nest is selected, generally a depression in a
bunch of grass, or on a knoll, and this is lined
with grasses or feathers plucked gradually from
the female’s breast, until the eggs are hidden in
a bed of down. The number of these varies from
seven to thirteen, and they are at first pure white,
but after lying in the nest a while, become soiled and
dingy. If anyone approaches the female when on the
nest, she crouches down in as flat a position as possible,
and when she deems it no longer prudent to remain
skulks away through the grass, making no sound until
she considers herself at a safe distance. In the latter
half of June and the beginning of July the young appear,
and are cared for by both parents until able to fly, which
is toward the end of August. At this time the old birds
moult. They now scatter over the country, feeding upon
the different kinds of berries which are ripened through-
out the land. On the Aleutian Islands, these Geese
breed by thousands in the marshes and lagoons. On
some of the Islands various species of foxes abound, and
the Geese are compelled to rear their young on the islets
near by, or on others in lakes, where they cannot be

76 WATER FOWL.

molested by their keen-witted foes. The female Cack-
ling Goose is a persistent sitter, and will give up her life
rather than desert her nest. Turner relates a circum-
stance which demonstrates this in the strongest manner.
In the Islands of Agattu and Semiche, in the Aleutian
chain, during the period of incubation, there occurred,
in the latter part of June, a heavy snowstorm that cov-
ered the ground to the depth of three feet. The geese
would not quit their nests and were suffocated, and the
natives found scores of birds after the snow had melted,
dead at the post of honor. The natives of Alaska capture
many of the goslings of this species, and rear them, when
they become very tame. When the weather is very severe
in winter they require to be fed, but they also find a
supply of food in a rather curious way. The roofs of the
houses are covered with sod, and the heat of the dwell-
ings causes the tender grass constantly to spring up, and
the Geese are always on the housetops searching for
these sprouts. The call of this Goose is a low Honk, or
a rapidly repeated note like Litck, lick. A great number
of these birds are killed during their stay in the North by
all manner of devices, and are salted for winter use, the
state of freshness of the meat at the time of packing be-
ing a matter of no consequence whatever, so long as it
is Goose. Many are shot, others are caught in nets, and
not a few are brought down by three or more stones fast-
ened to thongs having their opposite ends tied together,
and which revolve on being hurled into the air, and tangle
up one or more birds in a flock flying low overhead.
This Goose begins to leave on its southern migra-
tion in October or beginning of November, according to
the season or locality it is in. They are good judges of
the weather and usually start before a storm. At times
these birds arrive in California in October and remain

CACKLING GOOSE. a

until the following April. This species is the smallest of
all the Geese, save Ross’s, which enter the United States.

BRANTA CANADENSIS MINIMA.

Geographical Déstribution.—Alaska; south in winter to Cali-
fornia, and eastward occasionally in the Mississippi Valley to
Wisconsin. Breeds in Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands as far
west as Unalaska.

Adult.—This species is a small representative of B. c. occtden-
talzs, and bears the same relationship to it as B.c. hutchinsii
does to B. canadenszs. The white patch on the head is rather
differently shaped, and does not seem to go so far above the eye
as in B. c. occtdentalzs; but this may vary in individuals, as
undoubtedly does the amount of black on the throat. The main
distinctions from the White-cheeked Goose, however, are size
and the number of tail feathers, which in this species amount to
from fourteen to’sixteen, the same as in B.c. hutchinszz, but there
are other and sufficient differences between the last species and
B. c. minima which easily distinguish them from each other: such
as the distinctive shade of coloration on the under parts, and its
abrupt or gradual meeting with the white anal region. Some-
times examples of this species are strongly suffused beneath
with rust color. Bill, legs, and feet, black. Total length, about
24 inches; wing, average, 133; tail, about 5,3,; tarsus, 2}; culmen,
about 1-,; tail feathers, 14-16.

BARNACLE GOOSE.

HIS handsome Goose is a native of the northern por-
tions of the Old World, and can only be regarded as a
straggler into North America, and it is a doubtful question
whether most of the examples that have been killed within
our limits had not escaped from confinement, rather than
were bona fide immigrants to our shores. The first one
procured was at Rupert House, on the southern end of
Hudson Bay, and was obtained by Mr. B. R. Ross. This
was undoubtedly a straggler from Greenland, the south-
ern end of which this species regularly visits. It has also
been obtained in Nova Scotia and in Currituck Sound,
North Carolina, that former paradise for Water Fowl.
Long Island, also at one time a famous resort for all
kinds of game, has yielded up one specimen. It would
be difficult to name any species of bird that had ever
visited the Atlantic seaboard an example of which had not
at some time been procured on Long Island. This Goose
is very abundant in various parts of the Old World,
and resembles in its habits those of the Brant Geese of
our own land. It feeds on grasses and plants, and can
be readily domesticated and becomes as tame as the ordi-
nary farmyard Goose. It is supposed to breed in Siberia,
on the Tundras or barren grounds, and on the shores of
the White Sea. It visits the Farde Islands, Iceland, and
Spitzbergen, and in its migrations is also found in the
British Islands and many parts of the Continent.
It is a handsomer bird than the other allied species of
Geese, and is about the size of the Brant. This species

78 4

15. Barnacle Goose.

BARNACLE GOOSE. 79

passes much of its time on land, feeding on grass and
roots, and it keeps up a constant gabbling both when
accupied in feeding and also when on the wing, and is
altogether a noisy bird. The eggs are said to be a uni-
form yellowish cream color. As is the case with our
own Brant Geese, little is known about this bird’s breed-
ing habits or the localities it frequents at that season.
It is called, sometimes, Bar Goose.

BRANEA LEGCOP SIS.

Geographical Distrzbution.—Northern parts of Eastern Hem-
isphere. Accidental in eastern North America.

Adult.—Head, nearly white; the lores, ocgiput, neck, and
breast, black. Wings and back, bluish gray, feathers, with sub-
terminal black bar, followed by one of white. Feathers of flanks,
brownish gray, with white tips. Under parts, grayish white.
Bill and feet, black. Iris, dark brown. Average total length,
25 inches; wing, 15; tarsus, 22; culmen, rH.

Young.—Cheek patch spotted with black. Feathers of back
tipped with rufous, and wing coverts tinged with the same.
Flanks barred with gray.

BRANT GOOSE.

HIS well-known bird is a native of the northern por-

tions of both hemispheres, but in North America is
found chiefly upon the eastern coast, and is rare in the in-
terior, although at times it is met with in the Mississippi
Valley. It is a bird of the salt water, and keeps to the
sea, either on it, or near the inner side of the beach on the
sounds and bays having an outlet to the ocean. It is
not found on the Pacific coast, where it is replaced by the
Black Brant, the succeeding species. The Brant breeds
probably nearer the Pole than almost any other bird, its
nest having been found in the most northern land yet
visited by man. Captain Fielden found the first nest 4
and eggs in latitude 82° 33’ N., and afterward many more
in the vicinity. This Goose passes Hudson Bay in the
spring and autumn in immense numbers, but makes no
stop and is not seen in the interior, keeping always near |
the coast. The nests, which are mainly composed of |
down or feathers, are placed upon the beach near the
water, but in Greenland, in Bellot’s Straits, they are
built in the cliffs which line the sides of this passage,
according to the testimony of Dr. Walker, who saw this
species in that place. The eggs are grayish white.
During incubation the Gander remains in the vicinity of
the nest, and when the young are hatched the parents
conduct them to the lakes or open water near shore.
The adults moult by the end of July. Brant make their
appearance on the Atlantic coast of the United States in

80

16. Brant Goose.

BRANT GOOSE. 81

October, arriving in large flocks and congregating in
chosen localities, sometimes in immense numbers. They
fly in compact masses in a desultory sort of way, not
very rapidly nor under any especial leader, and when in
winter quarters rarely move far in any direction, and
often return to the place from which they started. It has
a peculiar guttural note, which is frequently uttered, re-.
sembling car-r-r-rip, or r-r-r-rouk, or r-r-riup, and with
a rolling intonation, and, when a large number of these
birds are gathered together, the noise they make is in-
cessant and deafening. I have been in the vicinity of a
bar on which were congregated many thousands of
Brant, and their voices made such a din that it was diffi-
cult to hear one’s own in speaking, and when they rose
at the report of a gun, the sound of their myriad wings
was as the roar of rushing waters.

This Goose is usually very gentle, and when not much
hunted pays little attention to man’s presence. The
birds come readily to decoys and are easily turned from
their course by imitating their note, or by raising one
leg or a hat in the air. As soon as their attention is
attracted they swing around, and come to the decoys on
motionless wings, in irregular, broken lines, uttering
their rolling note, and if permitted, will settle down
among their wooden counterfeits and commence to feed.
I have known them try to alight upon the wings of my
battery when I was in it, and the attending boat close by
with sail up. They are easily killed, not nearly so tena-
cious of life as many Water Fowl, and, as they cannot
dive, a wounded Brant is readily retrieved. It will skulk
like other Geese with head and neck flat upon the water,
and paddle away with all its might dead to windward,
but it does not go very fast, and, if seen, is soon over-
taken.

82 WATER FOWL,

Brant are fond of sand, and it seems to be a necessity
to them. Every few days the birds will resort to the bars
in the sounds, or to the beach, and are often seen in such
places standing in long lines or dense masses, dressing
their feathers, or else sitting on the sand. When flying
they keep over the open water, avoiding the land when-

ever possible, so that there is not often an opportunity
given to shoot them from outlying points, or from
a narrow strip between two bodies of water. As
I have said, Brant do not dive, but feed in the
manner of other Wild Geese, by tilting up the
hinder part of the body and pulling up the grasses
and roots from the bottom. Its food is the eel grass
mainly, and although at times its flesh has a rather
strong flavor, yet as a rule, especially in spring, it is an
excellent bird for the table, and a young one is consid-
ered a delicacy. In calm weather Brant do not move
about much, but gather in companies on the open water
and feed, preen their feathers, or sleep, but before or
after a storm they are uneasy, and generally in motion,
flying apparently without any very definite purpose.
But if the coming storm is likely to be severe, then they
are seen flying, flock after flock, to some chosen place
where they will be sheltered from the blast. In those
situations at such times, the water is often black with
the birds seeking a refuge. A

Brant do not seem to be as plentiful in our eastern
waters as formerly, constant warfare against them
having greatly depleted their numbers, and in many
places where they were once numerous they are now
seen only in small bodies, or are absent altogether. This
species has not many names, being almost universally
known by the one at the head of this article, but some-
times it is called Brent, or Brent or Brant Goose, and also

BRANT GOOSE. 83

incorrectly Black Brant, which, however, is quite a
different bird. In Spitzbergen, where it breeds, it goes
by the name of “ Ring-gaas,” 7. ¢., “ Ring Goose.”

BRANTA BERNICLA.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portion of both hem-
ispheres. In North America mainly on the Atlantic coast;
rare in the valley of the Mississippi.

Adult.—Head, neck, breast, and back at base of neck, black;
a patch of white, in streaks, on either side of the neck. Upper
parts, brownish gray, the feathers tipped narrowly with pale
brown or grayish white. Under parts, grayish white, graduating
into pure white about and under the tail. Middle of rump,
brownish black. Upper and under tail coverts, pure white.
Tail, black. Primaries and secondaries, brownish black. Bill,
legs, and feet, black. Iris, brown. ‘Total length, 24-30 inches;
wing, 13; tarsus, 2;4,; culmen, to end of nail, 14.

Young.—Similar to the adult, but with conspicuous white bars
across the wings, formed by the tips of the coverts and second-
aries. The white patch on neck is absent, and the under parts
are uniformly lighter.

BLACK BRANT.

‘THE Black Brant represents the common species of

the Atlantic shores on the Pacific coast, where it is no
less abundant, and ranges from Alaska to California. It
breeds on the shores of Alaska lying along the Arctic
Ocean, about the mouth of the Anderson River,and west-
ward possibly to the vicinity of Point Barrow. Numbers
go still farther north, but where no man can tell; possibly
to some unknown land amid the dreary expanse of the
frozen Polar Ocean, which no human being has ever
yet seen. These birds have been noticed in the autumn
coming over the ice from the north to Point Barrow,
which would make it fair to suppose that there was some
unknown spot beyond the frozen barrier that was favora-
ble for nesting and rearing the young, and other flocks of
this Goose have been seen flying from the north to the
eastward of Wrangel Land, and steering for the Alaskan
coast, several hundred miles to the south.

The Black Brant is among the last of the migrants to
arrive in Alaska in the spring from the south. It reaches
St. Michael’s and the mouth of the Yukon toward the
latter part of May, and it takes about ten days or two
weeks for the army of birds to pass, for none remain to
breed; the goal they are steering for lying still far to the
northward. It flies rapidly with quick, short strokes
of the wings, not unlike those made by its eastern rela-
tive, and the flock, no matter what may be its size, is
strung out in a single line at right angles to its course.

Constantly waving, undulating movements run along the.

entire length of the line; commencing at either end, or
84

a a ie

> Yee

— " 1. =

Xebwair. She plosurct. wa

17. Black Brant.

BLACK BRANT. 85

from the middle, and going in opposite directions;
caused by individual birds changing the level of their
flight, and at a distance giving the impression of a shiver
passing through the mass. This frequent graceful
movement is very attractive to watch, and one keeps his
eyes fixed on the birds, wondering where the next wave
is going to begin. The same action occurs in the flight
of certain species of Ducks. As a rule the Black Brant
flies low. I think this is characteristic of the two species,
and while the birds often change their altitude as they
speed along, now just over the water, and again at no
very great distance above it, they never rise to any great
height. When flying, they keep to the coast line, fol-
lowing it in all its sinuosity, rarely passing over any
part of the land, or else performing their migrations far
out to sea. In the spring they are most abundant along
the western Alaskan coast, but the birds are scarce in the
autumn and must pass on their southward journey over
the ocean out of sight of land.

Mr. MacFarlane, who found the nest and eggs of this
species in Liverpool and Franklin bays, near the mouth
of the Anderson River, and at various points along the
shores of the Arctic Sea, says it was merely a depression
in the ground, lined with a quantity of down. The num-
ber of eggs, which were a dull ivory, or grayish white
color, was from five to seven, six being the usual com-
plement. Some of these nests were placed on small
islands in fresh-water ponds, and others on the shore or
on islands in the two bays above mentioned. Some few
individuals are said to breed on the shores of Norton
Sound, in the marshes with Hutchins’ Goose, but the
great bulk of the migratory hosts pass on farther north.
The Black Brant is a rare straggler to the Atlantic coast,
and only a few individuals have ever been killed there.

86 WATER FOWL.

It has occasionally been observed in the Mississippi
Valley, and there is, I believe, a record of a specimen hav-
ing been taken in Texas, but its occurrence east of the
Rocky Mountains is extremely rare. It is common, how-
ever, along the west coast from Alaska southward in win-
ter and generally keeps in the bays, or on the ocean a
little distance from shore. It does not associate with other
Geese to any extent, and does not go inland. The flesh of
this Goose is tender and good, very similar to that of the
eastern species, which it somewhat resembles in appear-
ance. It feeds on marine grasses, and at times on small
fish and crustacea. Beside the name of Black Brant by
which it is commonly known, this bird is called on the
Yukon, as stated by Kenriicott, the Eskimo Goose.

BRANTA NIGRICANS.

Geographical Dzéstribution.—Western North America, from
the Arctic Ocean, at the mouth of the Anderson River, along the
Alaskan coast. South in winter to Lower California.

Adult —Head, neck, and upper part of breast, deep black; a
broad white collar interrupted behind, on the middle of neck.
Upper parts and wings, dark brown, nearly black on seconda-
ries, primaries, and rump. Breast and abdomen, blackish
plumbeous, almost as dark as the upper part of breast. Crissum,
sides of rump, upper and under tail coverts, pure white. Tail,
black. Bill and feet, black. Total length, about 25 inches;
wing, 124; culmen, 1,3,; tarsus, 225.

WOOD DUCK.

F all the members of the Duck tribe scattered

throughout the world, the present species is easily
the most beautiful. The Mandarin Duck of China
Aix galericulata), has a more bizarre appearance and is
provided with curiously shaped feathers of various hues,
and has altogether a most singular and unusual dress;
but, though it may truly be considered a handsome bird,
it cannot compete with this beautiful species, robed in a
costume of harmonious colors so chaste and attractive
as to find its most fitting expression in the name the
bird possesses—the Bride of the Anatide.

The Wood Duck, Wood Widgeon, Branchier and
Squealer, or Acorn Duck, as it is called in Louisiana,
ranges throughout North America from Hudson Bay to
the Gulf of Mexico, and breeds pretty much throughout
its dispersion. It is a fresh-water bird, frequenting the
lakes and rivers, often, also, resorting to swamps. On
the seacoast, such as that of North Carolina, where, in
Currituck Sound, the brackish waters and inexhaustible
feed constitute a very paradise for Wild Fowl, the Wood
Duck lives in the marshes, breeding on the mainland
near at hand. It is one of the earliest of the water birds
to start on its southern migration from the northern
part of its habitat, leaving before the Blue-winged
Teal, and often does not wait for the weather to become
frosty, so anxious does it seem to be to get away
from even the suspicion of winter.

The Summer Duck, as it is sometimes very appro-
priately called, breeds in hollow trees, and I have met

87

88 WATER FOWL.

with no instance when a nest was placed upon the
ground. It will occupy the nest of some other bird
in a hollow trunk, or will adapt some new-found
cavity to suit its needs. It is astonishing to see how
small a hole this duck can enter, and sometimes it ap-
proaches the opening to its nest, that appears not large
enough to admit half the diameter of its body, but will
pass in without difficulty. Usually the tree selected for
the nest is close to the water, often overhanging it, but
occasionally it may be a number of yards away. No
matter how near the trees may grow together, or how
thick may be the interlacing branches, the Wood Duck
threads its way amid them with an ease and swiftness
equaled only by a Wild Pigeon, and its flight is executed
almost with the silence of an owl’s in similar situations.
This Duck appears to become much attached to its breed-
ing place, and will occupy the same nest for successive
years if it is lucky enough to escape the manifold dan-
gers to which it is subjected. The nest is composed of
grass, plants, and similar dried material, and is lined
with down and feathers, mostly taken from the female’s
breast. A dozen or more white eggs, which soon be-
come soiled, are laid, and then the male deserts his
mate, and hies away to the society of other idle fellows
like himself. The young, when hatched, are carried
down to the water, one at a time, by the mother, in
her bill, provided the distance is considerable, otherwise
the little creatures scramble to the mouth of the cavity,
and fearlessly drop themselves down into an element
which they have never seen, but which their inherited in-
stinct tells them is to be their future home. Whenever
the female leaves the nest during incubation she always
covers the eggs with the down and feathers so as to com-
pletely hide them, and thus insures a continuance of the

ow —-— i sa «

WOOD DUCK. 89

warmth of which they are deprived by her absence. The
young, when following the female, either upon land or
water, continually utter a soft, low Pee-pee, a sort of pro-
longation of a chick’s cry, and the mother answers with
an equally gentle Pee-pee, something of the character of a
whistle. Sometimes two ducks will take a fancy to the
same nest, and much altercation then goes on, not so
vociferous though as when the claimants happen to be
both of different genera and species. A Wood Duck
and a Hooded Merganser, as related by Brewer, con-
tended for a nest, and fought continually for several days,
and when the nest was examined it was found to contain
eighteen eggs, all fresh, two-thirds of which belonged to
the Wood Duck. The birds had been so persistent in
their struggles to eject each other that neither had been
able to sit.

This species is easily domesticated and breeds in con-
finement, provided it is afforded suitable locations for
building its nest. It has a very gentle disposition and
soon becomes tame and accustomed to new surroundings.
It alights readily upon the branch of a tree, and also
walks without difficulty upon the larger ones, and I have
seen it alight upon the topmost rail of a fence surround-
ing a cultivated field, upon which it perched as comfort-
ably, and seemed as much at home, as if it had stopped
to rest upon the bosom of the lake which was close at
hand. The Wood Duck, when moving over open water
or marshes, in fact anywhere except in the woods, gen-
erally flies in a direct line, seldom altering its course or
seeming to vacillate in its mind about the proper route to
take. It flies swiftly, and when in the air looks a good
deal like the Widgeon. It comes readily to decoys, and,
if permitted, will alight among them.

_ Nothing in bird life can be much more beautiful than a

go WATER FOWL.

full-plumaged male Wood Duck, proudly swimming
along, his lengthened crest slightly elevated, and the sun
glancing upon the brilliant plumage with the metallic
hues of green, violet, and purple scintillating in its rays.
It seems to me that this beautiful bird has become
scarcer in the past few vears, and fewer return to well-
known haunts. The beauty of the male makes him a
desirable specimen for collectors, and the flank feathers
are eagerly sought by the makers of artificial flies, while
its flesh is always acceptable to the gourmands. Alto-
gether, with so many suitors of various kinds, each de-
siring the bird for his own especial purpose, the Wood
Duck’s chance for becoming extinct is a very good one.

‘

LEX SPONSA.

Geographical Distribution.—Hudson Bay to Gulf of Mexico,
and across the Continent within the above limits; Cuba. Acci-
dental in Europe.

Adult Male.—Head, with a full, lengthened crest, almost
reaching the back, of green, purple, and violet metallic hues.
A narrow white line starts at the angle of the maxilla, passes
over the eye, and extends to the end of the crest, widening
slightly as it goes. Another broader white line commences
below and behind the eye, and is continued along the lower edge
of the crest. Behind the eye, and extending for some distance
above the lower white line, is a broad patch of metallic purple.
Cheeks and sides of neck, violaceous black. Crest, silky in tex-
ture of various metallic greens and purples. Throat and front of
neck, pure white, with two falcate branches; the upper across the
back part of cheek, to behind and nearly reaching the eye; the
lower across the neck, going upward and beneath the crest
almost to the nape. Back, dark brown, glossed with green-
ish bronze, the lower back and rump darker in hue, and
grading into black on the upper tail coverts. Lesser wing

coverts, slate brown, with a greenish gloss. Scapulars and -

tertials, velvety black, with rich metallic blue, green, and purple
reflections, and the longest tertial is tipped with a white bar.

ei ee eee

WOOD DUCK, gi

Middle and greater wing coverts, steel blue, with black tips.
Primaries, slate color, changing to steel blue at their exposed
ends, and with the terminal portion of the outer web, silvery
white. Lower portion of throat and breast, extending onto the
upper back, purplish chestnut, dotted in front with inverted
V-shaped white spots, growing larger as they reach the breast,
On sides of breast, above the shoulder of the wing, a broad
black bar, above which is another of white. Sides and flanks,
fulvous buff, crossed by fine, undulating black lines, the feathers
on the upper borders having at their ends two crescentic black
bars, inclosing a white one, the subterminal black bar being
edged also on its upper side narrowly with white. Lower breast
and abdomen, pure white. On each side of the rump is a patch
of metallic dark purple. Some lengthened black upper tail
coverts, with deep fulvous centers, fall over behind this purple
spot. Under tail coverts, dark brown, grading into black at
tips. Tail, black, with metallic green reflections. Bill, deep pur-
plish red, becoming scarlet behind the nostrils, with a length-
ened, pointed, black spot on the culmen, and the nail black. An
oblong spot of white, from nostril to the nail, and the basal out-
line, gamboge yellow. Legs and feet, chrome yellow; webs,
dusky. Iris, orange red; eyelids, vermilion. Total length,
about 18 inches; wing, 9,5; tail, 4,5; tarsus, 14; culmen, 14%.
Adult Female,—WUead, plumbeous gray. Front, and a line
on side of bill at base, space about the eye, extending backward
to a point, chin and throat, pure white. Top of head and crest,
the latter much shorter and thinner than the male’s, glossed with
metallic green, Back, rump, and upper tail coverts, hair brown,
glossed with bronze and purple. Wings, similar to those of the
male, but the secondaries widely tipped with white, and the
speculum, metallic bronzy green, separated from the white tips
by black. Breast, reddish brown, spotted with, buff or buffy
white. Rest of under parts, white. Flanks, umber brown, spot-
ted with white. ‘Tail, hair brown, glossed with bronze green.
Bill, dark lead color, space on culmen, and nail black. Legs
and feet, yellowish brown. Eyelids, chrome yellow. Iris, sienna,
Total length, about 17 inches; wing, 85; tarsus, 14’, culmen, 1,5.
Downy Young.—Top of head and upper parts, dark brown,
darkest on head and tail. Sides of head, lores, and stripe over
eye, bright buff; blackish brown stripe from eye to occiput.
Spots on shoulder of wing, and on each side of rump, dull white.

BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK:

HIS species and the succeeding one are distributed
through the countries lying south of the borders of
the United States, and only enter a few of the South-
western States contiguous to Mexico. The Black-bel-
lied Tree Duck is not rare in certain parts of Texas m
summer, along the lower Rio Grande, where it arrives
from its more southern home in April. It is known
there as the Long-legged Duck, and in Louisiana as the
Fiddler Duck. When it flies it has the habit of uttering
a clear whistling note that indicates its presence, espe-
cially at night, when most of its migrating is accom-
plished.

This species deposits its eggs in the hollows of trees,
often at a considerable height from the ground, and
the eggs, from twelve to sixteen in number, ivory
white tinged with green, are laid upon the bare wood.
The males leave the females when incubation com-
mences and gather by themselves on the river, frequent-
ing the sandbars, where they often congregate in large
numbers. When the young appear they are carried to
the water by the mother, in her bill. In the various
countries lying to the south of our borders this Duck
visits the grain-fields at night, especially the corn-fields,
and commits considerable damage. It also frequents
the swamps, and feeds on the seeds of certain aquatic
plants, of which it is very fond. It perches easily on
trees or on cornstalks, and its long legs enable it to walk
and run with great ease and rapidity. It passes the day

g2

1g. Black-Bellied Tree Duck.

BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK. 93

in the lagoons or other secluded waters, surrounded with
woods or water plants, or sitting on the branches of trees,
feeding and moving about mainly at night. It can be
easily domesticated if taken young and is very watchful
and will utter its shrill whistle at any unusual sound, or
at the approach of any person on the premises. In some
parts of Northern South America it is known as Owi-
ki-ki, from its peculiar whistle, which is supposed to
resemble those syllables, but in Mexico Pe-che-che-ne, for
the same reason. Evidently it has a separate whistle
for each country, or the idea of sound possessed by the
people must be very different. A single specimen was
procured by Xantus at Fort Tejon, Southern California,
and this is the sole evidence of its presence in that State.
Its dispersion seems to be mainly in the countries border-
ing on the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas, through Central
America, and so on through the northern parts of South
America, extending its range eastward to the West In-
dian Islands. It is a very pretty, gentle species, and the
flesh, which is white and tender, is most excellent, indeed
considered quite a delicacy. This Duck is by no means
shy, and when domesticated keeps with the barnyard fowl,
both day and night. It is a handsome bird, although its
long legs deprive it of all attempts at a graceful carriage.

DENDROCYGNA AUTUMNALIS.

Geographical Distribution.—Southwestern States nearest to
Mexico, and southward through Mexico, Central America, and
northern South America; east to the West Indies.

Adult Male.—Forehead, pale yellowish brown; top of head,
cinnamon; nape and line down back of neck, black. Sides of
head and upper part of neck, ash gray. Chin and throat, gray-
ish white. Rest of neck, upper portion of breast, back, and
scapulars, cinnamon brown. Middle of back, rump, and upper
tail coverts, black. Lesser wing coverts, olive ochraceous ;

94 WATER FOWL.

middle coverts, ash; greater and primary coverts, grayish white.
The wing, when closed, shows a lengthened white or grayish
white line for nearly its entire length. Primaries, dark brown.
Tail, brownish black, Lower parts and sides of breast, yellow-
ish brown, the cinnamon of the upper portion grading into this
color, Abdomen, flanks, and under wing coverts, black; anal
region, white, spotted with black. Under tail coverts, white.
Bill, coral red; orange at base of maxilla. Nail, bluish. Legs
and feet, pinkish white. Iris, brown. Total length, about 19
inches; wing, 94; culmen, 1,8; tarsus, 275.

Adult Female,—Resembles the male.

Young.—Similar to the adult, but colors duller. Abdomen
and flanks, grayish white, barred with dusky.

Downy Young.—Superciliary stripe, and one over cheeks,
encircling the occiput, bright buff; and one from cheeks to nape,
blackish brown. Upper parts, blackish brown, with patches of
deep buff, one on each side of back, and one on either side of
rump. Underneath pale buffy yellow; belly, whitish.

|

PUEVOUS TREE DUCK:

WiitH a much greater general dispersion than the

last species, this Duck extends its range consider-
ably farther north within our limits, and has bred in the
marshes near Sacramento, California, and has also been
found in Nevada, Louisiana, and Texas. In the latter
State it is called the Rufous Long-legged Duck, and in
Louisiana the Yellow-bellied Fiddler Duck, and Long-
legged Duck, and it is abundant at times near Galveston.
It is a summer visitor, like its relative, and frequents
similar places. At the mouth of the Rio Grande this
species is not uncommon and, it has been stated, it is
also abundant at the entrance of the Nueces River. The
Fulvous Tree Duck also breeds in trees, though the
natives at Mazatlan affirm that it nests amid the grass.
The eggs are pure white, and the female lays from ten to
fifteen. This species resorts to fresh-water ponds or
lakes, feeding principally upon seeds of grasses, and like
its relative visits the corn-fields at night to obtain the
grain. It is not wild, and affords much sport to the
hunter, and its flesh being as tender and delicate as that
of the Black-bellied Tree Duck, it is highly esteemed as
an article of food. When wounded it exhibits such
agility, running and dodging with so much speed, that
it is very difficult to capture, and in deep water it dives
and skulks with no little skill, and generally effects its
escape. The plumage is not so attractive as that of the
previous species, and it is a much plainer bird.

95

96 WATER FOWL.

DENDROCYGNA FULVA.

Geographical Distribution.—States of Nevada, California,
Texas, and Louisiana. Mexico, southern Brazil, and Argentine
Republic. Accidental in Missouri and North Carolina.

Adult Male.—Top of head, deep rufous, darkest on the nape;
sides of head, yellowish brown. A ring of black feathers, with
white centers on middle of neck. A black line from occiput
down center of hind neck. Lower part of neck, dark yellowish
brown. Back and scapulars, black, broadly tipped with cinna-
mon, making these parts appear as if barred. Lesser wing
coverts, chestnut; rest of wing, black. Tail, black; the upper
and under coverts, white. Throat, buffy white. Upper part of
breast, yellowish brown. Entire underparts, cinnamon. Flanks,
with center of feathers, pale ochraceous, bordered with dusky.
Bill, bluish black. Legs and feet, slate blue. Iris, brown.
Total length, about 20 inches; wing, 8}; culmen, 14; tarsus, 2.

Adult Female.—With the plumage very like that of the male.

Young.—Similar to adult, but little or no chestnut color on
wing coverts. Under parts, paler, and the upper tail coverts
margined with brown.

Downy Young.—A brown band from the ears to the hind
neck, and one down the back of the neck. Occiput traversed by
a white band, and one also across the wing. Upper parts, gray-
ish brown; under parts, white.

‘ayeipjays Appny ‘12

Nn a

BLU Ab Radek OL dio 8 i hin

RUDDY SHELDRAKE.

|F it was stretching a point to admit the Smew among

North American birds, when two females, it was
claimed, had been taken in the flesh within our
boundaries, what is to be said of this species’
application for membership in our avi-fauna, based
as it is upon two statements, one, that Dr. Van-
hoffen, a member of an expedition to West Green-
land sent by the Geographical Society of Berlin,
reported that he saw a skin of this species in a
collection of birds at Augpalartok in the District of
Uppernavik, that was collected in that vicinity in 1892;
and the other that, in 1895, Wenge of Copenhagen re-
ports another specimen from North Greenland? These
are the solitary instances of this bird’s occurrence any-
where within what may be termed the limits of North
America, which have been recorded. Doubtless Old-
World species that breed in very high latitudes some-
times on the return journey go slightly astray from their
regular course, and touch, possibly for a few brief mo-
ments, on some parts of boreal North America, and many
more species probably do this than we shall ever know,
but it is only to record an historical fact that any notice
of these waifs and strays is taken at all, and they can in
no way be considered as American birds.

This Duck is not, strictly speaking, however, a native
of northern climes, but ranges in Southern Europe and
Asia, and only accidentally goes to the Scandinavian
Peninsula and Iceland. So rare is it in the north that,

97

98 WATER FOWL,

in the warmer climate of Great Britain, it is only a scarce
straggler, and Dresser considers most of the specimens
taken there have escaped from confinement. Still some
of the rare stragglers to Iceland may have wandered
farther, once they were off the right track, and reached
Greenland. This species prefers the society of Geese to
that of Ducks, and frequents, during the day, open fields
where it can see a long distance, for it is habitually shy,
going at evening to the lakes and ponds. It nests in
the hollows of trees, also in holes in the ground and in
clefts of the cliffs. It visits India, and my friend the late
Dr. Jerdon related a legend of this bird that is current
there. It runs that for some indiscretion two lovers
were transformed into Braminy Ducks (the name for
this species there) and were condemned to pass the night
apart from each other on opposite sides of the river, and
that all night long each in its turn asks its mate if it shall
come across, but the question is always met in the nega-
tive: Chackwa,. shall: I comet’) “ No} Chalewis
* Chakwi, shall I come?” ‘“ No; Chakwa.” It is also
supposed in some parts of India that whoever kills one
of these Ducks will be doomed to perpetual celibacy;
hence by the natives they are seldom molested. The call
note of this bird is loud and clear, more resembling that
of a Goose than any sound a Duck utters.

CASARCA CASARCA.

Geographical Distrzbution.—Southern and Eastern Europe;
North Africa to Shoa, Southern Asia, China, and Japan. Acci-
dental in the Scandinavian Peninsula, Iceland, and Greenland.

Adult Male.—Head and neck, buff, grading into orange
brown on the lower part of the neck, which is surrounded by a
black ring. Back, breast, and under parts, foxy red. Rump,
yellowish red, vermiculated with black. Wing coverts, white;

RUDDY SHELDRAKE. 99

secondaries, glossed with green and purple on outer web, form-
ing a speculum. Tertials, yellowish, foxy red on outer web,
gray oninner. Primaries, tail, and tail coverts, black. Bill, legs,
and feet, blackish. Iris, brown. ‘Total length, about 24 inches;
wing, 144; culmen, 14; tarsus, 24.

Adult Female.—Resembles the male, but the plumage is gen-
erally lighter, and there is no collar at base of neck.

MALLARD.

()RIGINALLY the source from which the domesti-

‘cated races of Ducks have descended, the Mallard
is distributed over the entire northern portions of both
hemispheres. In North America it is found from the
Arctic regions to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the At-
lantic to the Pacific Ocean. Throughout this vast extent
of country it bears, as may be supposed, many names, of
which some of the most common are, Green-head, Wild
Duck, and Gray Duck or Gray Mallard, while the French
call it Canard francais or French Duck; and the Rus-
sians Sé le sen. In England it is sometimes known as
Stock Duck, probably because it is the stock from which
the tame Duck has been derived. Wherever found in
summer, there the Wild Duck breeds. The nest is a
rather large structure of grasses and small sedge stalks,
lined occasionally with down or feathers, and placed in
the vicinity of water, in a marsh, or, if in the West, on the
prairie near some slough. The pale, greenish white eggs
are usually six in number, and the female alone attends to
the duties of incubation; the male loitering about in the
vicinity, or else joining unto himself a number of other
idle males, passing the time in dabbling about the ponds
in the vicinity and selfishly caring only for their individ-
ual interests. The female is a close sitter, and will allow
an intruder to approach very near before indicating by
any movement that she is aware of his presence, and only
leaves the nest when capture is imminent. In the North
the situation of the nest is sometimes quite different, and

100

oS

Rawk: Sh 2)3)2 are. —

22, Mallard.

MALLARD. Iol

it is frequently placed amcng trees, occasionally in a
hollow stump, even in the tree itself; usually, though, in
such cases, the bird occupies some empty nest left over
from a previous season. It requires about four weeks
for the eggs to hatch, and the female at once leads the
young to the water, and assists them to procure suitable
food. The ducklings are very active, dive with ease,
and hide at the least alarm with great celerity and suc-
cess, sinking in the water and leaving the bill only above
the surface. Numbers perish from various causes, for
they have many enemies of the air, land, and water:
hawks and owls, sometimes crows, also all kinds of
four-footed creatures prowling about the swamps and
marshes, not counting sundry snakes, prey upon
them, while many a downy young disappears suddenly
from the midst of the little family swimming quietly
along, seized from beneath the surface by some turtle or
predatory fish. So greatly are they exposed to manifold
dangers that the only wonder is so many reach maturity.
During the nesting season the males moult, the females
not undergoing this process until the young are hatched.
The breeding season is over by June, and when the brood
is full grown the male rejoins his family. During the
earlier part of the summer the plumage of the male is
very similar to that of the female, but toward September
he assumes the beautiful dress by which he is so well
known throughout the world.

In the Northeastern States the Mallard is less com-
mon than farther south, and from New Brunswick to
Massachusetts it may be considered as rather rare in
comparison with other species of Ducks. In the West-
ern States the Mallard visits the corn-fields, and in the
Southern Atlantic States the rice-fields, and becomes
very fat on these kinds of food, and also of excellent fla-

102 WATER FOWL,

vor. Advantage is taken of this habit by gunners, who
make blinds in the fields where they can remain con-
cealed and shoot the birds as they come in to alight or
when flying overhead, and great numbers are killed in
this way. Mallards also decoy easily, either to wooden
counterfeits of themselves or to the bodies of their
kindred that have been shot and set out before the blind,
supported on sticks so as to give them a semblance of
life. Usually wary and suspicious, it is often surprising
to witness the entire confidence displayed by this Duck
when approaching the decoys, particularly if the quack-
ing notes in their various modulations are well imitated.
On catching sight of their supposed relatives, the birds
wheel, and come directly toward them, setting their
wings as they draw near, and uttering low, soft quacks
in a confidential tone, as if expressing satisfaction at
meeting so many of the brethren at one time. Then,
if any breeze is blowing, just before alighting they wheel
head to wind and settle upon the water, but if it is
calm they hover for a moment over the decoys and then
drop with a splash in their midst.

When startled, the Mallard springs directly into the air
several feet upward, and then flies away very rapidly. No
preparation whatever is needed for it to make an exit
from any spot, and if it is on a pond or narrow creek
or in any concealed spot, one spring carries it above
all obstacles and leaves a clear line of escape.
Usually the sexes are not separated during the winter,
but keep together, yet in North Carolina I have on sev-
eral occasions discovered as many as fifty males assem-
bled on a pond, without a single female being present. I
have often wondered at this, and tried to account for such
a concourse of one sex at that season of the year, about
December, but never could arrive at any satisfactory ex-

MALLARD. 103

planation. The Mallard walks with ease, and can also
run with considerable speed. On the water it moves with
grace, and when seeking the seeds, roots, mollusks, vari-
ous grasses, etc., on which it feeds, tilts up the hinder
part of the body and digs on the bottom with its bill. It
never dives, and when wounded tries to skulk away; per-
haps as a last resort struggles to disappear beneath the
surface, with, however, but poor results.

The Mallard is a very noisy Duck, and its loud quack-
ing is one of the familiar sounds heard in the marshes
during the winter. It is also very sociable and the
little companies keep close together as they swim along,
for even when feeding the birds rarely separate from each
other for any distance. They are continually in motion,
poking their bills into the soft mud, and sifting it through
the mandibles. They feed mostly at night, but at the
same time are equally active by day, although, if the
weather is warm and calm, they are in the habit of tak-
ing a nap in the sun’s rays, having one or more of their
number, however, to act as sentinels and announce any
approaching danger.

The Mallard is one of the commonest of our Water
Fowl, and, from its large size and generally well-flavored
flesh, is eagerly sought after. This Duck interbreeds
with other species, and hybrids are frequently shot,
bearing unmistakable evidence of their mixed parentage.
Some of these are very beautiful birds, and in the days
when hybridism was little understood or suspected, cer-
tain ones were described as distinct. One of these, and
perhaps the most beautiful of all, was called by Audubon
Brewer’s Duck (Anas breweri) probably a cross between
the Mallard and the Dusky Duck. Occasionally along
the Atlantic coast a Duck is shot that is larger than the
Mallard, with the head and part of the neck black with

104 WATER FOWL.

green reflections, and the lower portion of neck in front
often white. Sometimes there is some white on the
throat and head. Breast, very dark chestnut, under parts
white, except the crissum, which is chestnut black. Back,
brownish black variegated with grayish brown; rump
and upper tail coverts, black with green reflection, like
the head. These birds were regarded always with much
interest, and opinions differed as to what they could be,
but it is now generally considered that they are hybrids
of the Mallard and Muscovy,* which, although bred in
captivity, have returned to the wild state. The descrip-
tion given above only relates to one style or phase of the
plumage exhibited by these birds, as individuals vary
considerably from each other.

ANAS BOSCHAS.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portions of both Hem-
ispheres. In North America, ranging from the Arctic Regions
to Panama and to Cuba. Breeding wherever it may be at the
proper season.

Adult Male.—Head and neck, metallic green. White collar
at base of neck. Back, brown, waved with narrow lines of pale
brown. Scapulars, grayish white, waved with dusky. Wing,
slate brown, edged with rufous on some feathers. Speculum, or
wing patch, metallic purple, crossed at each end with a black
bar, succeeded by a white one. Primaries, dark brown, with a
grayish gloss. Lower back, and upper tail coverts, greenish
black. Recurved feathers above tail, black. Breast, deep,
glossy chestnut. Under parts, silvery gray, waved with narrow

* The Muscovy (Cazrzza moschata) is found throughout tropi-
cal America, and very possibly may visit at times the coasts of
some of our Southern States, straggling outside its limits, and
should it meet with the Mallard at the proper season, a mixed
brood would very probably result. Therefore, some of these
large ducks that are killed from time to time may not have been
the offspring of domesticated parents.

MALLARD. 105

lines of black, darkest on flanks and beneath the chestnut on
breast. Under tail coverts, jet black. Tail, white. Bill, green-
ish yellow; nail, black. Legs and feet, orange red. Length,
about 22 inches; wing, 11; tail, 44; tarsus, 1,4; culmen, 2,%.

Adult Male, when Moulting.—This stage of plumage occurs
in the summer, and only lasts for a comparatively brief period,
and is very like the dress of the female, but darker.

Adult Female.—Feathers of head and neck, with dusky cen-
ters and buff edges. Chin, whitish; throat, buff, or ochraceous.
Upper parts, black; the feathers edged and tipped with buff on
back and wings, and with ochraceous on lower back and upper
tail coverts. Speculum of wing, as in the male. Under parts,
buff, palest on breast and belly, with central streaks of black,
broadest on sides and flanks. Bill, feet, and legs, colored like
the male’s. Dimensions, similar to the male’s.

Downy Young.—Upper parts, olivaceous. Sides of head,
stripe over the eye, and lower parts, yellowish buff, lightest on
belly. A dusky streak from bill through eye to occiput, and a
dusky spot on ear coverts. Pale buff spots on wing and on each
side of back and rump,

DUSKY “DUCK.

LACK Duck, Black and Dusky Mallard, Black Eng-
lish Duck, and Canard Noir in Louisiana, are the
names by which this bird is variously known. Its range
is mainly throughout eastern North America, north of
Florida, extending westward to Utah and Texas, and
north to Hudson Bay. In Florida it is replaced by a
smaller subspecies of similar appearance. In its habits
this duck very closely'resembles the Mallard, and it has
the same loud quacking note. It breeds in various parts
of the United States from Maine to Texas, as well as in
Labrador, where in summer it is very abundant. The
nest, placed upon the ground in the vicinity of water, is
a compact structure of weeds and grass, lined with down
and feathers, and the eggs are grayish white with a green
tinge. Eight to ten is the usual complement. —

Of all our Water Fowl the Black Duck is one of the
most cunning and suspicious. It also possesses a keen
smell, and no matter how well one may be concealed in
a carefully constructed blind, if the wind blows toward
the advancing bird, it will detect the sportsman’s pres-
ence and remove itself without delay from the dangerous
neighborhood. Many a time have I watched one or
more of these wide-awake birds coming straight to my
decoys, apparently only intent upon joining the flock of
their supposed brethren, and uttering as they came that
low, soft quack, so indicative of confidence and pleased

satisfaction, when suddenly, without any apparent rea-

son, the birds would rise in the air and swerve off in an
106

Pd

; Fadlwon Sh epparcds

23. Dusky Duck.

DDG SIG YT DOCKS. 107

opposite direction. There was nothing visible to create
alarm, but their keen scent had warned them of the pres-
ence of an influence not accustomed to bring them in-
creased happiness and a long life.

The flight of the Black Duck is performed in a similar
manner to that of the Mallard, with quickly repeated
beats of the wings, and usually at a considerable height,
and as the bird moves speedily along it turns the head
from side to side, sharply observing the ground be-
neath, and keenly attentive to every object and move-
ment. When flying, the white under coverts of the
wings show very conspicuously. It is usually on
the alert, although at times its suspicions seem to be
allayed for the moment, and then it will fly to the de-
coys and settle among them as quietly and with as much
unconcern as would a tame Duck that was able to fly.
These occurrences, however, are rare and not to be
counted upon, as this Duck’s trust in man is not often
exhibited to any considerable extent. It rises from the
water with a bound, as if it had been shot up
by powerful springs, usually uttering a few quacks as it
mounts upwards, scattering showers of spray around
by the violence of its movements.

The Black Duck is very much of a nocturnal bird,
moving about a great deal at night, especially if the moon
is shining, and it associates with the Mallards and other
swamp and marsh Ducks, its watchfulness and ability to
detect danger making it a valuable member to any web-
footed coterie. Its note is so like the Mallard’s that it is
difficult to distinguish them apart, and every few moments
the quacks are shot forth in abrupt vociferations, as if
the bird had just reached the limit of its power for sup-
pressing them, and the voice had gained strength and
sonorousness by long confinement. This species is a

108 WATER FOWL.

mud Duck, and delights to paddle and feed in the
swamps and marshes, sifting the half-liquid ooze with its
bill, and extracting whatever nutriment it contains, be it
ot plant, insect, or mollusk life. It is not particular as
to its diet, and swallows anything it may find that is eat-
able. The flesh of this bird is not usually as palatable as 1s
that of many other Ducks, although the quality varies of
course with that of its food, but sometimes it is decidedly
rank and fishy. It is a large bird, equal in size to the
Mallard, and the sexes resemble each other very closely.
Like the common Wild Duck, this species goes in flocks
without any regular order, each bird selecting his own
route totally regardless of his fellows, and frequently
they present a confused mass in the air. Again, if over
ponds, they wheel occasionally with some degree of
unison,

ANAS OBSCURA.

Geographical Distribution.—Eastern North America, from
Labrador to Florida; and west to the Valley of the Mississippi.
Breeding throughout its range.

Adult Male.—Top of head and line on hind neck, black,
streaked with buff. Rest of head and throat, buff, streaked with
dusky. Remainder of plumage, dusky or brownish black; paler
beneath, all the feathers, save those on lower back and rump,
margined with ochraceous. Speculum, metallic violet, some-
times green, edged with black. Bill, yellowish green; nail,
dusky. Legs and feet, orange red; webs, dusky. Length,
about 22 inches; wing, 11; culmen, 2%; tarsus, 14'p.

Adult Female.—Resembles the male. Practically there is no
difference in the plumage of the sexes.

Downy Young.—-Top of head, hind neck, and upper parts,
olive brown; rest of head, neck, and lower part, darkish buff,
lightest on belly. A dusky streak from bill through eye to occi-
put, anda dusky spot on ear coverts. Pale buff spots on border
of wing, and on each side of back and rump.

‘yond Aysnq epiopy.

FLORIDA DUSKY DUCK.

| ae small representative of the Black Duck is ap-
parently restricted to the more southern parts of the
Peninsula of Florida. It is lighter in color and has a
creamy buff throat and fore-neck. The bill is also dif
ferently marked and colored. It breeds in April, and the
nest, formed of grass and similar materials and lined
with down and feathers, is placed upon the ground in the
midst of matted grass, or under a palmetto, or some
sheltering bush, near water. The eggs, usually eight or
ten, are very similar to those of the Black Duck, but
lighter in color. The male remains in the vicinity while
the female is incubating the eggs, but does not share in
any of the duties.

This species frequents the ponds of fresh water, going
out at night to the sheltered bays near the Keys to feed
and disport itself. In the autumn the males appear to
associate together, but flocks of both sexes are met with
in the winter, and the mating season begins as early as
January. Many are destroyed when the grass is burned
to permit the young shoots to spring forth, as this is done
usually at the period when the female is on her nest. In
its habits this species does not differ from its Northern
relative, is about as shy and cunning, but from its re-
stricted dispersion and the number of sportsmen who
visit Florida in winter, it has a very fair chance at no dis-
tant day of becoming extinct.

110 WATER FOWL.

ANAS FULVIGULA.,

Geographical Distribution.—State of Florida.

Adult Male.—Top of head, streaked with black and buff. Rest
of head, sides, and back of neck, buff, streaked with dark brown.
The cheeks are sometimes without streaks, but in a series of
these birds plain cheeks were no more frequent than those with
streaks, and this marking seems to be very variable. Chin and
throat, plain buff of varying intensity. General plumage, black,
feathers edged with ochraceous on upper parts, but with pale
buff beneath. Speculum seems to vary in color among indjivid-
uals, and is either metallic green or metallic blue, and, in some
specimens, is tipped with white, forming a bar across the wing.
Bill, yellowish olive; nail, and spot at base of maxilla, black.
Legs and feet, pale orange red. Iris, brown. Total length,
about 20 inches; wing, 10; culmen, 2,5; tarsus, 1,8; bill, 2.

Adult Female.—Resembles the male in general color of
plumage, but is rather lighter, with sometimes a white bar across
the wing on posterior edge of speculum. The legs and feet are
dull red; the webs, flesh color, mottled with brown. There is
little or no difference in the measurements of the sexes,

ON eee ee

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Sz

MOLELED DUCK.

‘T Hs Duck was described by Mr. Sennett from a

specimen taken at Nueces Bay, near Corpus Christi,
Texas, by Mr. J. A. Singley, who was collecting birds
for him at that time. It resembles closely the previous
subspecies, the Florida Dusky Duck, but chiefly differs
in having the cheeks streaked with brown, instead of
being plain buff; and the speculum, or metallic spot
on the wing, purple instead of green. The general effect
of the coloration of the plumage is that of being spotted
instead of streaked, and the light markings are pale buff
instead of a deep buff, and this gives a slightly different
appearance to the two forms, but they nevertheless re-
semble each other. The streaked cheeks are to be
seen among some individuals of the Florida Dusky
Duck, and the color of the speculum is at times merely
a question of light, purple and green in metallic hues
being often interchangeable. An ornithologist might
readily recognize to which form most of his specimens
belonged, but the ordinary observer would probably have
difficulty in distinguishing them.

There appears to be a great similarity in the habits of
this bird and those of its relative, as might be expected,
but not many specimens have as yet been obtained, and
more information regarding it is needed before the
validity of its subspecific standing is satisfactorily deter-
mined. In Louisiana it is known as Canard Noir d’Eté,
or Black Summer Duck. It is said to be a common
resident in that State, and breeds there.

IIr

I1I2 WATER FOWL,

ANAS FULVIGULA MACULOSA.

Geographical Distribution,—Eastern Texas, Louisiana, north
to Kansas.

Mr. Sennett’s description of this bird is as follows:

‘‘Top of head, blackish brown, margined with very pale buff.
Chin and throat, isabella color. Cheeks, buffy white, with narrow
streaks of dark brown. Feathers of breast, wings, upper parts,
and flanks, blackish brown, margined with pale buff. Under
parts, buffy white, each feather with a broad blackish brown mark
near the tip, giving a decidedly mottled appearance. Under
tail coverts, blackish, with outer margins of inner webs reddish
buff; those of outer webs, buffy white. The four median feathers
of tail, blackish brown; the others, fuscous, margined with pale
buff, and a V-shaped mark, as in 4. fulvigula, but of a buffy
white. Under surface of all tail feathers, light gray, excepting
the four median, which are blackish brown. Lining of wing,
white, Speculum, metallic purple, feathers tipped with white.
Bill has a small black spot on base of lower edge of upper man-
dible, as in A. fulvigula. Feet, reddish orange. Wing, 10
inches; culmen, 2}; tarsus, 13; middle toe and claw, 14.”

;
|

SS

‘T[BMpeL “gz

GADWALL.

SSENTIALLY a fresh-water bird, this Duck, while

met with generally throughout North America, is no-
where so abundant as are the Widgeon, Sprigtails, Mal-
lards, etc., with which it is accustomed to associate. It
has a wide dispersion, and is found throughout both the
northern hemispheres. In North America it is known by
various names, those most commonly employed being,
Creek Duck, Speckle-Belly, Gray Duck, Welch Drake,
German Duck, Gray Widgeon, and Canard Gris in
Louisiana. It is a shy bird, retiring in disposition, keep-
ing to the small creeks, borders of marshes, and fresh-
water ponds. It is a very swift flyer, and resembles very
much the Widgeon when in the air, and dives with equal
celerity and address. It hides among reeds and tall
grasses and passes much of its time seeking its food close
along the shores, where for the greater part of the time it
is concealed by overhanging bushes or grasses. Gener-
ally it goes in small flocks, does not readily come to de-
coys, and when it does draw near them it is probably in
the company of a small flock of Widgeon. The Gadwall
breeds in the United States, as far south as Colorado and
about the lakes at a high elevation, and in the Arctic re-
gions east of the mountains. ‘The nest, composed mainly
of feathers and dry leaves, is usually placed in a marsh,
and the eggs, of which the.number ranges from eight to
twelve, are a uniform cream color. When paddling
about the marshes, or flying at no height above them, as
if seeking some particular spot it could not readily find,

113

114 WATER FOWL.

this Duck utters a low croaking quack. It feeds upon
grasses such as commonly grow in or near ponds and
streams, leaves and roots of water plants, and possibly
fish, if it can get them, and mollusks; but these last I
fancy it eats only when the other more natural food is
difficult to obtain.

The male is a very handsome bird, and his stylish,
modestly colored dress makes him one of the most at-
tractive of our Water Fowl. There is a good deal of indi-
vidual variation in the males of this species, and some are
more darkly colored than others, and occasionally there
is a more or less well defined black ring on the lower part
of the neck. The female is a pretty brown and white
bird, with a wing somewhat similar to the male’s, but
without the chestnut on the metallic spot in the center,
and by many she is frequently mistaken for the female of
the American Widgeon, to which indeed she bears a con-
siderable resemblance.

From its secluded habits the Gadwall is not as well
known to the majority of American sportsmen as are the
Widgeon and some other fresh-water Ducks, and as it
keeps in small flocks and shuns decoys, the opportunities
for becoming acquainted with the bird’s ways and appear-
ance are at no time very great or favorable. As a bird
for the table it is in no way inferior to the Widgeon when
both have had access to similar food, and in size the two
species are about equal, but if there is any difference the
Gadwall may average a trifle larger.

CHAULELASUM US STREPERCS.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern Hemisphere. In North
America ranging from Arctic regions to Mexico and Jamaica.
Breeds in the Northern States, and in the Arctic Regions east
of the mountains.

Adult Male.—Top of head, rufous, varying in depth of shade

GADWALL. 115

among individuals, and spotted with black; rest of head light
buff or whitish, speckled with blackish brown. Throat, buff,
indistinctly spotted with brown. Flesh, dark buff, spotted with
blackish. Upper part of back and breast marked with crescent-
shaped black and white bars, the former broadest and most
prominent. Back, scapulars, and flanks, undulated with slate
color and white. Long scapulars, fringed with rusty brown.
Lesser wing coverts, gray; middle coverts, bright chestnut;
greater coverts, velvety black. Secondaries, pale gray; outer
webs, white, forming a speculum beneath the black coverts.
Primaries, gray. Crissum and upper tail coverts, jet black.
Tail, dark gray, whitish on the edges. Vent and under tail
coverts, black; rest of under parts, white. Bill, bluish black.
Iris, brown. Legs and feet, orange yellow; webs, dusky. Total
length, about 20 inches; wing, 103; tail, 8,4,; culmen, 1,8; tarsus,
1z%-

Adult Female.—Top of head, blackish, faintly marked with
buff. Rest of head and neck, yellowish, spotted with blackish
brown. Chin and throat, yellowish white, minutely spotted with
dark brown. Back and breast, fuscous, the feathers margined
with buff. Lower back and rump, fuscous. Wings, like the
male, but usually without any chestnut, the wing coverts being
gray, tipped with whitish. The speculum is white, with little or
no black on its front edge. Primaries, fuscous. Under wing
coverts and axillz, white. Upper tail coverts, fuscous, with V-
and U-shaped bars, and edges of buff. Tail, fuscous edged with
gray andwhitish. Sides, ochraceous, with large spots of fuscous.
Anal region and under tail coverts, buff, spotted with fuscous.
Rest of under parts, pure white. Bill, dusky, orange near the
edges. Legs and feet, dingy yellow; webs, dusky. Smaller in
size than the male. ‘Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 10; cul-
men, I7%5; tarsus, 14%.

Young.—No chestnut or black on the wings; white on second-
aries not clear; under parts with nebulous brown centers to the
feathers. Rest of plumage like the female.

Downy Young.—Forehead and space around the eye, throat,
and chest, rich yellow. Upper parts, dark brown, with dark
yellow spots on sides of back and rump, and on edges of wing.
Lower parts, sooty gray.

EUROPEAN WIDGEON.

A WELL-KNOWN and common species of the Old

World, this handsome Duck can only be regarded
as a straggler within our limits. It has been killed on
numerous occasions in different parts of the United States,
usually in the company of the American Widgeon. It is
not uncommon among the Aleutian Islands and breeds
there, and doubtless individuals starting on the fall mi-
gration have taken the wrong course inadvertently, or
else have joined flocks of American Wild Fowl and pene-
trated into unaccustomed lands, and embraced an oppor-
tunity to look upon unfamiliar scenes. In its habits it
does not vary to any appreciable extent from its Ameri-
can relative, and its life history has been thoroughly writ-
ten by a number of able English and Continental orni-
thologists. While having a general resemblance to the
Bald-Pate (to anyone who was not accustomed to observe
closely), it is in fact a very differently marked bird, and
while of very attractive appearance is not as handsome
as our own species. Numerous specimens have been ob-
tained in California, and I had a beautiful and very per-
fect male which was shot in Illinois, and is now with
my collection of birds in the Museum of Natural History
in New York. I have also seen examples procured on
the North Carolina coast, so it would seem that when it
strays from its legitimate route, it has no preference as to

the road it travels, but visits indiscriminately any por-

tions of the country to which fate may lead it.
116

27. European Widgeon.

ae

EUROPEAN WIDGEON. 117

MARECA PENELOPE.

Geographical Dzistribution,—Northern portions of Eastern
Hemisphere, and of frequent occurrence in the United States as
far south as California on the Pacific, and the coasts of North
Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean. Breeds pretty much through-
out the northern part of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Adult Male.—Forehead and crown varying among individuals
from white to ochraceous. Remainder of head and sides of
neck, rufous. Cluster of small green spots behind the eye,
and some on the occiput. Chin, throat, and fore part of neck,
black. Breast, vinaceous. Back and sides, finely undulated
with black and white. Long tertials, gray on inner webs, black,
edged with white, on the outer. Wing coverts, white. Speculum,
metallic green. Primaries, fuscous. Lower back, slate gray,
with a white spot on each side of base of upper tail coverts.
Inner upper tail coverts, gray, with white edges ; outer ones,
black, edged with white on inner webs. Under parts, white.
Under tail coverts, black. Tail, pointed, fuscous, becoming
almost black at tips. Bill, bluish black; nail, black. Legs, dark
brown; feet, bluish gray; webs, dusky. Total length, 18 inches;
wing, 10; culmen, 1,4; tarsus, 14.

Adult Female.—Head and neck, rusty, varying in depth
among individuals, speckled with black; occasionally, the top of
the head being nearly all black. Upper parts, dusky brown,
feathers margined with grayish. Wings, grayish brown. Specu-
lum, dull black; outer web of tertials edged with white, the outer-
most one with outer web all white. Primaries, fuscous on outer
webs, light buff on inner, metallic green at tips. Upper tail
coverts, rufous brown. Tail, purplish brown, feathers edged
with white. Breast and flanks, light rufous; the former spotted,
the latter barred with dark brown. Rest of under parts, white,
the under tail coverts barred with blackish brown. Iris, brown.
Bill, bluish black. Legs and feet, dark brown. Total length, 18
inches; wing, to4; culmen, 18; tarsus, 14.

WIDGEON.

HE Widgeon is distributed at different seasons of the
year throughout North America, from the Arctic
Ocean south to Guatemala and Cuba, and from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. In its neat dress of attractive
colors, some of which exhibit a metallic sheen like bur-
nished metal, the male is one of the handsomest of our
Water Fowl, and his demure, modest little consort is no
less engaging in her appearance, although not so bril-
liantly arrayed. The Bald-Pate, another name by which
it is known, breeds from the Arctic Sea as far south as the
State of Texas, and generally nests in rather high ground
in the midst of trees or low bushes, and is not particular
about being near water. Its nest is lined with down, and
the eggs are covered when the female goes off for any
purpose. They are laid in May, and resemble those
of the Pintail somewhat, and are a pale buffy white.
The male moults while the female is incubating.
She takes her turn later. About the latter part of Sep-
tember the young are nearly full grown, and those that
have bred in the far North commence their long journey
southward. Widgeon are generally observed in small
flocks of from six to two dozen, although occasionally
great numbers have been seen assembled together, but
this is rare. They go much with the Canvas Back and
Red Head, and when these dive in the deep water and
bring to the surface tender grasses and succulent roots,
the Widgeon are very busy indeed stealing these de-
sired objects from their rightful owners, and grow very
fat on the fruits of such pilfering habits.
118

See seen a <aeee nl

Sohn starts

28. Widgeon.

WIDGEON. 11g

It is essentially a fresh-water species, and keeps to
lakes and rivers, and when these freeze resorts to sounds
within the beach, where the water may be brackish, or
travels on southward to milder climes. The Widgeon
is one of the wariest of our Ducks, suspicious of every-
thing, and not only is unwilling to approach any spot or
object of which it is afraid, but, by keeping up a contin-
ued whistling, alarms all the other Ducks in the vicinity,
and consequently renders itself very disagreeable and
at times a considerable nuisance to the sportsman. How-
ever, its flesh is so tender and palatable, and it is such a
pretty and gamy bird, that one is inclined to forgive many
of its apparent shortcomings. The usual note of this
Duck is a low, soft whistle, very melodious in quality, and
when on the wing the members of a flock keep continu-
ally talking to each other in this sweet tone as they speed
along. They fly very rapidly, and usually high in the
air, in a long, outstretched line, all abreast, except, per-
haps, the two ends are a little behind the center bird, who
may be considered the leader. When only moving from
place to place in the marsh, and but a short distance
above the ground, they proceed usually without any
order or regularity, reminding one sometimes of a flock
of pigeons. The pinions are moved with much quick-
ness, and the long primaries give a sharp-pointed shape
to the wing that causes the birds to be easily recognized.
Flocks composed of a number of Widgeon and Sprig-
tail are often seen, and the combination is a very un-
favorable one to a sportsman who may be hoping for a
quiet shot at close range.

As the birds approach the decoys some Widgeon will
whistle and edge out to one side, as much as to say, “ It
may be all right, but I don’t like the looks of it,” and he
will be followed by another suspicious member. Then

120 WATER FOWL.

the Pintails become uneasy and begin to climb and look
down into the blind, and the patient watcher sees the
flocks too often sheer off to one side and pass him by.
But should there be some birds present, as often hap-
pens, which are heedless of all warnings or suspicious
utterings, and keep steadily on, with the evident
intention to settle among their supposed _ brethren,
then, as they gather together preparatory to alight, and
the sportsman rises in his ambush, suddenly the air is
filled with darting, climbing birds, who shoot off in every
direction, but generally upward as if the flock was blown
asunder, and all disappear with a celerity that is astonish-
ing, and, to a nervous sportsman, with results that are
mortifying.

In various parts of the country this Duck is known by
many names other than those already given, some of
which are Poacher, Wheat Duck, Bald-Crown and Bald-
faced Widgeon, Green-headed Widgeon, Zan-Zan, etc.,
but among most of the sporting fraternity it is called
simply Widgeon or Bald-Pate.

MARECA AMERICANA.

Geographical Distribution.—Throughout North America, from
the Arctic Ocean to Guatemala and Cuba. Breeds throughout
its range, but chiefly north of the United States.

Adult Male.—Forehead and top of head, white. Behind the
eye a lengthened, broad patch of metallic green, extending
down hind neck. Rest of head and neck, whitish or buff,
thickly speckled with black. Back and scapulars, vinaceous,
undulated with black, and, on some feathers, also with white.
Wing coverts, white; the greater ones tipped with black, forming
a bar across the wing. Secondaries, black, some glossed with
metallic green, forming a green and black speculum. Long
tertials, pointed, dusky gray on inner web, black edged with
white on the outer. Under wing coverts, gray; axillze, white.
Primaries, fawn, shading into glossy brown on outer webs and
near tips. Rump and median upper tail coverts, gray, waved

WIDGEON. 121

with black and edged with white. Outer coverts, black. Breast
and sides vinaceous, the inner feathers of the latter undulated
with black. Lower breast and abdomen, pure white. Under
tail coverts, black. Tail, fuscous, edged with whitish. Bill,
pale grayish blue; tip, black. Legs and feet, plumbeous or
bluish gray. Webs, dusky. Total length, about 1g inches; wing,
104; culmen, 14; tarsus, 14.

Young Male.—Very similar to the female, but the colors of a
deeper and richer hue, the breast and flanks being more vinace-
ous, and the markings of the wings more clearly defined. The
coverts, though dusky in part, have much more white, and the
white edges of the tertials are exhibited. The head is much
darker as a rule. There is a considerable individual variation
seen in this species, especially among adults of, I may say, both
sexes. The coloring of the head and neck is frequently different,
and this is observable among old males on the top of the head,
and in the extent and depth of the green behind the eye, and along
the center of the hind neck. The female has some resemblance
to that of the Gadwall, but she can generally be distinguished
by the coloring of the speculum; the Gadwall’s being mostly
grayish, while that of the present species is black and green.

Adult Female.—Top of head black, feathers margined with
white. Forehead, sides of head, neck, and throat, whitish or
buffy white, speckled and streaked with dusky. Upper parts,
dusky, barred with buff or ochraceous. Wing coverts, mostly
gray, edged with white; the apical half of the outer webs of
greater coverts, white, with black tips forming a bar, succeeded
by the metallic green and black of the secondaries, making the
speculum. Primaries, dusky, fawn color near the shafts. Rump
and upper tail coverts, dusky, margined with white. Upper breast
and sides, reddish buff or dull vinaceous, the latter barred with
dusky, and indistinct dusky blotches on the breast. Rest of
under parts, white. Under tail coverts, barred with black and
white. Tail, dusky, margined with whitish. Bill, legs, and feet,
colored like the male. Total length, about 18 inches; wing, 10,5;
culmen, 1;4;; tarsus, 1,%.

Downy Young .—Top of head, back of neck, and upper parts,
dark olive brown; rest of head and neck, with lower parts ful-
vous. A dusky streak from bill, through eye to occiput. Spots
on posterior border of wing, and on each side of back and rump,
greenish buff.

SERIGIAIL:

HIS is another cosmopolitan species, and ranges in
the northern hemisphere, from the Atlantic coast of
America across the continent and through the Old World
eastward to Japan. It is one of the most common
Ducks found in Alaska, and along the mighty river, the
Yukon, they nest in May. Mr. Nelson, whose oppor-
tunities for watching many species of birds during their
breeding season in the Arctic regions have been numer-
ous, describes the peculiar habits of the Pintail at that
time. The female rises in the air with the male in quick
pursuit, and the pair fly back and forth with incredible
speed, performing many quick and varied evolutions, be-
ing at one moment almost out of sight overhead and the
next just skimming above the ground. The first male
would soon be joined by others, all anxious to obtain the
fair prize, but none keeps as close to the coy female as
the original pursuer, and so dexterous is she in her rapid
movements that even he can get near her only occa-
sionally. When he does, however, he keeps beneath her,
so closely that their swiftly moving wings rattle to-
gether like castanets, the noise thus made being audible
for along distance. This'performance is kept up for per-
haps half an hour, and all the other males having been
distanced in the race, the original pair settle in one of the
ponds. At this season this Duck has a habit akin to the
drumming of the Snipe. Having risen to a great height,
the wings are held stiffly and curved downward, and the
bird descends with the swiftness of a meteor, producing

122

29. Sprigtail.

SPRIGTAIL. 123

a sound at first like a low murmur, succeeded by a hiss,
and then, as the bird sweeps close along the ground in a
gliding course,it assumes almost the proportions ofa roar.
Sometimes this noise accompanying the Duck’s passage
through the air is heard for a number of seconds before
the bird comes into view, so high has it ascended.

The females of this species are, Mr. Nelson believes,
polyandrous, for he has seen one preceded by two males
as she flew along, and at short intervals she would halt
slightly, draw back her head, and utter a loud nasal
quack. It is a common occurrence for a female, when
chased by several males, to plunge at full speed under
water, followed by her pursuers, and all suddenly rise and
take wing a short distance beyond.

The Pintail breeds in northern latitudes of both hemi-
spheres, also in Manitoba and the northern tier of States,
occasionally as far south as Colorado, and is among the
first of the Water Fowl to commence the duties of incu-
bation; but this important function varies, apparently,
according to the degrees of latitude, beginning later in
the most northern sections. The nest, composed simply
of dry grass and twigs and lined with feathers, is placed
in some thick grass, at the foot of a willow, under a
bush, or in some similar spot where concealment is
equally secured, and from six to twelve pale olive green,
rather small eggs are deposited. The young appear
during June or early in July, according to the locality,
and the parents lead them immediately to the water, from
which the nest is never far removed, and they remain
about the marshes, keeping themselves well concealed
from observation until able to fly. The males moult at
this time; the females somewhat later.

In summer the Pintail utters a low, mellow whistle,
and also, in addition to the hoarse, guttural quack, a

124 WATER FOWL.

rolling note, similar to that uttered by the little Scaup
and some other Ducks, and which can be imitated by a
rapid vibration of the tongue, at the same time trying to
utter the letter R. The Pintail visits the interior of
Alaska as well as the sea-coast, and frequents the pools
on the flats. It is also found on various islands of the
Aleutian chain. On the eastern side of North America
this species is very abundant in summer on the Barren
Grounds and in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, where it
breeds.

On its autumn migration southward the Pintail makes
its appearance in the United States; (provided that it has
not remained within our borders during the summer), the
latter part of September or beginning of October, coming
down with the other “big” Ducks, like the Widgeon, Gad-
wall, etc., from its northern breeding grounds. On its
first arrival it is usually tame and unsuspicious, as there
is a large proportion of young birds in the flocks which
have yet to make the acquaintance of man and his ne-
farious ways. At this time they come readily to decoys,
and exhibit little of that wariness so conspicuously mani-
fested later in the season.

The lakes and rivers of the western country becom-
ing frozen, the Pintail, in company with the vast army
of Water Fowl, now yearly lessened in numbers,
moves onward to the milder clime of the Sunny South,
or diverges across the country to the shores of the great
oceans. On the Atlantic coast multitudes pass the win-
ter in the sounds lying just within the beach of North
Carolina and adjacent States, where the usually open
winter permits them to indulge in their usual avoca-
tions without interruption. Should, however, a cold

norther freeze the marshes and open water, they depart.

temporarily on a brief trip southward, returning again as

_

SPRIGTAIL. 125

soon as the weather moderates. By the time they have
reached these winter quarters the birds have become
“ educated,” have learned the danger of man’s presence,
and are generally very shy and suspicious. When coming
to decoys, after many hesitating advances, they are apt to
rise to a considerable height in the air, and look down
into the blind, and not liking the disclosures there made,
keep on their course, usually out of gunshot. If they have
seen nothing to cause alarm and they come up to the
decoys, on the appearance of the sportsman as he rises
from his crouching position, the birds seem to throw
themselves directly upward at a great speed, with the
result of causing any but an experienced gunner to shoot
beneath them.

Their flight is very rapid, performed by quick beats
of the wings, and the long necks of these Ducks make
them easily recognizable when in the air. On the
water the Sprig swims gracefully, arching its neck
and holding back its head like a miniature Swan,
and presents a pretty picture as the sun glances on
the variegated coloring of the head and neck of the male.
As a diver the Sprigtail is only a partial success. It
can go under water, though it cannot stay long, but
skulks with great skill, stretching out the neck to the
fullest extent and laying it and the head flat upon the
surface. At a little distance, unless there is a complete
calm, it is very difficult to be seen when it assumes such
a position. Beside the names already applied to it in this
article, this Duck is known in various parts of our coun-
try as Spiketail, Spindletail, Spreettail, Pigeontail, Pian
Queue in Louisiana, Water Pheasant, and Smee. Un-
doubtedly it has other local names besides these.

126 WATER FOWL,

DAFILA ACUTA.

Geographical Distribution.—Cosmopolitan. In North Amer-
ica it ranges from Alaska to Panama and Cuba. Breeds from
northern United States to limit of its northern range.

Adult Male.—Head and upper neck, hair brown, darkest on
the crown, where it is often a rusty brown. Sides of occiput
with metallic green and purple reflections. Upper part of hind
neck, black; lower part, dusky, minutely waved with white. A
white stripe, beginning at the upper edge of black portion,
passes down the sides of the neck, and is confluent with the
white of the under parts. Back, and sides of flank, waved with
narrow white and dusky lines. ‘Tertials, silvery gray, with
a central black stripe ; long scapulars, black, edged with buff or
whitish. Wing coverts, glossy brownish gray, last row tipped
with cinnamon, forming a bar across the wing. Speculum,
bronze, changing from green to copper according to the light,
with a subterminal black bar and white tip. Under parts, pure
white, sometimes blotched with rust color. Sides and flanks
crossed with narrow bars of white and dusky. Lengthened
upper tail coverts, black, edged with white on inner webs. Tail
feathers, pointed, dark brown on outer webs, gray on inner, the
long central pair narrow and pointed and extending beyond the
others, black. Under tail coverts, black, the external ones hav-
ing white outer webs, forming a line on each side. Iris, dark
brown. Bill bluish gray, blackish toward tip; lead color toward
the edges. Legs and feet, brownish gray. Length, about 26
inches; wing, 103; culmen, 2,8,; tarsus, 1,8,; tail, 7; bill, 2.

Adult Female.—Top of head, rufous streaked with black.
Rest of head, whitish or yellowish white, finely streaked with
dusky. Back of neck, dusky, streaked with buff; chin and
throat, whitish; upper parts, dusky, crossed with irregular, often
U-shaped, bars of yellowish white, or ochraceous, these last
being mostly on middle of back. Wing coverts, brownish gray
tipped with white. Under parts, white, streaked with dusky.
Sides and flanks with broad V- or U-shaped marks of glossy
grayish brown. Upper tail coverts, irregularly blotched with
black and white. Tail, dark brownish gray irregularly barred
with white. Bill, bluish gray, blackish on top. Legs and feet,

lead color. Length, about 20 inches; wing, 93); culmen, 14%;

tarsus, 14%.

“saga SPRIGTAIL. ; 127
Adult Male in Moulting Plumage.—Like the adult female,
but darker, and exhibiting a brilliant speculum.

_ Young.—A\so like the female, the males always distinguishable
_ from the females by having a speculum on the wing.

Downy Young.—Crown of head, back of neck, and upper
_ parts, olive brown, with a dull white stripe on each side of back.
_ Yellowish white stripe over eye, and a brown one through the
eye from bill, and a spot of the same color over the ears. Lores,
_ brownish. Under parts, grayish white.

*

ne =

a

BLUE-WINGED TEAL.

ORE restricted in its range than the Green-Winged
Teal, the present species, sometimes called Sum-
mer Teal and White-faced Duck (Printempsnierre in the
spring, and Automnierre in the autumn in Louisiana),
is found chiefly in the Mississippi Valley, where it is very
abundant, and throughout the eastern portion of the
United States. It is rare in Alaska, and is accidental on
the Pacific coast north of the Gulf of California, save,
perhaps, in summer, when it occasionally appears upon
the Alaskan coast. In winter it goes south to the West
Indies and northern South America. The Blue-winged
Teal breeds in various portions of the eastern States of
the Union, and also in the Mississippi Valley, and is
one of the first of the-great host of the Duck tribe to
appear in the annual migration southward.

This Teal nests on low land, usually near the water,
amid reeds and high grass growing in such situations.
In the center of a mass of rushes and coarse grass a
quantity of down and feathers is placed, and upon this
sometimes as many as twelve white eggs are deposited.
This Duck is a lover of mild climates and soft airs, and
is never seen when ice and snow abound, unless some
such calamity as a severe frost has suddenly come upon
the southern land in which it is passing the winter.
Early in September the flocks gather in the northern part
of the Union, preparatory to their departure on their
southern journey, while those which have passed the sum- -
mer north of our borders commence to appear within the

128

See? a!

30.

Blue-Winged Teal.

ae

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 129

United States. They come in large flocks, and frequent
the inland lakes and rivers, feeding upon insects and
tender plants and grasses. Wherever the wild rice
grows, there, in autumn, are these Teal found, and they
scatter themselves throughout the matted growth
of this plant, which frequently spreads over a large
portion of the bottoms of many of our western
lakes and rivers. Here the Teal are safe so long
as they remain in the interior of the beds, for
nothing of the earth or air can reach them as
they paddle about hidden in the deep recesses of
the wild rice. They feed upon the ripened grains
that fall upon the water, or dig them out of the
mud upon the bottom, and become exceedingly fat. I
know no better bird for the table than a Blue-winged
Teal fattened upon wild rice. Many are killed by
sportsmen stationing themselves just within the bor-
ders of these rice beds, and shooting the birds as they fly
over or around, looking for a favorable place to settle.
When feeding the members of a flock keep as near to-
gether as possible, and rarely utter any sound, each one
too intent apparently upon his own affairs to indulge in
the pleasures of conversation. When startled it rises
from the water by a single spring, and the flight is ex-
ceedingly rapid, and it has the habit of turning alter-
nately to the observer the upper and lower surface of the
body as it speeds along, rolling, in fact, in a similar man-
ner to a boat in the trough of the waves. This species
utters at times a lisping note when on the wing, and
should it perceive a desirable place for feeding, or a num-
ber of its fellows congregated together, it drops suddenly
into the water, without making any elaborate prepara-
tion to alight, but simply stops at once. I have never
found it a shy bird, for it usually allowed me to approach

130 WATER FOWL.

closely without showing any especial alarm, and it always
came boldly in to the decoys, and, if permitted, settled
among them in full confidence, and began to swim about
its supposed brethren quite at home and contented.
When on the water this Teal swims with much buoyancy,
and the flocks, like those of the Green-winged Teal, are
compacted together so closely that the members would
seem to be in each other’s way as they floated along. In
February the movement toward northern climes begins,
and, like all Ducks at this season, they are poor in flesh
and should never be shot. The male has assumed the
summer dress, one of the most beautiful among the Duck
tribe, and the pure white crescent before the eye makes
him very conspicuous as he paddles about the ponds and
inlets, or wanders over the muddy bars in quest of food.
Like its relatives, the Blue-winged Teal walks easily and
well, and is able even to run quite rapidly.

QUERQUEDULA DISCORS.

Geographical Destribution.—North America, but chiefly in
the eastern portion; Alaska, and south to the West Indies, and
northern South America. Occasional in California. Breeds
from Kansas northward.

Adult Male.—Top of head, black, feathers edged with
ochraceous. Chin and space along base of bill, black. A large
crescent-shaped band, white edged with black, goes from the
forehead in front of the eye to the throat. Rest of head and
neck, dull plumbeous, with a metallic purple gloss on the occi-
put. Back, dusky, with U-shaped bars of buff. Long scapulars,
greenish black, with a central stripe of buff. Lesser wing
coverts and outer webs of some scapulars, pale blue. Greater
coverts, dusky, with white tips forming a bar in front of the
speculum, which is metallic grass green. Lower back, upper
tail coverts, and tail, dusky, feathers of the last two margined
with whitish. A white patch on each side of the tail. Entire -
under parts and sides, reddish buff, inclined to pale chestnut on

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 131

lower breast. Under tail coverts, black. Bill, black. Iris,
brown. Legs and feet, yellow, with the web dusky. Total
length, 15 inches; wing, 7; culmen, 1,5; tarsus, 1,%.

Adult Female.—Top of head, black, remainder of head and
neck, brownish white, speckled or streaked with dusky. Chin,
throat, and base of bill, white. Upper parts, dusky, barred with
V-shaped buff marks. Wing coverts, blue, like the male, but
the green speculum is wanting. Upper tail coverts and tail like
the male. Under parts, pinkish buff on the breast, with dusky
V-shaped marks, remaining portion white indistinctly spotted
with dusky, most numerous on the under tail coverts. — Bill,
greenish black. Legs and feet, pale flesh color. Total length,
15 inches; wing, 7; culmen, 1-4; tarsus, 11.

Young Male.—Similar to female on head, neck, and upper
parts. The white throat is speckled with dusky. The green
speculum is visible, and the under parts are like the adult male,
with the flank feathers broadly barred with dusky.

Young.—Like adult female, but with a pure white belly and
grayish brown speculum.

CINNAMON TEAL.

TT His rather handsome bird is restricted to the western

portion of North America, from the Columbia River,
along the Pacific coast, south to Chili, and eastward to the
Argentine Republic and the Falkland Islands. Occa-
sionally it straggles into the Mississippi Valley, and has
even been known to go as far eastward as Florida, but
such occurrences are extremely rare and can only be re-
garded in the same light as would be the appearance of
some European species taken within our limits. In the
United States the Cinnamon Teal is essentially a western
bird, particularly numerous in California, where it is
found in flocks of considerable size, and associates with
other fresh-water Ducks. It goes in summer as far
north as the upper part of the Columbia River, and has
been found nesting in Idaho, and breeds in various parts
of Colorado. It is abundant also in the great Salt Lake
Valley.

The breeding season commences in May, about the
middle of the month. The nest is composed of grass,
lined with down and feathers, and placed upon the
ground, generally in the vicinity of water, and about a
dozen creamy-white eggs are deposited. In its habits
this species does not differ appreciably from its eastern
ally, the Blue-winged Teal. It flies as swiftly, rises as
suddenly from the water when startled, and is as palatable
as an article of food. It would seem that South America
was more naturally its home, and its dispersion is great-
est on that continent, and that the western section of our

132

Sit

Cinnamon T

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2

.

of

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CINNAMON TEAL. 133

own land was but an outlying district of its true habitat.
The male is a handsome bird in his purplish chestnut
dress,

QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA.

Geographical Distribution.—Western America, from British
Columbia south to Chili, Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands;
east to southern Texas; casual in the valley of the Mississippi,
and certain of the eastern States as far as Florida.

Adult Male.—Top of head, blackish chestnut. Rest of head,
neck, and lower parts, uniform bright chestnut. Back, rump,
upper tail coverts, and tail, fuscous with light edges. Scapulars,
chestnut barred with black, the long ones, black with a buff
central stripe, and pointed. Wing coverts and outer webs of
some scapulars, pale blue. Tips of greater wing coverts, white,
making a bar above the bronzy green speculum. Under tail
coverts, blackish. Bill, black. Legs and feet, orange; webs,
dusky. Iris, orange. ‘otal length, about 17 inches; wing, 74;
culmen, 1,8; tarsus, 14.

Adult Female.—Similar to the female of the Biue-winged
Teal, but more reddish. The sides of head and throat, deep
buff, and the back, fuscous, the feathers edged with pale buff as
in Q. discors. The entire under parts are light brown, inclining
to rufous on upper breast, which is spotted with black or dusky;
rest of under parts indistinctly barred with chestnut on abdomen,
and with nebulous dusky spots on anal region and under tail
coverts. Wings as in female Q. dscors, but with a speculum
faintly defined, of dark green. Bill, dusky, pale on the edges.
Iris, brown. Feet, yellowish drab. Total length, about 164
inches; wing, 6%; culmen, 1,},; tarsus, 144. j

Young Male.—Like female, but under parts streaked instead
of spotted. .

Downy Young.—Top of head, hind neck, and upper parts,
olivaceous, darkest on the head; forehead, stripe over the eye,
sides of head and lower parts, yellowish buff. A narrow dark
brown stripe on sides of head, greenish buff spots on sides of
back, and yellowish spots on sides of rump.

=a? eee.

EUROPEAN TEAL.

HIS well-known resident of the northern portions of
the Old World bears a very close resemblance to
the Green-winged Teal of our own land. It is only a
straggler within our limits, individuals having been
taken occasionally on the northern part of the Atlantic
coast, waifs probably from Greenland, where it is some-
times found, which have wandered down our shores in-
stead of taking their legitimate route to the Eastern
Hemisphere. The European Teal also occurs at times
in the Aleutian Islands, and Mr. Turner procured a
specimen on Atkha. It is probably a summer visitant
to that chain of islands, and may breed there. Although
I have never met with this species alive in North
America, | have frequently seen it in the markets of New
York hanging with other ducks procured along the
shores of Long Island and other near points upon the
coast. While possessing a number of differences more
or less pronounced from the American species, it is
mainly recognizable by the absence of the conspicuous
white bar on each side of the breast, which is an especial
feature in the plumage of our Green-winged Teal. In
the Old World this Teal is generally distributed from
the British Islands to China and Japan. It can be do-
mesticated without difficulty, bears confinement well, and
breeds readily if suitable locations are provided for it.
It is a very pretty species, and does not differ in economy
and habits from our own bird.

134

i pcopenetpertecaasen cats 5

D aes ct and Edn

32. European Teal.

EUROPEAN TEAL. 135

NERILON ChREECA.

Geographical Destribution.—Northern portions of the Old

World. Occasional in North America.
_ Adult Male.—Very similar in plumage to the American Green-
winged Teal, but with the following differences: Green band be-
hind the eye, bordered anteriorly with yellowish white, more
conspicuous than in the American species; there is no white bar
in front of the bend of the wing. ‘The black and white undula-
tions on back and sides are much coarser; the outer scapulars
have the inner webs entirely, and the outer partly, white, or yel-
lowish white, while the exposed portions of outer webs are black,
forming two broad stripes down the wing, the inner white, outer
black. The remainder of the plumage is practically indistin-
guishable from V. carolcnenszs, the American species. Bill,
black. Legs and feet, brownish gray. Total length, 14 inches;
wing, 7; culmen, 14; tarsus, rH.

Adult Female.—Very like the same sex in the American
Green-winged Teal, so much so that anyone might be excused
for confounding them. ‘The back is fuscous, but the bars and
margins of the feathers are throughout of a deeper hue, more
generally ochraceous than buff. The sides of the head, neck,
and throat are deep buff, much darker than the same parts in its
American ally. These seem to be the only tangible differences
in the specimens before me, and they may be to a great extent
individual, and the only way that a specimen of a female can be
determined with any certainty is to have the locality in which it
was procured established without doubt. Even then, in the case
of a female of the European Green-winged Teal, killed in Amer-
ica, it would be a difficult task to decide as to which species it
‘belonged. ‘Total length, 13 inches; wing, 6;8,; culmen, 1,4,; tar-
sus, IH.

Downy Young.—Line on forehead, top of head, back of neck,
stripe through eye to occiput, and one from corners of mouth to
and including ear coverts, and entire upper parts, dark brown.
Sides of head, buff; throat and under parts, and spots on
shoulder, and on each side of back and rump, yellowish white.
Bill, black; tip, orange.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL. °

BEAUTIFUL bird, the American Green-winged
Teal has a very extended distribution in North
America, and ranges from the Arctic Sea across the en-
tire Continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
and south to Honduras, in Central America, and to Cuba.
It breeds as far south as Colorado, but goes mostly north
of the United States for the purpose of incubation, and
is very common in summer in Alaska and among the
islands of the Aleutian chain, and also on the eastern
portions of the continent, in the valley of the Saskatche-
wan, the Mackenzie River district, and about Hudson
Bay. It makes its nest in tall grass or in clumps of
dried grass and feathers, and lays from eight to a dozen
ivory white eggs. Incubation commences the last of
May, and the young are hatched by July. This species
goes in large flocks, and flies with great swiftness, at
times keeping a straight course, as though its destina-
tion was unalterably fixed in its mind and it intended
to reach it by the shortest possible route, and again
it will be irregular and vacillating in its movements,
changing its course frequently and dodging about with
as much eccentricity of action as that exhibited by a
butterfly in a strong breeze. But whatever may be its
movements, its flight is always rapid, and its small body
proves to be an exceedingly difficult mark to hit.
Although usually breeding north of the boundary be-
tween the United States and Canada, it has been known
to nest in Wisconsin, Iowa, and others of the northern
136

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«

RON}

a" HAA

33. Green-Winged Teal.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 137

tier of States, and in some localities seems to prefer the
neighborhood of small streams to the larger bodies of
water equally available. Occasionally very large broods
are seen, whether the product of one female or from two
having used the same nest it was impossible to deter-
mine, but Hearne states that at Hudson Bay he had
seen the parents swimming at the head of seventeen
young, and that the latter were not bigger than wal-
nuts. No wonder that the species is able to keep up
its numbers fairly well, even against the immense ad-
verse interests that hasten its destruction, when it can
claim among its members such patriotic and prolific par-
ents as those above mentioned.

The Green-winged Teal is a fresh-water bird, and al-
though it visits the sea-coast, it keeps to the marshes and
tidal creeks and rivers. The flocks swim closely to-
gether, rarely scattering about much even when feeding
(at least that is the way they generally acted when I ob-
served them), and were very quick in all their move-
ments, sitting, if not alarmed, rather high on the water.
It is an expert diver and can remain beneath the sur-
face for a considerable time. It rises with a sudden
spring and is at once in full flight, and it requires
a marksman with a steady eye and hand to make a suc-
cessful shot at one of these birds on the wing. It
passes southward from its northern breeding grounds
in October, being somewhat later in its migration than
its near relative, the Blue-winged Teal, and visits the
ponds, small lakes, and streams, feeding on insects and
various leaves and grasses. In the South it visits the
rice-fields, and keeps company with Mallards and other
large Ducks found in such places. Like all Water Fowl,
this Teal feeds much at night, particularly if the moon
is shining, but if in localities where it is not much dis-

138 WATER FOWL,

turbed, it is also very active during the day. After feed-
ing I have often seen large flocks gather on a lake or
broad place on a river, notably the Mississippi, and hud-
dled closely together enjoy a quiet siesta in the warm
sunshine, and, in the case of the river above mentioned,
floating along with the current, apparently utterly indif-
ferent as to where it might carry them. The flesh of this
Duck is very tender and of excellent flavor, especially
when the bird has been feeding on delicate grasses, like
the wild celery or similar food, and on this account is
much sought after by gunners. It is, however, of better
flavor when procured in the interior than on the sea-
coast, its food in the latter locality probably being of a less
desirable quality. In addition to the name at the head of
this article, this species is also called Mud Teal, Winter
Teal, Red-headed Teal, and Sarcelle by the French.

NETTION CAROLINENSIS.

Geographical Destributzon,—Throughout North America from
the Arctic Regions to Honduras in Central America, and to
Cuba. Breeds north of the United States, only occasionally
within our limits.

Adult Male.—Head and neck, rufous chestnut, with a broad
metallic green band from eye to nape, terminating in a tuft of
purplish black. A narrow buff line borders the under side of the
green band. Chin, black. Back and sides crossed with narrow,
wavy black and white lines; lower back, dark brownish gray.
Upper tail coverts, dusky; margined with white. Tail feathers,
brownish gray, edged with white. A broad white bar in front of
bend of wing. Wing coverts, brownish gray, tipped with ochra-
ceous buff, forming a half bar across wing, succeeded by a broad
metallic green patch or speculum, bordered beneath by another
broad black bar, tipped with white. Tertials, brownish gray on
inner webs, crossed by narrow black and white wavy lines on
outer webs, and margined with black. Secondaries, brownish”
gray; the outer ones bordered with black, which with the same

GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 139

color of the tertials forms a narrow stripe along the wing above
the coverts and speculum. Primaries, brownish gray. Breast
vinaceous, covered with round black spots, growing indistinct on
the lower part of breast. Belly, white; sometimes tinged all
over with buff. Buff patch on either side of crissum. Under tail
coverts, black. Bill, black. Legs and feet, bluish gray. Total
length, 144 inches; wing, 74; bill, 14; tarsus, 1}.

Adult Female.—Top of head and hind neck, fuscous; feathers
margined with ochraceous. Sides of head andneck, buffy white,
speckled with dusky. Chin and throat, buff. Upper parts,
dusky; feathers, barred and margined with pale buff and ochra-
ceous, intermixed. Wing similar to the male, the speculum
smaller, and the tertials colored like the back. Rump and upper
tail coverts, fuscous, margined with white. Tail, pointed, fus-
cous, edged with white. Upper part of breast, dark buff, spotted
with fuscous. Rest of under parts, white, with nebulous dusky
spots, most numerous on anal region and under tail coverts.
Bill, black. Legs and feet, bluish gray. Total length, 14}
inches; wing, 674; culmen, 1,4; tarsus, 1.

Young Male.—Sides and belly, pure white; rest of plumage
like female.

Downy Young.—Head, neck, and lower parts, pale buff;
darkest on top of head and nape, which is grayish brown. A
dusky stripe behind the eye, and a dusky spot over the ears.
Upper parts, grayish brown, with a buff spot on sides of back
and rump.

SHOVELER.

ny THOROUGHLY cosmopolitan species, the Shov-

eler, or Spoonbill as it is often called, is found pretty
much everywhere throughout the Northern Hemisphere,
and may penetrate possibly into the limits of the South-
ern also, although there, in different parts, it is replaced
by other species of the genus. In North America it is
generally distributed, but is not common on the eastern
coast, and breeds from Alaska to Texas. It is a fresh-
water Duck, and is fond of resorting to inland lakes and
streams, and seeks places overgrown with plants and
rushes, feeding on seeds, insects, and such food as it
is able successfully to sift through its heavily fringed
bill, being more generously provided in this respect than
almost any other Duck. The Shoveler is usually seen
in flocks, some of considerable size, and, when in the air,
its long, sharp-pointed wings with their wide expanse
give the bird the appearance of being much larger than
it really is. In Alaska, as would naturally be expected,
the Shoveler is not common along the sea-coast, but
breeds in the interior, and is rather abundant in certain
portions of the- Yukon. It has also been met with on
the Commander Islands, and in Kamchatka. When
about the marshes, or moving over the inland lakes and
coasting along the shores, the Spoonbill is readily recog-
nized by its flight. which is more like that of a Teal, al-
though much less swift, and is performed in an irregular,
hesitating kind of way, as if the bird was uncertain just
where to go, and it moves in and out among coves and

I4O

34. shoveler.

SHOVELER. I4I

creeks, apparently investigating every spot, as if search-
ing for some specially suitable place to alight. It is
not particularly timid, and will often come boldly up to
decoys, looking really quite like one of the “ big ” Ducks
as it sets its wings and sails up to the wooden counter-
feits. But in reality the body of the Shoveler is not
large, and its apparent size, in the air, is mainly made up
of wings and head, of which the huge spoon-shaped bill
is not the least portion. It breeds early in the year, the
month largely dependent upon the latitude in which the
bird happens to be, as there is great diversity of climate
between the limit of its northern and southern disper-
sion, and it is apparently a species that breeds wherever
the proper season of the year for that duty happens to
find it.

The nest, composed of grass or rushes laid upon a
dry spot on some low land near water, is lined with
feathers from the parent’s breast, and from eight to a
dozen greenish white eggs are laid. The young have
a bill shaped like that of any other Duck, the broad
overlapping maxilla not being developed until the bird
is well grown. The male Shoveler in full summer dress
is a very handsome Duck, indeed, of particularly strik-
ing appearance; its dark green head and neck, some-
what like the Mallard’s, showing with much effect above
the white breast, and both finely contrasted with the
deep chestnut of the under parts. It is not a graceful
bird, its huge bill giving it a topheavy look, but it walks
well on land, and can run with some speed. I have
seldom heard the Spoonbill utter any sound, though
occasionally it gives forth a few feeble quacks, but it is
usually very silent. As a bird for the table I have held
it in very high esteem, its flavor depending greatly, of
course, on the quality of food it obtains. This species

142 WATER FOWL.

has many local names by which it is known to sports-
men and gunners. Some of these are, Spoonbill, Blue-
winged Shoveler, Red-breasted Shoveler, Spoonbilled
Teal, Spoonbilled Widgeon, Broad Bill, Broady, Swad-
dlebill, Mud Shoveler, and in Louisiana, Mesquin.

SPATULA CLYPE ATA.

Geographical Dzstribution. — Cosmopolitan, Throughout
the Northern Hemisphere. In North America from Alaska to
Texas, and thence southward through Mexico and Central
America to northern South America. Not common on the
Atlantic coast. Breeds pretty much throughout its range.

Adult Male,—Head and neck, dark metallic green; black in
certain lights. Upper part of back, breast, and anterior scapu-
lars, white. Middle of back, brown; rump and upper tail cov-
erts, black, glossed with metallic green. Wing coverts and outer
web of two long scapulars, pale blue. Tips of greater wing cov-
erts, white, forming a narrow band across the wing. Speculum,
metallic grass green. Inner secondaries, greenish black, with
median white stripe. Primaries, fuscous on outer webs, pale
brown on inner. Tail, with central rectrices, brown, edged with
white; remaining feathers, white; freckled or blotched with
brownish gray. A white patch on each side of root of tail.
Entire under parts, rich deep chestnut, extending to crissum,
which with the under tail coverts, is dark metallic green, black
in some lights, bordered anteriorly by a narrow band of white,
undulated with black. Inner feathers of the flanks, pale chest-
nut, freckled with black. Bill, black; iris, pale yellow. Legs
and feet, orange red; webs, violet gray. Total length, about 19
inches; wing, 94; culmen, 2;,; tarsus, 1;%.

Adult Female.—Front and top of head, brownish white,
streaked with dusky; neck and sides of head buff, streaked with
dusky. Chin and throat, uniform buff. Upper part of back and
wings, fuscous; feathers, edged with yellowish white. Wing
coverts, dull, pale blue; feathers sometimes edged with white.
Speculum, metallic green. Middle of back and rump, fuscous;
feathers, edged with V-shaped bars of reddish buff. Upper tail
coverts, fuscous; irregularly barred with buff or white. Tail,
white, barred with brown. Under parts, reddish buff, spotted

SHOVELER. 143

with brown. The abdomen sometimes immaculate white. Bill,
olive brown, sometimes speckled with black; base of maxilla
and all of mandible, orange. Iris, yellow. Legs and feet, orange.
Total length, about Ig inches; wing, 83; culmen, 2}; tarsus, 1,8).

Young Male.—Resembles the female, but has the head and
neck mottled with black, and the black feathers on top of the head
are edged with reddish buff. The upper part of breast and back
is pale reddish buff with V-shaped marks of dark brown. Rest
of upper parts like the female. The under parts, pale chestnut;
but there is much individual variation in the coloring of lower
breast and abdomen. Wing very like that of the adult male.

The male, in full breeding plumage, is not commonly met
with; but this species, in all its variety of dress, with the excep-
tion of the Downy Young, is readily recognizable by the pecu-
liarly shaped bill.

Young Female.—Speculum, dusky, with little or no metallic
reflections, and tipped with brownish white. Wing coverts,
slate color.

Adult Male, when moulting, resembles the female, but is
darker, and the speculum more brilliant.

Downy Young.—Middle of crown, nape, and hind neck, olive
brown; rest of head and neck, and lower parts, pale fulvous. A
dark brown stripe from bill through eye halfway to occiput, and
a similar one across ears toward nape. Upper parts, olive
brown, with-yellowish spots on each side of back and rump.

RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK.

HIS is a species of the Old World, and is very ques-
tionably included in the North American Fauna. So
seldom has it been obtained within our limits that it can
hardly be considered even as a straggler; the few speci-
mens known having been seen hanging in the market
in New York for sale, but the locality from whence they
came was very doubtful, and it was only the fact that
the birds were in the flesh which gave rise to the thought
that they might have been killed within our boundaries.
Many European game birds are exhibited for sale in
our Eastern markets during the winter that were never
killed on our shores, as invoices of them are brought by
nearly every steamer, and it is only because it would be
considered doubtful that anyone should send a Wild
Duck to America, it being an act very near akin to ship-
ping coals to Newcastle, that it became a fair supposition
that these specimens of this Duck came to our shores by
means of their own propelling powers, unassisted by
man.

The Rufous-crested Duck is a very handsome species
and in the Old World is found in southern and eastern
Europe, occasionally straggling into the northern parts
of central Europe, and also is an inhabitant of Northern
Africa and India. It frequents often fresh-water lakes
and marshes, and is very shy, and has a note resembling
the harsh croak of the crow. It is not a diver, and feeds
from the bottom, like the Mallard, by tilting its hind-
quarters, and holding itself in position by paddling with

144

Se

"youq, peyse1g-snoyny

RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK. 145

the feet, while it pulls up the grass and plants growing
below. It goes in small companies and does not con-
sort with other species. It breeds in ponds, the nest be-
ing placed amid rushes or flags, and is composed of
these plants, dead leaves, and a bed of down. ‘The eggs,
which are an olive-green, vary from eight to ten. While
incubation proceeds, the males assemble together on the
water in the vicinity. Whenever the female leaves the
nest, she covers the eggs carefully with down. In Italy
this is a common species, and also in India, where it
keeps) to -the middle “of the tanks, and as. ‘very
wary and difficult to approach. Its flesh is considered
excellent, and by some regarded as one of the best birds
for the table found in that country.

With all its favorable qualities, both of attractive ap-
pearance and palatable flesh, it is to be regretted that
this Duck can in no wise be enrolled in our lists as be-
longing to North America. It is one that would be
much better dropped from our catalogues as an Ameri-
can species, and erased, with some others of equally
questionable standing, from our scientific works. It is
included in this book simply because it has been retained
in the Check List of the American Ornithologists’ Union,
as it seems best to me not to omit any species given in
that catalogue.

NETTA RUFINA.

Geographical Distrzbution.—Eastern hemisphere. Of ques-
tionable occurrence in eastern United States.

Adult Male.—Sides of head and throat, vinaceous, darkest on
the throat, passing into pale rufous on the front and base of
crest, grading into pale reddish buff on the central portion of the
latter. Upper part of back of neck, and all lower neck, black,
grading into the glossy blackish brown of the breast, belly, and
under tail coverts. Upper back, grayish brown, passing into

a tee oe Oe aa ——

146 WATER FOWL.

chocolate brown on the rump; upper tail coverts, black, with
a greenish gloss. Scapulars, yellowish brown. Joint of wing,
and a patch continuous with it, partly concealed by the scapu-
lars, white. Wing-coverts and tertials, grayish brown; sec-
ondaries, white tipped with gray forming the speculum.
Primaries, white, the tips and outer web of the first five dark
grayish brown. Sides and flanks, white suffused with pink
undulated with dark brown bars anteriorly and posteriorly, some
indistinct. Upper portion of flanks bordered with reddish
brown. Tail, grayish brown, pale on inner webs. Bill, ver-
milion red. Iris, reddish brown. Legs and toes, vermilion
red; webs, blackish. Total length, about 22 inches; wing, 10;
tail, 4; culmen, 2; tarsus, 1,5.

Adult Female.—Upper part of head, dark brown; back of
neck, pale grayish brown; cheeks, throat, and sides of neck,
grayish white. Entire under parts, brownish white, passing
into pure white on the under tail coverts. Upper parts, grayish
brown, grading into blackish brown on the rump. Scapulars,
grayish brown, paler than in the male. Wing coverts, pale
grayish brown. Secondaries, white, forming the speculum.
Primaries, grayish white; outer webs and tips, dark brown.
Upper tail coverts, pale grayish brown. Culmen, 1} inch;
wing, 10; tail, 32; tarsus, 14.

Downy Young.—Superciliary stripe, and one through the eye
dividing into two posteriorly, buff. Upper parts, olive gray.
Spot on each shoulder, and entire under parts, buff.

‘yoeg seAuedg ‘of

paw tid ays IW MApyT prw9
: FOV LD Cees

CANVAS BACK.

IVEN the proper kind of food, there is no Duck, save

‘perhaps occasionally the Red Head, that can equal
this splendid species in the delicate quality and flavor of
its flesh, and as a game bird and for the sport it affords to
the gunner, there is no Water Fowl worthy of béing men-
tioned with this one, so deservedly known as the Royal
Canvas Back. Exclusively an American species, hav-
ing nothing in the Old World that can even be said to
represent it, the Canvas Back ranges over all North
America, and breeds from upper California, amid the
lakes and water courses of the mountains, in eastern
Oregon in similar lofty situations, and in some other
States on our northern border, to and throughout the
Arctic regions probably to the sea. It is not found,
however, on the Pacific coast north of Vancouver Island.
At different points on the Yukon it breeds in great num-
bers, and probably its main nesting ground is in that
northern latitude. The places within the limits of the
United States suitable for this Duck to rear its young
unmolested will probably grow fewer and fewer, until in
a brief period it will have to rely altogether upon Arc-
tic solitudes for that protection and freedom from in-
trusion so necessary at this important period of the
bird’s existence. The bottom of the Canvas Back’s
nest is formed of rushes and grasses situated in
the water, and is then built up with high sides and lined
with down and feathers. It is continually being added
to while the bird is laying, and when the female is ready
to commence incubating, it has grown to be consider-

147

148 WATER FOWL.

able of a structure. Eight to ten pale greenish gray
eggs are deposited, and the female begins to lay about
June.

The Canvas Back appears within the limits of the
United States, during the fall migration, in the month of
October. The duties and trials of the nesting season and
the rearing of the young broods in the far northern
regions are over, and each little family, lusty of wing and
robed in a fresh dress, has united itself with some others
until the*gathering host, making ready for the long south-
ern journey, spreads itself out like some great army pre-
paring to invade an unknown country. The sun has
for some time been making his daily rounds in constantly
diminishing circles, and the increasing time between his
setting and rising, with the gradual lengthening of the
period of darkness, all betoken the coming of the Arctic
night. It is time for birds to be on the wing, headed
for southern climes. Preparations are made for their
departure and much discussion must be indulged in,
probably both as to what they expect to see and find in
this, to many, terra incognita, and as to the best routes to
reach it. Some are present who have made the journey,
perhaps many times before; wise old heads that have
escaped unnumbered dangers and traps set for the un-
wary, and who have sturdily refused to listen to the
charm of the sportsman’s well-imitated call,—charm he
never so wisely,—or to be allured into the dangerous
neighborhood of his ambush, be his decoys ever so life-
like and competent to deceive. But the majority of that
preparing host are young and inexperienced, ignorant
of all that is before them, and of the dangerous ways of
the world. But they must take their chances, like all the
rest of earth’s creatures in the great struggle for ex-
istence, and the time has come to depart.

CANVAS BACK. 149

With a roar of wings like the sound of many waters,
as if actuated by a single impulse, the feathered army
rises in the air, and captained by a few old birds, sur-
vivors of many a battle, the return journey commences.
With a few preparatory wheels around the vicinity of
their summer home, which many of them will never
see again, the leaders head to the south, and, at a lofty
height, guide the main body at a great speed toward the
promised land.

On Puckaway Lake, in Wisconsin, Canvas Backs and
Red Heads would always make their appearance on the
roth dav of October. It was a very singular fact, but
we could always be certain of seeing some of these
Ducks at that date; no matter what the weather may
have been up to that time, and even if the season had
been unusually cold, these birds did not appear before
the roth. The lake contained plenty of wild rice and
celery, and before it was closed by ice the Canvas Back
would become very fat upon this food, and were not sur-
passed in delicacy of flavor by any shot upon the famed
waters of the Chesapeake. Like the Red Heads and
some other diving ducks, the Canvas Back keep out in
deep water and raft together in great numbers, seeking
their food at the bottom. Their feet, although large and
powerful, are not of much assistance in descending to
the depths, but the wings are the bird’s chief reliance
for propulsion, and it flies under water as it does in
the air, and the feet are employed mainly for guiding and
altering the course. This method of propelling itself
under water is not by any means the sole attribute of the
Canvas Backs, for not only do many other Ducks act
in the same way, but different species of water birds,
not Ducks, also.

The flight of the Canvas Back is not probably ex-

on a ee

150 WATER FOWL.

ceeded in swiftness by that of any other Duck, and under
favorable circumstances it will doubtless accomplish one
hundred miles an hour. It generally flies in a direct
line as if it knew exactly where it was going, and often
at a great height. Its method of flying resembles very
closely that of the Red Head, and it moves along in
extended lines in the way described in the article on
that bird. It is also in the habit of exercising in the
early morning and late afternoons. The present spe-
cies comes boldly to the decoys if it intends to approach
them, and often is so intent upon its wooden counter-
feits that it has no eyes for anything else, and will fly
right in, though possibly the sportsman may be standing
motionless in the blind. But no Duck can get on the
wing and be in full flight quicker than a Canvas Back,
and many has been the disappointed gunner who, vainly
imagining he was sure of his shot, but was taking
time to be certain of his aim, has seen both charges
from his gun strike the water behind the bird, whose
mighty spring and rapid action had already carried it
much farther and more quickly than its would-be cap-
tor had imagined. None can aim at a passing Canvas
Back with any chance of stopping it in full flight. If
there ever was a time when to “ hold well ahead” was
imperative, it is when shooting at this Duck passing by,
or quartering.

Although this species comes so boldly to decoys,
there are other times when nothing will induce it to
draw near them, and then all the best imitation of its note
and the frantic efforts of the concealed sportsman to
attract its attention are unavailing. It simply goes upon
its way, utterly indifferent apparently to the society of
its fellows. Occasionally an individual will swing to-

ward the decoys without stopping his speed for a mo-

CANVAS BACK. 151

ment, as if telling them that he knew they were there,
and that they had better follow him, but giving not the
slightest indication of any intention to halt. It is such
times as these that try the sportsman’s nerve and skill,
and to stop by a well-aimed shot, and roll over one such
bird stone dead in the air, when whirling along at such
terrific speed, compensates him for a number of previous
misses.

The Canvas Back is a brave bird, and fears no enemy
of the air, possibly depending in a measure upon its great
skill in diving. lf a Bald Eagle comes sailing over a
raft of Ducks floating on the broad water, as I have
often witnessed, the birds will rise in one vast cloud and
go circling about, settling after their dread enemy has
passed on. But the Canvas Back is not in the cloud, nor
do flocks of that bird swell its dimensions, but it keeps
quietly about its occupations in company with the Swan
and Geese if any are present, utterly indifferent to the
movements of the other Ducks. The call of the Canvas
Back is the same harsh guttural note as that uttered by
the Red Head, and is usually heard when the birds are
gathered together on the water. When flying it is
generally silent, although sometimes it will utter this
note when approaching decoys or other Ducks rafted on
the sounds or rivers. This species does not bear many
popular names in addition to that at the head of this
article. Occasionally it is called ‘“ Canvas,” simply, or
White Back and Bull-Neck, and in the vicinity of New
. Orleans, Canard Cheval or Horse Duck.

Although, as I have already said, when this Duck has
fed for a time on the wild celery its flesh is superior to
that of all other Fowl, yet, when deprived of this, it is
about as poor a bird as flies, not equal in any way to
the Mallard or other mud Ducks that obtain their

152 WATER FOWL:

usual food where thev may. It is this fact that makes
such a difference in Canvas Backs when served on the
table. Only those brought from localities where the
wild celery grows have any qualities superior to the
ordinary run of Ducks. It is generally supposed that
only Canvas Backs from the Chesapeake are exception-
ally fine, and they must be brought from those far-famed
flats, for their delicacy and flavor to be known and ap-
preciated. But no greater mistake can be made, as
there are many places, especially among the lakes in the
West, where the wild celery grows in profusion, and
the Canvas Backs from those localities are equal, in
gastronomic qualities, to any fed and killed on the
Chesapeake.

It has seemed to me that this species has become much
scarcer in the past few years; certainly many places where
it used to be abundant in the winter are now almost de-
serted by this Duck; but it cannot be wondered at if it is
so, for when we consider the persecutions it suffers from
gunners striving to obtain the high price it brings in
market, and the thousands that are shipped to Europe,—
poor things that have been kept frozen or packed in ice
until all the flavor has departed,—it is surprising that
there are many left. With no effort made to preserve it
from extinction, but every kind of scheme employed for
its destruction, we must become accustomed to witness
the noblest Game Duck that ever flew gradually dis-
appear from our land.

ARISTONETTA VALISNERIA.

Geographical Distribution—North America generally.
Breeding from northwestern States northward.

Adult Male.—Top of head and feathers at base of bill and
chin, black; rest of head and neck, brownish red. Upper part

CANVAS BACK. 153

of back, chest, rump, upper and lower tail coverts, black. Rest
of plumage, white, vermiculated on back, and anal region, with
black. Wings similar to those of the Red Head. Bill, sloping
gradually from outline of head, widening very slightly toward
the end and longer than head, black. Tail, black with a grayish
luster. Iris, red. Legs and feet, plumbeous. Total length,
about 20 inches; wing, 975; culmen, 2,4; tarsus, 174.

Adult Female.—Head, neck, chest, and upper part of back,
umber brown, darkest on top of head. Rest of back, scapulars,
and sides, dark brown; tips of feathers vermiculated with ashy
white. Rump, seal brown. Upper tail coverts vermiculated
with yellowish brown, ‘Tail, dark brown on outer, ashy on inner
webs. Greater wing coverts, slate; outer webs of secondaries,
bluish gray. Bill, black. Legs and feet, plumbeous. Under
parts, white or yellowish white. Total length, 20 inches; wing, 9;
culmen, 24; tarsus, 14.

RED HEAD:

HIS well-known and highly esteemed bird was at one
time very abundant in many parts of North America,
but constant persecution and indiscriminate slaughter of
both adult and young have greatly reduced its numbers
throughout the land, and in many localities where, in
former times, it was very abundant in winter, it no longer
appears. It is a companion of its famous relative the
Canvas Back, and frequents similar localities, and seeks
the same food. The distribution of the Red Head is
general throughout North America, but it is not so
plentiful on the Pacific side of the continent as it is in
many places on the eastern coast. It does not seem
to penetrate into Alaska, but it breeds throughout the
so-called ‘“‘ Fur Countries,’ east of the Rocky Mountains
and north of the fiftieth parallel. It also breeds in vari-
ous parts of the United States along the Canadian border,
but on account of the advent of railroads and increasing
settlement of the country, the breeding grounds of many
species of Ducks within our borders have become much
restricted, and many localities formerly resorted to by the
birds during the nesting season have been abandoned
entirely. Absolute freedom from intrusion by depre-
dators and security from persecution are the main requi-
sites demanded by Water Fowl for their breeding
grounds, and when these are no longer obtainable the
locality ceases to be available for the purpose.
The Red Head breeds in what may be termed colonies,
with many nests placed close together. These are al-
ways near the water, slightly elevated, and composed of

154

37. Red Head.

Elwin Sheppard.

i.

>
’

RED HEAD. 155

grass and weeds placed loosely together. The eggs are
a creamy grayish white, and usually ten or a dozen make
the full complement. This Duck has been found breed-
ing near Calais, Maine, and also on Lake Horicon, Wis-
consin, and it is thought that at one time it nested in the
Sacramento Valley.

The Red Head makes its appearance, arriving from
its northern resorts, where it has passed the summer, in
October in large flocks. The birds fly high, in a wide
\-shaped line, and proceed with great speed, accom-
panied by a whistling swish of the wings, so that one,
even at a considerable distance, can clearly

‘* Hear the beat
Of their pinions fleet,
As from the land of snow and sleet
They seek a southern lea,”

The flocks rarely alight at first, even when there may
be numbers of Duck congregated on the water, but
traverse the length of the sound or lake as if recon-
noitering the entire expanse, and trying to select the best
feeding ground. After having passed and repassed
over the route a few times, the flock begins to lower,
and gradually descending, at length the wings are set
and the birds sail gradually up to the chosen spot,
usually where other Duck are feeding, and drop in their
midst with many splashings. But while this is the usual
method adopted by newcomers, sometimes the pro-
gramme is changed and the birds, attracted by a large
concourse of their relatives, particularly if the day be
calm and the sun shining with considerable heat, will
suddenly drop from out the sky in a rapid zigzag course,
as if one wing of each Duck had been broken, and they
cross and recross each other in the rapid descent, their

156 WATER FOWL.

fall accompanied by a loud whirring sound, as the air
is forced between the primaries. On such occasions
the flock is mixed all up together in a most bewildering
manner, until, arriving a few feet above the water, the
wings become motionless and the birds glide up to and
alight by the side of their desired companions.

Early in the morning, and again late in the afternoon,
the Red Head regularly takes a “ constitutional.” The
flocks, that have been massed together during the night
or the middle of the day, rise from the water, not all
together but in companies of several dozen, and stringing
themselves out in long, irregular lines, each bird a little
behind and to one side of its leader, fly rapidly up and
down, at a considerable height over the water. Some-
times these morning and evening promenades are per-
formed at a great elevation, so that the movement of the
wings is hardly perceptible. On such occasions they ap-
pear like a dark ribbon against the sky, and the compari-
son is strengthened by the fact that every movement of
the leader elevating or depressing his course is imitated
exactly by all those which follow, and so the line has
frequent wavy motions like currents passing through it,
as when a ribbon is held in the fingers and a flip given to
it which causes it to undulate along its whole length.

This species is a deep-water Duck and keeps out in the
center of rivers or lakes, congregating at times in such
numbers as to form immense rafts; hence it is sometimes
called ‘ Raft Duck.” It dives readily and to consider-
able depths, and pulls up the grass and roots found on
the bottom, returning to the surface to enjoy the fruits
of its labor, and not infrequently to find them snatched
away by the ever-active Widgeon, always on the look-
out for tid-bits it is unable to dig up for itself. Great
flocks of these birds are always in attendance on the Red

—

RED HEAD. 157

Heads and Canvas Backs, and secure a large proportion
of the food these diving Ducks send to the surface.
Red Heads feed much at night, especially if the moon
is shining, and at such times are exceedingly busy, and
the splashing of diving birds, the coming and going of
others, and the incessant utterings of their hoarse note,
are heard from dark to daylight. They also feed by day,
if the weather has been stormy, but on quiet, pleasant
days they rarely move about much, but remain quietly
out in the open water, sleeping, or dressing their feath-
ers, or occasionally taking a turn beneath the surface as
though more in an exploring mood, than for the purpose
of seeking food. In localities where the marshes are
scattered throughout the broad sounds, or form the
banks of the rivers, the Red Heads are accustomed to
resort to them a great deal, paddling close to the edges
looking for insects or other animated objects suitable
for food, or frequenting the ponds, when such exist, in
company with mud Ducks and others which habitually
seek such places.

As a rule the Red Head is gentle and unsuspicious,
and readily comes to decoys. It has a habit on such
occasions that causes great destruction to the flocks.
When the birds have sailed up to the blind and either
are preparing to alight, or hesitating whether or not to
go on their way, the members crowd close together, or
“bunch,” as it is called, giving the sportsman an op-
portunity to discharge the contents of his gun into
their midst with the effect of killing a number of
birds and wounding many more. An injured Red
Head is not an easy bird to capture, as it dives and
skulks with great rapidity and skill, and if on open water
always moves against the wind. If near a marsh, it will
get under the bank, or crawl up into the grass, and it

158 WATER FOWL.

needs a good dog to find it. When all other means fail
it will dive to the bottom, seize some grass in its bill,
and hold on until life is extinct; commit suicide by
drowning, in fact, rather than fall into the hands of its
pursuer.

Sometimes this duck is known as Gray-Back, and in
Louisiana as Dos Gris, the French equivalent for the
same name, and also Canard Violon. The Red Head
bears confinement well, but does not breed readily when
domesticated. The note of this species is a hoarse gut-
tural rolling sound, as if the letter RK was uttered in the
throat with a vibration of the tongue at the same time.
It is easily imitated, and the bird readily responds to the
call of its supposed relative. Some other ducks, like the
Canvas Back, different species of Scaup Ducks, Sprig-
tail, etc., have a similar call. The flesh of the Red Head,
when it has been feeding upon wild celery and such
dainty food, for tenderness and flavor is excelled by
no other Duck, and many are passed off for Canvas
Back. I have tried both, shot the same day on the
Chesapeake, and the birds had doubtless fed on the wild
celery, and in point of excellence there was no difference
between them. Occasionally I have found the Red
Head the better bird of the two, but this was exceptional.
Of course, if the heads are served with the body, there
is never any diffieulty in distinguishing them, provided
the heads really belong to the bodies served, but in all
cases the Canvas Back is considerably the larger Duck.
A knowledge of comparative anatomy is very useful in
a case where a decision as to the identity of these Ducks
is required, as the result may mean a difference of quite
a sum of money to the host, for probably more so-called
Canvas Backs and even Red Heads are eaten during one
winter in our country than ever flew within its limits at

RED HEAD, 159

the same period. This species has various names, some
of which are American Pochard, Raft Duck, and Red-
headed Raft Duck.

LETHYVIA AMERICANA.

Geographical Distributzon.—North America generally. Breeds
from California and Northern tier of States to the Arctic regions.
Adult Male.—Head, full and puffed out, and with the neck is
rich reddish chestnut, glossed at times with reddish purple.

_ Lower neck, chest, upper parts of back, rump, and upper and

lower tail coverts, black. Back, scapulars, sides and flanks, gray-
ish white, finely undulated with black. Wing coverts, ash gray.
Speculum, ash gray, bordered above with black and posteriorly
with white. Primaries, dark brown on tips and outer web, gray
on inner. Tail, dark brown. Under parts, white, growing
darker toward the under tail coverts. In some specimens the
under surface is whitish brown. Bill, broad, flattened, widest at
tip, rising at base abruptly to the forehead, forming a very dif-
ferent angle to the bill than that of the Canvas Back, dull blue in
color, and crossed bya black bar near thetip. Iris, orange. Legs
and feet, grayish blue; webs, dusky. Total length, about 19}
inches; wing,g; culmen, 1,%; tafsus, 144; bill at widest point, 58.

Adult Female,—Head and neck, pale brown; darkest on top
of head. Chin and throat almost white, as is also, in some speci-
mens, the loral space. Cheeks, frequently grayish brown. Back
and scapulars, grayish brown; feathers, tipped with light gray;
wing coverts and secondaries, pearly gray; speculum, light ash
gray. Secondaries, pearly gray on outer webs; edged with
black. Primaries, fuscous on outer webs; dark buff along the
shafts and on inner webs. Lower back, blackish brown, lighter
on upper tail coverts; feathers of latter, tipped with pale brown.
Chest, sides, and flanks, grayish brown; feathers, tipped with
fulvous. Bill, pure white; anal region and under tail coverts,
brownish white, darker on the thighs. Bill, pale blue, black at
tip. Legs and feet, grayish blue. Totallength, 1g9inches; wing,
9; culmen, 14; tarsus, r8.

Downy Young.—Sides of head and neck, and lower parts,
deep buff, palest on the belly. Top of head and upper parts of
body, ochraceous olive brown, with a yellow spot on sides of body
and rump, and on border of wings.

SCAUP DUCK

HE various published accounts of this species fail to
give a complete history of its economy and habits
because this Duck and the Little Scaup, which so much
resembles it, have been by nearly all authors greatly con-
fused together. So far as my experience enables me to
judge, the Big Black Head is a bird that mostly fre-
quents the coasts, and is not so often found inland as its
relative, which at times is very abundant on our lakes
and rivers, and those writers who have mentioned this
bird as being so very common in many localities in the
interior of the United States probably really have refer-
ence to the Little Black Head, quite another species.
This Duck breeds in the far North, from Alaska on
both sides of the mountains across the continent, and
possibly to the vicinity of the Arctic Sea. It is also an
inhabitant of the Eastern Hemisphere, and is found from
the British Islands to China breeding in the northern
portions, but not south of the latitude of Lapland. It
is found on Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, and on the Yukon
River it is plentiful in summer, and is also dispersed
throughout its Delta, and along the islands of the Aleu-
tian chain. The birds arrive at their breeding grounds
from the South early in May, and scatter over the
marshes and numerous small ponds, and select their
mates preparatory for the nesting season rapidly ap-
proaching. A place amid the high grass, close to the
water, is selected for the nest, so close indeed that the
bird can swim to it. Loose grass, lying about, is
160

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*

SE PTI

pani

SA

38.

P ss ;
toes

TR ma .

Scaup Duck.

NOAW GLE SONOKEHG 161

gathered together, and down, plucked from the bird's
own breast to form a bed, is placed upon it, and from six
to eight eggs, rather a small complement for a Duck, are
deposited. These are pale olive gray in hue, and are
hidden in the downy covering whenever the female is off
the nest. June is the month for incubation, and the
period of hatching must be from three to four weeks,
for in August half-grown young are seen. As soon as
the ducklings escape from the egg, they are led by the
mother to some large body of water, where frequently
several broods unite and form quite a flock.

In October the Big Blue Bill enters the limits of the
United States, coming from its Northern home, and is
found along the coast of both oceans, going as far south
as Mexico during the winter. It flies with great swiftness,
and is a most expert diver; a wounded bird, unless very
badly crippled, being practically impossible to capture.
The Bay Broad Bill, as it is sometimes called, does not
go in such large flocks as is the habit of its smaller rela-
tive, and keeps a good deal about the coves and marshes.
It decoys readily, and utters at times a note similar to
the guttural sound made by the Canvas Back, Red Head,
and other diving Ducks. I have not noticed that it
associates much with the Little Broad Bill, but keeps to
the society of its own species, and goes in flocks usually
of less than a dozen members. At no time have I ever
seen it rafted in the open water in great numbers, as
frequently is the case with the Little Black Head.

The present species is quite a large Duck, and has a
metallic green luster on the feathers of its head and neck,
which enables it easily to be discriminated from the
purple-hued head of the allied form. It bears many
popular names among the gunners throughout the
United States, a number of which are the same as those

162 WATER FOWL.

of its small relative, with a prefix denoting bigness; thus,
in addition to those already given, it is called Big Black
Head, Big Scaup, Big Shuffler, Big Broad Bill; also Salt-
Water Broad Bill (indicating its preference for the sea-
coasts), Bay Broad Bill, Gray Back, Black Neck, Dos
Gris in Louisiana, and various others, some of which are
purely local, and rarely heard. As a bird for the table
it is about on a par with the Little Scaup Duck, and,
when it has fed upon wild celery and other tender
grasses, its flesh is well-flavored, but if away from locali-
ties where these grasses are found, it is not very particu-
lar upon the quality of its diet, and often has a fishy and
rank flavor, not in any way desirable. I do not regard
it as common a species as many of the diving Ducks found
within our borders, and the days when I have met with
them, even in comparatively large numbers, have been
exceptional. For a long period its distinctness from the
Small Broad Bill was unknown, and for some time after
it was suggested that there were two species, both orni-
thologists and sportsmen were skeptical of the fact.

FULIGULA MARILA.

Geographical Distr¢bution.—North America generally, south
to Guatemala. Also in Northern portion of Old World to China,
Breeds in Alaska, and in the Arctic regions east of the mountains.

Adult Male.—Head, neck, fore parts of back and chest, black,
with green reflections on head and neck. Lower back, rump,
upper and under tail coverts, also black. Middle of back, scapu-
lars, sides, flanks, and anal region, white, undulated with fine
black lines. Wing coverts, blackish, finely barred with white.
Speculum, white, bounded in front by a black line formed by the
tips of the greater coverts. Tertials, black, glossed with green;
some of the large ones vermiculated with white. Primaries,
dark brown, with black tips, and a grayish or whitish area on
inner webs. Tail, blackish brown. Belly, white. Bill, bluish

SEACE” DUCK. 163

gray; nail, black. Iris, yellow. Legs and feet, plumbeous.
Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 8,4: culmen, 2; tarsus, 1,4).

Adult Female.—Forehead, and sides of bill at base, white.
Rest of head, neck, and breast, snuff brown. Upper parts,
dusky brown; tip of feathers, lighter. Back and scapulars, ver-
miculated slightly with white. Wings, purplish brown, with
white speculum. Primaries, with the tips and outer webs of first
two, blackish brown, remainder, pinkish buff, or whitish brown,
the latter showing like a patch when wing is closed. Flanks,
brown, vermiculated with white. Belly, white. Anal regions
and under tail coverts, dark brown, inclined to an olive shade;
feathers, tipped with white. Tail, dusky brown, lighter than the
rump. Iris, bill, legs, and feet, colored as in the male. ‘Total
length, about Ig inches; wing, 8,4,; culmen, 13; tarsus, 1,4.
There is very little if any difference in the average size of the
sexes of this species.

LESSER SCAUP DUCK

ITTLE Broad Bill, Little Black Head, Little Blue
Bill, Shuffler, River Broad Bill, Black Head, Creek
Black Head, Broad Bill, Raft Duck, and Flocking Fowl
are some of the names by which this species is known in
various parts of our country. It is one of the most com-
mon of our Ducks, and it appears to me to be growing
more abundant; at all events, this is so in many locali-
ties. Whether this is caused by an actual increase in
numbers, or that the birds have merely frequented local-
ities usually neglected by them, and so seem to be more
numerous, I cannot say. The species has a wide
distribution, ranging over the whole of North America,
and going south in winter as far as Guatemala and
the West Indies. It breeds north of the United
States, mainly in the Arctic regions and also, possi-
bly, in Minnesota, and perhaps in some other of
the border States; but whether it goes west of the
mountains in the Territory of Alaska is difficult to deter-
mine, as by many writers this bird and the previous
species have been so generally regarded as the same,
that it is impossible to decide by their narratives which
one is intended. Dall and Kennicott say it breeds plen-
tifully on the Yukon River, while Nelson, an equally
competent observer, states that during a long residence,
at the Yukon mouth and to the northward, he did not
see a single individual of the Little Scaup, although the
Big Scaup was abundant, and Turner does not mention
it among the birds seen by him in Alaska. From this
164

Xawin Shespead:

39-

Lesser Scaup Duck.

LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 165

it would be fair to infer that this species breeds on the
eastern portion of the Arctic region, and if present at all,
is an exceptional visitor within the limits of Alaska.

The nest, found on the lower Anderson River by Mac-
Farlane, was placed in a swampy tract near a wooded
country, and was simply a depression in the center of a
tuft of grass, and lined with down, probably from the
female’s breast. Another was placed in a clump of wil-
lows in the midst of a swamp, and close to a small lake.
The location of these nests were somewhat different from
those chosen by the Big Scaup Duck, which, as already
stated, were almost in the water, or so near that the
female could swim to and from it. The eggs, usually
nine in number, are a pale grayish buff sometimes tinged
with olive. The male keeps in the vicinity of the nest,
but it is not known that he shares in any of the duties of
incubation.

The Little Broad Bill is a cold-weather Duck, and is
frequently observed flying about when the ponds and
rivers are nearly all frozen over. At such times it visits
the air holes, and is very busy diving for food, which it
brings up from the bottom. It arrives within our
borders rather late in the autumn, and keeps in large
flocks in the center of the broad water, away from the
shore. It is one of the most expert divers among the
Duck tribe, and can reach the bottom to pull up grasses
or pick up mollusks, in as deep water as any of its rela-
tives, no matter how skillful they may be in the business.
Like the Canvas Back and other species which frequent
deep water the Little Black Head propels itself beneath
the surface by its wings, using the webbed feet merely as
rudders.

This Duck is very tenacious of life, and it requires a
hard blow, and shot of considerable size, to kill it.

166 WATER FOWL.

When wounded it shows much cunning, skulking and
hiding among the grass, or beneath the overhanging
banks of marshes, and it will immerse its entire body be-
neath the surface, leaving only the bill exposed and, if
all else fails, will go to the bottom and hold on to the ~
grass until life is extinct. The Little Broad Bill is very
swift upon the wing, and comes to decoys readily, but
can get away from their vicinity when alarmed about as
quickly as anything that flies. It generally goes in
flocks of from one to three dozen, sometimes consider-
ably more, and comes boldly up to a blind or sink-boat,
usually ‘‘ company front,’ and on the discharge of a gun
the birds scatter in every direction like a swarm of bees,
straight up in the air, or off to either side in most admir-
able confusion, gathering together again when the point
of danger is passed, and speeding onward in undulating
lines over the middle of the broadest stretch of water.
The wounded birds that have fallen amid the decoys
immediately dive, sometimes going directly under water
from their descent in mid-air, appearing again only for
a second at some distance away, either headed for the
nearest marsh, or swimming in the wind’s eye toward the
open water. When wounded they are very difficult to
capture and bother even the best retriever greatly; div-
ing incessantly and with great rapidity, sometimes right
under his nose, appearing behind him or on one side, and
keeping the dog spinning around like a top in his efforts
to sieze such a slippery object.

The flesh of this duck is sometimes very tender and of
good flavor, but these qualities depend altogether upon
what it has been feeding, for it is not very select in its
diet, and will swallow all kinds of shell-fish, probably
frogs, newts, or any similar creature it can catch, and on
this food it becomes rank and disagreeable, quite unfit

UWB SSIBIO SCAU CID JONOKONG 167

for the table. But if fed upon roots of water plants, wild
rice, celery, or other similar tender grasses, it is a very
good little bird indeed. For the sportsman there is no
better object upon which to try his skill than this Duck;
its rapid flight and quick, unexpected movements on the
wing frequently bringing to nought the efforts of the
most expert gunner.

Considerable variation among individuals of this spe-
cies exists in their measurements, and occasionally they
approach in size those of the Big Scaup, so that, as re-
gards the females, it is at times very difficult to distin-
guish which species is represented. Adult males can
easily be identified, no matter what their dimensions may
be, the metallic hues of the head making them readily
recognizable. But there is little in the coloring of the
females to separate them from the larger species, and if
the wing should exceed eight and one-quarter inches
in length it is exceedingly difficult to say to which form
the bird should be referred. The company the specimen
kept when it was killed, if that could be ascertained,
would be the surest test for identification, as these two
Scaups are rarely found associating together. The eggs
also vary greatly in their measurements.

ROLAGULA APFINTS.

Geographical Distribution.—North America generally. Breed-
ing north of United States. In winter to Guatemala and the
West Indies.

Adult Male.—Head, neck, and fore part of body, black, with
purple reflections on head Back and scapulars, white, barred
with narrow irregular black lines. Wing coverts, dusky, mottled
with white. Secondaries, white, the tips, black, with a greenish
gloss, forming a white patch or speculum onthe wing. Tertials,
black, glossed with green. Primaries, brown, blackish at tips
and toward edges of the webs. Rump and upper tail coverts,

168 WATER FOWL.

black. Breast and abdomen, white. Flanks, white, barred with
irregular black lines, more or less distinct. Crissum, dusky,
mottled with white; under tail coverts, black. Tail, black.
Bill, bluish white, nail, black. Legs and feet, light slate or
plumbeous. Iris, yellow. Length, about 16 inches; wing, 8; tail,
3, tarsus, 1,8,;; culmen, 175.

Adult Female.—Space about base of bill, white. Rest of head
and neck, snuff brown. Upper back and breast, amber brown;
the feathers, margined with pale brown on the former, ochrace-
ous on the latter. Back and scapulars, fuscous, mottled with
white. Wings, dark brown; speculum, white. Flanks, dark
grayish brown, tips of feathers, white. Under parts, white.
Rump and upper tail coverts, dark grayish brown. Anal region
and under tail coverts, pale grayish brown, much lighter than
rump and upper tail coverts, and grading into the white of the
abdomen. ‘Tail, dark grayish brown, edges of webs, ochraceous.
Bill, legs, and feet, colored as in the male. Size similar to that
of the male.

‘yonq] YOoN-pesury

‘ov

RINGED-NECK DUCK.

|) la so abundant as is the last species, the

Ringed Neck has nevertheless as wide a distribution
as the Broad Bill, and ranges over the whole of North
America from the Arctic Sea to Guatemala and the West
Indies. It bears a considerable number of names, and
is often confounded with the Little Scaup Duck, and
in different portions of the United States is called Tufted
Duck, Ring Bill, Bastard Broad Bill, Shuffler, Ring-
billed Shuffler, Ring-billed Black Head, Ringed-neck
Black Head, Ringed-neck Scaup, and Canard Noir in
Louisiana. It probably has some more names, but these
are about all that I have heard applied to this bird myself,
and those most commonly used are the one at the head of
this article, and Ring Bill.

It is not a common species, goes in small flocks, and
frequently is found in company with the Little Scaup,
which it resembles very closely in its general habits. It
breeds from the northern part of the United States north-
ward, and has been seen in Alaska, but the nest has not
yet been found there, although it is very probable that the
species does breed in that Territory. The few examples
seen were so shy that it was impossible to get near them.
Nests of this Duck have been found in Wisconsin and
Minnesota. In the former State one was found on a bog
in thick cover near Pewaukee Lake, and was formed of
grasses, and lined with feathers. The nesting habits of
this Duck are not very well known and its breeding limits
have not been ascertained. The eggs are grayish white,

169

170 WATER FOWL.

sometimes with a buff tinge. My friend Mr. George A.
Boardman found a nest of this species, containing eleven
eggs, on the St. Croix River near Calais, Maine, and on
another occasion secured a brood of ducklings together
with the old ones. This would seem to show that the
Ring Neck probably breeds along the northern border of
the United States wherever suitable localities occur.

This Duck is more often seen on the rivers and inland
lakes than on the sea-coast, although it is found every
winter near the borders of both the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Its flight resembles that of the Little Blue Bill
and is quite as swiftly performed, and its movements on
the wing are equally as quick as those of its relative. It
comes readily to decoys and is as tenacious of life and as
skillful in evading pursuit, when wounded, as is the Little
Scaup.

The Ring Neck resembles the Little Broad Bill in
general appearance, but is a much handsomer bird, the
peculiar white marking upon the bill, and the red
ring, more or less distinct, around the neck, making it
very conspicuous. As a bird for the table it is
about equal to the Little Black Head, and what has
been already said in this respect of that species
is equally applicable to this one. I think it is more
plentiful on the waters of our Western States, espe-
cially those in the Valley of the Mississippi, than it is
anywhere in the East. On the Pacific coast it goes
from Mexico to northern Alaska, but is nowhere
very abundant. Like the Little Scaup this is a cold-
weather Duck, and unless everything is entirely frozen
up, occasionally remains in northern latitudes all winter.

RINGED-NECK DUCK. 7

PULAGULA COLLATKTS.

-

Geographical Destribution.—North America from the Arctic
Ocean to Guatemala and the West Indies. Breeds from north-
ern United States to limit of its range in Arctic America,

Adult Male.—Head, neck, breast, upper parts, and under tail
coverts, black, with a gloss of purple on head, and greenish on
back. A more or less distinct chestnut collar around middle of
neck. A triangular white spot on chin. Wings, blackish brown,
with a green gloss. Speculum, gray. Under parts, white; the
flanks and sides, waved with fine black lines. Crissum, dusky,
mottled with white. Bill, black, with the base, edges, and a bar
across maxilla near nail, pale bluish. Legs and feet, grayish
blue, webs, dusky. Iris, yellow. Length, about 174 inches;
wing, 8; tail, 3,4;; culmen, 1,%,; tarsus, 14.

Adult Female.—Top of head and back of neck, dark brown;
sides of head, grayish white. Loral space, forehead, eyelids,
chin, throat, and neck in front, yellowish white. Sides of neck,
light brown. Back and wings, dark brown, feathers margined
with rufous: Speculum, gray; outer webs of outer tertials, me-
tallic green. Lower back and rump, black; upper tail coverts
and tail, pale brown, feathers, tipped with yellowish brown.
Upper breast, sides, and flanks, fulvous brown, tips of feathers,
yellowish brown. Lower breast and belly, white. Anal region,
dull brown; under tail coverts, white, speckled with brown.
Bill, slate, with pale blue band crossing it near tip. Total
length, 17 inches; wing, 74; culmen, 14; tarsus, r4.

Downy Voung.—Top of head and neck behind, dark grayish
brown; ears, grayish brown; rest of head and neck and lower
parts, pale buff; upper parts, grayish brown, with a spot in cen-
ter of back and on each side of back and rump, and a bar across
posterior border of wings, light buff.

LABRADOR DUCK,

ORMERLY not an uncommon bird along the At-

lantic coast as far south as Delaware, the Labrador
Duck has, for over twenty years, ceased to make its ap-
pearance anywhere within our boundaries, and it would
seem that, from some reason quite inexplicable, it has be-
come extinct. The Pied Duck,as it was sometimes called,
fifty years ago was said to be frequently offered for sale in
the markets, hanging among strings of other species of
Ducks. It was not known to Wilson, and Audubon never
saw it alive; the birds from which he made his draw-
ing having been killed by Daniel Webster on Vineyard
Island, coast of Massachusetts. This pair is now in the
collection of the National Museum at Washington.
Very little is really known about the habits of this species.
There are no authentic accounts of its nest or eggs, and
it is doubtful if anyone, save perhaps an Eskimo, has ever
seen either one or the other. John W. Audubon had
several deserted nests shown him at Blanc Sablon, Lab-
rador, as belonging to this Duck, but he saw no indi-
viduals, and it may be seriously doubted if the Labrador
Duck ever had anything to do with them.

Fifty years ago, according to Giraud, this bird,
known to the gunners of Long Island as the Skunk
Duck, on account of its peculiar black and white
markings, was even then very rare. The people of
the New Jersey coast called it ‘“ Sand-shoal Duck.” It
was said to feed on shell-fish, which it procured by diving.
Between 1860 and 1870 I saw at various times a con-

172

41.

Labrador Duck.

GER oe. ua
ee

LABRADOR DUCK. 173

siderable number in Fulton and Washington Markets of
New York. They were mostly females and young males,
a full-plumaged male being exceedingly rare. Some-
times there would be as many as a dozen hanging to-
gether, and then weeks might elapse before any more
were seen. At that time, while it was remarked that it
was a curious circumstance that only females or young
males were to be had, no one imagined that the species
was approaching extinction; for when immature birds
existed there must be both parents somewhere. Gradu-
ally, however, the specimens became fewer, and appeared
at longer intervals, until they disappeared entirely. Dur-
ing the twenty years between 1850 and 1870 a few full-
plumaged males were obtained, and one of the finest I
ever saw I bought from a taxidermist in Brooklyn, who
had it at the time in the flesh. During the periods of
which I speak, there would have been no difficulty in pro-
curing quite a large series of females and young males,
but as it was supposed these could be obtained whenever
wanted, they were neglected.

The cause of the disappearance of this Duck no one
knows. Various attempts have been made to account
for it, but none has been satisfactory. By some natu-
ralists it is conjectured that it was brought about by the
destruction of the eggs, but we have no reason to sup-
pose that any more eggs of this species were destroyed,
from any cause whatever, than were those of any other
Duck. It was not exterminated by man with the gun,
for he did not get a chance—the birds gave him too few
opportunities. Being strong of flight as well as a skill-
full diver, there was no reason why, if necessary, it could
not have easily and rapidly conveyed itself away from any
threatened danger, and no matter how the fact of its ex-
tinction is regarded and what were its possible causes,

174 WATER FOWL.

no explanation can be given that is satisfactory. It is
one of those inexplicable phenomena that occasionally
arise to perplex and baffle the best informed person. As
a bird for the table, as might have been expected from its
choice of food, it was not very desirable, being fishy and
of a strong flavor; evidently only on a par with the usual
run of Sea-Ducks. About forty specimens only are
known to be preserved in all North America, and not half
that number in all Europe. The finest collection of these
birds in the world is in the New York Museum of
Natural History, where seven adult males, females, and
young males are to be seen. Five have been artistically
mounted in a group with characteristic surroundings of
ice and water (for it was a cold-weather bird), forming
one of the rarest and most valuable ornaments in the pos-
session of the museum. While we marvel at the disap-
pearance of this bird from our fauna, similar or equally
forcible methods are at work, which in the process of
time, and short time too, will cause many another species
of our Water Fowl to vanish from our lakes and rivers,
and along the coasts of our continent. Robbing the
nests for all manner of purposes, trom that of making the
eggs an article of commerce or posing as specimens in
cabinets, slaying the ducklings before they are able to fly
and have no means of escape from the butchers, to-
gether with the never ceasing slaughter from the moment
the young are able to take wing and start on their migra-
tion, at all times, in all seasons, and in every place, until
the few remaining have returned to their summer home,
all combined, are yearly reducing their ranks with a fear-
ful rapidity, and speedily hastening the time when, so
far as our Water Fowl are concerned, the places that now
know them, and echo with their pleasant voices, shall
know them no more forever.

LABRADOR DUCK. ls)

CAMPTOLAMUS LABRADORIVUVS.

Geographical Distribution.—Formerly on the Atlantic coast
from New Jersey northward. Now extinct.

Adult Male.—Head, neck, breast, scapular, and wings, except
primaries, white. Stripe on crown and nape, ring around lower
neck, back, rump, primaries, upper tail coverts, tail, and entire
lower parts, black; the tail with a grayish tinge. _ Cheeks, fre-
quently yellowish white. Long scapulars, pearl gray; tertials,
with black edges. Bill, black, blue along the base of culmen,
and orange at base and along edges of maxilla and mandible.
Iris, reddish brown; feet and legs, grayish blue. Total length,
about 29%, inches; wing, 8; culmen, 14; tarsus, If.

Adult Female.—General plumage, uniform brownish gray.
Tertials, silvery gray, edged with black. Secondaries, white,
forming a speculum, inner secondaries with black edgings. Total
length, about 18 inches; wing, 8;4,;; culmen, 1,%,; tarsus, 14%.

Young Male.—Very similar to adult female, but the chin and
throat, pure white, and in some specimens the breast also, but in
others the white of this part is merely indicated. The greater
wing coverts are also sometimes white.

GOLDEN EWE:

IRCUMPOLAR in its distribution, and ranging
throughout the whole of North America from the
Arctic Sea to the island of Cuba in the south, and from
the Atlantic coast across the continent to the Pacific, the
Golden Eye is among the best known of our Ducks. It
breeds from about the parallel of Massachusetts north-
ward to the Arctic circle in the interior, and is rare upon
the coast, though in some of the Aleutian Islands a few
remain all winter. It is a hardy bird and able to with-
stand severe cold. The Golden Eye breeds in the hol-
lows of trees, the entrance often appearing to be absurdly
small for the size of the Duck, but like other web-footed
tree-nesting species it finds no difficulty in entering its
chosen abode. The eggs are a pale grayish green color,
and from six to eight seem to be the full complement.
This beautiful Duck is known to many as the “ Whistler,”
and beside this name it is called Spirit Duck, Whistle
Wing, Whiffler, Great Head, Bull Head, and Plongeur
in Louisiana. Its principal appellation, of Whistler, is
given on account of the shrill noise the wings make
when the bird is flying; a sound so sharp and penetrating
that the species is indicated long before it comes clearly
into view.

The Golden Eye rises directly from the water, but not
with a spring like the Mallard or Dusky Duck, flying low
at first, but rapidly rising until it has attained a lofty
altitude, when it moves on in a straight line, and, from
the first motion made to leave the water, the loud

176

42. Golden Eye.

GOLDEN EVE. 177

“ whistle ’ of the wings is heard. The Whistler is a high
flyer, and upon the sea-coast pays but little attention to
decoys, although it will occasionally come to them. — It 1s
generally seen singly or in pairs, the male frequently
leading the female, though at times their positions are
reversed as is usually the case with Ducks when traveling
in pairs, but in the interior small flocks are not uncom-
mon, especially upon the rivers, which are much fre-
quented by this species. The large thickly crested or
rather fluffy head of this Duck is beautifully resplendent
with metallic green hues, particularly noticeable when
the sun’s rays fall upon it, the brighter portions contrast-
ing with those in shadow, like brilliant emeralds lying on
dark green velvet. The Indians along the River Yukon
stuff the skin of this Duck and ornament it with beads,
and give it to a child for a doll or toy.

As a diver the Golden Eye ranks as a master. So in-
stantaneous are its movements upon the water when dis-
appearing below the surface, that shot from a gun cannot
travel to the spot it occupied quickly enough, if the bird
has seen the flash, for it is under water at once. The In-
dians are superstitious about it on account of its wonder-
ful quickness, and the name of Spirit Duck was given to it
by them as typifying a being endowed with supernatural
powers. Itis able to keep up this rapid diving for a long
while, and one will waste his time if he waits hoping to
catch a Golden Eye napping. This Duck feeds at the
sea-coast, on shell-fish mainly, which it procures by div-
ing, but on inland lakes and rivers it must eat grasses and
roots, for its flesh has a very different flavor and is ten-
der and delicate. In South Carolina it visits the rice-
fields and feeds on the grain. It is often seen in company
with the Little Broad Bill, Buffle Head, and sometimes
with Mergansers, paddling along near the banks of

178 WATER FOWL.

marshes, and dabbling in the mud, sifting it between the
mandibles. Not often is it in the habit of alighting in the
open water away from the land, and whenever it does do
so it appears uneasy, as if anticipating some unseen dan-
ger, and is one of the first Ducks to take wing should an
alarm be sounded.

When the weather is stormy, heavy rains or snow, the
Golden Eye keeps close to the shore, and if on a river,
flies up and down near the bank. It does not seem to
be so wild on stormy days, perhaps being more anxious
to find a shelter from the gale, and less mindful, for the
moment, of possible danger to itself from the usual causes.
The Whistler is a silent bird, its wings generally provid-
ing all the noise it makes, but occasionally I have
heard it utter a hoarse kind of croak similar to that made
by the Merganser, but at no time anything resembling a
quack. The European Golden Eye I consider specific-
ally the same as the American bird. It has been claimed
that the two are distinct, the difference consisting mainly
in size, the European being somewhat smaller. It is too
fine a distinction and nothing is gained by this attempt
to separate the birds, scientifically or otherwise, for such
an unsatisfactory reason.

CLANGULA CLANGULA.

Geographical Distribution,—North America, from the Arctic
Sea to Mexico and Cuba. Breeds from Massachusetts and the
British Provinces, northward. In Old World from Great Britain
to Japan, and from Arctic regions to Northern Africa.

Adult Male.—A rather bunchy occipital crest, extending a
short distance down the hind neck. Head and upper part of
neck, glossy green, with purple reflections. A large, rather oval
white spot on lower part of the lores, advancing close to base of
bill. Lower part of neck, upper part of back, short scapulars,

GOLDEN EVE. 179

greater wing coverts, most of the secondaries and under parts
generally, pure white. Rest of upper parts, long scapulars, and
some secondaries, black. Base of secondaries, black, forming an
indistinct bar hidden under the white tips of greater coverts.
Primaries and their coverts, brownish black. Outer webs of up-
permost flank feathers, partly or wholly white. Tail, ashy.
Bill, greenish black. Legsand feet, orange; webs, dusky. Iris,
golden yellow. Totallength, about 20 inches; wing, 8,4; tail, 44;
tarsus, 14; culmen, 1,85; bill, height at base, 44; width, ,%; width
of nail, 3.

Adult Female.—Head and upper part of neck, hair brown.
Collar on neck, very narrow behind; white, streaked with bluish
gray. Back, blackish brown; feathers, on upper back, edged
with bluish gray; those of upper tail coverts, tipped with pale
brown. White on wings not so extensive as on those of the
male. Tips of greater wing coverts, black, forming a bar
across the white. Primaries, brownish black. A band of bluish
gray across upper part of breast. Under parts, white. Thighs,
dusky. Tail, dark brown, like the back. Bill, dull yellowish,
shaded with blackish brown. Bills of different individuals vary in
color. Legsand feet, orange; webs, dusky. Iris, golden yellow.
Wing, 8 inches; tail, 43; culmen, 1,3,; tarsus, 1,4,; bill, height at
base, ;%; width at base ;%; width of nail, 4. AHezght of bill from
point of angle to nearest cutting edge iss than the distance
between the farthest edge of nostril and nearest feathers at base
of bztl.

Downy Young.—Upper parts, dark brown; throat, white;
breast and flanks, pale brown; belly, pale gray.

BARROW'S GOLDEN EYE,

A NEAR relative to the Common Golden Eye, the pres-

ent bird, sometimes called the Rocky Mountain Gar-
rot, is much more restricted in its range, and although it
occurs in Iceland, may be regarded as essentially an
American species. In the West it breeds as far south in
the Rocky Mountains as Colorado, and in the East from
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, northward. It has been pro-
cured at Sitka, Alaska, and noticed by Dall on the Yukon,
but its appearance in that Territory is probably only ex-
ceptional in the northern portions. It breeds also in
Greenland and Iceland. In winter it goes south on the
Eastern coast to New York, and to Illinois, Utah, and
Colorado in the West. As yet it has not been found
west of the mountains south of Alaska.

For a long time this Duck was confounded with the
Common Golden Eye, and supposed by some to be
merely a phase of the summer dress of the well-known
bird. It is an inhabitant of the interior, and I have never
seen it upon any of our coasts, though it does at times
visit the vicinity of the ocean. In the Rocky Mountains
it has been found breeding at a high altitude and it is
believed to nest in Maine. It breeds in the hollows of
trees, as is the habit of the Whistler, and the number of
eggs is from six toten. They are dark grayish green in
color. In Iceland, where trees are scarce, this species
nests in holes in the ground, especially among the blocks
and in the crevices of broken lava, in company with the

180

43.

BARROW’S GOLDEN EVE. 181

Merganser. Sometimes these holes are so deep that the
eggs are entirely out of reach.

Barrow’s Golden Eye is a somewhat larger and hand-
somer bird than the common species, with the crested
head beautifully colored in metallic hues of green, blue,
and violet, changing as the rays of light fall upon it.
The large crescentic white mark before the eye in the
male will always easily distinguish this bird from its rela-
tive, and it is to be wondered that the two were ever con-
sidered as one species. The females of the two forms
are very difficult to distinguish apart, and at times will
bother even an expert. The chief difference is in the bill,
that of Barrow’s Golden Eye being much shorter and
higher at the base. Another method of distinguish-
ing these birds is given at the end of the description
of the plumage; but the dress of the females is
almost identically the same. The present species fre-
quents our lakes and rivers and feeds upon shell-fish and
grasses. I have found it at times quite numerous on the
St. Lawrence near Ogdensburgh, and have killed a
goodly number there over decoys, and some speci-
mens, procured on these occasions, are now in the
Museum of Natural History in New York. The two
species were associated together on the river, and I never
knew which one would come to the decoys, but I do not
remember that both ever came together unless it
might be the females, for, as I have said, it was difficult to
distinguish them without an examination.

The birds would fly up and down the river, doubtless
coming from, and going to, Lake Erie, stopping occa-
sionally in the coves to feed, and floating down with the
current for a considerable distance, when they would rise
and fly up stream again. My decoys were always placed
in some cove or bend of the stream where the current was

182 WATER FOWL.

least strong, for I noticed the birds rarely settled on the
water where it was running swiftly. This Duck decoys
readily in such situations, and will come right in, and if
permitted settle among the wooden counterfeits. They
sit lightly upon the water and rise at once without effort
or much splashing. The flight is very rapid, and is ac-
companied with the same whistling of the wings so
noticeable in the Common Golden Eye. In stormy
weather this bird keeps close to the banks, seeking shel-
ter from the winds. It dives as expertly as its relative,
and frequently remains under water for a considerable
time. The flesh of those killed upon the river was tender
and of good flavor, fish evidently not having figured
much as an article of their diet.

CLANGULA ISLANDICA.

Geographical Distribution.—North America, from the Arctic
regions south to northern New York, Illinois, Utah, and Col-
orado. Greenland, Iceiand. Occasional in Alaska. Accidental
in Europe. Breeds from Gulf of St. Lawrence, northward.

Adult Male.—A slight occipital crest. Head and upper part
of neck, glossy bluish black, in some specimens with greenish
reflections in certain lights. A large triangular shaped white
patch, similar in form toa crescent, upper end pointed, lower
end rounded, occupies the space at base of bill. Lower part
of neck, and under parts, pure white; upper parts, velvety
black; outer row of scapulars, with oblong white spots. A
lengthened white patch on wing, formed by the middle coverts,
ends of the greater coverts, and exposed parts of inner second-
aries. Bases of greater wing coverts, black, forming a bar across
the white portion. Feathers of sides and flanks, white with
outer edges black. Thighs and sides of crissum, dull black.
Tail, brownish black, with a greenish gloss. Bill, black. Feet
and legs, orange yellow; webs, dusky. Length, about 22
inches; wing, 9, tarsus, 14; culmen, 1,,; height of bill at base,
average, 1; width of nail, 4; width of bill at base, 3. ;

Adult Fema/e,—Head and neck, snuff brown; darkest on top

BARROW’S GOLDEN EVE. 183

of head and back of neck. A narrow white collar at base of
neck. Upper parts, brownish black; feathers of back, margined
with light gray. White patch on wing, crossed by a black bar.
Lesser wing coverts, tipped with white. Upper part of breast,
sides, and flanks, blue gray; feathers, edged with grayish white.
Rest of under parts, white. Bill, horn color, paler in some speci-
mens than in others, at times almost verging into yellow, with a
spot on the culmen, and the edge of maxilla, and the nail, black
or brownish black. Legs and feet, pale orange; webs, dusky.
Wing, 8,4, inches; culmen, 64; height of bill at base, ,; width at
base, ;5; width of nail, ;§,; tarsus, 174. Asarule the bill of the
female of this species is much shorter and higher at the base for its
relative length, as well as narrower when viewed from above, than
is that of the female of the Golden Eye. Mr. Ridgway distin-
guishes the two species by the height of the maxilla as compared
with the distance from the feathered edge at the base of the bill to
the farthest or anterior edgeofthe nostril. Jn thzs sheczes these
measurements would be EQUAL. Whether this character would
hold good in a large series of specimens, I am unable to say, for
there is a great variation in the size of the bills, but generally, I
believe that this method of separating the females of these
species can be relied on.

Downy Young.—Top and sides of head, chocolate brown,
darkest on head. Neck, chest, and flanks, pale brown. Throat
and under parts, white.

BUFFLE HEAD DUCK.

TRICTLY a North American species,the Buffle Head
is found pretty generally from the Arctic Sea to
Mexico and Cuba. In Alaska it is not common on the
coast, but has been met with on some of the Aleutian
Islands, and Stejneger procured it on the Commander
Islands, showing that it goes to the Asiatic side of the
Pacific Ocean, but probably only incidentally, not as a
regular visitant. While a constant dweller upon our
lakes and rivers, the Dipper also comes to the sea-coasts
as soon as the inland waters are frozen. It is a cold-
weather Duck, and only appears within our borders when
driven south by the coming of winter. Its appearance is
generally an indication that severe weather will follow.
The male is one of the most beautiful and sprightly of our
native Ducks, and is a great ornament to our waters.
The female, on the contrary, in her subdued grayish
brown plumage, lacks entirely the attractive dress of her
lord, and would easily escape notice even among plainly
attired birds. But the male seems conscious of his
beauty, and, when upon the water, moves rapidly about,
turning first one side then the other to the observer, and
elevating or contracting his fluffy crest, causing its metal-
lic colors to scintillate in the sun’s rays.

This pretty Duck has had many names given to it
among which are, Butter Ball, Spirit Duck, Marionette,
sutter Box, and Scotch Teal; but those most gener-
ally employed are Buffle Head and Dipper, already men-
tioned. This species nests in hollow trees, lining the

184

oval

44. Buffle Head Duck,

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BUFFLE HEAD DUCK. 185

bottom of the cavity with down, on which are deposited
from six to ten grayish white eggs, and sometimes these
are placed so far down in the hollow as to be almost out
of reach, being more than an arm’s length away from the
opening. As a diver the Butter Ball takes rank among
the most expert of our Ducks, disappearing so quickly,
and apparently with so little exertion, that it is almost
impossible to shoot it when sitting on the water. When
alarmed, with a sudden flip up of its tail and a scattering
of a few drops of water, it vanishes beneath the surface,
appearing almost immediately at no great distance from
where it went under, and either dives again at once, or
takes wing, which it does easily and without any fuss.
Sometimes half a dozen of these birds will gather to-
gether in a sheltered piece of water, and be very busy
feeding. A few will dive with a sudden jerk, as if drawn
beneath the surface by an invisible string, and the others
will quietly swim about as if on the watch. The first that
went under water having returned to the surface, the
others dive, and so it goes on for a long time. Occa-
sionally all will disappear, and then the first one to rise
seems much disconcerted at not finding anyone on watch
and acts as if he was saying to himself that if he “ had
only known their unprotected state, he would never
have gone under.”

The flight of the Buffle Head is very rapid, and
generally performed in a straight line. So speedy
is its course that it flashes by one like a feathery
meteor, its wings forming a haze around the body, so
quickly do they move, and it is no easy thing to kill one
in the air as it hurls itself along. When alighting the
bird makes a considerable splash and noise, sliding along
for a couple of feet or so, before becoming stationary.
It utters at times a single guttural note, which sounds

186 WATER FOWL.

like a small edition of the hoarse roll of the Canvas Back
and other large diving Ducks. The male Dipper has a
habit, when swimming, of stretching out and drawing in
its neck, occasionally raising its bill as high as it possibly
can, at the same time puffing out the feathers of the
head. | have noticed that this is done mostly in the
spring, when its thoughts are perhaps “ lightly turning
toward love,” and it may be an attractive gesture com-
mon to the courting season. At all events, when the
head is held high in the air, with crest expanded and the
sun shining on its brilliant coloring, he presents for so
small a creature a very gallant and handsome appearance.
The flesh of this Duck is very palatable, and is excellent
when broiled. In the spring the males precede the fe-
males on their northern migration, and arrive at their
destination several days before their fair ones. The Dip-
per feeds on a variety of objects, such as fish and mol-
lusks on the sea-coasts, and snails, leeches, grasses, and
other water plants in the interior.

CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA.

Geographical Distribution.—North America, from the Arctic
Ocean to Mexico and Cuba. Breeds from Maine and Montana,
northward.

Adult Male.—A broad white band extends from behind and
beneath the eye to the occiput. Rest of head and top of neck,
glossed with metallic green, purple, violet, and bronze reflec-
tions. The feathers of the head are puffed out, and lengthened
on sides and back. Lower part of neck, entire under parts,
large patch on wing, composed of wing coverts and outer webs
of secondaries, and scapulars, white. Inner secondaries, black.
Primaries, black. Back and rump, black, fading into the pearl
gray of the upper tail coverts. Tail, dark gray, with white edges
to the feathers. Bill, bluish gray; nail, dusky. Iris, dark brown.
Legs and feet, flesh color; webs, darker. Total length, about
144 inches; wing, 64; culmen, 1;%; tarsus, 14%.

a

BUFFPLE HEAD DUCK. : 187

Adult Female.—Head and neck, dusky brown; top of head,
darkest. A white patch or stripe on cheeks and ear coverts.
Upper parts, blackish brown, grading into black on the rump.
Wings, dusky brown. Apical half of outer webs of secondaries,
white, forming a speculum. Upper part of breast, sides, anal
region, and lower tail coverts, dull gray. Rest of under parts,
white. Tail, grayish brown. Bill, dusky, slightly plumbeous on
edge and tip. Legs and feet, bluish gray; webs, dusky. Total
length, about 134 inches; wing, 5;%; culmen, 1; tarsus, 17/5.

The females vary slightly from each other, some having more
white on the wings; the secondaries, and the tips of the greater
wing coverts, also, being of that hue.

LONG-TAILED DUCK? OLD SOUAwW

North America the Old Squaw is found from the

Arctic Sea to the Potomac and Ohio rivers and occa-
sionally in Florida, Texas, and California, but it is met
with mainly along the sea-coast, although in winter it is
observed in considerable numbers on Lake Michigan and
in Wisconsin. It comes to its far northern breeding
grounds, on the Alaskan coast of Behring Sea, about the
middle of May, being among the very earliest arrivals of
the Duck tribe. It is found on the Aleutian Islands and
has been known to winter around Unalaska.

Nelson states that these birds do not reach their nest-
ing grounds from the sea until the ice has nearly all dis-
appeared from the ponds and creeks, and the females
begin to lay about the 12th of May, and from that date to
the 25th. The nests are usually placed upon the sloping
grassy banks of the ponds close to the water, and the
parents keep in the neighborhood. During the period of
courtship the male frequently swims rapidly about the
female, with his long tail feathers elevated and vibrating
from side to side, and during this display he utters his
love note. The voice of this Duck is soft and with rather
a sweet tone; the three notes usually uttered resem-
bling somewhat the words, “ Old, South Sotthérly,” or
“South South Southérly,” ending with a rising inflec-
tion. Occasionally the female, when pressed by too
ardent a lover, suddenly dives, followed by her partner,
and they as quickly appear again and are on the wing,
when a chase follows, both birds diving when at full

138

45. Long-Tailed Duck, Summer plumage.

LONG TALTEHD DOCK: (OLD! SOUAW. 189

speed, and mounting again in the air. This is kept up
until both are tired. Occasionally other males join in
the pursuit after the female, uttering their musical
notes, until the lady, finding that she has too much com-
pany, retires to some secluded pond with her accepted
lover, leaving the others to seek pastures new. In their
habit of diving when on the wing during courtship with-
out relaxing their speed, they are imitated by no other
Dugk save the Sprigtail. The nest is composed of grass
stems and is lined with down, and the eggs, of an olive or
grayish green color, are from five to nine in number. By
the last of June the young are nearly all hatched and they
remain about the ponds until the middle of August, when
they usually go to the shores of the bays. It is one of the
last species to leave the Arctic regions in the autumn, and
does not depart until the ponds and creeks, and even the
sea itself, are frozen over. In certain places, as some of
the Aleutian Islands, where the sea may remain open at
least to a considerable extent, it stays all winter.

The summer dress of this Duck is quite different from
that of the winter, and is almost a sooty black with a
rufous tinge upon the head, neck, and breast; the latter,
however, being rather lighter. Sometimes, however,
the winter dress, according to Nelson, is retained
throughout the nesting season, and there is so much
gradation observable among individuals between the two
costumes that it is very difficult to procure any in perfect
summer dress. As the ice commences to form the birds
retreat, and get well out to sea before they begin their
migration southward. It is, however, such a hardy bird,
and seems so to love a freezing temperature, that it does
not hurry, and goes on its way toward the south only as
the waters become congealed or blocked with floes of ice,
and thus compel it to move on. The Old Squaw breeds

190 WATER FOWL,

in Iceland and other parts of Northern Europe, also on
the lower Anderson River, on the Barren Grounds, and
on small islands in the bays on the Arctic coast.
The number of eggs varies from five to seven, and they
are always covered by the down plucked from the breast
of the female.

This species does not seem to visit our Western coast,
south of Alaska, but in its migration trends to the
eastward, and enters our limits east of the Mississippi
River. While it cannot be at all classed with’ the
fresh-water Ducks, it is abundant at times on some of the
larger Western lakes, making its appearance toward
the last of October, about the time when all the smaller
lakes and streams are frozen. It is fond of the sea, and
is frequently seen in flocks off shore just beyond the line
of breakers that hurl their white crests along the beach,
rising and falling with the waves, or diving into the
depths in search of food, or flying up and down parallel
with the land, now disappearing between the billows in
the trough of the waves, again rising above their crests,
the flocks speeding on in long drawn out lines. The
flight of this Duck is exceedingly rapid, indeed it may be
regarded as among the swiftest of the tribe, and its
powers of diving are excelled by none. It is so expert
at this, and disappears from view so instantaneously and
with so little effort, that it is next to impossible to kill it
when on the water, the bird vanishing before the shot
can reach it.

When the water is calm, and the sun has gained a cer-
tain amount of power as it returns on its northern jour-
ney from below the equator, the Old Squaws gather
together in small parties on the open water of the sounds
away from land, or on the bosom of the ocean, a gun-
shot or so from shore, and sleep or dress their feathers,

46. Long-Tailed Duck, Winter plumage.

<r ee al ee eee Se ——

LONG-TAILED DUCK: OLD SQUAW. IgI

perhaps dive a little and bring up some choice eatable
from or near the bottom. At such times their musi-
cal notes are constantly borne to the observer’s ear, of
South, south, southerly, or as Nelson writes it A-leedle-a
(which, however, does not convey the sounds to my ear),
and the pleasing chorus, rising from one portion or an-
other of the assembled birds, disturbs with tuneful
sounds the stillness that rests upon the sleeping water.
The food of the Old Squaw is various small shell-fish,
fry, and insects, fresh-water or marine, according to the
locality in which the bird happens to be. As an article
of food little can be said in favor of this Duck, for either
the flesh is tasteless and tough, or else fishy and disa-
greeable. It is avery difficult bird to kill, for it flies with
such swiftness that it is no easy mark to hit, and requires
a very powerful blow to bring it down. If only wounded
it is almost impossible to capture, as it dives with such
dexterity and so persistently, and stays under water so
long, that it will tire completely either man or dog.

In various parts of the land, besides those already
given, and by which it is best known, it has many names,
some of which are, South Southerly—from its cry, Old
Wife, Old Injun, Old Molly, Old Granny, Cockawee or
Caccawee, Coween, Swallow-tailed Duck, Long-
tailed Duck, Scolder, and Noisy Duck. There are
others which, however, are mostly purely local, and fa-
miliar only to a few. The male is a handsome bird,
whether in winter or summer dress, the long tail feathers
being very ornamental, and especially conspicuous when
the bird is rushing, with far more than the swiftest rail-
road speed, through the air. It is probably one of the
species of Ducks that will remain with us the longest, as
the poor quality of its flesh prevents it from being sought
after as an article of food, and sportsmen pay little or no

192 WATER FOWL.

attention to it, save when no other Wild Fowl can be
procured.

Perhaps, when, from continuous and ruthless slaugh-
ter, beginning with the destruction of the eggs in the far
north, and the persecution of the birds throughout their
long journeys to the southland and back to their breed-
ing places, the majority of our Ducks have been annihi-
lated, and the now despised Mud Hen or Blue Peter
(Fulica americana) has become the game water bird of our
successors, then the Old Squaw, in its descendants, may
rise to the first rank of desirable Ducks, and be the
choicest and most eagerly sought species of Water Fowl
in the opinion of future sportsmen. But when that day
comes, as undoubtedly it surely will, and the majority of
our magnificent Water Fowl has become extinct, one
dreads to think of the loneliness and stillness of our
marshes, lakes, and tidal waters, which, once resounding
in spring and autumn, aye and in many places through-
out the winter, with the glad cries and cheerful calls of
countless busy feathered creatures, will then lie tenant-
less and deserted, never more to echo with the voices of
Nature’s happy children, stilled forever.

*HAVELDA GLACIALTSS.

Geographical Distributcon.—Northern Hemisphere. In North
America from Arctic Ocean to Florida, Texas, and California,
rare though in these States. In the Old World from Great
Britain to Japan and China, occasionally in winter going to the
Mediterranean. Breeds in Arctic regions.

Adult Male in Summer,.—tLores, fore part of cheeks, and sides
of forehead, mouse gray. <A line above the gray from forehead
passing over the eye and joining one from beneath the eye and
extending to above ear coverts, white. Rest of head, neck, and
upper parts, sooty black; the feathers on upper part of back

* See Appendix, page 290.

LONG-TAILED DUCK: OLD SQUAW. 193

and the scapulars having the edges fulvous. Wing coverts,
brownish black; secondaries, grayish on outer web, edged with
whitish. Primaries, black at tip; dark purplish brown on outer
webs, with light edges. Four middle tail feathers, black, with
white shafts, the central pair greatly elongated, rest of tail,
white; some feathers, dark brown on outer web along the shaft.
Breast and upper part of abdomen, chocolate brown; rest of un-
der parts and flanks, white. Bill, black, with a broad rose pink
band crossing the maxilla in front of the nostrils. Iris, light
hazel. Legs and feet, pale bluish white; webs, dusky. Total
length varies greatly according to the elongation of the central
pair of tail feathers, from 21 to 23 inches; wing, 8,4; culmen, 15;
tarsus, 14; middle tail feathers, 8 to 9.

Adult Female tn Summer.—Head and neck, dark grayish
brown; space around the eye, and one on each side of neck,
grayish white. Upper parts, blackish brown; feathers of upper
back, with light brown tips; the scapulars almost entirely light
brown, with blackish brown centers. Wings, similar to male.
Upper tail coverts, blackish brown, feathers tipped with light
brown. ‘Tail, median pair not elongated, dark brown in center,
growing lighter toward outer feathers, which are almost entirely
white. Upper part of breast and anterior part of sides, light
brown, rest of under parts, pure white. Bill, dusky olive gray.
Legs and feet, bluish gray. Iris, yellow. Total length, about 18
inches; wing, 84; culmen, 1; tarsus, 1,2.

Adult Male in Wenter.—Sides of head and orbital region, and
in some specimens also, the lores, mouse gray. A large patch on
sides of neck, black, grading into mouse gray on its lower por-
tion. Rest of head, zzcluding the eyelids, and neck, upper parts
of back and chest, white. Middle of back, rump, upper tail cov-
erts, and wings, black. Scapulars, pearl gray. Secondaries,
reddish brown. Tail, black on median feathers; central pair,
elongated, growing lighter toward outer feathers, which are
nearly all white. Breast and upper part of abdomen chocolate
brown, in some specimens, black; rest of under parts, pure white.
Bill, orange yellow; basal half on sides, and nail, black. Iris,
carmine. Legs and feet, bluish gray.

Adult Female in Winter.—Forehead and crown, dusky; ear
coverts, throat, and space about theeye, grayish white. Rest of
head, neck, and lower parts, white. Jugulum, brown. Upper
parts, dark brown; the scapulars, wing coverts, outer web of

a
7)

194 WATER FOWL,

secondaries and feathers of the rump, edged with pale raw umber
brown, sometimes with ashy. Tail, grayish brown, edges of
feathers, ashy; central pair not elongated.

Young.—Similar to female, but the head and upper parts,
darker and without the light border to the feathers of the latter.
Lores, grayish brown, and the light patch about the eye smaller
and rather indistinct; upper part of breast, brownish black, with
gray tips to the feathers, graduating into the pale gray. of the
lower breast. Under parts, pure white. Feathers of the tail,
grayish brown, with white margins. In this stage of plumage,
this bird is very somber and unattractive.

Downy Young .—Head and upper parts, hair brown. Grayish
white markings near eye; dusky stripe from corner of mouth to
back of head. Under parts, white; dark brown band across
breast.

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HARLEQUIN DUCK.

S fantastically decorated with various stripes as is the
face of the Harlequin marked for the pantomime,
this bird must rank as one of our beautiful species of
Ducks. It is a native of the northern portions of both
the New and Old World, and in the Eastern Hemisphere
goes to Japan. In North America it ranges from the
Arctic regions southward to the middle States and Cali-
fornia, and breeds in the West from the Rocky and Sierra
Nevada Mountains, and in the East from Newfound-
land, northward. It cannot be said to be a common
species anywhere, and few sportsmen have ever seen it in
life. It is a solitary bird, except under especial circum-
stances, and goes either alone or in pairs, and haunts the
most retired spots along the mountain streams, where
the Ouzel delights to sport itself in the running water,
or under the sparkling curtain of the foaming cascade.
It breeds in such situations, but just where the nest is
situated does not yet seem to be fully established. I
have never seen it, and the accounts given of its situa-
tion prove that the bird alters its habits in a way not imi-
tated by any other Duck, and influenced by the locality in
which it may find itself. Thus Mr. C. W. Shepard states
that he found it breeding in Iceland in holes in trees on
the banks of the River Laxa, and Dresser says that the
nest is placed on the ground, although he has never seen
the nest himself, nor does he give any authority for his
statement. Many observers have met with the old birds
195

196 WATER FOWL.

and their broods of different ages, but no one save Mr.
Shepard and Mr. Pearson, hereafter mentioned, appears
really to have found the nest. At one time the Harle-
quin Duck was not at all uncommon in winter on the
Atlantic coast as far as New York, but of late years it
does not come much farther south than the shores of
Maine. In Alaska this Duck appears to breed in the
interior along the mountain streams that flow into the
great rivers, in the loneliest parts of that remote northern
wilderness. The species is also at times quite numerous
about the Aleutian Islands, frequenting the inner bays
near the mouths of fresh-water streams, also in the outer
bays and between the islands.

Nelson says that at the beginning of June at Unalaska
the birds had united in very large flocks, of several hun-
dred, were very shy, and when alarmed moved away with
a confused noise of gabbling, chattering notes. He thinks
they undoubtedly breed among the islands, but no nest
was found. At the Seal Islands they remain all the year
except when the ice compels them to leave for a season.
The Indians along the Yukon stuff the skin of this Duck
and decorate it with beads and bright cloth as toys for
the children. The Harlequin Duck follows the West
coast south as far as Puget Sound. It breeds in the
Rocky Mountains at various altitudes, and according to
Mr. Belden, as given by Brewer, he has seen numerous
broods on the Stanislaus River, Calaveras Co., California,
every summer at a height of about four thousand feet.
The ducklings were exceedingly active in the water, tum-
bling over cascades and through rapids in a most aston-
ishing manner.

Along our Eastern coast, from the Gulf of St. Law-
rence to Maine, this Duck appears in greater or less
numbers every winter. The females outnumber the

HARLEQUIN DUCK. 197

males considerably, and it is easier to get a half dozen
females or young birds than one male in perfect dress. It
flies very swiftly, and when shot will often dive headlong
into the water. In swimming the Harlequin sits lightly
on the water, and the little flock (perhaps all members of
one family), are usually preceded by the male, the others
following demurely after him. If alarmed, they dive at
once, and are very expert in all under-water tactics.
This species feeds chiefly on mollusks and other shell-
fish. Turner says that the common black mussel in
Alaska is much sought after by this Duck, and it is
constantly diving for it. Sometimes this bivalve seizes the
bird by the bill, and does not release its hold until its vic-
tim ceases to struggle and so indicates that life is extinct.

As a rule the Harlequin is a silent bird, but in the mat-
ing season it utters a peculiar whistle, generally made by
the male in his efforts to secure a mate. On account of
its restricted range not many names have been applied to
it, but it is known as Painted Duck, Rock Duck, and Lord
and Lady, the latter on account of its beauty. In refer-
ence to the nesting and breeding habits of the Harlequin
Duck, I wrote to my friend the late Captain Charles Ben-
dire of the National Museum, Washington, who knew
more about nests and eggs than any other man in
America, and he replied as follows: “ The Harlequin
Duck undoubtedly nests both in our mountain ranges in
the interior, Rockies, and Sierra Nevadas, as well as on
many of the treeless islands of the Alaskan Peninsula and
the Kurile Islands, and I have not the least doubt that it
breeds both in hollow trees where such are available, and
either on the ground or in holes made by Puffins where
it can find such, not far from water. From what I have
been able to learn from one of my correspondents I be-
lieve they breed early, even in Alaska. He writes me,

198 WATER FOWL.

‘TIT have killed many of them on the Kuriles during the
months of May, June, and July, but they never contained
ova of any size, so I conclude that they must lay earlier,
and my belief has been strengthened by killing a female
in Alaska which contained eggs as large as grapes early
in March.’ Mr. A. W. Anthony [continues Captain
Bendire], writes me that a family of downy young were
seen near Silverton, Colorado, on July 15th and one was
taken. He states they are not uncommon there during
the nesting season. They have also been observed dur-
ing this time in Calaveras Co. and I have personally
seen a family of eight or nine, with full-grown young in
July, 1879, near Wenatchee, Kittitas Co., Washington,
on the Upper Columbia, and shot two of the birds.
There.are no North American eggs of this species in the
National Museum collection, and I do not believe its
nest has as yet been found within the United States. I
should judge the egg to be correctly described; it is fig-
ured by Hewitson in British Zoology, and by Baedeker,
Die Fier curpaieschen Vogel.”

In the /bis for April, 1895, the Messrs. Pearson, writ-
ing upon some “ Birds observed in Iceland,” state that
Mr. H. J. Pearson on the 11th of July, 1894, visited some
islands composed of lava, in the middle of a river, and
that the water ran like a mill race through three or four
channels worn in the lava. On these islands he found
six nests of the Harlequin Duck, three of them not two
feet from the water hidden under the leaves of the wild
anchelica, and the other three in holes in the banks, pro-
tected by a screen of plants. One contained seven eggs.
Very little down was in any of the nests. Many old nests
were in these holes, they having been apparently a favor-
ite breeding place for years. Mr. Pearson saw flocks of
more than thirty males together on several occasions

HARLEQUIN DUCK. 199

sitting on the rocks, or sporting in rapids so swift that
few birds would be apt to frequent them.

HISTRIONICUS HISTRIONICUS.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portions of New and
Old Worlds, ranging as far to the eastward as Japan. In North
America from the Arctic regions to the Middle States and Cali-
fornia. Breeds from Newfoundland and northern Rocky Moun-
tains and Sierra Nevada, northward.

Adult Male.—Lores, with a stripe extending along the crown;
a round spot near the ears, a long narrow stripe on side of upper
hind neck, a narrow collar around lower part of neck, frequently
interrupted in front; a broad bar across sides of breast in front of
wing; middle of scapulars, portion of tertials, a round spot on
lesser wing coverts, tips of some of the greater wing coverts and
a round spot on each side of crissum, pure white. Under side of
neck, collar, and bar on side of breast above and below, bordered
with black. Center of forehead, crown, and nape, black, bordered
on either side with chestnut. Rest of head and neck, dark
plumbeous, glossed with violet, inclining to black along the mar-
gins of the white markings. Upper parts, leaden blue, grading
into blue black on lower part of rump and upper tail coverts.
Wing coverts, bluish slate. Speculum, deep bluish violet.
Primaries and tail feathers, dusky black. Breast, plumbeous;
abdomen, sooty gray, grading into the black of the crissum and
under tail coverts. Sides and flanks, bright rufous. Bill, bluish
gray in front of nostrils, basal part, dark olive gray, tip, paler.
Iris, reddish brown or dark hazel. Legs and feet, bluish gray;
webs, dusky. Total length, about 174inches; wing, 7,5;; culmen, 1;
tarsus, 15%.

Adult Female.—Lores, spot above and in front of eye, and
larger one-behind ear, white. Rest of head, neck, jugulum, and
upper parts, dark brown, inclining to sooty brown on head and
rump. Wings and tail, glossy blackish brown, with an inclina-
tion to a purple gloss in some lights. Breast, sides, flanks, cris-
sum, and under tail coverts, light reddish brown, with indistinct
black spots in the center of feathers on breast. Abdomen, white,
becoming much mottled with brown on lower part, and passing
into the reddish brown of the crissum. Bill, legs, and feet, dark

200 WATER FOWL.

bluish gray. Iris, brown. Total length, about 17 inches; wing,
775; culmen, 1; tarsus, rq.

The male in summer has a much duller plumage than in win-
ter, and the pattern of the coloration not so clearly and sharply
defined. In some portions of his dress at this season he resem-
bles the adult female, and is not such a brave-looking gallant as
he appears in the winter garb.

Young Male,—White markings of head and neck, less pure
than in the adult, and the bar alongside the black on crown
is yellowish brown, somewhat mixed with white. Head and
neck, dusky, with a bluish tinge. Back and wings, dusky; edges
of feathers, paler. Some of the tertials with white centers. No
speculum. ‘Tips of greater coverts, pale grayish brown, forming
baron the wing. Rump, sooty brown. Upper tail coverts, sooty,
tipped with pale brown. Tail, light brown. The white collar
at base of neck merely indicated, and the white bars before the
bend of the wing about half as long asin the adult. Breast and
under parts, sooty brown, mottled with white, lightest (almost
white) on lower breast, and becoming reddish brown on under
tail coverts. Flanks, pale chestnut.

Young.—Resembles the female, but darker above; the upper
part of breast, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts, tinged with
brown.

Downy Young.—Top of head and nape, blackish brown;
cheeks and neck, white; upper parts, blackish brown; a white
spot on each wing and thigh; under parts, white.

*19}JOOS JanG “gh

SURE SCOOTER.

HIS Coot is peculiar to North America and is found
from the Arctic Sea to Lower California on the
Pacific, and to Florida on the Atlantic coast. It is also
met with on the Great Lakes, and through Illinois in win-
ter, to Missouri. In fact its dispersion is almost precisely
that of the White-winged Scoter. It breeds in similar
latitudes, from Labrador to the Arctic Ocean on the east-
ern part of the continent, and at Sitka, also at the mouths
of the Yukon,and about St. Michael’s on the western side.
As it goes in summer to both sides of Behring Straits,
and to Norton and Kotzebue sounds, it may have other
breeding places farther north than those given. In win-
ter it is met with throughout the Aleutian Islands. The
nest is similar to that of the White-winged Scoter, and is
placed in like situations. The eggs, usually from five to
eight in number, are white with a pinkish tinge. Some-
times in the far north males of this species collect to-
gether in immense numbers, and Nelson tells of a flock
met with by him near Stewart Island, about ten miles
out to sea from St. Michael’s, which formed a continuous
band around the outer end of the island for about ten
miles in length and from one-half to three-fourths of a
mile in width. As he drew near to this great mass the
birds close to him began to rise, and their movements
were imitated by those ahead of them until soon the
entire mighty host of birds rose with the “ roar of a cata-
ract,” and in a great black cloud swept out to sea, and

201

202 WATER FOWL.

settled again some distance away. Later in the season
the females and young join these gay bachelors, and by
the middle of October are met with in small flocks, all
along the coasts, where they remain until the ice begins
to form and drives them away. In the mating season
they utter a low clear whistle, and will come to a decoy
when this note is imitated. In the winter it frequents
the sheltered coves and bays in the Aleutian Islands and
is very shy and dives and goes a considerable distance
under water, when alarmed. .

The Surf Duck appears on our coast in company with
the other Coots in October, and is the most numerous of
all the species. It remains just outside the line of inner ”
breakers, or between them and the beach, often coming
quite close in, and in small companies passes the day in rid-
ing the waves and exploring their depths. It often enters
the large bays, and occasionally is very abundant on the
Chesapeake in the vicinity of Norfolk, and out toward
the ocean. The birds are frequently seen dotting the
surface of the water in every direction, and when a boat
approaches, will wait until it is almost on to them, when
they either dive, or rise heavily, flapping the water with
both wings and feet until, gaining headway, they fly low
for a short distance and drop with a splash into the waves
again. All three species of Coots are often seen in such
situations, but as a rule each keeps by itself, though occa-
sionally, from the rapid approach of some steamer, the
members of the flocks, on rising, get mixed together.
But they do not remain so long, each species again seek-
ing its fellows. As these Ducks are heavy and rise from
the water with difficulty, they are always obliged to take
wing against the wind, but if they are so situated that, to
do this, they must fly toward the object of their alarm,
they always take refuge in diving; frequently passing

SURF SCOTER. 203

completely under a steamer and appearing on the other
side.

As the weather increases in severity during the winter
the Surf Scoters move southward, coming gradually
northward as spring approaches, and by the month of
May they are well on their way toward their northern
breeding grounds. This species has straggled south as
far as Bermuda, and there are two records of its appear-
ance in that island, and it has also occasionally been cap-
tured in Europe, but these are merely wanderers from
their fellows and native land, blown off their route pos-
sibly by some storm. The Surf Scoter has many trivial
‘names, and is known as the Hollow-billed Coot, Skunk
Head Coot, Spectacle Coot, Spectacle Duck, Surf Duck,
Horse Head Coot, Bay Coot, Butterboat-billed Coot, etc.;
while the females and young are called Gray Coot and
Brown Coot. Although none of the Coots can be called
handsome Ducks, yet the peculiar markings of the head,
and the bright coloring of the bill of the present species,
almost entitles it to that epithet. As an article of food the
Surf Scoter is not generally much sought after, as its
flesh is tough and fishy, but Turner says that in Alaska
those obtained among the Aleutian Islands were very
good indeed, and if well prepared the flesh was free from
all strong odors. I am inclined to think that perhaps the
absence of dishes obtainable in more southern climes,
and the presence of an appetite excited by much open-
air exercise, had a great deal to do with this opinion, for
in the United States few people care to dine on Coot.

GPEMIA PERSPICILLATA.

Geographical Distrzbution.—Northern North America, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and on the large inland
waters. Going south in winter to Florida on the east coast; the

204 WATER FOWL.

Ohio River in the interior, and to Lower California in the west.
Breeds in the Arctic regions. Accidental in Bermuda and in
Europe.

Adult Male.—Triangular spot on forehead, with the point
forward, occupying nearly all the space between the eyes, and
another large one on nape, pointing downward, white. Entire
rest of plumage, glossy black, lightest on under parts; no white
on wing. Bill has the “ upper mandible (#a+xz//a), above at base,
including nostrils, dull crimson, this changed to flame scarlet
over the front of the mandible (maxz//a); nail, cadmium yellow,
narrowly edged anteriorly with lighter yellow, and sometimes
posteriorly with light lavender; sides with large squarish patch
of black at base, this separated from the black feathering above
it by orange, and from the feathering behind by a narrower edge
of crimson; beneath this black patch and in front of it as far as
anterior edge of nostril, or thereabouts, continuously white, the
remainder of the sides (anteriorly to the white portion), pure
orange; lower mandible nail like its fellow above; back of this
for a short distance, reddish flesh color, terminating irregularly
in white, the white continued to the base, with more or less
black on the naked skin between the rami; feet, outer sides
of tarsus and toes, excepting inner toe, crimson; the inner
side, with both sides of inner toe, orange chrome, deepening
in part to orange vermilion; joints and other portions blotchily
marked with black; webs, solidly black.”— 7rumbull. Iris,
white; pupil, black. Total length, about 21 inches; wing, 9};
culmen, 14; tarsus, 17%.

Adult Female.—Top of head and nape, brownish black. A
more or less distinct patch on lores, and another behind the ears,
white. Rest of head and neck ashy brown. Upper parts, dusky
brown, with some feathers having paler tips; under parts, gray-
ish brown, nearly white on the abdomen; some of the flank feath-
ers tipped with white or whitish brown, anal region and under
tail coverts, dusky. Wing like the upper parts, no white. Bill,
black, with a greenish tinge. Iris, dark. Feet and legs, brown-
ish yellow; webs, black. Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 9;
culmen, 133;; tarsus, 1;'5.

Young Male.—Resembles very closely the female, but the
white spots on lores and sides of head are clearer, and there are
traces, or beginnings, of the large white patch on the nape. Bill
is slightly tumid at base, with pinkish tinge on sides anteriorly.

SURF SCOTER. 205

Among adult males there is considerable variation in the white
ee of the head. Sometimes the patch on the fore part of
crown is wanting, and there is considerable difference in the size
_ of these markings when present. The coloring of the bill, also,

varies at times from the typical style, some individuals having
_ more black than others.

AMERICAN SCOTER.

T HIs Duck has a wide dispersion in North America,

and is found from the Arctic Sea to Southern Cali-
fornia on the Pacific, to the Great Lakes in the interior
of the continent, and to New Jersey and possibly much
farther south on the Atlantic coast. It has been pro-
cured at St. Louis in Missouri, and is a rare visitor to Illi-
nois and perhaps some of the adjacent States. It is
abundant at Hudson Bay, but is present in greater num-
bers, in the breeding season, on the Alaskan coasts than
in almost any other portion of the extreme north. It
abounds about Behring Sea and Kotzebue Sound, and
has been seen at St. Lawrence Island, breeds on the
Nearer Islands, occurs on the Commander Islands and
the Shumagin group, is a winter resident in the Aleutian
Islands, and, according to Swinhoe, has been taken in
China and Japan.

The species comes to St. Michael’s, Nelson says, when
the ice begins to break up on the sea, and the ponds in
the marshes are open. Toward the end of May the
birds frequent these last, and mating having been accom-
plished a site for the nest is chosen. This is generally in
the grass near to water, and formed of grass, feathers,
leaves, and moss. If any low-branching tree or bush is
handy, the nest is often placed beneath it. As a rule it
is carefully hidden, and the eggs are covered by the
female whenever she goes away. When incubation com-
mences the males leave the females and gather, as is the
custom of the Eiders, in great flocks along the sea-shore

200

—

—™
oe

TN OT

49. American Scoter.

—— —_———-»—

AMERICAN SCOTER. 207

in the vicinity of a bay or inlet. These assemblies con-
tinue to grow in numbers throughout the summer.
Sometimes the males are seen with the females in the
marshes throughout the season, but these are late
breeders. The young are kept by the females near the
nest in some pond until half grown, and then they gradu-
ally work their way down to the sea. Their habits dur-
ing the breeding season are very much like those of the
Eiders.

About the middle of October the migration southward
begins. Upon the Atlantic coast the American Scoter
appears from its northern breeding grounds in Septem-
ber. These individuals are mainly old birds, the young
coming during October. They are associated with the
two other species of Scoter, and continue to pass along
the coast until late in the winter. The present species is
less numerous than the others, and while the members of
the flocks usually keep pretty well together, they yet at
times become all mixed up with the White-winged and
Surf Scoters. They keep at quite a distance from the
beach, and fly in a long line just above the water, headed
generally by some old male. They travel at a great speed,
sometimes at the rate of, possibly, one hundred miles an
hour, and are very difficult to kill, not only because of the
rapidity of their flight, but also on account of the density
of their feathers, which toa great extent prevents the shot
from entering the body. As a diver, like all Sea Ducks,
this Scoter is most skillful, disappearing without effort
beneath the surface, and remaining for an exceedingly
long time without rising. If wounded it will frequently
seize some grass growing on the bottom, as already re-
lated of some other deep-water Ducks, and commit
suicide by drowning rather than permit itself to be cap-
tured, If the water is clear, the bird can be seen close to

208 WATER FOWL.

the bottom, and if an oar can be made to reach it, by re-
peated pushes it can be compelled to release its hold,
when it usually rises to the surface, though sometimes it
will swim to another clump of grass and hang on to that.

This species utters a long musical whistle, and it can
often be distinguished by this note from the other Ducks
in the vicinity. In windy weather these birds fly very
low over the water, and if disturbed by a passing boat,
when resting on the surface, if they rise at all, it will be
to fly for only a short distance, and then drop with a
splash, and usually dive at once if the object of their
alarm is near. In calm weather they fly. very high, espe-
cially when migrating. They mate, as do many of the
Water Fowl, before the spring migration begins, and the
male will often be seen following the female closely about
whenever she is upon the wing. Should anything hap-
pen to her he frequently returns to seek her, but if he is
the sufferer she pays no attention to him, but continues
on her way with apparent indifference.

This Duck has many names, the best known being,
Black Coot, Whistling Coot, Butter-billed, and Hollow-
billed Coot, while the female is called Gray and Brown
Coot. There are quite a number of other names, many
of them purely local. The color of the eggs is a pinkish
ivory white. The male of this Duck, while arrayed in a
melancholy dress of intense black, has one brilliant spot,
in the place that would be most suspicious and unattrac-
tive in man, but which is all right in a bird, viz.: around
and behind the nostrils. The basal part of the bill bulges
up and is a bright orange, slightly paler above. This bit
of color relieves the appearance of what would be other-
wise a gloomy and somber-looking creature. As a bird
for the table, the adults of this species, like those of the
two succeeding, are abominable,

AMERICAN SCOTER. 209

GDEMIA AMERICANA.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern North America, from
the Arctic Ocean to California on the Pacific, and to the Great
Lakes in the interior (accidental in Missouri), and to New Jersey
on the Atlantic coast. Breeds from Labrador throughout the
Arctic regions, Aleutian Islands, and Islands of Behring Sea, and
is said to visit China and Japan.

Adult Male.—Entire plumage, black, glossy on head, neck,
and upper parts. Nospeculum. Inner webs of primaries, gray-
ish. Bill, black on apical half, bright orange on basal half, in-
cluding the gibbous portion, or knob. Iris, deep brown. Legs
and feet, blackish. Total length, about 18 inches; wing, 84;
culmen, including knob, 1%; tarsus, 1,%5.

Adult Female.—Front, crown, and nape, dark brown. Chin,
throat, and sides of head and neck, light grayish brown, speckled
with dusky. Upper parts, sooty brown, tips of feathers, lighter;
under parts, grayish brown; feathers on lower breast and abdo-
men, frequently tipped with grayish white. Bill of normal
shape, black, sometimes with yellow marks. Legs and feet,
olive brown; webs, black. Total length, about 18 inches; wing,
83; culmen, 1,4; tarsus, 1,5.

Young.—Resembles the female. Chin, throat, sides of head
and neck, brownish white. Under parts, whitish, with nebu-
lous spots of brown. Crissum, grayish brown; feathers, with
whitish tips.

Downy YVoung.—Upper parts and breast, dark brown. Throat,
white. Abdomen, grayish brown. Bill, dark plumbeous. Legs
and feet, olive.

VELVET SCOTER.

HE Velvet Scoter is a bird of the Old World, and has

only been obtained a few times within the limits of
North America, viz., in Greenland and Alaska. It must
then be regarded as an accidental visitor to our shores,
and in no way considered as an American species. It is
rather common in the northern portions of the Eastern
Hemisphere, going southward, during the winter, to the
Mediterranean and the Caspian seas. Like its American
ally, this Scoter is found along the sea-coast, flies swiftly
after it once gets started,—for it is rather clumsy in rising
from the water, as it is a heavy bird,—swims easily, and
is a most expert diver.

The nest is placed upon the ground near some pond.
It is merely a depression, hidden under a bush, and lined
with grass, leaves, and some down, and the number of
eggs varies from eight to ten, ivory white in hue, with a
buff tinge. The habits of this species are the same as
those of the American Scoter. When incubation begins
the males desert the females, and assembling together re-
sort to the sea, and the islands lying off shore. When
the young are full grown they and the females join the
males, and begin their journey southward. The Velvet
Scoter bears a close resemblance to the American Scoter,
but has a differently shaped and colored bill, which easily
distinguishes the two forms.

50.

Velvet Scoter.

VELDVE LD SCOLER. 211

GDEMIA FUSCA.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portions of the Old
World. Occasional in Greenland and Alaska.

Adult Male.—General plumage, uniform velvety black. Eye-
lids and spot under eyes, white. Speculum formed by tips of
greater coverts and secondaries, white. Bill, orange, much
elevated at base, with a black line running obliquely from nostril
to the nail. Iris, white. Legs and feet, dark red, or crimson;
webs, black. Total length, about 22 inches; wing, 11; culmen,
13; tarsus, 1,%.

Adult Female.—A spot near base of maxilla, and one near the
ear, and also the secondaries, white. General plumage, brown-
ish gray, with pale edges on the back and scapulars. Under
parts, sooty gray; feathers, edged with whitish. Bill, dusky.
Legs and feet, similar in color to those of male, but paler.

Downy Young.—Resembles those of @. americana, but has
a white spot on the wings, and the belly white.

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.

A WELL-KNOWN species along our coasts, and on

our inland lakes and rivers in certain portions of
the West, the White-winged Scoter has a wide distribu-
tion throughout North America. It does not seem to
breed as far north as the American Scoter, but has been
obtained on both sides of the continent, and goes in win-
ter on the Pacific coast as far as Southern California and
to the Middle States on the Atlantic. It is also found
upon the Great Lakes, being common on Lake Michigan,
and is generally met with throughout Illinois in winter
and has been seen in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and as far
south as the vicinity of St. Louis, in Missouri.

As the White-winged Coot it is known everywhere,
and is usually considered of little value, on account
of the poor quality of its flesh. Its habits resemble those
of the other Coots, with which it is frequently associated.
In Alaska it breeds, about St. Michael’s, on the lower
Yukon, and also in the vicinity of Sitka, and occurs very
sparingly among the Aleutian Islands, but in autumn is
common along the coast of the mainland from St.
Michael’s, southward. On the eastern side of North
America it breeds along the Mackenzie River to the
Arctic Sea, on the Lower Anderson River, and on the
Barren Grounds, and at Hudson Bay. The nest is placed
upon the ground, concealed in a clump of trees, or under
some low, spreading bush, and is a mere depression in
the ground, lined with down and feathers, and near some

212

51.

White-Winged Scoter.

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. 213

pond or stream. The eggs, which are from five to eight
in number, are a light cream color. This Duck breeds,
in addition to the places already mentioned, in Labrador,
where Audubon found the nests and eggs and also cap-
tured some of the young, only a few days old. The nests
were placed in situations similar to those already de-
scribed, but were formed of twigs, mosses, and plants
matted together and without any down. He says the
eggs he saw were pale cream color, tinged with green.
Although the young he procured were only about a
week old, the males could already be distinguished from
the females by the white spot under the eye. The down
covering them was stiff and hairy, all black except the
chin, which was white. The birds were present in great
numbers and kept arriving all the time from the Gulf of
St. Lawrence.

On the Atlantic coast, this Coot reaches the shores of
the New England States in September or beginning of
October, appearing in flocks of no very great size, the
old ones coming first. When migrating the birds fly
high, and they pursue their way in silence. If the
weather is stormy their course is low over the water,
rising and falling with the waves, now just topping some
combing billow, again hidden as they disappear in the
trough of the sea. Although their flesh is poor, tough,
and fishy, numbers of this Duck are shot by gunners
every season. They are exceedingly tenacious of life,
and are clothed in such a dense feathery covering that
it requires a gun heavily charged to bring them down;
and if only wounded they dive so quickly, and stay
under water so long, that it is next to impossible to
secure them. The feathers also, beside being strong
and thick, seem as if they were inserted through the
skin and clinched on the under side, and the labor of

214 WATER FOWL.

picking a few individuals of this Coot is no joke, usually
resulting in sore fingers.

Where a flock is flying too high for a successful shot,
it can sometimes be brought within range by discharg-
ing a gun at it, and at the report, the birds will often
make a sudden plunge downward in the direction of the
water, coming near enough to the sportsman for him to
kill some of them. The Scoter, as has been said, is a
skillful diver, and will frequently go to the bottom, where
the water is fifty feet deep, and, if wounded, stay there.

This Duck has many names among the sportsmen and
gunners, some of the best known being, Velvet Duck,
Velvet Scoter, White-winged Surf Duck, Coot, Black
Surf Duck, etc. It is also the Lake Huron Scoter de-
scribed by Herbert (Frank Forrester) from an immature
bird, and although the young, when it has fed perhaps
upon such diet as the inland lakes afford, is not (as I
know, for | have shot numbers of them in such waters
myself) as fishy as the birds killed on the coasts, yet it
does not deserve the praise he gives it. The food of this
Duck consists of fish, mollusca, and various crustaceans
procured by diving.

GDEMIA DEGLANDI.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portions of North Amer-
ica on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts; going south in winter
to Chesapeake Bay, southern Illinois, vicinity of St. Louis in Mis-
souri, and Lower California. Breeds in the Arctic regions.

Adult Male.—A small spot under eye, and speculum on wing,
white. Entire plumage, black, inclining to brownish black be-
neath; flanks olive brown. Base of maxilla, including elevated
culmen and nostrils, together with the edges, black. Sides of
maxilla, deep red, grading into orange on culmen; nail, vermil-
ion. Between the nail and nostril, pearly white. Iris, white, or
yellowish white. Legs and feet, scarlet; joints and webs, black,
Total length, about 20 inches; wings, 11; culmen, 1,%; tarsus, 2,

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. 215

Adult Female.—Upper part of head and neck, dark brown. A
white spot behind the ear, and another indicated at base of max-
illa. Rest of head and neck, sooty brown. Upper parts, sooty
brown; speculum, white. Under parts, grayish brown. Bill,
uniform dusky. Iris, dark. Legs and feet, duller than those of
the male, flesh color, tinged with black; webs, black. Wing, 103;
culmen, 1,8; tarsus, 1,5.

Young Male.—Similar to the female, but head and neck, sooty
black, and no white spot beneath the eye asin adult male.

SRELLER'S, DUCK

HIS very beautiful bird is only found within our
limits, on the coasts and islands of Behring Sea;
it also breeds along the northern shores of Siberia,
and from there occasionally straggles into Russia and
northern Europe. About all we know of it is derived
from the accounts of the few naturalists who have visited
its habitat. Nelson says he found it rather numerous
in the quiet, sheltered bays and fjords of the Aleutian
Islands, where, however, it was very shy. The residents
told him the species was abundant in winter in the bays
not ice-bound, and many birds were killed for food. It is
found at Kadiak and Sauk Island, near the eastern end of
the Aleutian chain, on the Shumagin Group, and also in
great flocks on the north coast of the Alaskan Peninsula.
Dall found it associating with the King Eider in
winter.

The mating season begins in May, and the nest is
placed between tussocks of grass and lined with the
same material, and concealed by long, overhanging
grasses. In the nest found there was a single egg, which
was a pale grayish green color. It is said that if a nest
is visited the bird will abandon it at once.

This Duck seems to be irregular in its movements and
does not always appear at the same place at stated
periods. Thus in May, 1872, it was very abundant at
Unalaska together with the Pacific Eider, but in May,
1873, though the season was later, not a single member
of either species was seen. It breeds on St. Lawrence

216

ATs Elliot and fedwir Sheppard. — .

52. Steller’s Duck.

STELLER’S DUCK. 217

Island, and in summer passes along the Siberian coast
from Kamchatka northward, moving, as winter ap-
proaches, to the Aleutian and Kurile islands to the
south. Steller’ss Duck frequents lagoons and_ the
mouths of large rivers, also outlying rocky islets and
exposed reefs, and feeds in the tide-rips, keeping along
the shore but not very close in, where the water is clear
and deep. It dives well and remains a long time below
the surface, seeking its marine food. In the Arctic Sea,
at Point Barrow, this species arrives in June and leaves
by the middle of August, and in Norton Sound the birds
are taken as late as the 15th of October, but those cap-
tured are mostly young of the year. At the Commander
Islands they arrive at the beginning of November, stay
all winter, and leave by the end of May. It will be seen
that this handsome Duck is a lover of cold weather and
ice-bound coasts, and makes no effort to join the hosts
that annually in the autumn seek a milder clime, but
dwells throughout the year along the cheerless, sterile
shores that bound the Arctic seas and islands. Al-
though it has been taken in various parts of Northern
Europe, even in the British Islands, there is no record
of its capture in North America south of the limits of
Alaska.

HENICONETTA STELEERI.

Geographical Déistrtibution.—Arctic and Subarctic coasts of
Northern Hemisphere, Islands in Behring Sea, Aleutian Islands,
and coast of Alaskan Peninsula, east to Kadiak.

Adult Male,—Head and upper part of neck, satiny white;
space around the eyes on each side of occipital tuft, chin and
throat, black. Lores and tuft of stiff feathers on occiput, pale
olive green. Lower part of neck, middle of back, rump, and
upper tail coverts, blue black. Long scapulars, shining blue
black on outer web, and white on the very narrow inner web;

218 WATER FOWL.

other scapulars similarly colored, bend downward across the
wing, falling below the primaries. Wing coverts, anterior scap-
ulars, and sides of back, pure white. Outer webs of secondaries,
shining blue black, forming a speculum, the tips white, making a
bar below the blue black. Primaries, blackish brown. Under
parts, tawny, deepest on breast and middle of abdomen, which
are chestnut or even black, grading into light buff or ochra-
ceous on sides. A round black spot.on each side of the breast in
front of primary coverts. Anal regions and under tail coverts,
black. Tail, brownish black. Bill, light bluish gray, yellowish
at tip. Iris, dark brown, Legs and feet, brownish gray. Total
length, about 18 inches; wing, 8; culmen, 14; tarsus, 13.

Adult Female.—Head and neck, reddish brown, speckled with
dusky. Upper parts, dusky; feathers, tipped with fulvous.
Wings, dusky; the coverts, tipped with brownish gray; tertials,
broadly margined with snuff brown. Tips of greater coverts and
secondaries, white, forming two narrow bars across the wing.
Primaries, blackish brown; speculum, dull purplish brown. Up-
per part of breast, rusty brown, spotted with black; upper parts,
sooty brown. Bill, bluish gray. Legs and feet, brownish gray.
Total length, 174 inches; wing, 8; culmen, 14; tarsus, rf.

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SPECTACLED EIDER:.

RESIDENT of the remote northwest coast of

America, the Spectacled or Fischer’s Eider, as it is
sometimes called, is local in its habitat, and is met with
from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to Point Bar-
row, appearing at the latter place in summer. Its
breeding range, according to Nelson, is from Norton
Bay to the Kuskokwim River, but Turner says it also
occurs among all the Aleutian Islands, where it breeds
and is a constant resident, although extremely shy.
This is another of our wild Ducks that have never ap-
peared south of Alaska, and only those wha have visited
the extreme northern part of that Territory, above the
Peninsula, have had any opportunity to observe it in
its native haunts. Its dispersion is somewhat greater
than was at first supposed, but, even as we now know it,
the species appears to be very local. It arrives in the
vicinity of St. Michz 1I’s between the middle and last of
May, flying in small flocks not exceeding fifty indi-
viduals, and skimming just over the surface of the ice
or marsh. Nelson says that the flocks break up soon
after reaching their destination and mating takes place,
but the eggs are seldom laid before June. The love-
making is of a quiet, undemonstrative kind, and the
birds are silent, uttering no notes. The nest is a depres-
sion amid the grass, in some dry spot near the water,
and lined with grass. The eggs, from five to nine of
which make a set, are light olive drab in color. Other
nesting places are tussocks of grass, small islands in

219

220 WATER FOWL.

ponds, and knolls near the water, and the nest is hidden
in the dry grass amid which it is placed. The male re-
mains near the nesting place until the young are hatched,
when he disappears, probably to moult, and the female
takes sole charge of the young and shows much courage
in their defense, putting herself in the way of danger,
and shielding the little ones from harm by every means
in her power. By the beginning of September the young
are well grown and all have deserted the marshes, and
the species is scarce along the coast toward the last of
the month. Nelson thinks that on account of its local
distribution, and restricted range, it may readily be so
reduced in numbers as to become a very rare bird, possi-
bly even extinct, like the Great Auk and Labrador
Duck. Its breeding range does not exceed four
hundred miles of coast line with a width of not over one
or two miles, and against the usual opposing natural
forces it must contend with, it has, in addition, the
natives armed with shotguns. The diminution of
Water Fowl in that country, he says, is more marked
every season, and this in certain cases can only be the
beginning of extinction, and this warfare against the
feathered creatures will be increased on account of the
growing scarcity of large game.

ARCTONETTA; FISCHETa!.

Geographical Déstribution.—Alaskan coast from the Kusko-
kwim River to Point Barrow, Behring Sea, Aleutian Islands.

Adult Male.—Feathers projecting onto the bill, stiff, plush
like, yellowish white, anteriorly grading into sea green on the
lores and forehead, this color extending in a narrow line along the
crown, and in arather broad stripe beneath the eye patch, and
then broadening out on the thick occipital crest. The green is
deepest on lores, on the stripe under the eye and edges of crest,
and becomes very pale yellowish green on crown and center of

SV AVA CMAN EILIBION ISIUOV TIS. 221

crest. A large satiny white pad encircles the eye and covers nearly
all the side of the face and crown, bordered above and on either
side by a narrow line of black. Chin, throat, neck, back, small
wing coverts, scapulars, falcate tertials, and a large patch on
each side of the rump, white. Greater wing coverts, primaries,
and tail, dark brown. Under wing coverts, pale brown. Lower
back, rump, upper tail coverts, and breast, dark plumbeous,
grading into smoky black on the lower breast, abdomen, and un-
der tail coverts. Bill, orange, deepest along the edges, and palest
on nail. Iris is surrounded by a broad, bright, milky blue ring.
Legs and feet, olive brown or yellowish. Total length, about 214
inches; wing, 11; culmen, ;§,; tarsus, 1,%.

Adult Female.—Fore part, top, and back of head and back of
neck, yellowish buff, streaked with dusky, coarsest on back of
head and neck. A broad stripe, about 8 inch in width, in front
of eyes, beginning at corner of the mouth and extending
onto center of head as far as posterior line of eye, dark brown.
Space around eyes and cheeks, grayish buff, finely streaked with
dusky. Upper parts, rather coarsely barred with fulvous and
black, the bars narrower on rump and upper tail coverts. Lesser
coverts of wing, pale brown, barred with black. Remainder of
wing, pale brown; the tips of greater coverts and secondaries,
white, forming two bars across the wing. Breast and sides and
under tail coverts, barred with fulvous and black. Rest of under
parts, grayish brown. Bill, dull blue. Legs and feet, dull yel-
lowish brown. Total length, about 21 inches; wing, 104; cul-
men, 1; tarsus, 13.

AMERICAN EIDER.

REPLACING the Common Eider on a large portion

of the Atlantic coast,the present species is distributed
from Labrador as far south in winter as the Delaware
River. Formerly it was more abundant and passed a
greater portion of the winter along the shores of Massa-
chusetts, but now it seldom appears south of that State
save in very cold weather in midwinter. Occasionally it
penetrates to the westward, and has been observed on the
Great Lakes and captured in both Illinois and Wisconsin,
pretty far in the interior for a Sea Duck. It breeds from
the northern limit of Labrador to the Bay of Fundy
and the northeastern coast of Maine. In Labrador it
prefers small islands in sheltered bays as sites for its
nest, and this is placed under small firs and other trees
with low, down-reaching branches, or beneath overhang-
ing plants with thick foliage. The nest, placed in a de-
pression in the ground in situations like those described,
is formed of sea-weed, mosses, grasses, and such-like
suitable material, and filled with the softest and warmest
downy bed imaginable, in which the eggs lie, often hid-
den from sight. These are usually six in number, pale
greenish olive in color. The female is a close sitter,
and if disturbed from the nest utters a hoarse croak.
Sometimes one nest is occupied by two females, each de-
positing her eggs, and when the full number is reached
both carry on the duty of incubation together in the most
complete harmony, and when the young appear assume
jointly the care of the united broods. The female de-
fends her young from the attacks of such feathered and

222

54. American Eider.

AMERICAN EIDER. 223

furred foes as she is able to withstand, and, as soon as
they are hatched, leads them to the water, where they
can at least escape from their enemies of the air by div-
ing. The males leave the females when incubation be-
gins, and, like those of the other species, betake them-
selves to the sea. The food of this Duck consists of
mollusks, which it swallows entire.

The American Eider likes to haunt rocky shores, and
may often be seen standing on the bowlders, slippery with
the spray and marine mosses, at the edge of the water.
I have frequently watched them flying low over the sea
in regular undulating lines, the quick flaps of the wings,
succeeded by a rigid poise, when on fixed pinions the
birds would sail along for a short distance, followed by
more flappings, and thus, with alternate beats and sail-
ings, they would move swiftly along close to the shore.
Occasionally they would be congregated on the water in
flocks of considerable size, and avoided the approaching
boat by diving, staying under the surface for a rather
lengthy time, and then rising at some distance away, to
dive again, or to move off in long lines.

The male is a handsome bird, and shows well when
swimming on the surface of the sea, as he rises and
sinks upon the swells rolling in toward the rocks. As
an article of food the American Eider is about on a par
with his European relative, and there is little satisfaction
in shooting the bird, large and handsome as he is, unless
for the sole purpose of obtaining some down or a
specimen.

SOMATERIA DRESSERT.

Geographical Dzstrzibution.—North America, from Labrador
to Delaware on the Atlantic coast. Occasionally westward to
the Great Lakes.

224 WATER FOWL.

Adult Male.—In color of plumage and its general distribu-
tion there is no appreciable, certainly no specific difference,
between the male of this species and the Common Eider of
Greenland and the northern regions of the Old World, and the
description given of the succeeding species may answer very
well for the American Eider. But the two forms, apart from
their plumage, can be readily distinguished by the shape of the
frontal angles, or the naked portion running from the base of the
bill onto each side of the forehead. In S. mo/lzssima, the next
species, these angles are narrow and more or less pointed and
smooth, while in the American Eider they are broad androunded
at the end, and much corrugated. In general measurements
there is very little difference between the two species. The bill
of the present one, from tip to end of frontal angle, averages
about 2,4 inches; greatest width of angle, .45; culmen, 1,4.

In some male specimens a dusky V-shaped mark is observable
on the throat, but this is rare.

Adult Female.—With the exception of the shape of the frontal
angle, the female of this species is not to be distinguished from
that of the Common Eider.

Downy Young.—Like that of the Common Eider,

EIDER.

T was for a long time even unsuspected that there was
more than one species of the Common Eider Duck,
so well known throughout all the world for the valuable
quality of its down. But when the birds from the Atlan-
tic coasts of North America were critically compared
with those from Europe, sufficien’ uferences were dis-
covered to necessitate the recognition of two distinct
species. The plumage of the two forms does not differ,
but the characters that separate them are found in that
part of the maxilla, or upper half of the bill, which ex-
tends toward the head. In the present species, which
is the same as the European bird, this portion of
the bill is narrow and terminates in a point, while in the
American species, this part is broad and has a convex
end. The Common Eider ranges throughout northern
Europe, and is found in Greenland and on the Ameri-
can coast from Labrador south in winter along the
shores of Maine, and in the Arctic Ocean as far west as
the Coppermine River in the longitude of Great Slave
Lake. The down of this bird, which is plucked from the
breast of the female for a lining to her nest, is a most
valuable article of commerce, and in order to procure it
in sufficient quantity, the birds may almost be said to
have become domesticated in Iceland, Norway, and other
parts of Europe, where they are in the habit of breeding
in large numbers. Accommodations are provided for
them, the turf is scraped away in squares of about eight-
een inches each, or similar spaces are arranged with

225

226 WATER FOWL.

stones, all of which are occupied in the season by sitting
birds, and so closely are the nests placed to each other
that one can hardly move among them without stepping
upon a Duck or an egg. In such colonies as these the
Eider become very tame, and frequently will not leave
the nest when a person approaches, and some allow the
inhabitants of the island, whom they are accustomed to
see daily, to stroke their feathers or remove the eggs
from beneath them without more remonstrance than is
usually made by a hen under similar circumstances. By
the time the full complement of eggs is laid, the down
has been gradually increased in the nest, until at length
the quantity becomes so large that the eggs are entirely
concealed and covered by it. The nests are made of
sea-weed, and the eggs, five or six of which are a full
complement, are a pale green color.

When incubation has commenced the males retire to
the sea and remain in flocks near the shore, leading an
idle, careless kind of a bachelor life, free from all family
duties, and when moulting time arrives they go farther
out to sea, and do not return to the females and young
until the autumn. Incubation lasts about a month, and
the young are conducted to the water by the female,
sometimes carried there in her bill, and she remains with
her little family until they are full grown and are joined
by the males, later in the year. This Duck does not
seem to mind cold, and has been known to endure a
temperature of 50° below zero without any incon-
venience. Of course it could remain in such extreme
frost only in places where the water was kept open, and
comparatively free from ice, by the rapidity of the cur-
rent or tide rifts.

The Eider is a great diver and remains a long time
under water. It feeds chiefly on mollusks which it pro-

EIDER. 227

cures on the bottom, often at great depths. The flight is
low and performed in Indian file, each bird following at
a regular distance from the one in front, and by regular
flaps and sailings of the wings. The males make a sort
of cooing sound, especially when sitting near the shore
during the breeding season, and the females often leave
the nests for a short time and join them. Although
breeding, and not uncommon, in various parts of
the eastern Arctic regions in North America, it can-
not be said to appear often, at least in any considerable
numbers, on our Atlantic coast much south of the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, but is supplanted there by its near ally
the American Eider. Both are large Ducks of about
equal size, and on the wing it would be impossible to dis-
tinguish one from the other. As an article of food, the
Eider cannot be said to take very high rank, but from
the nature of its diet has a fishy, unattractive quality of
flesh. The eggs are said, however, to be palatable.

SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA.

Geographical Diéstributzon.—Northeastern coast of North
America, south to Massachusetts; Greenland, northern part of
Eastern Hemisphere.

Adult Male.—Top of head, velvety black, with a white stripe
in the center of the occipital region. Nape and posterior part of
the auricular region, sea green; cheeks, neck, chin, throat, back,
lesser and middle wing coverts, falcate tertials, and a large patch
on either side of rump, pure white. Greater wing coverts and
secondaries, brownish black. Primaries, pale brown. Lower
part of back, rump, upper and under tail coverts, and entire
under parts below the breast, deep black. Breast, pinkish cream
color. Sometimes the back and scapulars are tinged with yel-
lowish. Tail, pale brown, like the primaries. Bill, olive green;
sometimes with an olive yellow shade; nail, greenish yellow.
Legs and feet, olive green. Total length, about 22 inches; wing,
12; bill, culmen, 1,4; from tip to end of frontal angle, 23;
greatest width of angle, 30; tarsus, 175.

228 WATER FOWL.

Adult Female.—Head and neck, pale rufous brown, streaked
with narrow black lines; upper parts of head, darkest. Rest of
plumage, brownish buff, or chestnut brown, on the upper parts
and breast, barred with black; the under parts below the breast,
grayish brown, with dusky nebulous bars. Wing like the back,
the white tips of the secondaries forming two bars across the
wing. Primaries and tail, blackish brown. Bill, legs, and feet,
like those of the male, perhaps slightly darker. Size, about the
same.

Young.—Resembles the female, but the margins of the feathers
are rusty brown, and the white wing bars are indistinct. Males
have the sides of the head blackish.

Downy Young.—Crown of head, lores, and sides of face, dark
brown; upper parts brown tinged with fulvous on upper part of
back. Line over the eye and on each side of chin, white; the
latter making a V-shaped mark. Under parts, pale brown, with
center of breast and abdomen, white.

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PACIEIG BIDER.

PROM the Peninsula of Alaska, as far west as Attu

of the Aleutian Islands, throughout the islands of
Behring Sea, along the coast of Alaska to the Arctic
Ocean, and eastward to the Coppermine River, is ap-
parently the distribution of this species in the far north-
ern region in which it finds its home. The principal
breeding resorts are the islands of Behring Sea, although
the birds nest also in great numbers in various other
places. The habits are very similar to those of the Com-
mon and American Eiders, with the exception that this
Duck does not breed in colonies.

Pretty much all that is known of the habits and
economy of this fine bird is related by Dall, Nelson, and
Turner, whose long residence in the bleak northwest
afforded them ample opportunities for observing this
Duck in its haunts. According to their reports the
Pacific Eiders begin to approach the shores off the
mouth of the Yukon River, if the ice permits, from the
1oth to the 20th of May and proceed to choose the sites
for their nests, the ponds and creeks in the marshes being —
at that time open. There does not seem to be any
especial manifestation of affection during the courtship,
all the preliminaries having probably been gone through
with at sea, previous to the arrival of the mated
birds near the shore. They come in small flocks,
which break up into pairs, each couple resorting
to the salt marshes. A moss-grown slope, a grassy
tussock, or a depression made in the ground in

229

230 WATER FOWL,

some dry place near to a pond or creek, or even
close to the sea-shore, is chosen as a site for the
nest. The cavity is lined with grass or pieces of moss,
and down from the parent's breast is provided in quan-
tities, as the eggs are laid, sufficient to cover them, so
that when the full complement is deposited the amount
is very considerable. A peculiarity of this species seems
to be that the eggs are not placed upon the down, but
are merely covered by it. The male faithfully attends
the. female in the Arctic night until all the eggs
are deposited, yet during the day he seems to
lose all interest in matrimonial affairs, and joins
other males which pass their time sunning them-
selves on the reefs near the shore. But in the twi-
light they fly silently back to their partners, to see if
all is going on well. When upon the rocks the males
keep uttering a long, guttural note which, when many
are congregated together, sounds like a continuous
grunting. The males outnumber the females, and sev-
eral may be seen at times in attendance on one female.
This is in Alaska, but near the mouth of the Anderson
River, where MacFarlane found this species very abun-
dant, the reverse was the case, and he was inclined to
think they were polygamous, for he sometimes would
find two females on the same nest. This, as has been
already remarked, is occasionally witnessed among the
breeding colonies of the eastern Eider.

When incubation has fairly begun the males retire to
the sea and outlying rocks, and concern themselves no
farther with their wives. The eggs are generally six or
seven in number and are of a light olive drab color.
Toward the end of June or beginning of July the young
appear, and are at once led to the nearest water, gener-
ally a pond or creek, and later to the sheltered bays and

PACIFIC EIDER. 231

mouths of rivers on the coast. The females now begin
to moult, and like the young possess only one means of
escape from their enemies—great skill in diving. The
Eskimo amuse themselves at this time trying to strike
the birds with spears, but are rarely able to hit one, so
quickly do they vanish beneath the surface. The young
are not able to fly much before the middle of September,
and toward the end of this month all desert the main
shores and are only found off the outer reefs and small
islands. In the autumn it is said the male assumes a
plumage very similar to that of the female, and the young
males only attain the fully adult breeding dress at the
commencement of the third year. As a rule the Pacific
Eider is very shy and difficult of approach, except when
on land during boisterous weather. At such times the
birds gather on the rocks on the shore in large num-
bers, and the natives are accustomed to catch many by
throwing hand nets over them. A bright night, when
the wind is blowing hard, is the best for this purpose,
and the flocks seem so stupid, as their members are all
huddled together, that one is permitted to approach close
to them. This species is also averse to flying in bois-
terous weather, and, as the body is heavy the birds ap-
pear to have difficulty in taking wing from the sea, and
will flap along over the surface, and then all dive simul-
taneously. They descend to a great depth, and remain
under water for a long time, swimming great distances
before rising.

The principal food of this Duck is mussels and other
bivalves, and it seeks these sometimes in water thirty or
forty feet deep. During the breeding season, the note
usually uttered when the sexes are together is a
kind of Coo. The Pacific Eider is a handsome Duck,
resembling somewhat the eastern species and weighs

232 WATER FOWL.

from four to six pounds. It seems to dislike stormy
days and rough water, although it must get plenty of
both during the year in the latitude it lives in, and at
such times assembles in numbers along the beach, or on
the rocks near the shore, or else swims about in the
sheltered bays and inlets, where the force of the wind is
not felt. The Eskimo name for the bird is Mi’t htk.
South of the mouth of the Yukon River the Pacific Eider
plays a very important part, says Nelson, in some of the
religious festivals of the natives, which occur in Decem-
ber. It is a kind of an Eskimo “ harvest-home.”

SOMATERIA V-NIGRUM.

Geographical Distribution.—Peninsula of Alaska, Aleutian
Islands, and islands of Behring Sea, and along the Alaskan
coast to the Arctic Ocean, and east to the Coppermine River.
Breeding throughout its range.

Adult Male.—Plumage almost precisely like that of the two
previous species, except that on the throat there is a very long
V-shaped black mark, beginning on the chin and extending toa
line intersecting the occiput. Very much longer and somewhat
narrower than a similar mark on the King Eider. The black on
the head is bordered beneath by pale sea green for nearly its
entire margin, like that of the American Eider, The bill is dif-
ferent from that of the other Eiders, being broader and deeper
through the base, while the frontal angles are much shorter and
very acute. The extension of the feathers forward underneath
the mandible (between the jaws) surpasses that on the sides, which
is rather the reverse in the other species; but this can hardly be
considered of specific value. The color of the bill is orange red
on frontal angles and base of culmen, grading to orange toward
the tip, which is yellowish white. Iris, dark brown. Legs and
feet, brownish orange. Bill, from tip to end of frontal angle,
1,8; inches; greatest width of angle, 3; culmen, 23. Total length,
about 22 inches; wing, 114; culmen, 2}.

Adult Female.—Head, chin, throat, and neck, pale brown,
streaked with dusky; darkest on top of the head. Upper parts,
rufous, barred with black, the bars broadest on back and scapu-

PACIFIC EIDER. 233

lars; some of the latter and tertials tipped with yellowish white.
Lesser wing coverts, dusky, tipped with white. Greater coverts,
pale buff. Secondaries and primaries, blackish brown; the for-
mer having the edge of outer webs pale buff. Tail, blackish
brown. Breast and sides, pale buff, barred with brownish black.
Under parts, uniform grayish brown. Under tail coverts, barred
with black and rufous. Wing, 114; culmen, 14; tarsus, 14.

Downy Young.—According to Stejneger, who obtained it on
the Commander Islands, the downy young is precisely similar to
that of the Common Eider, S. mollzssima.

KING EIDER.

HIS Eider is a native of both the Old and New
Worlds, and in North America is found across the
continent in the Arctic regions, and comes south in win-
ter on the Atlantic coast occasionally as far as New Jer-
sey. Itis not so abundant as any one of the other species
of Eiders although large flocks are occasionally met with
in the far northern regions. It is a boreal species and
does not go very far south of its breeding places unless
driven by stress of weather, when a few appear within the
limits of the United States. It occurs at times on the
Great Lakes in winter, and has been recorded from IIli-
nois and Wisconsin, but does not frequent any part of
the Pacific coast south of Alaska. In that Territory it
is rare at St. Michael’s, but is very common in Behring
Straits, on the Siberian side, and near Waukareen and
Tapkan and also on St. Lawrence Island. In the
summer from Icy Cape on the Arctic Sea, and thence
eastward, it occurs in large numbers, the birds being,
however, chiefly males, as at that time the females are
busy with their broods on the ponds and streams, away
from the coast. It is the handsomiest ‘of the Hider
Ducks, the delicate pearly gray crown of the head show-
ing to great advantage with the other colors of sea green,
black, and white of the head and neck, and deep buff of
the breast, all contrasted with the bright orange of
the bill. The nest is merely a depression in the ground
near water, sometimes on the beach, and lined with
down, on which are deposited usually six eggs, of a

234

57. King Eider.

KING EIDER. 235

light olive gray shade, sometimes grayish green. In its
habits the bird does not differ materially from its rela-
tives. The males desert the females when incubation
commences, and assemble in great flocks by themselves
upon the outlying reefs, or on the sea not far from shore,
and are joined by the females and young in the autumn.
It seems, however, to be even more of a Sea Duck
than the other Eiders, and is met with a long distance
from land, on the open ocean. The males assume
a dress similar to that of the females, after the breeding
season, save that one or two pairs of white patches re-
main, by which the sex can be determined. The skin
of this bird is used by the Eskimo for making clothing,
and that of the female, split down the back and the head
and wings removed, is placed inside the seal-skin boot
and is very comfortable in winter. The King Eider
feeds on fish and various kinds of mollusks, and as may
_be expected from such a diet, its flesh is not particularly
palatable. In size it is somewhat less than all the other
Eiders, except possibly the Spectacled or Fischer’s Eider.
As a diver, and possessing an ability to remain under
water for a lengthened period, the present species is in
no way inferior to its relatives, and a large portion of its
time when at sea is engaged in exploring the depths, and
seeking the marine creatures upon which it subsists.

SOMATERIA SPECTAGILIS.

Geographical Distributzon.—Northern parts of Northern Hemi-
sphere. South on the Atlantic coast in winter to Georgia, and
to the Great Lakes in the interior. Not found on Pacific coast
south of Alaska. Breeding in the Arctic regions.

Adult Male.—A line along the base of the bill, and over and
onto the anterior edge of the frontal process, a spot beneath the
eye, an indistinct line at bottom of pearl gray on nape, and a
broad V-shaped mark from chin along sides of the throat, jet

236 WATER FOWL.

black. Top of head and occiput, pearly gray. Yellowish white
stripe over and behind the eye. Cheeks, pale sea green; this
color extending on sides of head along the pearly gray until it
fades awayinwhite. Rest of head, chin, throat, neck, upper part
of back, wing coverts (except the greater and outer webs of lesser
coverts) and a large patch on each side of rump, white. Breast,
dark cream buff, varying, however, among individuals in inten-
sity. Greater wing coverts, scapulars, and primaries, brownish
black; the scapulars and tertials sickle shape bending over the
wing, and rufous along the shaft. Lower back, rump, upper tail
coverts, and rest of under parts, black. Tail, brownish black.
Bill varies considerably in shape at different periods of the year,
In the breeding season, a high, square, soft process is elevated on
the culmen between the base and the nostrils, and supported by
some fatty substance. Matrimonial duties finished this shrinks,
and the bill on its upper outline returns to nearly the normal
Eider shape. On account of this protuberance the feathering
on the maxilla is quite different from that of the other species
of the genus, and on the elevated culmen nearly reaches the
nostril, while on the side it extends but a short distance beyond
the corner of the mouth. Bill and elevated process, reddish
orange. Iris, yellow. Legs and feet, orange red. Total length,
about 23 inches; wing, 11; culmen in front of process, 144;
tarsus, 14.

Adult Female.—Head, chin, and throat, dark buff, streaked
with dark brown, conspicuously on top of head and but faintly on
thesides. Chest and sides, light buff, with irregular black bar on
tip of feathers. Feathers of back and scapulars, blackish brown,
with yellowish tips. Shoulder of wings, blackish brown; tips of
feathers, rufous. Greater coverts and secondaries, black, with
white tips, forming two narrow bars across the wing. Outer
webs of tertials, rufous. Rump and upper tail coverts, dark buff,
barred irregularly with black. Tail, black, Under parts, black-
ish brown; under tail coverts, rufous, with V-shaped black bars.
Bill, greenish brown. Legs and feet, dullochre. Total length,
about 23 inches; wing, 10%; culmen, 14; tarsus, 1}.

Downy Young.—Resembles that of the Common Eider, but the
upper parts are more rufous, and the cheeks, throat, and under

parts more yellow.

yonq Appny

"9S

RUDDY DUCK.

(EET eT dispersed over all North America, the

Ruddy Duck is found as far south as Cuba and
Guatemala. It breeds throughout most of its range
from Hudson Bay and Great Slave Lake in the north,
and in the Mississippi Valley from Minnesota to Texas.
Although it is common on many parts of the Pacific
coast, it does not seem to go as far north on the west
side as Alaska, and has never even straggled into the
Eastern Hemisphere. It places its nest near some pond
or other inland water, and constructs it of grass or dead
leaves. The eggs are creamy white, and quite numer-
ous, as many as twenty having been seen in a single nest,
but this, it would seem, must have been the work of two
females, as it is very doubtful if one alone could cover
so many.

The Ruddy Duck is one of the sprightliest birds
among our Water fowl, and at times presents a very
comical appearance upon the water. It swims easily and
rapidly, its enormous feet propelling the bird with con-
siderable power. When on the water the body is deeply
immersed, and if suspicious or alarmed, I have often
seen it qufetly sink beneath the surface without diving,
and disappear. The Dabchick, or Hell Diver, has a simi-
lar way of vanishing. This species seems to have no pref-
erence for the quality of water it frequents, whether it is
salt, fresh, or brackish. It usually goes in considerable
flocks, and flies with great swiftness, turning first the
upper side of the body, then the under, to the spectator as

237

238 WATER FOWL.

it rushes along. It is very erratic in its ways, and ex-
ceedingly quick in its movements, whether on the water
or in the air. It walks fairly well, and takes wing
from the land at once, but has considerable difficulty in
rising from the water, and is obliged to run along the
surface, beating it with both feet and wings, before it can
get away. It is a most expert diver and is able to stay
long, and go far under water. When swimming it has the
habit of elevating its short, stiff, spiny-looking little tail
straight up in the air, sometimes inclining it forward
toward the head, and as the latter is very large as is also
the bill, and is held well back, there seems hardly enough
body between them to sustain all this superstructure,
especially as the bird swims so deeply that a large por-
tion is hidden beneath the surface. In this position the
male, for he is the one that exhibits himself usually in
this way, moves up and down among the others as if
challenging their admiration. It is a very gentle
species, and plunges into the decoys with a slide and a
splash like the Buffle Head or Hooded Merganser, or
other of the small rapid-flying Duck.

When in flight this species makes a _ whirring
sound caused by the rapid movements of its concave
wings, as it buzzes along, the members of a flock
twisting and twirling about, but going usually in
a straight line, and they seem more like a swarm
of bees than a bunch of Ducks. Their flight is so
swift, and the body is comparatively so*small, that
they are by no means an easy bird to shoot, and
much allowance must be made for the rapidity with
which they hurl themselves through the air. Formerly
but little attention was paid to this Duck by sportsmen;
it was so small that it was allowed to go by unheeded;
but of late years, on account of the growing scarcity of

RUDDY DUCK 239

larger Ducks, it is more sought aiter, and many are
killed. It is accustomed to frequent bays and coves, and
a number of gunners will assemble in boats and line the
entrance to one of these, and gradually advancing, close
in upon the birds, which are shot either on the water
while swimming or as they attempt to fly past. There
is nothing sportsman-like in this proceeding, but as the
birds bring now quite a sum per pair in the market, it is
killing merely for gain. At times, when one of these
battues was going on in Currituck Sound, it seemed as if
the country was being bombarded by a hostile fleet, so
frequent and heavy were the explosions. Of course if
this practice is continued, it will have one of two natural
consequences: either the extermination of the species in
that locality, or its removal to more secure situations.

The male Ruddy Duck in full summer dress is a very
handsome bird, and resembles very little the same indi-
vidual in the costume he usually wears in winter. The
black head and nape, with the large white patch upon the
face, are well contrasted with the rich dark red of the
upper parts of the body and the silver grayish white of
the lower plumage. When so arrayed he is an object of
singular beauty, but unfortunately he,only exhibits him-
self in these nuptial garments for a brief period in the
year.

This species has a very great number of names, one
apparently for almost every locality it visits. Some of
these are, Broad Bill Dipper, Coot, Broad Bill Coot,
Bumble Bee Coot, Heavy-tailed Duck, Salt-water Teal,
Booby, Booby Coot, Stiff Tail, Spine Tail, Ruddy Diver,
Ruddy, Stick Tail, Bristle Tail, Bull Neck, Steel Head,
Rook, Greaser, ete. Of late this Duck has become quite
fashionable among the gourmets of the cities, and is con-
sidered apparently as desirable as some of the larger

240 WATER FOWL.

Ducks of extended reputation. This idea has been
taken advantage of by the market men, and a pair of
this small inferior Duck bring as high a price as Red
Heads did a few years ago. While affording a fair dish,
if properly broiled, there is nothing in the flesh of this
bird to merit any particular commendation. Its food
usually consists of various grasses, roots, and leaves of
plants, and possibly at times it may vary its diet with mol-
lusca of different kinds. Being a diving Duck, it obtains
the articles for its bill of fare from off the bottom.

ERISMATURA JAMAICENSIS.

Geographical Déistribution._North America generally, ex-
cept Alaska. South to the West Indies and Colombia. Breeds
throughout the greater part of its range, from Hudson Bay to
Guatemala.

Adult Male in Full Plumage.—Upper part of head, including
the eye and nape, glossy jet black. Sides of head and chin,
white. Throat and all the neck, back, upper tail coverts, scapu-
lars, and flanks, bright reddish chestnut. Wing coverts, lower
back and rump, grayish brown. Primaries, dull brown, speckled
near edge of outer web with gray. Tail, brownish black.
Under parts below the upper part of breast, silvery white, which
is the hue of the tips of the feathers only, the hidden portion
being brownish gray. Sometimes these tips wear away, and
then the under surface appears mottled. The breast is tinged
with rust color; this in some specimens appearing also on the
abdomen. Under tail coverts, white. Bill and eyelids, grayish
blue. Iris, hazel. Legs and feet, grayish blue; webs, dusky.
Total length, about 16 inches; wing, 6; culmen, 144); tarsus, 14%).

Adult Female.—Upper half of head, including the eyes, dark
brown; in some individuals there are blackish feathers, tipped
with reddish chestnut. Cheeks, brown, but lighter than top of
head. A white stripe from below the eye, sometimes distin-
guishable almost to base of bill, goes to the nape. Chin, white.
Throat and neck, brownish gray; tips of feathers on lower neck
infront, white. Upper parts, dusky brown, mottled and speckled
with grayish buff. Lower parts, silvery white, this hue produced

RUDDY DUCK. 241

as in the male by the tips of the feathers. A yellowish wash on
upper part of breast. Sides and flanks, barred with brown. Wings
and scapulars, dark brown, the latter speckled with paler brown.
Tail, dark brown; in some individuals the feathers are broadly
margined with pale olive or grayish brown. Under tail coverts,
white. Bill, blue. Legs and feet, bluish gray; webs, dark.
Total length, 154 inches; wing, 54; culmen, 1,$,; tarsus, 14.

Young Matle.—Only differs from the adult female in having
the sides of the face more or less white, sometimes entirely so,
and sometimes the white is spotted with brown and black.

Young.—Has top of the head like that of the female; sides of
the head, dark brown, with a white stripe from base of bill,
where it is broadest, to the nape, passing below the eye. Chin
and throat, whitish. Neck, brownish white, many downy
feathers protruding among the full grown. Back and scapulars,
blackish brown, barred with reddish buff. Middle of the back
and rump, reddish brown. Upper tail coverts, blackish brown,
barred with reddish, like the scapulars. Sides and flanks, with
the tips of the feathers, yellowish; other parts, dusky. Under
parts, silvery gray, passing into dusky, on the crissum. Under
tail coverts, white. Maxilla, dusky; mandible, yellow.

Downy Young.—Head and upper parts, smoky brown, darkest
on head; a brownish white stripe from bill to occiput below
the eye, bordered beneath by one of dusky brown. Breast, sooty
brown; under parts, grayish white.

MASKED DUCK.

THs rather handsome Duck is a native of the West

Indies and South America, and it is only as an acci-
dental visitor within the limits of the United States that
it can be included in our Fauna. A few instances
only are on record of its capture within our borders;
at Lake Champlain in New York, Malden in Massa-
chusetts, and on Rock River, Wisconsin, widely sepa-
rated localities. Another individual was supposed
to have been seen on Lake Koshkonong, Wiscon-
sin, but as it was not secured its identification was
impossible. It has also been procured near Brownsville
in Texas, and at Matamoras in Mexico. In Trinidad
and the northern parts of South America, in some of the
West Indian Islands and in Western Mexico this Duck
is frequently met with and in some localities is not rare.
Nowhere, however, is it observed in such large flocks as
are frequently seen of its relative, our common Ruddy
Duck, in Northern waters.

Like that species the flight of the Masked Duck is
rapid, but not sustained for any great distance, and it is
a sociable species and loves to keep together in small
companies on the lakes and lagoons in the localities it in-
habits. In Trinidad its flesh is considered excellent, and
it is regarded with much favor. As a diver it is an ex-
pert, and remains under water for a long time. It swims
deeply like the Ruddy Duck, but on land is awkward,
usually holding itself upright and supported in a great
measure by its stiff tail. It is a handsome bird with a

242

59. Masked Duck.

LE dunn Shepp ene >

a
aa

MASKED DUCK. 243

more striking plumage even than the summer dress of
the Ruddy Duck. Occasionally this species straggles far
to the southward in South America, and it has been pro-
cured in the Argentine Republic and in Chili, but this
must be regarded in the same light as its various appear-
ances in our northern waters, merely as instances of a few
individuals having strayed, from exceptional causes, far
away from their usual habitats.

NOMONYX DOMINICUS.

Geographical Distribution.—Tropical America, from the West
Indies and northern South America to the Lower Rio Grande;
straggling occasionally as far north as Wisconsin and Massa-
chusetts, and south to the Argentine Republic and Chili.

Adult Male.—Head, excepting nape, and chin, intense black.
Nape, throat, neck, back, scapulars, and upper tail coverts, dark
rusty cinnamon; center of feathers, black, showing conspicuously.
Lower back and rump, dark brown spotted with black, and some
feathers edged with white. Upper part of breast, uniform, dark
rusty cinnamon grading into pale reddish buff. Sides and flanks
darker, with black centers to the feathers. Wings, blackish
brown, with a long, narrow, white speculum. Under tail coverts,
cinnamon blotched with black. Tail, dark rufous brown; shafts
of feathers, black. Bill and eyelids, pale blue; median line on
maxilla, nail, and bare skin of chin, black. Mandible, reddish
white; tip, black. ‘‘Outer aspect of tarsus and two outer
toes, dark brown or black; the inner side of the tarsus, inner toe,
and membranes, pale brown spotted with black” (Gundlach),
Iris, dark brown. ‘Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 58;
culmen, 1,4;; tarsus, 1. Description taken from individual
killed at Malden, Mass., tm 1889, and now in the Field Col-
umbian Museum, Chicago.

Adult Female.—Top of head, stripe from base of bill through
eye to occiput, and one from gape to occiput, black. Super-
ciliary stripe and rest of head, buff, becoming whitish on chin
and throat. Neck, buff mottled with brown. Upper parts,
black, feathers edged with deep buff. Wings, dark brown,
feathers tipped with yellowish white. Speculum, white. Pri-

244 WATER FOWL.

maries and tail, brownish black. Under parts, ochraceous
spotted with blackish on breast, flanks, and anal region. Abdo-
men, uniform ochraceous. Bill, horn brown; nail, black.
Total length, about 13 inches; wing, 5; culmen, 1,%,; tarsus, 1.

Young Male.—Sides of head, mottled with buff, and the under
parts of the body are whitish. In other respects the specimen
agrees with the adult male. Still younger birds resemble the
female, but the feathers have no brown centers on breast and
sides, and the under parts are paler generally.

‘IOSURSIOY UVILIOW Wy ‘09

AMERICAN MERGANSER.

KNOWN by its various names of Goosander, Buff-

breasted Sheldrake, Buff-breasted Merganser,
Swamp Sheldrake, Weaser, Fish Duck, American Mer-
ganser, Scie de Mer and Sea Sawbill in Louisiana, and
many others in various parts of the land, the present
species is distributed throughout the whole of North
America, breeding in the West as far south as Northern
Colorado, and occasionally going to Alaska and certain
of the Aleutian Islands. It has also visited the Ber-
mudas. In Alaska it is only known to have occurred a
few times within the Territory, but it appears to be an
accidental visitor at Unalaska Island.

This Merganser is the largest, and in my opinion the
handsomest of the Saw-bill Ducks, so-called from the
curiously lengthened bill lined on the edges with
serrations like the teeth of a saw. The American Mer-
ganser resembles almost precisely the European species,
and it is very doubtful if anything is gained scientifically
or otherwise, by the attempt to separate them; the dif-
ference being that the European bird has an exposed, the
American, a concealed, black bar across the wings. The
Goosander breeds in the hollows of trees, except in far
northern districts such as certain portions of the Arctic
regions where trees sufficiently large are scarce, and
there it makes its nest upon the ground. Generally a
large tree is selected upon the borders of some inclosed
lake among the mountains, or on the bank of a river in
a lonely, retired situation, and in a hollow, perhaps

245

246 WATER FOWL.

twenty feet from the ground, the eggs are deposited and
the young hatched. For so large and heavy a bird, it 1s
very quick and agile, and I have seen it dart among
the trees, and enter and leave the nest with an easy
dexterity that was surprising. It alights and walks
upon the branches without any difficulty, and it is a
curious sight to observe so large a member of the Duck
tribe living upon the trees.

This bird is the rarest, I think, of all the Mergansers
or Fish Ducks. At all events that is the case in the
Atlantic States, but it is much more frequently met with
in different parts of the West and on the Pacific coast.
When it appears in the autumn coming from its north-
ern breeding grounds, it arrives in flocks of considerable
size, but in a short time these break up into small parties,
and keep by themselves, for in my experience, the Goos-
ander does not often associate with other Ducks, but
seems best satisfied with the company of two or three of
its own species. It flies with great rapidity usually in a
direct line, if over water, but if in the woods, twists
and turns among the trees and dodges the intervening
branches with the dexterity of a wild pigeon. The eggs
are buffy white, and the young are carried down to the
water by the mother in her bill. The little things are
most expert swimmers and divers from the moment they
enter the water, and require no teaching to become pro-
ficient in these accomplishments. They follow the
mother closely, either huddled around her in a compact
mass, or strung out behind her, snatching insects from
the surface of the water. If alarmed they scurry away
with a speed that is marvelous, running in fact over the
bosom of the lake or river; the flock leaving a wake be-
hind them like that of a miniature boat. They do not
dive unless hard pressed, but trust at first to skimming

AMERICAN MERGANSER. 247

surface of the water before their pursuers, and generally
easily outstrip a boat, leaving it far behind. But if cor-
nered in any way, by being forced into a narrow bay, or
brought close to the shore, they will then dive and remain
out of sight for a considerable period, coming in view
again long distances from where they disappeared. It is
no uncommon sight to witness the female swimming
quietly along with most of her family snugly and com-
fortably settled upon her back. The little ones becoming
tired, the mother sinks her body until her back is on a °
level with the surface, when the young swim or clamber
on to it, and she rises, lifting them out of the water. Oc-
casionally the whole family will settle themselves upon a
sand bar in the middle of the river or lake, or on a
gravelly beach near the bank, and preen their feathers
and sun themselves; but at the least alarm they imme-
diately take to the water and move rapidly away, for in
disposition they are very wild birds.

The food is exclusively fish, which are pursued and
seized under water, and immense numbers are destroyed
by this species. The Goosander is tenacious of life, and
requires large shot to bring it down, and frequently, after
falling, it recovers itself and effects its escape. It is a
handsome bird, and in life the under part of the body is
suffused with an exquisite roseate tinge or glow, that
fades rapidly after death.

MERGANSER AMERICANUS.

Geographical Distributcon.—Throughout North America,
breeding in the United States, and in the northwest.

Male.—Head and neck, shining blackish green, crest on
occiput. Upper parts, black; rump and upper tail coverts, ash
gray. Primaries and secondaries, black; rest of wing, mostly
white, with a black bar crossing it, formed by the bases of

248 WATER FOWL.

the greater coverts. Under parts, rosy salmon color, which fades
rapidly after death. Tail, ash gray. Bill and feet, vermilion;
the hook, black. Iris, carmine. Length about 26 inches; wing,
10.75; tarsus, 1.95; culmen, 1.95.

Female.—Head and neck, reddish brown ; an occipital crest of
lengthened feathers of the same color extends along hind neck ;
chin and throat, white. Upper parts, ash gray. Primaries,
black; terminal half of secondaries, white, forming a speculum or
spot on the wing. Flanks,ash. Lower parts, pale salmon color
in life; white in preserved skin. Tail, ash gray. Bill, red; cul-
men, blackish. Feet, orange; webs, dusky. Iris, yellow. Aver-
age total length, 224 inches; wing, 9;%; tarsus, 14%; culmen, 1,%.

Distance from nostril to nearest feather on head GREATER than
hetght of the maxilla at base, tn both sexes.

Downy Young.—Upper parts, hair brown, with four white
spots. Half of head above and hind neck, rusty. Upper part of
lores crossed by a brown stripe, and a white one on lower part,
bordered beneath by a narrow one of brown. Rest of head and
neck and entire under parts, white.

‘IOSUBSIOW poysvetg-poy “19

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

Jae well-known species is an inhabitant of both the

Old and New Worlds, and the birds of the different
hemispheres, unlike the Goosander, have been permitted
to remain as one species, not even the slightest character
having been discovered whereby they could be separated.
It is known in many parts of our country by various
names, those most commonly employed perhaps being,
Sheldrake, Fisherman, Fish Duck, Shelduck, Saw Bill,
Pied Sheldrake, Big Hairy Crown, Red-headed Mergan-
ser, and the one at the head of this article. In North
America it breeds from the Northern States in the
Union, as far as the Aleutian Islands and coast of Alaska,
and is common in the district of St. Michael. Mr. Tur-
ner found it abundant in the islands of Attu and Atkha of
the Aleutian chain. It arrives there in the latter part of
May or beginning of June, and remains through the
summer; and the young are fully fledged in September.
The Aleuts consider its flesh a great delicacy, and it is
more highly prized by them than any other Duck. In
winter it migrates as far as southern California on the
Pacific coast, and to Florida on the Atlantic.

This Merganser is more of a marine species than the
Goosander, and is frequently met with on our coasts, and
up the rivers that empty into the sea. Its nest is placed
upon the ground, generally hidden under a bank, or
some rock or fallen trunk of a tree, and is formed of
grass, together with feathers and down plucked from the
parents’ breast. The eggs, usually seven to ten in num-

249

250 WATER FOWL.

ber, are a fawn, or bright cream color. The young are
very active, follow the female on the water, and scurry
away at the least alarm in the manner already described
of the young of the Goosander. The Red-breasted
Merganser flies with great rapidity and makes very little
noise with its wings, and I have had it approach when I
was in a blind, so quietly that its appearance, in front of
me and close to the bank, would be the first intimation
given that any were in the vicinity. When startled or
alarmed, either while flying or swimming, they are in the
habit of uttering several low, guttural croaks, resembling
in no way the quack of a Duck, and, if on the water, they
dive quickly and sometimes remain beneath the surface
for a long time, appearing in quite a different place from
that expected. They seem to be very observant, and
frequently [ have noticed a small flock, passing rapidly
along the shore, suddenly turn and retrace their way and
alight with a splash, and immediately dive and commence
to feed. It would seem that the birds must have seen a
school of small fish as they flew by, and returned to take
advantage of their presence.

When swimming along both sexes are accustomed to
elevate and depress the long occipital crest, giving them
alternately a trustful and wild appearance. This species
feeds entirely on fish, and the flesh consequently is rank
and of a very disagreeable flavor. When engaged in
fishing, by their rapid diving and maneuvering beneath
the waters, they cause the small fish—if the schools are
of any size—to become widely scattered, and many rise
close to the surface. The Gulls take advantage of such
opportunities, and pounce upon their luckless finny prey
from above, and then, with Ducks diving into the depths
and Gulls plunging from above, the scene is a very lively
one. I remember on one occasion watching a number

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 251

of this Merganser engaged in fishing in a cove, when
their movements attracted to them a large flock of Bona-
parte’s Gull (Larus philadelphia), which hovered over the
Ducks for a moment and then began to plunge head for-
most into the water, one after another in rapid succession,
emerging frequently with a small fish in the bill. The
Mergansers paid no attention to their fellow-fishermen,
although at times a plunging Gull would come perilously
near one of the saw-billed gentry as he rose from the
depths; and what with the rising and disappearing Mer-
gansers, and the air above them filled with the forms of
the darting Gulls, executing all manner of swift and
graceful evolutions, the scene was very spirited and full
of animation. Although having a _ great partiality
for the sea-coast, and the bays and rivers adjacent
to the ocean, this Merganser is also found, per-
haps in not so large numbers, in the interior of the
United States; and among certain of the Wisconsin lakes
is of regular occurrence, as it passes north and south
on its annual migration in the spring and autumn. The
males generally precede the females, each sex traveling
toward their breeding grounds apart from the other.
The female of this species and that of the Goosander are
very much alike in the general color of their plumage,
and one might readily be mistaken for the other; but the
Key indicates how each can be distinguished. The
female of the Goosander, however, is a little the larger.

The Red-breasted Merganser is not uncommon in
many parts of the British Islands and on the continent
of Europe. It is also found in Greenland and Iceland,
and goes eastward as far as Formosa, China, and Japan;
in fact, has a fairly general distribution over the northern
parts of both hemispheres. It is one of the Duck tribe
most frequently met with by the sportsman, especially

252 WATER FOWL.

on the sea-coast, when engaged in his favorite pastime of
shooting over decoys, and while prized by some, is not
considered by many as an especially desirable addition
to the game bag. The male, however, is one of the
handsomest Ducks in our country, and with his glossy
metallic head and crest, and variegated body, presents
a very brave appearance as he swims proudly along by
his mate under the bright sun of the early spring.

MERGANSER SERRATOR.

Geographical Distribution.—Northern portions of both hemi-
spheres. In winter throughout the United States. Breeds from
the northern States to the Aleutian Islands.

Matle.—Head and occipital crest of lengthened hair-like
feathers, black, with green and purple reflections, the former
predominating. A broad white ring around the neck beneath
the black, with a narrow black line crossing it at back. Back
and inner scapulars, black. Lower back and rump, gray, mot-
tled with black and white. Primaries, blackish brown. Wing,
mostly white, crossed by two black bars, formed by the bases of
the secondaries and greater coverts. Outer webs of inner sec-
ondaries, edged with black. In front of the shoulder of the wing
is a patch of white feathers narrowly bordered with black.
Lower neck and upper part of breast, pale cinnamon, or dark
brownish buff, streaked with black. This conspicuous band
varies in depth of coloration among individuals. Flanks, irregu-
larly barred with narrow lines of grayish white and black. Rest
of under surface, white, suffused with a salmon tinge. Tail,
grayish brown, lighter on edges of webs. Bill, carmine, with
the culmen dusky; nail, yellowish. Legs and feet, orange red.
Iris, carmine. Average total length, about 22} inches; wing, 87/9;
tail, 4; tarsus, 1,8,; culmen, 2;4,.. Dzstance from nostril to nearest
feather on head ixss than height of bill at base, in both sexes,

Female.—Top of head and crest, fuscous; sides of head and
neck, brownish buff or pale cinnamon. Upper parts, dark gray-
ish, inclining to a brownish hue. White patch on the wing,
divided by a black bar formed by the bases of the secondaries.
Throat, white; lower neck, gray. Under parts, white, tinged

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 253

with salmon. Bill, legs, and feet, similar in color to those of the
male, but less bright in hue. Length, about 20 inches; wing, 84;
tarsus, 14; culmen, 2,3).

Young .—Chin and throat, pale reddish; lower neck and upper
part of breast, brownish white. Base of secondaries, black,
forming bar across the wing. Rest of plumage, similar to that
of the female.

Downy Young.—Sides of head and neck, cinnamon, inclining
to rusty, becoming lighter on the lores, which are bordered
above and below with a dusky stripe. Upper parts, hair
brown; cheeks, spot on wing, and on each side of back and rump,
and also all the lower parts, yellowish white.

HOODED MERGANSER.

ATER Pheasant, Hairy Head, Hairy Crown,

Swamp and Pond Sheldrake, Cock Robin, Little
Saw Bill, Saw-bill Diver, Spike Bill, Wood Duck, Bec
Scie and Cotton Head in Louisiana, and Hooded Mer-
ganser are some of the names by which this beautiful
bird is known to the gunners and sportsmen of the United
States. Numerous others are also given it, some of which
are extremely local, and never heard save by a very few.
It is much smaller than the two preceding species of
Merganser, and the male is remarkable for the large and
beautiful crest, white, margined with black. It is exclu-
sively a North American species, and has only appeared
at rare intervals in the Old World, where it can be re-
garded merely as a straggler. It ranges all over North
America from Alaska and possibly Greenland, on the
respective sides of the continent, to Mexico and Cuba.
In Alaska it is rare and probably only wanders up to that
Territory in the summer time in small scattering flocks,
but is very common in the United States, breeding in
many parts of the land, even as far south as Florida, and
spreading all over the Union in autumn and winter. This
species, like the Goosander, breeds in hollow trees, lining
the cavity with grass, dry leaves, and feathers, and down
from the female’s breast, and about six ivory white eggs
are deposited. The site for the nest is generally in some
tree standing on the border of an inland lake or stream
in the forest, where discovery would be least likely, and

254

62. Hooded Merganser.

Xi,
ct

a=
=e

HOODED MERGANSER. 255

where small fish in the near-by waters would be most
abundant. They consume immense numbers of fish, and
the presence of a few Mergansers, no matter of what
species, on a trout lake or stream, means great loss to
the sportsman, as the fry have no chance of escaping the
rapid movements of these hungry, energetic birds.

Their progress under water is extremely rapid, and
the wings as well as the feet are used as means of propul-
sion, perhaps more dependence being placed upon the
wings, and they may be said to fly beneath the surface.
The female carries the young down to the water in her
bill, and the little creatures are at once entirely at home
in the element; diving, and sporting with each other as
if they had become perfected by long practice, instead of
its being their first experience.

The Hooded Merganser appears to be equally as
numerous in the autumn and winter in the interior of the
United States as on the sea-coast, and frequents the
lakes in company with the larger species of Ducks, or is
seen rapidly passing over the surface of the rivers. On
the wing it is one of the swiftest Ducks that fly, and it
hurls itself through the air with almost the velocity of a
bullet. Generally it proceeds in a direct line, but if it
is alarmed at any object suddenly appearing before it,
the course is changed with the swiftness of thought,
and a detour made before again taking the first line of
progression. Sometimes, without apparent reason, the
course will be altered, and away it shoots at right angles
to the first route; and again, it vacillates as though un-
certain which way to take, or as if it was looking for a
good feeding place. Usually five or six, but more fre-
quently a pair, are seen flying together, and often, on
dull days when the lookout in a blind is somewhat re-
laxed, and the sportsman is consoling himself for lack of

256 WATER FOWL.

birds with possibly a nap or the lunch basket, the first
intimation of the presence of a Hairy Crown is given by
one or more flashing close over head with a startling
whirr, and then as rapidly disappearing in the distance.
It requires a steady hand and correct eye to kill them on
the wing, and the gunner must be ever mindful of the
good old adage in duck-shooting, “ Hold well ahead!”
The movements of this bird upon the water are quick
and active, and it swims rapidly and dives with great
celerity. It isa beautiful object, and few birds surpass the
male in attractiveness as he swims lightly along, elevat-
ing and depressing his beautiful crest. If suspicious, this
species will sink the body until the water is almost level
with the back, and sometimes disappears beneath the sur-
face, apparently without effort,as if some unseen hand was
pulling it down. When wounded it is one of the most
difficult birds to secure, and it dives with such quick-
ness, remains under water so long, and skulks and hides
with so much skill that it is very apt to make its escape,
and always tries the patience of its pursuer, whether dog
or man, to the utmost. On the sea-coast the Hooded
Merganser keeps mainly to the creeks and ponds in the
marshes, and rarely is seen in the more open waters of
the sounds, unless obliged to fly over the broad expanse
when passing from one marsh to another; but it rarely
alights far from any shore. It is fond of pursuing its
finny prey under the shelter of a bank, or in quiet
stretches of narrow, sinuous creeks, where it is least
likely to be observed. It rises from the water without
any preliminary motions, and is on the wing at once,
and in full flight, the pinions moving with a rapidity that
almost creates a blur on either side of the body, the out-
line of the wing disappearing. It utters a hoarse croak,
like a small edition of the note of the Red-breasted Mer-

HOODED MERGANSER. 257

ganser. Altogether this handsome species is a sprightly,
attractive creature, and a great ornament to the locali-
ties it frequents.

LOPHODY TES. COCULLAT TS,

Geographical Distribution.—Throughout North America, from
Alaska, and possibly Greenland, to Mexico and Cuba. Acci-
dental in the British Islands, and the Continent of Europe.
Breeding throughout its range.

Adult Male.—Head, neck, and back, black; crest, pure white,
bordered narrowly with black. Scapulars, black. Wing covy-
erts, dark gray, white patch on wing divided by a black bar.
Tertials, black, with a white central stripe. Primaries, dark
brown. Rump, dark brown. In front of wing on the side of
chest are two black and two white crescentic bars, pointed at
one end; the first on chest, the latter on back. Flanks, grayish
brown toward the chest, grading into reddish brown toward the
tail, crossed by fine wavy black lines. Under parts, pure white.
Vent and under tail coverts, mottled with dusky. Bill, black.
Legs and feet, yellowish brown. Iris, bright yellow. Total
length, about 18 inches; wing, 74; tail, 4; tarsus, 1,4; cul-
men, I4.

Adult Female.—Head, neck, and upper parts, grayish brown,
darkest on the back. Crest, reddish brown. Chin and throat,
white. Patch on wing, white, crossed with a black bar. Flanks,
grayish brown. Under parts, white, crissum with rather in-
distinct grayish brown bars. ‘Tail, dark grayish brown, like the
back. Bill: maxilla, black, edged with orange; mandible, orange;
nail, brownish black. Feet, light brown. Iris, hazel. Length,
about 164; wing, 7;;; tarsus, 1,2,; culmen, rf.

Immature Male.—Head and neck, grayish brown, the latter
mottled and blotched with black. Crest, brownish white, edged
with blackish brown. Upper parts, blackish brown, all the
feathers tipped with pale brown. Wings, colored like the back,
a few of the tertials having a white stripe in the center, and the
outer webs changing to black. Rump and upper tail coverts,
dark umber brown. Primaries, blackish brown, the webs edged
with pale brown. Breast, light brownish gray. Flanks, light
brown. Lower breast, abdomen, and vent, white. Under tail

coverts, blackish brown. Tail, dark brown, feathers
tip with brownish white. The feathers have a glossy
ance, but only give a slight indication of the plumage assu
by the adult male. a

_ Downy Young.—Upper parts, brown, darkest on bac
rump; lower portion of head, chin, and throat, light buff.
ish white spot on either side of back and rump. Breast, a
brown; belly, white.

Mi

SMEW.

a is, so to speak, rather stretching a point, to include

this beautiful species among the North American
Water Fowl, with only an example of a female in the
British Museum, purchased from the Hudson Bay Com-
pany, to prove the propriety of such a course. But |
have always observed that ornithological committees are
most lenient when the admission of a handsome bird
(which under the most favorable circumstance can be
regarding as the merest exceptional straggler from
foreign lands) into their native avi-fauna is to be con-
sidered. I must, however, warn my American readers
not to go hunting after this bird, for it is more than
doubtful if any one of them will ever see it in the flesh
within the limits of North America, unless shipped there
from some port in the Old World. It is true that Audu-
bon claimed to have obtained a specimen, and this also
a female, on Lake Barataria in Louisiana near New
Orleans in 1817, but none has been observed within the
limits of the United States since that date so far as [ am
aware. At all events one cannot fail to notice that, up to
this time, the male has rigorously and successfully
avoided our shores.

The Smew is a native of northern Europe and Asia,
going in winter to the Mediterranean, and from Great
Britain on the west to Japan in the east. It is fond of
resorting to fresh water, and frequents rivers and lakes,
flies with great rapidity, and like all of its kind is a great
diver. It feeds on small fish, shell fish, small reptiles,

259

260 WATER FOWL.

and insects. The Smew breeds in holes of trees, near
lakes or rivers, retiring from the sea-coast during the
mating season. The male is a very attractive bird, and
in spite of the more brilliant coloring possessed by its
relatives, in its pure white dress with the jet black mark-
ings, has a strong claim to be considered as one of
the handsomest of them all.

MERGOUS ALBELEC'S,

Geographical Distribution.—Northern Europe and Asia, go-
ing in winter to the Mediterranean, northern India, China, and
Japan. Very accidental in North America, the male never hay-
ing been seen within its limits.

Adult Male.—General plumage, white. A large patch at
base of the bill, including the lores and eyes; lower portion of
nuchal crest, middle of the back, and two crescentic narrow
lines on side of breast, outer edge of scapulars, and rump, jet
black. Upper tail coverts, gray; edges, lighter. Middle wing
coverts, white; greater coverts and secondaries, black, tipped
with white. Primaries, blackish brown. Tail, dark gray.
Sides and flanks undulated with fine black lines on a gray
ground. Bill, bluish; nail, lighter. Iris, bluish white. Legs
and feet, bluish lead color; webs, darker. Total length, about
16% inches; wing, 7;5,; culmen, 14; tarsus, I.

Adult Female.—Head and nape, chestnut brown; lores and
cheeks, brownish black. Throat and sides of neck, white.
Upper parts, brownish gray, darkest on the rump; some feathers
on back tipped with ashy gray. Wings like the male. Tertials,
brown. Upper breast, slaty gray. Sides and flanks, brownish
gray. Under parts, white. Tail, brown gray.

Downy Young.—Upper half of head, including the eye, back
of neck, and upper parts of the body, blackish brown. Sides of
head, chin, and throat, small spot below the eye, a spot on edge
and another at joint of wing, one on flanks and one on each side
of the rump, together with the breast and abdomen, white.
Upper breast, dusky; flanks, brown.

AL PENDIX,

q

Se ka
Paes

ORDER ANSERES.

FAMILY ANATIDA.

Bill usually flat, broad, sometimes long and narrow, provided
with lamellie, or tooth-like projections on sides and with a nail at
the tip. Toes, four; the three anterior ones webbed, hind toe
normal or lobed. Tarsus, flattened.

KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES.
(for North American Species.)

A. Bill not compressed; no tooth-like serrations.
a. Hind toe not lobed.

a’, Neck very long, Somer Imes as long rear in
as the body. Size large. Skin cover- Cygnine.
ing bill extending to the eyes.

6’, Neck moderate. Bill strong, higher |
at base than at side; cutting edges more THE GEESE.

or less beveled, sometimes exposing the [ Ansering.,
prominent lamelle.
Gé. Neck, Short:

a’. Tail feathers long, broad, rounded
at tip. Upper coverts very long,
nearly reaching end of tail. Bill
rather narrow, high at base, tapering
to a point.

6". Tail feathers moderate, median

WOOD DUCK.
Plectropte-
vIN@.

FRESH-WATER

|
J
|

pair sometimes elongated. Bill flat, + DUCKS.
frequently very broad. Anatine.
6. Hind toe broadly lobed.
a. Tail feathers normal. : { eS
fuliguline,
] SPINE-TAIL
6’. Tail feathers narrow, stiff, pointed. DUCKS.
Lrismaturing,
&. Bill greatly compressed; serrations, tooth- } MERGANSERS.
like. . § Mergine.

263

204 WATER FOWL.

FAMILY ANATIDA:,
SWAN, GEESE, DUCKS, AND MERGANSERS.

THIs great family, represented throughout the world,
contains the Swan, Geese, and Ducks, including the
Mergansers or Saw-billed Ducks so-called. At one time
North America was inhabited by myriads of these fowl,
which passed throughout the length and breadth of the
continent during spring and autumn in countless num-
bers; but of late years their ranks have been greatly
thinned, and it is evident to the most casual observer that
the birds are rapidly passing away. Of the many sub-
families of which the Family of the Anatidz is composed,
only seven are represented in North America, containing,
according to the author’s views, sixty-two species and
subspecies, some of which, however, are not strictly
natives of the continent, but merely stragglers within its
borders. The first of the subfamilies, following the
arrangement decided upon for this book, is:

SUBFAMILY CYGNINZ.
THE SWAN.

In this division are placed the largest birds among the
Water Fowl, the Swan. There are but few species, and
these are found pretty much throughout the world.
Usually of an immaculate white plumage when adult,
there is one exception, the Australian Swan, which is
black, thus sustaining the character of the general fauna
of that continent, in being different from those of other
parts of the world. There are about eight species known
of Swan or Swan-like birds, placed in three genera, five

SUBFAMILY CYGNINA. 265

confined to Europe, Asia, and North America, two to
South America, and one to Australia. The majority are
large birds with long, flexible necks, and some with
powerful voices, one only being mute. They associate
in flocks of from five or six to thirty, sometimes even
more, and are very conspicuous objects in the places
where they are accustomed to resort. Of this subfamily
only one genus is represented in North America.

GENUS CYGNUS
(Greek kvxvos, Auknos,; Latin cyguus, a swan.)

Cygnus Bechst. Orn. Taschenb., 1803, vol. ii., p. 404 (note).
Type Anas olor, Gmel.

Bill as long as head, high at base, deeper than wide, broad
and rather flat at tip. Skin of bill reaching to eyes. Nostrils
situated high, and placed about the middle of the length of bill.
Neck very long and flexible. Tibiz bare on lower part. Legs
behind center of body. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and
claw. Feetlarge. Wingslong. ‘Tail short.

For a long series of years the term Cycnus, given by Bech-
stein, as recorded above, was adopted by all ornithologists
throughout the world for the White Swan. In 1832 Wagler
proposed the term O/or, which was a specific name for the
European Swan, but this was not generally, if at all, adopted by
naturalists. In 1882 Stejneger revived this term in his paper on
the CyGnin&, published in the Proceedings of the United States
National Museum, including in it two European species, cy gus
(Anas cygnus, Linn,) and dewzckiz ; also two American species,
columbianus and buccinator. The only difference he mentions
in the diagnoses of the genera, Cyguus and O/or as given on
pages 189 and 197, is that the down on the head of the young in
Cygnus does not form distinct loral anti; but it does do this in
Olor, and also that the tail of the species of Cygmzs is cuneate,
but rounded in O/oy. ‘These differences are all the characters
produced which are claimed as generic. In questioning the
wisdom or even the advisability of this attempt to reinstate O/or
as here formulated, and thus suppressing a term in which the

266 WATER FOWL.

majority of Swan have been placed for many years (the reasons
given being so very slight and insufficient), I am fully aware of
the difficulties that exist in deciding as to what kind of char-
acters and how many, in the conflicting opinions of ornithol-
ogists, there should be to properly establish a genus; for upon
this subject there is not complete accord among naturalists.
But, waiving these points, it is generally conceded that THe char-
acter or characters upon which a genus is founded should at least
be permanent, so that an animal included in that genus might
at all stages of its ADULT existence be able to exhibit the proofs
that it properly belonged there. Otherwise, if this should not be
So, a species, as it underwent modifications at different periods of
its life, would have to be included in various genera, a proposition
not to be entertained for a moment by any serious scientific per-
son. The main character to separate Cygnus and O/or from
each other, as given by Stejneger, is, as I have already quoted, the
distribution of the down on the head of the young birds, an evan-
escent, adolescent, and unreliable distinction, one not possessed
by the adults, and which, if recognized, would place the young in
one genus, the adults in another. This fact is indisputable, and
the error it embodies is one no ornithologist should countenance,
much less perpetuate by any act of his own. The single remain-
ing point, a cuneate or rounded tail, of itself can hardly be
deemed sufficient to establish a genus, even by the most extreme
advocate of novelties. For the reasons here given, which to my
mind are ample, I have not adopted O/or, but have retained the
familiar and appropriate term by which the White Swan have
been so long known.

Three species of Swan are now included in the avi-fauna of
North America; one, however, possessing but slight claims to be
considered a resident of the continent. Of the two that are
unquestionably North American, the Trumpeter has a com-
paratively restricted dispersion, and is not nearly so well known
as.its relative, the Whistling Swan. Both are magnificent birds,
the Trumpeter, as its name implies, being remarkable for its
sonorous voice. The Whooping Swan, a straggler into far-away
Greenland, is a native of the Eastern Hemisphere, and has
never appeared upon the continent of North America. It is
easily recognizable, if anyone should happen to meet it within
our boundaries (a very unlikely event), by the large amount of
yellow on the bill.

SUBFAMILY ANSERINZ. 267

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Plumage of adults entirely white.
a. Bill all black.
) WHISTLING
SWAN.
j C.columbiantus.
TRUMPETER

a’. Yellow spot on lores near eye.

6’. No spot on lores.

SWAN.
C. bucctnator.
6. Bill, with basal portion and lores, yellow; l bila tea
remainder black. ' 2 ee
Sy. A

SUBFAMILY ANSERINZ.
THE GEESE.

Tus subfamily includes the Geese of the world, ar-
ranged in six genera, possessing about twenty-five
species. Geese are about halfway between the Swan
and Ducks, having moderately long necks, rather long
legs carrying the body well above the ground, and a com-
paratively easy, though not a graceful, walk. They are
provided with a strong bill, and subsist largely upon
grass, which they break off from the root by a quick
jerk sideways. They have a powerful flight, capable of
being sustained for many hours at a time, and the species
are in the habit of associating in large flocks. The flesh
is very palatable, especially that of the young birds, and
in the Arctic regions these fowl are the main support of
large numbers of people. While as a rule the different
species are confined to separate continents or portions of
continents, there are cases where the same species in-
habits the northern part of both hemispheres. Many of
them can be domesticated, and they will breed in con-
finement. Five genera of this subfamily are represented
in North America.

268 WATER FOWL.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

A. Lores feathered.
a, Serrations on the greater portion of the
cutting edges of maxilla visible.

a’, Plumage all white, or head and neck
only entirely white. Primaries, black
or blackish brown.

a’. Bill stout; depth at base more than
half the length of the culmen; no ex- |
crescences on basal portion. Black
space on commissure. Size large.

6". Bill weak; depth at base less than
half the length of the culmen; ere ROSS'S SNOW

portion covered with wart-like ex- GOOSE.

SNOW GEESE.
Chen.

crescences. No black space on the | /+anthemops.
commissure. Size small.
LAUGHING

6’. Plumage never all white, nor with an Gener
entirely white head or neck. EPR

EMPEROR GOOSE.

6. Serrations of cutting edge of maxilla )
visible only at angle of the mouth; com- '

: Philacte.
missure concave.

c. Serrations of cutting edge of maxilla not ) CRAVAT GEESE.
visible; commissure straight. Branta.

GENUS CHEN
(Greek x%v, chen, a goose).

Chen, Boie. Isis, 1822, p. 563. Type Anser hyperboreus,
Pall.

Bill as long as the head, powerful, higher than wide at base,
edges of maxilla and mandible greatly beveled, exposing the
prominent lamellz, Nostrils situated high on basal portion of
maxilla. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Feet rather
small.

Two species and one subspecies are retained in this genus, two
of which, the Greater and Lesser Snow Geese, possess nothing
to distinguish them apart save a difference in size. This, on an
average, is stated to be about nine inches in the total length, but

SUBFAMILY ANSERINA. 269

as there is a great variation in the measurement of individuals,
it is not easy at times to determine as to which form, an indi-
vidual belongs. These two Snow Geese are distributed in their
migrations over all North America, the imaginary dividing line
of the species and subspecies being the Mississippi Valley, which
is the winter locality of the less known Blue Wavey or Blue
Goose.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Feathering on lateral base of maxilla,
convex; blackish space at commissure.
BLUE
GOOSE.
) C. cerulescens.

a. Plumage chiefly grayish brown and |
bluish gray.

6, Plumage all white save primaries, which
are black.
LESSER SNOW
GOOSE.
C. hy perboreus.
GREATER SNOW

a’. Size small. Average total length said
to be 28 inches,

6'. Size large. Average total length said

GOOSE,
to be 34 inches.

C. kh. nivalis.

GENUS EXANTHEMOPS

(Greek é&avOnua, exanthema, eruption + bus, opszs,
resemblance).

Exanthemops, Elliot. B. of North America, 1868, vol. ii.,
pl. xliv., text. Type Axser rossz, Cass.

Base of bill thickly covered with wart-like excrescences; bill
weak, no gape at commissure and no blackish space present.
Feathering on lateral base of maxilla nearly straight. Size very
small.

Only one species of this very distinct genus is known, the
diminutive Ross’s Goose. It is no larger than many species of
Ducks, and can always be readily distinguished from all Geese,
in addition to its small size, by the conspicuous and unusual
excrescences at the base of the bill, which in some specimens
cover this part entirely.

270 WATER FOWL,

GENUS ANSER
(Latin anser, a goose).

Anser, Briss. Orn., 1760, vol. vi., p. 261. Type Anas anser,
Linn.

Bill stout, not longer than head, depth at base less than half
the length of culmen, tapering to tip. Serrations of maxilla
visible when bill is closed. Nostrils on basal half of maxilla,
placed high up near culmen. Tarsus shorter than middle toe
and claw.

The White-fronted Geese of the Old and New Worlds have
been separated as a species and subspecies on a difference of
size averaging one inch in the total length of the adult and
.37 inch in extent of the culmen, This is a worse case than
the Snow Geese, because the White-fronted Geese of the two
hemispheres are so nearly equal in their dimensions that, the
locality of a specimen being unknown, its identification is im-
possible, for it would not be difficult to find individuals among
the European White-fronted Geese that were even larger than
some of the American.

As I have had occasion to remark, when writing of certain
other species in this book, size alone is a most unsatisfactory
character (?) to go by in determining species or subspecies, and
when persisted in is most apt to create confusion.

In this instance I do not consider that this slight difference of
dimensions is of sufficient consequence to cause the recognition
of two forms of this Goose, and in this book, therefore, I have
placed the species and its so-called subspecies under the name
bestowed by Gmelin, and after careful study of the question, and
examination of examples from both hemispheres, I should require
better evidence than any yet produced to convince me that it is
desirable to establish more than one form of this species.

GEN OS PHILACTE

(Greek ¢ldos, PAz/os, loving + &krn, akte, seashore).

Philacte, Bann. Proc. Acad. Scien., Phila., 1870, p. 131.
Type Anas canagica, Sevast.

Bill stout, with the teeth exposed only at angle of the mouth,
Nostrils situated on anterior end of the nasal fossee. Nail prom-

SUBFAMILY ANSERINE. 271

inent, occupying all the tip. Cutting edge of maxilla concave.
Skull with superorbital depressions, an unusual character.
Tarsus not longer than middle toe and claw. Webs of feet,
excised.

But one species of this genus is known, an inhabitant of the
Alaskan coasts, and some of the Aleutian and other islands in
the Northwest, very occasionally straggling into the Pacific
coast States of the Union. It is a very handsome Goose, rather
heavy in body and of limited dispersion; a bird of the bleak
regions of the north, never, unless by accident, penetrating into
temperate climes. Great numbers are annually destroyed by
the natives, and its probable extinction is not likely to be
long delayed.

GENUS BRANTA
(Greek * BpévOos, 6renthos, an unknown water bird),

Branta, Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat., 1769, p. 67. Type Anas
bernicla, Linn.

Bill short, high at base; nostrils situated about the middle;
serrations not visible; commissure straight. Feet rather small.

With the exception of one species, which is a straggler within
our limits, all the members of this genus are natives of North
America. It comprises the various forms of the ‘‘ Cravat” or
Common Wild Goose, and the smaller species known as Brant or
Brent. They are scattered over the United States during the
winter months, throughout its length and breadth, the various
species having their own line of migration, which is rarely de-
parted from, though a few, like the Canada Goose, are met with
across the continent from ocean to ocean. Some of the species
can be domesticated, bear confinement well, and will breed in
captivity. The flesh of the young is very palatable, but that
of the old birds is to be carefully avoided.

*If this derivation is correct, the proper name for the genus would be
Brenthus and not Branta. But Brenthus was proposed by Schénherr in
1826 for a genus of Coleoptera, antedating Sundevall’s employment of the
same term (Meth. Nat. Av. disp. Tent., p. 145, 1873), and therefore it may not
be used in ornithology. In case Branta therefore is not permissible, the
next would be Leucoblephara. La Fres, 1840-=Leucoblepharon Baird, 1858;
each used by its author, however, asa subgenus. These failing, Leuco-
pareia, Reichnb. Av. Syst. Nat., p. ix. (1852), isavailable. Bernicla (Boie Isis,
1822), is preoccupied (Bolt. crust. 1798).

ee WATER FOWL.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Head black, cheeks white.

a. General color dark brown, under parts
light brownish gray, grading into white,
no white collar at base of neck,

a’. Size large. Average total length about
39 inches. Tail feathers, 18-20.

CANADA GOOSE.
B. canadensis.

l
)
4'. Size small. Average total length about ) Ea

GOOSE,
2ginches. Tail feathers, 14-16.

B. c. hutchins?.
6. General plumage light brown, under

parts dark brownish gray, abruptly sep-

arated from white anal region. White

collar sometimes at base of neck.

| WHITE-CHEEKED
a. Size large. Average total length about t GOOSE,
35 inches. Tail feathers, 18-20. | Be. occiden-
J talzs.
CACKLING
6'. Size small. Average total length about l nee
24 inches, Tail feathers, 14-16. \ Bec oe
BARNACLE
c. General plumage, bluish gray; under ) Roots
parts, grayish white. se leucopee

B. Head and cheeks all black.

a, White patch on middle of neck, com- ) BRANT GOOSE.
posed of streaks. YB. bernicla.
6. Broad white collar on middle of neck, } BLACK BRANT.

interrupted behind. SB. nigricans.

The specimen of Hutchins’ Goose mentioned in the article on
that speciesas having been killed at Puckaway Lake, and now
in the New York Museum of Natural History, is rather peculiar
from the fact that while the under parts are light brownish gray,
grading into the white of the anal region, and in this respect
possessing the distinctive mark that separates its species and
the typical Canada Goose from their allies, there is also a narrow
white ring at the base of the neck; a character, at all events at
certain seasons of the year, of B. c. ecczdentalis and B. c. minima.
The style of the coloring on the under parts in the two divisions

SUBFAMILY PLECTROPTERINA. 273

of these Geese is apparently much more to be relied upon than is
the presence or absence of the white ring around the neck, and as
this Puckaway example is unquestionably 2. c. hutchinsz, from
the coloring of the under parts, it is therefore evident that,
occasionally, at all events, this subspecies assumes the white
ring, as it does not seem at all necessary that the question of
hybridism in this case should be considered, although it is true
the bird was associating, at the time it was killed, not with its
own fellows, but with a flock of Canada Geese. The white
collar, however, would appear to be a rather doubtful
character.

SUBFAMILY PLECTROPTERINE.

Tuis subfamily comprises what I may call the Geese-
like Ducks, with moderately short necks, rather long
hind toe, not lobed, long tail, the feathers broad and
rounded and with long upper coverts, and some like
those in the following genus having short narrow bills
high at base, tapering to the tip. It includes several
genera but not all of them particularly related, some
of the species having a rather brilliant plumage, with
considerable metallic coloring. They are scattered all
over the world; only one, however, being found in North
America.

GENUS AX

(Greek ait, @x, a water bird).

Aix, Boie (misspelling for Aix). Isis, 1828, p.329. Type Anas
galericulata, Linn.

Bill high at base, tapering toward tip, shorter than head or
tarsus. Basal portion of maxilla forming a sharp angle between
feathers of lores and forehead. Lamellz small and few. Nos-
trils large, oval. Head crested. Tail feathers very broad and
rounded at tip; rectrices sixteen, upper coverts very long.
Tarsus shorter than middle toe.

Two species only are contained in this genus, the most beauti-
ful of the Family, one of which, the Wood Duck, is a native of

274 WATER FOWL.

North America and a doubtful straggler to the Old World; the
other, the Mandarin Duck, confined to China, Formosa, and
Japan. The Wood Duck of late years appears to be growing
less plentiful, the beautiful plumage of the male causing it to be
a desirable object for various purposes, one of which is dressing
artificial flies, the exquisite flank feathers being especially se-
lected for that purpose.

SUBFAMILY ANATINA.
FRESH-WATER DUCKS.

THis is one of the great divisions of the family and
contains what may with a certain degree of propriety be
called the Fresh-Water Ducks, though it must not be
understood from that term that none of the species ever
go to the sea. They are readily distinguished from the
members of the subfamily FuLIGULIN# or Salt-Water
Ducks by the shape of the hind toe, those of the Ana-
TIN@® having that member simple or normal, the
FULIGULIN® having it lobed or flat. The River or
Fresh-Water Ducks have moderately short necks and
legs, excepting Dafila and Dendrocygna, while the feet
are much smaller than those of the Sea Ducks. As a
rule they are poor divers, and procure their food mostly
in shallow water, by tilting the hinder part of the body
so that they can reach the grasses, etc., growing on the
bottom and pull it up with their bills. When wounded
they skulk, laying the head and neck flat upon the water,
and seek the nearest marsh for concealment. The flesh
of these Ducks is generally most palatable, the excep-
tions being those individuals that may associate and feed
even temporarily with the Sea Ducks, when they have
usually a very fishy flavor. These birds moult twice a
year, and the sexes are dissimilar in plumage.

SUBFAMILV ANATINE. 278

KEY TO THE GENERA,
(For North American Species.)

/.~Hind toe not lobed.
A. Lower part of tarsus in front, without ) TREE DUCKs.
transverse scutella. Neck and legs long. j Dendrocygna.
#. Lower part of tarsus in front with trans-
verse scutellz.
a. Bill not spatulate.

a. Lamelle of mandible projecting out- ) RUDDY SHEL-

DRAKE,
GES j Casarca.
6’, Lamellze of mandible not projecting
outward.
a, Bill, depth at base less than width; ) MALLARDS.
broader toward tip than at base. j Anas,
6”. Bill, depth at base equal to width;
narrower at tip than at base.
a’, Lamelle of maxilla prominent. GADWALL.

l
Central tail feathers not elongated. ) Chaulelasmus.
6’, Tamelle of maxilla TOE

Central tail feathers moderately Tear
elongated. 7 ;
c’. Bill, depth at base greater than
width. Sides of maxilla nearly
parallel.
a’, Central tail feathers much elon- SPRIGTAIL.
gated. Neck very long. \ Dafila.

6". Central tail feathers not elon-
gated. Neck short.
BLUE-WINGED

TEALS
\ A
)

a*, Upper wing coverts blue or

bluish gray. OQuerguedula.

GREEN-WINGED
TEALS.
Nettion.

SHOVELER.
Spatula.

64. Upper wing coverts brownish
or slaty gray.

6, Bill spatulate. t

276 WATER Fowt.

GENUS DENDROCYGNA
(Greek dévépov, dendron, a tree + Latin cygnus, a swan).

Dendrocygna, Swain. Class. B., 1837, vol. ii., p. 365. Type
Anas arcuata, Cuv.

Bill as long as the head, nail occupying -nearly all the tip, and
curving downward. Nostrils ovate, situated high upon the bill
and on the basal portion. Neck long and slender. Legs very
long, lower part of tibiz denuded; lower portion of tarsus in
front without transverse scutellaee, but covered with small scales,
like those of Geese. Hind toe one-third the length of tarsus.

There are about nine Tree Ducks belonging to this genus,
scattered over various portions of the world. They are peculiar
for their long legs and necks and have affinities for Geese.
They roost and nest in trees, and have a variously colored
plumage, some species being very attractive. Two only are
found in North America, penetrating into the States along our
southern border, for these Ducks are chiefly dwellers in tropical
lands.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Brownish black stripe down hind neck.

| BLACK-BELLIED
TREE DUCK.

) D. autumnalis.

FULVOUS TREE

a. Abdomen and flanks black.

DUCK.
D. fulva.

6. Abdomen and flanks cinnamon.

GENUS CASARCA
(Russian cacharca, sea swallow).

Casarca, Bon. Comp. List B. Eur. and Amer., 1838, p. 56.
Type Anas casarca, Linn,

Bill with parallel sides, culmen nearly straight, lamelle of
mandible projecting outwardly. Lower portion of tarsus in
front with transverse scutella. Tarsus rather long.

A genus containing four handsome species, very goose-like in
their habits and in the tones of their voices. They are essen-
tially birds of the Old World, and although two examples of

SUBFAMILY ANATINA. 277

one species are supposed to have accidentally straggled into
Greenland, that fact is hardly sufficient to give it arightful claim
to be included among North American birds, especially as I am
not aware that those who record its presence in Greenland saw
the individuals there alive.

GENUS ANAS
(Latin Anas, a duck).

Anas, Linn. Syst. Nat., 1766, vol. i., p. 134. Type Aas
boschas, Linn.

Bill about as long as the head, longer than the tarsus, broad
and swelling outward toward the tip, where its greatest width
is nearly one-third the length of the culmen.

In the A. O. U. Check List this genus is made to include
a number of species such as the Gadwall, Widgeon, and Teal, in
addition to those closely related to the type. Genera, of course,
are not found in nature, but afford convenient boundaries for
the more complete arrangement of groups in natural science.
So perhaps it would not be absolutely incorrect if all the Fresh-
Water Ducks were placed under Anas; but as a number of them
possess characters which may properly be called generic, and
which are not possessed by others, there is no reason why these
should not be recognized. To be consistent we must do one of
two things: include most of the species under one genus, or
accept the fact that there are numerous genera and recognize
the characters that indicate them wherever found. ANAs, as
I regard it, possesses only four species and subspecies in North
America, one (A. /. maculosa) possibly of doubtful validity, as
we become more familiar with its claims for separation from the
others. There are nearly twenty species that belong to this
genus, not including any of those not typical retained in it accord-
ing to the A. O. U. List, but which properly should be placed in
other genera, These twenty species are scattered throughout the
world, and from the type, the Common Wild Duck, are descended
most of the domesticated races. The members of this genus
rarely go beyond the Arctic circle, and the species often remain
in the temperate zone throughout the year, and breed wherever
they may be. In fact, the two subspecies inhabiting the United
States are rarely met with as far north as Kansas. They are
‘‘mud ducks” ; that is, fond of dabbling in the ooze found along

278 WATER FOWL.

the banks of streams or the bottoms of shallow creeks, and
obtain most of their food by sifting the liquid mud through the
lamellee of the bill.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Central upper tail coverts of male re- )} MALLARD,
curved. White on wing coverts. § 4. boschas.
&. Central upper tail coverts of male not re-
curved. No white on wing coverts.
a. Sides of head and throat, grayish fulvous, } DUSKY DUCK.
closely streaked with black. . A. obscura.

} FLORIDA
DUSKY DUCK.
A. fulvigula.

6. Sides of head and throat, pale buff, some-
times streaked with black on cheeks an
portions of neck.

d
c. Sides of head and throat, buff, streaked
with black. Under parts, mottled with

buff and blackish brown.

j
|
) MoTYLED DUCK.
j A. f. maculosa.

GENUS CHA ULELASMUS

(Greek xavNos, chaulzos, protuberant + €dacpos,
elasmos, a plate).

Chaulelasmus, G. R. Gray. Bon. Consp. List, B. Eur. and N,
Am., 1838, p. 56. Type Azas strepera, Linn.

Bill about two-thirds length of head, longer than tarsus, slen-
der, widest at base, greatest width less than one-half the length
of culmen. Lamellee of maxilla prominent. Tail pointed; me-
dian rectrices not elongated.

This genus contains the well-known Gadwell or Creek Duck, a
cosmopolitan species of the Northern Hemisphere, and possibly
a smaller form inhabiting the Fanning Islands in the Pacific
Ocean. The male is readily distinguished from other species of
North American Ducks by having a great deal of chestnut color
on the wing coverts, and the female by her gray and white spec-
ulum.

GENUS MARECA
(Mareca. Brazilian name for Teal).

Mareca, Steph. Gen. Zodl., vol. xii., 1824, pt. ii., p. 130. Type
Anas penelope, Linn, ;
Bill small, tapering toward the tip, nearly half as long as head,

SUBFAMILY ANATINZA. 279

and about equal in width throughout its length. Central rec-
trices moderately lengthened.

Two species, out of the three known to belong to this genus,
are found within our borders ; one indigenous to the Continent,
the other a frequent straggler from the Old World. Both are
beautiful birds, the male’s plumage being gayly colored, but the
two forms have little or no resemblance to each other. The
European Widgeon has more strongly contrasted colors perhaps
than those seen in its American relative, but neither has very
much advantage over the other in beauty. The exotic species
has been taken many times in various portions of the United
States, all males, however; the female, having such a close re-
semblance to that of our Baldpate, would probably pass unnoticed,
even if captured.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

EUROPEAN
WIDGEON.,

M. penelope. &

A. Top of head buff, rest of head and neck
&. Top of head whitish ; rest of head and BALDPATE.

chestnut.

neck whitish, spotted with black, and witha
lengthened patch of metallic green.

MM. amert-
cana.

EUROPEAN
WIDGEON.
M. penelope. 2

C. Head and upper neck reddish brown,
spotted with black.

BALDPATE.
MT. amerz-
cana, Q

DY. Head and upper neck whitish, spotted
with black.

GENUS DAFILA
(Dafila, nonsense word),

Dafila, Steph. Gen. Zodl., vol. xii., pt. ii., 1824, p. 126. Type
Anas acuta, Linn.

Bill long as head, slender, the width about one-third the length
of culmen, and nearly equal throughout ; neck very long and
slender. Central rectrices greatly elongated. Wing pointed.
First and second primaries equal and longest. Feathers of lores
form a convex line at base of maxilla.

280 WATER FOWL.

This genus contains only three species, widely separated: one
the North American, which, however, is found also throughout
the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere ; one from South
America; and one from Kerguelen Island. The American
Sprigtail is a gracefully formed bird, and although its neck may
seem disproportionately long, it does not appear so when the
bird is quietly swimming along intently seeking its food. The
Sprigtail is mainly a fresh-water Duck, and although it is found
on the sea-coast, yet even there it seeks the bays and sounds
where the water is brackish. It goes at times in large flocks,
and consorts frequently with the Widgeon, the two species fly-
ing about together.

GENUS QOUERQUEDUIA
(Latin Querguedula, a kind of Teal).

Querquedula, Steph. Gen. Zodl., vol. xii., pt. ii., 1824, p. 142.
Type Anas guerqguedula, Linn.

Bill about as long as head, longer than tarsus; narrow, sides
parallel; greatest width more than one-third length of culmen.
Tail pointed. Head not crested.

Two of the four species belonging to this genus are found in
North America. The males in full dress are very handsome
birds and strikingly different in the color of their plumage from
other Ducks. The habits of these teal and those of the genus
Nettion are very similar. Both go in flocks of considerable size,
have a swift, erratic flight, resort to like localities and seek the
same kind of food. In addition to its attractive appearance, the
Blue-winged Teal is one of our very best table birds, the flesh
being tender and juicy, and when it has been feeding upon wild
rice, is then of exceptionally fine flavor.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Head and neck dull plumbeous. White ) SVP WINGED
crescentic patch between eye and bill. 0. Pee s
ZB. Head and neck bright chestnut. ‘ee
white patch between eye and bill. Q. cyanop-

INNAMON TEAL.
No :
tera. 6

SUBFAMILY ANATINZ. 281

C. Throat and abdomen white. TEAL,

BLUE-WINGED
Q. discors. Q

D,. Throat deep buff. Abdomen rufous, mot-

On op-
tled with black. Q. cyanop

CINNAMON TEAL.
tera. Q

GENUS NETTION

(Greek vérriov, nettion, a duckling, dim. of vérra, zetta, a duck).

Nettion, Kaup. Natiirl. Syst., 1829, p. 95. Type Aas crecca,
Linn.

Bill two-thirds as long as the head, much longer than tarsus,
slender, slightly narrowing toward the tip; greatest width one-
third the length of culmen. Head not crested.

About a dozen species of this genus are distributed throughout
the world, of which only one is indigenous to North America.
The European Green-winged Teal, a close ally and easily con-
founded with the North American species, occasionally straggles
into our limits, perhaps more frequently than is supposed, as the
ordinary observer would not notice any difference between them.
Both species go in flocks of considerable size, and have a swift,
erratic flight.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

wing on either side of breast, No white TEAL.
on scapulars. NV, carolinen-

$75. 6

EUROPEAN
GREEN-WINGED
TEAL.

NV. crecca. 6

B. No crescentice white band in front of wing.
Scapulars margined with white or buffy

AMERICAN
A. A broad crescentic white band in front of | GREEN-WINGED
\
white. |
J

There appear to be nocharacters for distin-
guishing the females of the two species from
each other,

282 WATER FOWL.

GENUS SPATULA
(Latin spatula, dim. of sfatha, a broad blade).

Spatula, Boie. Isis, 1822, p. 564. Type Anas clypeata, Linn.

Bill longer than head, spreading out toward the tip, where it is
twice as wide as at the base. Nail prominent, forming a hook.
Lamelle prominent. Wings long, pointed. Tail short, com-
posed of fourteen acute feathers. The peculiarly shaped bill
makes this species readily recognizable among our Ducks, irre-
spective of other characters.

The Shoveler is cosmopolitan, and the American bird is one of
the four known species of the genus. The others are natives of
South America, Australia and its neighboring islands, and South
Africa, respectively. Of the North American species, when
arrayed in allits finery, the male is a beautiful bird, although,
from the disproportionate size of the bill, it is apparently slightly
top-heavy. It has, however, a graceful shape, and walks easily
and well. The female, of course, can be distinguished from those
of other species by her large, spoon-shaped bill.

SUBFAMILY FULIGULINA.
SEA DUCKS.

Tuis subfamily contains the Sea Ducks, which are
mainly distinguished from the species of ANATINA&, fre-
quenting the Rivers and Lakes, usually known as the
Fresh-Water Ducks, by having a membranous web de-
pending from the hind toe. The feet are larger, with
broader webs and longer toes, while the legs are shorter
and placed nearer the tail, causing the walk to be awk-
ward and somewhat difficult, but facilitating both swim-
ming and diving. Most of the species belong to the
Northern Hemisphere, and breed in high latitudes, and
a large number are exclusively marine, but others are
seen occasionally on the Great Lakes and large rivers.
Individuals found in such localities are, however, usually

SUBFAMILY FULIGULINA. 283

young birds, which probably from either fatigue or hun-
ger have made a brief stop while migrating.

‘The members of this subfamily are great divers and
subsist upon mollusks, fish, various grasses, and bulbous
roots which they procure on or near the bottom. Their
flesh varies greatly according to the kind and quality of
their food; those subsisting upon a fish diet possess often
an ‘ancient fish-like smell” and taste, while those that
feed on leaves, or roots of the more delicate plants, such
as the wild celery, are very tender and of excellent flavor.
The sexes are usually very different in the hues of their
plumage, the principal exceptions to this being among
the Scoters of the genus CEpemr1a. There is much di-
versity of structure among these birds, necessitating
quite a number of genera, and the specific characters are
strongly marked, and consequently easy of recognition.
These Ducks feed mostly by night, the persecutions to
which they are subjected preventing them from obtaining
their food during the day, at which time, weather per-
mitting, they assemble in large numbers in the middle
of broad waters and sleep or dress their feathers. Moon-
light nights are favorite ones for feeding, and on such
occasions they visit creeks or ponds in marshes near the
sea. The notes uttered by these birds are harsh and
guttural, and the animated, inspiring quack of some of the
fresh-water species is never heard among them.

KEY TO THE GENERA
(For North American Species.)

A. Hind toe broadly lobed.

DUCK,

RUFOUS-CRESTED
Netta.

a. Head with an elongated crest.

284 WATER FOWL.

46. Head without elongated crest.
a. Bill long as middle toe without claw,

greatest width Less than one-third the CANVAS BACK.

length of culmen. Head long, not Arzstonetta.
bunchy.

claw, greatest width more than one- RED-HEAU:
third the length of culmen. Head Athyta.

bunchy.
c’. Bill shorter than head, broad, greatest

: SCAUP DUCKS.
width nearly HALF the length of the

Fuligula.
culmen.
d'. Bill with membranous expansion on AE ee
edge of maxilla near tip. DUCK.
i ih Camptolemus.

e’. Bill very short, narrow, rather pointed.

‘ ; : GOLDEN EYE
a’. Anterior edge of nostrils nearer the

6'. Bill shorter than middle toe i

: DUCKS.
base than tip. Clangula
' F BUFFEL HEAD
6. Anterior edge of nostrils nearer the ane
itp than the base. Charitonetta.

ce’. Bill, height at base two-thirds length

of culmen.
LONG-TAILED
a’. Central tail feathers elongated. l DUCK.
J Havelda.
6". Central tail feathers not elon-
gated.
HARLEQUIN
a*, Bill shorter than tarsus. DUCK.
Histrionicus.
64. Bill longer than tarsus. t ee ELLER'S ot
Henivonetta.
f'. Bill tumid or gibbous. SURE uce
Edemia.
g. Bill with two-thirds of the culmen cov- ) FISCHER’S EIDER
ered with feathers; pad-like feathering - DUCK.
around the eyes. Arctonetta,

A’. Bill with naked parallel frontal proc- ) EIDER DUCKS.
esses. Feathering around eyes normal, § Somateria,

*

SUBFAMILY FULIGULINEA. 285

GENUS NETTA
(Greek vérra, nef/a, a duck).

Netta, Kaup. Naturl. Syst., 1829, p. 102. Type Anas rufina,
Pallas.

Bill broadest at the base, narrowing gradually toward the tip;
nail broad and prominent, more than one-third the width of the
bill. Outline of loral feathering slightly concave. Culmen
longer than tarsus. Head of male with lengthened crest.

One species only, the Rufous-crested Duck, is contained in
this genus, an inhabitant of the Old World, where it ranges from
the basin of the Mediterranean to Turkestan and Northern India,
only casual in Northern Europe and Great Britain. In North
America I am not aware that anyone has ever seen it alive,
and even as a straggler it has little claim to a place in our
avi-fauna.

GENUS ARISTONETTA
(Greek dpurros, arzstos, best + vérra, netta, a duck).

Aristonetta, Baird. B. N. Am., 1858, p. 793. Type Axas
valisneria, Wils.

Bill as long as middle toe without claw; longer than head;
greatest width less than one-third the length of the culmen,
greatly depressed toward tip; nail moderate, not hooked. Cul-
men depressed in center for nearly one-third the length of bill
from base. Head long, not bunchy; neck of equal diameter
throughout its length.

A comparison of the above diagnosis with that of the one suc-
ceeding gives ample evidence of the generic distinction of the
Canvas Back and Red-Head, and I do not consider that such
radical differences as are to be observed between the two species
can be properly accentuated by the employment of ARISTONETTA
subgenerically. The Red-Head has numerous and some very
close allies throughout the world having the same generic char-
acters, while the Canvas Back is swz generzs, and has no exotic
representatives nor home relatives. Its very peculiar bill and
thick neck, the latter of nearly equal diameter for its entire
length, cause it to be conspicuous among the Duck tribe and
without imitators, unless the small Ruddy Duck, with its thick
neck, can be considered as such.

286 WATER FOWL.

GENUS AATHYVIA
(Greek al#ua, eethyia, a sea bird).

Aythya (misspelling for Athyia), Boie. Isis, 1822, p. 564.
Type Anas ferina, Linn.

Bill shorter than middle toe without claw, as long as head, the
greatest width more than one-third the length of the culmen.
Height of maxilla at base equal to its greatest width, moderately
depressed toward tip. Nail prominent and hooked. Head
bunchy, larger than neck, which is compressed at the throat.

There is only one species in North America belonging to this
genus, the well-known Red Head, as the Canvas Back, which
has usually been placed in it, I regard as generically distinct.
The genus, however, is represented in South America, and also
inthe Old World from Great Britain to Japan as well as in
Africa, Australia, and some of the contiguousislands. One Old-
World species, 4. ferzna, resembles very closely the American
bird, and when on the water might be mistaken for it.

GENUS FULIGULA

(Latin Fulica or Fulix,a coot, dim. fw/zcula, or possibly, dim, of
fuligo, soot, black.

Fuligula, Steph. Gen. Zool,, vol. xii., pt. 123) 7824. pauege
Type Anas fuligula, Linn.

Bill short, broad, not as long as head, widest at tip, greatest
width nearly half the length of culmen, moderately depressed,
with a broad nail terminating ina hook. Height of maxilla at
base less than greatest width. Tarsus little less than half the
length of middle toe and claw. Head bunchy, neck rather
slender.

Three species of this genus are found in North America, one
of which, the Big Black Head, /: marz?a, is also a native of the
Eastern Hemisphere. The specimens of this species obtained
within our boundaries have been separated from those of the
Old-World by American ornithologists, but the characters relied
upon to distinguish the two forms are not apparently tenable,
the American examples, even among those shot in one locality, as
was clearly shown by Mr. Bishop (Auk, 1895, p. 293), exhibiting

SUOBRPAMILY FULIGULINZ. 287

the differences, with gradations, that were attributed to the two
birds. The question, therefore, as to whether there is both a dis-
tinct species and sub-species of the Big Black Head would seem
to be clearly settled in the negative.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. No ring around neck.
a. Head and neck black, glossed with metal- } BIGBLACK HEAD.

lic green. SF marita. }
6. Head and neck black, glossed with metal- See
lic purple. BLACK HEAD.
Ff. aint. &
RINGED-NECK
B&B. Ring around neck. DUCK.

F. collaris, &
C. White patch on wing.
; BIG BLACK HEAD,
a. Length of wing 84 inches or over. t F. marita. 9
LITTLE

6, Length of wing 84 inches or less. BLACK HEAD,

F. affinzs. Q
RINGED-NECK

D. Bluish gray patch on wing. DUCK.
F. collaris. 2

GENUS CAMPTOLAMUS
(Greek kaurrés, Lamptos, flexible; + daués, Zazmos, throat).

Camptolzmus, G. R. Gray. List. Gen. B. ed. 2, 1841, p. 95.
Type Anas labradortus, Gmel.

Bill about as long as head, very broad, height at base not
equal to-greatest width. A membranous expansion, on the edge
of maxilla toward the tip, increases considerably the normal width
of the bill. Nail prominent, forming a hook at tip. Nostrils
oblong, basal, and situated rather high on the side of maxilla.
Loral and cheek feathers stiff, with horny tips, extending on to
base of maxilla in a convex line. Tail of fourteen feathers,
short.

The single, rather peculiar species, comprising this genus,
while very common on certain parts of our eastern seaboard fifty

288 WATER FOWL.

years ago, is now extinct. It was remarkable for the unusual
structure of the bill, which differs from all those of living species
of Ducks, and for its striking black and white plumage. It was
a strong flyer, and apparently perfectly competent to take care
of itself, and the cause of its disappearance from our Continent is
an unfathomable mystery. Many theories have been advanced to
account for its extinction, but, as none admit of proof, it is impos-
sible to arrive at a satisfactory explanation.

GENUS CLANGULA
(Latin clangula, dim. of clangor, a noise).

Clangula. Leach in Ross, Voy. Disc., App., 1819, p. xlviii.
Type Anas clangula, Linn.

Bill shorter than head, high at base and tapering to tip. Nail
prominent and hooked. Anterior end of nostril nearer to the tip
than to the loral feathers. Tail rounded, of sixteen feathers.

Two species of this genus are found in North America, both of
which are also natives of parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. The
Common Golden Eye of our coasts and rivers, while in plumage
it resembles in every particular the bird obtained in the Old
World, has been separated as a distinct race, on account of
being slightly larger on the average. A species or a race
founded solely upon the slight, constantly varying size of indi-
viduals has a very difficult position to maintain in any family
of birds, but is of a still more uncertain quantity when the
establishment of so important a distinction is attempted in a
like manner with members of the ANaTID#&, as they notori-
ously vary in size, so that individuals of the same species can be
readily found whose measurements differ at times in a surprising
degree. It is only necessary to look at the measurements of a
series of almost any species of the Anatida to see how wide
apart the two extremes are, and within the range some exam-
ples would undoubtedly be found agreeing exactly with their
foreign relatives, if they had any. It seems as if ornithologists
acted at times under the conviction that, because a species is
found in North America, it must be specifically or racially differ-
ent from its Old-World representatives, and then the slightest
variation is deemed sufficient to bestow upon it a new name.
There are a number of such instances among the ANATIDA,

SUBFAMILY FULIGULINA. 289

which serve not only no useful purpose whatever, but mystify
and confuse the student. Therefore, as I can find no reliable
characters to distinguish the American and European Golden
Eye from each other, and nocertain line of demarcation between
them, I have deemed it both unnecessary and unwise to retain
the name given to our bird, for I cannot see that its claim to be
considered even a subspecies has in any way been satisfactorily
established.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Bill high at base, narrowing toward tip.

a. Nostrils nearer the tip than base of bill.

GOLDEN EYE.
C. clangula. 6
} BARROW’S
( GOLDEN EYE.

j C. tslandica. 6

a’, Head and upper neck metallic green. t

6’. Head and upper neck metallic blue.

c’. Head and upper neck hair brown.

a". Height of bill at base Less than dis-
tance from anterior edge of nostril to
nearest loral feathers.

6". Height of bill at base EQuAL to dis- | BARROW’S
tance from anterior edge of nostril to GOLDEN-EYE,
nearest loral feathers. C. tslandica. Q

GOLDEN EYE.
\ C. clangula. 9

GENUS CHARITONETTA
(Greek xdpis, charzs, gracetul + vérra, nefta, a duck).

Charitonetta, Stejn. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, No. 29, p.
163. Type Anas albeola, Linn.

Bill about two-thirds length of head, height at base half the
length of culmen. Nail rather narrow, curving downward. An-
terior end of nostril nearer the loral feathers than the tip of bill.
Head bunchy. ‘Tail more than twice as long as tarsus.

Only one species is included in this genus, the common Buffle
Head Duck. By some authors it is kept in the previous genus
Clangula. The Buffle Head is a native of North America, strag-
gling occasionally, when it loses its way, to Cuba and even to
Europe; the last, however, rather exceptional. The male is a
beautiful bird, the head rejoicing in rich metallic colors, and in
its general appearance he is a diminutive Golden Eye.

290 WATER FOWL.

GENUS HAVELDA
(Havelda, Norw. Have/de, a Sea Duck).

Harelda (misprint or misspelling for Havelde). Stephens in
Shaw’s Gen. Zo6l., 1824, vol. xii., pt. ii., p. 174. Type Anas
glacialzs, Linn.

Bill shorter than head, equal to tarsus, widest at base, narrow-
ing rapidly to tip. Nail hooked. No lateral angles from base of
culmen, loral feathering at base of bill nearly a straight line.
Nostrils situated high on basal half of bill. Tail pointed, of 14
feathers ; median pair slender and greatly elongated.

Only one species is recognized of this genus, a native of both
the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, the familiar Old Squaw,
or South Southerly of sportsmen. The male is remarkable for
the greatly elongated middle feathers of the tail. It isa Sea
Duck, flesh fishy and disagreeable in flavor, goes in flocks of con-
siderable size, and flies with great rapidity. There is a striking
difference in the plumage of summer and winter, the male, es- —
pecially, in the two seasons appearing like quite another bird,

GENUS HISTRIONICUS

(Latin Azs¢rzonzcus, theatrical, relating to the bird's
fantastic coloring).

Histrionicus, Less. Man. d’Orn., 1828, vol. ii., p. 415. Type
Anas histrionicus, Linn.

Bill small, about half the length of head, shorter than tarsus,
tapering rapidly tothe tip, which is rounded and occupied by the
hooked nail. Height at base equal to the extreme width. Loral
feathering convex on base of bill. Frontal feathers advancing
on culmen beyond the lores. Nostrils basal, and situated high
on bill just beneath the culmen, Tail pointed.

This handsome bird with its fantastic markings, known as the
Harlequin Duck, is the only species of this genus. The female
is attired very differently from the male, and, by the side of her
brilliant ‘‘ Lord,” she is a very plain little body. This species is
essentially a bird of the north, rarely entering the waters of tem-
perate climes, and while it has a wide distribution over northern
North America, it is also a native of Iceland, straggling occa-

SUBFAMILY FULIGULIN-E. 291

sionally into European boundaries. The Harlequin, in some of
its characters, leans toward the Eiders, with which the inter-
vening genera help to connect it.

GENUS HENICONETTA.
(Greek éuxés, Aenzkos, singular + vérra, wefta, a duck),

Eniconetta (aspirate ignored), G. R. Gray. List. Gen. B.,
1840, p. 75. Type Anas stellerz, Pall.

Bill without frontal processes; height at base slightly more
than greatest width, this last not quite equal to half the length
of culmen, which is longer than tarsus. Sides of maxilla taper-
ing gradually toward the tip, which is nearly all occupied by the
nail, Nostrils ovate, basal, placed high on maxilla. Outline of
loral feathering convex. Speculum on wing.

One species only of this genus is known, the beautiful Steller’s
Duck, a dweller in high northern latitudes. It gathers at times
. in great flocks in the desolate regions it frequents, and often
associates with other Eiders inhabiting the same localities. This
genus is sometimes spelled /xzconetta;, but as this entirely ig-
nores the aspirate of the Greek é, and is therefore quite incor-
rect, I have not continued the error.

GENUS G@DEMIA.
(Greek of6nua, oedema ,; Latin edema, a swelling).

Oidemia (misspelling for Gfdemia), Fleming. Phil. of Zodl.,
vol. ii., 1822, p. 260. Type Anas nigra, Linn.

Bill variously tumid or gibbous; frontal feathers extending
further on the bill than those of the loral region. Maxilla ex-
tending anterior to, nostrils, thence narrowing rapidly to tip.
Nail broad, occupying the entire tip, curved and hooked. Nos-
trils situated about middle of bill. Extreme width of bill greater
than height of maxilla at base.

The Surf Ducks or Scoters, as they are frequently called, are
very numerous on our coasts in winter. Four species inhabit
North America, and while their plumage is somber, the males
being either all black, or black and white, the bills of this sex in
the different species are decorated with red, orange, or other
brilliant colors. It is a cosmopolitan genus, the members being

292 WATER FOWL.

found in both hemispheres in northern latitudes. A fifth species,
@. carbo, Pall., may possibly occur in Alaska, its proper habitat
being Northeastern Asia, but as yet no specimens have been pro-
cured within the boundaries of North America. One species, the
Velvet Scoter, attributed to the New World, is really a native of
the Eastern Hemisphere, and only claims a place in our avi-
fauna by the accidental appearance of individuals in Greenland,
evidently stragglers from the regular route during migration.
The flesh of these Ducks is tough and fishy, to be carefully
avoided whenever served at table.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Maxilla more or less swollen at base.
a. Plumage of male black with white

SURF SCOTER.
patches on front and back of head. Black GQ. ee
spot on swollen base of maxilla. lata,

6. Entire plumage of male deep black.
AMERICAN
a’. No speculum. rere
cee GQ. amert-
cana.
6'. Speculum white.
a", Swollen lateral basal part of maxilla oe VELVET SCOTER.
bare. . fusca. &
6". Swollen lateral basal part of maxilla 5 pe eae
feathered. :
Baye G. deglandi.&

c’. Awhite spot at base of maxilla and
one near ear.

| VELVET SCOTER.
) &. fustasS
WHITE-WINGED

a’. Upper parts brownish gray.

6’. Upper parts sooty brown. SCOTER.

) &, degland?.2
GENUS ARCTONETTA
(Greek dpxroc, arktos, a bear + vérra, net/a, a duck),

Arctonetta, G. R. Gray. Proc. Zo6l. Soc , 1855, p. 212. Type
Luligula fischert, Brandt.
Bill rather small and narrow, with only a little over one-third

SUBFAMILY FULIGULINZA. 293

of the culmen exposed, the rest covered by a mass of dense vel-
vety feathers that come to a point beyond the nostrils which are
partly hidden beneath them. From the culmen these feathers
pass obliquely downward to edge of maxilla, and then backward
to the end of the mouth. A line of feathers extends from chin
on mandible nearly as far forward as those on the culmen. Nail
occupying most of the tip, but there is no hook. Tertials falcate.
Tail rounded, feathers inclined to a point.

One species represents this genus—the curiously marked
Fischer’s or Spectacled Eider of the northwest coast of America.
It is common enough in the localities it frequents, but rarely
comes to the southward of Alaska, and is pre-eminently a bird
of the Arctic regions.

GENUS SOMATERIA
(Greek cua, soma, body + e€pwv, erzon, wool).

Somateria, Leach in Ross’ Voy. Disc., app., 1819, p. xlviii.
Type Anas mollzsstma, Linn,

Culmen about half as long as head. Bill slender with acute or
rounded lateral, nearly parallel, processes reaching on the fore-
head between the extension of the frontal feathers and those on
the sides, the former of which go nearly to the nostrils. Sides of
bill tapering to the tip. This is entirely covered by the nail,
which extends downward over the mandible when the bill is
closed. Nostrils situated just in advance of the lateral feather-
ing on the maxilla. Tertials curved downward over the wing.

This genus contains four well-characterized species, distributed
in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Some are
celebrated for their down, which is collected during the breed-
ing season from the nests, and is an important article of com-
merce. It is plucked by the female from her breast to serve as
a protection to the eggs. Three of the species are closely re-
lated, but the fourth, the King Eider or King Duck, differs in
having a large squarish frontal process near the base of the bill.
This, if permanent, would perhaps necessitate the removal of the
species to a separate genus, but as it only exists during the
breeding season, and at all other times the bill does not materi-
ally differ in outline from those of the other Eiders, the species
is properly retained in the same genus with them. A subgeneric

294 WATER FOWL.

term, Erzonetta (€pwv, erton, wool + vérra, netta, a duck), was
proposed for the King Eider by Coues in 1884.

The Eider Duck of the Old World, and the one obtained in
Greenland, have been separated by American ornithologists for
the same insufficient reasons given in similar cases of certain
Geese and Ducks, viz., a slight difference in size, to which in
this instance is added a variation in the color of the bill, ‘‘ olive
yellowish” instead of ‘‘olive green” ;* a distinction, to most
persons, practically without adifference. These characters, upon
which a specific or subspecific separation of the birds is based,
are not apparent to the ordinary observer, and only occasionally
to the expert, and can hardly be deemed of sufficient importance,
considering how Ducks vary in size, and also the difficulty of
recognizing delicate distinctions of slight shades of olive, to
require the Greenland and European birds to assume any kind
of separate rank. Species or subspecies, where the individuals
require a pair of dividers, or a great ability on the part of the in- ~
vestigator, to recognize intimately related shades of color for their
maintenance, should not be permitted to obtain recognition in
what ought to be regarded as a serious scientific study, for the
differences are too apt to mislead, and seriously confuse and
discourage the conscientious student.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Feathers of forehead reaching about half
as far on bill as the loral feathers.

AMERICAN
a. Frontal angles on bill broad with round to
ends. S. dressere.

6. Frontal angles on bill narrow with
pointed ends.
a. Without V-shaped mark on throat of COMMON EIDER. +
male. S. mollesstma.
6’. With black V-shaped marks on throat PACIFIC EIDER.
of male. S. u.-ntgrum,
&. Feathers of forehead reaching to posterior KING EIDER.
end of nostril. S. spectabilis.

* Ridgway, Manual, 2d ed., 1896, p. 109.
+In some male specimens a dusky V-shaped mark is seen on the throat,
but this is very exceptional.

SUBFAMILY ERISMATURINE. 295

SUBFAMILY ERISMATURINZE.
SPINE-TAIL DUCKS.

Tus subfamily is represented throughout the world
by many species comprised in about four genera, two of
which are represented by only one species each in North
America. One of these has a wide distribution within
our limits, but the other can only be regarded as a
straggler from more southern latitudes. They are
peculiar little Ducks, with large heads, and very broad
bills and feet, and the tail is composed of 18 to 20 stiff,
pointed feathers, frequently carried directly upward.
The males of both species have a brilliantly colored
plumage, of red and black hues mainly, but this is only
assumed by the resident bird during the breeding season.
Both kinds are skillful divers, and fly with great rapidity,
buzzing through the air more in the manner of insects
than of birds. The flesh of these Ducks is fairly good,
and of late years, probably from the growing scarcity of
more desirable varieties, the Ruddy Duck has taken a
rather prominent position in the markets of our land.

KEY TO THE GENERA.
(For North American Species.)

A. Tail feathers stiff, narrow, pointed.
a. Nail of bill with the point bent down- RUDDY DUCK.
ward and backward. Erismatura.
MASKED DUCK.

6, Nail of bill with the point perpendicular.
j Nomony x.

GENUS ERISMATURA

(Greek pica, erzsma, a prop + ovpd, oura, tail).

Erismatura. Bon. Sagg. Distr. Met. Age. e Corr., 1832, p. 143.
Type Anas jamaicensis, Gmel.

296 WATER FOWL,

Bill about as long as head, broad, widening toward the tip and
turned slightly upward; nail small, narrow, curved, and turned
backward. Nostril about middle of bill, placed near culmen.
Head moderately large; neck very large, permitting the skin to
pass over the head of the dead bird. Tail of eighteen feathers,
stiff, narrow, and pointed, with large shafts. Tarsus half as
long as middle toe and claw. Feet very large, outer toe longer
than middle. Wings short.

Only one species of this genus, out of the twelve or fourteen
recognized by ornithologists, is found in North America, the well-
known Ruddy Duck, with many aliases in different localities. It
is generally distributed throughout our Continent, going at times
as far south as northern South America. It is a sprightly little
bird with some rather comical habits.

GENUS NOMONYX
(Greek véuos, zomos, law + b8vvé, onwx, nail).

Nomonyx, Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. iii., 1880, p. 15.
Type Anas dominica, Linn.

Characters similar to Erismatura, but the nail nearly all seen
from above, and, although hooked, does not bend backward.
Tail composed of narrow graduated pointed feathers with stif-
fened shafts, and more than half aslong as wing. Bill narrower
for its length than is that of the allied genus. Outer toe shorter
than the middle toe.

There is only one species included in this genus, a native of
tropical America straggling into eastern North America, within
whose boundaries a few examples have been captured. In full
plumage the male is a very handsome bird, and rather smaller in
size than the common Ruddy Duck.

SUBFAMILY MERGIN-.
THE MERGANSERS.

Tuts subfamily possesses three genera, and about nine
species, and is represented in nearly every part of the
world. They are generally known as the Saw-bill, or

SUBFAMILY MERGINA, 297

Fish Ducks, and are not regarded as very desirable for
the table, the flesh being generally impregnated with the
flavor of fish, which is their principal food. They are
birds of handsome plumage, with hues from delicate
salmon tints to rich metallic greens. Some of the
species breed in trees, and all are fond of frequenting
secluded places, and keep much about the borders of
marshes and tidal creeks when upon the coast, and are
rarely seen on broad stretches of water. They fly very
rapidly and are expert divers, and destroy immense
numbers of small fish. Their peculiarly formed bill is
apt to attract the attention of the most indifferent
observer.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

A. Bill long, narrow, hooked.
a, Culmen longer than tarsus.

GOOSANDER.
a’. Serrations of maxilla inclined back- RED-BREASTED
ward. | | MERGANSER.
J) Merganser.
; ; ad HOODED
6’. Serrations of maxilla not inclined | ae
ae ' MERGANSER.
; Lophodytes.
SMEW.
6, Culmen sh t
orter than tarsus. Mergus.

Of the first genus there are about seven species recognized,
but two only are natives of North America, viz., the Goosander
and the Red-Breasted Merganser. The second contains but one
species,—the beautiful Hooded Merganser,—restricted to North
America, very occasionally straying to Europe; while the third
has the attractive Smew, an Old-World species included in our
fauna on very slight grounds; the female, it is claimed, having
been twice taken within our boundaries, the male never.

298 WATER FOWL.

GENUS MERGANSER
(Latin mergus, a diver + anser, a goose).

Merganser, Briss. Orn., vol. vi., 1760, p. 230. Type Mergus
merganser, Linn.

Culmen longer than tarsus; serrations of maxilla and man-
dible tooth-like, inclining backward. Bill long, narrow, tip
hooked.

The species of this genus are large birds, the males with
iridescent hues on the heads and necks. During the breeding
season, when possible, they seek lakes and rivers within the
forests and rear the young amid their solitudes. Flesh fishy and

_ unpalatable.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Head and neck greenish black, metallic.
GOOSANDER.

a. No white collar on neck; under parts Ve :
: M. amert-
Esha canus.d
b. Whi RED-BREASTED
: ite collar on lower neck; under parts ERGO
ASS eee ek j M, serrator.é

#. Head and neck tawny brown,
_ @ Distance between nostril and nearest GOOSANDER,
feather at base of bill GREATER than height M. amert-
of maxilla at base. canus. Q
6, Distance between nostril and nearest RED-BREASTED
feather at base of bill Less than height of MERGANSER.
maxilla at base. M. serrator.2

GENUS LOPHODYVTES
(Greek Addgos, Zophos, a crest + dvrns, dutes, a diver).

Lophodytes, Reichenb. Syst. Av., 1852, pl. ix. Type Wlergus
cucullatus, Linn,

Culmen longer than tarsus. Serrations of bill blunt, not
inclined backward, :

Only one species of this genus is known, confined to North

SUBFAMILY MERGINA, 299

America, the beautiful Hooded Merganser, noted for the ex-
pansive crest of black and white exhibited by the male, and
from which it takes its name.

GENUS MERGUS
(Latin mergus, a diver).

Mergus, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol.1., 1766, p. 207. Type MWergus
albellus, Linn.

Culmen shorter than tarsus.

A single species is included in this genus, a native of the Old
World, of doubtful occurrence in North America, and popularly
known as the Smew. It has a very attractive plumage of black
and white.

L’ENVOI.

The history is finished, the self-sought task is done,

The tale is told of creatures wild and free;

Of a tribe that’s swiftly passing, its course now nearly run,

Leaving for posterity naught save a memory.

We have heard the bell-like cry

Sounding faintly in the sky,

Of feathered squadrons speeding on their way;

We have watched the sportive broods

Inthe Arctic solitudes,

Where night was followed by an endless day.

We have known them in their glory, in the pride of numbers
strong,

Now we see them gathering in a feeble company,

We have heard the waters echo to the music of their song,

Now we listen to the silence born of river, lake, and sea.

Nevermore in serried ranks, from fierce Atlantic’s shore,
Across our wide domain to Pacific’s tranquil sea,

The fowl will cloud the heavens, but the cry of ‘‘ Nevermore,”
Shall echo to the limits of Ages yet to be.

INDEX.

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

OF PHILADELPHIA, 27, 42
fEthyia, 284, 286
ce americana, 59
a ferina, 286
ZEX, 273
‘* galericulata, 87, 273
“* -sponsa, go

Africa, North, 50, 98, 144, 178

South, 282
Agattu Island, 76
Aix, 273

Alaska, Coast of, 19, 58, 84, 128,

188, 206, 220, 232, 271

Alaska, Territory of, 28, 35, 38, |

45, 46, 52, 57, 72, 73, 74, 77, 84, |
86, 122, 126, 128, 130, 136,

160,
180,
198,
230,
249,

162,
182,
203,
234,
254,

164,
184,
212,
235,
257,

142,
169,
196,
219,
240,
293
Alaskan Peninsula,
217, 220, 232
Albemarle Sound, 4o

154,
170,

197,
229,

245,

199,

140,
165,

190, |
27,
237, |
292, |

216,

Aleutian Islands, 19, 35, 46, 52,
54, 55, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77,

116, 134, 136, 160, 176,
188, 189, 196, 201, 203,
212274" 210, 220, 220;
245, 249, 252, 271

184,
206,
232,

America, 27

“ce
oe
se

ae

130,

AT CHC, 277445 mer
Central, 93, 136, 142
Northern, 108, 203
Northern South, 93,

243

America, South, 93, 128, 132,

136,

242, 243

America, Western, 38, 70, 86,

133
Anas,

275, 277

acuta, 279

anser, 270
bernicla, 271
boschas, 104, 277, 278
breweri, 103
canagica, 270
casarca, 276
clangula, 288
clypeata, 288
crecca, 281
cygnus, 265
dominica, 296
ferina, 286
fuligula, 186
fulvigula, 110, 278
fulvigula maculosa, 112,
278 °

glacialis, 290
histrionicus, 290
jamaicensis, 295
mollissima, 293

304

Anas, nigra, 291
‘* obscura, 108, 278
olor, 265
penelope, 278
querquedula, 280
rufina, 285
stelleri, 291
strepera, 278
valisneria, 285
Anatide, Family,
288
Anatine, Subfamily, 263, 274,
282
Anderson River, 45, 46, 57, 84,
85, 86, 165, 190, 230
Anderson River, Lower, 212
Anser, 268, 270
‘« albifrons, 48
SG OBITS, Ho)
‘© hyperboreus, 269
‘« rossii, 269
Anseres, Order, 263
Anserinez, Subfamily, 263, 267
Anthony, A. W., 198
Arctic Circle, 176
«Coast, 28, 190, 217
“Ocean, 19, 30, 46, 71, 74,
86, 118, 120, 170, 186, 192, 201,
2252201230
Arctic Regions, 19, 27, 30, 31,
41, 42, 45, 52, 57, 68, 84, 100,
LOA 103, ) DA. eee s Sera.
159, 162, 164, 165, 178, 182,
189, 192, 199, 204, 214, 227,
234, 235, 293
Arctic Sea, 35, 45, 57, 68, 70, 85,
118, 135, 160, 169, 175, 178,
TSA, LOS, 2OL 200m ena uo Ta:
234
Arctonetta, 284, 292
As fischeri, 220

2035) 204;

INDEX. ‘

Argentine Republic, 96, 132, 243
Aristonetta, 284, 285

| Aristonetta valisneria, 152

Asia, 31, 50, 97, 259, 260, 265
‘« Northeastern, 292
‘* Southern, 98

Atkha Island, 69, 134, 249

Atlantic Coast, 21, 30, 33, 34,
35, 38, 40, 43, 45, 48, 70, 76,
78, 80, 83, 84, 85, 122, 124, 134,
142, 172) 0175, 270; LOO; meOrn
200,207, 213,204, 5 222 cose
225, 227, 234, 235

Atlantic Ocean, 19, 28, 39, 41,
AS, 517; (08;) 100; 127 T18 she
170, 203, 212

Auk, Great, 220

Australia, 265, 282, 286

Automniere, 128

Aythya, 286

BAEDEKER, 198
Bardi. He27r
Bald Crown, 120
Sale wna
‘* Pate, 116, 118, 120
Barren Grounds, 28, 39, 124,
IgO, 212
Bec Scie, 254
Behring Islands, 217
fe Sea, 19, 46, 55,
206, 216, 220, 229, 232
Behring Straits, 45, 52, 55, 201,
234
Belden, Mr., 196
Bellot’s Straits, 80
Berlin, 97
Bernicla, 271
Bermuda Islands, 204, 245
Bishop, Dr. L. B., 286
Black Head, 164

188,

INDEX.

Black Head, Big, 160, 162, 286,
287
Black Head Creek, 164
ss Little, 160,
164, 165, 170, 287
Black Head, Ring-billed, 169
se Ringed-neck, 169
Black Neck, 162
Blanc Sablon, 172
Blue Bill, Big, 161
46 Little, 164, 170
Blue Peter, 61, 192
Boardman, G. A., 170

161,

Booby, 231
Branchier, 87
Brant, 78
= Blue; 34
“Gray, 47
Pied) .47
Prairie. 47,

a Speckled, 47
‘¢ White, 37, 41
Branta, 271

a bernicla, 83, 272
ae Black, 80, 83, 84, 85, 86,
272

Branta canadensis, 68, 77, 272
Branta canadensis, hutchinsi,

79, 77, 272, 273

Branta canadensis, minima,
77, 272
Branta canadensis, occiden-

talis, 73, 79, 272

Branta leucopsis, 79, 272
ee nigricans, 86, 272

Brazil, Southern, 96
Brent, 82, 271
Brenthus, 271
Brewer, T. M., 196
Bristle Tails, 239
British Columbia, 133

395

British Islands, 31, 78, 134, 160,
Pigs Pst Dy)
British Museum, 259
«¢ Provinces, 178
Broad Bill, 164, 169
uC Bastard, 169
3 Bay, 161, 162
4 Big, 162
ss Little, 161, 164, 165,
166, 170, 177
Broad Bill, River, 164
s Saltwater, 162
ee Small, 162
Broady, 142
Brooklyn, 173
Brownsville, 242
Buffle Head, 63, 177, 184, 185,
238
Bull Head, 176
SNe ckisns 1.8230
Butter Ball, 184, 185
C BXope5 aileysl

CACCAWEE, IQI
Cairina moschata, 104 (note)
Calais; 155, 170
Calaveras, 196, 198
California, Gulf of, 128
es Lower, 86, 201, 204,
214
California, Northern, 52
uC State of, 19, 29, 35,
43, 55, 69, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77,
84, (95, 96) 116) 01 7,130) 132)
147, 159, 188, 192, 195, 196,
199
California, Southern, 35, 38, 44,
93, 206, 212, 249
Camptolzemus, 284, 287
ee labradorius, 175
Catiada, 106

306

Canard cheval, 151
‘« — frangais, 100

ae

gris, 113
a noir, 106, 169
“ “ @Eté, 111
ss violin, 158
Canvas, 151
ac Back, 118, 147, 148,
TAQH SO. CLS 5 Aneals OO lene!

165, 186, 284, 285, 286
Canvas Back, Royal, 147

Canvas Backs, 149, 152, 157, |

158
Cape Hatteras, 4o
«St. Lucas, 48
Carolina, North, State of, Io,
20, 21, 40, 78, 87, 96, 104, 116,
117, 124
Carolina, South, State of, 177
Casarca, 275, 276
i casarca, 98
Charitonetta, 284, 289
cs albeola, 186
Chaulelasmus, 275
+ streperus, 114
Chen, 268
‘* ceerulescens, 34, 269
‘« —hyperboreus, 38, 269
Chesapeake Bay, 20, 21, 149,
152, 202, 214
Chili, 132, 133, 243
China, 47, 98, 134, 160, 162, 192,
206, 251, 160, 274
Churchill River, 33, 43, 58
Clangula, 283, 289
os clangula, 178, 289
a islandica, 102, 289
Cockawee, Ig1
Cock Robin, 254
Colorado, State of, 57, 113, 123,
133, 136, 180, 181, 182, 198

INDEX.

California, Northern, 245
Columbia River, 132, 142, 240
ut io” Upper, gs
Commander Island, 27, 45, 55,
140, 184, 206, 217, 233
Copenhagen, 50, 97
Coot, 214, 239
<a Baya 2030208
“Black, 208
‘* Booby, 239
“Broad Bill-'239
“« Brown, 203, 208
«* Bumble Bee, 239
“ _ Butter-billed, 208
“ Butterboat-billed, 203
“« Gray, 203, 208
‘“« Horse Head, 203
‘* Hollow-billed, 203, 208
«Skunk Head, 203
i opectacleszas
‘¢ ~Whistling, 208
“«« White-winged, 212
Coots, 202, 203, 212
Coppermine River, 225, 229, 232
Corpus Christi, 111
Cotton Head, 254
Coues, Dr. E., 294
Coween, 191
Cuba, 39, 41, 48, 90, 104, 118,
120, 126, 136, 138, 175, 178, 184,
186, 237, 254, 257, 289
Currituck Sound, 19, 24, 40, 78,
87, 239
Cygne, 27, 29
Cygnine, Subfamily, 263, 264,
265
Cygnus, 32, 265, 266
at columbianus, 27, 267
nS cygnus, 32, 265, 266
ee buccinator, 30, 267 ©
sie olor, 31

INDEX.

DABCHICK, 237
Dafila, 274, 275, 279

ce

acuta, 126

Dakotas, The, 30

Dall, W. H., 28, 54, 609, 164,
180, 216, 229

Delaware, State of, 172, 223

Dendrocygna, 274, 275, 276

276

oe autumnalis,

93,

Dendrocygna fulva, 96, 276
Dipper, 184, 186

ac

Broad Bill, 239

Diver, Hell, 237

oe

“cc

Ruddy, 239
Saw Bill, 254

Dos Gris, 158, 162
Dresser, H. E., 98, 195

Duck,

oe

Las

ia;

289

Duck,

ae

ae

278

Duck,

ae

oe

95

Duck,

ac

ee

3

oe

198,
Duck,

ee

Acorn, 87

Black, 106, 107, 109
English, 106

Braminy, 98

Brewer’s, 103

Buffle Head, 184, 284,

Creek, 113, 278

Dusky, 102, 106, 176, 278

Dusky, Florida, 109, 111,

Eider, 294

Fiddler, 294

Fiddler, Yellow-bellied,

Fish, 245, 249, 297

Fulvous Tree, 95, 276

German, 113

Gray, 100, 113

Harlequin, 195, 196, 197,

284, 290, 291

Heavy-tailed, 239

Horse, 151

Duck,

Se7

King, 293

Labrador, 172, 220, 284
Long-legged, 92, 95
Long-tailed, 188, 191,
Mandarin, 272, 274
Masked, 242, 295
Mottled, 111, 278
Muscovy, 104

Noisy, Ig

Painted, 197

Pied, 172

Raft, 156, 159, 164

Raft Red-headed, 159
Ringed Neck, 169, 287
Rock, 197

Ruddy, 63, 237, 239, 242,

243, 285, 295, 296

Duck,
285
Duck,

‘

Rufous-crested, 144, 283,

Rufous long-legged, 95
Sand Shoal, 172
Scaup, 160

Seen 19n nos

os Lesser, 164
Skunk, 172
Spectacle, 203
Spirit, 176, 179, 184
Steller’s, 216, 217, 284,

Stock, 100

Summer, 87

Summer Black, 111
Surf, 202, 203

Surf Black, 214

Surf White-winged, 214
Swallow-tailed, 191
Tree, Black-bellied, 92,

95, 276

Duck,

ae

Tufted, 169
Velvet, 214

308

Duck, Wheat, 120
as White-faced, 128
We Wild, 100, 108
oe Wild, Common, 277
‘* Wood, 87, 88, 89, go, 263,
264, 273, 274
Ducks, 267
s Eider, 284
vt Fresh Water, 263, 274,
277, 282
Ducks, Golden-Eye, 284
«« Salt Water, 274
‘© Saw-billed, 245, 264
ee Sea, 263, 274, 282
Scaup, 158
‘« Spine-Tail, 263, 295
Surf, 284, 291
as | Tree; 2755-276
‘* Wood, 254

EIDER, 225, 226
«American, 222, 223, 224,
229, 232, 294

Eider, Common, 222, 224, 225,
227, 229, 233, 236, 294

Eider, Fischer’s, 219, 235,
293

284,

Eider, King, 216, 232, 234, 235,
293, 294

Eider, Pacific, 216, 229, 231,
232, 294

Eider, Spectacled, 219, 235,
293

Eiders, 232, 234, 291, 293

Egypt, 31, 48

Egyptians, 48
England, 100
Eniconetta, 291
Erionetta, 294
Erismatura, 295
S jamaicensis, 240

Fuliguline,

INDEX.

Erismaturine, Subfamily, 263,
295

Eskimo, 32, 33, 54, 172, 231,
232, 235

Europe, 31, 50, 90, 144, 152, 182,
203, 204, 215, 251, 257, 250;
265, 289, 297

Europe, Central, 144

es Eastern, 98
Northern, 50, 190, 217,
225, 260, 285

ae

Europe, Southern, 50, 97,
98
Exanthemops, 268, 269
co rossii, 44

FALKLAND ISLANDS, 132, 133
Fanning Islands, 278
Faroe Islands, 78
Fiebig, Mr. Charles, 52
Fielden, Captain, 80
Finnish Lapland, 31
Fisherman, 249
Flocking Fowl, 164
Florida, State of, 106, 108, 109,
132, 133, 188)) 192,20, 5203"
249, 254
Florida, Peninsula of, 109
Formosa, Island of, 274
Forrester, Frank, 214
Fort Anderson, 124
Albany, 33
‘© Prince of Wales, 58
> Rejonwog
Franklin Bay, 27, 85
Fulica americana, 61, 192
Fuligula, 284, 286
a affinis, 167, 287
“ collaris, 171, 287
Subfamily, 263,
274, 282

INDEX.

Fulton Market, 173
Fundy, Bay of, 222

GADWALL,
277, 278
Galveston, 95
us Bay, 19
Garrot, Rocky Mountain, 180
Geese, The, 263, 267
us Brant, 78
~ Canada, 273
“Laughing, 268
es Snow, Greater, 268
«© White-fronted, 270
‘* White-fronted Euro-
pean, 270
Georgia, State of, 235
Gairatd>) |. P:; 172
Godthaab, 32
Golden Eye, 176, 177, 178,
289
Golden Eye, American, 288
“ Barrow’s, 180,
181, 289
Golden Eye, Common, 180, 182,
288
Golden Eye,
288
Goosander, 245, 246, 247, 249,
250, 251, 254, 297, 298
Goose, Bailey, 37
‘« _ Bald-headed, 34
So Bar, 79
‘* Barnacle, 78, 272
‘* Bay, 68, 70
Bean, 50
‘““ Black-headed, 68
Blue, 33, 34, 269
“Brant, 70, 80, 82, 272
Cackling, 48, 52, 69, 74,
76, 272

113, 114, 124, 275,

183,

European, 178,

3°9

Goose, Canada, 36, 57, 61, 62,
7On Wl, 72,27, 272
Goose, Canada, Lesser, 70
‘* Cravat, 68, 268
Emperor, 52, 54, 55, 72,

268

Goose, Eskimo, 70, 86
“Blight, 7o
[Gray 147108
ee <SsSmalleso
“« Hutchins’, 69, 70, 71, 85,
272

Goose, Laughing, 47
“« Lidenna, 55, 72
‘« Lower Ground, 46
«Mud, 70
‘> Prairie, 70
Red nan
“Reef, 68
So) Ranges 83
‘« Snow, 33, 34, 35, 39, 40,
41, 43, 46
Goose, Snow, Blue, 34
a “« Greater, 39, 41,
268, 269, 270
Goose, Snow, Lesser, 35, 37, 43,
44, 268, 269
Goose, Snow, Ross’, 43, 77, 268
«Texas, 41
“_Tundrina, 46, 70
Goose, White-cheeked, 72, 77,
272
Goose, White-collared, 52
ae ‘« -fronted, 45, 46,
52, 270
Goose, White-headed, 34, 35
Wild, 57, 62, 66, 67, 71
‘« Wild, Common, 271
s“ Tattle; 70
‘«« Winter, 70
‘“« Yellow-legged, 47

310

Grand Menan, Island of, 33

Gray Back, 158, 162

Greaser, 239

Great Britain, 48, 98, 178, 192,
259, 285, 286

Great Head, 176

Great Lakes, 201, 206, 212, 222,
223, 234) 235, 202

Great Slave Lake, 225, 237

Green Head, 100

Greenland, 31, 32, 45, 48, 50, 78,
80, 98, 134, 180, 182, 224, 225,
227) QT i264. 2577, 200s 02775
294

Greenland, Glacier Valley, 42

3 West, 97
Greenland, North, 50, 97
es South, 32

Guatemala, 118, 120, 162, 164,
167, 169, 171, 237, 240

Guinea Hen, 55

Hairy Crown, 254
is Big, 249
Hairy Head, 254, 256
Harelda, 290
Havelda, 284, 290
“ie glacialis, 192
Hearne, 38, 43, 58, 137
Hemisphere, Eastern, 34, 79,
160, 195, 237, 266, 290, 292
Hemisphere, Northern,
235, 293
Hemisphere, Western, 290
Heniconetta, 284, 291
tf stelleri, 217
Hewitson, 198
Histrionicus, 284, 290
oy histrionicus, 199
Honduras, 135, 138
Hooper, The Wild, 31

140,

INDEX,

Horicon, Lake, 155

Hudson Bay, 28, 33, 34, 39, 43,
78, 80, 87, 90, 106, 136, 137,
206, 212, 237, 240

Hudson Bay Company, 259

Humboldt Bay, 52, 55

ICELAND, 31, 32, 78, 97, 98, 180,
182, 225, 251

Icy Cape, 234

Illinois, State of, 28, 116, 272

India, 98, 144, 260

Indies, West, 93, 128, 130, 164,
TO72 LOO. yt 242 eas

Iowa, 28, 30

| JAMEs Bay, 33

Japan, 31, 47, 48, 98, 122, 134,
178, 192, 195, 199, 206, 251,
259, 260, 274, 286

Jerdon, Dr. T. C., 98

KapDIAK ISLAND, 216, 217
Kamchatka, 27, 55, 140, 217
Kansas, State of, 112, 130, 277
Kennicott, R., 86, 164
Kerguelen Island, 280
Kittitas, 198

Koshkonong Lake, 242
Kotzebue Sound, 160, 201, 206
Kurile Islands, 197, 198, 217
Kuskokwim River, 219, 220

LABRADOR, 33, 108, 172,
213, 222, 223, 225

Lady, 197

La Fresnaye, Baron
(note)

Lake Champlain, 242
“Erie, 181
‘« Michigan, 188, 212

20I,

de, 271

INDEX.

Lapland, 160
Larus philadelphia, 251
Laxa River, 195
Leggett, F. W., 24
Leucoblephara, 271 (note)
Leucoblepharon, 271 (note)
Leucopareia, 271 (note)
Liverpool Bay, 40, 85
Long Island, 4o, 45, 78,
172
Lophodytes, 297, 298
“s cucullatus, 257
Lord, 197
Louisiana, 27, 29, 34, 37, 47,
875502, 95, 9C; LOO) Lit, 113)
DA el 5 soon Ag ths. OZ,
169, 176, 245, 254, 259

134,

MACFARLANE, Mr., 27, 45, 46,
85, 165, 230
Mackenzie River, 39, 41, 212
a << District, 136
Mayoum, 48
Maine, State of, 33, 34, 106,
155, 170, 180, 186, 196, 222,
225
Malden, 242
Mallard, 61, 100, Ior, 102, 103,
104, 106, 107, 108, 141, 144,
Poteet 705 2752710
Mallard, Black, 106
sé Dusky, 106
a Gray, 100
Manitoba, Province of, 123
Mareca, 275, 278
se americana, 120, 279
es penelope, 117, 279
Marionette, 184
Massachusetts, State of, Io1,
M72 pd] Ovo, 22ge 242, 243
Matamoras, 242

| Mazatlan, 95

Mediterranean, 259, 285
Merganser, 181, 249, 251, 254,
297, 298
Merganser, American, 245
. Americanus,
298
Merganser, Buff-breasted, 245
if Hooded, 68, 8g,
238, 254, 255, 297, 209
Merganser, Red-breasted, 249,
250, 251, 256, 297, 298
Merganser, Red-headed, 249
ue serrator, 252, 263,
298
Merginz, Subfamily, 263, 264,
296
Mergus, 297, 299
oe albellus, 260, 299
us cucullatus, 298
a merganser, 298
Mesquin, 142
Mexico, 45, 48, 93, 96, 142, 161,
170, 178, 184, 186, 254, 257
Mexico, Gulf of, I9, 28, 29, 30,
33, 34, 35, 45, 69, 70, 87, 90,
92, G3, 100
Mexico, Western, 242
Minnesota, State of, 164, 169,
PO, GIR)
Mississippi, River, 138, 190
4 Valley of the, 19,
20, 29, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 45,
69, 70, 74, 77, 80, 86, 108, 128,
132, 133, 170, 237, 269
Missouri, State of, 96, 201, 206,
212, 214
Mit-huk, 232
Montana, State of, 44, 186
Mud Hen, 61, 192
Museum of Natural History,

247,

312

The New York, 69, 116, 174, !

181, 272
Museum, United States Na-
tional, 197, 198, 265

NEARER ISLANDS, 206

Nelson, E. W., 49, 52, 74, 123,
TO4)) -IGL, 196) 9201, 207,210;
220, 229

Netta, 283, 285
< nutina, 145

Nettion, 275, 280, 281

ss carolinensis, 138, 281

crecca, 135, 281

New Brunswick, Province of,
IOI

Newfoundland, 195, 199

New Jersey, State of, 140, 173,
175, 206, 234

New Orleans, 151, 259

New World, 45, 114, 195, 199,
234, 249, 270

New York City, 134, 144, 173

se

New York, State of, 180, 182, |

196, 242

Nevada, State of, 95, 96

Nile, The River, 48

Nomonyx, 295, 296

Norfolk, 202

North America, 19, 28, 30, 45,
54, 57, 68, 78, 83, 87, 97, 100,

TO4, LO6, 113118.) 120, 1245
L25 ey GOn 1S 2a, alas sO.
138-9040) 1425 TA4e TAT. 52)
154, 159, 161, 162, 164, 167, |
TOG) eryOn wey, E74 lyse os
182, 186, 188, 192, 195, 108,
199, (201, 206;5 212) 2145 207;
2235225. 227, (234 237 edo;
245, 247, 249, 254, 257, 259,
260, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269,

INDEX.

270, 273; 274-270. 2a aeoo
281, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290,
291, 292, 295, 296, 297, 208,
299
North America, Eastern, 79, 80
Norton Bay, 219
i Sound 55.585 oor moma
Norway, 225
Nova Scotia, 78, 79
Nueces Bay, 111
ae INIVET NOS

CEDEMIA, 283, 284, 291

as americana, 292
carbo, 292
deglandi, 214, 292
perspicillata, 203, 292
Ogdensburg, 181
Ohio River, 188, 204
Oidemia, 291

ce

ae

se

| Oie blanche, 37
| Oie bleu, 34
| Oie caille, 47

Granny, 161

Injun, 191

Molly, 191

South Southerly, 188

Squaw, 188, 189, 191, 192

Squaws, Ig0, 290

Wife, 191

World, 91, 45, 47, S0mge:
Q7, 114, 116, 122, 134, 135,144,
147, 162, (078) 4192) Osseo.
224, 234, 249, 254, 259, 270,
274, 276, 279, 285, 286, 288,
294, 297, 299

Olor, 265, 266
‘* bewickii, 265

buccinator, 265

columbianus, 265

Oregon, State of, 35, 147

Old

“e

“ce

INDEX.

Outarde, 68
Ouzel, 195

PAGIFIG: COAST, 28, 30, 33; 34,
35, 38, 44, 55, 69, 72, 73, 80,
84, .L2o, 1392) 147, 170, 201, 212;
214, 234, 235, 237, 246, 249, 271

Pacific Ocean, Ig, 45, 67, 68, 70,
TOO WEL. lio, 1354 «L170, 91776;
184, 203, 278

Panama, I04, 126

Patagonia, 133

Pearson, H. J., 195, 198

Peary, Lieut., 42

Pewaukee, Lake, 169

Pheasant, Water, 125, 254

Philacte, 268, 270

se canagica, 55

Pian Queue, 125

Pigeontail, 125

Pigeon, Wild, 88

Pintail, 118) 122, 123, 124

Plectropterine, 263, 273

Plongeur, 176

Poacher, 120

Pochard, American, 159

Point Barrow, 74, 84, 217, 219,
220

Polar Ocean, 84

Potomac River, 188

Printempsnierre, 128

Prybilof Islands, 54

Puckaway Lake, 69, 149, 262

Puffins, 197

Puget Sound, 196

QUERQUEDULA, 275, 280
iz cyanoptera, 133,
280, 281
Querquedula, discors, 130, 133,
280, 281

313

Rep HEAp, 118, 147, 150, 154,
155, 156, 157, 161, 284, 285,
286

Red Heads, 149, 156, 157, 158,
240

Reichenbach, 271

Richardson, 40, 57

Ridgway, R., 183

Ring Bill, 169

Ring-gaas, 83

Ring Neck, 170

Rio Grande, 92, 95

Rio Grande, Lower, 243

Rockies, 197

Rock River, 242

Rocky Mountains, 154, 180, 195,
199

Rook, 239

Ross, R. B,, 78

Ruddy, 239

Rupert House, 78

Russia, 216

SACRAMENTO, 95
ae Valley of the, 155
Salt Lake Valley, Great, 43
Sarcelle, 138
Sasarka, 55
Saskatchewan, Valley of the,
136
Sauk Island, 216
Saw Bill, 249
+ Little, 254
ay Sea, 245
Scandinavian Peninsula, 97, 98
Scaup, Big, 162, 164, 167
oe Little, 124, 160, 162,
164, 169, 170
Scaup, Big, Ringed-neck, 169
Schénherr, Mr., 271
Scie de mer, 245

314

Scolder, 191 |
Scoter, American, 206, 207, 212, |
292
Scoter, Lake Huron, 214
“ =iSurt) 201, 203,207,202
Velvet, 214, 292
White-winged, 201, 212,

292
Scoters, 201, 283
Scotland, 27
Seal Islands, 196
Sé-le-sen, 100
Semiché Islands, 76
Vennett) G. beri me
Sheldrake, 249
es Buff-breasted, 245
fe Pied, 240
Pond, 254
# Ruddy, 97, 275
: Swamp, 245, 252
Shelduck, 249
Shepard, C. W., 195, 196
Shoa, 98
Shoveler, 140, 275, 282
es Blue-winged, 142
ae Mud, 142
es Red-breasted, 142
Shuffler, 164, 169
. Big, 162
ss Ring-billed, 169
Shumagin Islands, 206, 216
Siberia, 78
Siberian Coast, I9, 52, 55, 217
Sierra Nevada, 195, 197, 199
Silverton, 198
Singley, J. A., 111
Sitka, 72, 73, 80, 201, 212
Smee, 125
Smew, 99, 259, 260, 297, 299
Snipe, 122
Somateria, 284, 293

ce

INDEX.

Somateria, dresseri, 223, 294
us mollissima, 224, 227,
233, 294
Somateria, spectabilis, 235, 294
“A v-nigrum, 232, 294
South Southerly, 191, 290

| South South Southerly, 188

Spatula, 275, 282
‘« . clypeata, 142

| Speckle Belly, 47, 113
| Speculum, xix

Spike Bill, 254

| Spike Tail, 125

Spine Tail, 239
Spitzbergen, 78, 83
Spoonbill, 140, 142

| Spreet Tail, 125
| Sprig, 125,
Sprigtail, 119, 122, 125, 158, 189,

275
Sprigtail, American, 280
Squealer, 87
St. Croix River, 170
St. Lawrence, Gulf of, 180, 182,
196, 213, 227
St. Lawrence Island, 206, 216,
234
St. Lawrence, River, 181
St. Louis, 206, 212, 214
St. Michael’s Island, 19, 46, 52,
55, 69, 72, 84, 201, 207; 212)
219, 234, 249
Stanislaus River, 196
States, Eastern, 128, 133
«© Middle, 195, 199, 212
“New England, 213
‘* Northern, 114, 249, 252
“«« Northeastern, 101
«Northwestern, 152
“South Atlantic, ror
«« Southern, 104, (note)

INDEX.

States, Western, 170
Steel Head, 239
Stejneger, L. J., 184, 233, 265,
266
Stewart Island, 55, 1o1
Stick Tail, 239
Stiff Tail, 239
Subarctic Coast, 217
Sundevall, 271
Swaddle Bill, 142
Swan, American, 26, 28
“Australian, 264
‘« Bewick’s, 32
«Mute, 31, 32
je Lrimpeter) 20.20.28, 20,

267
Swan, Whistling, 20, 28, 29,
266, 267

Swan, Whooping, 32, 266, 267
Swans, The White, 265, 266
Swinhoe, R., 206

TAPKAN, 234

Teal, 7
‘* American Green-winged,
135, 136, 281

Teal, Blue-winged, 280, 281
‘European, 134
e z Green-winged,
135, 281

Teal, Green-winged, 128, 130,
134, 136, 137, 275

Teal, Mud, 138
«* Red-headed, 138
‘* Salt-water, 239
‘= Seoteh, 184
«Spoonbill, 142
« Summer, 128, 132, 280, 281
“ Winter, 138

Teals, Green-winged, 275
‘* Blue-winged, 275

315

Texas, State of, 45, 86, 93, 95,
96, 106, 111, 118, 140, 142, 188,
192, 237, 242

Texas, Eastern, 112

*« Southern, 133
“* Western, 29

Trinidad, 212

Trumpeter, The, 266

Turkestan, 285

urneipele MESA ssa 74ee 70s

134, 164, 197, 203, 219, 229, 249

UNALASKA, ISLAND, 55, 74, 77;
188, 196, 216, 245
United States, 20, 28, 35, 43,

57 60.69; 703) 77s. 00; 92,6 100;
16s 0L7,. 20,0024, L284 0020;
132, 136, 136, 147, 148, 160;
164, 167, 160; 171, 191, (203;
234, 242, 247, 251, 252, 254,
255, 259, 277

United States, Eastern, 145
ss Northern, 30, 45,
52, 68
Uppernavik, District of, 97
Utah, 106, 180, 182

VANHOFFEN, DR., 97
Vancouver Island, 147
Vineyard Island, 172

WALKER, DrR., 80
Washington Market, 173
= State of, 35, 198

Waukareen, 234
Wavey, Blue, 34, 269

es Common, 41, 43

ah Horned, 43
Waveys, 34
Weaser, 245
Webster, Daniel, 172

Welch Drake, 113
Wenatchee, 198 :
Wenge, Mr.,97_ .
Whippler, 176 ;
Whistler, 176, 177, 178, 180
Whistle Wing, 176
White Back, 151
White Sea, 78
Widgeon, 89, 113, 114, 118,
IIg, 120, 124, 156, 275, 277,
280
Widgeon, American, 114, 116
«« Bald-faced, 120
AG European, 116, 279
OT Gray 153
ue Green-headed, 120
2. Wood, 87

THE END.

p 4 ots ae ar ‘<
Wilson, A., 172 ae ae

| XantTus, MR., 93

Wisconsin, Lakes of, 251 B

Wisconsin, State of, 69, 74
136, 149, 155, 169, | 188,
222, 234, 242, 243

Wrangel Land, 84 in

Yuxon, DELTA OF THE, 69,
‘* Fort, 28, 33,45 iam
“ River, 19, 35, 52, 54, 55,
57, 74, 84, 86, 122, 140, 147
160, 164, 177, 180, 196,
229, 232

ZAN-ZAN, 120

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Commercial Advertiser: ‘‘One of the most interesting and valuable books
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a

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17 East Jéth Street NEW YORK

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