The game birds of North America; a descriptive checklist

si i

sor
Wis
po chy

- bed f
=? - md

br : : \

dnd 3 e.
Set jel .
i * r ‘
ede | nl : A
: ns
> ¥ et 1”
pe Z — . ‘
a = . ?
ron

=

' : LS:

ry ¢'
La
|
)
hy
y

ih ot toe
Veer
Paar) 7

.

© : a ; i
Pe Oy a

,

is

“UNODSNYUOG “LOT

THE GAME BIRDS

OF NORTH AMERICA

A DESCRIPTIVE -CHECK - LIST

BY

FRANK AS BATES

President *‘ Boston Scientific Society,” and formerly
Associate Editor ‘‘Ornithologist and Oologist.’”

Jllustrated

a,
at

. 2D J
fr tA, & HIBS ;
‘Siler “

a oN

RN S
BOSTON
BRADLEE WHIDDEN

1896

=

j = o

poner re COPYRIGHT, 1896,
ae aero BRADLEE WHIDDEN. _
Sy . _ 3 E
‘ : = :
} »
Z x a cs
tomy S. J» PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS, BOSTON |
* 5 ; ie . a ‘ 4 ee Z
¥ i - 7 . S
: Pato ‘ iF igs

~ INTRODUCTORY.

In considering the preparation of this list, the first
point was — “ What is a game bird?”

What gunner will admit that his favorite bird is not
game, although it be tabooed by his neighbor? And here
again another difficulty arose, for many a man shoots
_ Meadow Larks and Reed-birds, and would scorn the
imputation that he was not a sportsman, or that these
birds were not game.

To avoid one horn of the dilemma without getting
hooked by the other, I have manufactured this definition :
A game bird is one which is suitable for food and which
is habitually pursued by man for sport, demanding skill
and dexterity for its capture. I take it for granted that
every sportsman is a gentleman, and would not slaughter
more game than he could find a use for, and that he
would not descend to the level of the pot-hunter, who will
kill Robins and other insectivorous birds simply because
they are fit to eat.

With this explanation, I apologize beforehand to any-
one whose corns I have trodden upon, offering as an
excuse, my desire to afford a convenient reference list
adapted to the sportsman’s needs without compelling
him to wander among a mass of useless matter. I have
also marked with a star (*) those birds which are not
generally accepted as game, although it has been very
difficult to draw the line.

Yraurk.A (Gab

‘(L9-9¢ ‘SON) Sodoavypeyg : ; fe pvayo1oy UO Pforys poyvu on

'(P9-ZBO “SON) Sudy-pnyy ; i P¥BoYyoroF UO PTOTYS PoyBN 9
‘(0G-LG "SON) AS80045) ; : ‘ 1[Iq puv 040 UdAMJoq postOYyVoyF ULYG
"(ZG ‘TG “SON) suvMg : Iliq puv oA40 UsaMyoq UTYS o1Bq JO diag 7)
92%)72/29Y
390//29.95
eae (0}¥[NdI}02) soyeld 07 UT pouly-ssoro ssary
(98-8 “SON) SxyoNnC : ; (07¥[[oyN08) SO[BOS JIM PdldAO0d ssoryT ye)
| D> ° : - 4ep Ta
(69 ‘ON) SHINS ‘(89 ‘ON) S}oo0a Vy ; LOpus|s PUB SUOT SSoy puB [II
‘(1-G ‘SON) SdosuBSIOT , : " — pot}zoo}-mvs { pozutod [Iq ‘D
‘(P-L SON) suoory : podeys-a1eods [Iq
On? : : 2 : * poeqqoM jou soo],
0 ee ; * (0}78qQOT[) Opis UO sdvy YIM soo y,
ae : ; (oyvurped) poqqam ATnF sooy, ‘V
hor ; ; : saurg GNWT
pve? ‘ ’ SGYIG HSUVIT GNV YALV AA

Sduld AWVO dO. NOILVOISILNACI OL Ady

‘(TI-GOT ‘SON) Trend pur ospryaeg
‘(ZZL-FIT SON) osno.wy

‘66 “ON

‘Vol “ON

‘90T “ON

"6 “ON

OL “ON

'C6-06 “SON

‘PG PUB “68-18 ‘SON
(G6-G), “SON) Stodtdpurg
‘TS pure "gL-TL “SON

‘P8 ON
‘(GOI-OOL ‘SON) SIOAOTT
‘BOL “LOT “SON

‘66 ‘ON
‘(Gg-EG “SON) souvID
‘(86-96 SON) SMopIND
(98 “G8 SON) SITMpor)
'(19-G9 “SON) STB

oi

ut)

We

y

~

og ae poyeu syuvys
poloyywos syuvyS
po1oy voy Yoou puv pvoyy]

" poyBuU yoou puv proy_T

: Ԥmojs pus 1L0U8 TIT
; - 4708 TIT
: : ' er ‘IOpud|S PUB ALOYS [Tq

: MOTOA ‘podvys-avods [Iq

: : : * - JapueTs puv suo] IITq

No4s TI sYsmn]q ssory

‘ LOPUOTS [Iq { MOT[OA LO UddA9 SsaTT
t9y10U8 IO pee UBY} LOGUOT OH] B ATUO TIT
pee SB GUO] SB OTM} [IIT

F ‘S90,

‘ F i 5 ' : - 8 g907,
[[Iq UY} asuo], yuRYG

TI Uv} 1o}10Ys yuRYG

: : sojv][d OJUL pouly-ssoro yuRYyg
en UL SOTVOS YT Sescnnas raeds
; : ‘S00,
; : ‘S00,

‘ JoAO 0 Joo} & “YQSUIT
—pavMUMop pouring “Suoy TITq

: ‘ pavadn pourny ‘Suoy [tg

* d[QooF JYSIY ‘Spopunod puv yLOYS SGUT A,

° e . e

‘J

WATER BIRDS.

1. *LOON. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.

Urinator timber.

Predominating color, a deep greenish-black
in old birds, brownish-black in young, marked
with small white spots. Breast and under
parts white, and a patch of white lines on the
throat. The old birds have a band of white

lines about the neck. [Iris of old bird, red;
young, brown. Extent of wings about 4
feet; length from tip of bill to tip of tail,
about 3 feet. ‘he largest one I ever heard
of measured 48 inches in length and weighed |
17% lbs. Feet and bill black, the latter
straight and tapering. Legs set far back on
the body. |
_ Habitat— Entire Northern Hemisphere ;
in winter goes as far south as the Gulf of

8 THE GAME BIRDS

Mexico. Common, in summer, in the large
fresh-water ponds; earlier and later in the
season in the bays and harbors. Exceedingly
wary and difficult of approach, diving at the
shghtest suspicion of danger and with remark-
able powers in this direction.

The flesh has a decidedly fishy taste, but
‘baked breast of loon” and “loon stew” are
esteemed as delicacies by many.

Its. congeners are

2. *BLACK-THROATED TOUGH
Urinator arcticus.
General color like No. 1, but with less
white on throat. Somewhat smaller, meas-

uring 53 feet in extent and 24 feet in length.
Habitat — More northern than the loon.

3. * PACIFIC LOON.
Urinator pacificus.

Still smaller than No. 2; otherwise nearly
the same. ‘This bird measures only 2 feet in
length.

Habitat — Pacific coast, Alaska to Gulf of

California.

4, *RED-THROATED LOON.

Urinator lumme.

About the size of No. 38 and with the same
general colors, but the sides of the head and

OF NORTH AMERICA. 9

throat are gray, with a patch of rich brownish-
red on the throat in the old bird, which is
lacking, or nearly so, in the young birds,
which, however, are easily recognized by the
numerous white spots on the back.
Habitat — About the same as No. 1, but
somewhat more confined to the salt water.

5 *~AMERICAN MERGANSER.
GOOSANDER. POND SHELDRAKE.

Merganser americanus.

Predominating color, black; under parts
dirty yellowish-white. Head with a slight
crest. Wing mostly white. Female of more
subdued colors. Iris of eye carmine red in
male, yellow in female. Feet generally yel-
low; bright red in the male in the spring.

Bill red, saw-toothed on the mouth, with a
pronounced hook on the end. Average
length about 2 feet; extent nearly 3 feet.
The female is much smaller than the male.

10 THE GAME BIRDS

’

Habitat — Entire North America. Breeds
in the northern section; not uncommon any-
where in the ponds and large rivers during
the various seasons, as it migrates south with
the approach of cold weather. ‘They are ex-
pert divers, feeding upon fish. ‘Their flesh is
rank, but will fill the belt cavity when noth-
ing else presents itself.

6. *RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.
SALT-WATER SHELDRAKE. SAWBILL.

Merganser serrator.

Resembles No. 5, but has a white ring
about the neck of the male, and the crest is
more pronounced. The great feature of dis-
tinction is the brownish-red color which
adorns the breast. ‘The female is unlike the
male, but is quite recognizable.

Habitat — Northern sections. Not so com-
mon in the United States as No. 5. They
are principally confined to the seacoast, and
their habits are much like the last named.

7. * HOODED MERGANSER.
Lophodytes cucullatus.—

Back of male black, under side white; a
beautiful white crest, fronted and bordered
with black, decorates the head. The female
is a little smaller; brownish, with a much
smaller crest, but with much more than No. 6.

OF NORTH AMERICA. fe |

Eyes yellow. A much smaller bird than the
rest of the family, being only 14 feet long,
and a little over 2 feet in extent.

Habitat — North America in general, south
to Cuba. This beautiful bird is generally
regarded as a prize by gunners, as it is not
particularly common anywhere, and the male
bird attracts admiration by its graceful car-
riage and elegant plumage. It is an active
diver, feeding upon small fish and aquatic
insects, living principally upon the fresh
water. Like its relatives, its flesh is but in-
ferior food.

8. MALLARD. GREEN-HEAD.
WILD DUCK.

Anas boschas.

Breast of male in spring silver gray, with
fine markings of darker. Back black. Head

glossy green, with a white band around the
neck. The wing bears a beautiful green

Le THE GAME BIRDS

patch, framed in black and white. The fe-
male is dusky brown and mottled with darker.
In the summer the drake loses his green head,
but can be easily distinguished from the fe-
male by the wing patch and the upcurled tail.
Eyes brown; feet reddish; bill black, spotted
with orange. Length 2 feet.. Extent 3 feet,

or a little less. Average weight of males 2
lbs. 9 oz., females a little less.

Habitat— The whole of the Northern
Hemisphere. They are not at all common in
New England, but are very plenty on the
inland lakes and rivers, as they are essentially
fresh-water birds.

This species is the progenital stock of our
domestic duck, and has no doubt often been
mistaken for such by gunners. They hybrid-
ize easily with the Black duck, and such

OF NORTH AMERICA. 13

birds make excellent decoys for shooting from
blinds. They are easily. domesticated, and,
wild or not, their flesh is of fine flavor and
clean, as they are vegetable feeders.

eee Kk DUCK. DUSKY’ DUCK.

Anas obscura.

Predominating color, dark brown; lighter
on the breast, head and neck. The edges
of the feathers are shaded with dusky, giving
the appearance of shell work or scallops.
The wing patch is violet; the eyes are
brown, the bill yellowish-brown; feet orange,
with dark webs. About the same size as No.
8, averaging a little less in weight, and re-
sembling the female of the mallard to a great
degree, differmg in having no white mark-
ings except on the inside of the wings. ‘The
male and female are much alike, but the lat-
ter is generally of a lighter shade.

Habitat — Eastern North America. This
bird favors the salt water more than the mal-
lard, and will be found in immense flocks in
our bays and harbors, although it drops into
the large ponds during its migratory flights,
and is there shot from blinds by means of |
decoys. Our gunners on the New England
coast will insist that there are two varieties,
viz, the Red-lee or Southern duck, and the
Black-leg or Winter duck, although no lists
to-day recognize a difference. My friend
Leonard, of Marshfield, Mass., writes me as
follows: ‘**In my opinion they. are different

14 THE GAME BIRDS

birds. The Red-leg is larger, tamer, and does
not winter here with us. It leaves us here
(lat. 42° N.) about the middle of November
and does not appear again until the last of
February, when they go north. The Black-
leg is with us till next May and sometimes
breeds here.” ‘The Red-leg weighs nearly 3
Ibs. The Black-leg about 24 lbs.

I shall not attempt to decide the question,
for I have no desire to add my name to the
list of variety makers (there are too many
already), but there is food for thought in the
above, coming as it does from one of the best
informed market gunners on the coast.

The Black duck is one of the finest table
birds, and always commands a call in the
markets.

10. FLORIDA DUCK.
MOTTLED DUCK (VARIETY).

Anas fulvigula.

Resembles No. 9 very closely, but the
cheeks, chin and throat are more inclined to
a buff color, and the light-brown markings of
that bird are replaced by the same color.
There is a black spot at the base of the bill
which the Black duck does not have, and the
wing patch is bluish-green; size is about
the same. The Texas variety, known as the
Mottled duck, is found as far north as Kansas,
and differs very slightly.

Habitat — Southern United States. There

OF NORTH AMERICA. 15

are some three varieties of this bird, differing
only in minor points, due doubtless to climatic
influences. They seem to prefer the fresh
water more than do the Black duck, which
they so closely resemble that the ordinary
sportsman will hardly recognize the differ-
ence without close observation, though the
distinction is well marked, being somewhat
_ lighter in general color than its near relative.

oe oeDWALL GRAY DUCK.

Anas strepera.

Predominating color, gray with a yellow
tinge ; back and breast darker, nearly brown.
The scaly appearance noted in No. 9 is very
noticeable in this variety, as the edges of
the feathers are nearly white. Wing patch
white. Bill blue-black, in the female hghter
and blotched with orange. Legs orange, with
dark webs. Eyes red-brown. Belly white,
with gray lines. Extent of wings, a little
less than 3 feet. Length of bird a little less
than 2 feet, being a trifle smaller than either
No. 8 or No. 9. Weight about 2 lbs.

Habitat — Northern Hemisphere in general,
principally in the interior, as it prefers the
fresh water. These birds do not go in large
flocks, but they make up for numbers by the
noise they make; a small flock will create
more disturbance than a raft of Black duck.
They are comparatively bold; are clean feed-
ers, and are excellent eating.

16 THE GAME BIRDS

12. BALDPATE. AMERICAN WIDGEON.

Anas americana.

Predominating ¢olor, gray with fine wavy
lines of darker, belly white, as is also the
body of the wing, while the tips are brownish-
eray. Wing patch green. The body of the
head is buff color, shaded with greenish-
black and brick-red, and the old drakes have
a broad distinct patch of green on the sides
of the head, backwards from the eye; the
distinguishing feature, however, is the dis-
tinctly white forehead, which is present to a
creater or less extent in all the different ages.
The females and the young males are darker
in general tone and the shell markings are
more distinct, while the white crown is less
so. There can be no mistake in identifying
the species however, from the great amount
of white on the wings and under parts.
About the same size as No. 11; will aver-
age smaller. Bull bluish-gray. Feet a trifle
duller. Eyes brown. A very difficult bird
to describe, from its great variability in differ-
ent ages.

Habitat — North America at large, but
probably less plentiful in New England than
in the Southern States and the Mississippi
Valley. In fact the loeal gunners hardly
know the bird.

‘They are shoal-water birds, and feed upon
aquatic plants. They have the curious habit
of thieving the succulent deep-water plants

‘
a et me

OF NORTH AMERICA. 17

from the deep-divers and hastening out of
reach before they recover from their surprise.
They winter on our southern border, where
they congregate in large flocks.

On the Pacific coast we sometimes find a
bird almost identical in appearance, but the
top of the head is creamy instead of white ;
there is scarcely a shade of green on the sides
of the head, which is cinnamon-red instead
of grayish. This is the European widgeon,
and is only an occasional visitor. It is re-
ported to be not uncommon on the Pamlico
and Albemarle Sounds.

13. GREEN_WINGED TEAL.

Anas carolinensis.

Prevailing color gray; under parts white.
Old drakes have a rich chestnut-brown head
and neck, with green marking, as in the Bald-
pate. Breast dotted with dark; wing spot
ereen. The females and young males have
dark and light brown as their predominating
colors, and sufficiently resemble the old males
that there need be no mistake in their identi-
fication. Smaller than any of the other ducks,
the leneth being only a little over a foot and |
the extent less than 2 feet. Bill black; feet
heght blue; eyes brown.

Habitat— Entire North American conti-
nent.

Although small, itis one of our finest game
birds and one of the most prolific. They are

18 THE GAME BIRDS

found generally in small flocks on the edges
of shallow ponds. They are finely flavored
and a good game bird. ‘The European va-
riety, closely resembling the American, is a
rare visitor to our North Atlantic coast.

14. BLUE-WINGED TEAL.

Anas discors.

Predominating color brown, under parts
lighter than the upper; head lead-color,
nearly black on crown with a white crescent
in front of each eye. The feathers of the
back have edgings of the lighter color, and
the breast is spotted with the darker; wings
sky-blue with green patch; bill grayish-black ;
feet yellow; eyes brown. A little larger
than No. 18. Weight 12 ozs.

Habitat — During migrations this bird cov-
ers the greater part of the country east of the
Rocky Mountains. Its habits are very much
like the Green-wing, and like them they are
very swift of flight. While feeding they
are very unsuspicious and can be easily ap-
proached with a due amount of caution.

15. CINNAMON TEAL.
Anas cyanoptera.
The female is very similar to No. 14, but

the male is of a rich cinnamon-brown color ;
wings blue as in No. 14, and with green patch.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 19

About the same size as the Blue-wing; bill
black; feet orange; eyes orange in male,
brown in female and young.

Habitat — Rocky Mountains, north to Ore-
gon. A South American variety, rarely found
outside the above limits.

16. SHOVELLER. SHOVEL-BILL.
Spatula clypeata.

Broad-bill; although this latter name is
more often applied to the Ruddy duck. Back
of male black, with each feather tipped with
a lighter color. Head dark glossy green;
breast white; belly chestnut-brown with a

_ purple shade; shoulders blue; wing spot
ereen, bordered with white; tips blackish;
a white spot at each side of the tail; bill |
brown, and broad at the tip, which is twice as
large as at the base; feet and legs red; eyes
reddish-yellow. The female and young males
are of a soft brown color, shaded with lighter,

20 THE GAME BIRDS

as is usual in nearly all the ducks. Eyes yel-
low. Size about that of the Widgeon (No.
12), but a trifle smaller.

Habitat — Entire continent; but rare on
the Atlantic coast. Very abundant in Florida
in the winter. They delight in shallow pools,
where they float, with their heads under
water the most of the time, feeding upon the
aquatic grasses and insects. Audubon pro-
nounced them as the finest duck for the table
in America, even better than the noted Can-
vas-back. Their flesh is very finely flavored,
and, after all, much of the fame of the latter
is due to a customary idea.

17. PINTAIL~ GRAY DUCE
Dafila acuta.

Back of male bird gray, marked with wavy
white lines; under parts white. Wings dark,
speculum green, with coppery reflections.
Head and upper part of neck dark brown.
The tail is from 5 to 9 inches long, form-
ing a distinctive feature. Bill black, edged
with gray; feet gray-blue; eyes brown; size
a little smaller than the Mallard, but more
gracefully formed. Weight about 2 lbs. The
female and young drakes are somewhat
smaller, and lack the long tail. The back is
brown, mottled with cream-color, while the
under parts are light yellow. This plumage
is liable to be somewhat varied, as they often
cross with the Mallard.

OF NORTH AMERICA. Pee

Habitat — West of the Alleghenys; not
at all common east, as they prefer the shallow
ponds, where the bottoms are covered with
herbage. C.J. Maynard says that there are
more of these ducks in Florida in the winter
than of all other species put together. They
seldom or never dive, but stand nearly on
end, feet in the air, while pulling the roots

from the bottom. They are very swift of
flight and quite wary.

18. WOOD DUCK. SUMMER DUCK.

Aix sponsa.

Back of drake very dark brown, belly
white, sides marked with gray; breast is red-
dish-brown with triangular white spots. The
_top of head and its crest, which is quite long,

is dark green, with purple reflections. The
_ throat is white and a section of it branches
up toward the eye. A line of white extends
backward on each side of the head from the
face of the bill and another from just behind
the eye. Bill black, with pinkish-white sides,
and red at base; feet orange; eyes red. In
June the male changes its plumage, and then
resembles the female, but by October they
have nearly regained their full plumage; dur-
ing this period, it is said that the drakes flock
together. The female would hardly be rec-
ognizable as the mate of its gaudily dressed
partner. The back is slaty-brown and the
belly white ; the breast and sides of body are

yy THE GAME BIRDS

light brown, mottled with dark gray and
brown and there is no crest, but the feathers
of the nape are elongated.

Habitat — Temperate North America.

This bird, formerly so plentiful, breeding as
it did near all the wooded streams of the
United States, is yearly becoming more scarce.
Ten years ago there was scarcely a stream in
New England but had its pair, which lived
and reared their young near its banks ; but the
beautiful plumage of the male bird was a bait
for the sportsman, and the tender and savory
flesh for the epicure. In the fall, when they
cram their crops to the utmost with acorns,
they are in the finest flavor and fit for a mon-
arch. Now these places know them not, and
they are plentiful only in the more sparsely
settled localities.

19. RED-HEAD. AMERICAN POCHARD.

Aythya americana.

Back of male mixed black and white in
very fine zig-zag lines, giving it a gray appear-
ance; belly gray, gradually verging into the
color of the back ; wings darker ; breast black ;
head and neck rich chestnut-brown; bill blu-
ish, broad and flattened; feet gray-blue with
dark webs; eyes orange. ‘The female and
young are much like the above, but the head
is dull brown, lighter near the bill, and the
back is brown, with no zig-zag markings ; eyes
yellow; length a little less than 5 feet; ex-
tent of wings a little less than 2 feet.

ihe? aiecigoate a aaa

OF NORTH AMERICA. 25

awit — Arctics to the Gulf. ‘This is
like the next, a deep-water duck, culling its
food from ine bottom and dyes gathering
mollusks, fishes, and submarine plants. It is
often mistaken for the famous Canvas-back, °
which it much resembles and for which it is
often sold, as the novice can scarcely distin-
guish the difference, though it is plainly
marked. ‘The bill is broader and more flat-
tened, and blue, with a black belt at end,
while in the latter it is blackish throughout.

au. CANV AS=BACK.
Aythya vallisneria.

Resembles No. 19 very much, in fact the
Red-head is often sold for this bird, but the
head is closer feathered and the bill black,
not so broad, and higher at the base ; the back
is lighter in general color; eyes of male red ;
of female red-brown ; the size is a trifle larger
than the Red-head.

Habitat — Same range as the Red-head, and
its habits apply as well in one case as the
other. They were formerly abundant on the
Atlantic coast, and while feeding in the Chesa-
peake Bay on the wild celery (Vallisneria spi-
ralis), they attained a flavor which gave them
a world-wide reputation as a table bird, which
was, In a measure, undeserved, and for this
reason were slaughtered in thousands. In
consequence they are now getting scarce in
this locality, and the principal supply comes

QA THE GAME BIRDS

from the Mississippi Valley. These Western
birds are not possessed of the same delicacy
of those from the Chesapeake, and itis a mat-
ter of serious doubt whether it is ever the peer
of the Shoveller, much more the superior.
Audubon pronounces in favor of the latter,
while Wilson inclines to the former, but
Audubon was original, while Wilson, with all
his genius, from which I would not for the
world detract one icta, was more swayed by
other’s opinions. ‘These birds are famous for
their diving and swimming qualities, and
when wounded will often escape in this way,
oftentimes seizing a sunken root with a death
erip and never arising to the surtace.

21. AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK.
BLUE-BILL. BROAD-BILL. RAFTDUCK.

Aythya marila nearetica.

Head, neck and breast black, in the drake,
as is also the rump, tail, and body of wings;
more inclined to a brownish shade in the fe-
male. Wing tips lighter than body, and the
wing patch is white; belly nearly white, and
back black and white in zig-zag lines, much
like the Canvas-back; bill blue; feet black ;
eyes yellow. The female has a distinct white
face, formed by a white ring around the upper
part of the bill and just back of it. Length
about 20 inches. Extent of wings generally
over 50 inches.

OF NORTH AMERICA. yas,

Habitat— North America in general. Dur-
ing the breeding season they frequent the in-
land ponds and marshes, but at other times
they are not uncommon on all the salt-water
bays of our coast. They are good divers and
feed upon a general course of aquatic diet.

The resemblance of this bird to the next is
so close that they are sometimes hardly dis-
_tinguishable. Opinions vary as to their qual-
ities as food. Coues says they are good when
fat. The gunners eat them, but shore men
will even eat gulls with gusto; for my part,
excuse me.

22. LESSER SCAUP DUCK.
LITTLE BLUE-BILL.

Aythya affinis.

This bird is not easily distinguished from
No. 21, except that it is somewhat smaller,
measuring 15 to 18 inches in length, and under
30 inches in extent.

Habitat — Same as last, which it resembles
almost exactly, except for being a little smaller.
Like them they form rafts or flocks on the
water, and when they rise make the air re- |
sound with the sound of their wings, but un-
like them they prefer the more brackish
water of the river mouths, and the great
rivers and ponds of the interior.

26 THE GAME BIRDS

23. RING-NECKED DUCK.
RINGED-NECK SCAUP.

Aythya collaris.

Bill darker colored than No. 22, brown
ring around the neck of drake. Wing brown-—
ish-slate, wing patch gray, feet gray-blue,
with darker webs. Back nearly black. Fe-
male is more like No. 22, but the white face
is not so apparent, and it has a white ring
about the eye. This bird may also be distin-
cuished from the others by the bill; Nos. 21
and 22 have a plain blue bill, while No. 23 has
black tip and base, and a narrow stripe of
white defines the central blue band on either
side.

Habitat — Generally about the same as the
Little Scaup, which it also resembles in its
habits. ‘The same remarks apply to one as
well as the other.

24. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE.
WHISTLER. GARROT.

Glaucionetta clangula americana,

Head and back black, neck, breast and un-
der parts white, with white markings on the
wings. Head richly glossed with green.
The distinctive feature of the Whistlers is
the white patch on the side of the head at
base of bill, but not touching it. In this spe-
cies the spot is round. Length 1% feet; ex-

OF NORTH AMERICA. a

tent 24 feet. Bull black, feet orange with
dark webs. Eyes bright yellow. The female
has a brownish head without the white spot,
and the general tone is duller, and the bird a
little smaller.

Habitat — North America in general, and
a common winter duck in the United States
on both coasts and often in the interior.

A bird of beautiful plumage in the male,
an expert diver, fond of the flats.

Opinions differ as to the edibility of their
flesh. Coues says: “ Meat bad—rank and
fishy,” but gunners on the New England
coast eat them at times, and in olden times
roast Whistler was often on the spit, and
that when other ducks were more plentiful
than now.

25. BARROWS GOLDEN-EYE.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHISTLER.

Glaucionetta islandica.

Habitat — More northern than the last
named, although it breeds in the Rocky Moun-
tains. It comes in the winter down the coast
and rivers, but is never so common as the
other form. It is possible that it is often
confounded with the common Whistler, but
can be easily distinguished by the white spot
before the eye, which is triangular in this
species and oval in the other. ‘There is also
a crest on the top-of the head and a parti-

28 THE GAME BIRDS

colored bill, while the gloss of the head is
purple in the Barrow’s and green in the
American.

Both birds get their common name from
the whistling sound given off by the wings in
flight.

26. BUFFLE-HEAD. BUTTER-BALL.
SPIRIT-DUCK. DIPPER.

Charitonetta albeola.

Back and head of male black, the latter
with a large white patch extending from the
eye back to the edge of the nape, forming a con-
tinuous patch. ‘The head is very puffy; hair
cut a la pompadour; neck and under parts
white. The female has no puffed head; back
brown, under parts dirty white, with white
wing patch and onside of head. Bill of drake
dull blue; of female, dusky. Feet of drake
flesh-color ; of female, blue-gray, with dark

“webs. Eyes brown. Weight about 18 ozs. ;

female a little less.

Habitat — North America at large. The
male of this bird 1s a beauty and no mistake,
but Heaven help the man who tries to eat
one. I can eat almost anything when I am
hunery, but I prefer to hunger rather than
eat a Dipper. ‘They can dive like a Kanaka,
and are only excelled by the ttle Grebe (the
hell-diver of the vernacular), which can elude
a rifle ball and. dodge a sunbeam. Their
habits are like their relatives, the Golden-eyes.

-
di, Cl he het

OF NORTH AMERICA. 29

27. OLD-SQUAW. LONG-TAIL DUCK.
SOU-SOUTHERLY. COCKAWEE,

Clangula hyemalis.

Predominating color of the drake, white ;
breast, back and wings black, the latter with
a patch of long white feathers; head with a
patch of gray-blue about the eyes, shading
into black toward the back of neck. Two
long black feathers protrude from the centre
of the tail. In the spring the white feathers
of the side are mingled with reddish ones.
Bill black, tipped with orange; very light
when fresh. Feet blue; eyes red. Female
brown on back, shaded white beneath; no
long feathers on tail nor shoulders ; bill and
feet dusky-greenish; eyes yellow. Weight
about 2lbs. <A very hard bird to describe, as
there are so many variations to its plumage
in its different forms. The summer and
winter coats are very different in both sexes,
but there is no chance of mistake after one
of the birds have once been noted.

Habitat — Northern Hemisphere.

Of all the inveterate old gabblers, this
bird carries off the palm; a good-for-nothing
tattling set of old gossips. ‘The flesh is rank ~
and fishy, as they are fish feeders, but the
males are very pretty in their dresses of black
and white, decked out with drab and brown.
They are often shot for their beauty, but
never, I think, for food.

30 THE GAME BIRDS

28. HARLEQUIN DUCK.
LORD AND LADY. PAINTED Piece

HMistrionicus histrionicus.

Sexes very unlike. Predominating color
of the drake dull purple, darker on the up-
per parts than on the lower, changing to
chestnut on the sides; marked with white as
follows: a patch in front of eye, curling
over it toward the crown, where it changes to
brown; a round spot on side of head, just
below which is a long patch on side of neck;
a collar about the neck, and patches on wings
and each side of the root of the tail, besides
a white crescent on breast in front of each
wing; bill greenish-yellow; feet gray-blue
with dark webs; eyes red-brown. Predomi-
nating color of female brownish-gray, to
whitish on under parts ; a whitish spot before
the eye and behind the ear; bill and feet
bluish; eyes brown; length 1% feet or a little
less; extent of wings 2 feet or over.

Habitat — Northern hemisphere, south in
winter to latitude 40° north. These beauti-
ful ducks are not common farther south than
the coast of Maine on the east coast, and
northern California on the west. They are
well known to gunners principally from their
rarity and their variegated plumage, than
from any qualities as a food bird. The fe-
male is much smaller, and entirely different
in general appearance from the male.

OF NORTH AMERICA. oe

29. LABRADOR DUCK. PIED DUCK.

Camptolaimus labradorius.

Former habitat Atlantic coast, breeding
from Labrador northward, descending in
winter southward to the Chesapeake. The
adult male, a rather large duck, is in general,
black, head and upper neck white, with a strip
of black on the crown and around the neck;
wings pied with black and white. Length
about 20 inches. Extent about 30 inches.
Weight nearly 2 lbs. Female is a sort of
dappled dark gray, lighter on the wings.

This bird is now nearly extinct if not quite
so, but only forty years ago they were on sale
in our markets, and there is a bare chance that
another may yet be taken. Strange as it may.
seem, this bird has disappeared during that
space of time, and now bids fair to follow in
the footsteps of the Great Auk. The main
opportunity of securing one more of these
birds (there are only 88 in existence, and
these are valued at about $500 each), seems
to be either in finding one among the treas-
ured trophies of some coast gunner of the
north, or that one may yet be taken among
the flocks which come down our coast in the
winter, and this note is written in the hopes
that gunners will heed the universal cry and
look out for them.

32 THE GAME BIRDS

30. AMERICAN EIDER. SEA DUCK.

Somateria dressert.

Predominating color of drake white; rump,
tail and under parts black ; top of head blue-
black; back of head sea-green. The bill,
which is dirty-yellow, runs on each side far
up toward the eye. Feet greenish; eyes
brown. Length 2 feet and over; extent 3 to 33
feet. Female very unlike the male. Pre-
dominating color brown or tan, barred all over
with black.

Habitat — North Atlantic coast; south in
winter to Long Island Sound. They princi-
pally frequent the rocky shores of our coast,
but occasionally are seen on the large lakes.
Their flesh is not particularly delicious at all
times, but is supposed to be palatable under
favorable conditions. The down from the
breast is of well-known superior quality.

d1. PACIFIC EIDER.

Somateria v-nigra.

Habitat — North Pacific coast, south to
California. ‘The habits are much the same
as those of No. 30, and the same remarks
will apply to both. The distinctive feature
which divides them is that this latter bird
has a black V-shaped mark on the throat.

OF NORTH AMERICA. Bee

oo) KING EIDER.

Somateria spectabilis.

Habitat — Circumpolar ; south in winter, ~
in very small numbers, to lat. 40° N.

This bud varies much in appearance from
the others of the family, and may be distin-
euished by the presence of the black V throat
mark, from the Eastern variety, and from
the Western by the different configuration of
the bill, especially in the summer.

33. AMERICAN SCOTER. SEA COOT.
BUTTER-BILL.

Oidemia americana.

Color of drake entirely black; bill very
pecuhar, having a very pronounced hump at
the base, which is yellow, changing to black
on the tip. Weight 23 to 3lbs. The female
is smaller, dusky brown, paler beneath, with-
out hump on the bill ; feet dark ; eyes brown.

Habitat — North American coast and Great
Lakes.

I have now touched on ground “ where
angels might fear to tread,” for none are so
jealous of their favorite bird as the “ coot
shooter,” and there is no family so diversely
named and regarded by mankind. A young
bird may be a luscious dish for an epicure,
and *‘ coot stew ’’ is famous, but an old bird

34 THE GAME BIRDS

is simply infamous in flavor, and I never
saw a bird so young as to equal a stew of old
boots flavored with fish oil. Pardon me,
friends, devotees of the wily coot, my educa-
tion has been sadly neglected. I can eat
sculpin, but do not ask me to eat coot.

The females and young of this bird, and
also No.35 are Known to gunners collectively
as gray coot, and weigh from 2 to 3 lbs.

d4. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.
BULL COOT.

Oidemia deglandi,

Plumage of drake black, with white spot
on wing and another under the eye; bill
black, with knob at base, but not so large as
No. 33; eyes white; feet red, with black

webs. Female sooty-brown, with same mark-
ings, except bill is less bulging, and there is
more white on the head: eyes brown. Length
13 feet; extent over 3 feet. Weight 3 to 4
Ibs.

wal Ae
tn ae oe

OF NORTH AMERICA. 35

Habitat — About the same as the other
coots, and resembling them in general habits.

aa. SURF SCOTER. SKUNK-HEAD.
Oidemia perspicillata.

Male bird black, with white spot on fore-
head, and another on back of neck ; bill prom-
inent, orange at top and tip, mottled with
black at base, a large black spot at base on
each side, in front of which is a bluish-white
patch ; eyes white; feet orange, webs dark.
Female brown, whitish on sides of head and be-
neath ; bill dark gray; feet dirty-yellow, webs
black; eyes brown. Weight about 23 to 33
Ibs. A little smaller than No. 34.

This seems to be the most plentiful of this
family, at least about the shores of New Eng-
land, where they are most sought for by gun-
ners, but the comparison is rendered variable
by local conditions.

In Massachusetts Bay —the Mecca of
“ cooters ” — they strike in about August 14
and the flight is over about September 20,
but the birds stay about all winter. They
feed upon the flats, but are then extremely
difficult of approach by floating. They are
mostly shot outside the harbors as they fly
by and are called down by decoys. Curiously
enough, although they reach the bay so early,
they are seldom seen below Cape Cod until
October 1.

50 THE GAME BIRDS

386. RUDDY DUCK. BLUE-BILL.
BROAD-BILL.

EKrismatura rubida.

Butter-ball. But this latter name must not
confound it with the Buffle-head.

Predominating color of full plumaged male,
rich brownish-red. ‘Top of head black, throat
and sides of head white, belly silvery or gray-
white. Generally this bird is brownish, ight
beneath. Bill and feet bluish. Eyes red-
brown. Easily distincuished from ducks of
its size, by its broad, flat body, shovel-bill, and
short neck and legs. Length 13 feet. Extent
less than 2 feet.

It habits the entire continent, and is now
better known on inland waters than on the
eastern coast.

They are easy of approach but gently slide
beneath the water on shght provocation.
Expert divers, they swim for some distance
beneath the water, reappearing out of gun-
shot. They feed upon seeds, roots and shell-
fish, and are very edible, being fairly well
flavored, fat and juicy. When food is plenti-
ful, they gorge themselves to the utmost, and
then are in prime condition for cooking.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 37

37. LESSER SNOW GOOSE.
Chen hyperborea.

88. GREATER SNOW GOOSE.
WHITE BRANT. WAVEY.
Chen hyperborea nivalis.

Color white, wing tips black, head stained
with rusty. Bill red, with black on edge of
mouth. Legs same color. Kyes dark brown.
The young birds look like No. 39. Weight
5 to 64 lbs.

Habits the western sections and interior of
North America, a few visiting the Atlantic
coast in the winter, common in the interior.

These two birds are so near alike that I do
not attempt to separate any notes on the
two varieties. The lesser variety is only about
2 lbs. lighter than the other, and grading up
to it, so that it is nearly impossible to distin-
guish them. Their coloration is identical.
The bird which is found in the East is gener-
ally, perhaps invariably, the larger form.

In the East they are much in habit lke other
geese, feeding in the bays and harbors, though
I have never heard of their being shot in the —
ponds. I see no reason why they should not
be, as in the West they swarm the prairies to
such an extent as to destroy whole fields of
wheat.

The flesh is dark colored, and not so finely
flavored as some of its relations.

38 THE GAME BIRDS

A near form is the
39. BLUE GOOSE.

Chen ceerulescens.

Which was long considered but the young of
No. 38, or a colored phase of the same bird.
It is about the size of No. 37, and with about
the same habits. Head white, body dusky
eray-blue, shading into hghter below. ‘Tips
of wings black. Not common.

40. ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE.
HORNED WAVEY.

Chen rosstt,

This little goose, not larger than a Mallard,
is an Arctic form, descending in winter to the
lower latitudes. Its habits and characteristics
are but little different from others of the
family.

41. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE. LAUGHING GOOSE.

Anser albifrons gambeli.

Predominating color grayish-brown, under
parts whitish, blotched with black; this white
extends backward around the base of tail,
which is black, tipped with white. The dark
color is mottled with brown on the tips of the
feathers. The characteristic mark of the bird
is the white forehead. Bill smooth, pink; feet
yellow, eyes brown. About the same size as

OF NORTH AMERICA. 39

No. 38. The young birds are darker and lack
the white forehead, and the bill and feet are
darker. :

This bird is quite common on the Pacific
coast and the Mississippi valley; seldom com-
ing east, although they are occasional visitors.
They are more shy than the other geese and
hug to inaccessible places very closely. They
feed mostly upon aquatic plants and their
flesh is of fine flavor.

42. CANADA GOOSE.

Branta canadensis.

Upper parts brownish-gray, shading to a
lighter below; bill, head, neck and legs black.
A broad white patch on the chin, extending
up to nape, and white over and under the tail,
eyes brown; extent, 5 feet, length, 8 feet,
weight 8 to 15 lbs. when in good condition.

The common wild goose of the entire
country, breeding in the north and going
south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico.
Their migratory flights are strong and rapid,
and their V-shaped skeins passing over have
drawn out many a farmer to try a shot, and
many a one has fallen in this way, and many
more have been decoyed to blinds on the
shores of the ponds where they had stopped .
to rest and feed, and never gone on with the
rest of the flight. Their flesh is justly
esteemed for the table, and their feathers for
beds and pillows.

_

40 THE GAME BIRDS

43. HUTCHINS’S GOOSE.

Branta canadensis hutchinsii.

This is a small variety of No. 42, about the
size of No. 38, and frequents the western
country more than the east. Another variety
is the

44, WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE.

Branta canadensis occidentalis.

Which is a Pacific coast bird; and still an-
other,

45. CACKLING GOOSE.

Branta canadensis minima.

Smaller than any of the others and from
the same section.

There is no doubt that all these varieties
are entitled to separate mention, but for our
purpose they are about the same thing.
Every gunner hkes to know, however, what
his game is, and for purposes of distinction
I give Coues’s method of separating the
varieties : —

Large, no collar of white on neck, No. 42.
Bimal. =. 6 : ft ie No. 48.
Large, with “ és es No. 44.

Small 166s é 6 Noe: 4

OF NORTH AMERICA. 41

46. BRANT. BRANT GOOSE.

Branta bernicla.

Head, neck, back and wings black, some of
the quills of latter, whitish on the inside.
This color is in some places shaded with
brown. Under parts gray, barred with black-
ish; back of legs it is white, which color
extends up over the base of the tail. Sides
of neck marked with several white streaks.
Bill and feet black, eyes brown. Length 2
feet, extent 4 feet.

This bird habits the Atlantic coast, coming
south to the United States. only in the migra-
tions, as far as Florida. They collect in large
flocks in the shoal waters, where they feed
upon the shell-fish, plants, etc. They seldom
dive when feeding, but standing nearly on
end, they pull their food from the bottom.
They are wary and avoid the shore except
when feeding. ‘The sand bars are often black
with them while they are dusting. ‘Their
Hesm is very edible, and they are much
esteemed for both food and sport.

47. BLACK BRANT.

Branta nigricans.

Much lke No. 46, but the black of the
neck runs down on the breast, and the white
marks on the neck nearly form a collar. Size
of No. 46, and is found on both coasts, but
most plentiful on the Pacific; in fact, it is
really rare on the Atlantic.

#

42 THE GAME BIRDS

48, *EMPEROR GOOSE.
PAINTED GOOSE.

Philacte canagica.

Predominating color light blue, with wavy
marks of hlac, and clearly defined shell-shaped
markings of black. Head, back of neck and
tail white ; throat black, speckled with white ;
feet flesh-color; eyes brown.

Habitat— Extreme northwest, coming south
to Alaska, and lower in the winter. A little
larger bird than the Brant. A sea-goose, and
not worth the powder used to kill it for its
edible qualities, as it is rank and fishy.

49. BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK.

Dendrocygna autumnalis.

Predominating color black; head and neck
chocolate, lighter on the chin, white under
tail, on the flanks and on wing; bill red; feet
pink; length 1,8 feet; extent 3 feet or more.
Lives on the Rio Grande. A very good
market bird. |

There is another of these peculiar ducks,
the
090. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK.

Dendrocygna fulva.

Which is yellowish-brown, darker on the head,
no white on wing; black bill and bluish feet ;
about the same size and same locality, but
comes farther up the Gulf coast.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 43

dl. WHISTLING SWAN.

Olor columbianus.

Color white in full plumage, sometimes with
rusty markings about the head; bill and feet
black, the former with a small yellow spot in
front of the eye; length under 5 feet; extent
6 to 7 feet. Young birds are smaller, ashy-
eray, with a tint of reddish on the head; bill
and feet flesh-color.

They habit the entire continent of North
America, but are rare on the North Atlantic
coast. ‘They feed on aquatic plants and in-
sects, which they glean from the bottom with
their lone necks ever and anon poked up in
the air and then thrust down to the mud, but
they never dive while feeding. It is a much
debated question among sportsmen naturalists
whether they ever dive or not; they are, how-
ever, credited with this feat when in danger,
but they are seldom approached very closely
without taking wing. Their voice is loud,
and they are exceedingly noisy when feeding,
but it is needless to say that “the sweet war-
bling of the dying swan”’ is “all in your eye.”
They couid not warble if they wanted to.

o2. TRUMPETER SWAN.
Olor buccinator.
This bird is hardly to be distinguished from
No. 51 except by its larger size, being about
oO feet long and 8 feet in extent of wings,

44 THE GAME BIRDS

weighing about 40 lbs. There is one point —
of difference in full-grown birds, which should
be constant, viz., No. 51 has twenty feathers
in the tail and No. 52 has twenty-four. Both
these birds are good eating, and sportsmen
need not quibble over the feathers in the tail
if they have an opportunity to bring one to
bag, for they are the cream of bird-shooting.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 45

THE WADERS.

53. * WHOOPING CRANE.

Grus americana.

Old birds white, with black wing-tips ;
bill greenish; legs black; head naked, car-
mine color, sparsely covered with hair-like
black feathers; eyes yellow. The young
birds are grayish-white, with patches of cinna-
mon-brown; head feathered, of the same _
brown color. Length 43 feet ; extent, 73 feet,
weight 12 to 50 lbs. Female a little smaller.
It principally habits the Southern States and
the Mississippi Valley. Its voice is loud
and can be heard a long distance. ‘These
birds feed upon grains, vegetables, worms,
mice, reptiles, or in fact almost anything
which comes within their reach. They are
strong fliers and keep up a continuous croak
as they carry their Indian file through the
air. They are exceedingly wary, and are
best shot from blinds, as they come to feed in
the shores of the shallow ponds of the South.

I scarcely am able to distinctively class this
bird and its succeeding allies as game birds,
although their flesh is not bad eating, and is
much relished by some, so I have admitted

46 THE GAME BIRDS

them under the hypothetical list, as almost
any sportsman would drop them if he had an
opportunity.

54. * LITTLE BROWN CRAB
Grus canadensis.

Plumage of old bird lead-gray; wing-tips
a little darker. Head nearly bare, as in No.
o8, crimson ; bill and feet black; eyes red.
Young, with head feathered, and plumage
patched with rusty-brown. Length 34 feet.
Extent, 6 feet and over. The only record of
the weight of this bird is one shot in Texas,
viz., 11§ lbs., but it is stated that they weigh
as much as 17 lbs.

The habits of this bird are very similar
to No. 53, and, like them, they exhibit
strange antics in the mating season. In fact
they conduct a war dance, in which the fe-
males join as well, and the whooping and
circling are equal to a country dance.

There is another bird which is closely re-
lated — the

55; -* SANDHILE CRANE
COMMON BROWN CRANE.
Grus mexicana.
Plumage and habits exactly like the last,

and in fact it was always considered one
species until very lately, but the variety

OF NORTH AMERICA. AT

makers have decided that they shall be di-
vorced, basing their decree upon the differ-
ence in size of birds. The size of this bird
is: Extent, 63 feet ; length, nearly 4 feet.

06. KING RAIL. RED-BREAST RAIL.
FRESH-WATER MARSH-HEN.

Rallus elegans.

Predominating color olive-brown, streaked
with very dark brown; plain brown on top
of head and neck; chestnut-brown on wings ;
reddish-brown below; lighter on the belly.
‘Lhe sides are darker and streaked with white.
Length, 13} feet; extent, 2 feet. Bill and
feet yellow-brown; eyes red. Is found in
the fresh-water marshes of the eastern United
States, south of lat. 40° N., where it skulks
and hides in the high grass and _ reeds,
and can even take to the water on approach
of the dog, flying principally by night, and
not starting easily when approached. They
feed upon insects, reptiles and seeds of the
aquatic plants and grasses. Their flesh is
good, well flavored, and this, combined with
their size, makes them a favorite game bird.

of. CLAPPER RAIL. SALT-WATER
MARSH-HEN.

Rallus longirostris crepitans.

Varieties — California Clapper Rail, Louis-
lana Clapper Rail.

48 THE GAME BIRDS

General appearance something like No. 56,
but considerably smaller, and a little lighter
in general tone. The lower parts are more
inclined to a grayish color, as, in fact, is the
whole bird. Length 15 inches ; extent about
20 inches.

The two varieties are only such as are pro-
duced by difference of climate and local sur-
roundings, and are so nearly alike, that the
average sportsman could not distinguish them
unless laid side by side. It may be very
well for our ultra scientific workers to devote
their time to finding varieties, and these va-
rieties may be valid and constant, but 1t seems
to the average sportsman that they would
be better employed otherwise.

These birds frequent the salt and brackish
water marshes of our shores on both coasts,
on about the same range as No. 956. ‘They
take to the water more freely even than
the fresh-water bird, but afford excellent —
sport if properly hunted. The most approved
plan is to place a good poler in the stern of a
skiff, while the gunner stands in the bow, and
is pr opelled through the reeds which the birds
occupy as a home. This sport requires a
quick eye and a steady hand and _ balance,
while the poler must be steady and quick to
‘mark ’’ the birds as they fall.

In the autumn they are very good eating,
as they are clean feeders themselves at this
season.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 49

08. VIRGINIA RAIL.

Rallus virginianus.

Not often known to sportsmen as being
more than a smaller bird of No. 56, or a dark
colored bird of No. 59. In plumage it is al-
most an exact copy on a small scale of No.
56, measuring about 9 inches in length and
13} in extent.

They are more or less abundant in the
marshes, both salt and fresh, from Massachu-
setts southward, of course leaving its more
northern range when cold weather approaches.
They also are found in small numbers on the
western coast, and are not rare in the interior.
Their home appears to be in the marshes
from New York to Carolina, and here they
are found in considerable numbers, affording
good sport, but there is not meat enough
upon them to make them of much value as
moon. Phe old saying “as thin as.a rail,”
might have been a comparison with this
bird, without deviation from the sense. Our
birds in the north in summer are not near so
humerous as the succeeding species, but only
afew gunners make any distinction, so that_
perhaps more are seen than are reported.

50 THE GAME BIRDS

09. SORA. CAROLINA RAIL.
CAROLINA CRAKE.

Porzana carolina.

Predominating color rich yellowish-brown,
with numerous streaks and spots of white;
head shaded with black, sides hehter, barred
with white, and belly nearly white. In
younger birds the colors are not so clearly de-
fined, the impression being that of a faded
bird. Length about 9 inches; extent of
wings about 1 foot or more; bill and legs
yellowish-green ; eyes brown.

Inhabits the whole of North America ;
most common in the temperate regions, where
it swarms in the reedy marshes. ‘This is the
common rail of gunners, and is deservedly a
favorite with them. Many are the hours

i OT ae

OF NORTH AMERICA. 51

spent in wading the meadows in pursuit of
these birds. They do not rise much more
readily than others of the family, and have
a way of skulking which is conducive of

bad language.

60. YELLOW RAIL.

Porzana noveboracensis.

Predominating color dull yellowish, barred
with black and white; belly lighter, but with
a more yellowish tinge than any of the other
varieties. Bill darker than the others; feet
and legs flesh-colored ; eyes hazel. A smaller
bird, about 6 inches long and a foot or less in
extent. This bird is not common anywhere,
more reserved in his habits, not so noisy, and
moves about mostly in the twilight. It
ranges all over the continent.

61. BLACK RAIL.

Porzana jamaicensis.

Very dark colored, and finely speckled
with white, with some bars ; bill black; legs
and feet greenish-yellow; eyes red. Smaller
than any of the others, being under 6 inches.
long and about 11 inches in extent. Also
widely distributed, but not commonly seen.

The reason that I note these birds is that
sportsmen may look for them and report their
capture that their relative abundance may be
better known.

ae THE GAME BIRDS

The succeeding three birds I admit to this
list under protest, as I do not consider them
game in any sense of the word, although I
would not cast reflection upon any man who
shoots them. Perhaps a man may be pardoned
for taking that which is pleasing to the ar-
tistic sense by reason of its beautiful colors
or graceful form, as well as he who caters to
the demands of an epicurean appetite. ‘These
birds are beautiful; they are sometimes eaten ;
they are shot, hence they are here at the
solicitation of parties interested.

62. * PURPLE GALLIENGUEE
BLUE MUD-HEN.

lonornis martinica.

Color above, greenish shaded with the
purple of the head and under parts, darker in
belly and wings; the bill is red, tipped yellow,
and above it is a sort of shield of blue color;
legs yellow. South Atlantic and Gulf States,
sometimes north to lat. 40°. Length 1 foot,
extent nearly 2 feet. A beautiful bird with
many of the characteristics of the Coots, and
like them living in the marshes and on the
edges of the ponds.

I found one of these birds, in captivity, in
possession of Mr. Andrew Downs, of Halifax,
Nova Scotia. It was captured in that place,
and when I saw it there in 1889, was reason-
ably tame. It would feed upon the seeds

OF NORTH AMERICA, 583

thrown in the aviary for the other birds, and
would come down and eat with them. It
passed a portion of the time in the branches
of a small tree, which occupied the centre,
and roosted there at night, placing its long
toes over the spreading twigs where they
forked, as it could not clasp its toes around
the branches.

63. * FLORIDA GALLINULE.
Galliinula galeata.

Back dark slate-color; head, neck and
breast brownish or black, becoming lighter on
the belly; edges of wing white, with stripes
of same color on the sides; bill, which has a
helmet like the last named species, is red with
green tip; legs greenish; eyes.red, brown in
young birds. Weight about I lb.; a little
larger bird than the last, and inhabiting about
the same country, except that these birds are
regular visitors to the North for breeding, and
they are more inland in their habits. Like
the Rails, they dangle their feet when they
fly, and soon drop.

64. * AMERICAN COOT. MUD-HEN.
MEA DOW-HEN.

Fulica americana.
Predominating color slate-blue; much

darker on the head and neck, and tinged with
brownish on the back; edge of wings white,

54 THE GAME BIRDS

and same color under the tail; bill white,
shaded with very dark red at tip and base.
Legs greenish slate-color, and the joints of the

toes are furnished with broad flaps. Eyes red.
Length 14 feet, extent 2 feet or over.

Its habits are very much like the Gallinules,
inhabiting the marshes where the reeds are
thick and the water plenty, and though they
delight to sport in the open water, they
quickly take to their reedy coverts when
disturbed.

The reason that I objected to their intro-
duction here was on account of the general
verdict of gunners that they were unfit for
food. I never tried but once; I never shall
try again; a thought of the first experience
is enough, and in my younger days any one
who would eat a“ mud-hen” would eat crow.
But I have found many advocates of the bird,
as many as of the ‘*Sea-Coot,” another of the
same ilk as regards epicurean tastes, and
hence it is here.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 55

65. RED PHALAROPE. WHALE-BIRD.
Crymophilus fulicarius.

The adult birds, in summer, are nearly
uniform wine-color on the under sides, and
the top of the head is almost black. The
rump is white, and the sides of the head
are the same color, which markings extend
over the back of ‘the neck.

The back has a tawny appearance, because
the black feathers are all edged with brownish.
The wing feathers are all marked with
white. Eyes brown. Legs black; bill yellow-
ish at base, black at tip. Extent 143 inches,
length 74 inches.

Sportsmen seldom see this bird in the full
plumage, as they are then generally in the far
North, and they pass this section of the coast
without coming on shore, except by accident,
about the first two weeks in May.

In winter they are more common in civil-
ized latitudes, but would hardly be recognized
as the same bird. The back is dark gray, and
the head and under parts are nearly white.
The white markings on the wings are also
noticeable.

It is hardly fair to class these birds as
shore-birds, as they only come to land when
blown in by heavy winds. I think that this
bird is typically a sea-bird, and lke the
Stormy Petrel, makes its bed upon the waves,
and sleeps with both eyes open. During
heavy northeast storms, I have had it reported

56 THE GAME BIRDS

thirty miles inland, but do not remember of
ever hearing from it on other conditions.

66. NORTHERN PHALAROPE.
Phalaropus lobatus.

Whale-bird. Adult birds in summer plu-
mage are among our most beautiful birds. The
back is gray, banded with ochre-yellow. The
under parts are white, and the neck is nearly
encircled by a band of beautiful brownish-red.
The wings are darker than the back, and
plainly marked with a band of white. Eyes
dark brown, bill and feet black. A ‘trifle
smaller than No. 65. They vary much from
this plumage at different ages and seasons,
the immature and winter birds being darker,
and with the reddish neck less evident.

Much hke No. 65 in general habits, living
mostly at sea, where they feed upon the float-
ing weeds which carry the insects and small
crustaceans which they favor. ‘They occa-
sionally go inland, and I think are found over
the greater part of North America.

67. WILSON’S PHALAROPE.
Phalaropus tricolor.
Although all the Phalaropes are peculiar,

in that the female is larger and more hand-
somely colored than is the male, in none is 1t

OF NORTH AMERICA. sa!

better exemplified than in this instance. Her
neck is of a beautiful purplish-red shading
into velvety-black upon the sides of the head,
and this color can be traced back to the wings ;
the back and top of head are gray, becoming
lighter at the base of the tail, and the wings
are slightly darker. Under parts pure white,
breast shaded with buff. Eyes brown, bill
and feet black; in size larger than either of
the others of the family.

The male is much smaller, and, although
he has about the same marks, they are not so
bright. The young, and the old birds in
winter, are light-gray above, white beneath,
and breast shaded darker.

These birds are exceedingly rare in the
East, but quite common in the interior and
westward. |

They are to be found on the ponds and
marshes, and feed upon the insects and snails.
All these birds are at home upon the water,
but seldom or never dive.

This peculiarity of the sexes has given
rise to many tales of female supremacy and
domination, but I fear that it will follow
those of the song of the dying swan, “ It’s all
in your eye.” ,

Although, perhaps, these birds do not come
distinetly within the hmits of my definition
of game, I never saw a sportsman who would
not shoot one, and should consider him lack-
ing in mental capacity if he did not.

58 THE GAME BIRDS

68. AMERICAN AVOCET.

Recurvirostra americana.

Predominating color of the full plumaged
birds is white, shading to a light brown on
the neck and head, which seems to fade away,
as winter approaches, to a dull gray. Wings
black. The bill is extremely long, being
about one-fifth the length of the whole bird,
curved upward and black. Eyes light brown.
Legs very long; dull blue. Extent 23 feet,
length nearly 13 feet.

This is a very curious bird, with its small
body and long legs and bill, and parti-colored
plumage. It feeds upon the aquatic insects
which inhabit the shallow pools about which
it loves to wade, immersing its long bill to
the bottom, skimming the top in rapid succes-
sion, but they do also sometimes invade the
erass fields, and wander over them in their
search for food. ‘They are now very rare in
the Eastern United States, but seem to be
common on the Pacifie coast, and the Eastern
markets often receive them in consignments
of game from the Mississippi Valley.

69. BLACK-NECKED STILT.
LONG SHANKS.

Himantopus mextcanus.

Under side, forehead and base of tail white,
and a large spot.of same color on each side of
the head back of the eye. Top of head, nape

OF NORTH AMERICA. 59

of neck, back and wings black; eyes and legs
red; bill black. The female and young birds
are similar, but not so bright. Length 16
inches (variable on account of the length of
the bill, which is from 2} to 3 inches long) ;
extent 2} feet.

Another long-legged bird, and in habits
and distribution much like No. 68, but more
southerly. I have never seen this bird in the
East, but it has been reported as occurring
here, and doubtless is often in our markets.
They are said to be social, feeding in large
flocks, and not particularly wary. |

70. AMERICAN WOODCOCK.

Philohela minor.

There are a number of vernacular names
for this bird, but I think that all will recognize
it without difficulty. It is almost outside the

limits of the power of man to describe the
magnificent markine of russet-brown and
black which characterize the plumage of this

60 THE GAME BIRDS

bird, which, however, is easily recognizable
from the long bill, short legs, stub tail, and
the position of the eyes, which are set high
up in the head, and far back ; eyes black; bill
and lees flesh-colored. Average weight about
64 02z., but have been taken w elghing 9 oz.
The fae is Eastern North America, north
to Nova Scotia, which is now the finest place
for this bird within reach of Eastern sports-
men. When I was there in the fall of 1889,
big bags were reported during the last of
September, and while at Kentville, in the
centre of the Province, one man brought in
28 birds taken by himself, and this did not
appear to be considered out of the usual
course of things. The sportsmen of the
Southwest have apparently a bountiful field
in the low river bottoms which intersect that
country. Many characterize this bird as the
“King of Game Birds,” and he is entitled to
surely a princely rank, if not the head.

There is a bird which has been taken in
this country, one-third larger, but with about
the same coloration and markings. This is
the European Woodcock, and is so very rare
that a bird weighing over 9 oz. should be pre-
served by its fortunate captor, at least until it
has been examined by ornithologists. I have
a record of a woodcock weighing 12 oz., shot
in Maine by a Dr. Gardner, but I have been
unable to get more details. If not the Eu-
ropean variety, I think it heads the list 7
weight.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 61

71. WILSON’S SNIPE.
Gallinago delicata.

Known as English Snipe, but this latter
name should hardly be used, for the European
Snipe is not unknown on this side of the
water.

Upper side varied brownish-black and
tawny; top of head black, with a tawny
‘stripe down the middle; breast and sides
brown, spotted with darker; belly nearly
white; eyes brown; feet and bill greenish,
the latter about 2? inches long; weight 33 to
434 oz.; length 11 inches, extent 18 inches.
The females will average a trifle less than
this, but in all other particulars are similar to
the male.

This bird inhabits the fresh marshes all
over the continent, and its ‘“‘Scaipe” and
twisting flight is well known. ‘This is prob-
ably one of our most difficult birds to shoot,
as the moment it is fairly launched into the
air it assumes an erratic course of flight pro-
ductive of misses and profanity. Halflee
deep in the bog, with a crazy bird in front,
about the safest plan is to snap at the bird as
soon as it starts, and before it fairly gathers
itself. This needs a quick eye and finger,
and few men are sure of their bird. They
are most delicious birds for the table.

62 THE GAME BIRDS

72. DOWITCHER.
RED-BREASTED SNIPE. BROWN-BACK.

Macrorhamphus griseus.

Back brownish-black, mottled with lheht
reddish-brown. Under parts of the same light
color, shading to almost white on the belly;
inside of wings white, marked with dusky ;
rump white, showing very plainly during
flight; tail black, barred with white. In
winter the general tone is grayish, mottled
with darker: white below, shaded with gray-
ish on the breast, sides and throat; bill and
legs greenish-yellow; eyes dark reddish-
brown; length about 11 inches, of which 2}
inches is bill; extent 18 inches.

Supposed to inhabit only Eastern North
America, and to be replaced in the West by
a variety (l. g. scolopaceus) which rarely
comes East. This latter bird differs only in
averaging larger in size; the bill averages
longer, and the belly is cinnamon-brown, in-
stead of whitish. The variety makers have
decreed that. they shall be twain, and they are
so laid down; but I doubt if any average
sportsman could distinguish them if laid side
by side. ‘They are both excellent game birds,
and finely flavored, coming to decoys nicely,
and alight ina bunch. ‘Those that are not
killed when a flock is fired upon, wheel
around over their dead and wounded com-
rades, returning again and again, although

OF NORTH AMERICA. 63

repeatedly fired at. They frequent the low
flats and marshes, in tide waters following
the ebb and flow.

fo. STILT. SANDPIPER.

Micropalama himantopus.

Predominating color black, mottled with
white and brown; a reddish spot is on each
side of the head and also a dusky line. Tail
gray, under side reddish, mottled and barred
with black and white; bill and feet dark
ereen; eyes brown; length 8} inches; extent
about 16 inches; legs very long. In winter
they change to a gray color, mottled with
lighter, and the legs are paler in color, with
the under parts of breast and belly nearly
white.

This bird may be considered as really not
common anywhere. ‘Their range extends all
over the continent east of the Rockies, and
the only place where they may be considered
as ahy way common is on the outlying points
of our Eastern coast about the first of August,
when they roam the flats in company with the
sanderlings and tattlers.

7% KNOT. RED-BREAST PLOVER.
Tringa canutus,

Sometimes called Robin Snipe, in common
with No. 72. ‘The young are known as gray
backs. The adult birds are black on the back,

64 THE GAME BIRDS

this color being broken by each feather being
tipped with dirty white; breast and belly
reddish-brown; tail gray, edged with white,
short and even; bill stout and greenish-black ;
legs same color; eyes dark brown; extent 20
inches; length 103 inches.

One of our handsomest shore birds, inhabit-
ing almost the whole world. In this country
most common on the eastern coast, becoming
rare westward, about the great rivers and
lakes. The young birds are gray, marked
with white above, and white, with a tinge of
reddish, below. The markings on the back
remind one of a succession of black and white
semicircles. The spring migration passes lat.
40° N. about May, and returns early in
August, at which time they are very fat, and
a bonne bouche for an epicure. They feed on
- shell-fish and marine crustaceans, which they
pick up on the flats at low tide. They follow
the flow of the waves upon the beach, running
back and forth vivaciously, and not seeming
to mind when they were not quick enough
to avoid an incoming wave, which took them
from their feet and floated them along. ‘The
call of two sharp notes —‘* Wheep, wheep ”
— jis easily imitated, and they will often come
within range, without blinds or decoys.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 65

foe FREE SANDPEPER.
Tringa maritima.

Predominating color of the bird which is
generally known to sportsmen, is dark purple
on upper parts and wings, the latter edged
with white; breast hehter, each feather edged
with white. This color extends along under
the wings, but the belly is pure white; legs
and bill flesh-color, the latter with black tin.
The adult breeding plumage is seldom seen,
as the bird has a circumpolar range, coming
South only in the autumn and winter. Their
length is 9 inches, and extent about 16 inches.
They are rarely seen before the first of Oc-
tober, and confine themselves to the rocky
beaches, so that only a few have ever seen
them, and still fewer have shot them.

There are two birds closely allied to this
one, but they probably never come farther
south than Alaska. I never saw one, and
know nothing about them. ‘They are the
Aleutian and Prybilof sandpipers.

76. PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
GRASS-BIRD. JACK-SNIPE.

Tringa maculata.

The color of the upper parts is a mixture
of ashy and reddish markings on a dark brown
ground; under parts white; breast and sides
of neck dull hght brown, marked with streaks

66 THE GAME BIRDS

of darker; patch of white under the chin,
and a white line over the eye. The crown is
a mixture of streaks of dark brown and light
chestnut, and the nape of the neck is lighter,
being streaked with two shades of a dull
yellowish cast. Wings darker than body.
In the young fall birds the breast has more of
a yellow tinge. Base of tail black: eyeq
brown; legs greenish-yellow. Length 9
inches; extent 17 inches.

These birds are found all over the country,
and I think are, as regards habits, pretty
much the same wherever found. ‘They love
the low, muddy shores and flats, and the
grassy meadows above tide water, feeding
upon the crustaceans, grasshoppers and other
small insects.

They are a favorite game bird, although
small; as they are quick of flight, somewhat
resembling the snipe, and when * walked up”
give a good shot an opportunity to show his
skill. They are fine food, although small,
and one never need throw them one side as
useless.

There are two other birds closely allied
to this, and to the casual observer differing
but little: The first,

77. WHITE-RUMPED. SANDPIPER:
Tringa fuscicollis.

Differs principally in the base of the tail being
white; the breast without the dull color; and

OF NORTH AMERICA. 67

smaller size. Length 7} inches, and extent
15 inches. Eyes brown, legs brownish.
Found on the beaches’ as well as on the
marshes.

Gunners on the east coast have found a
smaller bird mingling with flocks of No. 76,
and they often have remarked that they are a
different species. I have never been able to
secure one of the smaller birds, but have no
doubt that it will prove to be

78. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER.
Tringa bairdit.

Rare on the coast but plentiful in the in-
terior, and differing from No. 76 in its
smaller size, the length being 7 inches, and
extent of wings about 154 inches. The neck
is the same color as the crown. The mark-
ings on the back have a tendency to yellowish
rather than chestnut, and red as in the Grass-
bird. ‘The shading on the breast is hight, and
the bill and feet are black. .

a LEAST SANDPIPER. PEEP.
BUMBLE-BEE.

Tringa minutilla.

Back of full plumaged birds ashy-gray,
mottled with black and brown; throat and
sides, grayish ; under parts white ; eyes brown ;
bill and feet, greenish-slate ; length, about 53
inches ; extent, 11 inches. This bird hardly

68 THE GAME BIRDS

needs especial description, as its small size
is sufficient to distinguish it from the others,
although No. 82 is but little larger.

In habits, this species is but little differ-
ent from the rest of its tribe, running about
among the pools of water left by the receding
tide, picking up the imsects and shell-fish.
They are exceedingly restless, and seldom in
one spot for more than a moment. They breed
in the far North, but are so irregular in their
movements that they are with us nearly every
month in the summer. }

Iam much in doubt whether to admit these
birds in the list, but they are so closely asso-
ciated with others of * like ilk,” that I am in
a measure obliged to describe them. It
would take about a dozen to make a mouth-
ful, but when that mouthful is obtained, it is
one of the sweetest morsels that ever titillated
the palate of an epicure. My mouth waters
at the thought of “ peep-stew,” and I can
pardon the man who calls them game, though
they be not larger than sparrows.

80. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.
DUNLIN. FALL-SNIPE. OX—BIRD.

Tringa alpina pacifica.

In the full summer plumage, the back is a ~
reddish-brown, mottled with black and shaded
with grayish touches; wings, mottled gray
and brown, shaded with white; the head,
neck and breast are ashy, marked with elon-

OF NORTH AMERICA. 69

gated spots of darker; belly black, rest of un-
der part white.

The winter plumage is so much different,
that they are often esteemed as_ separate
birds. ‘They then lack the red back and the
black belly. The upper parts are mottled
eray, and the under parts nearly white, the
breast being streaked with dusky; eyes
dark brown; bill and feet black; length, 83
inches ; extent, 15 inches.

This is deservedly a favorite bird with
sportsmen, both from its beautiful plumage,
and for its edible qualities. They are on our
New England shores about the first of May,
and again during October. They feed on
the sandy flats, and in the autumn are easily
captured, any boy being able to walk them
up or call them down. They inhabit the
whole of North America, breeding in the
Arctics.

There is ashghtly smaller bird, which can
be only distinguished by its size, and dis-
proportionately elevated bill. This is the
European Dunlin, a rare visitant to our
Atlantic shores.

81. CURLEW SANDPIPER.
FERRUGINEOUS SANDPIPER.

Tringa ferrugined.
Top of head and back, bright greenish-

black, mottled with a clear reddish ; neck and
under side, reddish-brown; bill and _ legs,

val) THE GAME BIRDS

greenish-black ; the former long and curved
downwards, and the latter long and slender.
This bird is a very rare visitor to our Atlantic
shores, and there are only about fifteen in-
stances of its occurrence here recorded. Itis
with the hope that more may be reported
that this note is inserted. The length is
about 81 inches, and the extent about 14
inches, nearly the size of the Dunlin.

82. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER.
PEEP: |

Kreunetes pusillus.
Predominating color grayish-brown, formed

by the intermingling of black in the field of
each feather, surrounded by red and tipped

with white; pure white below. In winter
and in the young birds the color is gray-
ish, and in both dresses the breast is shaded

OF NORTH AMERICA. T1

with dark. Length a trifle over 6 inches,
extent about 12 inches; eyes dark brown ;
bill and legs greenish-black.

This bird much resembles the other peep
(No. 79), and probably but few sportsmen
recognize a difference between them, and for
their purposes no distinction is necessary, as
their habits are similar.

Many a sportsman, when the larger birds
are not flying, makes out his day’s sport with
these little birds, and when they are wild it
will require some patience and craft to secure
more than a dozen or so unless they are very
plentiful.

83. WESTERN SANDPIPER.

Ereunetes occidentalis.

This is another case of hair splitting on the
part of our ornithologists, and I do not think
that over one in fifty of my readers could dis-
tinguish this bird from the last if they lay
side by side, so for all readers west of the
Rockies, for No. 82 read No. 83.

84. SANDERLING. GRAY-BACK.
BULL PEEP.

Calidris arenaria.

In the summer plumage the back is mottled
with shell-like markings of black, gray and
reddish, formed by each feather having a
black centre and a reddish or gray tip. This

F ip THE GAME BIRDS

marking is a very difficult one to describe in
unscientific language, and must be seen to be
appreciated. ‘The belly is pure white and
the breast mottled. The winter and young
plumage lacks the reddish and the breast is
shaded with buff. Length 8 inches; extent
over 15 inches; eyes brown; bill and feet

black.
<
K =x

This bird is found at various seasons over
the entire continent, and for beauty is sur-
passed by but few. It passes Massachusetts,
going northward, early in May, and returns
in July, the adults coming first and the young
following in August. They feed upon the
sandy beaches and flats almost exclusively,
and seem to be in constant motion. They
will follow a “ breaker” down until they are
wading in the rolling surf, and skurry back
to avoid the rush when it returns.

Since the approach of civilization has
driven the larger birds away from our shores,
more of these birds are shot than formerly,
but they are as deserving as the plovers of a
place in the game bag. ‘They are a good
table bird, and are generally in good condi-
tion, especially the young birds in the fall.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 73

85. MARBLED GODWIT. MARLIN.
Limosa fedoa.

Predominating color dark brown, variegated
with reddish-brown spots andmarkings. The
under parts are of a rusty color, and the
markings are finer. The bill is long, curved

<A @

upwards slightly, flesh-colored, with dark-
brown tip. Legs long, blackish. Length 18
inches; extent about 33 inches. Eyes brown.

Distinguishing Features. — Rump and up-
per side of tail barred; lining of wings red-
dish ; markings on under side in short streaks ;
bill 4 to 43 inches long.

This, one of the largest of our “shore
birds,” is not very common on our Eastern
shores, but will be found in goodly numbers
south of Cape Hatteras, where they congre-
gate on the marshes; in the interior they fre-
quent the wet prairies. ‘They are shy birds,
but come to decoy well, and, if one is
wounded, the others will often hover over,
affording another shot, if the gunner is not
in too much of a hurry, and will call them
back.

14 THE GAME BIRDS

There is another bird of this family, which
is common in Alaska, known as the White-
tailed Godwit, but it so seldom comes within
our range that I do not give it especial men-
tion. It is common in the Old World.

86. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. SPOT-RUMP.

Limosa hemastica.

Predominating color more of a gravish cast
than No. 85; and the under parts are reddish-
brown, barred with dusky and whitish lines.
The winter plumage is gray, and under parts
grayish-white, with but few markings. Bill
like the last-named bird, but much shorter
(2? to 8} inches). Legs slate-colored; eyes
darkish-brown. Length 15 inches; extent
27 inches. There are variations of plumage
in every combination between the two stages.

Distinguishing Features. — Tail _ black,
tipped with white, and with white base,
giving the common name of “Spot-Rump” ;
lining of wings blackish.

This bird is somewhat smaller than the
Marbled Godwit, but the habits are very
similar. Its range is over the entire con-
tinent, south to South America, except west
of the Rocky Mountains, but it nowhere
seems to be common.

Both these birds are delicate in flavor, and
are true game birds. They are often con-
founded with the curlews, but are readily
distinguished, as the bill turns up, and in the
other it turns down.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 19

87. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS.
WINTER YELLOW-LEGS. TATTLER.

Totanus melanoleucus.

Back nearly black, speckled with white.
Head and neck lighter, due to the white be-
ing in the form of streaks; a white line
above the eye, and the rump white, slightly
barred. Under side white, marked with a
few lines toward the breast, which is much
streaked with gray. Eyes brown. Bill black
and long (24 inches), shehtly turned upwards.
Legs long and slender, chrome-yellow in color.
Length about 13 inches; extent 2 feet.

The young plumage is lighter, with fewer
dark markings.

These birds arrive early from the South,
are gone to the far North before summer opens,
and on their return linger in the temperate
latitudes until the cold weather is fairly upon
us.

I know not whether this bird is the more
admired as a game bird, or hated by gunners
for its noisy, vociferous cries when it sees
them: many a good shot at plover has been
spoiled by one of these birds setting up its
infernal *‘ cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu’’ when they were
crawling upon a flock of birds.

Still they are not difficult to secure ; are
easily called to blind on the edge of the sedge,
as their call is not difficult to imitate.

They feed principally upon the small fish
which swim about in the little pools left upon

76 THE GAME BIRDS

the flats by the receding tide, and they wade
about in the shallow water, following its edge
as it recedes and advances, continually keep-
ing up a bobbing motion, as if they kept up
the motion so as to strike more quickly when

occasion served. |

88. YELLOW-LEGS.
LESSER YELLOW-—LEGS.

Totanus flavipes.

A miniature counterpart of No. 87 so far
as all practical purposes go. Length 11 inches;
extent 20 inches; bill 1} inches and straight ;
the legs are longer in proportion to its size
than in No. 87. It is found in the same
localities as its larger prototype, and resem-
bles it in habits. In New England, however,
itis known as Summer Yellow-legs, since it
arrives from the North about the middle of
July, and leaves for the South as early as
September 15. It is, in autumn, a fat, fairly
flavored bird, but is so easily captured that
one soon tires of shooting them. ‘They will
come again and again to the blind, where
lie outstretched a number of their fellows,
who have just fallen, and do not seem to
mind the showers of lead which are poured
into their midst.

I have often wondered where they passed
in their spring migration northward, as we
seldom see them at that time upon the New

OF NORTH AMERICA. TT

England coast, and I am inclined to think
that they go up the valley of the Mississippi,
and spread out after they pass the Canadian
range of mountains.

S2- SOLITARY SANDPIPER.

Totanus solitarius.

Above, greenish-brown, finely speckled on
back and streaked on the head and neck with
white; white on the under side, the sides of
the body and neck marked and barred with
dusky; tail barred white and black; bill
black ; feet greenish ; eyes brown. The shades
are lighter in the younger birds. Length 8}
inches; extent 161 inches.

It seems strange that this bird does not
ficure more in the more popular treatises on
game, for it is not an uncommon visitant to
all sections of the country. It prefers, I
think, the fresh water, although often found
feeding from the pools of salt water near the
shore. ‘They are very shy, and more or less
hke the little “‘Tip-up ” in their behavior,
bobbing about on the shores of the shallow
streams and ponds. They are very quiet and
reserved, and seldom whistle except when
started.

18 THE GAME BIRDS

90. WILLET. BUSTS,

Symphemia semipalmata,

Predominating color of old birds in full
plumage dark ashy-gray, varying in shade with
the age, and more or less marked with black-
ish, in interrupted bars; there is also a shad-
ing of brown; under side white, with brown-
ish shade, and marked on the breast and
sides with black ; rump white, and there is a
white band on the wings which is very appar-
ent during flight; eyes brown; bill black;
legs bluish. The young plumage is light
ashy-gray, under side white, and there are
numberless intermediate shades between this
stage and full plumage. Length 16 inches;
extent 28 inches.

It is claimed that there is a variety,

91. "WESTERN “WILLE,

Symphemia semipalmata cnornata.

Which occurs in the district west of the Miss-
issippl. ‘The distinguishing trait is only
apparent in full plumaged birds, except
for the slight difference in size, the western
bird being a trifle larger, bill longer and
slenderer, general tone lighter, and markings
not so apparent.

I am not going to quarrel over a shade in
color, but whether you find the bird in Kan-
sas or in New Jersey you will find him the

OF NORTH AMERICA. T9

same shy, suspicious yelper who starts into
the air at the first sniff of danger, sounding
his alarm note, to the end of warning all the
birds within hearing, and discomfiting the gun-
ner. they will, however, come to stool in
very fair shape, but when secured are not of
much value, as they are tough and of not
particularly good flavor. Their haunts and
food are much like No. 87.

92. WANDERING TATLER.

Heteractitis ineanus.

Predominating color dark gray, under side
white, sometimes shaded on the throat, and
in other phases of plumage streaked and
barred with dark. Bill black, length 10 in-
ches, extent about 18 inches. This bird is
found along the extreme Pacific coast, and I
know nothing about it, and never saw but
two specimens.

93. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER.
UPLAND PLOVER.

Lartramva longicauda.

Predominating color dark brown, each
feather being edged with reddish. The neck
and breast are lighter, which color extends to
and. upon the head, the top of which is dark

80 THE GAME BIRDS

brown. The breast bears the V-shaped mark
characteristic of many of our shore birds.
Under parts dirty white. The tail is barred
with black, the centre feathers being darker
than the others. Eyes hazel-brown. Bill
yellow below, black above and at tip. Legs
greenish-yellow. Length12 inches. Extent
22 inches.

These birds differ from the majority of its
kind in frequenting the high fields, pastures,
and prairies, in their search for food, which
consists of grasshoppers, crickets, ete.; and
it is seldom seen on the shores.

They are exceedingly variable in their
spring migrations, arriving here (Lat. 42° N.)
from the middle of April anywhere along un-
til the same time in May, and then perhaps
there may only a very few appear, where the
season before they were plenty. They return
in July, and are with us about a month.

Here in the East a more wary bird does not
exist, not even barring the grouse, and a
good bag of these birds is a rarity.

I have heard that on the Western prai-
ries sportsmen ride them down, and no doubt
many a gunner here wishes he could, as he
sees a scared flock go “ over the hills and far
away ” before he can get within range.

They must be stalked, or, if the gunners
work in pairs, they may often be driven over.

They are delicious eating, and justly much
esteemed.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 81

94. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.
Tryngites subruficollis.

Prevailing color mottled dark-brown with
a greenish shade, each feather above being
tipped with yellowish. The distinguishing
feature, however, is the buff-colored breast and
belly, unmarked save for a few spots, where
it commences to shade into the darker color
of the back ; this color is deeper in the spring,
and in adult birds. Length 8 inches. Ex-
tent 16 inches. Eyes brown. Bill dark
brown. Legs yellowish-green.

This bird is rare along the Eastern coast,
and I think common nowhere. It seems to
fly in company with No. 76, and, being about
the same size and of similar habit, I have
no doubt is often taken for that bird in the
fall migrations.

aa OE OLLTED SANDPIPER, TEETER.
TIP-UP. OX-EYE.

Actitis macularia.

Color olive-gray, finely mottled with black.
Under side white, spotted with black, and
there is a white mark over the eye. Length
7% inches. Extent 13 inches. Eyes dark
brown. Bill flesh-color, tipped with black.
Feet pinkish-white.

I hardly know whether to class this bird
as a game bird, but it is hard to say “ where

82 THE GAME BIRDS

the chicken ends and where the hen begins.”
It is as large as a Peep, Nos. 79 and 82, and
many a sportsman has made out an otherwise
meagre bag with these birds, so why not
“ Teeters” ? They come here in April, and
stay all summer, feeding and breeding on the
shores of the ocean, and, in fact, almost any
small pond or river which will afford them
food.

The motion of bobbing the tail while
moving or standing is as characteristic as 1s
the bobbing of the head indulged in by the
Tattlers.

I have never seen these birds take to the’
water, but have been told that they will
even swim under water for a short distance.
They seem to prefer the calm pools to the
surty shores.

I cannot say how they would do for eating,
but should think they would be very good
if enough could be obtained to make a show-
ing.

96. LONG-BILLED CURLEW.
SICKLE-BILL.

Numenius longirostris.

Predominating color reddish-brown, barred
or spotted with darker. Under side cinna-
~mon-brown, unmarked save for a few faint
streaks of darker. Length about 2 feet. LEx-
tentover 3 feet. Eyesdark brown. Bill black,

OF NORTH AMERICA. 83

the under side yellowish, and very long, much
curved downward. ‘This is a distinguishing
feature of the bird, often measuring 6 or 8
inches in length. Legs bluish. Weight
averages about 50 ozs.

This is one of the largest game birds which
visit our shores, and is accordingly much
prized by sportsmen, although asa table bird

it is far inferior to the Plovers. They will
stand a heavy dose of lead without coming
down, and as they fly high, are not always
captured when seen.

When they were more common, they were
easily “ whistled” down, but they have be-
come rare on our shores, although not un-
common in the Southern States in winter.

They feed on the flat sand-bars upon crabs
and other small crustaceans, which impart to
their flesh something of their characteristic
flavor.

84 THE GAME BIRDS

97. HUDSONIAN CURLEW.
JACK-CURLEW.

Numenius hudsonicus.

Very similar in general appearance to No.
96, but smaller and lighter in color. More
eray in general tone than reddish, and whit-
ish underneath. Length 18 inches. Extent
32 inches. Bill black, and much shorter in
proportion than that of No. 96, seldom being
over 33 inches long, but with the decided
downward curve peculiar to the family.

This is our common Curlew, although the
Dough-bird, No. 98, is most often seen in the
market, being more prized for its flesh; the
“Jack” being ranker, more like its larger
relative, No. 96.

The flight of any of the Curlews is not
very rapid, but is strong and well sustained.

98. ESKIMO CURLEW. DOUGH-BIRD.
Numentus borealis. :

Very similar in appearance to the other
Curlews, but smaller than either of the others,
and of a generally richer tone of color than
No. 97, from which it varies in having V-
shaped marks on the breast instead of short
bars; but the size of the bird is the best —
point of difference. Length about 15 inches.
Extent 28 inches. Bill blackish, about 24

OF NORTH AMERICA. 85

inches long, and more slender than in the
others of the family. Legs dark blue, with
a greenish shade. Eyes dark brown.

This bird is found farther from the shore
than the other Curlews, as it loves the dry
marshes, and the fields and pastures along the
seashore, where it can find its favorite food of
grasshoppers and crickets, and the higher
land berries, when these are to be found, and
which impart to their flesh the more pleasing
flavor than is characteristic of the other Cur-
lews, and which renders them of more value
as a table bird, hence commanding a higher
price in the market.

There has been much debate over the orth-
ography of its common name, Dough or Doe-
bird. J have given preference to the former,
merely from the individual opinion, backed
by that of local New England market gunners,
based on the description of its fat condition,
which conveys the idea of a lump of dough.

99. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
BEETLE-HEAD.

Charadrius squatarola.

In full breeding plumage, the upper part of
the head and neck is nearly white, with faint
eray markings; the back is nearly black,
mottled with white and brown. ‘Tail barred
with black and white. The sides of the head,
throat, and under side of body, is deep black,

86 THE GAME BIRDS

shading into white at the base of the tail.
Feet and bill black. In the immature and
winter plumage all this is changed, however,
and the bird loses nearly all its black color;
the back becoming mottled brown and white,
the breast nearly white, with a few darker
markings; even the legs and bill assuming
a lighter tone; and these birds shot at the
different seasons of the year assume all the
various grades between these two plumages.

®
(ieee

These birds are often confounded, more
particularly in the gray phase, with No. 100,
but they are easily distinguished by the pres-
ence of the minute hind toe, which is lacking
in the Golden Plover (see No. 100). |

Extent of wings 25 inches. Length of bird
11} inches. Eyes brown.

This bird is found in nearly every quarter
of the globe, and migrates North and South
with the changes of the season. The flocks
frequent the beaches at low water, and, when
the flats are covered, they retire to the
marshes, there to await the fall of the tide to

OF NORTH AMERICA. 87

uncover their favorite food of small shell-fish,
although they eat the insects of the higher
beaches. »

They are shot from blinds at high water,
over decoys, and whistled down, as they fly
from the flats as these are covered by the flow-
ing tide. But the gunner must be a good
“caller,” or his bag will hang light, for an old
“‘beetle-head” is as crafty as a fox, and an
experienced gunner will not even use decoys
on the high beaches, as the old birds will
often not come down to them, but he will
pick out a spot which was occupied, on a
former tide, by the birds, dig a hole in the
sand, cover it with boards and sand, leaving
openings to shoot from and knock them over
as they come up.

On the flats a sink-box is built ona bar,
either natural or artificial, and the birds will
approach, as it is uncovered before the sur-
rounding flats are bare.

I know of no bird which is a more univer-
sal favorite with sportsmen, as it requires the
greatest skill for its capture, and affording, as
it does, a fitting reward for the trouble un-
dertaken.

The flesh is delicate, and the birds gener-
ally plump.

88 THE GAME BIRDS

100. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.
GREEN-BACK. BULL-HEAD.

Charadrius dominicus:

Prevailing color brownish-black, in the old
birds, marked on the back with numerous
round spots of golden yellow, under parts
black. This plumage changes in the autumn
to a duller shade on the back, and the black
disappears from the breast. which is now dirty
white, irregularly blotched with dark brown
spots which disappear in the winter, when
both old and young birds are dark brown
above; the light markings are larger than in
the spring, giving a generally lighter tone.

a DTT

I SS = arg OD,
—giwd SEED
Ze

The under parts are now dull white, with
grayish spots, which wholly disappear towards
the base of the tail. Length about 10 inches.
Extent about 22 inches, being a little smaller
than No. 99. Feet and bill dark bluish.
Eyes dark brown.

This bird is often confounded with the
Beetle-head (No. 99), but is easily distin-
guished by the absence of the little hind toe.
There aré many other points of difference, as
may be seen by comparison of these notes,
but this is always constant and easily ap-
parent.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 89

It shares with its relative (No. 99) the
esteem of sportsmen, and rivals it in its deli-
cacy as a table bird.

It frequents the high beaches and neighbor-
ing uplands, and in habits and food much re-
sembles No. 98, with which it much associates.

These birds are shot on their flights, from
holes dug in the ground and used as a cover
for the gunner. ©

101. KILLDEER.
Aigialitis vocifera.

Top of head and upper parts dark grayish-
brown. Forehead, stripe over the eye, and
under parts white, with two black bands on
the throat. Rump bright chestnut. Wings
and tail variegated with black, brown and
white. Length 10 inches. Extent 20 inches.
Legs yellowish-gray. The immature plumage
is similar but not as bright.

They frequent the pastures and marshes
and the borders of muddy ponds, and are very
abundant in the West. They were formerly
very plentiful on our Eastern shores, but of
late are seldom seen. ‘The only time that
any number have lately been seen East, was
in November of 1888, when thousands were
driven upon our shores by the great gale of
November 25, and was then announced by
me in the Boston Transcript of December
12. It was thought by some that these birds
were now to return to their old haunts, but

90) THE GAME BIRDS

they have never been seen since in any
numbers.

In the West, where they are abundant,
they are easily found, as their vociferous cries
of “kill-deer, kill-deer,” are constantly ut-
tered, and they are not difficult to approach.

102. SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER.
RING-NECK.

Ligialitis semipalmata.

Upper parts dark gray. Under parts white.
A broad black band encircles the neck, bor-
dered in front with white, and a white stripe
on forehead surrounded by black. Length 7
inches. Extent l5inches. Bill yellow, black
tipped. Legs flesh-color. Eyelids orange.
Toes partly webbed.

I presume that I may be criticized for in-
cluding this among game birds, but it affords
good sport when larger birds are scarce, and
is good eating.

They frequent the flats and beaches, going
to the higher beaches to roost.

103, PIPING se Love:
Ligialitis meloda.

Pale and ashy-gray above. Forehead, sides
of head, under side and ring around neck
white. There is a black bar across the top of
head between the eyes, and another which

OF NORTH AMERICA. 91

more or less encircles the neck. (There is a
variety in the West, occasionally found on the
Atlantic coast, which has the black band on
the neck completely encircling it, and this
has been named A. m. cirewmcinctus, but it
differs in no other way.) Bill yellow, black
at tip. Legs orange-yellow. A colored ring
around the eye. Length about 63 inches.
Extent about 14 inches, being a trifle smaller
than No. 102. |

They are very pretty birds to shoot, but, if
wounded, will run like a witch, and are then
a good test of marksmanship.

104. SNOWY PLOVER.
Ligialitis nivosa.

A little lighter in color than No. 103, and
with a reddish tinge on the top of the head,
which is nearly surrounded by a band of
black. There is also a patch of black on
either side of the neck, but it makes no attempt
to encircle it as in No. 103, and there is no
black band on breast as in No. 105. Bill
black and slender. Legs black. Length 7
inches. Extent about 14 inches. Eyes and
eyelids dark brown.

This bird is found upon the Western shores
and sometimes about the Gulf of Mexico and
the salt lands of the interior. I know nothing

of its habits, but am informed that it resembles
No. 102.

92 THE GAME BIRDS

105. WILSON’S PLOVEE:

Mgialitis wilsonia.

This bird resembles No. 104 very closely,
but differs in having a black band on the neck
which does not extend over upon the back.
The bill is very stout and large, and the
legs are flesh-colored. Shghtly larger than
No. 104; that is, a small specimen of this
species would be about the same size as a
large specimen of the other.

It is found quite commonly on the shores
of the South Atlantic and Gulf States.

106. MOUNTAIN PLOVER.

Lgialitis montana.

Prevailing color grayish-brown. Entirely
white beneath. Forehead white, bordered
with black. In winter, or in the young birds,
the black marks on the head are not present,
and the plumage has a rusty tinge. Bill
black and slender. Legs pale brown. Length
about 10 inches. Extent 18 inches. Eyes
dark brown. |

These birds inhabit the high prairies, and
seldom are found near marshy lands. They
feed upon insects.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 93

107. TURNSTONE. -CHICKEN PLOVER.
CALICO-BACK.

Arenaria interpres.

The adult male in breeding plumage is
dressed lke a harlequin, the back being
blotehed with black, white, brown and chest-
nut. The under side is pure white, broken
by a broad patch of black upon the breast.
The lower part of the back is white, with a
black patch on the rump, and the tail is black
bordered with white. The wings also, bear
a large white patch. The head is mottled
black, brown and white with a broad black
patch on either side extending down to the
sides of the neck and connecting with the
breast patch. The colors of the female are
similar but the chestnut color is replaced
with brown, and the general effect not so
bright. Immature and winter plumage
mostly brown and gray. The bright colors
of the back are generally a distinguishing
feature sufficient for recognition. The bill
is black. Feetorange. LEyesblack. Length
9 iches. Extent 18 inches. There is a
variety on the Pacifie coast in which the
characteristic red color is replaced by black.

These birds are found in nearly all quarters
of the globe, and generally in small flocks of
three to twelve, feeding upon the marine
animals which it collects upon the shores by
turning over the small stones, whence its
name. ‘Their favorite haunts seem to be

94 THE GAME BIRDS

the pebbly beaches, but they are often taken
upon the marshes and upon the low sand
flats and bars.

They are one of the most conspicuous shore
birds, and once seen will be easily recognized.
Their flight is very rapid, and, while on the
wing they incessantly repeat their short,
sharp, whistling note, which is_ especially
hard to imitate, but they are not very shy,
and will come down to almost any of the
shore-bird decoys. I never tried to eat them
but once, and was not favorably struck by
their flavor, which resembles that of fish oil.

108. AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER.
Hematopus palliatus.

Predominant color smoky-brown, with
black head and neck. Under parts white,
and the wing bears a conspicuous white patch.
(There is a variety on the Pacific: coast, #.
niger, Which is entirely black.) Bull 3 to 4
inches long, varying in every specimen, and
often thin on the end and bent to one side,
from its constant use in opening the shells of
mollusks; coral red, yellow tipped. Feet
and legs livid. Eyes and eyelids red.
Length 18 to 21 inches. Extent 30 to 36
inches. Said to be non-edible, although I
can see no reason why it should be so, as
they feed almost entirely on shell-fish.

OF NORTH AMERICA. 95

E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of
Massachusetts, tells me that this bird is very
good eating, if quickly cleaned. And it is
probable that many of those birds, which are
ordinarily not esteemed fit for food, if drawn
as soon as killed, and soaked a little while in
water, would be found very palatable.

96 THE GAME BIRDS

LAND BIRDS.

109. BOBWHITE. QUAIL.
VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE.

Colinus virginianus.

Predominating color reddish-brown, mottled
and streaked with black and darker brown,
hehter on the under parts. The male has
the forehead, line over the eye, and throat
white, bordered with black, which color is re-
placed in the female by buff. Bill dull black.
Legs gray. Eyes dark brown. Length 9} to
105 inches. Extent 141 to 151 inches.
Weight about 7 ozs.

There are two so-called varieties of this
bird. Its range extends from Massachusetts
to Texas and westward throughout the east-
ern United States. The bird described above
is the one from the northern section. As we
follow the species southward it gradually be-
comes smaller and darker colored on the east-
ern coast, producing the Florida variety
( Colinus virginianus floridanus), and in the ex-
treme southwest, becomes more gray, which
variety is called C. v. texanus, but they are all
practically bobwhite just the same.

OF NORTH AMERICA. OT

There is no game bird more universally
known and admired, for to the sportsman he
affords a tempting mark as he flushes before
the dogs, and whirrs off through the sharp
air of autumn, his little body blending closely
with the gray-brown of the fading foliage,
to drop, after a short flight, in the first con-
venient covert, where he is soon located by the
keen scent of the dog, to fall perhaps, at the
gun’s report. The bobwhite frequents the
semi-open fields and pastures which afford
him cover in the short brush and food in the
open. At night, clustered together, the flock
passes the sleeping hours, and during bad
weather, in these same covers, and often in
severe storms of sleet, they are frozen under
by the accumulation of the frozen snow, to mis-
erably perish. I know of none of our game
birds whose very existence is so constantly in
danger; a prey to the prowling fox by night,
and chased and harassed by birds of prey by
day, added to the other evils of destruction. It
is a wise provision of Providence that they
are so prolific, a single hen bringing up each
year two litters of ten to fourteen chicks.
They feed upon insects and the seeds of
weeds, and no better ally can the farmer have
for the protection of his crops than a few
coveys of quail in his fields.

98 THE GAME BIRDS

110. MOUNTAIN PARTRIDGE.
PLUMED QUAIL. MOUNTAIN QUAIL.

Oreortyx pictus.

I shall not here attempt to separate the two
varieties now laid down in the lst, as they
are practically thesame bird. Predominating
color olive-brown, with a coppery lustre.

Breast slaty-blue, shading into the olive at the
back, and finely marked with black. Throat
and belly chestnut. There is a black line,
bordered above with white, on either side the
neck, and the sides are banded with broad
bars of white and black. The distinguishing
feature of this bird is the two black arrowy
plumes on the crown of the head, which are
3 to 4 inches long in the male and much
shorter in the female. Bill and feet brown.
Length 12 inches. Extent 17 inches.

This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the
mountainous regions of the northwest, haunt-
ing the underbrush. ‘They are not fast flyers,
and will often try to skulk off when ap-
proached, which tactics are extremely suited

OF NORTH AMERICA. 99

to the thick covers which they frequent. The
opinions of my various correspondents differ
as whether they will le well to the dog,
some say yes and some no, but all agree that
they furnish fine sport.

111. SCALED PARTRIDGE.
BLUE QUAIL.

Callipepla squamata.

Predominating color leaden-blue, darker on
the back. The distinctive feature of this bird
is the pecuhar shell-hke marking of the neck
and breast, produced by the black edgings of
the feathers. The crest is short, and com-
posed of several feathers, but is not so promi-
-nent as in others of the crested quails. There
is a large patch of reddish-brown on the belly,
which in some specimens shades into chest-
nut, giving rise to a variety known as casta-
nogastris. ‘This latter variety inhabits the
lower lands; and the main species, the table-
lands of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Length 11 inches. Extent 15 inches, being
a little smaller than No. 110.

112. CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGE.
VALLEY QUAIL. (var.)

Callipepla californica.
Predominating color ashy, shaded with

olive-brown. ‘The breast is bluish-slate ; be-
low this, on the under side, is a patch of

100 THE GAME BIRDS

chestnut, shading into tawny brown toward
the edges, with the tips of the feathers edged
with black. The head of the male is marked
with a white line over the eye and a white
forehead. ‘The head is surmounted with a
crest of 6 to 10 black feathers, curved for-
ward.

AM iN)
oll S )
j))

The female has not the black throat nor
the head markings, and the crest is smaller.

Length 11 inches. Extent about 16 in-
ches. Itinhabits California and Oregon east
to the Colorado River.

Much has been written concerning the
comparative merits, as a game bird, of this,
as compared with our eastern quail, and,
from what I can gather, I am inclined to
think that bobwhite is on top. The Califor-
nian does not he well to the dog until they

OF NORTH AMERICA. 101

have been badly scared, and then they go
hike a “blue streak.” However, they are a
geood table bird, and afford considerable
sport, since they are quite numerous. They
habit the thick cover of chaparral and weeds.

1138. GAMBEL’S PARTRIDGE.
Callipepla gambeli.

This bird is own cousin to the last (No.
112), differing in having a black forehead in-
stead of white; no white line beneath the eye ;
back of head chestnut instead of smoky-
brown; sides chestnut with white stripes;
and the middle of the belly jet-black instead
of chestnut. Otherwise in appearance and
habits like its Californian relative.

114. DUSKY GROUSE. BLUE GROUSE.

Dendragapus obscurus,

Predominating color very dark brown,
finely marbled with gray, shading into bluish-
eray on the under sides. Cheeks black. Tail
rounded, of 18 to 20 feathers, dark brown
lke back, tipped with a band of gray. Bill
black. Eyes golden-brown, with a comb
above. Length 20 to 24 inches. Extent
about 30 inches. Weight 35 to 4 lbs.

The female is of a hghter shade than the
above, and a little smaller than the male.

102 THE GAME BIRDS

This great bird is a native of the Rocky
Mountains, the darker varieties known as
Richardson's and Sooty Grouse occupying the
northern limits.

From all that I can gather from my corre-
spondents in relation to its habits, it seems to
be a somewhat stupid, lazy bird, not easily
flushed, but a strong, rapid flyer, when
startled; frequenting the high coniferous
trees during the most of the year. From all
accounts, it affords but comparatively poor
sport, aside from its great size and abundance,
as it must be shot while sitting, and it appears
to have the ability to so adjust itself upon
the limbs as to almost completely hide from
the gaze of the observer. One correspondent
tells of killing six by throwing stones at
them, and another of shooting them out of
the high trees 100 feet from the ground. In
some places they are shot when flushed, and,
in the other instances, they should afford -
good sport with a rifle.

115. CANADA GROUSE.
SPRUCE PARTRIDGE.

Dendragapus canadensis.

Prevailing color of adult male, black,
lighter on the back, waved and spotted with
white and tawny. ‘Tail of 14 to 18 feathers
tipped with brown. The female and imma-
ture male are somewhat like the above on the
back, but not so dark, and the under side is

OF NORTH AMERICA. 1038

variegated white and tawny, waved with
blackish. There is a red comb over the eye.
Length about 16 inches. Extent 22 inches.
There is a slightly differing variety in the
Northwest. The habitat of this bird is the
northern part of the continent, south into the
northern border of the United States.

Although a very handsome bird, it is little
sought for by sportsmen, since its flesh,
though sometimes not bad, is generally so
impregnated with the flavor of the spruce
buds upon which it feeds, as to render it
utterly uneatable. And it affords but little
sport, for it is so stupid as to allow the
approach of man within a few yards, and is
even taken with a slip-noose on the end of a
pole.

I saw three of these birds breeding in cap-
tivity at Kentville, N.S., and I believe that
their owner, Mr. Bishop, enjoys the unique
honor of being the only person who has suc-
ceeded in their domestication.

116. RUFFED GROUSE.
PARTRIDGE. PHEASANT.

Bonasa umbellus.

Prevailing color variegated grayish-brown
(Gan some specimens shading into a reddish-
brown with bronze lustre). Whitish below,
barred with brown.

The male has a ruffle of glossy black
feathers about the sides of the neck, which in

104 THE GAME BIRDS

the female is smaller and of a brown color.
The tail, normally of 18 feathers, is rounded,
and bears a band of black near the tip. There
are three varieties, due to climatic agencies,
and they grade into each other insensibly.

Bill and legs hght brown. Eyes brown.
Length 16 to 20 inches. Extent 23 to 25
inches. Weight 14 to 2 lbs. I have heard
of ‘“ King-partridges” as large as a turkey,
but never saw one: and a 2-pound bird is a
big one.

The birds inhabit the greater portion of
civilized North America, except the South-
west, and, excep¥ where seldom hunted, are,
taken all in apis most noble game bird of
which this couritry boasts. /I have seen these
birds flush from the ground and settle upon
a tree not over 200 feet away, and eye me as
curiously as if I was a dime museum freak,
and I have been threatened with condign
punishment by correspondents in the North
and West for the above remark. But if any
of these friends will have a try at these birds
here in our Eastern States, I will wager that
they change their minds. The sportsman
who brings in a good bag of these birds here
is worthy of a place in the front ranks of the
euild. It is warier, and filled fuller of strat-
egy, pound for pound, than any living bird on
our soil.

Like nearly all gallinaceous birds, the male
has the habit of strutting during the sexual
period, which is accompanied by various

OF NORTH AMERICA. 105

sounds calculated to attract the female and
exalt it in her estimation; and, in the case of
the ruffed grouse, the act is termed “ drum-
ming.’ At this time they seem to be oblivious
of all else, but he is a good man who can sur-
prise the bird even then.

Any discussion of the habits of the bird
would seem superfluous; volumes have been
written on the subject, and more will follow
just as long as man can walk the fields.

oe WILLOW PTARMIGAN.
Lagopus lagopus.

There is no American bird which exhibits
such peculiarities of plumage as do the Ptar-
migans. For they are constantly moulting,
and there are no two weeks in the year when
a bird would correspond to any accurate de-
scription ; and no bird exhibits such a complete
change, for even the horny coverings of the
bill and toes are cast off with the feathers,
and the plumage varies in every gradation
of color, from the beautifully mottled summer
coat of blacks and browns to the nearly uni-
form white of winter.

In the full spring breeding plumage, the
predominant color is rich brown, inclined to
tawny, mottled and barred with black and
white; the most of the wings and the abdo-
men white. The female is similar, but more
tawny, including the abdomen. ‘The legs are
feathered to the toes; the winter plumage is

106 THE GAME BIRDS

white, except that the tail is black. Ovnith-
ologists have lately divided this species into
two. ‘The principal point of difference being
that the original species has the quills of the
outer wing feathers white, and the variety
(allen) black. Bull black and stout. Eyes
hazel. Length about 17 inches. Extent
about 24 inches.

This bird takes the place in the North of
the grouse in the South, and they afford as
fine sport in their haunts as do their relatives
of the South. They are strong flyers, and lie
well to the dog.

They are found on the marshy lands, and
their numbers, in those sections where they
have not been too much molested, is some-
thing incredible, their ery of “Go back, go
back” resounding from every quarter when
disturbed.

118. ROCK PTARMIGAN.

Lagopus rupestris.

This bird much resembles the foregoing,
but is smaller, and the color is more of a
brownish-yellow, and in the winter there is a
black stripe on each side of the head, which
is not possessed by No. 117. The bill is more ©
slender. Length 14 to 15 inches. Extent
about 22 inches.

There are three varieties of this species
described by the later ornithologists, and an-
other bird from Newfoundland (L. welchi)

OF NORTH AMERICA. 107

which has been considered sufficiently distinct
to form a new species. But they are suffi-
ciently similar to be considered as one and
the same, so far as our purpose goes, and in
view of the numerous variations of individual
plumage, the subdivision is extremely prob-
lematical, except to the expert.

119. WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN.—

Lagopus leucurus.

Habitat— Rocky Mountains. Size and
appearance similar to No. 118; but the tail
remains white throughout the year, and the
wings and abdomen are of this color in the
summer plumage. Found on the mountain
ranges, from the timber-line upward, coming
lower down in the winter, as the other forms
come southward at the same time.

120. PRAIRIE HEN.
PINNATED GROUSE.

Tympanuchus americanus.

Predominant color grayish-brown, heavily
barred with black. Head buffy, underside
dirty white, barred with brown. Top of head
and stripe on each side, black. Tail dusky,
tipped with white. The most peculiar feature
of this bird is the black tuft of feathers

108 THE GAME BIRDS

which adorns the neck on either side, beneath
which is a large, bare patch of yellow
skin which in the breeding season the male
distends. The female is very similar, but the
neck tufts are shorter. Length 17 to 18
inches. Extent 28 to 29 inches and over.
Eyes brown. Bill brown. Feet yellowish.

This bird, while not for a moment to be
classed with the ruffed grouse, is still a great
favorite with sportsmen. ‘Their flight is not
so rapid as that bird, but more protracted and
unaccompanied by the disconcerting whir-r-r
of the other, although they can raise up quite
a racket when suddenly disturbed.

Their flesh is dark, and does not compare
favorably with that of the ruffed grouse, but
being more plentiful they occupy a favorite
place in the market.

Their habitat is the open prairie, seldom
visiting the timber. In former days, this bird,
or a representative of the family (the heath-
hen), was not uncommon on our Eastern
plains, but they have gradually dwindled
away, until only one colony now exists, upon ~
the island of Martha’s Vineyard. And such
is the greed for gore and gain, that were it
not for the strenuous efforts of a few far-
sighted men, who can see more than a foot
beyond their noses, these birds, too, would
have long since gone the way of the Great
Auk and the Labrador Duck. I cannot speak
in too strong words of contempt of the action
of those, who, even now in spite of the pro-

OF NORTH AMERICA. 109

tecting laws, seek to remove the last of this
race which once was found commonly dis-
tributed over our land.

There is a variety of the prairie hen which
is found in the South, smaller and lighter in
color. The characteristic bars are narrower,
and brown or grayish, rather than black. The
length is 15 to 17 inches, and the extent 27
inches. Otherwise it differs, neither in habits
nor appearance, from the usual form as com-
monly seen. In fact, it is merely a form,
which, by reason of its surroundings, has be-
come changed from the original type, and
being isolated from it, has in progress of time
become perpetuated.

121. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE.

Pediocetes phasianellus.

This is the northwestern representative of
_ the prairie-chicken, and is somewhat similar
in habits, but not at all in appearance. ‘The
predominant color is ashy-gray, marked with
irregular spots and bars of black, white and
tawny-brown. ‘The underside is nearly white,
and marked with U-shaped spots of brown.
The throat is hght buff color, and there is
quite a pronounced crest on the top of the
head. Unlike the preceding species of grouse,
this bird has no neck ornaments, but a close
examination will disclose there the character-
istic bare spots, which are seen during the
breeding season. Two varieties have been

110 THE GAME BIRDS

made of this species. The Northern form is
darker, with but few brown markings, and
the spots on the breast are V-shaped; and,
curiously enough, the lighter and browner
form, of the extreme South, also exhibits
this V-shaped mark, although separated from
the other by the common type. A distinctive
feature of this bird is the tail, whichis trian-
eular in shape, when in a natural position,
the middle tail feathers being about four
times as long as the outer. From this arises
thename. Bill and feet brown. Eyes brown.
The legs are feathered to the feet. Length
18 to 20 inches. Extent 25 to 30 inches.

As compared to No. 120, this bird ranks
high as a game bird. Its flight is strong,
swift and direct, and its flesh much superior
to the other bird.

An attempt, undoubtedly so far successful,
is being made to introduce this bird to our
eastern fields. While it will probably never
take the place of our ruffed grouse in the
estimation of our sportsmen, any addition to
our feathered game will be welcomed, to
afford a bag to those who desire to hunt over
our fields, now rapidly being depleted of
game birds. |

122. SAGE GROUSE. SAGE COCK.

Centrocercus urophasianus.

The monarch, so far as size 1s concerned,
of the grouse, but, alas! there his dominion

OF NORTH AMERICA. TE

ceases. Many times the tyro sportsman has
been sadly left, when he has thought himself
possessed of a good dinner in an old sage
cock. A correspondent writes: “I never
attempted but once to eat an old bird, and I
shall never try again, [ would rather eat a
broiled plug of tobacco; but for a fine morsel,
commend me toa young bird in the summer.
I could not believe such a transition possible ; :
they beat a woodcock ‘all hollow’ at that
time.” The color is gray, variegated with
black, brown and buff on the back, and dirty
white below, and the neck has two bunches
of hair-like feathers, beneath which is the
air sac which can be extended to enormous
proportions. The tail is long and composed
of twenty stiff and narrow feathers. The
full-grown cock is over 2 feet long, while the
hen will seldom reach this measure. The ex-
tent is about 3 feet, with about the same pro-
portion tor the female bird. Weight 3 to 5
lbs.

When this great bird gets up in front of
the gunner, he is apt, if not accustomed to
the bird, to have a severe attack of ague,
although one friend tells about kicking them
out of the sage-brush. The flight is strong,
and when a wild bird is started, don’t try to
follow him, he may go a mile.

112 THE GAME BIRDS

123. WILD TURKEY.
Meleagris gallopavo.

There are two species of this bird in North
America, else I should deem it unnecessary to
give any description. The wild turkey proper
was formerly distributed generally - over
Eastern North America, but it is now found
only in those portions but little visited by
man, and not even there are they, by any
means, common. ‘The general color of this
bird is black, with a coppery lustre, each
feather being margined with velvety black.
The tail feathers are dark chestnut, with
numerous bars of black. This same color
characterizes the sides and coverts. The
southern species, which is the original of the
domesticated turkey, has the feathers at base
of tail, on the back, chestnut, tipped with
whitish, and the tips of the tail feathers are
whitish. In both species the head is bare of
feathers, colored blue, with reddish exeres-
cences. The forehead is furnished with a
depending, fleshy, cone-shaped process, which
is erected in moments of excitement. There
is also a hairy tuft upon the breast. Length
dto4feet. Extent 4$to 5feet andover. Eyes
brown. Bill brown. Legs dark and reddish-
purple.

This monarch of game birds, like similar
representatives of human bipeds, is rapidly
disappearing before the march of civilization

OF NORTH AMERICA. 113

and progress. Once common in New Eng-
land, it is there extinct; and this noble bird
must now be followed by sportsmen to the
forest fastnesses of the South and Southwest.
A few still exist in the Allegheny range,
but they are seldom taken.

A successful turkey hunter is the embodi-
ment of all that appertains to woodcraft; and
he who can call a gobbler within range is
worthy of a place in, the front ranks of the
sportsman fraternity.

Their food is a mixture of nuts, seeds, and
insects, and their flesh is as much esteemed
for the table as that of the domestic bird.

124. PASSENGER PIGEON.

Ectopistes nugratorius.

Color blue above, reddish-brown beneath,
becoming lighter toward the tail, which,
composed of 12 feathers, is brown in the
middle and blue on the sides. These blue
feathers, when pulled apart, show a web of
white on the inner sides. The neck is beauti-
fully glossed with a golden-violet. Bill black.
Legs bluish. Feet red. Eyes red. Length
16 to 17 inches. Extent about 2 feet. |

This is the bird popularly known as the
wild pigeon. It was in former years com-
monly distributed over the entire country,
passing North and South during their migra-
tions, in immense numbers. Even now, scat-
tering birds are seen in the East, but we

114 THE GAME BIRDS.

must now go to the West to find the flocks,
and, there even, their numbers are greatly
lessened. |

It could hardly be called sport to hunt
them when they were common, for a shot tired
into the midst of a flock would bring down
numbers of them, but they are now somewhat
followed as game. ‘They are fine eating; and
it takes a good shot to secure a single bird, as
their powers of flight and its velocity are
wonderful. They migrate in flocks, some-
times of immense size, but although they re-
main in colonies, they breed in single pairs.

PAGE
Avocet. 58
Baldpate 16
Beetle-head : R5
Blue-bill 24, 25, 36
Bobwhite ‘ 96
Brant 41
Black 41
White : a 4
Broad-bill 19, 24, 36
Brown-back ese 5 2
Buffle-head 28
Bull-head 88
Bumble-bee : 67
Butter-ball 28, 36
Butter-bill . 33
Calico-back 93 -
Cock-a-wee 29
Coot, American 53
Bull 34
Gray 34
Sea a 33
Crake, Carolina . s 2 50
Crane, Common Brown p 46
Little Brown : 46
Sandhill 3 46
Whooping : 45
Curlew, Eskimo : 84
Hudsonian : 84
Jack : 84
Lon g-billed . 82
iappier - . : 28
Diver, Great Northern i:
Dough- bird : 84
Dowitcher 62
Dunlin ., é 68
Duck, Black . 13
Canvas. back 23
Dusky : 13
Eider 32, 33
Florida. é 14
Golden- -eye : : 26
< Barrow’s . : 27
ae : , 15, 20
Harlequin : 30
Labrador 31
Long-tail 29
Mottled 14

END ix.

116

Duck, Painted
Pintail
Pied
Raft :
Red-head
Ring-necked .
Ruddy

Shewetles
Spirit
Summer
Tree
Wild
Wood
Gadwall . i :
Gallinule, Purple .
Florida .
Garrot.. ;
Godwit, Marbled :
Hudsonian
Goosander
Goose, Blue
Brant
Cackling
Canada .
Emperor
Hutchins’s
Laughing
Painted
Ross’s
Snow.
White-cheeked
White-fronted
Grass-bird :
Gray-back
Green-back
Green-head
Grouse, Blue .
Canada.
Dusky
Pinnated
Richardson’s
Ruffed .

Sage : ;
Sharp-tailed
Sooty
Humility
Killdeer .
Knot : r
Long Shanks .
Loon : : ;
Black-throated
Pacific .
Red- throated
Lord and Lady
Mallard 2
Marlin

INDEX.

24, 25

: “ _— at

INDEX. 117

Marsh-hen, Fresh-water . : : ; . ; ; : 47
Salt-water . - : : : : ; : : 47
Meadow-hen . : : : : : : ; : 53
Merganser, American . : : : : ; : : 9
Hooded . : 2 : , : : : : : 10
Red-headed . ; : : 4 : : : : 10
Mud-hen. : : : : : 3 : : : ‘ . 53

Oyster Catcher. : : : : : : g : : 94
Partridge : ; ; : : : : . : 3 >. 408
California . ; : : : : ; Bly 2a , 99
Gambel’s : : : : - : : ; : 7 SOE
Mountain. 2 3 5 . : ; : . ; 98
Sealed . : 2 : : : : : é 2 cae
Spruce . : : ‘ ; : ; : , : os Ie
Virginia F : < : : : : 3 ; : 96
Peep - 3 - : : . , : : : : 67, 70
Bull : ‘ : : : : : : 2 : ;
Phalarope, Northern . : ae : : . : , 56
Red : : : ; : : ; . : ; :
Wilson’s : “ : : : ; q 2 : 56
-Pheasant : : : f 2 : : : : : . 1103
Pigeon, Passenger , ; : : : : : : ay aS
Plover, Black-bellied . : : : ; ; : : Z 85
Chicken . 2 : : ; 2 : , : . 93
Golden . ; : : : : : : : : Z &8
Killdeer z A : : : : . ; . Aes So
Mountain. 2 : : arte ne : : : : 92
Piping . . : ; < : : : ; : - 90
Red-breast . : : : : , . : : E 63
ee mated ; ; : : ; : : ‘ : 90

Pochard . : ‘ . é : : ’ , ‘ ; : 22
Prariie Hen . : : : . : : : : é meee |
Ptarmigan, Rock . ; : : : b ’ ; : Paes i

White-tailed : ; : : : ‘ - ‘ gee ee

Gambel’s : , : : : A ‘ : ots YES
Mountain. : : - 2 : : 4 : : 98
Plumed ’ : : : ; , . : ; ‘ 98
Valley . : : ; : ; . ; : é : 99
Rail, Black . : : : : : 2 : : : 2 51
Carolina °. : : : : : : : : : 50
Clapper : ; i : : : ; : ‘ 7
King. : : : : ; : , : ; 3 47
Red-breast . : ; : : 3 : : ‘ : AT
Sora : : : , ; : : : : : F 50
Virginia ; : : : : : : : : . 49
Yellow . : ; . : P : 2 ‘ ; . 51
Ring-neck : : : A : : ; : ; . : 90
IEEE eit ee ee ee NO

118 INDEX.

PAGE
Sanderling. , : ‘ i é ; , : : 71
Sandpiper, Baird’ S : it Oe : : . : é ; 67 -
Bartramian : : : y : : ; : é i 79
Buff-breasted ; : é ‘ . ‘ : . é 81
Curlew . : : ; : . : - A . ; 69
Ferrugineous . : : ; ; : : : : 69
Least. : 5 : : ; : 5 : . : 67
Pectoral z : : : i : : ; ; ; 65
Purple . ; : ; : : : ; : ‘ 65
Red- backed . ; ; , : : : : ; ; 68
Semi-palmated : : , ‘ ‘ ; ; : : 70

Solitary : : : : : : : : : ; 77
Spotted . ; ‘ ‘ : : : : 4 . ‘ 81
Stilt : : : : : ; : : : ‘ : 63

Western : : : R : : . : , : 71
White-rumped . ‘ : : 5 ; ‘ : ; 66
Sawbill . : : ; , : P : ; ; ; 10

Scoter, American : , f A 2 ‘ : : ; : 33
Surf 2 : ! ; F ; : : ; : ‘ 35
White-wing . : é : ‘ . : 4 : : 34

Sheldrake, Pond . ; : : : ; ; : : : 9
Salt-water . 7 : ; : : : : : : 10

Shovel-bill : ‘ : : , : : f ’ : : 19

Sickle-bill : : , : : : . ; ’ ‘ : 82
Skunk-head . : ‘ é : ; A : g ‘ : 35
malipe, Mali. ~ ; : : , E ; : , : 2 68
Jack . : : ‘ : : : ; . 65
Red- breasted E ; : 3 : : P : 3 62
Robin . ; : ‘ : : : ; - ‘ 62, 63
Wilson’s Z : : : : ; é : e ; 61
Sora : , : : : ; : : ‘ ‘ : 50
Sou-southerly : : : ’ J 2 ‘ : : 4 29
Spot-rump . : : : ; : : : ; , 74

Stilt, Black-necked , : . : é ; : : ; 58
Swan, Trumpeter . , : : : : : : ; : 43

‘Whistling 5 : ‘ : : : : : : : 43
Tatler eg ; - : : : : : e ; 79

Tattler . s ‘ : : : ‘ : : : F 75
Teal, Blue-winged : ; 3 : ; ‘ : : : 18
Cinnamon . F : : : , < : é : 18

Green-winged . : : . : , ‘ ‘ : 17
Teeter .: : : : : : : : : ‘ ; : 81
Tip-up. ; . : : : - ; : : : :
Turkey, Wild : : - : : ; : : ‘ > ae
Turnstone : : : : ; : : ‘ Z 93

Wavey-. : : : - . : : : : ; 37
Horn ed. : : ; ‘ : ; : : : : 38
Whale-bird . é ? d : : ; E : ; ‘ 55
Whistler : : . s s : : u : 26
Rocky Mountain : ; ; : ; : ' : 27
Widgeon : : 3 : : : : : : ; 16
Willet. . : e : 2 : - : : , : 78
Western 2 : : : : é 2 : : i 78
Woodcock ; ; : : : é : : . ‘ 59

Yellow-legs, Greater : : ‘ : : : : ; 4 75
Lesser . - : , : - : : ma : 76
Winter. - - ; . 2 : - - ; P 75

|
|
i

é
s

—,
~~

a

we
ears
t