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 : ‘§mojs 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. . 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