THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID PLATE I. BOB-WHITE HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA WITH KEYS TO THE SPECIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR PLUMAGES, NESTS, AND EGGS THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATIONS AND A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS WITH INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS ON THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY, HOW TO IDENTIFY BIRDS AND HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BIRDS THEIR NESTS, AND EGGS BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN ASSISTANT CURATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY J MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, ETC. WITH FULL-PAGE PLATES IN COLORS AND BLACK AND WHITE AND UPWARD OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CUTS IN THE TEXT SECOND EDITION NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1895 COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. TO MY MOTHER WHO HAS EVER ENCOURAGED HER SON IN HIS NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 'IgBSi PREFACE. IF this book had been written in the last century it might have been entitled " Ornithology made Simple, or How to Identify Birds with Ease, Certainty, and Dispatch." It may be unworthy so com- prehensive a title, nevertheless I have made an honest endeavor to write a book on birds so free from technicalities that it would be in- telligible without reference to a glossary, and I have tried to do this in a volume which could be taken afield in the pocket. I have not addressed an imaginary audience, nor have I given my prospective readers what, theoretically, I thought they ought to have, but what personal experience with students of birds has led me to believe would meet their wants. The preparation of this work has firmly convinced me that the poet would have been nearer the truth had he written " One touch of nature makes the whole world kind." In the succeeding pages I have attempted to express my appreciation of the assistance which natural- ist friends and associates have generously given me, but here I desire to especially thank Miss Florence A. Merriam, Dr. J. A. Allen, and Mr. Ernest E. Thompson for much valuable criticism and advice. FRANK M. CHAPMAN. AMERICAN MUSEUM OP NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY, January, 1895. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. — THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY 1 Systematic Ornithology 2 Philosophic Ornithology 3 Economic Ornithology 6 Sentiment of Ornithology ... .s ... 8 CHAPTER II. — THE STUDY OF BIRDS OUT-OF-DOORS . . .10 How to Identify Birds 10 How to Find Birds 11 When to Find Birds 12 Tables of Migration 15 The Nesting Season 10 Note-books and Journals 20 CHAPTER III. — COLLECTING BIRDS, THEIR NESTS, AND EGGS . 23 Collecting Birds 23 Making Birdskins 24 Sexing Birds 27 Cataloguing and Labeling 28 Care of a Collection 29 Collecting and Preserving Nests and Eggs . . .29 PLAN OF THE WORK 32 Nomenclature adopted 32 Definition of Terms 32 The Key to Families 32 The Keys to Species 34 Measurements 37 Range 37 Biographies 38 Illustrations 39 Color Chart 39 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 40 vii viii CONTENTS. PAGE THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE NINE- TIETH MERIDIAN 41 KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES 41 I. ORDER PYGOPODES : Diving Birds 56 1. Family Podicipidaa : Grebes 56 2. Family Urinatoridae : Loons 58 3. Family Alcidae : Auks, Murres, and Puffins . . 60 II. ORDER LONGIPENNES: LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS . . 65 4. Family Stercorariidae : Skuas and Jaegers . . . . 65 5. Family Laridae : Gulls and Terns . . . .67 6. Rynchopidae : Skimmers 85 III. ORDER TUBINARES : TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS . . .86 7. Family Diomedeidae : Albatrosses . . . .86 8. Procellariidae : Petrels, Fulmars, and Shearwaters . 86 IV. ORDER STEGANOPODES : TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS . . 91 9. Family Phaethontida? : Tropic Birds. . . .91 10. Family Sulidae : Gannets 92 11. Family Anhingidae: Darters ..... 93 12. Family Phalacrocoracidae : Cormorants . . .94 13. Family Pelecanidae: Pelicans 95 14. Family Fregatidas : Man-o'-War Birds . .97 V. ORDER ANSERES: LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS . . 97 15. Family Anatidse : Ducks, Geese, and Swans . . 97 VI. ORDER ODONTOGLOSS^E : LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES . 125 16. Family PhoenicopteridaB : Flamingoes . . . 125 VII. ORDER HERODIONES : HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC. . . 125 17. Family Plataleidae : Spoonbills 125 18. Family Ibijlidae : Ibises . . . . . .126 19. Family Ciconiidae : Storks and Wood Ibises . . 127 20. Family Ardeidae : Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns . 128 VIII. ORDER PALUDICOL^E: CRANES, RAILS, ETC. . . . 137 21. Family Gruidae : Cranes 137 22. Family Aramida3 : Courlans 138 23. Family Rallidae: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots . . 139 IX. ORDER LIMICOL.E: SHORE BIRDS ...... 147 24. Family Phalaropodidae : Phalaropes . . . . 147 25. Family Recurvirostrida3 : Stilts and Avocets . . 149 26. Family Scolopacida^ : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. . . 150 CONTENTS. ix PAGE 27. Family Charadriidae : Plovers 171 28. Family Aphrizidae : Turnstones, etc 176 29. Family Haematopodidae : Oyster-catchers . . . 177 X. ORDER GALLING: GALLINACEOUS BIRDS .... 178 30. Family Tetraonidae : Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. . . 178 31. Family Phasianidae : Pheasants, etc 185 XL ORDER COLUMB.E: PIGEONS AND DOVES .... 187 32. Family Columbidae : Pigeons and Doves . . . 187 XII. ORDER RAPTORES: BIRDS OF PREY 191 33. Family Cathartidas : American Vultures . . .191 34. Family Falconidae : Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. . 193 35. Family Strigidae : Barn Owls 213 36. Family Bubonidas: Horned Owls, Hoot Owls . . 213 XIII. ORDER PSITTACI : PARROTS, MACAWS, PAROQUETS, ETC. . 222 37. Family PsittacidaB : Parrots and Paroquets . . 222 XIV. ORDER COCCYGES: CUCKOOS. KINGFISHERS, ETC. . . 224 38. Family Cuculidae : Cuckoos 224 39. Family Alcedinidse : Kingfishers .... 226 XV. ORDER PICI : WOODPECKERS, WRYNECKS, ETC. . . . 227 40. Family Pieidae : Woodpeckers . . . .227 XVI. ORDER MACROCHIRES : GOATSUCKERS, HUMMINGBIRDS, SWIFTS, ETC 226 41. Family Caprimulgidae : Nighthawks, Whip-poor- wills, etc 236 42. Family Micropodidae: Swifts 239 43. Family Trochilidse : Hummingbirds .... 240 XVII. ORDER PASSERES : PERCHING BIRDS 242 44. Family Tyrannidae : Flycatchers . . . .242 45. Family Alaudidae : Larks 252 46. Family Corvidas : Crows and Jays .... 253 47. Family Sturnidae : Starlings 259 48. Family Icteridae : Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. . . 260 49. Family Fringillidae : Finches, Sparrows, etc. . . 271 50. Family Tanagridae : Tanagers 316 51. Family Hirundinidae : Swallows .... 318 52. Family AmpelidaB : Waxwings 323 53. Family Laniidae : Shrikes 325 54. Family Vireonidae : Vireos 327 55. Fainilv Mniotiltidae : Wood Warblers . 333 x CONTENTS: PAGE 56. Family MotacillidaB : Wagtails and Pipits . . 375 57. Family Troglodytidaa : Thrashers, Wrens, etc. . . 376 58. Family Certhiidae : Creepers 385 59. Family ParidsB : Nuthatches and Titmice. . . 386 60. Family Sylviidae : Kinglets and Gnatcatchers . . 391 61. Family Turdidae : Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc. . . 394 APPENDIX : A Field Key to our Commoner Eastern Land Birds . 404 LIST OF PRINCIPAL WORKS REFERRED TO 411 INDEX 415 LiST OF ILLUSTKATIONS. FULL-PAGE PLATES. TO FACE PAGE BOB-WHITE Frontispiece. COLOR CHART ... 39 PIED-BILLED GREBE AND YOUNG 57 HEADS OF DUCKS 97 LITTLE BLUE HERONS 135 CLAPPER KAIL 140 WOODCOCK AND YOUNG 153 SPOTTED SANDPIPER AND YOUNG 169 RUFFED GROUSE AND YOUNG . . 181 SPARROW HAWK AND YOUNG 211 HAIRY WOODPECKER; YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKEE . . . 229 WHIP-POOR-WILL 237 LEAST FLYCATCHER; PHOEBE 245 BOBOLINK 262 MEADOWLARK . 265 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW ; WHITE-CR'OWNED SPARROW . . 300 SONG SPARROW; SWAMP SPARROW 306 YELLOW-THROATED VIREO ; WARBLING VIREO .... 330 LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH 368 WOOD THRUSH; WILSON'S THRUSH 395 FIGURES IN THE TEXT. FIGURE PAGE 1. A completed birdskin 28 2. Topography of a bird 33 3. (a) Spotted, (b) streaked, (c) barred, (d) margined feathers . 34 4. Rule showing inches and tenths 37 5. Feet of (a) Pied-billed Grebe, (6) Loon, (c) Puffin ... 41 6. (a) Bill of Parasitic Jaeger ; (b) bill and foot of Laughing Gull 41 7. Bill of Common Tern 42 8. Bill of Skimmer , 42 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 9. (a) Bill and foot of Black-footed Albatross ; (I) bill and foot of Fulmar 42 10. Foot of Cormorant .43 11. Bill of Yellow-billed Tropic Bird 43 12. Bill of Gannet 43 13. Bill of Anhinga 43 14. Bill of Cormorant 43 15. Bill of Man-o'-War Bird 43 16. Bill of Merganser 44 17. (a) Bill and foot of Mallard ; (ft) foot of Canvasback . . 44 18. Bill of Flamingo 45 19. Bill and toe-nail of Little Green Heron 45 20. Bill of White Ibis 45 21. Bill of Roseate Spoonbill 45 22. (a) Bill and foot of Clapper Rail ; bills of (ft) Yellow Rail, (c) Sora, (d) Florida Gallinule ; (e) bill and foot of Coot . 46 23. Bill of Sandhill Crane 46 24. Bill of Limpkin 46 25. Bills of (a) Dowitchcr, (b) Knot, (c) Black-bellied Plover, (d) Semipalmated Plover ' 47 26. Feet of (a) Red Phalarope, (ft) Knot, (c) Dowitcher, (d) Black- bellied Plover, (e) Semipalmated Plover . . . .47 27. Bill of Ruffed Grouse 48 28. Bill of Wild Pigeon 48 29. Feet of (a) Barred Owl, (b) Red-shouldered Hawk . . 48 30. Head of Barn Owl 48 81. Head of Barred Owl 48 32. Head of Turkey Vulture 49 33. Head of Red-shouldered Hawk 49 34. Bill and foot of Carolina Paroquet 49 35. Bill and foot of Belted Kingfisher 49 36. Bill and foot of Yellow-billed Cuckoo 49 37. (a) Bill and foot of Hairy Woodpecker, (b) foot of Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker 50 38. Bill and foot of Nighthawk 50 39. Bill and tail-feather of Chimney Swift 50 40. Bill of Hummingbird 50 41. Foot of Robin 51 42. Bill and wing of Phoebe 51 43. Bill and hind-toe of Horned Lark 51 44. (a) Bill and wing of Blue Jay, (b) bill of Crow . . 51 45. Bill and wing of Starling 52 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xiii FIGURE PAGE 46. (a) Bill and wing of Baltimore Oriole ; bills of (b) Meadow- lark, (c) Purple Grackle 52 47. Bills of (a) Cardinal, (b} Pine Grosbeak, (c) Purple Finch, (d) Red Crossbill, (e) Seaside Finch, (/) Goldfinch . . 52 48. Bill of Scarlet Tanager 52 49. Bill and foot of Cliff Swallow . . ' . . . . .53 50. Head of Cedar Waxwing . . . • 53 51. Bill of Loggerhead Shrike 53 52. Bill of Blue-headed Vireo 53 53. (a) Bill of Tennessee Warbler ; (b) bill, wing, and hind-toe of Pine Warbler; bills of (c) Redstart, (d) Water-Thrush; (e) Chat 53 54. Bill and hind-toe of American Pipit 54 55. (a) Bill of Brown Thrasher, (b) bill and wing of Catbird ; bills of (c) Carolina Wren, (d) House Wren . . . .54 56. Bill and tail of Brown Creeper 54 57. (a) Bill of White-breasted Nuthatch, (b) bill and wing of Chickadee 65 58. (a) Bill and wing of Golden-crowned Kinglet, (b) bill of Blue Gray Gnatcatcher . . . 55 59. (a) Bill of Robin, (b) bill and wing of Bluebird . . .55 60. First primaries of (a) American Herring Gull, (b) Ring-billed Gull, (c) Laughing Gull, (d) Franklin's Gull, (e) Bona- parte's Gull 69 61. First primaries of (a) Caspian Tern, (b) Royal Tern, (c) Com- mon Tern, (d) Arctic Tern, (e) Royal Tern . . . .78 62. Head of Least Sandpiper 1(50 63. Head of Red-backed Sandpiper 161 64. Wing of Solitary Sandpiper 166 65. Head of Semipalmated Plover 174 6J3. Head of Wilson's Plover . . . . . . . .176 67. Tail of Sharp-shinned Hawk 198 68. Tail of Cooper's Hawk 199 69. Primaries of Red-shouldered Hawk 202 70. Primaries of Broad-winged Hawk 204 71. Foot of Golden Eagle 206 72. Foot of Bald Eagle 207 73. Tail-feathers of Yellow-billed Cuokoo 225 74. Tail-feathers of Black-billed Cuckoo 226 75. Head of Crested Flycatcher 245 76. Head of Prairie Horned Lark 253 77. Head of Cowbird . 202 xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FIGURE PAGE 78. Head of Orchard Oriole 267 79. Head of Purple Finch 281 80. Head of Redpoll 285 81. Hind-toe of Lapland Longspur 289 82. Tail-feathers of Vesper Sparrow 290 83. Tail of Grasshopper Sparrow 293 84. Head of Seaside Sparrow 297 85. Head of Lark Sparrow 299 86. Head of Chipping Sparrow 302 87. Head of Fox Sparrow 309 88. Head of Dickcissel 315 89. Barn, Cliff, Tree, and Bank Swallows 318 90. Section of primary of Rough-winged Swallow . . . 323 91. Head of Red-eyed Vireo 328 92. Wing of Warbling Vireo 329 93. Head of Black and White Warbler 351 94. Head of Worm-eating Warbler 351 95. Head of Blue-winged Warbler 351 96. Head of Golden-winged Warbler . . . • . . .351 97. Head of Parula Warbler . . . . . . .351 98. Head of Myrtle Warbler 351 99. Head of Magnolia Warbler . . . . ' . . .351 100. Head of Chestnut-sided Warbler 351 101. Black-throated Blue Warbler 354 102. Head of Black-poll Warbler 366 103. Head of Prairie Warbler 366 104. Head of Oven-bird ... 366 105. Head of Kentucky Warbler 366 106. Head of Maryland Yellow-throat 366 107. Plead of Wilson's Warbler 366 108. Head of Hooded Warbler 366 109. Head of Canadian Warbler 366 110. Head of Yellow-breasted Chat 372 111. Head of Short-billed Marsh Wren 383 112. Head of Long-billed Marsh Wren 384 113. Head of Red-breasted Nuthatch 388 114. Head of Tufted Titmouse 389 115. Plead of Golden-crowned Kinglet 392 A HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY. BIRDS, because of their beauty, the charm of their songs, and the ease with which they may be observed, are doubtless the forms of animal life which first attract the young naturalist's attention. His interest in them gives evidence of an inborn love of Nature. Too often this priceless gift is lost simply through lack of encouragement and instruction. Properly developed it should prove a never-failing source of pleasure and inspiration, if indeed its influence does not become the most potent factor in our lives. Let us hope that the day is not distant when the importance of in- troducing natural-history studies into our schools will be generally recognized. The young student of Nature will then be helped over the repelling technicalities which render so difficult the first steps to a knowledge of his chosen subject. Without a guide he now either loses his way completely or travels under disadvantages which handi- cap him for the whole journey. The uninstructed beginner in ornithology usually expends his en- ergies in forming a collection, and he knows no better way of pursuing his study of birds than to kill and stuff them ! Collecting specimens is a step in the scientific study of birds, but ornithology would have small claim to our consideration if its possibilities ended here. Prop- erly considered, it includes what may be termed the science of orni- thology and the sentiment of ornithology. As a science it treats of birds as the exponents of natural laws and seeks to determine their place in the scale of life. In the sentiment of ornithology Nature ap- peals to us through the most interesting and beautiful of her animate forms. 2 1 2 SYSTEMATIC ORNITHOLOGY. The Science of Ornithology. — The science of ornithology may be divided into three branches — systematic, philosophic, and economic. The systematist aims to classify birds according to what are appar- ently their true relationships. He is the ornithological storekeeper, and having taken an account of stock it is his duty to keep the books of the firm in order. The philosophic ornithologist accepts as a fact the statement of affairs given him by his fellow- worker the systemat- ist, and tries to explain the wherefore and why. He is a seeker of causes. The economist is of a more practical turn of mind. He is impressed by the incalculable influence which birds exert over our agricultural interests, and the necessity for learning with exactness whether this influence is for good or evil. But let us describe these three departments of scientific ornithology more fully. Systematic Ornithology. — The first step in the scientific study of any group of animals is to name and classify them. Orders, families, genera, species, and subspecies are to be described and arranged in what appears to be the most natural manner. Thus all the Perching Birds, for example, are placed in the order Passeres, and this order is divided into numerous families— for instance, the Thrushes or family Turdidce. But how are we to know which are Perching Birds and which of the Perching Birds are Thrushes ? The systematist answers, by studying a bird's structure. Generally speaking, orders and fami- lies are based on skeletal, muscular, and visceral characters which may be termed internal characters. Genera are based on the form of bill, feet, wings, and tail, or on external characters, while species and sub- species are based mainly on color and size. Thus all the members of a family or order agree more or less in their principal internal charac- ters : those of a genus agree in external characters, and the individ- uals of a species or subspecies resemble one another in color and size. The object of classification is to aid us in understanding not alone the relationships of one bird to another bird, or of one family or order of birds to another family or order, or even of living to extinct birds, but also to assist us in explaining the relationships of all the classes of the animal and vegetable kingdoms — mammals, birds, rep- tiles, fishes — and thus down the scale to the lowest forms of life. This systematic study of the. relationships of birds has taught us that they have been evolved from reptilian ancestors. There is much evidence in support of this fact, but the most conclusive is furnished by the discovery in the lithographic slate of Solenhofen, Bavaria, of several specimens of a remarkable fossil, part lizard, part bird, which has been named Archceopteryx lithographica. It is the earliest known direct progenitor of the great class Aves. PHILOSOPHIC ORNITHOLOGY. 3 The importance of systematic classification is also shown in the ne- cessity of naming objects before we can study them to advantage. As the alphabet is the foundation of a written language, so this great series of scientific names, which appears so formidable to the student, is the groundwork for all ornithological research. Philosophic Ornithology. — Having learned the alphabet of orni- thology, we may pass from the systematic to the philosophic study of birds ; from the study of dead birds to that of living ones. A study of specimens shows their relationships through structure, but a study of the living bird in its haunts may tell us the cause of structure. In classifying birds we have taken note of their form and coloration ; our object now is to determine how these characters were acquired. As Prof. E. S. Morse has said, "There is no group of animals which exceeds birds in varied and suggestive material for the evolu- tionist." Compare a Hummingbird with an Ostrich, a Swallow with a Penguin, and the enormous variation in the structure and habits of birds is brought very forcibly to our minds. When we remember that these widely divergent types descended from a reptilian ancestor, we are impressed anew with the truth of Prof. Morse's remark. A brief review of the more important branches of philosophic ornithology will show how rich a field is open to the student of birds. They are : (1) The origin of birds and their place in Nature ; * (2) their distribution in time and space, and the influences which determine their present ranges ; f (3) the migration of birds, its origin, object, ex- tent, and manner ; \ (4) the nesting of birds, including a study of the significance of sexual differences in form, color, and voice, the location and construction of the nest, the number and color of the eggs, together with the habits of birds during the entire nesting season ; (5) the effect * See Newton's Dictionary of Birds (London : Adam and Charles Black, 1893) ; articles, " Anatomy of Birds " and " Fossil Birds." t Read The Geographical Distribution of North American Mammals, by J. A. Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iv, 1892, pp. 199-244 ; four maps. The Geo- graphical Origin and Distribution of North American Birds, considered in Rela- tion to Faunal Areas of North America, by J. A. Allen, The Auk, x, 1893, pp. 97-150 ; two maps. The Geographic Distribution of Life in North America with Special Reference to the Mammalia, by C. Hart Merriam, M. D., Proc. of the Biological Soc. of Washington, vii, 1892, pp. 1-64 ; one map. t On this subject read articles by the following authors : J. A. Allen, Scrib- ner's Magazine, xxii, 1881, pp. 932-938 ; Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, v, 1880, pp. 151- 154 ; Scott, ibid., vi, 1881, pp. 97-100 ; Brewster, Memoirs Nuttall Orn. Club (Cam- bridge, Mass.), No. 1, pp. 22 ; Cooke and Merriam, Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley (Washington. 1888) ; Chapman, Auk, v, 1888, pp. 37-39 ; xi, 1894, pp. 12-17 ; Loomis, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 28-39 ; xi, 1894, pp. 26-39, 94-117 ; Stone, Birds of E. Penn. and N. J., Bird Migration, pp. 15-28. 4 GEOGRAPHICAL RACES. of climate upon the color and size of birds ; * (6) the relation of a bird's color to its haunts and habits, f Besides these general subjects which enter into our study of the life-history of every bird, we have the special instances of intelligent adaptation to changed conditions of life, and, most interesting of all, the relation between structure and habits, or the part played by a bird's habits in determining the form of its bill, feet, wings, and tail. Thus the Crook-billed Plover of New Zealand turns over or probes under stones and shells in search of food, not because its crooked bill makes an excellent lever or probe, but it has acquired a crooked bill through this habit. Again, the Gallinules of certain islands in southern seas are flightless, not because their wings are too small to support them, but because after having flown to these islands they had no further use for wings, which in time, through dis- use, became so small that the birds have lost the power of flight. In other words, it is not because their wings are small that they do not fly, but because they do not fly their wings are small. But to enlarge upon these problems which confront the philo- sophic ornithologist would require a volume. It is important, how- ever, that the student should have in the beginning at least a general idea of the effect of climate on the size and color of birds and the migration of birds. The first is well illustrated by our Bob-white or Quail. In New England, at the northern limit of its range, it is a fine, large bird with a light-brown back and a white breast narrowly barred with black. As we proceed southward it becomes smaller, the brown is of a deeper shade, the black bars of greater extent. Finally, when we have reached the humid region of southern Florida, the minimum in size is attained, the back is dark, rich chestnut barred with black, and the breast is almost wholly black. No one who compared this small, dark Florida Quail with the large, pale Quail of New England would consider them the same species. But on examining a series of Quails from all the Atlantic States one sees how gradually this change in color and decrease in size occurs, and that nowhere would it be possible to draw a line separating the two extremes. They are species in process of formation still connected by a chain of natural links. Ornithology presents many similar cases. They illustrate two laws in the evolution of animals — decrease in size southward and greater * Read Part III of Dr. J. A. Allen's Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. ii, No. 3. Cambridge, 1871. t Consult Poulton's Colors of Animals (D. Appleton & Co., 1890) ; Bed- dard's Animal Coloration (Macmillan & Co.) ; Keeler's Evolution of the Colors of North American Land-birds (Occasi6nal Papers of California Academy of Sciences, iii, 1893) ; also reviews of last two works in The Auk, x, 1893, pp. 189- 199, 373-380. MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 5 intensity of color in regions of greatest rainfall. They are thus evi- dences of an evolution so recent that we can assign its cause. In nomenclature these partly formed species are termed subspecies or" races. Under the .trinomial system they are distinguished by a third name : thus Colinus virginianus floridanus is a subspecies or race of Colinus virginianus. But if through any change in the earth's sur- face the regions occupied by the large, light Quail and the small, dark one should be separated, the intermediates would disappear and in- stead of a race of subspecies we would have a full species — Colinus floridanus. The Migration of Birds. — Certain insects, fishes, and mammals migrate, but no animals compare with birds in the extent of their migrations. Some birds nest within the Arctic Circle and winter in the southern parts of the southern hemisphere, performing this jour- ney of thousands of miles year after year and returning to their sum- mer or winter haunts with marvelous certainty and regularity. Not only is the migration of birds an interesting subject in itself, but the almost constant changes it causes in the bird-life of the same region gives an interest to the study of ornithology which is ever re- newed with the changing seasons. Indeed, to the lover of Nature birds are a living calendar. " What was that sound that came on the softened air? It was the warble of the Bluebird from the scraggy orchard yonder. When this is heard, then has spring arrived." A discussion of the origin of bird migration will be found in the books and papers on this subject to which reference has been given. Here it is possible only to outline its principal features as they exist to-day. Generally speaking, birds migrate at the approach of winter, in search of food. The reason why they leave a land of plenty in the tropics and follow the footsteps of retreating winter to nest in the comparatively barren north is as yet not satisfactorily explained. As a rule, the extent of a bird's migration depends upon the nature of its food. Insect-eating birds are forced to extend their migrations much farther than the seed-eaters, many of which are permanent residents at their place of birth. The land-birds of the Western States winter in Mexico. A few cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into Central America, but practically no species cross the Isthmus of Panama. Our Eastern birds have a longer and more perilous journey to perform. They leave the mainland by way of Florida, and some species find congenial winter haunts in the West Indies or Central America, while others go as far south as the Argentine Republic. Birds of strong flight, like Swallows, can easily escape from bird- killing Hawks, and so migrate boldly by day. But the shy, retiring inhabitants of woods and thickets await the coming of darkness, and 6 ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. then, mounting high in the air, pursue their journey under cover of the night. Birds direct their flight by coast lines and river valleys which are easily distinguishable in clear weather. On favorable nights these natural highways of migration are thronged by a continuous stream of aerial voyagers passing from dusk until dawn. Looking through a telescope at the moon, one may see numbers of birds cross its glowing surface. From such observations it is 'com- puted that migrating birds fly at a height of from one to three miles. The eyesight of birds is so far superior to ours that we do not realize its value to them while migrating. The height at which they fly gives them command of a wide range of country, and on clear nights they can undoubtedly distinguish its prominent features with ease. But when fogs or clouds obscure these landmarks, they lose their way. It is then that lighthouses prove beacons luring them to destruction. The Bartholdi Statue, at the mouth of the Hudson River, is directly in the path of the great streams of migrants which flow up and down this natural highway of migration, and for this reason is particularly destructive to birds which travel at night. On one occasion after a storm no less than fourteen hundred birds were picked up at its base, having been killed by striking the statue or pedestal upon which it rests. But while sight is of the first importance to the older and more experienced birds who know the way, young birds, who are making the journey for the first time, doubtless rely on their hearing to guide them. Birds' ears are exceedingly acute. They readily detect sounds which to us would be inaudible. Almost invariably they respond to an imitation of their notes, and, when under way, frequently chirp and call. When we consider their power of hearing and their abundance in routes of migration, it seems probable that at no time during the night is a bird beyond the hearing of his fellow-travelers. The line of flight once established, therefore, by the older birds, who leave first, it becomes a comparatively easy matter for the younger birds to join the throng. Economic Ornithology. — This branch of the study of ornithology treats of the relationships of bird to man from the standpoint of dollars and cents. Civilized man is Nature's worst enemy. He is a disturbing element whose presence is a constant menace to the balance of life. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that we should acquaint ourselves with the conditions which make a true equilibrium and endeavor to sustain them when it proves to our advantage to do so. The disastrous results which have followed man's introduction of the English or House Sparrow in America, the mongoose in the West ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. 7 Indies, and the rabbit in Australia, clearly show that our attempts to improve upon Nature must be directed, not by haphazard methods, but by knowledge gained through a careful study of Nature's laws. Few persons realize the value of birds to man. They are the natural check upon the increase of insect life. Consider the incal- culable number of insects destroyed by the birds which pass the greater part of each day hunting through our lawns, orchards, fields, and woods for the pests that destroy vegetation. Of almost equal im- portance are the birds of prey whose food consists largely of the small rodents which are among the farmer's worst enemies. Indeed, it is not too much to say that without birds the earth would not long be habitable. As yet we are on the threshold of an exact knowledge of the value of birds to man ; but let us cite one easily demonstrable case where ignorance of birds' habits resulted in direct pecuniary loss. Quoting from the report for 1886 of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist and Mammalogist of the United States Department of Agriculture : " On the 23d of June, 1885, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act known as the ' scalp act,' ostensibly ' for the benefit of agriculture,' which provides a bounty of fifty cents each on hawks, owls, weasels, and minks killed within the limits of the State, and a fee of twenty cents to the notary or justice taking the affidavit. " By virtue of this act about $90,000 has been paid in bounties during the year and a half that has elapsed since the law went into effect. This represents the destruction of at least 128,571 of the above-mentioned animals, most of which were hawks and owls. " Granting that 5,000 chickens are killed annually in Pennsylvania by hawks and owls, and that they are worth twenty-five cents each (a liberal estimate in view of the fact that a large proportion of them are killed when very young), the total loss would be 1,250, and the poultry killed in a year and a half would be worth $1,875. Hence it appears that during the past eighteen months the State of Pennsylvania has expended $90,000 to save its farmers a loss of $1,875. But this esti- mate by no means represents the actual loss to the farmer and the tax- payer of the State. It is within bounds to say that in the course of a year every hawk and owl destroys at least a thousand mice or their equivalent in insects, and that each mouse or its equivalent so de- stroyed would cause the farmer a loss of two cents per annum. There- fore, omitting all reference to the enormous increase in the numbers of these noxious animals when Nature's means of holding them in check has been removed, the lowest possible estimate of the value to the farmer of each hawk, owl, and weasel would be $20 a year, or $30 in a year and a half. 8 SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. " Hence, in addition to the $90,000 actually expended by the State in destroying 128,571 of its benefactors, it has incurred a loss to its agricultural interests of at least $3,857,130, or a total loss of $3,947,130 in a year and a half, which is at the rate of 2,631,420 per annum. In other words, the State has thrown away $2,105 for every dollar saved ! And even this does not represent fairly the full loss, for the slaughter of such a vast number of predaceous birds and mammals is almost certain to be followed by a correspondingly enormous increase in the numbers of mice and insects formerly held in check by them, and it will take many years to restore the balance thus blindly destroyed through ignorance of the economic relations of our common birds and mammals." To their credit be it said, the legislators of Pennsylvania were not slow to recognize the error which a lack of proper information had caused them to make. A State ornithologist was appointed, and through his efforts this ruinous and absurd law was repealed. In 1893 the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the Department of Agriculture issued a report upon the food of the Hawks and Owls of the United States based upon the examination of the contents of 2,690 stomachs. It proves conclusively the value of most of these misjudged birds to the agriculturist. It is need- less to draw a comparison between legislation based upon information derived from such reports and that based solely on ignorant preju- dices. The Sentiment of Ornithology.~We may accept as true Prof. Morse's estimate of the value of birds to the scientist ; we need not question their importance in the economics of Nature, but we are still far from recognizing the possibilities of their influence upon our lives. An inherent love of birds is an undeniable psychological fact which finds its most frequent expression in the general fondness for cage- birds. If we can learn to regard the birds of the woods and fields with all the affection we lavish on our poor captives in their gilded homes, what an inexhaustible store of enjoyment is ours ! It is not alone the beauty, power of song, or intelligence of birds which attract us, it is their human attributes. Man exhibits hardly a trait which he will not find reflected in the life of a bird. Love, hate ; courage, fear ; anger, pleasure ; vanity, modesty ; virtue, vice ; constancy, fickleness ; generosity, selfishness ; wit, curiosity, memory, reason — we may find them all exhibited in the lives of birds. Birds have thus become symbolic of certain human characteristics, and the more common species are so interwoven in our art and literature that by name at least they are known to all of us. Shakespeare makes over six hundred references to birds or bird-life. If wo should rob SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. 9 Wordsworth's verses of their birds, how sadly mutilated what re- mained would be ! But why leave a knowledge of birds to poets and naturalists ? Go yourself to the field and learn that birds do not exist solely in books, but are concrete, sentient beings, whose acquaintance may bring you more unalloyed happiness than the wealth of the Indies. John Bur- roughs understands this when he writes of the study of birds : " There is a' fascination about it quite overpowering. It fits so well with other things — with fishing, hunting, farming, walking, camping out — with all that takes one to the fields and woods. One may go a blackberry- ing and make some rare discovery ; or while driving his cow to pas- ture, hear a new song, or make a new observation. Secrets lurk on all sides. There is news in every bush. What no man ever saw before may the next moment be revealed to you. What a new interest the woods have! How you long to explore every nook and corner of them ! " Human friends may pas« beyond our ken, but our list of acquaint- ances in the bird world increases to the end and shows no vacancies. The marsh the Blackbirds loved may become the site of a factory, but no event on the calendar is more certain than that in due time and place we shall hear the tinkling chorus of the epauleted minstrels rising and falling on the crisp morning air. " . . . . Time may come when never more The wilderness shall hear the lion roar ; But, long as cock shall crow from household perch To rouse the dawn, soft gales shall speed thy wing, And thy erratic voice be faithful to the spring ! " The woods of our youth may disappear, but the Thrushes will always sing for us, and their voices, endeared by cherished associa- tions, arouse echoes of a hundred songs and awaken memories before which the years will vanish. CHAPTER II. THE STUDY OF BIRDS OUT-OF-DOORS. How to Identify Birds. — Whether your object be to study birds as a scientist or simply as a lover of Nature, the first step is the same — you must learn to know them. This problem of identification has been given up in despair by many would-be ornithologists. We can neither pick, press, net, nor impale birds ; and here the botanist and the entomologist have a distinct advantage. Even if we have the desire to resort to a gun its use is not always possible. But with patience and practice the identification of birds is a comparatively easy matter, and in the end you will name them with surprising ease and certainty. There is generally more character in the flight of a bird than there is in the gait of a man. Both are frequently inde- scribable but perfectly diagnostic, and you learn to recognize bird friends as you do human ones — by experience. If you confine your studies to one locality, probably not more than one third of the species described in this volume will come within the field of your observation. To aid you in learning which species should be included in this third, the paragraphs on Range are followed by a statement of the bird's standing at Washington, D. C., Sing Sing, N. Y., and Cambridge, Mass., while the water-birds of Long Island are treated specially. Take the list of birds from the point nearest your home as an index of those you may expect to find. This may be abridged for a given season by considering the times of the year at which a bird is present.* * It is sometimes possible to secure a list of birds of your own vicinity. These "local lists" are generally published in scientific journals, but one may fre- quently secure a copy of the author's edition. On this subject correspond with L. S. Foster, &5 Pine Street, New York city. Among the local lists of eastern birds which were issued as separate publications and are now for sale are — 1. A Catalogue of the Birds of the Virginias, by Wm. C. Rives, M. A., M. D. Proc. Newport [R. I.] Nat. Hist. Soc., Document VII, 1890, 8vo, pp. 100, one map, 305 species. 2. The Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with Introductory 10 HOW TO FIND BIRDS. 11 After this slight preparation you may take to the field with a much clearer understanding of the situation. Two quite different ways of identifying birds are open to you. Either you may shoot them, or study them through a field- or opera-glass. A " bird in the hand " is a definite object whose structure and color can be studied to such ad- vantage that in most cases you will afterward recognize it at sight. After learning the names of its parts, its identity is simply a question of keys and descriptions. If you would " name the birds without a gun," by all means first visit a museum, and, with text-book in hand, study those species which you have previously found are to be looked for near your home. This preliminary introduction will serve to ripen your acquaintance in the field. A good field- or opera-glass is absolutely indispensable. A strong opera-glass with a large eye-piece is most useful in the woods, while a field-glass is more serviceable in observing water-birds. Study your bird as closely as circumstances will permit, and write on the spot a comparative description of its size, the shape of its bill, tail, etc., and a detailed description of its colors. In describing form take a Robin, Chipping Sparrow, or any bird you know, which best serves the pur- pose, as a basis for comparison. A bird's bill is generally its most diagnostic external character. A sketch of it in your note-book will frequently give you a good clew to its owner's family. It is of the utmost importance that this description should be written in the field. Not only do our memories sometimes deceive us, but we really see nothing with exactness until we attempt to describe it. Haunts, ac- tions, and notes should also be carefully recorded. This account is your " bird in the hand," and while you can not hope to identify it as easily as you could a specimen, you will rarely fail to learn its name, and experience will render each attempt less difficult than the pre- ceding. How to Find Birds. — The best times of the day in which to look for birds are early morning and late afternoon. After a night of fasting and resting, birds are active and hungry. When their appe- tites are satisfied they rest quietly until afternoon, hunger again send- ing them forth in search of food. Chapters on Geographical Distribution and Migration, prepared under the Direc- tion of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, by Witmer Stone, Conservator Ornithological Section Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8vo, pp. 185, two diagrams, two maps, 352 species. Price, $1. 3. An Annotated List of the Birds known to occur within Fifty Miles of New York City, by Frank M. Chapman. Published by the American Museum of Natu- ral History, New York city, as a guide to its collection of local birds. 8vo, pp. 100, 36 cuts, 4 full-page plates, 348 species. For sale at the Museum. Price, 15 cents. 12 WHEN TO FIND BIRDS. Experience will soon show you the places where birds are most abundant. The more varied the nature of the country the greater number of species you may expect to find inhabiting it. An ideal locality would be a bit of tree-dotted meadow with a reed-bordered pond or stream, surrounded by woods, rolling uplands, and orchards. Common sense will tell you how to act in the field. Birds are gen- erally shy creatures and must be approached with caution. You must not, therefore, go observing or collecting dressed in flaming red, but in some inconspicuous garb and as quietly as a cat. Furthermore, go alone and keep the sun at your back — two apparently unrelated but equally important bits of advice. The collector generally has the instincts of a hunter, and practice will develop them. The " squeak " is one of his most valuable aids. It is made by placing the lips to the back of the hand or finger and kissing vigorously. The sound produced bears some resemblance to the cries of a wounded or young bird. In the nesting season its utter- ance frequently creates much excitement in the bird world, and at all times it is useful as a means of drawing bush- or reed-haunting species from their retreats. One may enter an apparently deserted thicket, and, after a few minutes' squeaking, find himself surrounded by an anxious or curious group of its feathered inhabitants. The observer of birds will find that by far the best way to study their habits is to take a sheltered seat in some favored locality and become a part of the background. Your passage through the woods is generally attended by sufficient noise to warn birds of your coming long before you see them. They are then suspicious and ill at ease. But secrete yourself near some spot loved by birds, and it may be your privilege to learn the secrets of the forest. When to Find Birds. — During the year the bird-life of temperate and boreal regions fluctuates with the changing seasons. Birds may thus be classed in the following groups according to the manner of their occurrence : Permanent residents are birds found in one locality throughout the year. Summer residents come from the south in the spring, rear their young, and leave in the fall. Winter visitants come from the north in the fall, pass the winter, and leave in the spring. Transient visitants pass through a given place in migrating to and from their summer homes north of it. Accidental visitants are birds which have lost their way. They are generally young and inexperi- enced, and are usually found in the fall. The best time of the year to begin studying birds is in the winter, when the bird population of temperate regions is at the minimum. The problem of identification is thus reduced to its simplest terms, and should be mastered before spring introduces new elements. THE ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR. 13 The commoner permanent residents of the middle Eastern States are the following : Bob-white. Hairy Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, Flicker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Red-tailed Hawk, Crow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Meadowlark, Barred Owl, American Goldfinch, Long-eared Owl, Purple Finch, Screech Owl, Song Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Chickadee, and occasionally the Waxwing, Myrtle Warbler, Bluebird, and Robin. To these should be added the following more or less common winter visitant land-birds : Saw-whet Owl, Tree Sparrow, Horned Lark, Junco, Snowflake, Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur, Winter Wren, Redpoll, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Crossbill, Brown Creeper. White-throated Sparrow, Let us now begin with the opening of the spring migration and briefly review the ornithological year. In the vicinity of New York city the first birds arrive from the south late in February or early in March. There is much variation in the coming of these early birds. Later, when the weather is more settled, migrants arrive within a few days of a given date. In April most of our winter visitants leave for the north. The current of migration grows steadily stronger until about May 12, when high-water mark is reached. Then it rapidly subsides and the spring migration is practically over by June 1. The winter visitants have gone, the great army of transients has passed us, and our bird population is now composed of permanent residents with the addition of about ninety summer residents. Nesting-time has arrived, and birds which for nearly a year have been free to go and come as inclination directed, now have homes where, day after day, they may be found in tireless attendance upon the nest and its treasures. Courtship, the construction of a dwelling, the task of incubation, and. care of the young, all tend to stimulate the characteristic traits of the bird, and at no other time can its habits be studied to better advantage. But resident birds begin building long before the migration is con- 14 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR. eluded. The Great Horned Owl lays in February, other birds in March and April; still, the height of the breeding season is not reached until June 1. Another period in the avian year closely connected with the spring migration and nesting-time is the song season. Near New York city it is inaugurated late in February by the Song Sparrow. Voice after voice is added to the choir, and in June our woods and fields ring with the chorus so dear to lovers of Nature. By the middle of July it is on the wane, and early in August it is practically over. Some birds have a brief second song season in the fall, but as a rule it lasts only a few days — it is a farewell to their summer homes.* August is a most discouraging month to the student of birds. Birds leave their accustomed haunts and retire to secluded places to renew their worn plumages. They are silent and inactive, and there- fore difficult to find. Late in the month they reappear clad in travel- ing costumes and ready for their southern journey. One by one they leave us, and there are days late in August and early in September when the woods are almost deserted of birds. Later the fall migra- tion becomes continuous, and each night brings a host of new arrivals. The spring migration is scarcely concluded before the fall migra- tion begins. July 1, Tree Swallows, which rarely nest near New York city, appear in numbers from the north and gather in immense flocks in our marshes. Later in the month they are joined by Bobolinks. Early in August the careful observer will detect occasional small flights of Warblers passing southward, and by September 10 the great southern march of the birds is well under way ; it reaches its height between the 20th and last of the month, when most of the win- ter residents arrive, and from this time our bird-life rapidly decreases. Some of the seed- and berry-eaters remain until driven southward by the cold weather in December. When they have gone our bird popu- lation is again reduced to the ever-present permanent residents and hardy winter visitants. The appended tables graphically illustrate the rise and fall of the migrations and of the nesting season. The first is based on my own observations at Englewood, N. J., kindly revised and supplemented by Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell from extended observations at Riverdale, on the opposite side of the Hudson River. The second was compiled from data accompanying the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. * See a series of papers by Mr. E. P. Bicknell entitled " A Study of the Sing- ing of our Birds.11 The Auk, i, 1884, pp. 60-71, 126-140, 209-218, 322-332 ; ii, 1885, pp. 144-154, 249-262. THE SPRING MIGRATION. 15 SPRING MIGRATION. Date of arrival. Date of departure. Feb. 15-Mar. 10. Purple Grackle November 1-30. Rusty Blackbird April-May. Red-winged Blackbird November 1-30. Robin November 1-30. Bluebird November 1-30. March 10-20. Woodcock November 1-30. Pho3be October 20-30. Meadowlark November 1-30. Cowbird November 1-30. Fox Sparrow April 1-15. March 20-31. Wilson's Snipe May 1-10. Kingfisher November 1-30. Mourning Dove November 1-30. Swamp Sparrow November 1-30. Field Sparrow November 1-30. April 1-10. Great Blue Heron November 1-30. Purple Finch November 1-30. Vesper Sparrow November 1-30. Savanna Sparrow. May 1-15. Chipping Sparrow November 1-30. Tree Swallow May 15-31. Myrtle Warbler May 10-20. American Pipit April 15-25. Hermit Thrush April 25-May 10. April 10-20. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker April 20-30. Barn Swallow October 1-10. Yellow Palm Warbler April 25-May 10. Pine Warbler May 1-10. Louisiana Water Thrush September 20-30. Ruby-crowned Kinglet May 1-&15. April 20-30. Green Heron October 10-20. Spotted Sandpiper September 20-30. Whip-poor-will October 10-20. Chimney Swift October 1-10. Least Flycatcher October 1-10. Towhee October 20-30. Blue-headed Vireo May 10-20. Purple Martin September 20-30. Cliff Swallow October 1-10. Bank Swallow October 1-10. Rough-winged Swallow September 1-10. Black and White Warbler October 1-10. Black-throated Green Warbler May 15-25. Oven-bird October 1-10. House Wren October 10-20. Brown Thrasher . . October 10-20. 16 THE SPRING MIGRATION. Date of arrival. Date of departure. April 20-30. Catbird October 10-20. ' Wood Thrush October 1-10. May 1-10. Solitary Sandpiper May 15-25. Yellow-billed Cuckoo October 1-10. Black-billed Cuckoo October 1-10. Nighthawk October 10-20. Ruby-throated Hummingbird September 20-30. Crested Flycatcher September 20-30. Kingbird September 20-30. Baltimore Oriole September 10-20. Orchard Oriole September 1-10. Bobolink October 1-10. Yellow-winged Sparrow October 1-10. Indigo Bunting October 1-10. Eose-breasted Grosbeak September 20-30. Scarlet Tanager October 1-10. Red-eyed Vireo October 10-20. Warbling Vireo September 20-30. Yellow-throated Vireo September 20-30. White-eyed Vireo October 1-10. Nashville Warbler May 20-30. Blue-winged Warbler September 1-10. Parula Warbler May 20-30. Yellow Warbler September 10-20. Black-throated Blue Warbler May 15-30. Magnolia Warbler May 15-30. Chestnut-sided Warbler May 20-30. Prairie Warbler May 20-30. Maryland Yellow-throat October 10-20. Small-billed Water Thrush May 15-30. • Hooded Warbler September 20-30. Yellow-breasted Chat September 10-20. Redstart October 1-10. Wilson's Thrush September 20-30. May 10-20. Wood Pewee.. September 20-30. Acadian Flycatcher September 1-10. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher May 20-30. White-crowned Sparrow May 15-25. Golden-winged Warbler May 15-25. Tennessee Warbler May 15-25. Worm-eating Warbler September 1-10. Cape May Warbler May 15-25. Blackburnian Warbler May 15-25. Bay -breasted Warbler May 20-30. Blackpoll Warbler May 25-June 5. Wilson's Warbler May 20-30. Canadian Warbler May 25-June 5. THE FALL MIGRATION. 17 Date of arrival. Date of departure. May 10-20. Long-billed Marsh Wren October 10-20. Short-billed Marsh Wren October 10-20. Olive-backed Thrush May 20-June 1. Gray-cheeked Thrush May 25- June 5. May 20-30. Traill's Flycatcher (?) Mourning Warbler May 30-June 5. Bicknell's Thrush (?) FALL MIGRATION. MIGRANTS ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH. Date of arrival. Date of departure. August 1-15. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher September 20-30. Golden- winged Warbler September 1-10. Chestnut-sided Warbler Sept. 30-Oct. 10. Canadian Warbler September 20-30. Small-billed Water Thrush Sept. 25-Oct. 5. August 15-31. Olive-sided Flycatcher September 10-20. Tennessee Warbler Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Nashville Warbler Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Parula Warbler October 15-25. Cape May Warbler Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Black-throated Green Warbler October 15-25. Black-throated Blue Warbler October 15-25. Magnolia Warbler October 10-20. Blackburnian Warbler September 20-30. Wilson's Warbler September 20-30. Canadian Nuthatch November 1-30. September 1-10. Eed-headed Woodpecker November 1-30. Blackpoll Warbler October 15-25. Connecticut Warbler September 20-30. September 10-20. Blue-headed Vireo October 15-25. Philadelphia Vireo September 20-30. Olive-backed Thrush October 1-10. Bicknell's Thrush October 1-10. September 20-30. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker October 20-30. Junco April 10-May 10. White-throated Sparrow May 1-25. Myrtle Warbler May 5-20. Yellow Palm Warbler October 15-30. Brown Creeper April 1-30. Golden-crowned Kinglet April 1-20. Euby-crowned Kinglet October 20-30. Winter Wren April 1-30. Gray-cheeked Thrush October 15-25. October 1-10. Bronzed Grackle December 1-30. Eusty Blackbird December 1-30. American Pipit Oct. 25-Nov. 5. 3 18 THE FALL MIGRATION. Date of arrival. Date of departure. Oct. 1-10. Hermit Thrush November 1-30. October 10-20. Fox Sparrow Nov. 25-Dec. 5. October 20-31. Pine Finch May 1-31. Tree Sparrow April 1-30. Northern Shrike March 1-31. SUMMER RESIDENTS LEAVING FOR THE SOUTH. Date of departure. September 1-10. Acadian Flycatcher Orchard Oriole Rough- winged Swallow Worm-eating Warbler Blue-winged Warbler September 10-20. Baltimore Oriole Purple Martin Yellow Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat September 20-30. Hummingbird Kingbird Great-crested Flycatcher Wood Pewee Rose- breasted Grosbeak Yellow-throated Vireo ... Warbling Vireo Hooded Warbler Louisiana Water Thrush Wilson's Thrush October 1-10. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Least Flycatcher . Bobolink Yellow-winged Sparrow Indigo Bunting Scarlet Tanager Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow White-eyed Vireo Black and White Warbler Redstart Oven-bird Wood Thrush October 10-20. Whip-poor-will Niirhthawk Red-eyed Vireo Maryland Yellow-throat THE NESTING SEASON. 19 Date of departure. Oct. 10-20. Long-billed Marsh Wren. Short-billed Marsh Wren. House Wren Brown Thrasher Catbird October 20-31. Phoebe Towhee Tree Swallow November 1-30.* Woodcock Mourning Dove Kingfisher Ked- winged Blackbird . . , Purple Grackle Cowbird , Vesper Sparrow , Field Sparrow , Chipping Sparrow. , Swamp Sparrow , DATES AT WHICH BIRDS BEGUN TO NEST IN THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY. Feb. 28. Great Horned Owl. Mar. 12. Barred Owl. April 1. Woodcock. 3. Screech Owl. 5. Red-shouldered Hawk. 6. Ked-tailed Hawk. 9. American Crow. 9. Long-eared Owl. 10. Bluebird. 17. White-bellied Nuthatch 18. Broad-winged Hawk. 19. Duck Hawk. 20. Kobin. 25. Purple Grackle. 26. Mourning Dove. May 1. Cooper's Hawk. 2. Fish Hawk. 2. Song Sparrow. 3. Cardinal. 5. Cowbird. [In Song Spar- row's nest.] May 5. Black-crowned Night Heron. 6. Green Heron. 6. Wood Duck. 7. Kingfisher. 8. Barn Swallow. 8. Phoebe. 10. Clapper Kail. 10. Killdeer. 10. Buffed Grouse. 10. Sparrow Hawk. 10. Savanna Sparrow. 10. Vesper Sparrow. 11. Flicker. 11. Louisiana Water Thrush. 13. Red-headed Woodpecker. 14. Chipping Sparrow. 14. Towhee. 15. King Rail. 15. Virginia Rail. 15. Meadowlark. 15. Field Sparrow. * The time of the departure of these birds varies greatly during different years. Should the season be an exceptionally mild one, many of them will re- main until late in December. 20 THE NESTING SEASON. May 15. Swamp Sparrow. May 29. 18. Red-winged Blackbird. 29. 19. Tree Swallow. 30. 19. Bank Swallow. 30. 19. Thrasher. 30. 20. Yellow Warbler. 30. 20. Oven-bird. 30. 20. Wood Thrush. 30. 20. Veery. 30. 20. Chickadee. 30. 21. Downy Woodpecker. 31. 21. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 31. 22. Parula Warbler. 31. 23. Hairy Woodpecker. 31. 23. Chat. 31. 23. House Wren. June 1. 24. Purple Finch. 1. 24. Catbird. 1. 24. Spotted Sandpiper. 1. 24. Black and White Warbler. 2. 25. Hummingbird. 2. 25. Fish Crow. 3. 25. Purple Martin. 3. 25. Maryland Yellow-throat. 3. 25. Chimney Swift. 4. 25. Blue Jay. 5. 26. Bob-white. 5. 26. Marsh Hawk. V. 27. Baltimore Oriole. 7. 28. Red-eyed Vireo. 8. 28. White-eyed Vireo. 12. 28. Redstart. 20. 29. Black-billed Cuckoo. 20. 29. Bobolink. Indigo Bunting. Chestnut-sided Warbler. Least Flycatcher. Acadian Flycatcher. Orchard Oriole. Rose- breasted Grosbeak. Rough-winged Swallow. Warbling Vireo. Cliff' Swallow. Blue- winged Warbler. Seaside Finch. Sharp-tailed Finch. Hooded Warbler. Long-billed Marsh Wren. Least Bittern. Bartramian Sandpiper. Piping Plover. Nighthawk. Kentucky Warbler. Yellow-winged Sparrow. Worm-eating Warbler. Scarlet Tanager. Whip-poor-will. Great-crested Flycatcher. Kingbird. Wood Pewee. Yellow-throated Vireo. Short-billed Marsh Wren. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Laughing Gull. Common Tern. Goldfinch. Cedar Waxwing. Hints on keeping Note-Books and Journals. — The necessity of a well-kept journal can not be too strongly urged. Specimens may be duplicated, but no one can ever see with your eyes. Do not attempt to trust to your memory — a willing servant of the mind too frequently imposed upon. It may receive and retain one impression clearly, but as others are added the earlier ones lose their distinctness or become entirely effaced. The system adopted for recording notes should be simple to keep and easy of reference. The one here recommended has stood the test of ten years' experience. After returning from the field I enter in my "roll-book," at once, a record of the weather, temperature, direction and force of the wind, locality visited, time of starting and returning, NOTE-BOOKS AND JOURNALS. 21 and incidental observations on the blooming of flowers, appearance of certain insects, calling of frogs, etc. Then follows a statement of the numbers of every species of birds seen, with various remarks concern- ing them. One might suppose that much time would be required to make a detailed record of this kind, but, on the contrary, it seldom takes five minutes. Almost any stationer can supply you with a " roll-" or " time-book " having a space at the left side of the left-hand page for the entry of names, and the rest of both pages ruled in squares. The best plan is to have sheets of paper ruled in this way. These sheets should have holes punched in their margins for binding in covers, when new sheets can be inserted as desired. Some idea of their appearance may be gathered from the appended part of a left-hand page : Date . . . Weather Temperature .... Wind Start Return Remarks Bluebird 22 NOTE-BOOKS AND JOURNALS. After filling in the preliminary data I write after the name of each bird either the exact or approximate number of individuals seen, or else the letters " A.," " C.," or " T. C.," meaning abundant, common, or tol- erably common. This is accompanied by an " s " if the bird is in song, or "calls" if it is simply heard calling. The possibilities of abbrevia- tion are unlimited, but use no abbreviation which is not fully explained. If you wish to make a record of some length concerning a certain species, place a cross or asterisk in its square. This refers to your journal of the same date. Read from left to right, the roll-book gives in a graphic, condensed form the standing of a species during the period of observation. Read from the top to the bottom of the page, it gives in an easily comparable way the complete record of each day, and at the same time it becomes an index to the bird-notes in your journal. To prevent needlessly multiplying your roll-books the series of birds' names should be made to last at least during an entire season. To this end do not completely fill the right-hand page, but when you have used all of it but a space equal in width to the space occupied by the column of birds' names, cut this part of the page — the ex- treme right — off ; the part remaining will, when turned over to the left, just meet the column of names, and the lines of this column and the new page will thus run continuously. As before remarked, the roll-book should be attended to immediately on returning from the field, while your impressions are fresh. The journal may wait, when a reference to the roll-book will aid in recalling the day's experiences. In addition to these two books, both of which should be quarto size, you need a small, leather-covered, pocket note-book for use in jotting memoranda in the field. CHAPTER III. COLLECTING BIRDS, THEIR NESTS, AND EGOS. • Collecting Birds. — With few exceptions, the plumages of the birds of the eastern United States are well known to science. You will col- lect them, therefore, purely for the purpose of self-education. To this end it is not necessary that you should acquire the large series of speci- mens found in museums. From two to five specimens of each kind are enough, and when through their medium you have become famil- iar with the appearance of the species they represent, use the gun only to add to your list of acquaintances. If you wish to make a detailed, critical study of changes in the plumage of species due to age, sex, or season, or to compare some apparently abnormal specimen, visit the nearest museum, the collections of which should be accessible to every earnest student. Our eastern birds have been measured and described, their varia- tions noted and recorded, and there is little left to learn in study- ing their skins from a local standpoint. What we want now is knowl- edge of the living, not the dead, bird. A thoroughly exhaustive account of the habits of any one of our commonest birds is still to be written. Remember, then, that collections are a means, not the end, of ornithological research. When armed and ready for the field, you should have a canvas hunting-coat, a pair of field- or opera-glasses, a fisherman's basket or "creel," a discarded octavo pamphlet or catalogue of rather heavy paper, cotton, a small bottle of corn-meal, and a 16-bore shot-gun with a 0-32 auxiliary barrel, and the necessary complement of shells. The auxiliary barrel can be purchased of dealers in natural history supplies ; it should not exceed ten inches in length. The shells for it should be of brass, center-fire, and strong enough to stand reloading many times. Load them with fine, black rifle powder and No. 12 shot — about three fifths powder and two fifths shot. For killing birds from the size of a Blue Jay downward they will be effective at a dis- tance of twenty to twenty-five yards. In other words, fully three fourths of your shooting will be done with them. Of 16-bore shells 23 24 MAKING BIRDSKINS. carry some loaded with two and a half drachms of powder and three fourths of an ounce of No. 10 shot, and a few others loaded with the same charge of powder and an ounce of No. 6 shot. On killing a bird, pick it up by the bill or feet, and at once sprinkle meal or dry earth on any blood which may be visible. When this is saturated, scrape it off with a knife-blade and repeat the operation until all the blood is absorbed. Sprinkle some meal at the base of the feathers about the shot-holes from which the blood appears, or, if necessary, plug these holes with bits of cotton. Place a large plug of cotton in the mouth and force it well down the throat to prevent bleeding at the mouth from an internal wound. In some cases it is necessary to also plug the nostrils. Now make a cornucopia from a leaf of the pamphlet, drop the bird in it head foremost, taking care that the bill is not turned forward on to the throat, and, if the bird is not too large, fold in the edges of the cornucopia and place the specimen in your basket. In the case of very large specimens — Hawks, Owls, etc. — it is advisable to skin out the body in the field, when they can be packed in much smaller space. Making Birdskins. — If you have fully decided to make a collection of birds, the very best and cheapest way to begin it is to get some one to give you two or three lessons in the art of preparing birdskins. With proper instruction it is not difficult to learn to skin birds. I have known beginners who had closely watched experts at work, make fair skins at their first attempt — better skins, indeed, than the person who learns only from written directions may ever make. I am speak- ing from experience. Only too clearly do I remember my own first attempts at skinning birds and their hopelessly wretched results. In despair I at last sought the assistance of a distant ornithological friend. In one lesson he made the process so clear to me that I was at once enabled to make skins twice as quickly and twice as well. However, we unfortunately are not all blessed with ornithological friends to whom we can turn for advice, and I therefore append the following directions for making birdskins : First procure a scalpel with a well-rounded end, a pair of sharp- pointed scissors with rather long handles, a pair of blunt-ended, rather strong scissors, and a pair of flat-ended forceps. These may be pur- chased of any dealer in naturalists' supplies or at a surgical instrument linker's. Procure also a quart or so of fine corn-meal to use as an ab- sorbent, a pound or two of powdered arsenic and alum mixed in equal parts, and an abundance of the best cotton batting money will buy. Now we are ready to begin with a bird, say, the size of a Robin : 1. Plug the bird's throat and nostrils tightly with fresh cotton. If the eyeball is ruptured, pull it out with the forceps and fill the cavity MAKING BIRDSKIXS. 25 with meal. 2. Lay the bird before you on its back, its bill pointing to the left ; place your open left hand lengthwise on it, so that the base of your first and second fingers rests on the middle of the breast- bone ; use these fingers and the handle of the scalpel to separate the feathers from near the end of the breastbone to the vent, and when the parting is made use the same fingers to hold the feathers aside. 3. With the scalpel make an incision in the skin from just in front of the end of the breastbone, or at the base of the V formed by the, spread fingers, to the vent, being careful not to cut through into the abdomen. 4. Sprinkle a pinch of meal along the cut. 5. Lift the skin at the front end of the cut and insert the end of the scalpel handle between it and the breastbone. If you try to do this lower down on the cut, over the belly, you will find it difficult to separate the skin on which the feathers grow from the immediately underlying skin which covers the abdomen. Separate the skin from the body the whole length of the cut and as far down toward the backbone as possible, thus exposing the bare knee. 6. Take hold of the foot and push the knee farther up into view, then take the blunt-ended scissors and, on the inside of the skin, clip the leg entirely in two. 7. Repeat opera- tions 5 and 6 on the other side of the body. 8. Press away the skin as much as possible on either side of the rump, and place the thumb at the left side (left, seen from above) of the base of the tail or " pope's nose," with the first finger on the other side (both inside the skin) and the second finger behind (above) on the rump; now with the blunt scissors cut through the flesh between the thumb and first finger toward the second finger, which serves the purpose of a guard to pre- vent you from cutting through the skin. 9. Stand the bird on its breastbone, the belly toward you; and with both thumbs press the tail and skin of the rump over and down off the stump from which you have just cut it. 10. When the stump is free from the skin, take hold of it with the right hand and with the fingers of the left gently press the skin from the body, keeping it constantly turned inside out and using an abundance of meal. 11. Soon the wing-bones (humerus) will appear. Clip them off at either side close to the body, and re- sume skinning as before. 12. The skin will slip easily over the neck, and you will then meet with an obstruction in the head. 13. Work the skin carefully over the head, using the tips of the first two fingers of either hand, placing the thumbs as a brace farther forward over the eyes.* . 14. Pull the ears carefully from their sockets. 15. The eyes * In large-headed birds, like Ducks and Woodpeckers, this is impossible, and it is necessary to slit the skin down the back of the neck and push the skull through the opening. 20 MAKING A BIRDSK1X. will now appear ; carefully cut the membrane joining the skin and eyeball, making the incision as far back as possible, in order to avoid cutting the skin, which should be pulled forward until it is entirely free of the eyeball. 16. Remove the eyes with the forceps. 17. With the sharp-pointed scissors make an incision directly across the roof of the mouth, inside the branches of the lower mandible, just back of the skin, and' below the eye-sockets. 18. With the sharp-pointed scissors make incisions from either end of this cut back along the branches of the lower mandible through the base of the skull on either side of the neck at its junction with the skull. 19. Connect these cuts by a fourth, which passes through the base of the skull just above the neck, and pull the body and neck from the skull. 20. Scoop out what brains remain with the handle of the scalpel. 21. Pull the end of the wing- bone (humerus) inward, skinning the feathers off the bones of the fore- arm (radius and ulna), and remove the flesh. 22. Do the same thing for the legs, but, after cleaning, do not in either case pull the bones back. 23. Remove as much flesh as possible from the base of the tail, including the oil-gland at the base of the tail above. 24. Hold the skin over the arsenic and alum box, and with a bit of fluffy cotton at the end of a stick, or held in the forceps, dust if thoroughly with the poison, giving an extra allowance to the base of the tail and bones of the skull, wings, and legs. 25. Pull the legs back into place. 26. Place a fluff of cotton on the end of a wire and roll it into a firm, smooth ball, placing one in each eye-socket. 27. Coax the skin back over the head, using the first two fingers of each hand and placing the thumbs at the base of the skull. When the tip of the bill appears through the feathers, use the fingers outside, on the feathers, pressing the skin back over the head, and keeping the thumbs in the same position. When the bill is free, take it 'with the right hand, and use the fingers of the left to urge the skin over the skull, being careful to get it in its former place so that the feathers of the head will lie smoothly. 28. Dress the feathers of the head, particularly those about the eye. 29. Take hold of the tip of the bill and shake the skin gently but vigorously to aid in settling the plumage. 30. Lay the skin on its back, the bill pointing from you, and turn back the feathers about the opening on the belly. 31. See that the wing-bones lie flat on the back of the skin, with their ends touching each other.* 32. * The most difficult part in making a birdskin is to induce the wings to as- sume anything like their natural position when closed. This is because the arti- ficial, cotton body is apt to force them outward on to the sides rather than on the back, where they belong. In the bird in the flesh the wings are held in place by being attached to the body ; in the skin they are loose and hanging. To remedy this, after drawing SEXING. 27 Take a bit of fluffy cotton, press it lightly together, and draw out one end to form a neck. When released from your grasp this cotton body should be but little larger than the body you have removed from the skin. 33. Take the end of the neck with the forceps and insert it gently into the neck of the skin, working the skin down on to it in order to avoid stretching the neck, until the points of the forceps ap- pear in the mouth, then hold the cotton there and withdraw the for- ceps. 34. Carefully fit the cotton body into the skin. 35. Put one or two stitches in the incision on the belly. 36. Ascertain the sex of the bird (see beyond). 37. Cross the legs, and at the point of intersection attach a label (see beyond). 38. Squeeze the wing-bones together until you feel the tips of your fingers meet over the bird's back. 39. Pre- pare a sheet of cotton about five inches square and as thin as you can make it ; lay the bird on this on its right side, the bill pointing to your right hand. 40. Put the left wing in place and dress the feathers about it. ' 41. Take hold of the sheet of cotton, and turn the bird over in it in order that you may dress the right wing. 42. Roll the bird on to its belly, holding the wings in position with the thumb and first finger of the left hand, and with the right hand bring the tips of the wing- feathers into their proper place over the back. 43. Boll the bird back on to its back, the bill pointing to your right hand ; take the end of the sheet of cotton farthest from you and draw it lightly over the bird to the side nearest you. 44. Draw the end nearest you in the opposite direction. 45. See that the feet, tail, and tips of the wings are in their proper position, and place your specimen out of harm's way to dry. It will doubtless take you from half an hour to an hour to make your first birdskin. It will probably be a sorry-looking object, per- haps minus a head or tail or half its feathers ; but do not let this dis- courage you. An expert can make ten birdskins an hour, and you need only practice to approach this. There are endless variations of the method here described. It is not possible to go into further details "here, and if you have taxider- mic ambitions I would advise you to procure a copy of Mr. W. T. Hornaday's excellent Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting (Scribner, $2.50). Sexing. — A specimen without a sex mark on its label is of com- paratively little value. The sex in many birds can of course be dis- the wing-bones in to remove the flesh from them, they should be pushed back only far enough to enable one to see plainly the elbow or bend of the wing out- side of the skin. This prevents the wings from hanging, and, to further keep them in place, it will be well at first to tie the ends of the bones (humeri) to- gether. 28 CATALOGUING AND LABELING. tinguished by their color, but the young male frequently resembles the female, while in some instances the female has been known to as- sume the plumage of the male. Dissection, therefore, is the only safe way to determine sex. Upon reaching stage 86, in the operation of making a birdskin, cut through the left side of the body from the vent to the neck, taking care not to disturb the internal organs. Force the edges of the opening apart, and, pressing the intestines gently to , Fio. 1.— A completed birdskin. (Reduced). one side, look for the sexual organs, which will be found on the walls of the small of the back to the left of the backbone. The male organs (testes), two in number, are usually dull-white, elongate bodies lying side by side. The female organs (ovaries) are composed of numerous round bodies lying in a mass or cluster. In the breeding season the sexual organs of birds become much enlarged, and at this season the testes of a male Chipping Sparrow are about the size of a pea, while the ovaries of the female have been likened to a bunch of grapes, the largest being the size of the yolk of the egg of this species. After the breeding season the sexual organs decrease in size, and in adults in the winter and young birds are sometimes difficult to find. The testes of a male Chipping Sparrow at that season are about as large as a small pinhead, while a hand-lens is required to plainly distinguish the ova- ries of the female. The arrow of Mars ( $ ) is used to indicate the male sex ; the mirror of Venus (?) the female sex. Cataloguing and Labeling. — Before skinning your birds you should catalogue them. The catalogue should have columns giving (1) the date, (2) your serial collection number, (3) name of the bird, (4) sex, (5) place of capture, (6) name of collector, and (7) remarks. In the last column enter any notes on the color of the eyes, or parts which will change color when drying, contents of the stomach, and other notes. In addition to this " day-book " or " blotter " some ornithologists open a ledger account with their collection, and devote a folio to each spe- cies where are posted the entries made in the collection register. Labels should be of strong bond paper, two inches and a half long and half an inch wide. They are attached to the crossed legs of the bird by linen thread strung through their left end. The face of the label bears the name and sex of the_bird, place and date of capture, CARE OF COLLECTIONS. 29 name of collector, and serial collection number. The label shown in Fig. 1 is small, but will illustrate the appearance and manner of at- tachment. The name of the owner of the collection is printed on the back of the label, preceded by the words " Collection of." Many collectors prefer to use as a field label a small jeweler's tag upon which the collection number, sex, and date are written. The large label is added after the specimen is dry. Care of a Collection.— The best cases in which to keep a collection of birdskins are known as " Cambridge cans." They are made of tin with covers which fit into grooves lined with rubber tubing, and are practically air-tight. The smaller sizes cost from five dollars to seven dollars and a half each, and can be obtained of Muller and Wood, 731 Seventh Avenue, New York city. A wooden cabinet with tight-fitting drawers and door is less ex- pensive, and with ordinary care will preserve specimens for a prac- tically indefinite period. The drawers should, be thirty inches long by sixteen inches in width. For birds the size of a Robin a depth of one inch and three quarters is sufficient, while drawers four inches deep will take the largest Hawks or Owls. These drawers will hold about thirty birds the size of a Robin, eighty the size of a Chickadee, and eight to ten Hawks 'and Owls. Well cleaned and thoroughly poisoned specimens of small birds are not likely to be attacked by the moth (Tinea) or beetles (Dermestes and Anthrenus) which so often infest poorly prepared or nonpoisoned skins. Naphthaline crystals or camphor gum should be placed in each drawer of the cabinet, the door of which should not be left open needlessly. If a specimen falls a victim to insects, the better plan is to discard it at once. If, however, it is rare, it may be taken out-of- doors and placed in an air-tight box with a few tablespoonfuls of bisulphuret of carbon. Collecting and Preserving Nests and Eggs. — No one, I think, will venture to dispute the assertion that Captain Charles Bendire, Hon- orary Curator of the Department of Oology in the United States Na- tional Museum, is our leading authority on the study of birds' eggs. The following quotation, therefore, from Captain Bendire's Instruc- tions for Collecting, Preparing, and Preserving Birds' Eggs and Nests * may be taken as the opinion of one who knows whereof he speaks : " Unless the would-be collector intends to make an especial study of oology and has a higher aim than the mere desire to take and accu- mulate as large a number of eggs as possible regardless of their proper identification, he had better not begin at all, but leave the nests and * Part D, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 39, 1891, pp. 3-10. SO COLLECTING NESTS AND EGGS. eggs of our birds alone and undisturbed. They have too many ene- mies to contend with, without adding the average egg collector to the number. The mere accumulation of specimens is the least important object of the true oologist. His principal aim should be to make care- ful observations on the habits, call notes, song, the character of the food, mode and length of incubation, and the actions of the species generally, from the beginning of the mating season to the time the young are able to leave the nest. This period comprises the most in- teresting and instructive part of the life-history of our birds." Very heartily do I indorse every word of this, and to the concluding sen- tence I would add : and there can be no better way to avoid increasing our knowledge of a bird's domestic life than to rob it of its eggs, and destroy its home and our own opportunities at the same time. Studied from a local standpoint, I confess I can see only two points of interest in a bird's egg — one is what the egg is in, the other is what is in the egg- Nevertheless, I can understand the pleasure attending the legiti- mate formation of what Captain Bendire calls " a small, thoroughly identified, well-prepared, and neatly cared for collection," which, as the same author adds, and pointed. 5 FIG. 36. 50 KEY TO FAMILIES. A. Middle and outer toes joined for half their length. . . . Family Al- cedinidce : KINGFISHERS (Fig. 35), p. 226. B. Two toes in front and two behind. . . . Family Ouculidw. CUCKOOS (Fig. 36), p. 224. FIG. 37. Order XV. Pici.— WOODPECKERS. Toes four, two in front and two behind, or toes three, two in front and one behind ; bill strong ; tail-feathers stiff and pointed ; nostrils more or less concealed by bristles. . . . Family Picidce: WOODPECKERS (Fig. 37), p. 227. /^ FIG. 39. Fio. 38, FIG Order XVI. Macroehires. — GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, and HUMMINGBIRDS. Feet very small and weak ; bill short and small and mouth large, or bill long and exceedingly slender and mouth small ; wings generally long and pointed. A. Size comparatively large; plumage variegated, black and brown; middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Caprimulyida : NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, etc. (Fig. 38), p. 236. B. Size medium; plumage sooty black; no comb on the middle toe- nail; tips of the tail-feathers with spines. . . . Family Micropodidce : SWIFTS (Fig. 39), p. 239. C. Size very small; upper parts shining green; bill long and slender. . . . Family Trochilidce: HUMMINGBIRDS (Fig. 40), p. 240. KEY TO FAMILIES. 51 Order XVH. Passeres. Perching Birds: FLYCATCH- ERS, BLACKBIRDS, JAYS, ORIOLES, SPARROWS, FINCHES, SWALLOWS, VIREOS, WARBLERS, WRENS, THRUSHES, etc. Toes four, without webs, all on the same level ; hind toe as large as the middle one, its nail generally longer than that of the middle one ; tail of twelve feathers. [The following synoptical table of the characters of the eighteen families which we have in this order seems more satis- factory than an artificial FIG. 41. Family 1. Tyrannidw— FLYCATCHERS (Fig. 42). Bill wider than high at the base, slightly hooked at the tip ; base with conspicuous bristles; wings longer than the tail, the second to fourth primaries longest, the first but little shorter and generally equal to the fifth or sixth ; back of tarsus rounded, like the front ; plumage generally olive-green or _ . grayish ; tail, except in the King- bird, without white spots, p. 242. Family 2. Alaudidce.— LARKS (Fig. 43). Bill rather stout and rounded ; nos- trils with bristly tufts ; nail of hind toe much lengthened, as long as the middle toe without nail ; back of the tarsus rounded like the front, p. 252. Family 3. Corvidce— CROWS and JAYS (Fig. 44). Large birds, over 10-00 in length ; bill stout, the nostrils concealed by tufts of bristly feathers ; fourth to fifth primary the longest, the first about half as long ; outer tail-feathers shortest ; feet and legs stout, p. 253. 52 KEY TO FAMILIES. Fio. 45. - Family 4. Sturnidce. — STAR- LINGS (Fig. 45). Bill flattened, wider than high at the base ; tail short and square; wings long and pointed, second pri- mary longest, the first very small, less than half an inch in length, p. 259. Family 5. Icteridce.— BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc. (Fig. 46). Length 7-00-17-00 ; base of the bill, between the nostrils, extending back- ward and dividing the feathers of the forehead ; nostrils not concealed by bristles ; first three primaries of about equal length ; outer tail-feathers generally shortest, p. 260. Family 6. Fringillidce. — SPAR- ROWS, FINCHES, ' GROS- BEAKS, etc. (Fig. 47). Length 4-75-9-00, generally under 8400 ; bill short, stout, and conical, admirably fit- ted to crush seeds ; third and fourth primaries gen- erally about the same length, the first never more than half an inch shorter than the longest, p. 271. Fio. 47. Family 7. Tanagridce.— TANAGERS (Fig. 48). Length about 7-00 ; the males of our species mostly red ; bill finchlike, but less conical, somewhat swollen, the outline of the upper mandible curved, its sides with a slight but generally evident " tooth " near the middle ; tail-feathers of equal length, p. 316. Fio. 48. KEY TO FAMILIES. 53 Family 8. 'Hirundinidce.— SWALLOWS (Fig. 49). Bill short and flattened, much wider than high at the base ; no bristles at the base of the bill ; wings long and pointed, tips, when closed, generally reaching beyond the end of the tail ; iirst primary the longest ; outer tail- feathers longest; feet small, tarsus short, round in front, narrower and sharper in the back, p. 318. FIG. 49. Family 9. Ampelidce. — WAXWINGS (Fig. 50). Plumage generally soft, brownish gray or grayish brown; a black band across the forehead and through the eyes ; tail tipped with yellow; bill short, notched at the tip; head conspicuously crested, p. 323. Family 10. Laniidce. — SHRIKES (Fig. 51). Grayish birds, 8-00-9-00 in length, most of the tail-feathers tipped with white ; bill hooked and hawklike, p. 325. Family 11. Vireonidce. — VIREOS (Fig. 52). Small birds, 5-00- 7-00 in length, with generally olive- green backs ; tail- feathers without white spots ; bill rather stout, higher than broad at the base, the tip of the upper mandible notched and hooked, bristles at the base of the bill barely evident ; tarsi scaled, round in front, narrower and sharper behind; toes united at the base, p. 327. Family 12. Miiiotiltida.—Woot) WAR- BLERS (Fig. 53). Small birds, length generally under 6-00, but in four species 6-50-7'50, with, as a rule, brightly colored FIG. 51. FIG. 53. FIG. 53. KEY TO FAMILIES. plumage, olive-green or yellow being the most frequent ; bill various, never, notched at the tip, usually slender and sharply pointed, without conspicuous bristles, but sometimes flattened and broader than high at the base, when the bristles are evident (thus resembling the bill of a true Flycatcher, but the back of the tarsus is always thin and narrow, and never rounded as in front) ; rarely the bill is heavier, more thrushlike or finchlike ; second or third primary longest, the first little if any shorter ; tail generally square, sometimes rounded, the outer feathers frequently blotched with white, p. 333. Family 13. Motacillidce. — WAGTAILS and PIPITS (Fig. 54). No bristles over the nostrils; bill slender, much as in the preceding ; hind toe-nail much lengthened, as long as or longer than the toe ; first three primaries of equal length, <£>. Fio. 54. Family 14. Troglodytidce. — THRASH- ERS, WRENS, etc. (Fig. 55). Subfamily Mimince. — THRASHERS, MOCKINGBIRDS, and CATBIRDS. Length 8-00-12-00; tarsus scaled; tail rounded, the outer feathers at least half an inch shorter than the middle ones, third to fifth primary longest, the first about half as long, p. 376. Subfamily Troglodytince. — WRENS. Length 4-00-6-00; bill moderate, the upper mandible slightly curved, no bristles at its base; third to fourth primary longest, first about half as long ; tail short and round- ed ; brown or brownish birds with indistinctly barred wings and tail, p. 376. p. 375. \ FIG. 55. Family 15. Certhiidce. — CREEPERS (Fig. 56). Bill slender and much curved ; tail- feathers pointed and slightly still'ened, p. 385. Fia. 56. KEY TO FAMILIES. 55 Family 16. Paridce.— NUTHATCHES and TITMICE (Fig. 57). Subfamily Sittinoe. — NUTHATCHES. Bill rather long and slender, the end of the lower mandible slightly upward ; wings long and pointed, the third or fourth primary the longest, the first very small, not an inch in length ; tail short and square, the outer feathers blotched with white, p. 386. Subfamily Parince. — TITMICE. Length 4-50-6-50 ; bill short, stout, and rounded, less than half an inch in length ; fourth or fifth primary longest, first very short, not more than one third as long; tail rather long, dull ashy gray without white blotches, p. 389. slanting FIG Family 17. Sylviidw. — KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS (Fig. 58). Length 3-50-5-00; bill slender, re- sembling that of some Warblers, but the first primary is very short, only about one third as long as the longest, p. 391. FIG. 58. Family 18. Tvrdidce. — THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, etc. (Fig. 59). Length over 5-50 ; bill mod- erate, the tip of the upper mandible notched ; tarsus smooth, the scales, if any, fused and indistinct; tail square : wings long and pointed, 3-75 or over, third primary the longest, the first very short, less than one inch in length, p. 394. FIG. 59. 5(J GREBES. ORDER PYGOPODES. DIVING BIRDS. FAMILY PODICIPIDJE. GREBES. The Grebes, or lobe-footed divers, number about thirty species, distributed throughout the world. Six species are found in North America. Grebes are eminently aquatic birds, and rarely if ever ven- ture upon land, where they are almost helpless. The marvelous rapid- ity with which Grebes dive, and the ease with which this power for- merly enabled them to escape the shot of the fowler, have won for them their various popular names of " Hell-diver," " Water-witch," etc. The cartridges of the modern breech-loader do not give the warning of the discarded flint-lock or percussion cap, and " to dive at the flash " is an expression which now has lost half its meaning. Grebes possess the power of swimming with only the tip of the bill above water, a habit which accounts for many mysterious disappearances. They feed largely on fish, which they pursue and catch under water, progressing by aid of the feet alone. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Depth of bill at nostril over -35. a. Wing over 6-00 2. HOLBCELI/S GREBE. b. Wing under 6'00 6. PIED-BILLED GREBE. JB. Depth of bill at nostril less than -35 3. HORNED GREBE. 2. Colymbus holbcellii (Reinh.}. HOLBCELL'S GREBE. Ad. in sum- mer.— Top of the head, small crest, and back of the neck, glossy black ; back blackish ; throat and sides of the head silvery white ; front and sides of the neck rufous, changing gradually over the breast into the silvery white belly ; sides tinged with rufous. Ad. in winter. — Upper parts blackish brown; throat and under parts whitish ; front and sides of the neck pale rufous. Im. — Upper parts blackish; throat and under parts silvery white; neck and sides grayish. L., 19-00; W., 7'50; Tar., 2-20; B., 1-90. Range. — Breeds in the interior of North America, from northern Minne- sota northward ; in winter migrates southward as far as South Carolina and Nebraska. Washington, uncommon W. V., Sept. 30 to Mch. or Apl. Long Island irregular W. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. to Dec. Cam- bridge, casual. Nest, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation floating among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, two to five, dull white, more or less soiled, 2-25 x 1-35. " In common with others of the family, this Grebe is an expert diver. Often it will sink into the water without any apparent effort, though more generally it jumps forward, throwing the head into the PIED-BILLED GREBE AND YOUNG. GREBES. 57 water and the body into the air. It is an expert and rapid swimmer also, and all its movements on the water are exceedingly graceful. When pursued, these birds invariably endeavor to escape by diving, though when on the wing they fly rapidly, their necks and feet stretched at full length" (Chamberlain). 3* Colyxnbus auritus Linn. HORNED GREBE. Ad. in summer. — Top of the head, hind neck, and throat, glossy blackish ; lores pale chestnut ; stripe, and plumes behind the eye, buffy ochraceous, deeper posteriorly ; back and wings blackish ; secondaries white ; foreneck, upper breast, and sides chestnut ; lower breast and belly white. Ad. in winter and Im. — Upper parts grayish black ; under parts silvery white, sometimes washed with grayish on the throat and breast. L., 13-50 ; W., 5-40 ; Tar., 1-75 ; B., 90. Kange. — Breeds from northern United States (northern Illinois, St. Clair Flats) northward ; winters southward to the Gulf States. Washington, common W. V., fall to Apl. 25. Long Island, abundant T. V., rare W. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Oct. to Dec. ; Men. Cambridge, casual. Nest, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, floating among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, two to seven, dull white, more or less soiled, 1-74 x 1'15. This species and the next are probably frequently mistaken for each other in life, and the same common names are in some instances applicable to both. Mr. Ernest E. Thompson writes of a captive in- dividual : " When ordinarily swimming, the feet strike out alternately, and the progression is steady ; but sometimes both feet struck together, and then the movement was by great bounds, and was evidently cal- culated to force the bird over an expanse of very weedy water, or through any tangle of weeds or rushes in which it might have found itself. When lifted out of the water, the feet worked so fast as to be lost to the eye in a mere haze of many shadowy feet with one attach- ment. When placed on the ground, it was perfectly helpless " (Birds of Manitoba, p. 466). 6. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.'}. PIED-BILLED GREBE ; DABCHICK; DIEDAPPER; HELL-DIVER; WATER- WITCH. (See Fig. 5, a.) Ad. in summer. — Upper parts glossy, brownish black; throat black; upper breast, front and sides of the neck, and sides of the body, washed with brownish and indis- tinctly mottled with blackish ; lower breast and belly white ; a black band across the bill. Ad. in winter and Im. — Much like the above, but throat white and no black band on tho bill. L. 13-50 ; W., 5-10 ; Tar.. 1-45 ; B., 85. Range. — Argentine Eepublic northward through Mexico and the West In- dies to Hudson Bay and Great Slave Lake, breeding locally throughout its range ; winters from New Jersey southward. Washington, common W. V., Aug. 25 to Apl. or May. Long Island, un- common T. V., Sept. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. 6 to Apl. 20 ; 58 LOONS. Sept. 3 to Oct. 28 ; a few summer. Cambridge, T. V. in Apl. ; very common Sept. to Nov. ; breeds in one locality. Nest, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, sometimes' built up from the bottom in shallow water, sometimes floating among rushes in a slough, when it is generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, four to eight, dull white, more or less soiled or stained, 1'74 x 1-19. This is probably the best known of our Grebes, and is the one which most frequently tempts the shot of would-be sportsmen. Its common names may stand as an expression of its aquatic powers. It dives head foremost, or sinks slowly beneath the water. Like other Grebes, it can swim easily and for an indefinite period with only its bill above the water, and its sometimes mysterious and apparently complete dis- appearance is explained by this habit. FAMILY URINATORIDJE. LOONS. A family containing only five species, inhabiting the northern half of the northern hemisphere. The Loons are scarcely less aquatic than the Grebes, and are their equals as divers and swimmers. They visit the land only to nest, when their clumsy progress is assisted by the use of bill and wings. Their food consists of fish, which they procure by diving, progressing when under water by aid of the feet alone. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Throat black. a. Head black 7. LOON. b. Head ashy 9. BLACK-THROATED LOON. B. Throat gray, foreneck chestnut 11. KED-THROATED LOON. C. Throat white or whitish ; back fuscous, margined with grayish. a. Wing over 13'00 ; base of bill to anterior end of nostril '75 or over. 7. LOON (Im.). b. Wing under 13'OG ; base of bill to anterior end of nostril less than *75. 9. BLACK-THROATED LOON (Im.). D. Throat white or whitish ; back fuscous, spotted with white. 11. EED-THROATED LOON (Im.). 7. Urinator imber ( Gunn.}. LOON. (See Fig. 5, b.) Ad. in summer. — Upper parts, wings, tail, and neck black with bluish or greenish reflections ; spaces on the throat and sides of the neck streaked with white ; back and wings spotted and barred with white ; breast and belly white ; sides and a band at the base of the under tail-coverts black spotted with white. Ad. in winter and Im. — Upper parts, wings, and tail blackish margined with grayish not spotted with white ; under parts white ; throat sometimes washed with grayish. L., 32-00 ; W., 14.00 ; Tar., 3'40 ; B., 2-80. Range.— Breeds from northern Illinois, Minnesota, and northern New Eng- land to the Arctic Circle ; winters from the southern limit of its breeding range to the Gulf of Mexico. LOONS. 59 Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. 25. Long Island, abundant T. V., common W. V., Sept. to June. Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. and Oct. Cambridge, not common T. V., Apl. to early May ; Sept. to Nov. Nest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. Eggs, two, grayish olive-brown, thinly spotted with blackish, 3'50 x 2-20. This wild inhabitant of our northern lakes and ponds possesses all the characteristic traits of the Divers. Its remarkable notes are thus described by Mr. J. H. Langille : " Beginning on the fifth note of the scale, the voice slides through the eighth to the third of the scale above in loud, clear, sonorous tones, which on a dismal evening before a thunderstorm, the lightning already playing along the inky sky, are anything but musical. He has also another rather soft and pleasing utterance, sounding like who-who- who-who, the syllables being so rapidly pronounced as to sound almost like a shake of the voice — a sort of weird laughter." Loons may be seen migrating by day singly or in small companies, generally at a considerable height. Their flight is strong, rapid, and direct. 9. Urinator arcticus (Linn.). BLACK-THROATED LOON. Ad. in summer. — Throat, foreneck, back, wings, and tail black, with purplish and bluish reflections ; a band of white streaks on the throat ; sides of the neck, back, and wings streaked, barred, or spotted with white ; top of head and nape gray ; breast and belly white ; a blackish band at the base of the under tail-coverts. Ad. in winter and Im. — Similar in color to IT. imber, not spotted above with white. L., 27'00 ; W., 11-00 ; Tar., 2-60 ; B., 2-00. Remarks. — Immature and winter birds may be distinguished from the cor- responding stage of imber by their small size ; from lumme by grayish mar- gins instead of white spots, bars, or margins on the upper parts. Range. — Breeds in the northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in North America migrates southward in winter to the northern United States, casually to Ohio and Long Island. Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. Eggs, two, grayish olive-brown, spotted or scrawled with blackish, 3-20 x 2-10. This species is a very rare winter visitant to the northern border of the United States. The most southern record of its occurrence is Long Island (Dutcher, Auk, x, 1893, p. 265). 11. Urinator lumme (Gunn.). KED-THROATED LOON. Ad. in sum- mer.— Back, wings, and tail fuscous, more or less spotted with white ; head and neck ashy gray ; foreneck chestnut ; back of the neck black, streaked with white ; breast and belly white ; longer under tail-coverts and band at the base of shorter ones fuscous. Ad. in winter and Im. — Similar to U. imber, but back spotted with white. L., 25-00; W., 11-00; Tar., 2-60; B., 2-00. Range. — Found throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere, 60 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. breeding in North America from New Brunswick and Manitoba northward, and migrating irregularly southward as far as South Carolina. Washington, rare W. V. Long Island, common T. V., rare W. V., Oct. to May. Sing Sing, casual T. V. Cambridge, one instance, Oct. Nest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. Egg*, two, grayish olive-brown, sometimes tinged with green and spotted with blackish, 2*80 x T75. This is a more northern species than Urinator imber, which it doubt- less closely resembles in habits. FAMILY ALCID^:. AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. This family contains about thirty species, confined entirely to the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Nearly all of these are found in North America, most of them, however, on only our Pacific coast. Without exception they are maritime birds, passing the greater part of their lives on the open sea. They nest in colonies, sometimes in enormous numbers, generally upon rocky, precipitous shores. Their progress on land is slow and awkward ; but they are, as a rule, strong fliers, and accomplished swimmers and divers. Unlike the Grebes and Loons they use their wings in diving. Their food consists of fish, Crustacea, and other forms of sea life. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Bill under -75 34. DOVEKIE. II. Bill over -75. 1. Depth of bill at nostril over -60. a. Bill yellowish, depth at nostril over 1-00. 13. PUFFIN. 13a. LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN. b. Bill black, depth at nostril under 1-00 . . 32. RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 2. Depth of bill at nostril under -60. A. Wing-coverts white or tipped with white. a. Greater wing-coverts entirely white . 28. MANDT'S GUILLEMOT. b. Basal half of greater wing-coverts black. 27. BLACK GUILLEMOT. B. No white on wing-coverts. a. Bill over 1-60 30. MURRE. b. Bill under 1-60 31. BRUNNICH'S MURRE. 13. Fratercula arctica (Linn.}. PUFFIN ; SEA PARROT (see Fig. 5, c). Ad. — Upper parts, wings, tail, and foreneck blackish, browner on the head and foreneck ; nape with a narrow grayish collar ; sides of the head and throat white, sometimes washed with grayish; breast and belly white. (Breeding birds have the bill larger and brighter, and a horny spine over the eye.) L., 13-00; W., 6-10; Tar., 1-05; B., 1-85; depth of B. at base (in winter), 1-50. Range. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, breeding on the North American coast from the Bay of Fundy northward" (A. (). U.). Migrates southward in winter, rarely to Long Island. AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 61 Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest in a burrow in the ground or in crevices among rocks. Egg, one, dull white, sometimes with obscure markings, 2-49 x 1-68. Mr. Brewster, in describing his experience with this species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, writes: "The first report of our guns brought dozens tumbling from their nests. Their manner of descending from the higher portions of the cliff was peculiar. Launching into the air with heads depressed and wings held stiffly at a sharp angle above their backs, they would shoot down like meteors, checking their speed by an upward turn just before reaching the water. In a few minutes scores had collected about us. They were perfectly silent and very tame, passing and repassing over and by us, often coming within ten or fif- teen yards. On such occasions their flight has a curious resemblance to that of a Woodcock, but when coming in from the fishing grounds they skim close to the waves, and the wings are moved more in the manner of a Duck" (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 407). 13a. F. a. glacialis (Temm.). LAKGE-BILLED PUFFIN. — Similar to the preceding, but larger. W., 6-SO-7'40 ; B., 2-00-2-30 (B., B., and K.). Range.— "Coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean from Spitsbergen to Baffin's Bay "(A. 0. U.). The TUFTED PUFFIN (18. Lunda cirrhata) inhabits the North Pacific from California to Alaska. The specimen figured by Audubon was said by him to have been procured at the mouth of the Kennebec Eiver, Maine. There is no other record of its occurrence on the Atlantic coast. 27. Cepphus grylle (Linn.}. BLACK GUILLEMOT ; SEA PIGEON. Ad. in summer. — Sooty black, lighter below and with slight greenish reflections above; lesser wing-coverts and terminal half of the greater wing-coverts white, the basal half of the greater coverts black ; linings of the wings white. Ad. in winter. — Upper parts gray or black, the feathers all more or less tipped with white; wings as in summer; under parts white Im— Upper parts as in winter adults ; under parts white, mottled with black ; wing-coverts tipped with black. L., 13-00 ; W., 6-25 ; Tar., 1-25 ; B., 1-20. Range— Breeds in North America from the Bay of Fundy (Grand Menan) northward, and migrates southward regularly to Cape Cod, and rarely to Con- necticut and Long Island ; accidental in Pennsylvania. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest, in the crevicea and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs, two to three, dull white, sometimes with a greenish tinge, more or less heavily spotted with clear and obscure dark chocolate markings, more numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end. 2-18 x 1-40. "They were wary and alert, but allowed me to paddle within easy shooting distance without displaying much alarm. When they finally concluded I was an unsafe neighbor, they lost no time in getting out of sight, diving with surprising suddenness. They usually swam a 62 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. long distance under water with great rapidity, using their wings as well as their feet, and coming to the surface far beyond gunshot range. " The Sea Pigeons are met usually in small flocks of half a dozen or more, and generally feed in the open sea at the base of bold cliffs. When on the wing they proceed rapidly and in a straight line, and rarely more than a few feet from the surface of the water. On ap- proaching their nesting-site they rise rather abruptly, and fly directly to their nests " (Chamberlain). 28. Cepphus mandtii (LicJit.). MANDT'S GUILLEMOT. — Resembles the preceding, but the bases of the greater wing-coverts are white instead of black. Range. — "Arctic regions of both continents" (A. O. IL); in America breeding from Labrador and Hudson Bay northward, migrating southward as far as Massachusetts. Nest, in crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs, two to three, not distinguishable from those of C. grylle, 2'34 x 1'15. A more northern species than the preceding, which it doubtless re- sembles in habits. 30. Uria troile (Linn.). MUKRE. Ad. in summer.— Upper parts, wings, tail, and neck all around, dark sooty brown, blacker on the back, wings, and tail ; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white, the sides more or less streaked with blackish. Ad. in winter and Im. — Upper parts, wings, and tail much as in summer; under parts white, the throat more or less washed with sooty brown, the flanks sometimes streaked with brownish, and the feathers of the belly more or less lightly margined with blackish. L., 16-00; W., 8-00; Tar., 1-40; B., 1-75; depth of B. at nostril, -50. Remarks. — Some specimens have a white ring around the eye and a white stripe behind it. They have been named U. ringvia (Brunn.), but it is un- certain as to whether the species is a distinct one or is based on a mere varia- tion of plumage. Range.—" Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic " (A. 0. U.). In North America, breeding from Nova Scotia northward, and migrating southward as far as Massachusetts. Nests in communities, side by side on the bare ledges of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pyriform, varying from pale blue or greenish blue to whitish or buft'y singularly spotted, scrawled, or streaked with shades of chocolate, rarely un- marked, 3-25 x 2-00. "These birds begin to assemble on their customary cliffs in Eng- land early in May, and crowd together in such numbers that it is not uncommon to see hundreds sitting upon their eggs on the ledge of a rock, all in a line, and nearly touching each other " (Nuttall). " The bird usually sits facing the cliff, holding the egg between her legs, with its. point outward ; if robbed, she will lay at least one more, AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 63 similar in character. . . . Considerable force is exercised in diving, and the wings are used for propulsion under water " (Saunders). 31. Uria lomvia (Linn.}. BRUNNICH'S MUBRE. Ad. in summer.— Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black, foreneck somewhat browner ; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white ; base of the upper mandible greenish, rounded outward beyond the edge of the lower -mandible. L., 16*50 ; W., 8-40 ; Tar., 1-30 ; B., 1-25 ; depth of B. at nostril, -47. Remarks. — Adults are to be distinguished from adults of U. troile by the darker color of the head, which in lomvia is darker than the throat, by the size of the bill and thickening of its cutting edge at the base. Winter and immature birds can be distinguished from those of U. troile only by the size of the bill, which, as the measurements show, is longer in that species. Range. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans" (A. 0. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward; in win- ter migrates as far south as New Jersey. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Nests in communities, side by side on the bare ledges of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, not distinguishable from that of IT. troile. " During the winter it lives on the open sea, and in the breeding season assembles in large flocks on bold cliffs and rocky headlands. It is an expert diver, using wings and feet to get under water and to swim through it " (Chamberlain). 32. Alca torda Linn. KAZOR-BILLED AUK; TINKER. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; foreneck somewhat browner; tips of the secondaries, a line from the eye to the bill, breast, and belly white ; bill black, crossed by a white band. Ad. in winter. — Similar to ad. in the summer, but with the sides and front of the neck white. Im— Similar to ad. in winter, but with the bill smaller and without the white bar. L., 16-50 ; W., 7-90; Tar., 1-35; B., 1-25. Range. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic" (A. 0. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward ; in winter migrates southward regu- larly to Long Island and rarely to Virginia and North Carolina. Long Island, irregular W. V. Nest, in the crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs, one to two, pale bluish white or buify, thickly spotted and speckled with chocolate markings most numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end, 3-00 x 1-90. " When brooding, it crouches along, not across, the egg, its mate often standing near ; and both sexes incubate, though the male may be seen bringing food to the sitting female. . . . The young nutter from the rocks to the sea, or are taken by the neck and carried down by the parents. They are at first very loath to follow the old bird in diving, and remain crying plaintively on the surface of the water. The food consists of small fish, which are carried diagonally in the bill —not at right angles, as by the Puffin— and crustaceans. The Razor- 64 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. bill utters a peculiar grunting or groaning, especially when sitting. On the water it may be distinguished from the Guillemot, at a dis- tance, by its upturned tail " (Saunders). 33. Plautus impennis (Linn.}. GREAT AUK.— Upper parts fuscous black, a large white spot before the eye ; secondaries tipped with white ; sides of the neck and throat seal-brown, rest of the under parts silvery white. L., 28-00-30-00 ; W., 5'75; B., 3-15-3-50; greatest depth of B., 1-50 (Ridgw.). Range.—" Formerly the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, from Massachusetts and Ireland northward nearly to the Arctic Circle " (A. O. U.). Now extinct. Egg, pyriform-ovate, pale olive huffy, variously marked with brown and black, 4-67 x 2-91 (Ridgw.). The Great Auk was flightless. Like other birds of this family, it frequented certain localities in large numbers each year to breed. Early voyagers and fishermen visited its nesting grounds, killing the helpless birds in enormous numbers for their flesh, feathers, and oil. The result was extinction, and no living Great Auk has been observed since 1842. About seventy specimens are known to be preserved in collections. (See Lucas, Rep. Smith. Inst., 1891, pp. 638-041.) 34. Alle alle (Linn.}. DOVEKIE ; SEA DOVE. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black ; sides and front of the neck and upper breast somewhat browner ; secondaries tipped and scapulars streaked with white ; lower breast and belly white. Ad. in winter and Im. — Similar to the above, but throat whiter or washed with dusky, and sometimes a gray collar on the nape. L., 8'00 ; W., 4-50 ; Tarl, -70 ; B.., '50. Range. — " Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans " (A. 0. U.). Breeds from latitude 69° northward ; in winter migrates southward, rarely to Long Island and New Jersey ; accidental in Pennsylva- nia and Virginia. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, on the ledges and in the crevices of rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pale bluish white, 1'85 x 1-27. * " On the approach of a vessel this bird has a peculiar way of splash- ing along the surface of the water, as if unable to fly, and then diving through the crest of an advancing wave ; it swims rather deep and very much ' by the stern.' . . ." (Saunders). " Its wings are small, but they are moved almost as rapidly as a Hummingbird's, and propel the bird through the air with great rapid- ity. This bird is an expert diver too, and, though awkward on land, swims with ease and grace. . . ." (Chamberlain). JAEGERS AND SKUAS. 65 ORDER LONGIPENNES. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. FAMILY STERCORARIID^E. JAEGERS AND SKUAS. Two of the six known members of this family are found in the antarctic regions, while the remaining four inhabit the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Except during the nesting season, the Jaegers are as a rule pelagic, though they sometimes visit large bodies of water inland. They generally obtain their food by robbing Gulls and Terns, and have been well named the Hawks of the sea. Their greater power of flight enables them to successfully pursue these birds and force them to disgorge their recently captured prey. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Bill over 1-35 ; tarsus over 1-70 ; middle tail-feathers never pointed. a. Bill over 1-90 35. SKUA. b. Bill under 1-90 36. POMARINE JAEGER. B. Bill under 1-35 ; tarsus under T70 ; middle tail-feathers generally pointed. a. Scaly shield on the bill longer than the distance from its end to the tip of the bill 37. PARASITIC JAEGER. b. Scaly shield on the bill shorter than the distance from its end to the tip of the bill 38. LONG-TAILED JAEGER. 35. Megalestris skua (Brunn.). SKUA. Ad.— Upper parts, tail, and wings dark, dirty brown ; shafts of the wing and tail-feathers white, except at the tip ; outer wing-feathers with inner vanes white at the base ; under parts somewhat lighter; neck more or less streaked with whitish. Im. "Similar to adult, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on the head and neck." L., 22-00 ; W., 15-91 ; Tar., 2-63 ; B., 2-06 (Kidgw.). Range.—" Coast and islands of the North Atlantic, chiefly northward. South to Spain and Massachusetts. Apparently rare off the coast of North America" (A. 0. U.). Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, on rocky cliffs. Eggs, two, pale olive-brown or greenish gray spot- ted with chocolate, 2-80 x 1-90. 36. Stercorarius pomarinus (Temm,}. POMARINE JAEGER. Ad., light phase.— Very similar in color to corresponding phase of 8. parasiticus, but with the upper parts darker, nearly black. Ad., dark phase and Im.— Similar in color to corresponding stages of 8. parasiticus. L., 22-00 ; W., 13-50; T., Ad., 8-00, Im., 5-40; Tar., 2-00 ; B., 1-55. Remarks.— This species is to be distinguished from the two following bj its larger size and the rounded ends of its central tail-feathers. Range.—" Resident during the summer in high northern latitudes, chiefly within the Arctic Circle, and extending from Siberia in eastern Asia entirely around the zone " (B., B., and E.). Migrates southward along the Atlantic • 66 JAEGERS AND -SKUAS. coast, and more rarely through the Great Lakes, and winters from Long Island southward. Long Island, regular from June 15 to Oct. 30. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, on the ground. Eggs, two to three, deep olive-drab sparingly spot- ted with slate color, and light and dark raw-umber markings and black clots, chiefly at the larger end, where they become confluent, 2-25 x T70 (Brewer). 37. Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.). PARASITIC JAEGER (see Fig. 6, a). Ad., light phase. — Back, wings, and tail slaty fuscous ; top of the head and lores nearly black ; sides of the head and back of the neck straw- yellow, this color sometimes spreading down the sides of the neck and on the thrpat; breast and belly white; sides of the breast, flanks, lower belly, and crissum slaty fuscous ; tarsi and feet (in dried specimens) black ; middle tail-feathers pointed and extending about 3'00 beyond the others. Ad., dark phase. — Entire plumage dark, slaty brown, darker on the top of the head ; under parts slightly lighter; sometimes a trace of straw-yellow on the sides and back of the neck ; tarsi, feet, and tail as in the preceding. Im., light phase. — Upper parts, wings, and tail fuscous ; the feathers of the back, neck, and head more or less bordered, tipped, or barred with buffy ; hind-neck and head sometimes buffy, streaked or barred with fuscous, and varying from this color to plain fuscous; longer, lateral upper tail-coverts barred with bufty ; tail buffy, whitish at the base ; under wing-coverts barred with buffy ; under parts white, washed with buffy, and irregularly barred with sooty fuscous ; these bars sometimes very numerous when the under parts looked as if washed with sooty fuscous ; again, they may be less numerous and con- fined to the breast and sides, leaving the belly white ; central tail-feathers pointed, projecting more or less beyond the rest. Im., dark phase. — Sooty fus- cous, the feathers, particularly on the under parts, more or less marked with ochraceous-buff. L., 17*00 ; W., 13-00 : T., Ad., 8-60, Im., 6-40 ; B., 1-15. Remarks. — This species closely resembles $. longicaudus. Adults of both species, whether in the dark or light phase of plumage, may always be dis- tinguished from each other by the difference in the length of their central tail-feathers, in addition to the characters given in the key. Young birds can not be distinguished by color, but may be identified by the differences in relative proportions of the bill. Range. — " Northern parts of the northern hemisphere, southward in win- ter to South Africa and South America" (A. O. U.). In America breeds in the Barren Grounds and Greenland ; migrates southward through the Great Lakes and along the Atlantic coasts, and winters from the Middle States southward. Long Island, regular from June 15 to Oct. 30. Nest, on the moors or tundras, a slight depression in the ground scantily lined with grasses, etc., or on rocks by the sea. Eggs, two to four, light olive- brown, with frequently a strong greenish tinge and chocolate markings, more numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end, 2'25 x 1'65. 38. Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill. LONG-TAILED JAEOER. Ad., light phase.— Back, wings, and tail slaty fuscous; top of head and lores nearly black ; sides of the head, back and sides of the neck straw-yellow ; GULLS. 67 throat sometimes washed with the same color; under parts white; sides, lower belly, and crissum slaty fuscous ; central tail-feathers extending about V'OO beyond the others, the projecting ends narrow and pointed. (No dark phase of this species has been described.) Im. — Similar in plumage to im. of 8. parasiticus, but differing otherwise as pointed out under that species. L., 21-00; W., 12-50; T., Ad., 12-00, Im., 5-50; B., 1-08. Range. — Northern part of the northern hemisphere; in America nests in Greenland and quite abundantly " along the Anderson, in the ' Barrens,' and also on the arctic coast" (Macfarlane) ; migrates southward along the coasts, and rarely through the Great "Lakes, to the Gulf of Mexico and West Indies. Nest, a slight depression in the ground, sometimes scantily lined with grasses. Eggs, two to three, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2-10 x 1-50. FAMILY LARID^E. GULLS AND TERNS. This family contains about one hundred species divided equally between the subfamily Larince (Gulls) and subfamily Sterninca (Terns). They are distributed throughout the world. Some forty species in- habit North America. With few exceptions they agree in possessing the marked characters of their respective subfamilies, under which they may be more conveniently treated. * Subfamily Larince. Gulls. Generally speaking, Gulls are maritime and pelagic, though some species are found inland. As compared with Terns, Gulls are less graceful and active on the wing. In flight the bill points forward in the plane of the body, not downward toward the earth, as in the Terns. They procure their food largely by picking it from the surface of the water or land with their strongly hooked bills, not by plunging or darting, as do the Terns. Some of the species are true birds of prey, and feed on small mammals and the eggs and young of other birds. Gulls are better swimmers than Terns, and pass much time resting on the water. They nest in colonies, generally on the ground, sometimes on rocky ledges, and rarely in trees. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 15-00. A. Back dark slaty black 47. BLACK-BACKED GULL. B. Back pearl-gray. a. Outer primaries marked with black. 51a. AM. HERRING GULL. 51. HERRING GULL. b. No "black on primaries. 6». Bill under 2-00. Z>a. Primaries light pearl-gray, fading gradually into white at their tips 43. ICELAND GULL. 68 GULLS. ft8. Primaries pearl-gray, tipped with white, and with well-defined gray spaces on the outer webs of the two outer primaries and on both webs of the third and fourth primaries. 45. KUMLIEN'S GULL. c1. Bill over 2-00 42. GLAUCOUS GULL. C. Back grayish, whitish, or brownish, or mottled or spotted with gray- ish or brownish. a. Tail black or blackish, with or without irregular white markings. a». Wing over 17'50 ; depth of bill at nostril over -TO. 47. BLACK-BACKED GULL (Im.). a3. Wing under 17-50 ; depth of bill at nosti-il under -70. 51a. AM. HERRING GULL (Im.). 51. HERRING GULL (Im.). b. Tail white or whitish or grayish brown, with or without black markings. ft1. Bill under 2-00 43. ICELAND GULL (Im.). ft3. Bill over 2-00 42. GLAUCOUS GULL (Im.). II. Wing under 15-00. 1. Tail pure white. A. Head and throat slaty black. a. Outer primary black or mostly black. a». Outer primary entirely black .... 58. LAUGHING GULL. a». Inner half of inner webs of first, primary white. 62. SABINE'S GULL. b. Outer primary mostly white. b1. Tip of first primary white 59. FRANKLIN'S GULL. b9. Tip of first primary black 60. BONAPARTE'S GULL. B. Head white, sometimes washed with pearl-gray. a. Wings white 39. IVORY GULL. b. Primaries with more or less black, fti. Wing over 11-00. ft3. Hind toe very small, without a nail ... 40. KITTIWAKE. b3. Hind toe normal, with a nail ... 54. RING-BILLED GULL. c». Wing under 11-00 61. Ross's GULL. 2. Tail, marked with black. A. Wing over 13-25. a. Primaries mostly white 39. IVORY GULL (Im.). b. Primaries black or mostly black . 54. RING-BILLED GULL (Im.). B. Wing under 13-25. a. Hind toe very small, without a nail ... 40. KITTIWAKE (Im.). b. Hind toe normal, with a nail. ft1. Tarsus 1-50 or over 58. LAUGHING GULL (Im.). c1. Tarsus under 1-50. c3. Secondaries pearl color, tail square. 60. BONAPARTE'S GULL (Im.). c>. Secondaries mostly white, tail rounded. 61. Ross's GULL (Im.). 39. Gavia alba (G-'unn,}. IVORY GULL. Ad. — Entire plumage pure white ; bill yellow, feet black. Im.— Similar to ad., but the wing and tail GULLS. 69 feathers, and sometimes the wing-coverts, with a black spot at their tips. L., 17-00 ; W., 13-25 ; T., 5-50 ; B., T35. Range. — "Arctic seas, south in winter on the Atlantic coast of North America to Labrador and Newfoundland, casually to New Brunswick, and on the Pacific side to Bering Sea " (A. 0. IL). Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of grass, moss, and feathers on rocky cliffs. Eggs, light yellowish olive, marked with small blotches of brown and larger cloudings of lilac, 2-45 x 1-70 (Brewer). " The Ivory Gulls appear to spend most of the time amid the pack- ice, often at a long distance from land" (Chamberlain). FIG. 60.— First primaries of adult Gulls, seen from below: (a) Am. Herring Gull ; (b) Ring-billed Gull ; (c) Laughing Gull ; (d) Franklin's Gull ; (e) Bona- parte's Gull. 40. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.}. KITTIWAKE. Ad. in summer. — Head, neck, tail, and under parts pure white ; back and wings pearl-gray ; outer web of first primary and 3-00 of the ends of first and second primaries black ; ft) GULLS. third to fifth primaries black at the ends and with white tips ; hind toe vpry small, a mere knob without a nail ; bill yellowish, feet black. Ad. in winter. — Similar to above, but the top of the head and back of the neck washed with pearl-gray, and a dark spot about the eye. Im. — Similar to winter adults, but with the back of the neck, lesser wing-coverts, and part of the tertials black ; tail, except outer pair of feathers, with a black band at its tip ; four outer primaries black, except the inner half or more of their inner webs ; fifth and sixth tipped with black and white ; bill black, feet yellowish. L., 16-00 ; W., 12-00; T., 4-50; B., 1-30. Remarks. — This species can always be distinguished by the small size of the hind toe. Range. — Northern parts of the northern hemisphere ; in America, breed- ing commonly from the Magdalen Islands northward, and wintering as far south as the Great Lakes in the interior, and, on' the coast, commonly to Long Island, and rarely to Virginia. Long Island, common T. V., a few winter, Nov. to Mch. Nest, of grass, moss, and seaweed on the ledges of rocky cliffs. Eggs, three to four, varying from shades of buffy to grayish brown, distinctly and obscurely marked with chocolate, 2-25 x 1-60. " Our bird differs but little in its habits from other oceanic Gulls. Feeding chiefly on fish, but accepting any diet that drifts within range of its keen sight ; drinking salt water in preference to fresh ; breasting a gale with ease and grace — soaring in midair, skimming close above the crested waves, or swooping into the trough for a coveted morsel ; resting upon the rolling billows, and sleeping serenely as they roll, with head tucked snugly under a wing ; wandering in loose flocks, and making comrades of other wanderers ; devoted to mate and young, and attached to all its kin — wherever seen or however employed, the Kittiwake is revealed as a typical gleaner of the sea. " The name is derived from the bird's singular cry, which resembles the syllables kitti-aa, kitti-aa " (Chamberlain). 42, Larus glaucus -Rrunn. GLAUCOUS GULL; BURGOMASTER. Ad. in summer.— Back and wings pale pearl -gray ; primaries lightly tinted with pearl, inner half of their inner webs and ^tips fading gradually into white ; rest of the plumage pure white. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but with the head and neck lightly streaked with grayish. Im. — Upper parts varying from ashy gray to white, the feathers widely barred, mottled, or streaked with buffy or ashy gray ; primaries varying from pale smoky gray to pure white ; tail ashy or brownish gray ; under parts varying from dirty whitish to ashy gray, generally darker on the belly, sometimes mottled with buffy or grayish. (Birds of the second year are said to be pure white.) L., 28-00; W., 17-10; B., 2*35; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, •75 to 1-00 ; Tar., 2-00. Range.— Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in North America breeding commonly from southern Labrador northward and migrating south- ward to the Great Lakes and Long Island. GULLS. 71 Long Island, irregular W. V. Nest, of grasses, moss, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to three, varying from pale olive-brown to grayish white, spotted or speckled with shades of chocolate, 3-10 x 2-20. Mr. Chamberlain remarks that this species combines "with some gull-like traits many of the coarse characteristics of both Falcon and Vulture." " Some observers have reported that flocks are at times very noisy, particularly when settling for the night ; but those I have met with in winter have been rather silent. Their cry is harsh and at times very loud ; it sounds something like the syllables kuk-lak. I have seen it written cut-leek.1' 43. Larus leucopterus Faber. ICELAND GULL. Kesembles the preceding species in color, but generally is much smaller ; specimens occur, however, which appear to be intermediate. W., 15-40-16-50; B., 1-65-1-90; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, -60--70; Tar., 2-05-2-20 (B., B., and R.). Range. — Arctic regions; in North America migrates south in winter, rarely to Long Island. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest, of grasses, moss, etc., on the ground. Eggs, clay-color with numerous chocolate markings, 2*79 x 1-89. " The flight of the Iceland Gull, its feeding habits, and its manners generally, suggest a close affinity to the Herring Gull rather than to the Burgomaster " (Chamberlain). 45. Larus kumlieni Brewst. KUMLIEN'S GULL. Very similar in gen- eral color to the two preceding species, but differs from them in the color of the primaries. These, instead of being uniformly*pure white or but lightly tinted with gray, are marked with sharply defined spaces of ashy gray. The first primary is tipped with white and marked with ashy gray on the outer web and shaft part of the inner web ; the second primary is ashy gray on only part of the outer web; the third and fourth primaries have smaller white tips and are marked with ashy gray near their ends on both webs. W., 15-50- 17-00 ; B., 1-65-1-88 ; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, -60--66 ; Tar., 2-10-2-35 (Brewster). Range. — North Atlantic coast of North America; south in winter to Massachusetts. Nest, on " the shelving rocks of high cliffs." " Mr. Kumlien found this bird breeding in considerable numbers near the head of Cumberland Gulf," but, owing to the difficulty of distinguishing immature specimens from those of L. leucopterus, its status on our coast in winter is not clearly determined. 47. Larus marinus Linn. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL; SADDLE- BACK. Ad. in summer.— Buck and wings slaty black; wing-feathers tipped 72 GULLS. with white ; rest of plumage white ; tail sometimes mottled with dusky. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but with the head and neck streaked with grayish. Jin. — Head and nape whitish, streaked with grayish ; back and wings, except primaries, brownish, the feathers margined and irregularly marked with pale buft'y ; primaries dark brownish black, the inner ones with small white tips; tail mottled with black and white; under parts whitish, more or less streaked or barred with grayish. L., 2U-00; W., 18-50; T., 8'00; B., 2-50. Range. — North Atlantic ; breeds in North America from the Bay of Furidy northward; migrates southward in winter regularly to the Great Lakes and Virginia, and less frequently to South Carolina. Long Island, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Rest, of grasses, seaweed, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to three, clay- color, brownish ashy or butty, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 3-00 x 2-15. A more northern species than the Herring Gull. Mr. Brewster, who observed it in numbers in the island of Anticosti in July, writes : " The Black-backs are exceedingly noisy birds, especially when their young are in danger, as well as toward evening. ... I identified four distinct cries : a braying ha-ha-ha, a deep keow, keow, a short barking note, and a long-drawn groan, very loud and decidedly impressive. . . . At all times of the year, during the breeding season as well as in win- ter, it is by far the wariest bird that I have ever met." The SIBERIAN GULL (50. Larus affinis] — a large Gull inhabiting north- ern Asia — is sometimes found in Greenland. 5 la. Larus argentatus smithsonianus Cones. AMERICAN HER- RING GULL. Ad. in summer. — Back and wings deep pearl-gray ; first primary tipped with white, then crossed. by a small black mark, then a much larger white one ; this is followed by a black space ; the black runs down the outer web of the feather to near its base and the shaft part of the inner web nearly as far, lea\'ing the inner two thirds of the web below the black mark white (Fig. 60, a) ; the second primary is similar, but the second white mark is a round spot on the inner web and the black occupies a greater space near the tip, but does not continue so far down on the feather ; the third to sixth primaries are tipped with white, which is succeeded by a gradually dimin- ishing black band which extends farther down on the outer web of the feather than on the inner; the rest of the plumage is pure white. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but with the head and neck streaked or spotted with grayish. Im. — Upper parts ashy fuscous; head and nape more or less streaked with pale buffy ; back and wings margined or irregularly marked with the same color ; primaries brownish black ; tail the same, sometimes tipped or margined with buffy ; under parts ashy fuscous, sometimes lightly barred or st rcukcd. L., 24-00 ; W., 17-50 ; T., 7-50 ; B., 2-30. Range. — " North America generally, breeding on the Atlantic coast from Maine northward" (A. O. IL). In the interior breeds from Minnesota north- ward ; winters from Nova Scotia to Cuba. GULLS. 73 Washington, common W. V., Oct. to Mch. Long Island, abundant W. V., Sept. to May, a few in summer. Sing Sing, common T. V., Sept. 21 to May 9 ; common W. V. when river is open. Cambridge, abundant W. V., Nov. to Apl. Nest, of grasses, moss, seaweed, etc., on the ground, but, where the birds have been persistently robbed, it is more compactly built and placed in trees, sometimes fifty feet or more from the ground. Eggs, two to three, grayish olive-brown, rarely whitish, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2*85 x 1-90. This species is by far the most abundant winter Gull along the coasts of the Middle and Southern States. Unlike the more pelagic species, it frequents our rivers and harbors, feeding about piers and wharves, and near the cities showing comparatively little fear of man. Sometimes one may see them "bedded" in flocks on the water, where they alight to rest. It is generally this species which follows in the wake of our coastwise vessels, sailing astern, when the wind is from ahead, without the slightest perceptible movement of the wings. (For an interesting life-history of the Herring Gull see Mackay, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 221-228.) The EUROPEAN HEKRING GULL (51. Larus argentatus] differs from our species in being slightly smaller and in having the two white spaces at the tip of the first primary joined, the black spot, therefore, being broken or entirely absent. It is of rare occurrence on the Atlantic coast of North America. 54. Larus delawarensis Ord. KING-BILLED GULL. Ad. in sum- mer.— Back and wings pearl-gray ; first primary black, with a white spot near the tip, the base of the inner half of the inner web pearl-gray (Fig. 60, b) ; second primary black, the basal half of the inner web pearl-gray ; on the third to sixth primaries the black decreases rapidly, and each one is tipped with white ; rest of the plumage pure white ; bill greenish yellow with a black baud in front of the nostril. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but the head and nape streaked with grayish. Im. — Upper parts varying from ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish, to pearl-gray, the feathers more or less mottled, spotted, or, on the head and neck, streaked with ashy fus- cous ; outer primaries black, tail varying from pearl-gray, more or less mottled with blackish, to white, and crossed near the end by a wide band of black ; basal half of the bill yellowish, end black. L., 18-50 ; W., 14-00 ; T., 6'00 ; B., 1-60. Range. — North America, more common in the interior ; breeds from southern Minnesota and Newfoundland northward ; winters from Long Island to Cuba and Mexico. Washington, very common T. V., Feb. to Apl. 5 ; Oct. to Nov. ; rare in winter. Long Island, common W. V., Aug. to Apl. Sing Sing, casual T. V. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to three, clay-color, buffy, or whitish, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 2*30 x 1-65. 74 GULLS. The coast-inhabiting individuals of this species resemble the Her- ring Gull in habits, and are not easily identifiable from that species unless the two be seen together, when the smaller size of the King-bill is noticeable. In the interior, where the species is locally common, it feeds on insects, which it catches both on the ground and in the air. The MEW GULL (56. Larus canus) — a European species — has been Ibund once in Labrador. 58. Lams atricilla Linn. LAUGHING GULL ; BLACK-HEADED GULL. (See Fig. 6, b.) Ad. in summer. — Back and wings dark pearl-gray ; primaries black, the inner ones with small white tips (Fig. 60, c) ; whole head and throat deep slate-color ; rest of the plumage, including the nape, pure white, the breast sometimes suffused by a delicate peach-blossom tint; bill dark red- dish, brighter at the tip. Ad. in winter. — Kesembles the above, but has the head and throat white, the crown and sides of the head and sometimes the nape spotted or streaked with grayish. Im. — Upper parts light ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish ; primaries black ; forehead and under parts white, sometimes washed in places with dusky ; tail dark pearl-gray, broadly tipped with black. L., 16-50 ; W., 12-50 ; T., 4-90 ; B., 1-65. Range. — Breeds from Texas and Florida to Maine ; rare in the interior ; winters from South Carolina to northern South America. "Washington, irregular in fall. Long Island, rare S. E., irregular T. V., A pi. to Sept. Ifest, of grasses, seaweed, etc., on the ground in grassy marshes. Eggs, three to five, varying from grayish olive-brown to greenish gray, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with chocolate, 2-15 x 1-55. " From the hoarse clatter of the' Terns one could distinguish its long-drawn, clear note on a high key, sounding not unlike the more excited call-note of the Domestic Goose ; and every now and then it would give its prolonged, weird laughter, which has given rise to its common name. To one who has heard it, it might be imitated by the syllables hah- ha-ha-ha-ha, hah-hah-hah, all of which are uttered on a high, clear tone, the last three or four syllables, and especially the last one, being drawn out with peculiar and prolonged effect, the whole sounding like the odd and excited laughter of an Indian squaw, and giving marked propriety to the name of the bird " (Langille). 59. Larus franklin! Sw. and Rich.. FRANKLIN'S GULL. Ad. in sum- mer.— Whole head and throat sooty black, nape, sides of the neck, and under parts, except throat, white, generally suffused (in fresh specimens) with an exquisite peach-blossom tint ; tail white ; back and wings pearl -gray \ iirst primary white, the outer web black, except at the tip, the shaft part of the inner web grayish on the basal half (Fig. 60, d) ; second primary white, with a black mark on the inner web and a black stripe on the outer web near the tip, the rest of the outer web and shaft part of the inner web pearl-gray ; third GULLS. 75 to sixth primaries tipped with white, then banded with gradually diminishing bars of black, which are succeeded by a whitish space, while the rest of the feather is pearl-gray ; bill dark coral-red. Ad, in winter. — a Similar, but head and neck white, the occiput, with orbital and auricular regions, grayish dusky ; bill and feet dusky, the former tipped with orange reddish." Young, first plumage. — " Top and sides of the head (except forehead and lores), back and scapulars grayish brown, the longer scapulars bordered terminally with pale grayish buff; wing-coverts bluish gray tinged with grayish brown; seconda- ries dusky, edged with pale grayish blue and broadly tipped with white ; pri- maries dusky, the inner more plumbeous, all broadly tipped with white. Central portion of the rump uniform light bluish gray ; lateral and posterior portions of the rump, upper tail-coverts, entire lower parts, forehead, lores, and eyelids white. Bill brownish, dusky terminally ; feet brown (in skin)." W., 11-25; B., 1-30; depth through nostrils, -35 ; Tar., 1-60 (B., B., and K.). Range. — "Breeds from southern Minnesota and Dakota northward; win- ters in the Southern States, and migrates principally west of the Mississippi Kiver" (Cooke and Merriam). Not found on the Atlantic coast. Nest, of grasses, etc., in reedy or bush -grown marshes. Eggs, one to three, varying from dark chocolate to creamy brown and sooty white, irregularly marked with small spots or large blotches of umber, and with obsolete lilac shell markings, 2-12 x 1-40 (Preston). « This inland species reaches our western limits. An excellent ac- count of its habits, by J. W. Preston, will be found in the Ornitholo- gist and Oologist, xi, pp. 54, 55. 60. Larus Philadelphia ( Ord). BONAPARTE'S GULL. Ad. in summer. — Whole head and throat dark, sooty slate-color; nape and sides of the neck, under parts, except throat, and tail white ; back and wings pearl-gray ; first primary, seen from above, white, the outer web and tip black (Fig. 60, e); second and third primaries white, tipped with black ; third to sixth primaries with small whitish tips, then large black spaces, the rest of the feather white or pearl-gray ; bill black. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the preceding, but head and throat white, the back and sides of the head washed with grayish. Im. — Top of the head and nape and a spot on the auriculars more or less washed with grayish ; back varying from brownish gray to pearl-gray ; lesser wing- coverts grayish brown, secondaries mostly pearl-gray ; first primary with the outer web, tip, and most of the shaft part of the inner web black; inner mar- gin of the inner web at the end of the feather narrowly bordered with black ; second and third primaries much the same, but with slightly more black at the ends ; tail white, banded with black and narrowly tipped with white ; under parts white. L., 14-00 ; W., 10-30 ; T., 4-00 ; B., 1-15. Range. — Breeds from Manitoba northward; apparently no record of its breeding on the Atlantic coast; winters southward to the Gulf of Mexico. Washington, common T. V., Mch. to May 5 ; Oct. and Nov. • Long Island, common T. V., a few winter, Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, rather rare T. V., Apl. and Oct. Nest, of sticks lined with grasses, etc., on stumps, in bushes or trees four 76 TERNS. to twenty feet from the ground. Eggs, three to four, grayish olive with a greenish tint and small clove-brown spots, chiefly about the larger end, 1-97 x 1-40 (B., B., and K.). " The flight is easy and graceful, each stroke of the long, pointed wings throwing the body up a little, while the bird peers this way and that in quest of its small prey. If it fly toward one, the white front of its wings, added to its white breast and neck, gives it the appear- ance of a white bird with a black head. It often has a noticeable way of turning partly around or cutting backward as it drops in securing some object detected on or near the surface of the water, thus making it appear decidedly lithe and agile on the wing " (Langille). The LITTLE GULL (60-1. Larus minutus), a European species, has been taken only once in America — on Long Island, in September, 1887 (Dutcher, Auk, v, 1888, p. 171). Boss's GULL (61. RhodostetMa rosea), an arctic species, is known from Point Barrow, Alaska ; Melville Peninsula ; England, Faroes, and Heligoland ; but has been found in numbers only at the first-mentioned locality. (See Murdoch, Bep. of the Exp. to Point Barrow, p. 123.) 62. Xema sabinii (Sab.). SABINE'S GULL^ Ad. in summer.— Whole head and throat slate-color, bordered posteriorly by black ; back and sides of the neck, under parts, except throat, and slightly forked tail pure white ; back and wings dark pearl-gray ; secondaries tipped with white ; first primary black, the inner half of the inner web, except at the end, white; second to fourth primaries similar, but tipped with white ; bill black, the end yellow. Ad. in winter. — " Similar to the summer plumage, but the head and neck white, except occiput, nape, and auricular region, which are dull, dusky plumbeous" (B., B., and K.). 7ra. — Forehead and lores white, rest of the upper parts ashy brown, the feathers slightly tipped with whitish ; tail white, broadly tipped with blackish ; under parts white. L., 14-00 ; W., 10-50 ; T., 4-50; B., 95. Range. — Arctic regions, in winter migrating only .a short distance south- ward and rarely reaching the United States. Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to five, deep olive (vary- ing in intensity, however), rather indistinctly spotted or blotched with brown, 1-78 x 1-26 (Ridgw.). This boreal species is of rare occurrence in the northern United States in the winter. Subfamily Sternince. Terns. Terns are littoral ; never, I believe, pelagic. They inhabit the shores of bodies of both fresh and salt water, but are more abundant on the seacoast than in the interior. Their principal characters, as compared with the Gulls, are mentioned under the subfamily Larince. Their TERNS. 77 power of flight has deservedly won for them the name of Sea Swal- lows. They capture their prey of small fish by plunging into the water, frequently disappearing and swimming a few feet beneath the surface. They nest in colonies. The nest is usually on the ground. Generally it is simply a slight depression in the sand, shells, or pebbles of a beach, or in the near-by seaweed, moss, or grasses. Sometimes it is scantily lined with bits of grass, seaweed, moss, etc., but these are frequently wanting. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing under 13-00. 1. Entire top of the head jet-black. A. Bill black, or mostly black. a. Feet black or blackish. a1. Under parts black or blackish 77. BLACK TERN. a8. Under parts white ; bill black .... 63. GULL-BILLED TERN. a3. Under parts white; bill black, broadly tipped with yellow. 67. CABOT'S TERN. b. Feet yellowish or orange. bl. Outer tail-feathers pure white ; outer web of first primary black. 72. EOSEATE TERN. Ja. Inner web of outer tail-feather gray ; outer web of first primary gray 69. FORSTER'S TERN. B. Bill mostly or entirely yellowish, reddish, brownish, or orange. a. Under parts tinged with grayish ; outer web of outer tail-feather gray ; inner web white. a1. Bill broadly tipped with blackish; tarsus generally over '70. 70. COMMON TERN. a2. Bill without a distinct black tip; tarsus generally under "70. 71. ARCTIC TERN. b. Under parts pure white ; inner web of outer tail-feather gray ; outer web white 69. FORSTER'S TERN. 2. Forehead white ; lores black ; crown jet-black. A, Wing under 8*00 ; back pearl-gray 74. LEAST TERN. B. Wing over 8-00 ; back grayish brown or blackish. a. Back grayish brown ; a white stripe from the forehead over the eye. 76. BRIDLED TERN. b. Back blackish ; white of forehead not reaching over the eye. 75. SOOTY TERN. 3. Forehead or crown white or grayish, sometimes speckled with black; lores not entirely black. A. Wing pearl-gray, over 9'00. a. Outer tail-feather entirely pure white. a1. Bill over 1-75, tipped with yellowish ... 67. CABOT'S TERN. a«. Bill under 1'75, without a yellow tip . 72. ROSEATE TERN (Im.). b. Outer tail-feather not pure white. b1. Inner web of outer tail-feather darker than outer web ; outer web 78 TERNS. mostly or entirely white ; a black space generally on the side of the head inclosing the eye (59. FOKSTER'S TERN (Tin.). J2. Outer web of outer tail-feather darker than inner web ; tarsus over -70 TO. COMMON TERN (Im.). ba. Outer web of outer tail-feather darker than inner web; tarsus under -70 71. ARCTIC TERN (Im.). B. Wing blackish, over 9-00. a. Under parts blackish 75. SOOTY TERN (Im.). b. Under parts white 76. BRIDLED TERN (Im.). 4. Crown silvery gray ; lores black ; rest of plumage sooty black. 79. NODDY. II. Wing over 13-00. A. Wing 15-00 or over; outer primary mostly gray. 64. CASPIAN TERN. B. Wing under 15-00 ; inner half of inner web of first primary white. 65. KOYAL TERN. FIG. 61.— First primaries of adult Terns, seen from below, (a) Caspian Tern ; (b) Royal Tern ; (c) Common Tern ; (d) Arctic Tern ; (e) Roseate Tern. 63. Gelochelidon nilotica Ihmelq. GULL-BILLED TERN; MARSH TERN. Ad. in summer. — Top of the head and nape black; back and wings pale pearl-gray; outer web of outer primaries silvery; tip and shaft part of the inner web darker ; inner part of the inner web, except for a narrow mar- TERNS. 79 gin at the end of the feather, white ; tail white, slightly forked, the middle feathers grayish ; under parts white ; bill and feet black, the former rather short and stout. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head white, auriculars grayish, and a space in front of the eye blackish. L., 14-50 ; W., 12-00 ; T., 5-50 ; B., 1-40 ; depth of B. at base, -50. Range. — Cosmopolitan ; in North America breeds along the Gulf coast from Mexico to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast north to Virginia, straying northward rarely to Maine. Washington, casual. Long Island, A. V. in summer. Eggs, three to five, rather uniform buffy white, with numerous distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 1-80 x 1-30. This is a common species on the coast of our Southern States. It is said to prefer insects, which it catches on the wing, to fish. Its voice is harsh and easily distinguishable from that of other Terns, while its heavy black bill will also serve to identify it. 64. Sterna tschegrava LepecTi. CASPIAN TERN. Ad. in spring. —Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest ; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white ; back and wings pearl- gray ; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web (Fig. 61, a) ; bill coral- red, darker near the tip ; feet black. Ad. after the breeding season and in winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black. Im. — Top of head streaked with black and white ; back of neck and under parts white ; back, wing-coverts, and tertials pearl-gray, spotted or barred with brownish black ; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web ; tail pearl- gray, more or less barred with brownish black ; bill orange-red ; feet black- ish brown. L., 21-00 ; W.. 16-20; T., 6-00 ; B., 2-80. Range. — A cosmopolitan species of irregular distribution ; in North Amer- ica, breeds locally from Texas to Great Slave Lake ; migrates through the in- terior and on the coast, and apparently does not winter within our limits. Long Island, uncommon T. V., Aug. and Sept. Eggs, two to three, grayish white or buffy white, with rather small, dis- tinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2*70 x 1-83. This large Tern of local distribution is to be known by its size and red bill. Unless the two were seen together, however, I do not believe it could with certainty be distinguished in life from the Royal Tern. 65. Sterna maxima Bodd. EOYAL TERN. Ad. in spring.— Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest ; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white ; back and wings pearl-gray ; inner web of primaries, except at the tip, white ; tip, outer web, and shaft part of inner web dark, silvery slate-color (Fig. 61, b). Ad. after the breeding season and in winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black and white. Im. — Eesembling the young of S. tschegrava, but smaller and with the inner half of the inner web of the primaries white. L., 19-00; W., 14-00; T., Y'OO ; B., 2-50. Range. — Breeding in North America along the Gulf coast from Texas to gO TERNS. Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to Virginia ; occasionally wanders north- ward to the Great Lakes and Massachusetts. Long Island, A. V. in summer. Eggs, one to four, more pointed than those of the preceding, grayish white, with rather small, distinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2-65 x 1-75. A common species on our southern coasts. During the winter it is about the only Tern one sees in Florida waters. It is a strong, active bird on the wing, and a reckless, dashing diver, frequently dis- appearing beneath the surface in catching its prey. The slow-flying Pelicans are at its mercy, and it often deftly robs them of their well- earned gains. Both this species and the preceding, and indeed all the Terns, are to be known from the Gulls by the very different manner in which they hold their bills. A Tern points its bill directly downward, and looks, as Coues says, like a big mosquito, while a Gull's bill points for- ward in the plane of its body. 67. Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida (Cabot}. CABOT'S TERN; SANDWICH TERN. Ad. in spring.— Whole top of the head and crest black ; back and wings light pearl-gray ; primaries silvery gray ; the shaft part of the inner web white except at the tip ; rest of the plumage white ; feet and bill black, the latter with a conspicuous yellowish tip. Ad. after the breeding season and in winter. — Similar to the above, but crown white, sometimes spotted with black; back of the head and crest more or less streaked with white. Int. — Similar to the preceding, but back spotted with blackish ; tail slaty gray and much shorter; bill slightly if at all tipped with yellow. L., 16-00; W., 10-50; T., 5-50; B., 2-05. Range. — Tropical America, breeding on the Gulf coast from Texas to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to South Carolina; accidental in Massa- chusetts. Eggs, two to three, buffy white, spotted, speckled, and scrawled with dis- tinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2-05 x 1-40. This is an abundant summer resident on the coasts of southern Florida, and in winter is common as far north as Key West. It is said by Audubon to somewhat resemble the Marsh Tern on the wing, and to have a loud, sharp, grating voice, which can be heard half a mile or more. I have never seen it alive, but I believe its yellow-tipped, black bill would enable one to identify it at some dis- tance. TRUDEAU'S TERN (68. Sterna trudeaui) is a South American species which has been taken once on Long Island and once on the New Jersey coast. 69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. FORSTER'S TERN. Ad. in summer.— Whole top of the head black ; back and wings pearl-gray ; inner border of inner web of the outer primaries white, except at the tip ; rump and entire TERNS. 81 under parts white ; tail light pearl -gray, the outer feather darker toward the end, where the inner web is always darker than the outer ; bill dull orange, the end third blackish ; feet orange. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but head white, more or less washed with grayish or spotted with black, a large black spot on the side of the head inclosing the eye ; bill mostly black ; feet brownish. Im. — Similar to the preceding, but the back and wings more or less mottled or washed with light brownish, and the tail much shorter. L., 15-00 ; W., 10-25 ; T., T'OO ; Tar., 90 ; B., 1-50. Range. — Of more or less general distribution throughout North America, breeding in the east locally from Texas northward through the Mississippi Valley to St. Glair Flats and Manitoba — recorded from Lake Mistassini — ap- parently not breeding on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia, but wandering irregularly to Massachusetts. Washington, rare and irregular T. V. Long Island, rare T. V. in fall. Nest, of seaweed, flags, or weeds on a slight elevation in grassy marshes. Eggs, three, very variable, olive-gray, or olive brownish ashy, more rarely whitish or buff, heavily marked with chocolate, T80 x 1-30. Dr. Brewer, writing of Mr. Ridgway's experience with this species on Cobb's Island, Virginia, where it was found breeding in numbers, says : " It was only less abundant than the Anglica [= nilotica\, and quite as numerous as the hirundo, frequenting especially grassy marshes, in which it nests. He found it pre-eminently a marsh Tern. It nested in company with, or in close proximity to, colonies of the Black-headed Gull. It could be readily distinguished from the Com- mon Tern, which it closely resembles when on the wing, by its grating monotonous note, which very closely resembles one frequently uttered by the Loggerhead Shrike" (B. B., and R.). 70. Sterna hirundo Linn. COMMON TERN; WILSON'S TERN; SEA SWALLOW (see Fig. 7). Ad. in summer. — Whole top of the head black ; back and wings pearl-gray ; inner border of inner web of outer primaries white, except at the tip (Fig. 61, c) ; throat white ; breast and belly pale pearl-gray ; tail white, the outer webs of the outer feathers gray or pearl-gray ; bill red at the base, the end third black ; feet orange-red. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but front part of the head and under parts white: bill mostly black. Im. — Similar to the preceding, but the back more or less washed or mottled with light brownish ; lesser wing-coverts slaty gray, and tail much shorter. L., 15-00 ; W., 10-25 ; T., 5-50 ; Tar., -75 ; B., 1-40. Remarks. — The Common Tern is closely related to Forster's Tern and also to the Arctic Tern. From the former it is to be distinguished by the color of the long outer tail-feathers. In the Common Tern the outer web of these feathers is always darker than the inner web; in Forster's Tern the inner web is always darker than the outer one. Adult Common Terns have the breast and belly washed with pearl-gray, while in Forster's Tern these parts are pure white. The Common Tern differs from the Arctic Tern in having the bill tipped 7 82 TERNS. with black instead of being entirely red ; in having longer tarsi, and in the color of the primaries. Range. — " Greater part of the northern hemisphere and Africa ; in North America chiefly confined to the eastern province " (A. O. U.). Breeds locally both on the coast and in the interior from the Gulf States to the Barren Grounds and Greenland. Washington, irregular T. V., sometimes common. Long Island, common S. K., May through Sept. Sing Sing, casual in late summer. Cambridge, casual in Sept. Eggs, three to four, not distinguishable with certainty from those ot the preceding, but averaging paler and greener, and less heavily marked, 1-60 x 1-20. It is five years since I visited the breeding grounds of the colony of Common Terns on Gull Island, L. I., but I can close my eyes and still feel the air vibrate with the harsh, half- threatening, half-pleading chorus of nearly two thousand excited voices. There is a dull, heavy, hopeless monotone, broken only by the scream of some half-maddened bird who fearlessly darts downward to protect its nest at my feet. A shot is fired ; there is a moment of awe-struck silence, then, with re- newed violence, the screaming is resumed. Pandemonium reigns: tearr, terrrr, swish ! the air is full of darting, diving, crying Terns. It was useless to attempt to secrete myself. At no time during my stay did the outcry cease or hovering flock disperse. This little, barren, uninhabited, sandy island — only a few acres in extent— and Muskeget Island, off the Massachusetts coast, are the only localities, from New Jersey to Maine, where the once abundant Common Tern, or Sea Swallow, can be found in any numbers. What an illus- tration of the results of man's greed and woman's thoughtlessness ! The fickle fashion which indorsed the poor Tern's spotless plumage has long since found new favorites, and the sadly mangled pearl-gray feathers have gone to graves in the ash-heap. Now it is the Egret's turn. Even the protection afforded by an insular home was not sufficient. Feather hunters, egg robbers, and self-styled oologists came in boats to drive the Sea Swallows from their last resort ; but the law inter- fered, and both Gull and Muskeget Islands now have a paid keeper whose duty it is to protect the Terns. 71. Sterna paradisaea Erunn. ARCTIC TERN. — Very similar in color to the Common Tern, from which it differs in having less gray on the shaft part of the inner web of the outer primaries (Fig. 61, d) ; in having the tail somewhat longer, the tin-si and bill shorter, while the latter, in the adult, is generally without a black tip. L., 15-50; W., 10-25; T., T50; Tar., -65; B., 1-30. Range. — " Northern hemisphere ; in North America, breeding from Massa- TERNS. 83 chusctts to the arctic regions, and wintering southward to Virginia and Cali- fornia" (A. O. IL). Long Island, rare in summer. Eggs, three to four, not distinguishable with certainty from those of the preceding, 1*62 x 1*15. Comparing the notes of this bird with those of the Common Tern, Mr. Brewster writes : " Their notes are similar, but several of them can be distinguished. The usual cry of S. macrura [= paradiscea] cor- responds to the tearr of S. hirundo, but is shriller, ending in a rising inflection, and sounding very like the squeal of a pig. The bird also has a short, harsh note similar to that of Forster's Tern. At any dis- tance within fair gun-range I could usually separate it from Wilson's [= Common] Tern by its longer tail, and by the .uniform and deeper color of the bill. In flight and habits the two seemed to me identical " (Birds Observed on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 402). 72. Sterna dougalli Montag. EOSEATE TERN. Ad. in summer. — • "Whole top of the head black ; back and wings pearl-gray; outer web of pri- maries and shaft part of the inner web slaty black (Fig. 61, e) ; under parts white, generally delicately tinted with pinkish; tail pure white ; bill black, the base reddish ; feet red. Ad. in winter. — Similar to the above, but front of the head white, more or less streaked or spotted with black ; under parts pure white. Im., first plumage. — " Pileum and nape pale buff'y grayish, finely mottled or sprinkled with darker, and streaked, especially on the crown, with dusky ; orbital and auricular regions dusky blackish ; remainder of the head, extreme lower part of the nape, and entire lower parts white, the nape, and sometimes the breast, finely mottled with butty gray ; back, scapulars, wing- coverts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail pale pearl-blue, the back and scapu- lars overlaid with pale buff irregularly mottled with dusky, each feather with a submarginal dusky V-shaped mark ; primary coverts and primaries dark bluish-gray edged with paler, the inner webs of the latter broadly edged with white; tail-feathers marked near their ends much like the longer scapulars, their outer webs rather dark grayish ; bill brownish dusky ; feet dusky." L., 15-50; W., 9-50; T., 7'50; B., 1-50 (B., B., and R.). Range. — Temperate and tropical regions ; in America apparently confined to the Atlantic coast, breeding from Florida northward to Maine ; compara- tively rare north of southern New Jersey ; winters south of the United States. Long Island, uncommon but regular S. R., May through Sept. Eggs, three, not distinguishable with certainty from those of S.forsteri or S. hirundo, but averaging paler and less heavily marked, 1-65 x 1-20. This species is found associated with colonies of Common Terns, apparently making its nest among theirs. It is a less excitable, wilder bird than hirundo, and its single harsh note, cack, may be distinctly heard above the uproar of Common Terns, as it hovers somewhat in 84 TERNS. the background. Its white breast and long outer tail- feathers also aid in distinguishing it. 74. Sterna antillarum (Less.}. LEAST TERN. Ad. in summer. — Forehead White, lores and crown black ; back, tail, and wings pearl-gray ; outer web of outer primaries and shaft part of the inner web slaty black ; under parts white; bill yellow, generally tipped with black; feet orange. Ad. in winter. — Top of head white, more or less spotted with black ; back of head black ; bill blackish. Im. — Upper parts and tail at the end mottled with blackish and huffy, primaries as in the adult, under parts white, bill blackish. L., 9-00 ; W., 6'90 ; T., 3-50 ; B., 1-10. Range. — Northern South America northward to California, Dakota, and Massachusetts, rarely to Labrador ; breeds locally throughout its range, and winters south of the United States. Washington, casual T. V. Long Island, rare in summer. Eggs, three to four, buffy white, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 1-25 x -90. This, the smallest of our Terns, resembles its congeners in habits, though it is said to add insects to its usual fare of fish. Its voice is described as " a sharp squeak, much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother." 75. Sterna fuliginosa Gmel. SOOTY TERN. Ad.— Forehead and a line reaching to the eye white, lores and rest of the head black ; nape, back, and wings brownish black, nearly as dark as the head; outer tail-feathers white, brownish on the end half of the inner web ; rest of tail-feathers of the same color as the back ; under parts white ; bill and feet black. Im., first plumage. — Sooty slate-color; linings of the wings and under tail-coverts whitish ; wing-coverts, scapulars, upper tail-poverts, and tail-feathers more or less tipped with white. L., 17-00 : W., 11-50 ; T., 7'25 ; B., 1-75. Range. — Tropical and subtropical regions ; in North America breeds rarely as far north as North Carolina ; occasionally wanders northward to Maine ; winters south of the United States. Long Island, A. V. in summer. Eggs, one to three, whitish or buff, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 2-00 x 1-45. A regular summer visitant to our southern coasts and occasionally wandering northward. It breeds in colonies in little-frequented islands in the West Indies, and may be seen fishing in flocks, which hover low over the water. The BRIDLED TERN (76. Sterna anmthetu^, a tropical species, has been taken once in Florida, but may prove to be a regular summer visitant to some of the Florida keys. 77. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.\ BLACK TERN. Ad. in summer. — AVliolc licjul and under parts, except under tail-coverts, black ; back, wings, and tail slate-color; bill and feet black. Ad. in winter. SKIMMERS. 85 — Forehead, nape, and under parts white : back of the head black mixed with white; back, wings, and tail deep pearl-gray. Iin. — Similar to the pre- ceding, but upper parts more or less washed and tipped with brownish ; sides washed with grayish. L., 10-00 ; W., 8-30 ; T., 3-30 ; B., 1-00. Range. — Temperate and tropical America; breeds in the interior from Kansas and Illinois to Alaska ; not known to breed on the Atlantic coast, where it is found from Prince Edward's Island southward as an irregular migrant, occurring at times in considerable numbers. Washington, irregular T. V., Sept. Long Island, irregular T. V. in vary- ing numbers, Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, A. V., Sept. Rest, of reeds, grasses, etc., rather closely woven, in grassy marshes or vegetation floating in a slough. .Eggs, two to three, grayish olive-brown, rarely whitish, heavily spotted and blotched with chocolate markings, fre- quently confluent about the larger end, 1-35 x -98. This is an abundant species at favorable localities in the interior. " It seems not to subsist on fish at all, but chiefly on dragon flies and various aquatic insects. It finds both its home and its food in the marshes usually, but its powers of flight are so great that it may also be seen far out on the dry open plains, scouring the country for food at a distance of miles from its nesting ground. . . . " The bird may frequently be seen dashing about in a zigzag man- ner so swiftly, the eye can offer no explanation of its motive until, on the resumption of its ordinary flight, a large dragon fly is seen hang- ing from its bill. . . ." (Thompson). The WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN (78. HydrocTielidon leucoptera), an Old World species, has been taken once in Wisconsin, and is recorded as " seen " on a lake near Winnipeg. 79. Anous stolidus (Li H«.). NODDY. Ad.— Top of the head silvery whitish, lores black : rest of the plumage dark sooty brown ; tail rounded, the central tail-feathers longest. Im. — Similar, but the top of the head is like the rest of the plumage and the silvery whitish appears as a line from the bill to above the eye. L., 15-00 ; W., 10-25 ; T., 5-90 ; B., 1-70. Range. — " Tropical and subtropical regions ; in America, from Brazil and Chili north to the Gulf and South Atlantic States'1 (A. O. U.). Nest, of sticks, grasses, etc., on a mangrove bush, in a tree, sometimes on the beach or in crevices of rocks. Egg, pale bufl'y white, sparingly marked with rufous, 2-05 x 1-35. This is a summer visitant to our South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and nests on some of the Florida keys. FAMILY RYNCHOPID^. SKIMMERS. The three closely allied species constituting this small but distinct family are found in the warmer parts of the earth. Only one species 8ft ALBATROSSES. inhabits the western hemisphere. Skimmers are unique both in the form of the bill and in their manner of feeding. Opening the mouth, the bladelike lower mandible is dropped just beneath the surface of the water ; then, flying rapidly, they may be said to literally " plow the main " in search of their food of small aquatic animals. 8O. Bynchops nigra Linn. BLACK SKIMMER; SCISSOR-BILL (see Fig. 8). ^.—Forehead, sides of the head, under parts, and tips of the sec- ondaries white ; upper parts and wings black ; outer tail-feathers white, inner ones more or less brownish. L., 18-00 ; W., 14-50 ; T., 4 75 ; B., 2-60. Range. — Coasts of the warmer parts of America, breeding regularly as far north as southern New Jersey, and, after the breeding season, occasionally wandering northward as far as the Bay of Fundy. Washington, A. V. Long Island, occasional in summer. Nest, a slight depression in the sand or shells of a beach. Eggs, three to four, white or buft'y white, heavily blotched with chocolate, 1-80 x 1-35. A not uncommon species on our southern coasts, resembling other members of this family in habits. ORDER TUBINARES. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. FAMILY DIOMEDEID^E. ALBATROSSES. The Albatrosses, numbering eight or ten species, are confined chiefly to the seas of the southern hemisphere. They are eminently pelagic birds, possessed of untiring powers of flight. Four species visit our Pacific coast, but on the Atlantic coast of North America Albatrosses are almost unknown, and there are but few records of their occurrence. The WANDERING ALBATROSS (80-1. Diomedea exulans), the largest of all sea birds, with an expanse of wing which measures from twelve to fourteen feet, inhabits antarctic seas, but sometimes wanders northward, and is said to have been seen in Tampa Bay, Florida. The YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS (83. Thalassogeron culminates) is also a southern species which is said to have been taken once in Quebec (Chamber- Iniii, Nuttall's Manual, 2d ed., ii, p. 277). FAMILY PRQCELLARIID^E. SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. The seventy known species of Petrels are distributed over the seas of the world. Some thirty species have been found in North America, of which seven occur regularly on our Atlantic coast. Like their large relatives, the Albatrosses, they are strictly pelagic, and visit'the land only to nest. The strong, swift flight of Shearwaters, and the graceful movements of the smaller " Mother Carey's Chickens," are familiar sights to those who go ''down to the sea in ships." SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. * 87 KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 10-50. A. Under parts dusky 94. SOOTY SHEARWATER. B. Under parts white. a. Bill under 1-50 98. BLACK-CAPPED PETREL. b. Bill over 1-50. b1. Under tail-coverts white 88. CORY'S SHEARWATER. b3. Under tail-coverts grayish brown . . 89. GREATER SHEARWATER. II. Wing under 10-50. A. Wing over V'25. a. Depth of bill at base over -50. . 86. FULMAR. 86a. LESSER FULMAR. b. Depth of bill at base under -50. b1. Upper parts bluish gray 99. SCALED PETREL. fta. Upper parts sooty black 92. AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER. B. Wing under 7'25. a. Upper tail-coverts more or less white. a1. Tail forked 106. LEACH'S PETREL. b1. Tail square. fea. Webs of feet marked with yellow; upper tail-coverts not tipped with black 109. WILSON'S PETREL. ba. Webs of feet without yellow ; tail-coverts tipped with black. 104. STORMY PETREL. b. Upper tail-coverts grayish or brownish. b1. Entire under parts brownish ..... 101. BULWER'S PETREL. b*. Breast grayish 110. WHITE-BELLIED PETREL. ba. Entire under parts white 111. WHITE-FACED PETREL. 86. Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.). FULMAR; NODDY (see Fig. 9, b). Light phase. — Head, neck, and under parts white or whitish ; back, wings, and tail slaty gray. Dark phase, — Entire plumage nearly uniform dark, slaty gray. L., 19-00; W., 13-04; B., 1-50; depth of B. at base, '75 (Ridgw.). Range. — North Atlantic ; south in winter on the American coast to Massa- chusetts ; accidental in northern New Jersey. JVest, on the ledges of rocky cliff's. Egg, one, dull white, 2*85 x 2-01. " The Fulmar is a constant attendant on whalers, sealers, etc.— who know it as the ' Mollimoke ' — in order to obtain fatty substances and animal offal ; but I never saw it take any while on the wing, and it always settles on the water to feed, like an Albatross. The pinions arc often flapped slowly in an owl-like manner, but in scudding they are held very straight — a peculiarity by which it may easily be distin- guished from a Gull at a distance " (Saunders). 86a. F. g. minor Kjaerb. LESSER FULMAR ; NODDY. " Similar in color to F. glacialis, but much smaller. W., 11-80-12-00; B., 1-30-1-38; depth of B. at base, -60--70." Range. — " North Atlantic, south on American side to coast of New Eng- land" (Kidgw.). gg SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 88. Puffinus borealis Cory. CORY'S SHEARWATER. Ad.— Upper parts ashy fuscous, wings and tail darker; sides of head and neck slightly lighter ; under parts white, sometimes washed with grayish on the breast ; under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts white, the latter more or less mot- tled with grayish ; bill yellowish. L., 21-00 ; W., 14-00 ; Tar., 2-20 ; B., 2-10. Range. — Known as yet only off the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Long Island. Long Island, uncommon from Aug. to Oct. Nest and eggs unknown. Cory's Shearwater has been found as a not uncommon summer visitant off the coast of Massachusetts, but its range is unknown. 89. Puffinus major Fdber. GREATER SHEARWATER ; HAGDON. Ad. — Upper parts fuscous, wings and tail slightly darker; longer upper tail- coverts tipped with whitish ; under parts white ; belly more or less ashy gray ; under tail-coverts ashy gray ; bill blackish. L., 20-00 ; W., 12-25 ; Tar., 2-20 ; B., 1-85. Range. — " Atlantic Ocean, south to Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope " (A. 0. U.) ; north to Greenland. Long Island, uncommon in summer. Nest and eggs unknown. « *4 The long, narrow wings are set stiffly at right angles with the body, and the bird frequently glides half a mile at a time without moving them perceptibly. It usually follows a direct course, and in- variably skims close over the waves. I know of no other sea bird whose movements are as easy and graceful. Indeed, at times, espe- cially during a gale, its evolutions will compare in grace and spirit with those of the Mississippi or Swallow-tailed Kites " (Brewster). MANX'S SHEARWATER (90. Puffinus puffinus) resembles the next in color, but is larger. W., 8-50-9-25 ; B., 1-35-1-40 ; depth of B. through base, -40--45 ; Tar., 1-70-1-80 " (B., B., and R.). It is a European species of exceedingly rare or accidental occurrence on the North Atlantic coast. 92. Puffinus auduboni F-hixeh. AUDI-BON'S SHEARWATER. Ad. — Upper parts, wings, and tail dark, sooty, brownish black ; under parts white ; sides of the breast grayish ; a patch on the flanks and under tail-coverts sooty brownish black ; inner side of tarsi yellowish, outer brownish ; bill blackish. L., 12-00; W., 8-00; Tar., 1-60; B., 1-20. Range.— Warmer parts of the Atlantic, north rarely to Long Island ; breeds in the Antilles and Bahamas, but not, so far as known, on our coasts. Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of a few bits of sticks in a hole in the rocks. Egg, one, chalky white, 2-05 x 1-40. An abundant West Indian species which breeds in the Bahamas ind Antilles, and is doubtless not uncommon off our southern coasts. SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 89 Its flight, low over the water, is strong and swift, five or six rapid wing-beats being followed by a short sail. 94. Puffinus Strickland! Ridgw. SOOTY SHEARWATER ; BLACK HAGDON. Ad. — Upper parts, wings, and tail dark, sooty, brownish black ; under parts somewhat grayer ; bill blackish. L., 17'00 ; W., 12-00 ; Tar., 2-10 ; B., 1-65. Range. — As far as known, North Atlantic ; south on the American coast to South Carolina. Long Island, uncommon in summer. Nest and eggs unknown. " Its flight and habits seem to be identical with those of major \ but its uniform dark coloring gives it a very different appearance. At a distance it looks as black as a Crow " (Brewster). The BLACK-CAPPED PETREL (98. ^Sstrelata hasitata) is a southern species, which has been found on Long Island, in Florida, West Virginia, and Ver- mont. It bears a general resemblance to Puffinus major, but is much smaller and has the upper and under tail-coverts white. The SCALED PETREL (99. ^Estrelata scalaris) is known from one individual which had wandered to western New York. Its true home has not been dis- covered, but is doubtless in the Antarctic Ocean. BULWER'S PETREL (101. Bulweria bulweri) inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the coasts of Europe and Africa, and is of accidental occur- rence in Greenland. 104. Procellaria pelagica Linn. STORMY PETREL. Ad. — Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black ; under parts slightly browner ; upper tail- coverts white, the longer ones broadly tipped with black ; under tail-coverts mixed with whitish ; bill and feet black. L., 5-50 ; W., 4-80 ; T., 2-50 ; B., -45. Range. — u Atlantic Ocean, south on the American side fo the Newfound- land Banks, west coast of Africa and coast of Europe " (A. O. U.). Nest, of a few bits of sticks and grasses in a burrow in the ground or be- neath a rock. Egg, one, dull white, sometimes with a wreath of minute or obscure markings at the larger end, 1-10 x -80. This is the common Stormy Petrel of the east side of the Atlantic. It nests in numbers on the small islands along the coast of Great Britain, but is only a transient visitant in our waters. It resembles the two following species in habits. 106. Oceanodroma leucorhoa ( Vieitt.}. LEACH'S PETREL. Ad. — Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty brown; under parts slightly browner; wing-coverts grayish brown; longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter ones mixed with sooty brownish ; tail forked, outer feathers more than -50 longer than middle pair ; bill and feet black. L., 8-00 ; W., 6-20 ; T., 3-50 ; B., -62. Range. — " North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans ; south on the coast of the United States to Virginia and California; breeds from Maine and the Hebrides northward on the coasts of the Atlantic" (A. 0. U.). 90 SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. Washington, A. V., several records. Long Island, uncommon T. V., May and June. Cambridge, A. V., one instance, Oct. Nest, of a few bits of sticks and grasses in a burrow in the ground, or be- neath a rock. Egg, one, creamy white, sometimes with a wreath of minute or obscure markings at the larger end, 1*34 x TOO. " This is a bird of the northern hemisphere, being as common on the Pacific Ocean as on the Atlantic. Its chief breeding station on our shores is among the islands at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy ; but the open ocean is the bird's true home. " Leach's Petrels are seldom seen about their nesting site during the day, though in the evening they assemble there ; and when flut- tering through the twilight or under the moon's guidance they have the appearance of a foraging squad of bats, though the birds' wild, plaintive notes betray their race. The Petrels are not strictly noc- turnal, however, for while one of a pair sits close on the nest ajl day — and this one has been generally the male, in my experience — the mate is out at sea. " When handled, these birds emit from mouth and nostrils a small quantity of oil-like fluid of a reddish color and pungent, musklike odor. The air at the nesting site is strongly impregnated with this odor, and it guides a searcher to the nest " (Chamberlain). 109. Oceanites oceanicus (KuU}. WILSON'S PETREL. .^.— Up- per parts, wings, and tail sooty black ; under parts somewhat lighter ; under tail-coverts mixed with whitish, longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter ones marked with sooty black ; wing-coverts grayish, margined with whitish ; bill and feet black, the webs of the latter mostly yellow. L., 7 -00 ; W., 5-90 ; T., 2-80 ; B., -50. • Range.— Atlantic Ocean; breeds in southern seas (Kerguelen Island) and migrates northward, spending the summer off our coasts. Washington, A. V., one record. Long Island, common from May to Sept. Nest, in the crevices of rocks. Egg, one, white. It is generally known that some birds which nest in the northern parts of our continent, in the winter migrate as far south as Patago- nia ; but comparatively few are aware that during the summer we receive several visitors from the southern parts of the southern hemi- sphere. They are all included in the family ProceHariidce, and Wil- son's Petrel is doubtless the most common. It breeds in the islands of the South Atlantic in February, and after the cares of the breeding season are over migrates northward to pass its winter off our coasts. At this season its home is the sea, and its occurrence on land is gener- ally due to storms. For this reason, and because of its long migra- tion, it is the Petrel most frequently observed in western Atlantic waters during the summer. TROPIC BIRDS. 91 Under the name of " Stormy Petrel." or " Mother Carey's Chicken," they are familiar to most people who have made sea voyages. On tireless wing they follow in the track of a ship, coursing ceaselessly back and forth, now beneath the stern, now hovering over the foam- flecked wake, reminding one of white-rumped Martins in their easy, graceful flight. If food be thrown overboard, they are at once attracted to it, and soon are left far behind, a little group of black, fluttering forms on the surface of the ocean. The meal disposed of, a few rapid wing-beats bring them to us, and again they resume their patient beat- ing to and fro. The WHITE-BELLIED PETREL (110. Cymodroma grallaria) is a tropical species which has been taken once in North America — at St. Marks, Florida. The WHITE-FACED PETREL (111. Ptlagodroma marina) inhabits the South Atlantic and southern seas. It is of casual occurrence off the coast of Massa- chusetts. It may be distinguished from any of our small Petrels by its white under parts. ORDER STEGANOPODES. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. FAMILY PHAETHONTID^E. TROPIC BIRDS. The three species composing this small but distinct family are found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are littoral rather than pelagic, but make long journeys across the open sea. Their flight when migrating is strong, rapid, and direct. In feeding, they course over the water, beating back and forth at a height of about forty feet. Their long, willowy tail-feathers add greatly to the grace and beauty of their appearance when on the wing. 112. Phaethon flavirostris Brandt. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD (see Fig. 11). Ad. — White ; a mark before and through the eye ; outer web of primaries, lesser wing-coverts, and tertials black 5 flanks streaked with slate ; bill yellow ; tail tinged with salmon* shafts of the feathers black. W., 10-75 ; T., 19-00 ; B., 2-00. Range. — Tropical coasts ; Atlantic coasts of tropical America, West Indies, Bahamas, Bermudas ; casual in Florida and accidental in western New York and Nova Scotia. This species breeds abundantly in the limestone cliffs of the Ber- mudas, but is of rare and probably accidental occurrence on our coasts. The KED-BILLED TROPIC BIRD (113. Phatthon cetTiereus) resembles the preceding species, but has the bill red and the upper parts finely barred with black. Its range in the Atlantic is more southern than that of the Yellow- billed Tropic Bird, and in eastern North America it is accidental. The only record of its occurrence is off the Newfoundland Banks. 92 GANNETS. FAMILY SULID^E. GANNETS. The Gannets number about eight species, of which one is northern while the remaining seven are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical coasts of the world. They are strictly maritime, but, ex- cept when migrating, do not venture far from land. Their flight is strong and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted at intervals by a short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plung- ing for it from the air. The northern species is migatory ; the others are roving, but all return with regularity to their nesting places, gen- erally on some inaccessible islet, where, during the breeding season, they may be found associated in large numbers. 115. Sula sula (Linn.). BOOBY. (See Fig. 12.) Ad.— Breast and belly white, sometimes washed with grayish ; rest of the plumage brownish fuscous; head and neck sometimes streaked with grayish brown and white; bill and feet yellowish. Im. — Entire plumage brownish fuscous, lighter be- low; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30-00 ; W., 15-50 : T., 8-00 ; B., 3-80. Range. — " Coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia." Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, on the shore of a barren islet. Eggs, two, chalky white, 2-30 x 1-55. This inhabitant of barren shores and lonely islets is a summer visitant to the Florida keys. It is a strong flier, and when on the wing reminds one of both a Cormorant and a Gull. The BLUE-FACED BOOBY (114. Sula cyanops} is found in the " South Pa- cific, West Indies, and northward to Florida," but there are no recent records of its occurrence in the last-named locality. The RED-FOOTED BOOBY (116. Sula piscator} inhabits the coasts and islands of tropical and subtropical seas, north to western Mexico, and is said to occur in Florida, but, like S. cyanops, it is of accidental occurrence within our limits. 117. Sula bassana (Zt'on.). GANNET. Ad.— White, head and neck tinged with pale straw-yellow; primaries fuscous. Im.— Throat and upper parts, including wing-coverts, dark grayish brown, each feather with a small white wedge-shaped spot; breast and belly white, margined with grayish brown. L., 35-00 ; W., 19-00 ; T., 9-50 ; B., 4;00. Range.—" Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico and Africa; breeds from Nova Scotia and the British Islands north- ward." Long Island, T. V., May ; Oct. and Nov. ; a few winter. Nest, on rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pale bluish white, overlaid by a chalky deposit, more or less soiled and stained, 3-20 x 1-90. "The birds are usually associated in small, straggling flocks, and with outstretched necks, and eyes ever on the lookout for fish, they fly at a height of from seventy-five to a hundred feet above the water, or DARTERS. 93 occasionally somewhat more. The height at which the Gannet flies above the water is proportioned to the depth at which the fish are swimming beneath, and Captain Collins tells me that when fish are swimming near the surface the Gannet flies very low and darts ob- liquely instead of vertically upon his prey. Should any finny game be seen within range, down goes the Gannet headlong, the nearly closed wings being used to guide the living arrow in its downward flight. Just above the surface the wings are firmly closed, and a small splash of spray shows where the winged fisher cleaves the water to transfix his prey. Disappearing for a few seconds, the bird reappears, rests for a moment on the water, long enough to swallow his catch, and then rises in pursuit of other game " (Lucas, Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1891, p. 712). FAMILY ANHINGIDJE. DARTERS. There are four species of Darters or Snakebirds, one each in Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and tropical and subtropical America. They are silent birds, generally living in pairs on bodies of fresh water with wooded shores. They select a perch over the water, and when alarmed sometimes drop into the element below and disappear beneath its sur- face, or fly upward to a considerable height and circle about like sail- ing Hawks. They swim well, and when approached too closely quietly sink backward, frequently leaving the long, thin neck and narrow, pointed head above the surface, when one at once observes the origin of the name "Snakebird." They obtain their food by pursuing it under water, and their finely serrated bill assists them in retaining their hold upon it. 118. Anhinga anhinga (Linn.). ANHINGA; SNAKEBIRD; WATER TURKEY. (See Fig. 13.) Ad. $ in summer. — General plumage glossy black with greenish reflections ; back of the head and neck with scattered grayish plumes ; upper back with numerous elongated silvery white spots, which on the scapulars become streaks ; lesser wing-coverts spotted like the back ; ex- posed portion of median and greater coverts silvery gray ; tail tipped with whitish, the outer webs of the middle pair of feathers with transverse flutings. Ad. $ in winter. — Similar, but without the grayish plumes on the head and neck. Ad. 9 . — Similar to $ , but with the whole head, neck, and breast brownish, darker above. Im. — Similar to 9 , but with the black parts of the plumage brownish. L., 34-00 ; W., 13-50 ; T., 10-50 ; B., 3-25. Range. — Tropical and subtropical America; breeds as far north as south- ern Illinois and South Carolina ; winters from the Gulf States southward. JVest, of sticks lined with moss, rootlets, etc., over the water in a bush or tree. Eggs, two to four, bluish white with a chalky deposit, 2-15 x 1-35. This singular bird is common in the Gulf States. It has the habits of other members of this small family. 94 CORMORANTS. FAMILY PHALACROCORACID^E. CORMORANTS. Cormorants are found in all parts of the world. Ten of the thirty known species inhabit North America. As a rule they are maritime, but they also frequent bodies of fresh water far from the seacoast. They are gregarious at all times of the year and breed in large colo- nies. Their flight is strong and ducklike, but, except when migrat- ing, is generally not far above the surface of the water. They secure their food of fish by pursuing it under water, their hooked bill assist- ing them in its capture. Unlike the Gannets, they do not dive from the air, but from the water or a low perch. 119. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.}. CORMORANT; SHAG. (See Fig. 10.) Ad. in breeding plumage. — Region about the base of the lower man- dible white or whitish ; head, upper neck, and throat glossy black, thickly sprinkled with white ; rest ot the neck, under parts, and rump glossy black ; a white patch on the flanks ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts light olive-brown, each feather bordered by glossy black ; tail black, composed of fourteen feathers. Ad. in winter. — Similar, but without white on the head. Im. — Top of t'he head and hind neck brownish black ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts grayish brown, the feathers bordered by blackish ; rump glossy black; throat and breast grayish brown, changing to white on the belly; sides and under tail-coverts glossy black. L., 36-00; W., 14-00; T., 7-00; B., 3-00. Range. — " Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter on the coast of the United States casually to the Carolinas" (A. O. IL). Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to northern Greenland. Long Island, regular T. V. in limited numbers. tfest, of sticks and seaweed, in colonies generally on the ledges of rocky cliffs. Eggs, four to six, pale bluish white, more or less overlaid with a chalky deposit, 2-50 x 1-50. This northern species is of uncommon occurrence on our coast south of its breeding range. 120. Phalacrocorax dilophus (Sw. and Rich.). DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. Ad. in breeding plumage. — Head, neck, rump, and under parts glossy black; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts light grayish brown, each feather margined with glossy black ; tail black, composed of twelve feath- ers / a tuft of black feathers on either side of the head. Ad. in winter. — Similar, but without tufts on the head. Im. — Top of the head and back of the neck blackish brown ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts brownish gray, each feather margined with black; rump glossy black; sides of the head and fore neck grayish white, whiter on the breast and changing gradu- ally to black on the lower belly. L., 30-00; W., 12-50; T., 6-20; B., 2-30. Range.— Eastern North America, breeding from Dakota, and the Bay of Fundy northward ; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward. Washington, casual, several records. Long Island, common T. V., Apl. PELICANS. 95 and May ; Aug. to Nov. Sing Sing, A. 'V., June. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Nest, of sticks, seaweed, etc., on the ledges of cliffs, low bushes, bushy trees, or on the ground. Eggs, two to four, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2-40 x 1-40. This is the common Cormorant of the middle Eastern States. We see it chiefly as migrant when in flocks of varying size it passes far overhead, or pauses to rest on our shores. In migrating the flock is formed in a long line, comparatively few birds deep. On the wing they bear a general resemblance to large Ducks. 120a. P. d. floridanus (Aud.). FLORIDA CORMORANT. Kesembles the preceding species in color, but is smaller. W., 12-00 ; T., 5-50 ; B., 2-10. This is an abundant bird on the Florida coast and westward along the shores of the Gulf. Almost every buoy in the harbors of Florida is capped by a Cormorant. They are shy birds, but may easily be se- cured by placing traps on the buoys or snags, to which they regularly return to roost. The MEXICAN CORMORANT (121. Phalacrocorax mexicanus] — a species found on the west Gulf coast and southward — sometimes wanders up the Mis- sissippi as far as Illinois. FAMILY PELECANID^E. PELICANS. The twelve known species of Pelicans are distributed throughout the warmer parts of the world. Three species are North American, of which two are exclusively maritime, while the third is found both on the coast and in the interior. Pelicans are gregarious and nest in large colonies. Their flight is strong but leisurely, six or seven wing- strokes being followed by a short sail, all the members of a flock flap- ping and sailing in unison. They feed on fish, for which some species plunge from the air, while others capture small fry with their scoop- like pouches while swimming. 125. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus Gmel. AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. Ad. in breeding plumage. — White, primaries black, whitish at the base ; an occipital crest and a horny prominence on the bill. Ad. in winter. — Similar, but without the crest or horny prominence. Im. — Similar, but top of the head brownish gray. L., 60-00 ; W., 22-00 ; Tar., 4-50 ; B., 14-00. Range.— North America, now rare or accidental on the Atlantic coast; breeds from southern Minnesota northward; winters along the Gulf coast. Washington, casual, four records. Long Island, A. V. Nest, of small sticks, on the ground. Eggs, two to four, creamy or bluish white with a chalky deposit, more or less stained, 3-45 x 2-30. 96 PELICANS. The White Pelican winters in numbers on the Gulf coast of Florida and westward, but rarely occurs on the Atlantic coast. Its snowy white plumage renders it conspicuous at a great distance, and a far- away Pelican on the water is sometimes mistaken for a distant sail. The White Pelican catches his food while swimming. A flock of Pelicans will sometimes surround a school of small fry and with beat- ing wings drive them toward the shore, all the time eagerly scooping the unfortunate fish into their great pouches. At the conclusion of a successful " drive " they go ashore or rest quietly on the water and devour their prey at leisure. They migrate by day — and perhaps by night also— flying at a great height, and sometimes pausing to sail in wide circles far up in the sky. 126. Pelecanus fuscus Linn. BROWN PELICAN. Ad. in breed- ing plumage. — Top of the head and a spot on the upper breast straw-yellow; line down either side of the breast white ; hind head, neck, and a spot on the fore neck seal-brown ; sides and back silvery gray bordered by brownish black ; scapulars, wing-coverts, secondaries, and tail silvery gray ; primaries black ; under parts dark blackish brown narrowly streaked with white. Ad. after the breeding season. — Similar, but with the hind head and whole neck white, more or less tinged with straw-yellow. Im. — Similar to the preceding, but the head and neck grayish and rest of the plumage duller. L., 50-00 ; W., 19-50 ; Tar., 2-65 ; B., 11-00. Range. — Atlantic coast of tropical and subtropical America; breeds abun- dantly along the Gulf coast and northward to South Carolina ; occasionally strays to Illinois and Massachusetts. Long Island, A. V. Nest, of sticks, in mangrove bushes or on the ground. Eggs, two to five, similar in color to those of the preceding species, 3-00 x 1-95. Brown Pelicans are abundant residents on the Florida and Gulf coast. They are generally seen in flocks of four to eight birds flying one after the other. The leader beats time, as it were, and they all flap in unison for a certain number of wing-beats, then sail for a short distance, and then flap again. The coast line is their favorite high- way to and from their roosts or nesting grounds. They fly low over the water just outside the breakers, following the trough of the sea — now disappearing behind the advancing wall of water, now reappear- ing as the wave breaks on the shore. Unlike the White Pelican, this species secures his prey by diving. Singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, they beat back and forth, generally about twenty feet above the water, and when opportunity offers plunge downward with such force that the spray dashes high about them, and the resulting splash may be heard a half a mile. They sometimes catch fish twelve to fifteen inches in length, but as a rule feed on smaller ones. 1. Bald pate. 2. Green-winged Teal. 3. Blue-winged Teal. 4. Shoveler. 5. Pintail. 6. Wood Duck. 7. Redhead. 8. Canvasback. 9. Am. Scaup Duck. 10. Am. Golden-eye. 11. Bufflehead. 12. Old Squaw. 13. Greenland Eider. 14. White-winged Scoter. 15. Ruddy Duck. MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. 97 FAMILY FREGATID^S. MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. Man-o'-war Birds, or Frigate Birds, are found throughout inter- tropical seas. One of the two known species occurs in America. They are strictly maritime, and, while sometimes observed at great distances from the land, are met with in numbers only near the coasts. They have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their body than any other bird, and in power of flight are unsurpassed. They rarely alight upon the water, but, facing the wind, pass hours resting motionless on outstretched wings, sometimes ascending to great heights and calmly soaring far above storms. It is when feed- ing that their marvelous aerial powers are displayed to the best advan- tage. By swift, indescribably graceful darts they secure fish which are near the surface or capture those which have leaped from the water to escape some enemy below. They also pursue Gulls and Terns, and, forcing them to disgorge their prey, catch it in midair. As a rule they are gregarious at all seasons, and nest and roost on bushes near the shore. 128. Fregata aquila (Linn.}. MAN-O'-WAR BIRD; FRIGATE BIRD. (See Fig. 15.) Ad. £ . — Entire plumage black, more glossy above. $ .—Simi- lar, but browner ; lesser wing-coverts grayish brown ; breast and upper belly white. Im. — Similar to the $ , but whole head and neck white. L., 40*00 ; W., 25-00 ; T., 17-00 ; B., 4-50. Range. — Tropical and subtropical coasts generally; in America north to Florida, Texas, and California, and casually to Kansas, Ohio, and Nova Scotia. Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of sticks, in colonies, on bushes or rocks. Egg, one, chalky white, 2-65 x 1-75. This species is not uncommon on the coasts of southern Florida, but does not, so far as I know, nest there. It resembles other mem- bers of the family in habits. ORDER ANSERES. LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS. FAMILY ANATID^;. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. The two hundred species included in this family are placed in the five subfamilies, Mergince or Mergansers, Anatinm or River Ducks, Fuligulince, or Sea Ducks, Anserince or Geese, and Cygnince or Swans. The characters given in the Key to Families should enable one to easily refer a specimen to its proper group. These subfamilies are so well defined that it seems advisable to treat of each one separately. 8 98 MERGANSERS. Aside from the general remarks at the head of each subfamily I can add little which will aid in the identification of the species in the field. Ducks are shy creatures, and familiarity with their habits is gained only by long experience. Subfamily MergincB. Mergansers. The Shelldrakes or Sawbills are fish-eating Ducks. They pursue and capture their prey under water, and their serrate bills seem espe- cially adapted to this mode of feeding. The flesh of adult Sheldrakes is rank and fishy ; but the Hooded Merganser is an excellent table Duck. KEY TO SPECIES. A. Bill under 1*75, wing 8-00 or under .... 131. HOODED MERGANSER. B. Bill over 1*75, wing over 8-00. a. Head and throat black. a1. Breast and belly white,, tinged with salmon. 129. AM. MERGANSER ( $ ad.). aa. Breast brownish, thickly streaked and spotted with black. 130. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ( $ ad.). b. Head and sides of the neck rich rufous- brown ; distance from nostril to end of bill less than 1-50 . . . . 129. AM. MERGANSER (9 and im.). c. Crown grayish brown, more or less washed with cinnamon-rufous ; sides of the neck cinnamon-rufous ; distance from nostril to end of bill over 1-50 130. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ( 9 and im.). 129. Merganser americanus (Cass.). AMERICAN MERGANSER; GOOSANDER; SHELLDRAKE. (See Fig. 16.) Ad. $. — Whole head and upper neck glossy greenish black ; bind neck, secondaries, lesser wing-coverts, and ends of greater ones white ; back black, rump and tail ashy gray ; breast and belly white, delicately tinged with salmon. Ad. 9 and Im. — Cbin and upper throat white ; lower throat and entire top of the head rufous-brown ; rest of upper parts and tail ashy gray; speculum* white; breast and belly white. L., 25-00; W., 10-50; Tar., 1-85; B. from N., 1-50. Range. — North America generally ; breeds from Minnesota and southern New Brunswick northward; winters from Kansas, Illinois, and Maine south- ward to South Carolina. Washington, rare W. V. Long Island, uncommon W. V., Nov. to Mch. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., Jan. 1 to Mch. 8. Cambridge, formerly common T. V., Oct. to Dec. Nest, of leaves, grasses, and moss, lined with down, in a hole in a tree or cliff. Eggs, six to ten, creamy buff, 2-65 x T75. " This bird is fond of plunging beneath rushing currents for its food, and should it encounter a raft of floating rubbish or an ice-cake * A patch in the wing formed by the end half of the secondaries, which in Ducks are generally of a different color from the rest of the wing-feathers. MERGANSERS. 99 it will readily pass underneath it. It swims so deeply as to afford the gunner but a small mark, and dives so quickly at the snap or flash of his gun that he stands but a small chance of killing it. " On being surprised the Goosander may rise directly out of the water, but more commonly pats the surface with his feet for some yards and then rises to windward. A whole flock thus rising from some foaming current affords a spirited scene. Once on the wing, the flight is straight, strong, and rapid " (Langille). 130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). KED-BREASTED MERGANSER; SHELLDRAKE. Ad. $ . — Whole head and throat black, more greenish above; a white ring around the neck; a broad cinnamon-rufous band with black streaks on the upper breast and sides of the lower neck ; lesser wing-coverts, tips of greater ones, secondaries, breast, and belly white; rump and sides finely barred with black and white. Ad. 9 and Im, — Top and back of head grayish brown washed with cinnamon-rufous ; sides of the head and throat cinnamon-rufous, paler on the throat; rest of under parts white; back and tail ashy gray; speculum white. L., 22*00; W., 9400; Tar., T70; B. from N., 1-80. Remarks. — Adults of this and the preceding species may always be dis- tinguished by the color of the breast ; females and young, by the differently colored heads, while the position of the nostril is always diagnostic. Range. — Northern parts of the northern hemisphere ; in America breeds from northern Illinois and New Brunswick northward to the arctic regions; winters from near- the southern limits of its breeding range southward to Cuba. Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, abundant T. V., Mch. 1 to May 1 ; Oct. 15 to Dec. 1, a few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Dec. to Apl. 30. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. Nest, of leaves, grasses, mosses, etc., lined with down, on the ground near water, among rocks or scrubby bushes. Eggs, six to twelve, creamy buff, 2-55 x 1-75. This is a more common species than the preceding, which it resem- bles in habits. Its note is described as a " croak." 131. Lophodytescucullatus(Z»'?m.). HOODED MERGAKSER. Ad. 6. — Front part of large circular crest black ; remaining part white, bordered by black ; rest of head, the neck, and back black ; breast and belly white ; sides cinnamon-rufous, finely barred with black. Ad. ? . — Upper throat white ; head, neck, and upper breast grayish brown, more or less tinged with cinnamon, especially on the small crest; lower breast and belly white; sides grayish brown; back fuscous. Im.— Similar, but with no crest, L., 17'50; W., 7'50; Tar., 1-10; B., 1-45. Range. — North America generally, south in winter to Cuba and Mexico; breeds locally throughout its North American range. Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, uncommon T. V., rare W. V., Nov. to May. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Mch. Cambridge, formerly common T. V., Oct. to Dec. 100 RIVER DUCKS. Nest, of grasses, leaves, moss, etc., lined with down, in a hollow tree or stump near water. Eggs, eight to ten, buffy white, 2-10 x T75. According to Ernest E. Thompson, both the preceding species fre- quent chiefly " living " or running water, while this bird prefers " dead " waters, or quiet ponds and lakes. In Florida it lives in small ponds in the hummocks, where one expects to find Wood Ducks, and feeds on roots, seeds, etc. It visits also the lakes frequented by Black Ducks, Mallards, and other Anatince. The male is a striking bird in life, and can not be mistaken for any other species. Subfamily Anatince. River and Pond Ducks. The Ducks of this subfamily are distinguished by the absence of a lobe on the hind toe. They are, for the most part, northern breeding birds, and appear on our waters chiefly as migrants. At this time they differ but little in habits, and as a rule frequent sluggish streams, shallow ponds, arms of bays, and marshes. In comparison with the deep-water Fuligulince they might be called " dabblers " or " tip-ups," and any one who has seen them dabbling along the shore, or with up- turned tail and head immersed probing the bottom in shallow water, like a flock of animated tenpins, will recognize the appropriateness of these terms. They feed upon mollusks, crustaceans, insects and their larvae, seeds and roots of aquatic plants. The " gutters " on the sides of the bill act as strainers, and, after probing the bottom, the mere act of closing the bill forces out the mud and water taken in with the food. As a rule, they feed more commonly by night than by day. They do not gather in such large flocks as the Sea Ducks, and in our waters are generally found in groups of less than fifty. They spring from the water at a bound, 'and on whistling wing are soon beyond the fowler's reach. Their speed is variously estimated for different species at a hundred to a hundred and sixty miles an hour. Doubtless the first-named distance is nearer the truth. Their nest is composed of twigs, rootlets, grasses, leaves, moss, feathers, etc., lined with down from the breast of the incubating bird. All our species, except the Wood Duck, place their nest on the ground, generally in grassy sloughs or marshes, but sometimes in dry places some distance from the water. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing under 8-50. a. Lesser wing-coverts gray. 139. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 138. EUROPEAN TEAL. b. Lesser wing-coverts blue. bl. Cheeks slate-color, a broad white mark near the front of the face. 140. BLUE-WINGED TEAL ( 6 ad.). RIVER DUCKS. 101 £a. Cheeks and under parts chestnut-rufous. 141. CINNAMON TEAL ( $ ad.). cl. Cheeks finely streaked with blackish. ca. Under parts whitish, sometimes washed with brownish, streaked or spotted with blackish 140. BLUE-WINGED TEAL 9 . c3. Under parts heavily washed with chestnut-rufous and mottled with black 141. CINNAMON TEAL 9 . II. Wing over 8-50. A. Belly white or grayish white, not conspicuously streaked or spotted. a. Whole head shining dark green 132. MALLARD ( 3 ad.). b. Center of head white or whitish, a large streak behind the eye. 137. BALDPATE ( $ ad.). c. Throat white, crown green or grayish green, tips of primaries greenish. 144. WOOD DUCK. d. Throat blackish, center of crown buffy, rest of head rufous. 136. WIDGEON ( $ ad.). e. Throat and sides of head olive- brown, darker on the crown. 143. PINTAIL (9 ad.). /. Throat, crown, and sides of head more or less finely streaked with blackish. />. Wing-coverts with more or less chestnut . . . . 135. GAD WALL. g1. No chestnut in wing-coverts. g*, Axillars* and sides barred with black . . . . 143. PINTAIL 9. g3. Axillars white or speckled with black, sides plain brownish. 137. BALDPATE 9 . g*. Axillars white, sides thickly spotted or barred with black. 135. GAD WALL 9 . B. Under parts conspicuously mottled, spotted, or streaked, or feathers margined with chestnut-rufous. a. With white in wing-coverts. a1. Lesser wing-coverts ashy blue 142. SHOVELER 9 . b1. Lesser wing-coverts brownish gray, bordered with white or tipped with black. J3. Speculum f purple 132. MALLARD 9. b3. Speculum gray and white 135. GADWALL 9 . b. No white in wing-coverts. a. Throat fulvous or buffy without streaks . . . 134. FLORIDA DUCK. b. Throat finely streaked with black 133. BLACK DUCK. C. Belly chestnut 142. SHOVELER 3. 132. Anas boschas Linn. MALLARD (see Fig. 17, a). Ad. $ .— Whole head and throat glossy greenish or bluish black; a white ring around the neck ; breast rich chestnut; belly grayish white, finely marked with wavy black lines ; under tail-coverts black ; upper back dark grayish brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts black ; longer upper tail-coverts recurved ; speculum rich purple, bordered at the base and tip by narrow bands of black and white. Ad. 9 . — Top and sides of head streaked with fuscous and buffy ; back fuscous, * See Fig. 64. t A colored patch in the wing. 102 RIVER DUCKS. the feathers with internal rings or loops and sometimes borders of pale ochra- ceous buffy ; speculum as in the preceding ; breast and belly ochraceous bully, mottled with dusky grayish brown. L., 23-00; W., 11-00; Tar., 1'75; B., 2-25. Range. — Northern parts of the northern hemisphere ; in America breeds in the interior from Indiana and Iowa, and on the Atlantic coast rarely south of Labrador, northward to the arctic regions ; winters from southern Kansas and Delaware southward to Central America and' the island of Granada. Washington, common W. V. Long Island, uncommon T. V., Sept. to Apl. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct., Mch. Eggs, $ix to ten, pale greenish or bluish white, 2*30 x 1-70. The Mallard is far more common in the interior than on the coasts. Its loud, sonorous quack is not distinguishable from that of its domes- ticated descendants. 133. Anas obscura Gmel. BLACK DUCK; DUSKY DUCK. Ad.— Top of the head rich fuscous, slightly streaked with pale buffy ; sides of the head and throat pale buffy, thickly streaked with blackish ; rest of under parts fuscous brown, the feathers all bordered by ochraceous-buff; back slightly darker and narrowly margined with buffy ; speculum rich purple, bordered by black. L., 22-00; W., 11-00; Tar., 1-75; B., 2-20. Remarks. — Always to be distinguished from the Mallard by the lack of white in the wing. Range. — North America; breeds from Illinois and New Jersey to Hudson Bay and Labrador; winters southward to the Greater Antilles. Washington, common W. V. Long Island, abundant W. V., Sept. to May ; a few breed. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. K., Mch. 6 to Nov. 13. Cam- bridge, very common T. V., Mch. and Apl ; late Aug. to Nov. ; a few breed. Efffjs, eight to twelve, pale greenish or bluish white, or creamy buff, 2-43 x 1-75. This species resembles the Mallard in general habits, and the voices of the two are indistinguishable. The Black Duck, however, is com- moner near the seacoasts, and when molested will sometimes pass the day at sea, returning at night to feed in the marshes and ponds near the shore. 134. Anas ftilvigula Ridyw. FLORIDA DUCK. Ad.— Top of head streaked with black and buffy ; sides of the head and entire throat butty, without streaks ; rest of under parts rich buffy ochraceous, widely streaked with black ; back black, the feathers broadly margined and sometimes inter- nally striped with ochraceous-buff; speculum rich purple bordered by black ; bill olive-yellow, its nail black. L., 20-00; W., 10-50; Tar., 1-6,5; B., 2-05. Remarks. — Easily distinguished from A. obscura by the absence of streaks on the throat. Range.— Florida and Gulf coast to Louisiana. AV/yx, right to ten, pale dull buffer pale grayish buff, 2-15 x 1-61 (TCidgw.). This is a common resident species in Florida. Its habits and voice are practically the same as those of the Black Duck. RIVER DUCKS. 103 135. Anas strepera Linn. GADWALL; GRAY DUCK. Ad. $ .— Top of the head streaked with rufous-brown and black ; sides of the head and neck pale buffy, thickly streaked or spotted with black ; breast and neck all around black, each feather with a border and an internal ring of white, giving the plumage a beautifully scaled appearance ; belly white or grayish ; rump, upper and under tail-coverts black ; lesser wing-coverts chestnut. Ad. 9 . — Head and throat as in the male ; back fuscous margined with buffy ; breast and sides ochraceous buffy, thickly spotted with blackish ; belly and under tail-coverts white, more or less thickly spotted with blackish ; little or no chestnut on wing-coverts ; speculum ashy gray and white ; axillars and under wing-co verts pure white. L., 19-50; W., 10-40; Tar., 1-55; B., T70. Range. — Northern hemisphere ; in America, breeds in the interior locally from Kansas northward to the arctic regions ; known to breed on the Atlantic coast only at Anticosti ; winters from Virginia to Florida and Texas. Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, A. V. Egg*, eight to twelve, pale buff or buffy white, 2-09 x 1-57 (Ridgw.). This species is common in the interior and in Florida, but is rather rare in the other Atlantic States. Its call-note is said to resemble that of the Mallard, " but is rather more shrill, and frequently repeated." 136. Anas penelope Linn. EUROPEAN WIDGEON. Ad. $. — Crown creamy buff; throat blackish, rest of head and neck rufous-brown ; upper breast vinaceous, lower breast and belly white ; sides and back finely marked with wavy black and white lines. Ad. 9 . — Head and throat deep ochraceous- buff, finely streaked and barred with black, darker above ; upper breast and sides much the same color, but without black markings ; lower breast and belly white ; back grayish brown, the feathers with small ochraceous buffy bars; tertials fuscous, bordered by deep ochraceous bvjf'y ; greater wing-cov- erts brownish gray, usually whiter on the outer webs and tipped with black. W., 10-50 ; B./1-40. Remarks. — The females of the European and American Widgeons bear a general resemblance to one another. Their distinguishing characters are mainly in the color of the head and throat, which are brown in the European species, and in the color of the greater wing-coverts, which are whiter in the American bird. I have seen a caged male in the summer in a plumage closely resembling that of the female. Probably a similar change of plumage occurs in our A. americana. Range. — Northern parts of tho Old World; in North America breeds in the Aleutian Islands, and occurs occasionally in the eastern United States. Washington, A. V., two records. Long Island, A. V. Eggs, five to eight, buft'y white, 2-23 x 1-53. "The call-note of the male is a shrill, whistling ichee-you, whence the local names ' Whew Duck ' and ' Whewer ' ; but the female utters a low purr-ing growl. Both sexes, however, rise in silence " (Saunders). 137. Anas americana Gmel. BALDPATE; AMERICAN WIDGEON. Ad. <5 . — Middle of the crown white or buffy ; sides of the crown, from the eye 104 RIVER DUCKS. to the nape, glossy green, more or less sprinkled with black ; lores, chocks, and throat buffy, finely barred with black ; upper breast and sides vinaceous, the latter more or less finely barred with wavy black lines ; lower breast and belly white ; back grayish brown, more or less tinged with vinaceous and finely barred with black. Ad. ? . — Head and throat white or pale, creamy buff, finely streaked and barred with black, darker above ; upper breast and sides pale vinaceous washed with grayish ; lower breast and belly white ; back grayish brown, the feathers with small creamy buff bars ; tertials fuscous, bor- dered with whitish or creamy butf ; greater wing-coverts brownish gray, their outer webs mostly or entirely white, their ends black, sometimes tipped with white. L., 19-00 ; W., 10-50; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 1-40. Range. — North America ; breeds in the interior regularly from Minnesota northward, and casually as far south as Texas ; not known to breed on the Atlantic coast ; winters from open water south to Central America and north- ern South America. Washington, common W. K., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, uncommon T. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. 11 to Apl. 12 ; Oct. 4 to Oct. 28. Eggs, seven to twelve, buffy white, 2-05 x 1-50. Colonel N. S. Goss writes that, as a rule, Widgeons are " not shy, and their note, a sort of whew, whew, whew, uttered while feeding and swimming, enables the hunter to locate them in the thickest growth of water plants ; and when in the air the whistling noise made by their wings heralds their approach." They are fond of wild celery, which they procure by robbing the Canvasback and other diving Ducks, " snatching their catch from their bills the moment their heads appear above the water." 139. Anas carolinensis Gmel. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Ad. $. — Chin black, sides of the head from the eye to the nape shining green, rest of the head and neck rufous-chestnut ; breast washed with vinaceous and spotted with black ; belly white ; sides finely marked with wavy black and white lines ; middle under tail-coverts black, lateral ones creamy buff; upper back like the sides, lower back grayish fuscous ; a white bar in front of the bend of the wing; wing-coverts brownish gray, tipped with ochraceous buffy. Ad. 9 . — Top of the head brownish fuscous, margined with cinnamon ; throat and sides of the neck white, finely spotted with black ; breast and sides washed with cinnamon and spotted or barred with black ; belly and under tail-coverts white, sometimes spotted with black ; back fuscous, the feathers with crescent- shaped marks of ochraceous buffy, and bordered with grayish ; wings as in the male. L., 14-50 ; W., 7-00 ; Tar., 1-10 : B., 1-35. Range. — North America ; breeds from Minnesota and New Brunswick northward ; winters from Kansas and Virginia southward to the West Indies and Central America. Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. ; Sept. 11 to Oct. 28. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., Apl. ; Sept. to Nov. six to twelve, buffy white or creamy buff, 1-80 x 1-25. RIVER DUCKS. 105 "In autumn the males usually keep in separate flocks from the females and young. Their notes are faint and piping, and their wings make a loud whistling during flight. . . ." (B., B., and R.). The EUROPEAN TEAL (138. Anas crecca) is of casual occurrence in North America. The adult male resembles that of A. carolinensis, but the white bar in front of the wing is lacking, and the inner scapulars are creamy buff, with a sharply defined black mark on their outer webs. The female can not be distinguished from that of A. carolinensis. 140. Anas discors Linn. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Ad. $ . — Crown fuscous, chin and sides of the base of the bill black ; a broad white band across the front of the head, its hinder margin bordered by black ; rest of the head and throat dark ashy with purplish reflections ; breast and belly cinna- mon-rufous, thickly spotted with black ; back fuscous, the feathers with cres- cents of ochraceous-buif ; lesser and median wing-coverts grayish blue, end half of the greater ones white ; speculum green. Ad. $ and 6 in summer. — Crown fuscous, lightly margined with grayish ; sides of the head and the neck whitish, finely spotted with blackish, except on the throat ; breast and belly with less cinnamon wash than in the preceding ; back and wings quite similar to the preceding, but ochraceous bars sometimes wanting ; speculum darker and greater coverts with less white. L., 16-00 ; W., 7'25 ; Tar., 1-20 ; B., 1-60. Range. — Chiefly eastern North America; breeds from Kansas, northern Ohio, and New Brunswick northward ; winters from Virginia and the Lower Mississippi Valley to northern South America. Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, common T. V. in Sept., rare T. V. in spring. Sing Sing, common T. V. in fall, Sept. 24 to Oct. 17. Cambridge, rare in spring; very common (at least formerly) Aug. to Oct. Eggs, six to twelve, huffy white or creamy buff, 1'85 x 1-30. This generally silent species flies in densely massed, small flocks, which move as one bird. The white face-mark can be discerned at some distance, and, in connection with the bird's small size, is a good field-mark. The CINNAMON TEAL (IJ^l. Anas cyanoptera), a species of western North America, sometimes occurs east of the Mississippi. It has been recorded from Illinois and Florida. The male has the under parts deep cinnamon; the female closely resembles the same sex of our Anas discors. 142. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). SHOVELER. Ad. 6 .—Head and neck fuscous, glossed with bluish green ; back and a broken line down the back of the lower neck fuscous ; rest of the lower neck and breast white ; lower breast and belly rufous-chestnut ; upper and under tail-coverts dark greenish ; lesser wing-coverts grayish blue, greater ones brownish gray tipped with white ; speculum green. Ad. 9 . — Throat buffy white ; head and neck streaked with buffy and black ; rest of under parts more or less wrashed with 106 RIVER DUCKS. bufFy ochraceous, everywhere indistinctly spotted with fuscous except on the middle of the belly ; back fuscous, the feathers with margins and internal crescents of whitish and buffy ; wing-coverts and speculum much as in the male. Im. — The im. $ is intermediate between the ad. $ and 9 ; the im. 9 resemble the ad. $ , but the wing-coverts are slaty gray, the speculum with little or no green. L., 20-00 ; W., 9-50 ; B., 2-50 ; greatest width of B., 1-20. Range. — Northern hemisphere : in America, more common in the interior; breeds regularly from Minnesota northward and locally as far south as Texas ; not known to breed in the Atlantic States ; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward to northern South America. Washington, not uncommon W. V. Long Island, rare T. V. Sing Sing, A. V., Oct. Eggs, six to ten, pale buffy white or bluish white, 2-10 x 1-50. The Shoveler, like most of the members of this subfamily, is more common in the Mississippi Valley than on the coast. It is generally a silent bird, but its note in the breeding season is said to be " took, took'1 It feeds largely by tipping in shallow water. 143. Dafila acuta (Linn.). PINTAIL; SPIUGTAIL. Ad. $. — Head and thrpat olive-brown ; back of the neck blackish, bordered by white stripes, which pass to the breast ; breast and belly white ; the abdomen faintly and the sides strongly marked with wavy lines of black and white ; back some- what darker than the sides; scapulars black, bordered or streaked with buffy white ; wing-coverts brownish gray, the greater ones tipped with rufous ; speculum green ; central tail-feathers glossed with green and much elongated. Ad. 9 . — Throat white or whitish, crown and sides of the head streaked with blackish and buify ochraceous, darker above ; breast washed with buffy ochraceous and spotted with blackish ; belly white ; abdomen more or less indistinctly mottled with blackish ; sides with bars and lengthened black and white crescents ; under wing-coverts fuscous, bordered with whitish ; axillars barred or mottled with black / back fuscous, the feathers with borders, bars, or crescents of white or buffy ; speculum grayish brown bordered with white. $ in breeding plumage.—" Similar to ad. 9 , but wings as in spring or winter plumage" (Ridgw.). Im. — The im. $ is variously intermediate between the ad. $ and 9 ; the im. 9 resembles the ad. 9 , but the under parts are more heavily streaked or spotted. L., $ , 28-00, 9 , 22-00 ; W., 10-00 ; T., 6 , 7-50, 9 , 3-60 ; B., 2-00. Remarks. — The female of this species is a rather obscure-looking bird, but may always be known by its broad, sharply pointed central tail-feathers and dusky under wing-coverts. /iiitit/e. — Northern hemisphere ; in America, breeds from Iowa and Illinois to the Arctic Ocean ; not known to breed on the Atlantic coast ; winters from Virginia southward to the Greater Antilles and Central America. Washington, W. V., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, very common T. V., Sept. 15 to Apl. 15 ;•«, few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl. 10; Sept. 26 to Dec. 4. Cambridge, casual T. V., Apl. ; Sept. and Oct. Eggs, eight to twelve, buify white or pale bluish white, 2-20 x 1-50. SEA DUCKS. 107 The Pintail is frequently found associated with the Black Duck and Widgeon. As a rule it is voiceless, but is said to utter "a low- toned quack at night." The long neck and tail of the male make its identification easy even at a distance. 144. Aix sponsa (Linn.}. WOOD DUCK. Ad. $. — A line from the bill over the eye, a similar line at the base of the side of the crest, and some of the elongated crest-feathers white ; throat, a band from it up the side of the head, and a wider one to the nape, white ; rest of the cheeks and crown green with purplish reflections ; a white band in front of the wings ; breast and a spot at either side of the base of the tail purplish chestnut, the former spotted with white ; belly white ; sides butty ochraceous, finely barred with black, the longer flank feathers tipped with wider bars of black and white ; back greenish brown; scapulars blacker; speculum steel-blue; primaries tipped with greenish blue. — Ad. 9 . — Throat and a stripe from the eye back- ward white ; crown purplish brown ; sides of the head ashy brown ; breast and sides grayish brown streaked with butty ; belly white ; back olive-brown glossed with greenish ; inner primaries tipped with greenish blue. Im. — The im. 6 resembles the 9 . L., 18-50 ; W., 9-00 ; Tar., 1-35 ; B., 1-30. Range. — North America; breeds from Florida to Hudson Bay, and winters southward to southern Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica. Washington, uncommon P. R. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. V., Sept. to Apl. ; rare S. R. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Aug. to Nov. ; a few breed. Nest, of grasses, leaves, twigs, etc., in a hole in a tree or sturnp. Eggs, eight to fourteen, pale butty white, 2'05 x 1-50. Woodland ponds and forest-bordered streams make a proper setting for the grace and beauty of these richly attired birds. Several times it has been my fortune to see them in the unconscious enjoyment of their secluded homes, and I know of no sight in the bird world which so fully satisfies the eye. Alarm them, and with a frightened, plaintive whistle, ^oo-eek" they spring from the water and make off through the woods. At other times they will swim ahead of one's canoe, and, rounding a bend in the stream, go ashore and walk rapidly away. The young are brought from the nest to the ground in the bill of the parent. Subfamily Fiiligulince. Bay and Sea Ducks. The members of this subfamily are to be distinguished from those of the preceding by the presence of a lobe or web on the hind toe. They are open-water Ducks, frequenting our large lakes, bays, and sea- coasts. Their food consists chiefly of mollusks, crustaceans, and the seeds and roots of aquatic plants. They obtain it principally by div- ing, sometimes descending one hundred and fifty feet or more. The 108 SEA DUCKS. bill, as in the AnatincB, acts as a sieve or strainer. As a rule they feed by day and pass the night at a distance from the shore or at sea. Some of the species occur in our waters in large flocks — indeed, our most abundant Ducks are members of this subfamily. With one exception they are northern breeding birds, seldom nesting south of our north- ern tier of States. Their nest is composed of twigs, leaves, grasses, stems of aquatic plants, seaweed, etc., lined with down from the breast of the incubat- ing bird. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Feathers at the base of the bill not reaching '50 forward along its sides. A. Wing over 7'00 ; axillars and most if not all the linings of the wings white. a. Head and neck black, with greenish or purplish reflections. a1. Back black ; bill with a bluish band near its tip. 150. KING-NECKED DUCK $. b1. Back finely barred with black and white. &a. Back of head generally with purplish reflections ; wing generally under 8*25 ; nail of bill generally under -25 in width. 149. LESSER SCAUP DUCK $. b9. Back of head generally with greenish reflections ; wing gener- ally over 8-25 ; nail of bill over -25 in width. 148. AM. SCAUP DUCK $ . b. Head and neck rufous or rufous-brown, sharply defined from the black breast. b1. Head and upper neck rich rufous ; bill 2-00 or under ; flanks finely barred, like the back , 146. BEDHEAD $. ft8. Head and neck rufous-brown ; crown blackish ; bill over 2'00 ; flanks very slightly if at all barred 147. CANVASBACK $ . c. Head and neck brownish or grayish. c1. A white patch in the wing. t-a. Feathers at base of bill white ; wing generally under 8-25 ; nail of bill generally under '25 in width . . 149. LESSER SCAUP DUCK 9 . c8. Feathers at base of bill white ; wing generally over 8-25 ; nail of bill generally over '25 in width . . . 148. AM. SCAUP DUCK 9 . d1. No white in wing. 6. ESKIMO CURLEW. a8. Bill over 4-50 264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. b. Bill straight or curved slightly upward. b1. Tail-feathers with numerous black bars. i3. Wing over TOO, primaries black or fuscous. 254. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. b*. Wing over 7'00, inner web of primaries buff or rufous. 249. MARBLED GODWIT. b*. Wing under 7'00, bill widened and pitted at the tip. 231. DOWITCHER. 232. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. cl. Tail black with a broad rufous tip or marked with rufous. c2. Outer web of primary with rufous bars. 227. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. e». Primaries not barred 230. WILSON'S SNIPE. B. Axillars not barred. a. Axillars rufous or ochraceous-buff. a1. Bill over 5-00, much curved downward. 264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. a8. Bill nearly straight, between 3-50 and 5-00. 249. MARBLED GODWIT. a8. Bill straight, under 3-50 228. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. b. Axillars black. b1. Under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black. 251. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. i2. Under parts white, with or without blackish bars. 258. WILLET. 258a. WESTERN WILLET. * See Fig. 64. 152 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. II. Bill under 2-00. A. Tail with cross-bars. a. Wing over 5-75. a1. Outer tail-feathers white, more or less barred ; outer primary with- out bars 255. YELLOW-LEGS. a2. Outer primary with numerous black bars. 261. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. a8. Outer primary without bars; outer tail-feathers brownish gray. 260. BUFF. b. Wing under 5'75. b1. Under parts white, with numerous round blackish spots ; upper parts brownish gray, barred with blackish . . 263. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. b*. Under parts white, breast streaked with blackish ; upper parts fus- cous, spotted with white 256. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. b9. Under parts tinged with buffy, inner web of outer primary speckled with blackish 262. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. J3. Tail without cross-bars, toes 4. a. Bill over 1-10. a1. Middle upper tail-coverts with cross-bars or streaks. a2. Tarsus over T50 233. STILT SANDPIPER. a3. Tarsus under 1-50, wing under 6-00. . 244. CURLEW SANDPIPER. a*. Tarsus under 1-50, wing over 6-00 234. KNOT. b1. Middle upper tail-coverts black or fuscous, without bars; bill straight. b9. Tarsus under 1-50 ; upper parts blackish, more or less margined with gray 235. PURPLE SANDPIPER. b3. Tarsus under 1-50 ; upper parts more or less margined with rufous. 239. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. b*. Tarsus over 1-50 260. RUFF. c1. Middle upper tail-coverts grayish, bill curved slightly downward. 243a. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. b. Bill under 1-10. b1. Wing under 4-00. 6a. Toes partly webbed. 246. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 247. WESTERN SANDPIPER. b9. Toes not webbed 242. LEAST SANDPIPER. c1. Wing over 4-00, inner webs of primaries plain. c2. Breast white or whitish, streaked or spotted with blackish ; mid- dle upper tall-coverts white . . 240. WHITE-BUMPED SANDPIPER. c8. Breast buffy, heavily spotted or streaked with blackish ; middle upper tail-coverts black, slightly margined with rufous. 239. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. c*. Breast buffy lightly spotted or streaked with black ; middle upper tail-coverts fuscous, lightly margined with buffy. 241. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. rf*. Wing over 4-00, inner webs of primaries speckled. 262. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. C. Tail without cross-bars, toes 3 243. SANDERLING. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 153 228. Philohela minor (Gmel.). AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Ad.— Front of the crown slaty, washed with buff, an indistinct blackish line in its center, and another from the eye to the bill ; back of the head black, with two or three bars of ochraceous-buff ; rest of the upper parts black, margined with slaty and barred and mottled with rufous or ochraceous-buff; tip of the tail ashy gray above, silvery beneath ; under parts between ochraceous-buff and rufous ; three outer primaries very narrow and much stiffened. L., 11-00 ; W., 5-40 ; Tar., 1-25 ; B., 2-90. Range. — Eastern North America north to Labrador and Manitoba, breed- ing nearly throughout its range, but not commonly in the southern part of it; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward. Washington, rather common from Feb. to Nov.; a few winter. Long Island, common S. E. ; a few winter. Sing Sing, common S. K., Feb. 19 to Dec. 2. Cambridge, S. E., formerly common, fast becoming rare ; Mch. to Nov. Nest, of a few dry leaves, on the ground in the woods. Eggs, four, butty, distinctly and obscurely spotted with shades of rufous, 1-60 x 1-23. During the spring and early summer this Owl among Snipe haunts low, wooded bottom-lands; in August, while mating, it resorts to corn- fields near woods, and in the fall migrating birds frequent wooded up- lands. But at all times it requires a soft, moist earth in which it may easily probe with its long bill for its fare of earthworms. The holes it makes are known as " borings." They are generally found in little groups, and are, of course, certain evidence of the presence of Wood- cock. It has recently been discovered by Mr. Gurdon Trumbull that the Woodcock can move the tip of its upper mandible independently of the lower one, and this organ is made to act as a finger to assist the bird in drawing its food from the ground. The flight of the Woodcock is sometimes accompanied by a high, whistling sound produced by its narrow, stiffened primaries in beating the air. When flushed near its nest or young, the parent bird gen- erally feigns lameness or a broken wing, and leads the intruder some distance from its treasures before taking wing. * The cloak of night always lends a certain mystery to the doings of nocturnal birds, and more often than not their habits justify our un- usual interest in them. How many evenings have I tempted the ma- laria germs of Jersey lowlands to watch the Woodcock perform his strange sky dance ! He begins on the ground with a formal, periodic peent, peent, an incongruous preparation for the wild rush that follows. It is repeated several times before he springs from the ground and on whistling wings sweeps out on the first loop of a spiral which may take him 300 feet from the ground. Faster and faster he goes, louder and shriller sounds his wing-song ; then, after a moment's pause, with darting, headlong flight, he pitches in zigzags to the earth, uttering as he falls a clear, twittering whistle. He generally returns to near the 154 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. place from which he arose, and the peent is at once resumed as a pre- liminary to another round in the sky. The EUROPEAN WOODCOCK (227. Scolopax rusticola) bears a general re- semblance to our "Woodcock, but is much larger; the under parts arc barred with black, the wings are barred with rufous, and the outer primaries are not emarginate. It is of accidental occurrence in eastern North America. 230. Gallinago delicata ( Ord). WILSON'S SNIPE ; ENGLISH SNIPE. Ad. — Upper parts black, barred, bordered, and mottled with different shades of cream-buff; wings fuscous; outer edge of outer primary and tips of greater coverts white; throat white; neck and breast ochraceous-buff, indistinctly streaked with blackish; belly white, sides barred with black; under tail- coverts buffy, barred with black ; outer tail-feathers barred with black and white, inner ones black, barred with rufous at their ends and tipped with whitish. L., 11-25; W., 5-00; Tar., 1-20; B., 2-50. Range. — North America, breeding from southern Minnesota, northern Illi- nois, northwestern Pennsylvania, and Connecticut northward to Hudson Bay and Labrador, and wintering from southern Illinois and South Carolina to northern South America. Washington, common T. V., Mch. to May 5; fall; occasional in winter. Long Island, common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Aug. to Oct. Sing Sing, tol- erably common T. V., Mch. 20 to May 6 ; Oct. 6 to Nov. 20. Cambridge, com- mon T. V., Apl. 5 to May 5 ; Sept. and Oct. Eggs, three to four, olive, clay-color, or brownish ashy, heavily marked with chocolate, principally at the larger end, 1-60 x 1-17. Wilson's Snipe frequents fresh-water meadows and swamps, and in spring is often found in low-lying swales in meadows or mowing fields, but, excepting in very dry seasons, it seldom alights on salt marshes. At times, especially in winter or early spring, when the meadows are covered with snow or ice, it resorts to springy runs wooded with alders, birches, and maples, but as a rule it prefers open places. Two things are essential to its requirements — ground so thoroughly water-soaked as to afford slight resistance to its long and highly sensitive bill when probing, and such concealment as tussocks, hillocks, or long grass afford, for, unlike the Sandpipers, the Snipe rarely ventures out on bare mud flats, save under cover of darkness. Although less strictly nocturnal than the Woodcock, it feeds and mi- grates chiefly by night or in " thick " weather. Its migratory move- ments are notoriously erratic, and meadows which one day are alive with birds may be quite deserted the next, or the reverse. Dear to our sportsmen is Wilson's Snipe, partly because of the ex- cellence of its flesh, but chiefly from the fact that it furnishes a mark which taxes their skill to the utmost, and which no mere novice need hope to hit, unless by accident ; for the bird's flight is swift and tortu- ous, and it springs from the grass as if thrown by a catapult, uttering SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 155 a succession of hoarse, rasping scaipes which have a peculiarly start- ling effect on inexperienced nerves. In the springtime — and occasionally in autumn also — Wilson's Snipe mounts to a considerable height above his favorite meadows and darts downward with great velocity, making at each descent a low yet penetrating, tremulous sound which suggests the winnowing of a domes- tic Pigeon's wings, or, if heard at a distance, the bleating of a goat, and which is thought to be produced by the rushing of the air through the wings of the Snipe. This performance may be sometimes witnessed in broad daylight when the weather is stormy, but ordinarily it is re- served for the morning and evening twilight and for moonlight nights, when it is often kept up for hours in succession. Besides this "drumming" or "bleating," as it is called, the Snipe, while mating, sometimes makes another peculiar sound, a kuk-kuk- kuk-kuk-kup, evidently vocal and occasionally accompanying a slow, labored, and perfectly direct flight, at the end of which the bird alights on a tree or fence post for a few moments. — WILLIAM BREWSTER. The EUROPEAN SNIPE (229. Gallinago gallinago) inhabits the northern parts of the Old World, is of frequent occurrence in Greenland, and accidental in the Bermudas. 231. Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel.}. DOWITCHER. (See Figs. 25, a, 26, c.) Ad, in summer. — U pper parts, tertials, and wing-coverts black, the feathers edged or barred with ochraceous-buff or rufous ; rump, upper tail- coverts, and tail barred with black and more or less ochraceous-buff; prima- ries fuscous; under parts dull, pale rufous, whitish on the belly, more or less spotted and barred with black. Ad. in winter. — Upper parts brownish gray ; rump and tail barred with black and white; throat and breast washed with ashy, belly white, sides and under tail-coverts barred with black. Im.— Upper parts black, the feathers edged with rufous; rump and tail barred with black and white, and sometimes washed with rufous ; secondaries widely edged with white ; under parts more or less washed with ochraceous-buft and obscurely spotted with blackish. L., 10-50; W., 5-75; Tar., 1-30; B., 2-05-2-50. Remarks. — The barred tail and tail-coverts, with the peculiar flattened, pitted tip of the bill, are characteristic of this and the next species. Range. — Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and wintering from Florida to South America. Washington, casual, one specimen, Sept. Long Island, common T. V., May ; July to Sept. 15. Eggs, four, light buffy olive, distinctly spotted and speckled, especially about the larger end, with deep brown, T65 x 1-13 (Ridgw.). The Dowitchers are among our best-known Bay Birds. They migrate in compact flocks which are easily attracted to decoys by an imitation of their call. Mud-flats and bars exposed by the falling tide are their chosen feeding grounds. On the Gulf coast of Florida I have 156 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. seen several hundred gathered in such close rank that they entirely concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 232* Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say). LONG-BILLED D<»\v- ITCHER; WESTERN DOWITCHER. Ad. in summer. — Similar to the preceding, but averaging larger ; the bill especially is longer, the under parts are more uniformly rufous, and the sides are more heavily barred with black. Ad. in winter and Im. — To be distinguished from the corresponding stages of M. gri- seus only by their larger size. W., 6-00 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 2-10-2-90. Range. — " Mississippi Valley and western province of North America from Mexico to Alaska ; less common, but of regular occurrence along the Atlantic coast of the United States " (A. O. U.). Washington, casual, seven shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. Eggs, four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding species. This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our coasts as a rare but regular late fall migrant. It resembles the pre- ceding species in habits, but the baymen who " gun " for Snipe say they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Wood- cock,' Wilson's Snipe, and its near ally, M. griseus, the male utters a flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 233. Micropalama himantopus (JBonap.}. STILT SANDPIPER. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black, bordered with grayish and buffy; ear- coverts and an indistinct line around the back of the head rufous / second- aries grayish, edged with white ; primaries fuscous ; rump ashy : upper tail- coverts barred with black and white; outer tail-feathers with broken dusky bars, inner ones with central streaks or margins of brownish gray or white ; under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ad. in winter.— Upper parts brownish gray ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail white, margined with brownish gray; under parts white; the throat, neck, and sides indistinctly streaked or washed with grayish. Im. — Similar to the preceding, but the upper parts black- ish, margined with ochraceous-buff. L., 8-25; W., 5-00; Tar., 1-60; B., 1-55. Remarks. — The distinguishing characters of this species are the flattened, pitted tip of the bill, in connection with the very long tarsi. Range. — Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and wintering as far south as South America. Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; July to Oct. 10. AV/f/.s1, three to four, pale grayish buff', or grayish buffy white, boldly spotted with rich vandyke-brown and purplish gray, 1-42 x 1-00 < kidgw.). Colonel N. S. Goss, in his admirable Birds of Kansas, writns that he has observed this species along the edges of old channels of rivers or muddy pools of water, in which it wades while feeding; immersing the head and feeling with its sensitive bill in the thin mud for food. It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sandpipers, and at times will try and avoid detection by squatting close to the SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 157 ground, flying only as a last resort, arid then darting swiftly away with a sharp tweet, tweet. 234. Tringa canutus Linn. KNOT; KOBIN SNIPE; OKAY SNIPE. (See Figs. 25, 6, 26,6.) Ad. in summer. — Upper parts barred and streaked with black and white and rufous ; tail ashy gray, narrowly margined with whitish ; under parts dull rufous ; lower belly white or whitish, sides sometimes with black bars. (According to George H. Mackay, it requires about four years for birds to acquire this plumage. See Auk, x, 1893, p. 25.) Im. — Upper parts plain brownish gray ; upper tail-coverts barred with black and white, tail brownish gray ; breast and sides barred with black, belly white. Young. — Upper parts pale brownish gray ; head streaked with blackish ; back, wing- coverts, and scapulars with distinct black and white borders ; upper tail-cov- erts barred with blackish ; tail ashy gray, narrowly margined with white ; under parts white ; breast finely streaked or spotted with blackish ; flanks barred or streaked with blackish. L., 10-50; W., 6'V5; Tar., 1-20; B., 1-30. Range. — Northern hemisphere, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and in America wintering from Florida to South America. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May 15 to June 10 ; July 15 to Nov. Eggs, known from only one specimen collected in the vicinity of Fort Conger by General Greely, and described as u light pea-green, closely spotted with brown in small specks about the size of a pinhead," 1-10 x 1-00 (see Merriam, Auk, ii, 1885, p. 313). Knots feed along the beaches on the small crustaceans and mol- lusca brought in by the waves, and they also frequent muddy places, where, like the true Snipe, they probe the ground for food. They decoy with ease, " bunching " so closely as they wheel into the stools that the entire flock is sometimes killed by a single discharge. Mr. George H. Mackay. in one of his careful and detailed studies of our Shore Birds, describes their notes as a soft wah-quoit and a little honk. The first is particularly noticeable when flocks are coming to the de- coys (see Auk, x, 1893, pp. 25-35). 235. Tringa maritima Brunn. PURPLE SANDPIPER. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upper parts black, margined with ochraceous-buff and cream-buff; wings fuscous-gray, greater coverts margined with white and some seconda- ries entirely white ; upper tail-coverts fuscous, outer tail-feathers ashy gray, inner ones fuscous ; throat and breast brownish gray, streaked with black ; belly white, sides and under tail-coverts streaked with brownish gray. Win- ter plumage. — Head, neck, breast, and sides ashy, the two latter margined with white ; back fuscous, margined with ashy ; wings fuscous, the coverts, secondaries, and tertials distinctly bordered with white; upper tail-coverts and middle tail-feathers black or fuscous, outer tail-feathers ashy ; belly and linings of the wings white. L., 9-00 ; W., 5-00 ; Tar., 9-00 ; B., 1-40. Remarks. — The brownish gray or ashy breast of this species is a good distinguishing character. Range. — " Northern portions of the northern hemisphere ; in North Amer- 158 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. ica chiefly in the northeastern portion, breeding in the high north," south in winter to the Great Lakes and Long Island, and casually to Florida. Long Island, uncommon W. V., Nov. 1 to Mch. l. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. Eggs, three to four, olive clay-color or brownish ashy, heavily marked with rufous-brown, 1-45 x 1-08. This bird might be called Winter Snipe or Rock Snipe. Indeed, I find the latter name has been applied to it from its habit of frequent- ing rocky coasts, where it secures its food in the algje attached to rocks exposed by the falling tide. 239. Tringa maculata Vieill. PECTORAL SANDPIPER; KRIEKER. Ad. in summer.— Upper parts black, the feathers all heavily bordered with pale ochraceous-buft'; rump and upper tail-coverts black, lightly tipped with ochraceous-butf; middle tail-feathers longest, pointed arid margined with butfy; outer tail-feathers brownish gray, narrowly margined with white; throat white, neck and breast heavily streaked with black and buffy ; rest of under parts white. Winter plumage.— Similar, but ochraceous-buff of upper parts replaced by rufous, and breast heavily washed with buffy. L., 9.00 ; W., 5-40; Tar., 1-10; B., 1-15. Remarks.— This bird somewhat resembles both T.fuscicollis and T. bairdii, but it differs from them in its larger size, black instead of white or fuscous upper tail- co verts, and longer, more pointed middle tail-feathers. Range. — North America ; breeds in the arctic regions and winters in the West Indies and South America. Washington, common T. V., Apl.; Aug. to Nov. Long Island, T. V., rare in spring, common from July 15 to Nov. 1. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Sept 10 to Oct. 16. Cambridge, irregular and uncommon in Sept. and Oct. Eggs, four, drab, sometimes with a greenish tinge, blotched with clear amber-brown markings, more numerous at the larger end, 1-50 x 1-09 (Mur- doch). The names Grass Snipe and Krieker describe with equal truth and conciseness the haunts and notes of this Snipe. It frequents wet, grassy meadows rather than beaches, and, although it flies in flocks, the birds scatter while feeding and take wing one or more at a time. They thus remind one of Wilson's Snipe. Their note is a squeaky, grating whistle. They will respond to an imitation of it, but do not decoy so readily as the larger Bay Birds. Mr. E. W. Nelson writes* that during the breeding season the male inflates its breast and throat until they are double their normal size, and utters a deep, hollow, reso- nant note. 240. Tringa fuscicollis Vieill. WHITE-BUMPED SANDPIPER. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black, edged with rufous; rump grayish fuscous, margined with ashy ; longer upper tail-coverts white, with sometimes brownish- * Rep. on Nat. Hist. Colls, made in Alaska, p. 108. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 159 gray markings ; central tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones brownish gray ; upper throat white; neck, breast, and bides distinctly streaked and spotted with black and more or less washed with ochraceous-buft'. Winter plumage. — " Upper parts plain brownish gray, with indistinct, narrowed, mesial streaks of dusky; otherwise as in summer, but streaks on chest, etc., less distinct" (Ridgw.). Im. — Similar to summer examples, but the feathers of the upper parts with rounded whitish or ochraceous-buff tips ; breast less distinctly streaked. L., 7'50 ; W., 4-90 ; Tar., -90 ; B., -95. Remarks. — The white upper tail-coverts distinguish this species. Range.— Eastern North America, breeding in the arctic regions and win- tering as far south as the Falkland Islands. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., July 20 to Get 10. Sing Sing, casual T. V., Sept. Eggs, three to four, light olive, or olive brownish, spotted (usually rather finely) with deep brown and dull, purplish gray, 1'37 x -94 (Eidgw.). "They frequent the sandy beach as well as the marshy shores upon the coast, but inland seem to prefer the edges of pools of water upon the uplands. They move in small flocks, are very social, often associating with other waders, are not as a rule shy or timid, and, when startled, usually fly but a short distance, drop back, and run about in an unconcerned and heedless manner, picking up the minute forms of life that usually abound in such places, occasionally uttering a rather sharp, piping weet, weet. Their flight is swift arid well sustained " (Goss). 24 1. Tringa bairdii ( Coues). BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts fuscous; feathers of the crown and nape margined laterally with pale buffy ; back and scapulars tipped with pale buffy or brownish gray ; middle upper tail-coverts fuscous, sometimes tipped with buffy ; central tail- feathers fuscous, margined with whitish, outer ones pale brownish gray ; throat white ; breast washed with buffy and lightly spotted or streaked with fuscous ; sides and belly white. Im. — Similar, but the back, scapulars, and wing-cov- erts with rounded white tips. (In the winter these tips are more or less worn off.) L., 7-40 ; W., 4-90 ; Tar., -90 ; B., -85. Remarks. — This bird most closely resembles T. fuscic'ollis. In any plum- age it may be known from that species by the fuscous instead of white middle upper tail-coverts. In summer it differs also in the absence of rufous above, the less heavily spotted throat, and the white instead of spotted sides. In winter the chief distinguishing marks of the two species, aside from the dif- ferently colored upper tail-coverts, are the buft'y breast and generally paler upper parts of bairdii. Range. — Interior of North America, breeding in the arctic regions and migrating southward to South America ; rare on the Atlantic coast. Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, casual, Aug. Eggs, three to four, light, creamy buff, sometimes tinged with rusty, thickly speckled and spotted with deep reddish brown or chestnut, 1-30 x -93 (Ridgw.). 160 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. FIG. 62.— Least Sandpiper. (Natural size.) "In habits they are similar to the White-rumped (which they so. closely resemble), but are more inclined to wander from the water's edge. I have flushed the birds on high prairie lands, at least a mile Irom the water " (Goss). 242. Tfinga minutilla Vieill. LEAST SANDPIPER ; MEADOW OXEYE ; PEEP. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black or fuscous, edged and tipped with buffy or rufous ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts plain black or fus- cous ; central tail-feathers black or fuscous, outer ones ashy gray ; upper throat white ; neck and breast white or buff'y, streaked with fuscous ; belly and sides white. Im. — Similar, but feathers of the back with rounded rufous or buffy tips; breast not distinctly streaked. Winter plumage. — Upper parts brown- ish gray, sometimes with more or less black in the centers of the feathers ; breast white or ashy, not distinctly streaked. L., 6-00; W., 3-50; Tar., •70 ; B., -75. Remarks. — This is the smallest of our Sandpipers, and can be confused only with Ereunetes pusillus, from which, however, it may always be distin- guished by the absence of webs between the bases of the toes. Range. — North America, breeding in the arctic regions and wintering from the Gulf States to South America. Washington, uncommon T. V., May ; Aug. to Oct. Long Island, abun- dant T. V., Apl. 25 through May; July through Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., May 9 to May 22; Oct. 3. Cambridge, very common T. V., May 25 to May 31 ; July 20 to Aug. 31. Eggs, three to four, pale, grayish buffy, varying to pale brownish, thickly spotted, speckled, or sprinkled with deep chestnut and dull, purplish gray, 1-15 x -83 (Kidgw.). This, the smallest of our Sandpipers, is frequently associated with its larger cousin the Semipalmated Sandpiper on the shores and beaches, but it also visits the grassy meadows, and for this reason is known by baymen as the " Meadow Oxeye." 243a. Tringa alpina pacifica ( Coues). RED-BACKED SANDPIPER; LEADBACK. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts broadly margined with rufous, the centers of the feathers black, wings brownish gray; breast whitish, lightly streaked with blackish ; middle of the belly with a large black patch, lower belly white. Im. — Upper parts blackish, the feathers with rounded tips of rufous or buffy; breast washed with buffy and indistinctly streaked with blackish ; belly spotted with black. Winter plumage. — Upper parts brown- ish gray; middle upper tail-coverts fuscous; wing-coverts brownish gray margined with buff'y ; throat white ; breast ashy, indistinctly streaked ; belly SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 1(51 white, the sides sometimes spotted with black. L., 8-00 ; W., 4*75 ; Tar., I'OO ; B., 1-50. Remarks. — There is, of course, every degree of intergradation between summer and winter plumage, but the species may always be known by its slightly curved bill. Mange. — North America, breeding in the arctic regions and wintering from Florida southward ; rare in the interior. Washington, rare T. V., Apl. ; Oct. Long Island, T. V., uncommon in FIG. 63.— Red-backed Sandpiper. (Natural size.) spring, Apl. 1 to May 15 ; common in fall, Aug. 31 through Oct. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. in fall, Oct. 3 to Oct. 24. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. Eggs, three to four, varying from pale, bluish white to ochraceous-buff', heavily marked with chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 1-43 x T01. Generally speaking, this is a shore or beach bird, though it also visits grassy marshes. It flies and feeds in flocks, and is an unsus- picious, rather stupid little Snipe, less active than most members of this family. The gray-plumaged fall birds are known as " Leadbacks," while in the spring they go by the names " Blackbreast " or " Redback." The DUNLIN (££?. Tringa alpina) is the Old- World representative of our Red-backed Sandpiper, from which it differs only in being less brightly colored and somewhat smaller. L., about 7'40; W., 4-12-4-50; Tar., -78-90 ; B., 1-05-1-25. It is of casual occurrence in North America. The CURLEW SANDPIPER (844- Tringa ferruginea) inhabits the eastern hemisphere, and occurs casually in eastern North America. It has been re- corded from Ontario, Nova Scotia, Maine, Massachusetts, and Long Island. 246. Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.}. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER ; SAND OXEYE ; PEEP. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black or fuscous, margined with brownish gray and a small amount of rufous ; rump grayish brown ; upper tail-coverts blackish ; tail-feathers brownish gray, central ones darkest ; breast streaked or spotted with blackish. Im. — Similar, but upper parts and wing- coverts blackish, with rounded rufous or buffy tips to the feathers ; breast un- 12 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. streaked, tinted with buffy. Winter plumage. — Upper parts brownish gray, with darker shaft streaks ; upper tail-coverts darker ; under parts white, some- times with faint streaks on the breast. L., 6-30 ; W., 3'75 ; Tar., '75 ; B., -65--80. Remarks. — The small size of this and the next species prevents their be- ing confused with any other except Tringa minutilla, from which they may always be known by their partially webbed toes. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds in the arctic regions, and winters from the Gulf States southward through Brazil. Washington, rare T. V., May ; Aug. to Oct. Long Island, abundant T. V., May ; July through Sept. Sing Sing, common T. V. in fall, Aug. 14 to Oct. 20. Cambridge, very common in Aug. and Sept. Eggs, three to four, pale, dull grayish buff, sprinkled, speckled, or spotted with dark brown and purplish gray, 1-21 x -85 (Eidgw.). The thought of these little Sandpipers always creates a mental pic- ture of a long stretch of dazzling beach with its ever-changing surf- line. I hear the oft-repeated booming of the rolling, tumbling break- ers, and in the distance see a group of tiny forms hurrying to and fro over the sand smoothed by the frothy waves. With what nimble grace- fulness they follow the receding waves, searching for treasures cast up by the sea ! What contentment and good-fellowship are expressed by their cheery, conversational twitterings ! Up and down the beach they run, now advancing, now retreating, sometimes, in their eagerness, ven- turing too far, when the waters threaten to ingulf them, and in momen- tary confusion they take wing and hover back to a place of safety. Suddenly, as though at a signal, they are off; a compact flock moving as one bird, twisting and turning to right and left, now gleaming-white as the sun strikes their snowy bodies, now dark again like a wisp of sunless cloud flying before the wind. 247. Ereunetes occidentalis Lawr. WESTERN SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. — This bird closely resembles the preceding, from which, in sum- mer plumage, it differs in having the upper parts conspicuously margined with rufous and the breast more heavily streaked. In fall and winter plum- age the differences in coloration are not so apparent, but the birds are to be distinguished at any season by the size of the bill, which in the western spe- cies always averages longer. W., 3-80 ; Tar., 80 ; B., -85-1-20. Range. — Western North America ; breeds in the arctic regions, and win- ters from the Gulf States to South America ; occasional on the Atlantic coast. Long Island, uncommon T. V., occurring with E. pusillus. Eggs, three to four, deep cinnamon buffy, sprinkled, speckled, or thickly spotted with bright rusty brown or chestnut, the general aspect decidedly rusty, 1-24 x -87 (Eidgw.). This western representative of the preceding species is sometimes found on our coasts associated with its eastern relative. In Florida, particularly on the Gulf coast, it occurs in numbers during the winter. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 163 248. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). SANDERLING; SURF SNIPE. Ad. in summer. — Feathers of the upper parts with generally black centers, bor- dered and sometimes barred with pale rufous and tipped with ashy white ; wings fuscous, the basal half of the outer web of the inner primaries white ; wing-coverts grayish fuscous, the greater one broadly tipped with white ; tail brownish gray, narrowly margined with white; throat and upper breast washed with pale rufous and spotted with blackish ; rest of the under parts pure white. Fall plumage. — Similar, but upper parts without rufous, glossy black, the feathers sometimes bordered with white, but generally with two white spots at their tips separated by the black of the central part of the feather; nape grayish white, lightly streaked with blackish; under parts pure white, with occasionally a few spots on the breast. Winter plumage. — Upper parts pale brownish gray, wings as in the preceding ; under parts pure white. L., 8-00 ; W., 5-00 ; Tar., 1-00 ; B., 1-00. Remarks. — The Sanderling is the only one of our Snipes or Sandpipers having three toes, and it may always be known by this character in combi- nation with its booted or transversely scaled tarsi. Range. — " Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in arctic and subarctic regions ; migrating, in America, south to Chili and Patagonia" (A. O. U.). Washington, casual T. V., two records. Long Island, common T. V., Mch. 15 through May ; Aug. 1 through Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., to June 5; Sept. 9 to Oct. 5. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Eggs, three to four, light olive-brown, finely spotted or speckled with darker, the markings larger and more blended on the larger end, 1*41 x '91 (Ridgw.). This is a true beach bird, and is usually found on shores washed by the sea. It frequently associates with the Semipalmated Sandpiper or Oxeye, which it resembles in habits, but its larger size and lighter colors distinguish it from that species. 249. Limosa fedoa (Linn.). MARBLED GODWIT; BROWN MARLIN. Ad. — Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked with buffy, the back barred or the feathers spotted on the sides and sometimes tipped with buffy or ochraceous-buff; inner web of the outer primaries and both webs of the inner ones ochraceous-buff or pale buffy, speckled with black ; tail ochraceous- buff barred with black ; throat white, rest of the under parts pale buffy, spotted or barred with black ; bill curved slightly upward, yellowish at the base, black at the end. Im. — Similar, but the under parts with few or no bars except on the flanks and under tail-coverts. L., 18-00 : W., 8'75 ; Tar., 2-75 ; B., 4-00. Range. — North America, breeding chiefly in the interior, from western Minnesota, and rarely Iowa and Nebraska, northward, and migrating south- ward to Central America and Cuba ; rare on the Atlantic coast. Long Island, rare T. V., Aug. and Sept. Eggs, three to four, clay-color or brownish ashy, blotched, spotted, and scrawled with grayish brown, 2-15 x 1-60. Colonel Goss writes that this species " inhabits the salt- and fresh- water shores, marshes, and moist ground upon the prairies. It feeds 164 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. upon Crustacea, insects, worms, larvae, etc., moving about in a horizontal position, picking and probing as it goes. Its flight is easy and well sustained, though not very rapid ; in alighting, raises the wings over the back as it touches the ground. These birds as a rule are shy, and keep well out of reach. . . ." 251. Limosa haemastica (Linn.}. HUDSONIAN GODWIT; KINO- TAILED MAKLIN. Ad. — Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked and the back spotted or barred with ochraceous-buff ; primaries black or fuscous ; upper tail-coverts white, the lateral ones tipped or barred with black ; tail black, with a broad base and a narrow tip of white ; throat buffy, streaked with blackish ; under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black and sometimes tipped with whitish ; axillars black. L., 15'00 ; W., 8-25 ; Tar., 2-25 ; B., 3-20. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds in the arctic regions and mi- grates southward, chiefly through the interior, as far as Patagonia. Long Island, rare T. V., Aug. and Sept. -Eggs, three to four, deep olive, hair-brown, or broccoli-brown (sometimes paler), usually more or less spotted with darker brown, but sometimes nearly uniform, 2-20 x 1-42 (Ridgw.). This bird resembles the preceding in habits, and like it is rare on the Atlantic coast. The BLACK-TAILED GOD WIT (252. Limosa limosa) inhabits the northern parts of the Old-World and is of accidental occurrence in Greenland. 254. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.). GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked and the back spotted or barred with white or ashy ; upper tail-coverts white, more or less barred with black : tail white or ashy, barred with black ; breast heavily spotted with black ; sides barred with black ; middle of the belly white. Winter plumage. — Similar, but upper parts brownish gray, edged with whit- ish ; sides of the scapulars, tertials, and wing-coverts with blackish and whitish spots ; breast only lightly streaked with blackish, and sides slightly barred. L., 14-00 ; W., 7'70 ; Tar., 2-40 ; B., 2-20. Range. — North America ; breeds from Minnesota and rarely northern Illi- nois and Anticosti northward ; winters from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Washington, rather common T. V., Apl. and May ; July 25 to Nov. Long Island, common T. V., Apl. 10 through May; July 15 through Oct. Sing Sing, common T. V., to June 5 ;— to Oct. 28. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl. 15 to May 25; Sept, and Oct. Eggs, three to four, brownish buffy, distinctly but very irregularly spotted with rich vandyke- or madder-brown, 1-43 x 1-20 (Ridgw.). It needs only the musical notes of the Yellow-leg to recall memo- ries of many days passed along the shore and in the marshes. Half reclining in my blind, I see in fancy the staring decoys, pointing like weathercocks with the wind, and hear the dull booming of surf be- hind the brown sand dunes. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 165 Few birds are flying ; lulled by the lap, lap of the water, I have almost fallen asleep, when from far up in the gray sky comes a soft, flutelike whistle, wheu, wheu-wheu-wheu-wheu, wheu, wheu-wheu. 1 re- spond quickly, and, lying on my back, look eagerly upward. Not a bird can be seen, but the questioning call grows stronger and is re- peated more frequently. Finally I distinguish five or six black points sailing in narrow circles so high that I can scarcely believe they are the birds I hear. But no bar or shoal breaks the sound waves. The birds grown larger and on widening circles sweep earthward. Their soft whistle has a plaintive tone ; their long bills turn inquiringly from side to side. The stolid decoys give no response, they repel rather than encourage, but the whistling continues, and with murmured notes of interrogation the deluded birds wheel over them, to find too late that they have blundered. 255. Tetanus flavipes (Gmel.\ YELLOW-LEGS; SUMMER YELLOW- LEGS. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts generally brownish gray, the head and neck streaked with black arid white, the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts with sometimes black centers, spotted or tipped with whitish or brownish gray ; upper tail-coverts white, more or less barred with black, tail varying from white to brownish gray, with numerous black or blackish cross-bars ; breast heavily spotted or streaked and sides barred with black ; belly white, legs yellow. Winter plumage. — Similar, but upper parts brownish gray, the sides of the feathers with whitish spots ; tail-bars grayish ; breast lightly streaked with ashy. L., 10-75 ; W., 6'40 ; Tar., 2-05 ; B., 1-40. Remarks. — This bird closely resembles the Greater Yellow-legs in color, but may always be distinguished by its smaller size. Range. — North America, breeding chiefly in the interior from Minnesota, northern Illinois, Ontario County, N. Y., northward to the arctic regions; winters from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Washington, rather common T. V., A pi. to May 15 ; Aug. to Nov. Long Island, T. V., very rare in spring, abundant in fall; July 15 to Oct. 1. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. in fall ; Aug. 25 to Oct. 5. Cambridge, rare in May ; sometimes common in Aug. and early Sept. Eggs, three to four, buffy (variable as to shade), distinctly (sometimes broadly) spotted or blotched with dark madder- or vandyke-brown and pur- plish gray, 1-69 x 1-15 (Bidgw.). This species closely resembles the preceding in notes, habits, and choice of haunts. It decoys, however, more easily, and, generally speaking, is more common. The G KEEN-SHANK (253. Totanus nebular ius) is an Old- World species, of which three specimens were taken by Audubon, May 28, 1832, near Cape Sable, Florida. It resembles our Greater Yellow-legs, but differs chiefly in having the lower back and rump white. The GREEN SANDPIPER (257. Totanus ocnr&pus) is an Old-World species which has been recorded once from Nova Scotia. It resembles our Solitary 166 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. Sandpiper, but is larger ("W., 5-75), and has the upper tail-coverts pure white. 256. Totanus solitarius ( Wils.}. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts olive-fuscous, with a slight greenish tinge, the head and neck streaked and the back spotted with white ; upper tail-coverts fus- cous, with fine whitish spots on their sides, the lateral ones sometimes barred ; central pair of tail-feathers fuscous, the others white, barred with black • FIG. 64.— Inner view of wing of Solitary Sandpiper, showing barred axillars. breast streaked, and sides sometimes barred with black ; belly v/hite ; axillars barred with black and white ; legs greenish fuscous. Winter plumage. — Simi- lar, but upper parts grayish brown ; head and neck generally unstreaked, and the back only lightly spotted with bufty white ; breast streaked with brown- ish gray. L., 8-40 ; W., 5-25 ; Tar., 1-20 ; B., 1-15. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds locally and rarely from northern Illinois, western Pennsylvania, and Maine northward ; winters in South America. Washington, common T. V., Apl. to May 25; July 25 to Nov. Long Island, common T. V., May: July 15 to Oct. 1. Sing Sing, common T. V., May 3 to 30 ; Aug. 27 to Oct 2. Cambridge, common T. V., May 15 to 25 ; July 20 to Oct. Eggs, known from only one example taken by Jenness Richardson, near Lake Bombazine, Vermont, May 28, 1878, and described by Dr. Brewer as light drab, with small, rounded, brown markings, some quite dark, nowhere confluent, and at the larger end a few faint purplish shell-marks, 1-39 x -95. This is a wood Sandpiper. It is rarely found on the beaches or salt marshes near the sea, but frequents fresh- water ponds, or lakes and woodland streams, both in the lowlands and mountains. It is gener- erally observed during the migrations, and although it occasionally breeds in the Middle States its skill in concealing its nest has defied the search of oologists. It is a quieter, more dignified bird than the Spotted Sandpiper,- and as a rule only utters its " low, whistling notes " when flushed. 258. Symphemia semipalmata (Gmel.). WILLET. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upper parts brownish gray, the head and neck streaked, and the back barred with black, and sometimes buffy, the centers of the feathers being oc- casionally wholly black ; basal half of the primaries and greater part of sec- ondaries white; upper tail-coverts white with a few blackish bars; central tail-feathers ashy, indisti nctly larrcd with blackish / outer ones whitish, lightly SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 167 mottled with grayish ; foreneck heavily streaked; breast and sides heavily- barred with dark brownish gray and more or less washed with buffy ; belly generally white, with sometimes a few bars. Winter plumage. — Upper parts brownish gray, unmarked ; tail without bars ; rump and wings as in the adult ; breast washed with grayish ; belly white ; axillars black. L., 15-00 ; W.. 8-00 ; Tar., 2-30; B., 2-15. Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from Florida to southern New Jersey, and locally and rarely to Maine. Washington, rare T. V., Aug. Long Island, T. V., rare in May ; uncom- mon in Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. Eygs, three to four, clay-color or buffy, thickly spotted with chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 2-10 x 1-55. Willets frequent both fresh- and salt-water marshes, shores, and beaches. If you visit their haunts during the nesting season, on flut- tering wings they will hover above your head or fly low over the marsh to draw you away from their home, uttering, with scarce a mo- ment's cessation, their loudly whistled call of pilly-will-willet, pilly- will-ivillet. All day long, and even at night, I have heard them repeat these notes until, wearied by their persistence, one is thankful to leave them in undisturbed possession of the ground. 258a. S. s. inornata Brewst. WESTERN WILLET.— Slightly larger than the preceding, and, in summer plumage, the upper parts are paler and less heavily marked with black ; the breast is less heavily streaked and more suffused with buffy, and the middle tail-feathers are without black bars. In winter plumage the two forms can be distinguished only by the slight and incon?tant character of size. W., 8-50 ; Tar., 2-50 ; B., 2-40. Range. — Western United States, breeding from Texas to Manitoba; win- ters on the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. The RUFF (260. Pavoncella pugnax) is an Old-World species which occa- sionally wanders to eastern North America. It has been taken in Maine, Massachusetts, Ontario, Ohio, Long Island, and New Jersey. The adult male may be known by its enlarged ruff, which varies in color from black, chest- nut, and rufous to buffy and whitish. The female is without a ruff, and is otherwise very different from the male. The upper parts are grayish brown, the back, scapulars, and tertials are broadly barred with black, the outer tail-feathers are ashy, the inner ones are barred with buffy and black, the breast is ashy, with concealed black bars, the belly is white. In winter the upper parts are light grayish brown with few or no bars. $ L., 12-50 ; WM 7-50 ; Tar., 1-90 ; B., 1-50. 9 L., 10-00 ; W., 6-00 ; Tar., 1-40 ; B., 1-15. 261. Bartramia longicauda (BecTtst.}. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER ; UPLAND PLOVER; FIELD PLOVER. Ad. — Head and neck streaked with black and ochraceous-buff; back and wing-coverts ochraceous-buff, barred with black; tertials olive, barred with black and margined with ochraceous-buff; primaries fuscous, the outer one barred with white / inner tail-feathers brown- ish gray, outer ones varying from ochraceous-buff to white, all more or less 1G8 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. barred with black ; breast and sides washed with buffy and streaked or barred with black ; belly white or whitish. Im. — Similar, but the ochraceous-butt' is deeper. L., 11-50 ; W., 6-50 ; Tar., 1-90 ; B., 1-15. Remarks. — The white bars on the outer primary will always serve to iden- tify this species. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds locally from Kansas and Vir- ginia to Alaska and Nova Scotia ; winters over most of South America. Washington, common T. V., Apl. ; Aug. to Sept. Long Island, uncommon S. K., Apl. to Sept. Cambridge, not common T. V., Apl. 25 to May 5 ; July 30 to Sept. 15. Eggs, four to iive, creamy buff or white, spotted with reddish brown or chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 1-80 x 1-30. The Upland " Plover " is at home on grassy plains and pastures. It is usually a shy bird, and can rarely be successfully approached on foot. It shows no fear, however, of a man who is riding or driving, and when on horseback I have passed within a few yards of birds which regarded me with some interest but no alarm. They so closely resemble dried grass in color that it is sometimes exceedingly diffi- cult to distinguish them from their surroundings. One may ride over a prairie upon which, at first glance, not a Plover is visible, and find, after careful scrutiny, that dozens of birds are scattered about him feeding. In alighting they stretch their wings to the utmost, high over their backs, as if to get the wrinkles out before gently folding them. When flushed they utter a soft, double-noted whistle. During their migra- tions one may clearly hear these sweet notes from birds traveling be- yond the limits of human vision. Mr. Langille describes their alarm note as a spirited and rapidly uttered quip-ip-ip-ip, quip-ip-ip-ip, and their song, given from the ground, a fence, or even a tree, as chr-r-r-r-r- ee-e-e-e-e-e-oo-o-o-o-o-oo. He remarks : " This prolonged, mournful, mel- low whistle, more like the whistling of wind than a bird's voice, may be heard even in the night, and is one of the most weird and never-to- be-forgotten sounds in Nature." 262. Tryngites subruficollis ( Vielll.\ BUFF-BREASTED SAND- PIPER. Ad. — Upper parts pale grayish brown, the feathers with olive cen- ters ; primaries fuscous, the inner half of their inner webs speckled with black; longer inner wing-coverts conspicuously marked and tipped with black, then white; central tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones becoming buffy, irregularly marked and tipped with black and buffy ; under parts pale ochraceous-buff, tipped with whitish, and with generally concealed black markings. Im.— iSimilar, but the upper parts and breast paler. L., 8-50 ; W., 5-25 ; B., -80. Remarks. — In any plumage this bird may be known by the peculiar speck- ling on the inner webs of all the primaries, and also the markings of the under wing-coverts. Range.—" North America, especially in the interior ; breeds in the Yukon •XI SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 169 district and interior of British America; northward to the arctic coast; South America in winter; of frequent occurrence in Europe" (A. O. U.). Long Island, rare T. V., Aug. and Sept. Eggs, three to four, buffy grayish white, varying to pale olive-buff, boldly spotted longitudinally (and somewhat spirally) with dark Vandyke- or inad- der-brown and purplish gray, T53 x 1-04 (Ridgw.). This is a rare species on the Atlantic coast. Dr. Hatch writes of it as observed by him in Minnesota : " They are an extremely active species when on the wing, and essentially ploverine in all respects, seeking sandy, barren prairies, where they live upon grasshoppers, crickets, and insects generally, and ants and their eggs specially. I have found them repasting upon minute mollusks on the sandy shores of small and shallow ponds, where they were apparently little more suspicious than the Solitary Sandpipers are notably. The flight is in rather compact form, dipping and rising alternately, and with a dis- position to return again to the neighborhood of their former feeding places." 263. Actitis macularia {Linn,}. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Ad. in sum- mer.— Upper parts brownish gray with a faint greenish luster, the head and neck more or less streaked, and the back barred or spotted with black ; inner tail-feathers like the back, outer ones with blackish bars ; under parts white, everywhere spotted with black. Im. — Upper parts brownish gray, with a greenish tinge, the back faintly and wing-coverts conspicuously barred with black and buffy ; under parts pure white, unspotted, but slightly washed with grayish on the breast. Winter plumage. — Similar, but back browner and without bars. L., 7'50 ; W., 4-20 ; Tar., -90 ; B., -95. Range. — North America north to Hudson Bay ; breeds throughout its range ; winters southward to Brazil. Washington, common T. V., not common S. R., Apl. 5 to Sept. 30. Long Island, abundant S. R., Apl. 25 to Oct. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 29 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 26 to Sept. Eggs, four, creamy buff or white, thickly spotted and speckled with choco- late, chiefly at the larger end, 1*25 x -95. Few Shore Birds are more generally known than this widely dis- tributed little Sandpiper. It frequents the margins of bodies of both fresh and salt water, but is more common inland on the shores of our rivers, ponds, and lakes. During the summer it is practically our only fresh-water Sandpiper, and is familiar to most of us under its common names. It runs rapidly along the beach, then pausing bobs, bows, and "teters" in a most energetic manner. When flushed it takes wing with a sharp weet-iveet weet-weet, and after a few wing-strokes scales over the water to the beach beyond. It apparently dislikes to go be- yond certain limits, and after several flights makes a wide circle and returns to the starting point. 170 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 264. Numenius longirostris Wils. LONG - BILLED CURLEW ; SICKLE-BILL. Ad. — Head and neck streaked, and back barred with bufty and black ; wing-coverts, inner webs of primaries, secondaries, and tail vary- ing from bufty to pale rufous, barred or mottled with blackish ; under parts ochraceous-buff, breast more or less streaked and sides sometimes barred with black; axillars rufous, generally unbarred. L., 24-00; W., 10*50; Tar., 3-10 ; B., 6-00. Range. — United States, breeding in the interior as far north as Manitoba and on the Atlantic coast to North Carolina; casual northward to New Eng- land ; winters from Florida and Texas southward to the West Indies. Washington, rare and irregular T. V. Long Island, casual from July to Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. Eggs, three to four, olive clay-color or brownish ashy, spotted or blotched with chocolate, 2-58 x 1-85. " These birds, as a rule, inhabit the muddy shores and moist grassy flats and plains, but often frequent and breed upon the uplands re- mote from water. Their food consists of worms, crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, small snails, crabs, and crawfish ; the latter they reach for with their long bills and pull them out of their holes ; and I have seen them probe for and unearth the larvae of the beetles and other forms of life that in the spring come to or near the surface prepara- tory to transformation. While feeding they move about with an easy carriage. " Their flight is not'rapid but-well sustained, with regular strokes of the wings, and when going a distance usually high and in a trian- gular form, uttering now and then their loud, prolonged whistling note, so often heard during the breeding season ; before alighting, sud- denly drop nearly to the ground, then gather, and with a rising sweep gracefully alight " (Goss). 265. Numenius hudsonicus Lath. HUDSONIAN CUKLEW; JACK CURLEW. Ad. — Upper parts grayish brown, the sides of the feathers with whitish spots ; rump and tail barred with butty and blackish ; inner web of outer primaries and both webs of inner ones barred with bufty or whitish and black ; under parts butty or whitish, the neck and breast streaked and the sides and under wing-coverts barred with black. L., 17'00 ; W., 9-50 ; Tar., 2-20; B., 8-75. Range. — Breeds in the arctic regions and winters from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Long Island, T. V., rare from May 20 to 30 ; common from July to Oct. 1. Eggs, three to four, pale olive, spotted with dull brown, 2-27 x 1-57 (Ridgw.). This is a much commoner bird on our coasts than the preceding, which it resembles in habits but not in notes. 266. Numenius borealis (Forst.\ ESKIMO CURLEW; FUTE; DOUOH-BIRU. Ad. — Upper parts black, margined and tipped with bufty or PLOVERS. 171 whitish ; upper tail-coverts barred with buffy and black ; tail brownish gray, edged with buffy and barred with black ; primaries fuscous without bars ; under parts buffy or whitish, the breast streaked, the sides and under wing- coverts barred with black L., 13-50 ; W., 8-40 ; Tar., 1-75 ; B., 2-40. Range. — Breeds in the arctic regions and migrates southward, chiefly through the interior, to Patagonia. Long Island, rare T. V., Sept. Eggs, three to four, pale olive-greenish, olive, or olive-brownish, dis- tinctly spotted, chiefly on the larger end, with deep or dark brown, 2-04 x 1*43 (Ridgw.). This Curlew is far more common in the interior than on the At- lantic coast. It is more of a field bird than either of the two pre- ceding species, and frequents the dry uplands to feed on seeds and insects. Mr. G. H. Mackay, in his biography of this species,* writes : "Most of their habits closely resemble those of the Golden Plover. In migration they fly in much the same manner, with extended and broadside and triangular lines and clusters similar to those of Ducks and Geese at such times. They usually fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, apparently looking it over, generally standing motionless for quite a while after alighting, which, owing to their general color approximating so closely to the withered grass, renders it difficult at times to perceive them. . . . The only note I ever heard them make is a kind of squeak, very much like one of the cries of Wilson's Tern (Sterna^ hirundo), only finer in tone." The WHIMBREL (267. Numenius phaeopus}, an Old-World species, is of accidental occurrence in Greenland. FAMILY CHARADRIID^. PLOVERS. The one hundred species contained in this family are, as a whole, of less boreal distribution than the Snipes, and during the nesting season are distributed throughout the world. Only eight species are found in North America. Their habits in a general way resemble those of the true Snipes, but their much shorter, stouter bills are not fitted for probing, and they obtain their food from the surface. Probably for this reason several species are as frequently found on the uplands as near the shores. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Toes three. A. Back spotted or streaked with black and white, rufous, or golden yellow. 272. AM. GOLDEN PLOVER. B. Back ashy, gray, brown, or brownish gray. a. Rump rufous 273. KILLDEEK. b. Rump not rufous. * The Auk, vol. ix, 1892, pp. 16-21. 172 PLOVERS. 6». Bill over -50. IP. A black or brownish band on the breast . 280. WILSON'S PLOVER. ^3. No band on the breast ; back grayish brown, margined with rufous. 281. MOUNTAIN PLOVER. c». Bill under -50. ca. A black line from the eye to the bill. 274. SEAIIPALMATED PLOVER. e*. No line from the eye to the bill. 277. PIPING PLOVER. 277a. BELTED PIPING PLOVER. II. Toes four 270. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. The LAPWING (269. Vanellus vanellus) is an Old- World species of acci- dental occurrence in America. The only record for eastern North America south of Greenland is based on a specimen shot at Merrick, L. I., in Decem- ber, 1883 (Dutcher, Auk, iii, 1886, p. 438). 270. Charadrius squatarola (Linn.). BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER; BEETLE-HEAD. (See Fig. 25, c, 26, d.) Ad. in, summer. — Upper parts black, bordered with white ; tail white, barred with black ; basal half of the inner web of the primaries white ; sides of the head and neck and entire under parts, except the white lower belly and under tail-coverts, black. Im. — Upper parts black, the head and neck streaked, the back spotted with buft'y yellow ; tail and wings as in the adult ; under parts white, the breast and sides streaked with brownish gray. Winter plumage. — Similar to the preceding, but upper parts brownish gray, lightly margined with whitish. L., ll'OO; W'., 7'50; Tar., 1-90 ; B., 1-10. Remarks. — The rounded scales on the front of the tarsus and the presence of a fourth, although very small, toe distinguish this bird. Range. — Nearly cosmopolitan ; breeds in the arctic regions, and in Amer- ica winters from Florida to Brazil. Long Island, common T. V., May 5 to June 5; Aug. 1 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, A. V. Eggs, three to four, light buffy olive, spotted and speckled with dark brown and brownish black or deep black, 2-04 x 1-43 (Ridgw.). The following notes are abridged from Mr. Mackay's extended ac- count of the habits of this species (Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 143-152). They are in a great degree tide birds, and seek a large part of their food on sand-flats left by the receding water. As the tide rises they resort to adjoining marshes or uplands, beaches, or the exposed crests of sand- bars. In migrating they fly in lines and also in ranks, like Ducks and Geese. When on the ground they usually run very fast for four or five yards, then stop, elevate the head, and look around. They strike at the object they are going to pick up and eat with a very quick motion. They have two calls : one of several notes, with the accent on the sec- ond one, is mellow, clear, and far reaching ; the other is low, and is uttered when they are at ease and contented. PLOVERS. 173 272* Charadrius dominions Mull. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER; GREENBACK. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts black, spotted and margined with golden yellow ; tail brownish gray, indistinctly barred with whitish ; sides of the breast white ; rest of the under parts, including sides of the head, black; under wing-coverts ashy. Winter plumage. — Upper parts and tail fuscous, spotted or barred with whitish or yellow ; under parts whitish, more or less streaked or barred with brownish gray. L., 10-50 ; W., Y'OO ; Tar., 1-60 ; B., -90. Remarks. — Immature birds are sometimes confused with those of the Black- bellied Plover, but, aside from differences of size and color, the absence of the fourth toe in the present species will always distinguish it. Range. — Breeds in the arctic regions ; winters from Florida to Patagonia. Washington, rare and irregular T. V. Long Island, T. V., very rare in May ; common from Aug. 15 to Nov. 10. Eggs, three to four, ochraceous-buff or buffy white, heavily marked with chocolate, 1-85 x 1-28. Golden Plovers frequent marshes, sandy hills, old fields, sand-flats exposed by the falling tide, plowed fields, and burned tracts which are free of trees and bushes. When on the ground they run rapidly and gracefully, and after alighting soon scatter. All their movements are quick, and after running a few yards they suddenly stop, hold their head erect, and look about them. In feeding they seem to strike at an object with a motion that reminds one of a Loon or Grebe begin- ning to dive. When a flock is approaching decoys, every bird seems to be whis- tling, uttering a note like coodle, coodle, coodle. Unlike the Black- bellied Plover, the young birds are wary and more difficult to decoy than the old ones. When driven from a favorite resting or feeding ground they generally return in a short time. (Abridged from Mr. George H. Mackay's account of the habits of this species in The Auk, viii, 1891, pp. 17-24.) The EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (271. Charadrius apricarius) occurs in eastern Greenland. It resembles our species, but has the under wing-coverts white instead of gray. 273. JEgialitis vocifera (Linn.}. KILLDEER. Ad. — Forehead, a spot behind the eye, throat, and a ring around the neck, a band on the breast, lower breast, and belly white ; front of the crown, lores, a ring around the neck, and a band on the breast black ; crown and back grayish brown tipped with rufous ; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous ; inner tail-feathers grayish brown, outer ones becoming rufous and white, all tipped with black and white. L., 10-50; W., 6-50; Tar., 1-35; B., -75. Range. — North America north to Newfoundland and Manitoba, breeding throughout its range ; winters from the lower Mississippi Valley and Vir- ginia to northern South America. 174 PLOVERS. Washington, P. E., most abundant in migrations. Long Island, not com- mon T. V., recorded in every month but Jan. Sing Sing, rare T. V. in fall ; Sept, 28 to Oct. 25. Cambridge, A. V., two instances, Sept. Eggs, three to four, butty white, spotted and scrawled with chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 1'50 x 1-10. In localities where this bird is common it is difficult to get beyond the reach of its notes. Lakesides, meadows, pastures, and cultivated fields all attract it, but it is more numerous in the vicinity of water. It is a noisy, restless bird, running rapidly when on the ground, and when on the wing flying swiftly and sometimes pursuing a most irregular course. As a rule it is found in flocks, which scatter when feeding but unite when taking wing. At the first sign of danger it utters its half-plaintive, half-petulant kill-dee, kill-dee, and when thor- oughly alarmed its outcry increases until, beside itself with fear, it reaches the limit of its vocal powers. Although by no means shy, the Killdeer never seems to gain confidence in man, and at his approach always gives voice to its fear. Even at night I have heard it cry out at some real or fancied danger. 274. JEgialitis semipalmata/ > nap. SEMIPAJ.MATED PLOVER ; RING- NECK. (See Fig. 25, d, 26, e.) Ad. in summer. — Feathers at the base of the upper mandible, front of the crown, sides of the head be- low the eye, and a band on the breast, which gener- ally encircles the neck all around, black ; rest of under parts and a ring around the neck white; back of head and back brownish gray ; inner tail-feathers brownish gray, outer ones becoming gradually white ; toes webbed at the base. Winter plum- age. — Similar, but the black replaced by brownish gray. L., G-75 ; W, 4-80 ; Tar., -90 ; £ .50. Range. — Breeds from Lab- rador to the shores of the Arctic Sea; winters from the Gulf States to Brazil. Washington, casual, three specimens, May; Aug. Long Island, common T. V., May ; Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, common T. V. in fall ; Aug. 23 to Sept. 20. Cambridge, rare in spring; sometimes common in Aug. and Sept. • Egg*, three to four, buffy white or creamy buff, spotted with chocolate, 1-30 x -90. FIG. 65.— Semipalmated Plover. (Natural size.) PLOVERS. 175 This species frequents sandy beaches, mud-flats, and marshes. It is found generally in small flocks of five or ten individuals, which, unlike the Sand Oxeyes, do not feed in a compact body, but run rap- idly about, independently of 'one another. When they take wing, however, they close ranks at once and move as though governed by one desire. Their simple, sweet, plaintive call is one of the most characteristic notes heard on our shores. At noonday, when the heat waves are dancing over the marshes and even the twittering Oxeyes are silent, one may hear the cool, pure notes of this little Plover. Tliey may be written rrfa — *~^~ — • -^ third, shorter note is sometimes added. Even a whistled imitation of them takes me to the beaches. The KINO PLOVER (275. ^Egialitis hiaticula), an Old- World species, is found in Greenland. It is similar to the preceding but slightly larger, the black band oil the breast is wider, and there is no web between the inner and middle toes. 277. ^Egialitis meloda (Ord). PIPING PLOVER. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts pale whitish ashy ; forehead, under parts, and a ring around the neck white ; front of the crown and a band on either side of the breast black ; inner tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones becoming white. Winter plum- age.— Similar, but the black replaced by brownish gray. L., TOO ; W., 4*75 ; Tar., -85 ; B., -50. Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from Virginia to Newfound- land ; winters from Florida southward. Long Island, not uncommon S. R., Mch. through Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. Eggs, three to four, creamy white, finely spotted or speckled with choco- late, 1-24 x -95. The Piping Plover resembles the Ring-neck in habits but not in notes. Mr. J. H. Langille writes that it " can not be called a * whistler,' nor even a ' piper,' in an ordinary sense. Its tone has a particularly striking and musical quality. Queep, queep, queep-o, or peep, peep, peep-lo, each syllable being uttered with a separate, distinct, and some- what long-drawn enunciation, may imitate its peculiar melody, the tone of which is round, full, and sweet, reminding one of a high key on an Italian hand organ or the hautboy in a church organ. It is always pleasing to the lover of Nature's melodies, and in the still air of the evening it is very impressive." 277a. 2E. m. circumcincta Ridgw. BELTED PIPING PLOVER. — Closely resembles the preceding, from which it differs in having the bands on either side of the breast joined, forming a continuous breastband. Range. — Breeds from "northern Illinois and Nebraska northward to Lake 176 PLOVERS. Winnepcg," and eastward to the Magdalen and Sable Islands ; winters from the Gulf southward. Casual on the Atlantic coast during the migrations. Long Island, A. V. in summer. 280. JEgialitis wilsonia (Ord). WILSON'S PLOVER. Ad. 6 .— Lores, front of crown, and a band on the breast black ; rest of under parts, forehead, and an indistinct ring on the nape white ; sides of the head and nape sometimes with rufous markings; cheeks, crown, and back brownish gray ; inner tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones becoming white. . 9 . — Similar, but black replaced by brownish gray. Im.— Similar to 9 , but upper parts margined with grayish. L., 7'50 ; W., 4-50 ; Tar., 1-10; B., -80. Range. — America, breeding from Virginia to Central America; win- ters southward to Brazil ; casual northward to Nova Scotia. Long Island, A. V., in sum- Fro. 66.— Wi'.son's Plover. (Natural size.) mcr- Eggs} three, creamy white, even- ly and rather finely spotted and speckled with chocolate, 1.42 x 1*03. This is a more strictly maritime species than the other representa- tives of this genus. Sandy beaches are its favorite resorts, but it is also found on mud-flats exposed by the falling tide. Dr. Coues de- scribes its note as half a whistle, half a chirp, quite different from that of the preceding species. It is a gentle, unsuspicious bird, and when its nest is approached it runs about the intruder and begs as plainly as a bird can that he will not disturb its treasures. The MOUNTAIN PLOVER (281. ^gialitis montana}, a western species, is of accidental occurrence in Florida. The upper parts are grayish brown margined with rufous, the under parts are white tinged with buffy on the breast; in adults the front of the crown and lores are black. L., about 8'75 ; W., 5-75 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., -85. FAMILY APHRIZID^E. SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. A small family of four species, three of which are found in North America, though but one of these visits our Eastern States. They are strictly maritime birds, frequenting only the seacoasts, where they prefer the outer beaches. TURNSTONES, OYSTER-CATCHERS- 177 283. Arenaria interpres (Litin.). TURNSTONE; BRANT BIRD; CALICO-BACK. Ad. in summer. — Upper parts, including wings, strikingly variegated with rufous, black, and white ; tail white at the base, a black band . near its end, and tipped with white ; throat and breast black and white ; belly white. Winter plumage. — Upper parts blackish, bordered with brownish gray or ashy ; lower back white ; longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter ones black; tail as in the adult; throat white, breast black margined with white, belly white. L., 9-50 ; W., 6-00 ; Tar., -95 ; B., 1-00. Range. — Nearly cosmopolitan ; breeds in the arctic regions, and in Amer- ica migrates southward to Patagonia. Washington, rare and irregular T. V. Long Island, common T. V. May ; Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. Eggs, three to four, clay-color, blotched and scrawled with grayish brown, 1-60 x 1-15. This strictly maritime species is found singly or in small flocks, generally on the outer beaches, where it obtains its food by turning over shells and pebbles in search of insects, crustaceans, etc. FAMILY H^EMATOPODIDJE. OYSTER- CATCHERS. The Oyster-catchers number ten species, represented in most of the warmer parts of the globe. But three species are found in North America, and only one of these occurs in the Eastern States. They are strictly maritime birds, and resort to the outer bars and beaches in search of clams, mussels, etc., exposed by the tide. Their strong bill is used as an oyster-knife to force open the shells of these bivalves. 286* Haematopus palliatus Ternm. AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. Ad. — Head, neck, and upper breast glossy black, back and wing-coverts olive- brown, secondaries white, primaries fuscous, upper tail-coverts white, base of the tail white, end fuscous, lower breast and belly white. Im. — Similar, but head and neck blackish and upper parts more or less margined with bufty. L., 19-00 ; W., 10-50 ; Tar., 2-40 ; B., 3-40. Range. — Seacoasts of temperate and tropical America, from New Jersey and Lower California to Patagonia ; occasional or accidental on the Atlantic coast north to Massachusetts and Grand Menan. Long Island. A. V. Eggs, three to four, buffy white or creamy buff, rather evenly spotted and blotched with chocolate, 2-20 x 1-55. A not uncommon species from southern New Jersey southward ; confined exclusively to the coast. It agrees in habits with other mem- bers of this small family. The EUROPEAN OYSTER-CATCHER (285. Ilaematopus ostralegus) is of acci- dental occurrence in Greenland. 13 178 GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. ORDER GALLING. GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. FAMILY TETRAONIDJE. GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. Of the two hundred species contained in this family, one hundred belong in the subfamily Perdicince or Old-World Partridges and Quails, sixty in the subfamily Odontophorince or New- World Par- tridges and Bob-whites, and twenty-five in the subfamily Tetraonince or Grouse, inhabiting the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Generally speaking, these birds are non-migratory, though there are some striking exceptions among the Perdicince. After the nesting season they commonly gather in " coveys " or bevies, usually composed of the members of but one family. In some species these bevies unite or " pack," forming large flocks. As a rule, they are terrestrial, but may take to trees when flushed, while some species habitually call and feed in trees. They are game birds par excellence, and, trusting to the concealment afforded by their dull colors, attempt to avoid detec- tion by hiding rather than by flying, or, in sportsman's phraseology, " lie well to a dog." Their flight is rapid and accompanied by a start- ling whirr, caused by the quick strokes of their small, concave, stiff- feathered wings. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Tarsi bare 289. BOB-WHITE. 289a. FLORIDA BOB-WHITE. B. Upper third or half of tarsi feathered. 300. RUFFED GROUSE. 300a. CANADA RUFFED GROUSE. C. Tarsi entirely feathered, toes hare. a. With bunches of elongated, stiffened feathers springing from either side of the neck 305. PRAIRIE HEN. 306. HEATH HEN. b. Feathers of neck normal. bl. Outer web of primaries spotted with white. 308ft. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. J9. Primaries not spotted with white ..... 298. CANADA GROUSE. D. Tarsi and toes entirely feathered 301. PTARMIGAN and races. 289. Colinus virginianus (Linn.). BOB-WHITE ; QUAIL ; PARTRIDGE. Ad. $ in winter.— Upper parts varying from reddish brown to chestnut ; in- terscapulars with broken and sometimes complete black bars; inner vane of tertials widely margined with cream-buff; rump grayish brown, finely mottled, and with a few streaks of blackish ; tail ashy gray, the inner feath- ers finely mottled with buffy ; front of the crown, a band from the bill to be- neath the eye, and a band on the upper breast black ; throat and a broad line from the bill over the eye white ; sides rufous-chestnut, margined with black and white; lower breast and belly white barred with black. Ad. 9 in win- ter.— Similar, but the throat and line over the eye, forehead, and lores pale ochraceous-buff ; little or no black on the upper breast. Summer examples GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. 179 of both sexes have the crown blacker, the buff'y markings generally paler. L., 10-00 ; W., 4-50 ; T., 2-50 ; B. from N., -35. . Runfje. — Eastern North America, from southern Maine and Minnesota southward to the Gulf of Mexico; resident wherever found. Washington, common P. K. Sing Sing, common P. K. Cambridge, com- mon P. R. Nest, on the ground, in grassy fields. -Eggs, ten to eighteen, white, 1-20 x -95. Taking the Old- World species of the genera Coturnix and Caccdbis as the types respectively of Quails and Partridges, neither of these lat- ter names can properly be applied to our Colinus, which should there- fore be known under the distinctive title Bob-white. During the nesting season Bob-whites are distributed in pairs through clearings and cultivated fields. The members of a brood constitute a bevy or covey, though occasionally two families or broods are found in one bevy. In the fall they frequent grain fields, but as winter approaches draw in toward thickets and wooded bottom-lands, sometimes passing the coldest weather in boggy alder swamps. They roost on the ground, tail to tail, with heads pointing outward ; a bunch of closely huddled forms — a living bomb whose explosion is scarcely less startling than that of dynamite manufacture. Like most grass-inhabiting birds whose colors harmonize with their surroundings, Bob-whites rely on this protective resemblance to escape detection, and take wing only as a last resort. Sometimes they take refuge in trees, but usually they head for wooded cover, where they remain if the growth is dense, but if it is open they generally run the moment they touch the ground. About May 1 they begin to pair, and rival males may then be seen battling for mates like diminutive gamecocks. The name " Bob-white " originated in the spring call of the male. Mounting a fence or ascending to the lower branches of a tree, he whistles the two clear musical, ringing notes Bob-white ! Sometimes they are preceded by a lower one which can be heard only when one is near the singer. After the breeding season, when the birds are in bevies, their notes are changed to what sportsmen term " scatter calls." Not long after a bevy has been flushed and perhaps widely scattered, the members of the disunited family may be heard signaling to one another in sweet minor calls of two and three notes. When excited they also utter low, twittering notes. 289a. C. v. floridanus (Coues}. FLORIDA BOB-WHITE; QUAIL ; PAR- TRIDGE.— Similar to the preceding, but smaller, the plumage throughout darker, the black of the back more extensive, the rump and upper tail-coverts grayer, 180 GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. the black throat-band wider and sometimes reaching down upon the breast, the rufous-chestnut of the sides more extensive, the black bars of the breast and belly much wider. L., 8-50 ; W., 4-40 ; T., 2-50. Range. — Florida, except the northern border of the State. A common bird throughout the pine-grown portions of the Florida peninsula. It is especially numerous on old plantations, where it fre- quents patches of " cow peas." It resembles the northern Bob- white in habits, but is, I think, more inclined to take to the trees when flushed. 1 have seen a whole covey fly up into the lofty pine trees, where, squatting close to the limbs, they became almost invisible. They begin to pair early in March. The EUROPEAN or MIGRATORY QUAIL (Coturnix, coturnix) lias been intro- duced into this country on several occasions, but does not appear to have sur- vived. 298. Dendrag-apuscanadensis //// CANADA GROUSE ; SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. Ad. $ . — Upper parts barred with black, ashy, gray, and grayish brown ; tertials and wing-coverts irregularly marked with fuscous and grayish brown; tail black, tipped with rufous; the black throat separated from the black breast by a broken circular band of black and white and a band of the same color as the back of the neck ; sides mottled with black and grayish brown, the ends of the feathers with white shaft streaks ; rest of the under parts black, broadly tipped with white, except on the middle of the lower breast ; bare skin above the eye bright red in life. Ad. 9 . — Upper parts barred with black and pale rufous and tipped with ashy gray ; tail black, mottled and tipped with rufous ; throat and upper breast barred with pale rufous and black ; sides mottled with black and pale rufous, the ends of the feathers with white shaft streaks ; rest of the under parts black, broadly tipped with white and more or less washed with pale rufous. L., 15-00; W.," 6-50 ; T., 4-75 ; B. from N., -40. Range. — From northern New England, northern New York, and northern Minnesota northwestward to Alaska. Rest, on the ground. Eggs, nine to sixteen, buffy or pale brownish, more or less speckled or spotted with deep brown, 1-71 x 1-22 (Kidgw.). This species is a common inhabitant of coniferous forests, and is generally resident wherever found. An excellent account of its habits is given in Captain Bendire's Life Histories of North American Birds, p. 51. 300. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.}. BUFFED GROUSE; PARTRIDGE; PHEASANT. Ad. $ . — Prevailing color of the upper parts rufous, much varie- gated with black, ochraceous, buffy, gray, and whitish ; sides of the neck with large tufts of broad, glossy black feathers ; tail varying from gray to rufous, irregularly barred and mottled with black, a broad black or brownish bund near the end ; tip gray ; throat and breast ochraceous-bufF, a broken blackish band on the breast; rest of the under parts white, tinged with buffy and GROUSE, BOB- WHITES, ETC. 181 barred with blackish or dark grayish brown, the bars indistinct on the breast and belly, stronger on the sides. Ad. $ . — Similar, but with the neck tufts very small. L., 17'00 ; W., 7'25 ; T., 6-25 ; B. from N., -52. Range. — Eastern United States, from Vermont to Virginia, and along the Alleghanies to northern Georgia. Washington, not common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, common P. R. Rest, on the ground, at the base of a stump or tree, or beneath brush. Eggs, eight to fourteen, pale ochraceous-buff, 1-52 x 1-13. Of all the characteristics of this superb game bird, its habit of drumming is perhaps the most remarkable. This loud tattoo begins with the measured thump of the big drum, then gradually changes and dies away in the rumble of the kettle-drum. It may be briefly rep- resented thus: Thump thump thump— thump, thump; thump, thump-rup rup rup rup r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r. The sound is produced by the male bird beating the air with his wings as he stands firmly braced on some favorite low perch ; and it is now quite well known to be the call of the male to the female ; an announcement that he is at the old rendezvous — a rendezvous that has perhaps served them for more than one season, and a place that in time becomes so fraught with delight- ful associations that even in autumn or winter the male, when he finds himself in the vicinity, can not resist the temptation to mount his wonted perch and vent his feelings in the rolling drum-beat that was in springtime his song of love. But now, alas ! there is no lady Grouse to come, shy but responsive, at the sound of his reverberating sum- mons, There is good reason for supposing that the Ruffed Grouse is po- lygamous, and that the male, if he drums in vain at one place, will fly to another retreat and there seek the society of some more compli- ant female. The young Grouse can run about as soon as they are hatched, and can fly well when about a week old. Their mother is celebrated for the variety of expedients she puts in practice to save her brood from threat- ened danger, and their father has frequently been known to divide the charge with her. The young usually continue with their parents till the following spring, though it is rare at this time to see more than three or four surviving out of the original twelve or fourteen. The food of this Grouse is largely insects and berries during the summer; in the autumn.it adds seeds to the list, and when the ground is covered with snow the staples are catkins, leaves, and buds. Its toes are provided during the winter with a curious fringe of strong, horny points which act as snowshoes. In the northern part of its range this bird commonly burrows into a snowdrift to pass the night during the season of intense cold ; but in the summer and in 182 GROUSE, BOB- WHITES, ETC. the warmer region of its range it roosts habitually among the thickets of evergreen. — ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 300a. B. u. togata (Linn.}. CANADIAN BUFFED GROUSE; PAR- TRIDGE.— To be distinguished from the preceding by the prevailing color of tlie upper parts, which are gray instead of rufous, and the more distinctly barred under parts, the bars on the breast and belly being nearly as well de- fined as those on the side ; the tail is generally gray. Range. — Nova Scotia, northern half of Maine, northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York northward and westward to Hudson Bay and Oregon. 301* Lagopus lag-opus (Linn.). WILLOW PTARMIGAN. Ad. $ in summer. — Prevailing color above rufous, or black thickly barred or mottled with rufous and buft'y or whitish; tail fuscous, tipped with white; middle tail-feathers like the back ; throat, breast, and sides like the head and neck; belly white. Ad. 9 in summer.— Similar to the male, but the bars both above and below broader and more numerous. Winter plumage. — Outer tail-feathers as in summer, rest of the plumage white. L., 15-00 ; W., 7'50 ; T., 4-40 ; B. from N., -42; depth of B. at N., -44. Remarks. — Both this species and its subspecies alleni may be distinguished from our other Ptarmigans by their more rufous color and larger bills. Range. — " Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, south in winter; in America to Sitka, Alaska, the British Provinces, arid occasionally within the northern border of the United States " (Bendire). Nest, on the ground. Eggs, seven to eleven, varying from cream-buff to rufous, heavily spotted and blotched with blackish, 1-75 x 1-20. This abundant and characteristic arctic bird does not nest south of central Labrador, but migrates southward in winter to the St. Law- rence, and has once been taken in northern New York and once in New Brunswick. An extended account of its habits will be found in Nelson's Report on Natural History Collections made in Alaska, p. 131. It is quoted by Captain Bendire in his Life Histories of American Birds (p. 70), where will be found practically all we know concerning the habits of this and the following members of this genus. 301a. I*. 1. alien! Stejn. ALLEN'S PTARMIGAN.— Differs from the pre- ceding in having the " shafts of secondaries black, and quills (sometimes a few of the wing-coverts also) more or less blotched or mottled with dusky. Summer plumages and young unknown" (Ridgw.). e. — Newfoundland. " It frequents rocky barrens, feeding on seeds and berries of the stunted plants that thrive in these exposed situations" (Merriam, Orn. and Ool., viii, 1883, p. 43). 302. Lagopus rupestris '/;/,/ ROCK PTARMIGAN ; ROCKER. Ad. $ in summer. — General color above grayish, the feathers black basally ; head GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. 183 and neck barred, and back marked with numerous fine wavy lines of gray and white or bufty ; central tail-feathers like the back, outer ones fuscous, generally tipped with white ; breast and sides like the head and neck ; belly white. Ad. 9 in summer. — Above black, barred with ochraceous-buff and margined with grayish ; middle tail-feathers the same, outer ones as in the male ; middle of the belly white, rest of the under parts like the back, but with more ochraceous-buff. Winter plumage. — Lores black, outer tail-feathers as in summer, rest of the plumage white. W., V'25 ; B. from N., -35 ; depth of B. at N., -32. Range. — "Arctic America in general, southeastward to the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Anticosti), except the northern extremity of the peninsula of Labrador, and region thence northward, Greenland and Aleutian Islands " (Bendire). Nest, usually placed among the dwarf brush or sedge-covered patches of the tundras. Egys, six to ten, pale cream or yellowish buff, sometimes with a vinaceous-rufous suffusion, spotted and blotched with clove-brown or dark claret-red, 1-65 x 1-18 (Bendire). " In its general manners and mode of living it is said to resemble albus [ = L. lagopus}. but does not retire so far into the wooded coun- try in the winter " (B., B., and R.). 302a. L. r. reinhardti (Brehm}. GREENLAND PTARMIGAN. "Sum- mer male. — Similar to corresponding stage of L. rupestris, but less regu- larly and coarsely barred above. Summer female. — Above chiefly black, this varied irregularly with pale grayish buff', mostly in form of borders to the feathers and spots along their edges, or occasionally imperfect bars, these lat- ter most distinct on wings, where the two colors are in about equal propor- tion; lower parts light grayish buff, everywhere coarsely barred with black" (Eidgw.). Range. — Northern parts of Labrador northward to Greenland. " They prefer more open ground, and rarely straggle even into the skirts of the wooded tracts. The hilltops and barrens (hence often called the Barren Ground Bird) are their favorite resorts ?' (Turner). 303. Lagopus welchi Brewst. WELCH'S PTARMIGAN. Ad. $ in summer. — Upper parts black, the head and neck barred with white and ochra- ceous-buff, the back and wing-coverts finely and irregularly marked with wavy lines of buffy and white ; tail grayish fuscous, the middle feathers tipped with white; throat white, foreneck like the hind neck, breast and sides like the back ; rest of the under parts white. 9 . — Upper parts black, finely and irregularly barred with ochraceous-buff, grayish, and white ; cen- tral tail-feathers like the back, others fuscous ; foreneck, breast, and sides like the hind neck ; belly white. Winter plumage. — White, tail fuscous, the central feathers tipped with white; lores black. W., 7'25; B. from N., -35; depth of B. at N., -32. Remarks.— This species with L. rupestris is to be distinguished from Lagopus lagopus by the ochraceous-buff instead of rufous markings, the fine 184 GROUSE, EOB- WHITES, ETC. grayish wavy bars on the upper parts, and the smaller bill. For a comparison ofwelcM with rupestris see Auk, ii, 1885, p. 193. Range.— Newfoundland. Nest and eggs unknown. " According to Mr. Welch, these Ptarmigan are numerous in New- foundland, where they are strictly confined to the bleak sides and sum- mits of rocky hills and mountains of the interior" (Brewster, /. c.). 305. Tympanuchus americanus (Reich,}. PRAIRIE HEN. Ad. $ .—Upper parts barred with rufous and black and spotted with rufous ; sides of the neck with tufts generally composed of ten or more narrow, stiffened black feathers marked with buffy and rufous, their ends rounded, the skin beneath these tufts bare; tail rounded, fuscous, the inner feathers somewhat mottled with ochraceous-buff, tip white ; throat buffy ; breast and belly white, evenly barred with black. Ad. 9 .—Similar, but the neck tufts much smaller and the tail barred with ochraceous-buff or rufous. L., 18-00 • W 9-00 ; T., 4-00 ; B. from N., -52. Range.— Prairies of Mississippi Valley, south to Louisiana, west to north- ern Indian Territory, middle Kansas, Nebraska, and eastern North and South Dakota; east to Kentucky, Indiana, northwestern Ohio, southwestern Michi- gan, and southwestern Ontario; north to southern Manitoba (Bendire). Nest, on the ground. Eggs, eleven to fourteen, buffy olive, sometimes finely speckled with brownish, 1-70 x 1-25. "This familiar game bird inhabits our fertile prairies, seldom fre- quenting the timbered lands except during sleety storms or when the ground is covered with snow. Its flesh is dark, and it is not very highly esteemed as a table bird. " During the early breeding season they feed largely upon grass- hoppers, crickets, and other forms of insect life, but afterward chiefly upon our cultivated grains, gleaned from the stubble in autumn and the cornfields in winter ; they are also fond of tender buds, berries, and fruits. They run about much like our domestic fowls,- but with a more stately carriage. When flushed they rise from the ground with a less whirring sound than the Ruffed Grouse or Bob-white, and their flight is not as swift, but more protracted and with less apparent effort, flap- ping and sailing along, often to the distance of a mile or more. In the fall the birds collect together and remain in flocks until the warmth of spring quickens their blood and awakes the passions of love; then, as with a view to fairness and the survival of the fittest, they select a smooth open courtship ground (usually called a ' scratching ground '), where the males assemble at the early dawn to vie with each other in courage and pompous display, uttering at the same time their love call, a loud booming noise ; as soon as this is heard by the hen birds desirous of mating they quietly put in an appearance, squat upon the GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, ETC. 185 ground, apparently indifferent observers, until claimed by victorious rivals, which they gladly accept, and receive their caresses " (Goss). 306* Tympanuchus cupido (Linn.}. HEATH HEN. — Similar to the preceding, but the scapulars broadly tipped with buffy ; the neck tufts of less than ten feathers ; these feathers pointed, not rounded, at the ends. Jtange. — Island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Nest, " in oak woods, among sprouts at the base of a large stump " (Brew- ster). Eggs, six to thirteen, " creamy buff in color, with a slight greenish tinge," 1-73 x 1-29. In the early part of this century the Heath Hen was found locally throughout the Middle States, where, unlike its western representative, the Prairie Hen, it lived in wooded districts. It is now restricted to the island of Martha's Vineyard, an excellent illustration of the pro- tection afforded by an insular habitat. Mr. William Brewster, writing in 1890 (Forest and Stream, p. 188; see also p. 207), estimated that there were from one hundred and twenty to two hundred Heath Hens then on the island, but he has recently informed me that since then, owing to insufficient protection, they have been nearly exterminated. 308b. Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. Ad. $ . — Prevailing color of the upper parts ochra- ceous-buff, barred and irregularly marked with black ; no neck tufts ; outer web of the primaries spotted with white; middle tail-feathers projecting about an inch beyond the others, ochraceous-buff and black ; throat buffy ; breast with V-shaped marks of black ; sides irregularly barred or spotted with black or buffy; middle of the belly white. Ad. 9. — Similar, but smaller; the middle tail-feathers shorter. L., 17*50 ; W., 8-50 ; T.. 4-50 ; B. from N., '50. Range. — Western United States from New Mexico northward to Manitoba, east to Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Nest, on the ground. Eggs, eleven to fourteen, creamy buff or pale olive- brown, generally slightly spotted with fine, reddish brown markings, 1-65 x 1-22 (Bendire). This partially migratory species lives on the prairies during the summer and in wooded regions in the winter. A capital account of its habits is given by Ernest E. Thompson in his Birds of Manitoba. FAMILY PHASIANIDJE. PHEASANTS, ETC. With the exception of the Yucatan Turkey and the four races of our Wild Turkey, the some ninety species included in this family are inhabitants of the Old World, and are most numerously represented in southern Asia, where are found the Peacock, many of the Pheasants, and the Jungle Fowl, from which the varieties of our domesticated fowls have descended. 186 WILD TURKEYS. 310. Meleagris gallopavo Linn. WILD TURKEY. — The Wild Turkey may be distinguished from the common domestic race chiefly by the chestnut instead of white tips to the upper tail-coverts and tail. " $ ad. L.,' about 48-00-50 ; W., 21-00; T., 18-50; Weight 16-40 Ibs." (Ridgw.). Range. — Eastern United States from Pennsylvania southward to Florida, west to Wisconsin, the Indian Territory, and Texas. Washington, rare P. R. Nest, on the ground, at the base of a bush or tree. Eggs, ten to fourteen, pale cream-buft, finely and evenly speckled with grayish brown, 2-45 x 1-95. This noble game bird is rapidly decreasing in numbers, and in comparatively few years will doubtless be found only in the parts of its range which are unfit for the habitation of man. Except during the breeding season, Wild Turkeys are found in small flocks of six to twelve or fifteen individuals of both sexes. They roost preferably in the trees in wooded bottom-lands, returning each night to the same locality. At the opening of the breeding season in March the male begins to gobble. As a rule, he calls only early in the morning, before leaving his roost. Later he sails to the ground and at once begins his search for breakfast, or, attracted by the plaintive piping of some female, he struts and displays his charms before her. It is at this time that bat- tles between the males occur. They are polygamists, and the victor becomes sultan of the harem. During the period of incubation, and while the young require their mother's care, the females do not associ- ate with the males, who then flock together. The calls of both sexes so closely resemble those of the domestic birds that it requires a practiced ear to distinguish them. In locali- ties where both birds might be expected to occur, 1 could never be sure whether I was listening to the challenge of some defiant gobbler perched in a cypress in the valley below, or to the vainglorious effort of the lord of the poultry yard. The Wild Turkey is divided by ornithologists into four closely re- lated races. Meleagris gallopavo is the bird of the Eastern States; M. g. osceola, as stated below, is found in southern Florida; M. g. ellioti inhabits southeastern Texas and northeastern Mexico ; M. g. mexicana ranges from western Texas to Arizona, and south over the table lands of Mexico to Vera Cruz. It is this race, with white-tipped upper tail-coverts, which was first introduced into Europe, where it had become established as early as 1530. 31 Ob. M. g. osceola Xcott. FLORIDA WILD TURKEY.— Resembles M. gallopavo, but is smaller, and the primaries, instead of being regularly and widely barred with white, as in that bird, have much smaller, broken -white markings. Weight, $ 12-22 Ibs.; $ 4-75-9 Ibs. (Scott, Auk, ix, 1892, p. 115), Range. — Southern Florida. PIGEONS AND DOVES. 187 ORDER COLTJMB-E3. PIGEONS AND DOVES. FAMILY COLUMBID^. PIGEONS AND DOVES. About one third of the three hundred known species of Pigeons and Doves are found in the New World, but of this number only twelve species occur in North America. The birds of this family differ widely in their choice of haunts. Some are strictly arboreal, others as strictly terrestrial. Some seek the forests and others prefer fields and clear- ings. Some nest in colonies, others in isolated pairs, but most species are found in flocks of greater or less size after the breeding season. When drinking, they do not raise the head as other birds do to swal- low, but keep the bill immersed until the draught is finished. The young are born naked and are fed by regurgitation. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. Tail widely tipped with white or grayish white. a. Tail pointed. a1. Back or rump bluish slate-color 315. PASSENGER PIGEON. aa. Back olive grayish brown 316. MOURNING DOVE. b. Tail square 317. ZENAIDA DOVE. B, Tail not tipped with white. a. Upper parts dark slate-color 314. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. b. Upper parts rufous with purplish reflections. b1. Line below the eye and belly white or whitish . 322. QUAIL DOVE. 6a. Line under the eye and belly butty ochraceous. 322.1. EUDDY QUAIL DOVE. c. Upper parts grayish olive-brown. cl. Crown blue, a white line below the eye. 323. BLUE-HEADED QUAIL DOVE. ca. Crown pinkish or like the back 320. GROUND DOVE. 314. Columba leucocephala Linn. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. Ad. $ . — Rich slate-color ; crown white ; back of the head purplish chestnut ; back of the neck with greenish reflections, each feather with a black border. Ad. 9. — Similar, but paler; crown ashy, less purplish chestnut: back and sides of the neck brownish ash with metallic reflections and black margins. L., 13-50; W., 7-50; T., 5-10; B., -70. Range. — Florida Keys, West Indies, and coast of Central America. Nest, in low bushes. Eggs, two, glossy white, 1-41 x 1-02. This Pigeon is locally common in some of the keys off southern Florida, and has been known to occur on the mainland. According to Mr. J. W. Atkins (Auk, vi, 1889, p. 246), it arrives at Key West early in May and remains until November. 315. Ectopistes migratorius (Linn.). PASSENGER PIGEON. (See Fig. 28.) Ad. $ . — Upper parts rich bluish slate-color; back and sides of the 188 PIGEONS AND DOVES. neck with metallic reflections ; middle of the back and scapulars more or less washed with olive-brown ; middle tail-feathers fuscous, outer ones black at the base, then slaty blue, fading into a broad, white tip ; under parts deep, rich vimicoous ; lower belly white ; throat bluish slate-color. Ad. ? . — Simi- lar, but upper parts with less iridescence and more olive-brown ; breast pale grayish brown ; belly whitish. Im. — Generally similar to the $ , but the feathers of the upper parts and breast tipped with whitish, the primaries edged and tipped with rufous. L., 16-29 ; W., 7'82; T., 7'53 ; B., 7'10. Range. — Eastern North America, northward in the interior to Hudson Bay, breeding locally throughout the more northern part of its range. Washington, rare and irregular T. V. or W. V. Sing Sing, formerly rare S. R. and common T. V., Apl. 15 to May 17 ; Aug. 21 to Oct. 11 ; last seen Oct. 11, 1888. Cambridge, rare and irregular T. V. Nest, a platform of sticks, in a tree. Eggs, one to two, white, 1-45 x 1-09. Wilson, writing about 1808, estimated that a flock of Wild Pigeons observed by him near Frankfort, Kentucky, contained at least 2,230,- 272,000 individuals. Captain Bendire, writing in 1892, says : "... It looks now as if their total extermination might be accomplished within the present century. The only thing which retards their complete ex- tinction is that it no longer pays to net these birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in the more settled portions of the coun- try, and also, perhaps, that from constant and unremitting persecution on their breeding grounds they have changed their habits somewhat, the majority no longer breeding in colonies, but scattering over the country and breeding in isolated pairs" (Life Histories of North American Birds, p. 133). An article by William Brewster on The Present Status of the Wild Pigeon as a Bird of the United States, with some Notes on its Habits (Auk, vi, 1889, pp. 285-291), gives much information concerning the recent history of the bird in Michigan, one of its last strongholds. According to an informant of Mr. Brewster's, the last nesting in Michi- gan of any importance was in 1881. " It was of only moderate size — perhaps eight miles long." The largest known Michigan nesting oc- curred in 1876 or 1877. It was twenty-eight miles long and averaged three or four miles in width. In the Atlantic States the Wild Pigeon is now so rare a bird that during the past sixteen years I have seen only one pair. 316. Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). MOURNING DOVE. Ad. $. — Upper parts olive grayish brown ; forehead vinaceous : crown bluish slate- color; sides of the neck with metallic reflections, a small black mark below the ear / middle tail-feathers like the back, the others, seen from above, slaty gray for the basal half, then banded with black and broadly tipped with ashy and white ; breast vinaceous ; belly cream-buff. Ad. ? . — Similar, but with less iridescence ; breast and forehead washed with grayish brown. Im. — PIGEONS AND DOVES. 189 Much like the 9 , but the feathers tipped with whitish. L., 11-85; W., 5-72; T., 5-50 ; B., -53. Remarks. — The Dove is sometimes mistaken for the Wild Pigeon, hut, aside from the differences in size, may always be distinguished by its olive grayish brown instead of bluish slate-color rump, the black mark below the ear, and other characters. Range. — North America, breeding from Cuba north to Ontario, Quebec, and southern Maine, and wintering from southern Illinois and New York to the Greater Antilles and Panama. Washington, P. R. ; common, except in winter. Sing Sing, common S. R., Mch. 3 to Nov. 27 ; a few winter. Cambridge, occasional during summer in the immediate vicinity of Cambridge. Nest, a flat structure of small twigs rather loosely put together, on the lower branches of a tree, generally within ten feet of the ground ; rarely on the ground in the Eastern States. Eggs, two, white, TOT x -83. Doves resemble Wild Pigeons, but are much smaller, and their rapid flight is accompanied by the whistling sound of wings, while the flight of the Wild Pigeon is said to be noiseless. During the nesting season they may be found in pairs, generally in open woodlands or tree-bordered fields. They also visit roads and lanes to dust themselves. The sweet, sad call of the male has won for this species its common name ; it consists of several soft coos, which may be written : Coo-o-o, ah-coo-o-o — coo-o-o — coo-o-o. Under favor- able circumstances these notes may be heard at a distance of at least two hundred and fifty yards; they are uttered slowly and tenderly, and with such apparent depth of feeling that one might easily imagine the bird was mourning the loss of his mate, instead of singing a love- song to her. At this season one or both birds may be seen performing a peculiar aerial evolution. Ascending to a height of about thirty feet, they fly for some distance in an unnatural manner, and then, after a short sail, return to their perch. When engaged in this performance they very closely resemble a Sharp-shinned Hawk. After the nesting season Doves gather in flocks of varying size and frequent grain and corn fields. During the day they visit the near- est supply of fine gravel, which they eat in large quantities as an aid to digestion. In some localities, soon after sunset, they regularly re- pair in numbers to some favorite place to drink, and then retire to their roosts. 317. Zenaida zenaida (JBonap.). ZENAIDA DOVE. Ad.— Bears a general resemblance to Zenaidura macroura, but the tail is square and tipped with ashy, and the under parts are deep, rich vinaceous. L., 10-00 ; W., 6-10; T., 3-50 ; B., -66. Range.— Florida Keys, West Indies, and coast of Yucatan. Nest, on or near the ground. Eggs, two, glossy white, 1-22 x -92. 190 PIGEONS AND DOVES. This is a common West Indian species. Audubon found it in numbers in the keys off southern Florida, where he records it as a summer resident, arriving in April and departing in October. The few naturalists who have visited these keys since Audubon's time have not been there in the summer, and we do not therefore know whether this species still occurs there at that season. It is more terrestrial in habits than the Mourning Dove, and its notes are deeper, louder, and more solemn than the notes of that species. The WHITE-WINGED DOVE (319. Melopelia leucoptera) is a species of gen- eral distribution from the Mexican border of the United States south to Costa Rica, and it has been recorded from Cuba, Jamaica, and San Domingo. It is of accidental occurrence at Key West, Florida. 320. Columbigallina passerina terrestris Chapm. GROUND DOVE ; MOURNING DOVE. Ad. $ . — Forehead and under parts vinaceous, the centers of the breast-feathers blackish ; top and back of the head bluish slate- color ; back brownish gray ; tail blackish, the outer feathers with small white tips; base of the bill coral-red, tip black. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but the forehead and under parts pale brownish gray. Im. — Resembles the ? , but the feathers are tipped with whitish. L., 675 ; W., 3-60 ; T., 2-50 ; B., -50. Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States north to North Carolina, west to Texas ; more common^cear the coast than inland. Washington, accidental ; two records. Nest, on the ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, two, whit*, -85 x -67. This diminutive Pigeon frequents both pines and "hummocks," lake-shores and old fields, and in some southern towns is a familiar bird of the quieter streets. It is by no means shy, and runs before one with quick, short steps and a graceful movement of the head. Oc- casionally it holds its tail upright, giving it a peculiar bantamlike ap- pearance. Its flight is short, and when on the wing it bears an odd resemblance to a short-tailed Japanese kite. Its favorite roosting places are densely foliaged orange trees, and frequently when the bird is hidden in their depths one may hear its mellow, crooning coos uttered so softly that they float on the air as though born of murmuring winds. 322. Geotrygon martinica (Gmd.\ QUAIL DOVE.— Upper parts rufous, with brilliant metallic reflections ; wings rufous ; a white line beneath the eye ; breast vinaceous ; belly white. L., 11*00 ; W., 6-20 ; T., 5-00 ; B., -50. Range. — Florida Keys and Wesl Indies. Nest, in trees. Eggs, two, ochraceous-white, 1-22 x -94 (Bendire). A West Indian species which occurs during the summer regularly, but, so far as known, only in small numbers in the Florida Keys. The Quail Doves inhabit wooded districts, where they live on the ground. Their flight is low and noiseless, and, according to my ex- VULTURES. 191 perience with them in Cuba, they are difficult birds to observe unless one can find some tree on the fallen fruits of which they are feeding. The RUDDY QUAIL DOVE (822,1. Geotrygon montana) is a West Indian and Central American species, which has been once recorded from Key West (Atkins, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 160). It bears a general resemblance to the pre- ceding, but the back is more rufous and the belly is deep cream-buff. The BLUE-HEADED QUAIL DOVE (S28. Starn.anas cyanocephala), a Cuban species, is of accidental occurrence in the Florida Keys. The back is olive- brown, the crown and sides of the throat are deep grayish blue, throat black, line beneath the eye white. ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. FAMILY CATHARTID^;. AMERICAN VULTURES. A New World family of eight species, of which three are North American. Within their range Vultures are found wherever there is food. Far above the earth on firm wing they sail in broad circles, and from this outlook in the sky descend to feast upon the stricken deer in the forest or the cur lying in the gutters of a thoroughfare. Except during the nesting season, they are generally found in flocks, which each night return to a regularly frequented roost. When alarmed, they utter low, grunting sounds, but at other times are voiceless. 325. Cathartes aura (Linn.). TURKEY VULTURE. (See Fig. 32.) Ad.— Head and neck naked, the skin and base of the bill bright red ; plum- age glossy black, edged with grayish brown. Im.— Similar, but the head covered with grayish-brown furlike feathers. L., about 30-00; W., 22-00; T., 11-00; B., 2-30. Range. — Temperate North America, from New Jersey southward to Pata- gonia. Of more or less regular occurrence in New Jersey as far north as Princeton in the interior and Sandy Hook on the coast. Washington, abundant P. R. Sing Sing, A. V. J\7est, in hollow stumps or logs, or on the ground beneath bushes or pal- mettos. Eggs, one to three, dull white, generally spotted and blotched with distinct and obscure chocolate marking, but sometimes plain or but slightly spotted, 2-80 x 2'00. ' Doubtless one of the first things that attract the attention of a stranger in our Southern States is the Turkey Buzzard. Indeed, there are few moments between sunrise and sunset when these birds are not in sight. On outstretched, immovable wings they soar overhead in graceful circles, perfect pictures of "repose in motion." Without once flapping their^broad pinions, they sail in spirals up the sky until they are hidden by the storm-clouds they have purposely avoided. 192 VULTURES. Again, one sees them winging their w*y low over fields or through the streets of a town in search of food, which their powers of both sight and smell assist them in finding. Their services as scavengers are invaluable. The thought of bury- ing a dead horse or cow never occurs to the southern planter. He simply drags the animal to a more or less retired place and leaves it for the Buzzards, who never fail to do justice to the repast. In some southern towns they make a sell-constituted street-clean- ing department, and if their efforts were seconded by a corps of goats, to dispose of the more indigestible materials, they would form an ad- mirable branch of the public service. After a rain it is a common sight to see Buzzards perching with wings held in spread-eagle fashion as they dry their water-soaked plumage. Frequently they stand on the top of a chimney to take ad- vantage of the heat arising with the smoke. Their only note is a low, hissing sound uttered when they are dis- turbed. Just after sunset Buzzards may be seen sailing to their roosting place, generally in the upper branches of a dead tree. 326. Catharista atrata (JBartr.). BLACK VULTURE. Ad.— and neck bare, the skin and base of the bill blackish / plumage glossy black ; under surface of the wings silvery. L., about 24-00 ; W., 17-00 ; T., 8-00 ; B., 2-20. Range. — Breeds from North Carolina south ward, through Mexico to South America, and occasionally strays as far north as Maine. Nest, on the ground, under logs, bushes, palmettos, etc. Eggs, one to three, pale bluish white, generally more or less spotted with distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2-95 x 2-00. This species is more abundant near the seacoast and less common in the interior than the preceding. It is also more often found living in towns or cities. Any one who has visited the vicinity of the market in Charleston, S. C., will testify to its abundance and semi-domestica- tion there. Indeed, the birds have become so tame that when engaged in devouring some savory morsel they are in frequent danger of being trodden under foot. Black Vultures are heavier birds than Turkey Buzzards, and when- ever the ownership of food is in question the dispute is invariably settled in the Vulture's favor. Their stretch of wing, however, is not so great, and for this reason their flight is far less easy and graceful than that of the Buzzard. They flap their wings oftener, and this habit, in connection with their black heads, grayish primaries, and comparatively short tails, serves to identify them in the field. The only note I have ever heard from them is a low grunt uttered when they are disturbed. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 193 FAMILY FALCONID^E. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. The three hundred and fifty species included in this family are distributed throughout the world. One tenth of the number are found in North America. During the migratory seasons they may some- times be seen traveling in scattered flocks, which may take hours to pass a given point. At other times of the year, with few exceptions, they are solitary birds, having no intercourse with their kind. During the breeding season many species have definitely bounded haunts, upon which intrusion by individuals of the same species is not permitted. With much regularity they return to the same locality and even the same nest year after year, and some species are known to mate for life. Their days are an unceasing vigil. At all times they are on the alert for food. This consists to a large extent of small mammals and in- sects, birds and poultry forming a comparatively insignificant part of the diet of most species. Hawks are thus of great value to the agri- culturist as the natural check upon the increase of the myriad of small rodents so destructive to crops. The cries of Hawks are generally loud, startling, and characteristic of their fierce natures. They strike their prey with their feet, and use the bill to tear it into fragments. Hawks' nests are generally bulky affairs, composed of coarse twigs and sticks. The presence of downy feathers gives evidence that they are or have been recently occupied. • KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 19-00. A. Upper half of tarsus feathered. a. Whole head and neck white 352. BALD EAGLE (Ad.). b. Head and neck brown or brownish. bl. Bill mostly yellow (Greenland) . . 351. GRAY SEA EAGLE (Ad.). J». Bill black or blackish 352. BALD EAGLE (Im.). B. Whole tarsus feathered 349. GOLDEN EAGLE. II. Wing under 19-00. 1. Feathers of under parts more or less streaked and spotted, without cross-bars. A. Outer primary with numerous black or blackish bars, a. Wing under 10-00. a1. Back bright rufous, with or without black bars. 360. AM. SPARROW HAWK. a2. Back bluish slate-color 357. PIGEON HAWK (Ad.). a3. Back fuscous, second primary longest. 357. PIGEON HAWK (Im.). a4. Back fuscous, fourth primary longest, tail-feathers of nearly equal length ; wing under 9'00 332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 14 194: FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. a6. Back fuscous, fourth primary longest, outer tail-feathers half an inch or more shorter than the middle ones; wing over 9-00. 333. COOPER'S HAWK. b. Wing over 10-00. b1. Second primary longest, tail generally over 9-00. ft. " Lower tail-coverts immaculate white." 353. WHITE GYRFALCON. b3. " Lower tail-coverts always more or less marked with dusky." 354. GRAY GYRFALCON and Kaces. cl. Second primary longest, tail under 9*00. c-a. Tarsus shorter than middle toe without nail, upper parts blackish. 356. DUCK HAWK. c*. Tarsus longer than middle toe without nail, upper parts brownish 355. PRAIRIE FALCON. dl. Third or fourth primary longest. d?. Upper tail-coverts white 331. MARSH HAWK. da. Upper tail-coverts brownish . . . 334. AM. GOSHAWK (1m.). £. Outer primary generally one color, base sometimes whitish or with a few imperfect bars. a. Tarsus entirely bare, scales on its front large, rounded. 362. AUDUBON'S CARACARA. b. Tarsus entirely feathered .... 348. FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEO. c. Tarsus partly feathered, scales on its front small, rounded. 364. AM. OSPREY. d. Tarsus partly feathered, scales on its front transverse, more or less square. dl. Three outer primaries emarginate or " notched." * J2. Wing under 12-00 .... 343. BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Im.). d*. Wing over 12-00 342. SWAINSON'S HAWK (Im.). «*. Four outer primaries emarginate or '; notched." t e*. Upper tail-coverts pure white 331. MARSH HAWK. e3. Upper tail-coverts not pure white; wing under 13-50; lesser wing-coverts conspicuously margined with rufous. 339. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Im.). e*. Upper tail-coverts not pure white ; wing over 13-50 ; lesser wing- coverts not conspicuously margined with rufous. 337. RED-TAILED HAWK AND RACES. 2. Feathers of under parts with more or less numerous cross-bars. A. Scales on front of the tarsus numerous, rounded. a. Wing under 15-00 356. DUCK HAWK. b. Wing over 15-00 362. AUDUBON'S CARACARA. B. Scales on front of the tarsus sharply defined, transverse, more or less square. o. Four or five outer primaries emarginate or " notched." f a1. Tail white at the base and tipped with whitish. 330. EVERGLADE KITE. * See Fig. 70. f See Fig. 69. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 195 «a. Tail rufous, with sometimes a black band near the end. 337. RED-TAILED HAWK (Ad.) and Races. «3. Tail black or blackish, with four to six white or grayish cross- bars . 339. BED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Ad.). 339a. FLORIDA RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Ad.). a*. Tail 10-00 long, gray, with several indistinct blackish bands. 334. AM. GOSHAWK. I. Three outer primaries emarginate or " notched." * b1. Tail with two or three broad whitish bars. 343. BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Ad.)! b*. Tail with numerous narrow, indistinct blackish bars. 342. SWAINSON'S HAWK (Ad.). C. Front of the tarsus smooth, or with the scales not sharply defined ; outer primary barred. a. Wing under 9-00, tail-feathers of nearly equal length. 332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Ad.). b. Wing over 9-00, outer tail-feathers half an inch shorter than the mid- dle ones ; upper tail-coverts not white. 333. COOPER'S HAWK (Ad.). c. Wing over 9-00 ; upper tail-coverts white. 331. MARSH HAWK (Ad.). D. Tarsus entirely feathered. a. Legs rich rufous, heavily barred . 348. FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEG. J. Legs ochraceous-buff, more or less barred. 347a. AM. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 3. Under parts without streaks or bars. A. Under parts white. a. Scales on front of tarsus transverse, more or less square. 334. SHORT-TAILED HAWK. b. Scales on front of tarsus numerous, rounded. b1. Tail barred. b3. Upper parts not barred 364. AM. OSPREY. i8. Upper parts barred 353. WHITE GYRFALCON. c1. Tail not barred. c* Tail square, white 328. WHITE-TAILED KITE. c8. Tail forked, bluish black . . . 327. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. B. Under parts dark brown, slate, gray, or black. a. Tarsus entirely feathered . . . 347a. AM. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. J. Tarsus partly feathered, scales transverse, more or less square. b1. Wing over 13-00. i2. Upper tail-coverts, base and tip of the tail white ; two outer primaries slightly " notched " . . . . 330. EVERGLADE KITE. b3. Three outer primaries " notched "* . 342. SWAINSON'S HAWK. t>*. Four outer primaries " notched " . . 338. HARLAN'S HAWK. c1. Wing under 13-00. ca. Primaries more or less distinctly barred ; general plumage sooty black 344. SHORT-TAILED HAWK. c9. Primaries not barred ; general plumage slaty blue. 329. MISSISSIPPI KITE. * See Fig. 70. 196 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 827. Elanoides forficatus (Linn.). SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Ad. — Head, neck, linings of the wings, rump, part of tertials, and under parts white ; rest of the plumage glossy bluish black ; tail deeply forked, the outer feathers about 8-00 longer than the middle ones. L., 24-00; W., 16-50; T., 13-50 ; B. from N., -80. Range. — Southern United States north to Pennsylvania and casually to Massachusetts ; south to South America ; breeding locally throughout its range, and wintering in Central and South America. Nest, in the upper branches of tall trees. Eggs, two to four, white or buft'y white, boldly spotted or blotched, chiefly round the larger end, with hazel- brown, chestnut, or rich madder-brown, 1-87 x 1*49 (Ridgw.). The Swallow-tailed Kite winters in Central and South America, and appears in the United States in March. Its home is the air, and it is far more frequently seen on the wing than at rest. It captures its prey, devours it, and drinks while under way. Its flight possesses all the marvelous ease and grace of a Swallow's, made more evident, and consequently more impressive, by the bird's much greater size. 328. Elanus leucurus ( Vieill.). WHITE-TAILED KITE. Ad.— Upper parts ashy gray, whiter on the head ; wing-coverts black ; tail and under parts white. L., 15-50 ; W., 12-50 ; T., 7'00 ; B. from N., -70. Range. — Breeds from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and Indian Terri- tory southward through Mexico to the Argentine .Republic; rare east of the Mississippi. Nest, in trees. Eggs, three to four, " handsomely marbled or clouded with various shades of rich madder-brown on a paler (sometimes whitish) ground, 1-71 x 1-31" (Ridgw.). This species is not often found east of the Mississippi. It frequents open, marshy situations. A pair which I observed in Texas hunted by hovering over the reeds, sustaining a position facing the wind, and about forty feet from the ground, by a gentle movement of the wings. 329. Ictinia mississippiensis ( Wils.). MISSISSIPPI KITE. Ad. — Head, neck, exposed margins of the secondaries, and under parts gray ; back bluish slate-color; primaries streaked or spotted with rufous-chestnut; tail black, without bars. Im. — Head streaked with black and white ; back black- ish, tipped with rufous or white, the concealed parts of the feathers white and with generally one blackish bar ; primaries without rufous ; tail with three or four broken white bars ; below buft'y, streaked with rufous and grayish brown. L., 14-00 ; W., 11-25; T., 6-50 ; B. from N., -60. Range. — Breeds from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and Kansas south- ward to Central America ; winters in the tropics. Nest, in tall trees. Eggs, two, dull white, sometimes with a bluish tinge, 1-63 x 1-32. This bird, like the preceding, is only a summer resident in the United States, arriving from the south in April. It is not common FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 197 east of Louisiana. It migrates in flocks, sometimes flying within gun- shot, and at others so far above the earth as to be almost beyond the bounds of vision. 330. Bostrhamus sociabilis ( Vieill.}. EVERGLADE KITE ; SNAIL- HAWK. Ad. — Dark slate-color ; under, and longer upper tail-coverts, and base of the tail white, tip of the tail whitish ; upper mandible much lengthened and hooked. Im. — Upper parts black, tipped with rufous ; under parts barred and mottled with rufous, black, and bufty ; tail as in the adult. L., IS'OO; W., 14-00 ; T., 7-75 ; B., 1-20. flange. — Breeds from middle Florida southward to the Argentine Republic. Nest, in bushes, among reeds or tall grasses. Eggs, two to three, pale blu- ish white, heavily spotted, blotched, or washed with cinnamon or chocolate, 1-85 x 1-47. This species is a summer resident in southern Florida. It arrives from the south in February. Mr. W. E. D. Scott writes of it as ob- served at Lake Panasofkee, Florida : " Their food at this point appar- ently consists of a kind of large, fresh-water snail, which is very abun- dant, and the local name of ' Snail-Hawk ' is particularly applicable to this bird as 1 have met with it. They fish over the shallow- water, reminding one of Gulls in their motions ; and having secured a snail by diving, they immediately carry it to the nearest available perch, where the animal is dexterously taken from the shell without injury to the latter " (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vi, 1881, p. 16). 331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.'). MARSH HAWK ; HARRIER. Ad. $ . — Upper parts gray or ashy ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail silvery gray, irregu- larly barred or marked with blackish ; upper breast pearl-gray ; the lower breast and belly white, spotted or barred with rufous. Ad. 9 . — Upper parts fuscous, the head and neck streaked, and the wing-coverts spotted or margined with rufous ; longer upper tail-coverts white ; middle tail-feathers barred with ashy and black, others barred with ochraceous-buff and black ; under parts ochraceous-buff, widely streaked on the breast and narrowly streaked on the belly with fuscous or light umber. Im. — Similar to the 9 , but somewhat darker above; the under parts darker, almost rufous; the belly without streaks. $ L., 1900; W., 13-75; T., 9-00; B. from N., -00. 9 L., 22-00; W., 15-00; T., 10-00. flange. — North America in general, south to Panama. Washington, common W. V., July to Apl. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., Mch. 6 to Oct. 30; a few winter. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl. 15; Sept. and Oct. ; a few breed. Nest, on the ground, in marshes. Eggs, four to six, dull white or pale bluish white, 1'75 x 1-40. This Hawk is essentially a bird of the unwooded country, and we might as well look for a Grouse in the open marsh as for a Harrier in the thick woods. It flies low, and may be easily identified by the large 198 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. white patch on its rump. Quartering the country with slow, vacillating flight, it usually captures its living prey by surprising it away from its retreats. The Plarrier is a low-perching Hawk, and most frequently will be seen alighting on a slight elevation or in the grass. During the nesting season the male may be seen endeavoring to win the admira- tion of the principal spectator by performing a number of extraor- dinary aerial evolutions. Sometimes he soars to a great height, then falls straight downward nearly to the ground, turning several somersaults during the descent, and uttering at the same time a re- iterated screeching. At other times he flies across the marsh in a course which would outline a gigantic saw, each of the descending parts being done in a somersault and accompanied by the screeching notes, which form the only love song within the range of his limited vocal powers.— ERNEST E. THOMPSON. " Of 124 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry, or game birds ; 34, other birds ; 57, mice ; 22, other mammals ; 7, reptiles ; 2, frogs ; 14, insects ; 1, indeterminate matter, and 8 were empty " (Fisher). 332. Accipiter velox ( Wils.}. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Ad.— Upper parts slaty gray ; primaries barred with blaclcisTi / tail nearly square, ashy gray, with blackish cross-bars and a whit- ish tip ; throat white, streaked with black- ish ; rest of under parts barred with white and ochraceous-buff or pale rufous. Im. — Upper parts fuscous, margined with rufous ; primaries and tail much as in the ad. ; un- der parts white or buffy white, streaked or spotted with blackish or pale rufous-brown. 6 L., 11-25; W., 6-60; T., 5-50; B. from N., •40. 9 L., 13-50 ; W., 8'00 ; T., 7-00. Remarks, — This species very closely re- sembles Cooper's Hawk. In adult plumage FIG. GT.-Square tail of Sharp- the black cap characterizes that species, but shinned Hawk. immature birds may be distinguished only by size and the difference in the shape of the tail, which in velox is nearly square, and in cooperi decidedly rounded. Range. — Breeds throughout the United States, and winters from Massa- chusetts to Central America. Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, com- mon T. V., Apl. 15 to Apl. 30; Sept. and Oct. ; rare S. R., uncommon W. V. Nest, in trees, fifteen to forty feet from the ground. Eggs, three to six, varying from bluish white to pale cream-buff, distinctly spotted, heavily blotched, or even washed with chocolate or cinnamon-rufous, 1-55 x 1-20. The generally misapplied names "Hen Hawk" and "Chicken Hawk " should be restricted to the birds of this genus, for they de- FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 199 serve the reputation commonly attributed to the large Hawks of the genus Buteo. The Sharp-shinned Hawk differs decidedly in habits from the mouse- or insect-eating species, which watch for their prey from a lookout and capture it on the ground. It is a fearless, daring, ag- gressive bird, and flying swiftly, rather low, either in the open or through woods, it makes sudden dashes at the frightened birds, which hurry to cover to escape its talons. One hears a commotion among the birds ; calls of alarm, and a dark form darts through the foliage in close pursuit, or, missing its aim, alights in the center of some thickly leaved tree, there to await in silence a fresh opportunity. Sometimes it may be seen soaring in narrow circles, when its dispro- portionately long tail forms a good field character. It is usually a voiceless bird except during the nesting season, when a too close approach to its nest causes it to utter its peculiar notes. " Of 159 stomachs examined, 6 contained poultry or game birds ; 99, other birds ; 6, mice ; 5, insects ; and 52 were empty " (Fisher). 333. Accipiter cooper! (Bonap.). COOPER'S HAWK. Ad. — Similar to adults of the preceding, but larger and with the crown blackish. Im.— Similar in color .to young of A. velox, but larger. $ L., 15-50; W., 9-50; T., 7-75; B. from N., -55. $ L., 19-00 ; W., 10-50 ; T., 9-00. Tftmgre.— Breeds from the Gulf of Mexico to Newfoundland, and winters from Massachusetts to Mexico. Washington, common P. K. Sing Sing, tolerably common P. K. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl.; Sept. and Oct. ; not uncommon S. K. ; rare W. V. Nest, in trees, twenty-five to fifty feet from the ground. Eggs, three to six, pale bluish white, 6g _Rounded tail of Coopel,s Hawk. sometimes lightly ^ spotted with brownish, 1-90 x 1-55. This species resembles the preceding in habits, but because of its larger size is more destructive to poultry. "Of 183 stomachs examined, 34 contained poultry or game birds; 52, other birds; 11, mammals; 1, frog; 3, lizards; 2, insects; and 39 were empty " (Fisher). 334. Accipiter atricapillus ( Wih.). AMERICAN GOSHAWK. Ad.— Upper parts bluish slate-color; head blackish, a white line over and behind 200 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES. ETC. the eye ; inner tail-feathers like the back, outer ones more fuscous, and slightly^ marked with blackish ; tip whitish ; entire under parts evenly marked with irregular, wavy bars of gray and white, the feathers of the throat and breast with darker shaft streaks. Im. — Upper parts fuscous, margined with rufous; primaries barred with black ; tail brownish gray, barred with black ; under parts white or butty, streaked with black. $ L., 22-00;- iW., 13-00; T., 10-00; B. from N., -65. ? L., 24-00; W., 13-40; T., 11-50. Range. — Breeds from the northern United States northward, and winters as far south as Virginia. Washington, casual in winter. Sing Sing, rare W. V., Oct. 10 to Jan. 14. Cambridge, irregular and uncommon W. V. Nest, in trees. Eggs, two to five, " white, or glaucous- white, sometimes very faintly marked with pale brownish, 2-31 x 1-74" (Ridgw.). With the general habits of the two preceding species this larger bird is much bolder than either. Dr. Fisher remarks : " This species is one of the most daring of all the Hawks, and while in pursuit of its prey is apparently less concerned by the presence of man than any other. It will dart down unexpectedly at the very feet of the farmer and carry off a fowl." " Of 28 stomachs examined, 9 contained poultry or game birds ; 2, other birds; 10, mammals ; 3, insects ; 1, centiped ; and 8 were empty " (Fisher). 337. Buteo borealis (Gmel.}. EED-T AILED HAWK; HEN HAWK; CHICKEN HAWK. Ad. — Upper parts dark grayish brown or fuscous-brown, more or less edged with rufous, ochraceous-buft, and whitish* four outer pri- maries " notdied," the outer one not regularly barred ; wing-coverts not edged with rufous; tail rich rufous, with a narrow black band near its end and a white tip; upper breast heavily streaked with grayish brown and bchraceous- buff, lower breast lightly streaked and sometimes without streaks; upper belly streaked, spotted, or barred with black or blackish, forming a kind of broken band across the belly ; lower belly generally white without streaks. Im. — Similar, but the tail of about the same color as the back, crossed by numerous more or less distinct blackish bands ; no rufous in the markings of the under parts. $ L., 20-00 ; W., 15'50 ; T., 9-25 ; B. from N., -95. 9 L., 23-00 ; W., 16-50; T., 9-75. Iinntfe. — Eastern North America, breeding throughout most of its range. Washington, common W. V., rare S. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. ; less common in winter. Cambridge, common W. V., Nov. to Apl. ; a few S. R. Nest, in trees, thirty to seventy feet from the ground. Eggs, two to four, dull white, generally scantily and irregularly marked with shades of cinna- mon-brown, 2-40 x 1-85. The Red-tailed Hawk resembles its near relative, the Red-shoul- dered Hawk, in the selection of its haunts, and, to a large extent, in habits. It is to be distinguished in life from that species by its larger size, which, even in the field, is noticeable, and by its call. The usual FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 201 note of the Red-tail is a long-drawn "squealing" whistle, which to my ear suggests the sound produced by escaping steam. " Of 562 stomachs examined, 54 contained poultry or game birds ; 51, other birds; 278, mice; 131, other mammals; 37, batrachians or reptiles ; 47, insects ; 8, crawfish ; 1, centiped ; 13, offal ; and 89 were empty " (Fisher). 337a. B. b. kriderii Hoopes. KRIDER'S HAWK.— Similar to Buteo borealis, but with much more white in the plumage; the head sometimes almost entirely white ; the under parts only lightly streaked, and with the band on the belly sometimes obsolete ; the tail in the ad. pale rufous, gen- erally without a terminal black band ; in the im., pale rufous, or white washed with rufous, and with numerous blackish bars. $ W., 15-00; T., 9-50. Range. — u Great plains of the United States, from Minnesota to Texas ; east irregularly or casually to Iowa and northern Illinois " (Bendire). 337d. B. b. harlani (Aud.). HARLAN'S HAWK. A d.— Upper parts dark sooty fuscous, the bases of the feathers more or less barred with gray- ish ; tail closely mottled with black, fuscous, rufous, and whitish ; under parts varying from white more or less spotted across the belly to sooty fuscous. Im. — Similar, but the tail barred with blackish, grayish, rufous, or whitish, tipped with white. $ L., about 19-00 ; W., 15-50 ; T., 8-25. 9 L., about 21.00 ; W., 17-00; T., 9-25. Range. — " Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley ; north (casually) to Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Pennsylvania; east to Georgia and Florida" (Ben- dire). Dr. William L. Ralph, in Captain Bendire's Life Histories of North American Birds (p. 218), reports this species as not uncommon during the winter in St. John's and Putnam Counties, Florida. He writes : " They are exactly like the Red-tailed Hawks except in color, and their call-note is the same, only being longer drawn out. The call of the latter bird, as already stated, sounds like the squealing of a pig, or ' kee-ee-e,' and that of Harlan's Hawk like ' kee-ee-ee-e-e-ee.' ' .The WESTERN KEDTAIL (SS7b. B. 1. calurus) has been recorded from Illi- nois, and one specimen of the EUROPEAN BUZZARD (336. Buteo buteo) is said to have been taken in Michigan. 339. Buteo lineatus ( Gmel.\ EED-SHOULDERED H AWK ; HEN HAWK ; CHICKEN HAWK. Ad. — Upper parts dark grayish fuscous-brown, more or less edged with rufous, ochraceous - buff, and whitish; four outer primaries "notched," all barred with black and white; lesser wing-coverts rufous, forming a conspicuous " shoulder " patch ; tail black or fuscous, with four or five white cross-bars and a white tip ; throat streaked with blackish ; rest of under parts rufous or ochraceous- buff, everywhere barred with white or whitish. Im.— Upper parts much as in the adult; basal part of the primaries mostly ochraceous-buf, fading to whitish on the inner web, with broken bars of fuscous ; lesser wing-coverts conspicuously margined with rufous or rufous- chestnut ; tail dark grayish brown, indistinctly barred with fuscous, and on 202 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. the basal half with more or less rufous, the inner webs of the feathers with sometimes white bars ; under parts white or whitish, streaked or spotted with black or blackish, the legs sometimes barred with rufous. 3 L., 18-30 ; W., 12-50; T., 8-00; B. from N., -75. 9 L., 20-35; W., 13-50; T., 9'00. FIG. 69.— Four-notched primaries of Red-shouldered Hawk. (Reduced.) Remarks. — Adults of this species may always be known by the rich rufous lesser wing-coverts. Immature birds are sometimes confused with the young of the Eed-tailed or Broad-winged Hawks. From the former they may be distinguished by their small size, rufous margins of the lesser wing-coverts ochraceous-buff markings on the primaries, and the continuously streaked under parts ; from the latter they diifer in having four instead of three outer primaries " notched,1' in being larger, and in having ochraceous-butf on the primaries. Range. — Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba ; resi- dent nearly throughout its range. Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. E. Cambridge, com- mon P. JR., less common in winter. Nest, in trees, thirty to sixty feet from the ground. Eygs, three to six, dull white, generally more or less sprinkled, spotted, or blotched with cinna- mon-brown or chocolate, 2-15 x 1-65. The present species and the Red-tailed Hawk are the birds to which the names Chicken Hawk and Hen Hawk are most frequently misap- plied. Being both common species whose habits render them easily observed, they are often unjustly made to suffer for the sins of their bird-killing relatives of the genus Accipiter, The farmer sees a Hawk sailing in wide circles above him, uttering its fierce, screaming cry of kee-you, kee-you. While he is watching it a sly, low-flying Accipiter slips by him and makes a sudden dash into the poultry yard. The farmer does not discriminate ; a Hawk is a Hawk, and, shaking his fist at the bird in the air, he vows vengeance at the first opportunity. The Red-shouldered Hawk is at most times of the year a bird of the woods. Particularly does it like low woods watered with small streams from which it can obtain its favorite food of frogs. Its note is one of the common sounds of summer, and can be heard when the bird is almost lost to sight far up in the sky. It is frequently imi- tated by the Blue Jay. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 203 " Of 220 stomachs examined, 3 contained poultry ; 12, other birds ; 102, mice; 40, other mammals; 20, reptiles; 39, batrachians ; 92, in- sects ; 16, spiders ; 7, crawfish ; 1, earthworms ; 2, offal ; 3, fish ; and 14 were empty " (Fisher). 339a. B. 1. alleni Eidgw. FLORIDA RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. — Adults of this species may easily be distinguished from those of B. lineatus by their smaller size, grayish white head, with black shaft streaks and no rufous, the smaller fuscous tips on the scapulars and interscapulars, which do not con- ceal the ashy gray bases of the feathers, by the whitish or grayish cheeks and throat, and the ochraceous-buff, indistinctly barred under parts. Im- mature birds are very similar to those of B. lineatus, and can be distin- guished only by their smaller size and darker color. 6 W., 11-00; T., 7*50; B., 1-20. Range.— Florida, north along the Atlantic coast to South Carolina, west along the Gulf coast to eastern Texas. 342. Buteo swainsoni Bonap. SWAINSON'S HAWK. Ad. $ .—Upper parts fuscous-brown, more or less margined with rufous or buffy ; primaries unbarred, three outer ones "notched"; tail slightly grayer than the back, with numerous indistinct, blackish bars showing more plainly on the under surface; breast covered by a large, cinnamon-rufous patch ; belly white or ochraceous-buff, streaked, spotted, or barred with blackish, rufous, or buff. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but larger, the breast patch of the same color as the back. 6 and ? in dark or melanistic plumage. — Entire plumage fuscous, the under tail- and under wing-coverts and the tail sometimes spotted or barred. Im. — Upper parts fuscous-brown, widely margined with huffy and rufous; base of the primaries grayish, and sometimes with a few broken bars; tail much as in the ad. ; under parts ochraceous-bu/, spotted and streaked with blackish. $ L., 20-00 ; W., 15-00 ; T., 8'50 ; B. from N., -75. Bemarks.— Between the light and dark phases of coloration there is every degree of intergradation, but in any plumage this Hawk may be distinguished from our other species by having only three outer primaries notched. In this respect it agrees with B. latissimus, from which, however, it differs decidedly both in size and color. Range.— Western North America, eastward to the Mississippi; breeds from Texas to the arctic regions, and occasionally strays eastward to the At- lantic States. Nest, in trees, thirty to eighty feet from the ground. Eggs, two to three, varying from dull bluish white to creamy white, sometimes unmarked, but generally more or less spotted or blotched with shades of cinnamon-brown, 2-30 x 1-72. Swainson's Hawk is of rare occurrence east of the Mississippi. Dr. Fisher writes : " By preference it frequents the timber in the vicinity of streams, though often it is found far out on the prairie, where its only perch is the earth mound of some mammal, or some other slightly elevated knoll." 204 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 343. Buteo latissimus ( Wils.). BROAD-WINGED HAWK. Ad.— . Upper parts dark grayish brown or fuscous, more or less margined with buffy and rufous ; three outer primaries " notched " and without ochraceous-butf markings ; tail fus- cous, with two bars and the tip grayish white ; under parts heavily barred with brownish ochraceous- FIG. 70.— Three-notched primaries of Broad-winged buff- Im' ~ UPPer Hawk. (Reduced.) parts like the pre- ceding ; tail grayish brown, with three to five indistinct black bars and a narrow whitish tip ; under parts white or buffy white, streaked and spotted with fuscous. $ L., 15-89 ; W., 10-68 ; T., 6'75 ; B. from N., -70. 9 L., 16-76 ; W., 11-41 ; T., 7-09. Remarks, — Compared with the other members of this genus, the three " notched " primaries and small size are the principal characters of this Hawk. Range. — Breeds throughout eastern North America, from New Brunswick southward. Washington, not common W. V., rare S. E. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. K., Mch. 15 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, T. V., sometimes common in Sept. ; rare in spring. Nest, in trees, twenty-five to fifty feet from the ground. Eggs, two to four, dull white or buffy white spotted, blotched, or washed with ochraceous-bufF or cinnamon-brown, 2-10 x 1-60. " Of all our Hawks, this species seems to be the most unsuspicious, often allowing a person to approach within a few yards of it, and when startled flies but a short distance before it alights again. Dur- ing the early summer the Broad-winged Hawk often may be seen sit- ting for hours on the dead top of some high tree. At other times it is found on the smaller trees in the deep woods, along streams, or on the ground, where its food is more often procured. Although slug- gish and unusually heavy in its flight, it is capable of rapid motion, and sometimes soars high in the air. One of its notes resembles quite closely that of the Wood Pewee. . . . "Of 65 stomachs examined, 2 contained small birds; 15. mice; 13, other mammals; 11, reptiles; 13, batrachians; 30, insects; 2, earth- worms ; 4, crawfish ; and 7 were empty " (Fisher). 344. Buteo brachyurus Vieill. SHORT -TAILED HAWK. Ad.— Upper parts slaty gray or fuscous grayish brown ; forehead whitish ; tail barred with black and narrowly tipped with white, its under surface grayish ; sides of the breast with some rufous-brown markings; rest of the under parts pure white. Im. — Similar, but upper parts browner and margined with cream-buff; under parts washed with cream-buff; no rufous-brown on the breast. Dark phase. — Fuscous-black, with a slight metallic luster ; forehead FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 205 whitish ; tail lighter than back, barred with black, its under surface and the under surface of the primaries grayish. L., IY'00; W., 12-50 ; T., 7 '00 ; Tar., 2-35 ; B. from N., -70. Range, — Florida and Mexico southward through South America. Nest, in trees. Eggs (?), dull white, spotted at the larger end with small spots and blotches of reddish brown over about one fourth the surface, 2'16 x 161 (Pennock). A rare resident in Florida. According to Mr. C. J. Pennock, who found its nest at St. Marks on April 3, its call somewhat resembles the scream of the Red-shouldered Hawk, but is finer and more pro- longed (Auk, vii, 1890, p. 56 ; see also Scott, ibid., vi, 1889, p. 243). The MEXICAN GOSHAWK (346. Asturina plagiata) is a tropical species which reaches the southwestern border of the United States. An individual seen by Mr. Robert Kidgway in southern Illinois, August 19, 1871, is the only known instance of its occurrence east of the Mississippi. 34 7 a. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (GmeL). AMERI- CAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Ad., light phase. — Upper parts fuscous-brown, margined with whitish and ochraceous-buff ; inner vanes of the primaries white at the base ; basal half of the tail white or buffy, end with two or three grayish or whitish bars ; under parts varying from white to ochraceous-buft, streaked and spotted with black, these marks uniting to form a broken band across the belly ; front of tarsi entirely feathered. Im., normal phase. — Simi- lar to the ad., but the end half of the tail without bars except for the white tip, the under parts more heavily marked, with black, the belly band being broad and continuous. Black phase. — Plumage more or less entirely black, the primaries and tail barred with whitish and grayish. L., 22-00 ; W., 16-00 ; T., 9-50. Remarks. — Its feathered tarsi and heavily marked under parts characterize this species. Range.— North America, breeding north of the United States and winter- ing as far south as Virginia. Washington, rare and irregular "W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, not uncommon T. V., Nov. ; Mch. ; a few winter. Nest, on rocky ledges or in trees. Eggs, two to five, dull white, sometimes unmarked, but generally more or less spotted, blotched, or scrawled with cin- namon-brown or chocolate, 2*20 x 1-75. " The Rough-leg is one of the most nocturnal of our Hawks, and may be seen in the fading twilight watching from some low perch or beating with measured, noiseless flight over its hunting ground. It follows two very different methods in securing its food — one by sitting on some stub or low tree and watching the ground for the appearance of its prey, as the Red-tail does ; the other by beating back and forth just above the tops of the grass or bushes and dropping upon its vic- tim, after the manner of the Marsh Hawk. . . . " The flight of the Rough-leg is seldom rapid and often appears 206 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. labored, and when on the wing this Hawk resembles the Osprey more than any other bird of prey. . . . " Of 49 stomachs examined, 40 contained mice ; 5, other mammals ; 1, lizards; 1, insects; and 4 were empty" (Fisher). 348. Archibuteo ferruginous (Licht.}. FERRUGINOUS EOUGH-LEO. Ad., light phase. — Upper parts mostly rufous, the centers of the feathers fus- cous ; tail grayish white, margined with rufous ; legs rufous, barred with black ; rest of under parts white, more or less barred with rufous on the sides and belly; tarsi fully feathered in front. Im. — Upper parts dark grayish brown, slightly varied with ochraceous-buff ; tail silvery grayish brown, without bars, the base white ; under parts white, lightly spotted and streaked with fuscous. Dark phase. — Dark fuscous-brown, more or less varied with rufous ; prima- ries and tail as in the ad. L., 23-00 ; W., 17-00 ; T., 10-50. Remarks. — This species is to be distinguished from the preceding prin- cipally by its much larger bill and differently colored tail and under parts. Range. — " Western United States ; east to and across the great plains (oc- casionally to Illinois) ; north to the Saskatchewan ; south into Mexico " (Ben- dire). Nest, in trees or on the ground in rocky places. Eggs, two to four, " white, or buffy white, usually more or less spotted, blotched, or clouded with brown or grayish purple (or both), 2-42 x 1-88" (Kidgw.). This bird is rarely found east of the Mississippi. Dr. Fisher re- marks : " The Squirrel Hawk is pre-eminently a bird of the prairie, and, unlike the common Rough-leg, shows little partiality to the vicinity of water, though in other respects it closely resembles the latter bird in habits." 349. Aquilachrysaetos (//«/?). GOLDEN EAGLE. Ad. — Back of the head and nape pale, buify ochraceous; basal two thirds of the tail white ; tarsus white, entirely feathered ; rest of the plumage fuscous - brown ; quills fuscous. Im. — Similar, but base of the tail with broken grayish bars ; tarsus and under tail- coverts ochraceous- buff. $ L., 30-00- 35-00; Ex., 78-00-84-00; W., 23-00-24-70; T., 14-00-15-00 ; Tar., 3-65-3-80. 9 L., 35-00- Fio. 71.— Foot of Golden Eagle. 40-00; Ex., 84-00-90-00; W., 25-00-27'00; T., 15-00-16-00; Tar., 4-15-4-25 (Kidgw.). Range. — North America ; of rare occurrence east of the Mississippi. Washington, rare W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, on cliffs or rocky ledges./ .AV/yx, two to three, dull white, obscurely or distinctly blotched or speckled with shades of cinnamon-brown, 2-93 x 2-34. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 207 " It seems to be nowhere a common species in the east, but it is much more numerous in the mountainous parts of the far west. It is confined chiefly to the mountains and more northern latitudes, where it breeds. It is able to endure intense cold, and sometimes remains far north in winter. In fact, its movements at that season are more in the form of wandering for food than regular migration to the south. " The food consists mainly of mammals and birds, of which sper- mophiles, rabbits, fawns, lambs, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl, and other large birds form the principal part, though offal and carrion are some- times taken. ... Of 6 stomachs examined, 1 contained feathers; 2, mammals ; 2, carrion ; and 1 was empty " (Fisher). 351. Haliaeetus albicilla (Linn.). GRAY SEA EAGLE. Ad.— Tail white, rest of plumage varying from grayish brown to fuscous. Itti. — " With plumage largely light cinnamon-brown or isabella-color. 6 L., 31-00-34-00 ; W., 23-00-26-00; T., 11-50-12-00" (Eidgw.). Range. — Northern parts of the Old World; Greenland. Nest, on cliffs or in trees. Eggs, two to three, dull white, " occasionally with small, faint spots of light brown " (Davie), 3-00 x 2-35. This is a common species in Greenland. 352. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linn.). BALD EAGLE. Ad.— Head, neck, and tail white, rest of the plumage fuscous; bill yellow; tarsus not fully feathered. Im. — Fuscous, more or less varied with white; tail fuscous, more or less mottled with white, particu- larly on the inner vanes of the feathers ; bill black. $ L., 32-85 ; Ex., 84-10 ; W., 22-00; T., 11-90; B., 2'48. 9 L., 35-50; Ex., 89-00; W., 24-00; T., 12-25 ; Weight, 12 Ibs'. Range. — North America, breeding throughout its range. Washington, not common P. K. Sing Sing, common P. K. Cambridge, of ir- regular occurrence at all seasons. /^^^^l1''^^^ I '^0? "XV Nest, generally in tall trees. Eggs, two to three, dull white, 2-85 x 2-20. Bald Eagles are seldom found far from the water. Here they may be seen soaring overhead, winging their way to and from their feeding ground, or occupying some favorite FlQ ~Foot of Bald Eagle. perch, generally in an exposed posi- tion. They subsist principally upon fish. As a last resort they some- times capture these themselves, but dead fish cast up on the shore 208 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. are eagerly taken, and their habit of robbing the Fish Hawk of his well-earned booty is too well known to be commented upon. In some localities, particularly in the south during the winter, they live largely upon water-fowl which they capture themselves. The voice of the Bald Eagle has a weird, human quality. Dr. Fisher says : " At a distance the note of the Bald Eagle is not alto- gether unpleasant, resembling somewhat that of Sea Gulls, but near by it is grating and suggests a maniacal laugh." Dr. William L. Ralph writes in Captain Bendire's Life Histories of North American Birds, p. 277 : " The cry of the male is a loud and clear cac-cac-cac, quite dif- ferent from that of the female — so much so that I could always recog- nize the sex of the bird by it ; the call of the latter is more harsh and often broken." The conspicuous white head and tail of adults of this species render it easy of identification even at a considerable distance. Young birds too closely resemble Golden Eagles to be distinguished with certainty, but the rarity of that species in the east makes it probable that any Eagle observed is a Bald Eagle. 353. Falco islandus Erunn. WHITE GYRFALCON. Ad. — Head white, finely streaked with black ; scapulars, interscapulars, and wing-coverts brown- ish gray, widely margined with white ; tail white, the central feathers with sometimes broken bars ; under parts white, lightly streaked with grayish brown; under tail-coverts white. Im. — Similar, but upper parts with nar- rower white margins ; tail barred with brownish gray, under parts heavily streaked with the same color. L., 22-00 ; W., 16-00 ; T., 10-00 ; B. from N., -95. Range. — Arctic regions. Nest, on rocky cliff's. Eggs, three to four, varying from creamy white, spotted or blotched with cinnamon-brown, to uniform pale reddish brown, spotted or blotched with shades of the same color, 2'30 x 1-85. " The food consists of water-fowl and other birds — largely of vari- ous arctic species of Grouse which are captured on the wing. All these northern Falcons were formerly esteemed for hawking, as they still are by the Mongol races ; their style of flight is magnificent — much swifter than that of the Peregrine — and both are deadly ' footers ' (i. e., tenacious of grip), but they lack spirit and dash " (Saunders). 354. Falco rusticolus Linn. GRAY GYRFALCON. Ad.— Upper parts grayish fuscous, barred and margined with buffy white ; tail with numerous bars of the same colors; under parts white, streaked and spotted with black- ish ; legs and under tail-coverts barred with brownish gray. L., 20-00 ; W., 15-50; T., 9-50; B. from N., -90. Range. — Arctic regions; in America, south in winter to the northern United States. Nest, on cliffs or in trees. Eggs, three to four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding, 2-37 x 1-72. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 209 354a. F. r. gyrfaleo (Linn.}. GYRFALCON. — Head streaked with butty white and fuscous or black ; back varying from brownish gray to slaty fuscous, without complete bars and sometimes entirely unbarred ; tail of the same color as the back, with indistinct or incomplete lighter bars; under parts heavily streaked with whitish and fuscous. Range. — " Northern Europe and arctic America, from northern Labrador and coasts of Hudson Bay to Alaska" (Kidgw.). 354b. F. r. obsoletus (Gmel.). BLACK GYRFALCON.— Upper parts uniform slaty fuscous, without bars; tail the same, without or with only broken bars ; under parts of the same color as the back ; the feathers with partly concealed bufty spots. Range. — Labrador; southward in winter, casually to Long Island. Remarks. — Gyrfalcons are so rare in collections that the descriptions here given can not be considered as applying to the species as a whole, but rather to the individuals from which the descriptions were taken. F. islandus is the lightest colored, and F. r. obsoletus is the darkest of our supposed four forms, while the others are intermediate between these two. 355. Falco mexicanus Schleg. PRAIRIE FALCON. Ad. — Above, grayish brown; primaries and inner webs of all but the middle tail-feathers with numerous buffy bars or spots ; below, white, streaked and spotted with dark grayish brown. Im. — Similar, but" with the upper parts margined with ochraceous-buff or buffy. 6 L., IT'OO ; W., 12-20 ; T., 7'00. Range. — Western United States, eastward casually to Illinois. Nest, on cliffs, sometimes in hollow trees. Eggs, two to five, " creamy white, vinaceous-white, or pale vinaceous-buffy, sprinkled, speckled, or irregularly spotted with madder-brown, 2-06 x 1-60" (Kidgw.). " The Prairie Falcon, as the name implies, is a typical plains bird, and inhabits the dry interior. . . . " The flight of this Hawk is swift and graceful, though in most cases it is carried on at no great distance from the ground. It is not a shy bird, except in sections where it has been persecuted and has learned that man is its worst enemy " (Fisher). 356. Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonap.\ DUCK HAWK. Ad.— Upper parts dark bluish slate-color; primaries barred with ochraceous: tail indistinctly barred with blackish and tipped with white ; under parts cream- buff', barred and spotted with black, except on the breast. Im. — Upper parts fuscous, more or less margined with ochraceous or rufous ; region below the eye black ; ear-coverts buffy ; wings as in the ad. ; upper surface of the tail barred with grayish, under surface barred with ochraceous-buff; under parts cream-buff or ochraceous-buff, streaked, spotted, or barred with black. $ L., 16-00 ; W., 12-25 ; T., 6-50 ; B. from N., -68. 9 L., 19-00 ; W., 14-00 ; T., 7'50. Range. — North America and the greater part of South America, breeding locally from our Southern States northward. Washington, rare and irregular W. V. Sing Sing, casual. Cambridge, rare T. V., casual in winter, j 15 210 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. Nest, on rocky cliffs and in the hollow limbs of tall trees. Eggs, three to four, varying from creamy white, heavily marked with cinnamon-brown, to pale reddish brown, more or less marked with shades of the same color, 2-05 x 1-08. This species is the " Noble Peregrine " of falconry. It would be difficult to imagine a bird more highly endowed with qualities which make the ideal bird of prey. Its strength of wing and talon is equaled by its courage. No bird flies more swiftly than the Duck Hawk. Even Teal— those winged bullets — can not escape it. No bird is more daring. I have had Duck Hawks dart down to rob me of wounded Snipe lying almost at my feet, nor did my ineffective shots prevent them from returning. Duck Hawks are generally found near water, where they prey largely on water birds. " Of 20 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry or game birds ; 9, other birds; 1, mice; 2, insects; and 4 were empty" (Fisher). 357. FaJco columbarius Linn. PIGEON HAWK. Ad.— Upper parts slaty blue, a broken butfy or rusty collar on the neck ; primaries barred with white; tail with three or four distinct grayish white bars and a white tip; under parts varying from cream-buff to deep ochraceous, streaked with black- ish, except on the throat. Im. — Upper parts fuscous or brownish fuscous, a broken buffy collar on the nape ; primaries barred with ochraceous ; tail with three or four incomplete buffy bars and a whitish tip ; under parts much as in the ad. L., 10-00-13-00 ; W., 8-00 ; T., 5-50 ; B. from N., -45. Remarks. — This little Falcon bears some resemblance to a Duck Hawk, but is much smaller. Range. — Breeds from the northern United States northward ; winters from the Southern States southward to South America. Washington, not uncommon T. V. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., Apl. 1 to May 11 ; Aug. 10 to Oct. 15. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl. 10 to May 5 ; Sept. and Oct. ; occasional in winter. Nest, in trees, in hollow limbs, or on cliffs. Eggs, four to five, varying from creamy white, more or less heavily marked with reddish brown or choco- late, to reddish brown marked with shades of the same color, 1-65 x 1-20. " This Falcon, with the exception possibly of the Broad- winged Hawk, is the least shy of all our diurnal birds of prey, and often may be approached within a few rods. It frequents the more open country and edges of woods, and is common along the shores of large bodies of water. . . . " The flight is very rapid and resembles that of the Wild Pigeon quite closely ; nor does the similarity end here, for while sitting on a tree the general poise is that of a Pigeon in repose, and specimens have been mistaken and shot for the latter bird. . . . SPARROW HAWK AND YOUNG. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 211 "Of 56 stomachs examined, 2 contained poultry; 41, small birds; 2, mice ; 10, insects ; and 5 were empty " (Fisher). The MERLIN (358.1. Falco regulus) and the KESTREL (359.1. Falco tinnun- cul'us), both Old- World species, have each been recorded once from this side of the Atlantic, the Merlin from Greenland, the Kestrel from Massachusetts (Cory, Auk, v, 1888, pp. 110, 205;. 360. Falco sparverius Linn. AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. Ad. $ . — Back rufous, more or less barred with black ; tail rufous, a black band near its end, the tip white ; head slaty blue, with generally a rufous spot on the crown ; wing-coverts slaty blue, primaries barred with white ; a black mark before and behind the white ear-coverts ; under parts varying from cream- buff to ochraceous-buff; belly and sides spotted with black. Ad. ?. — Back, tail, and wing-coverts rufous, barred with black ; head as in the male ; under parts more or less heavily streaked with dark ochraceous-buff. Im. — Closely resemble the adults. L., 10-00 ; W., 7'30 ; T., 4-80 ; B. from N., -45. Range. — Breeds from Florida to Hudson Bay, and winters from New Jer- sey southward. Washington, common W. V., rare S. K. Sing Sing, rather rare P. K. Cambridge, rather common S. R., Feb. to Nov. Nest, in a hole in a tree, frequently in a Woodpecker's deserted nest. Eggs, three to seven, varying from creamy white to rufous, generally finely and evenly marked with shades of the ground color, 1*40 x 1'12. An old stub or branchless trunk of a dead tree standing well out in a field is the kind of perch the Sparrow Hawk most frequently chooses. From this lookout, like a Loggerhead Shrike, he awaits the appearance of game below. Generally it is a grasshopper which falls his victim. When he detects one, he flies directly over it and poises on hovering wings until the right opportunity offers, when he drops lightly downward, clutches his prey in his talons, and then returns to his perch to devour it at leisure. The Sparrow Hawk's call is a rather high, quickly repeated killy- kitty-kitty-kilty, which in some sections gives it the name of " Killy Hawk." " Of 320 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game bird ; 53, other birds; 89, mice: 12, other mammals; 12, reptiles or batrachians; 215, insects ; 29, spiders ; and 29 were empty " (Fisher). The CUBAN SPARROW HAWK (361. Falco sparverioides) is of accidental oc- currence in the Florida Keys. It has two color phases; in one, the under parts, including the under wing-coverts, are white ; in the other, these parts are rufous. 362. Polyborus Cheriway (Jacg.). AUDTJBON'S CARACARA. Ad.— Face bare; crown, lower back, wings, and belly black; throat buffy ; nape, intwrscapulare, and breast barred with black and buffy ; tail white, barred 212 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. and tipped with black. Im. — Similar, but browner, and with few or no bars on the interseapulars and breast. L., 22-00 ; W., 16-00 ; B. from N., 1-25. Range. — Southern Florida and Mexican border of the United States south to the Amazon. Nest, in a cabbage palmetto or on the tops of dense bushes. Eggs, two to three, varying from cream-buff to rufous, heavily marked with shades of red^- dish brown and chocolate, 2-35 x l-«5. Caracaras frequently associate with Vultures and feed on carrion, but they also capture their own food. This consists largely of frogs, lizards, and small snakes, which the birds find while walking about on the ground in search of them. Their flight is strong, rapid, and direct, and bears no resemblance to that of a Vulture's. 364. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmel.). AMERICAN OS- PREY; FISH HAWK. Ad. 6 . — Upper parts fuscous, the head and nape varied with white.; tail with six to eight obscure bands, more distinct on the inner web ; under parts white, breast sometimes slightly spotted with grayish brown. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but the breast always spotted with grayish brown. L., 23'10 ; W., 18-25 ; T., 8-40. Range. — North America ; breeds from Florida to Labrador : winters from South Carolina to northern South America. Washington, uncommon S. R., Mch. 25 to Oct. Sing Sing, common T. V., rare S. K., Apl. 3 to May 26 ; Sept. 29 to Oct. 20. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl. ; Sept. Nest, generally in a tree, thirty to fifty feet from the ground, rarely on the ground. Eggs, two to four, extremely variable, sometimes dull white, un- marked, sometimes almost solid chocolate, but generally buffy white, heavily marked with chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 2-45 x 1-80. This species lives in colonies, and also in pairs, along our coasts, re- turning year after year to the same nesting ground. Its food consists solely of fish, which as a rule it captures alive. Winging its way slowly over the water, it keeps a keen watch for fish which may appear near the surface. When one is observed it pauses, hovers a moment, and then closing its wings descends with a speed and directness of aim that generally insure success. It strikes the water with great force, making a loud splash, and frequently disappears for a moment before rising with its prey grasped in its powerful talons. As a rule, it carries its food to some favorite perch, there to devour it. It is said that Fish Hawks have been known to strike fish so large that, unable to release their hold, they were drawn under water and drowned. When protected, Fish Hawks, like many other birds, to a large de- gree lose their fear of man. In The Auk, for October, 1892, will be found a valuable article by Dr. C. S. Allen, on the habits of this species as observed by him on Plum Island, N. Y., where for forty years the birds had been protected by the owner of the island. OWLS. 213 The note of the Fish Hawk is a high, rapidly repeated, plaintive whistle. FAMILY STRIGID^:. BARN OWLS. The Barn Owls, numbering some eight or ten species, are found nearly throughout the temperate and tropical regions. They differ from other Owls in structure, but share with them the characteristic habits of the suborder Striges. 365. Strix pratincola Bonap. AMERICAN BARN OWL; MONKEY- FACED OWL. (See Fig. 30.) Ad. — Upper parts mixed gray and ochraceous- butf, finely speckled with black and white ; tail varying from white to ochra- ceous-butf, generally mottled with black, and sometimes with three or four narrow black bars ; under parts and facial disk varying from pure white to deep ochraceous-buff, the former generally with numerous small, black, round spots, the facial disk narrowly margined by ochraceous-buff or rufous ; eyes black. L., 18-00 ; W., 13-25 ; T., 5-50 ; B., 1-30. Range. — North America ; occasionally found as far north as Massachu- setts, and breeds from Long Island southward through Mexico. Washington, not rare P. K. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, in a tower or steeple, a hole in a tree or bank. Eggs, live to nine, 1-72 x 1-30. The Barn Owl conceals itself so well during the day that, in my experience, it is a difficult bird to observe, even in localities where it is common. For this reason the capture of one of these odd-visaged birds is frequently the cause of much excitement over the supposed discovery of an animal entirely new to science, and which, by the local press, is generally considered half bird, half monkey ! The only notes I have ever heard from the Barn Owl are a sudden wild, startling scream, a high, rapidly repeated cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, and, in captive birds, a hissing sound ; but Captain Bendire mentions " a feeble, querulous note like quaek-quaek, or aek-dek, sounding somewhat like the call of the Night Hawk (Chordeiles vir- ginianus), frequently repeated, only not so loud." "Of 29 stomachs examined, 1 contained poultry; 3, other birds; 17, mice; 17, other mammals; 4, insects; and 7 were empty" (Fisher). FAMILY BUBONID^E. HORNED OWLS, HOOT OWLS, ETC. Owls are found in all parts of the world. About two hundred spe- cies are known, of which some twenty inhabit North America. With few exceptions Owls are woodland birds, but some species live in grassy marshes or dry plains, while others make their home in towers, steeples, or outbuildings. Owls are nocturnal birds of prey, and for 214 OWLS. this reason feed more largely on small mammals— most of which are nocturnal — than the diurnal birds of prey. They are therefore of even greater value to the agriculturist than Hawks. Their prey is captured with their talons, and, unless too large, is swallowed entire. The bones and hair are afterward ejected at the mouth in matted pellets. Owls' eyes are so fixed in their sockets that they can not look from one point to another by simply " rolling" the eyeball, but are obliged to turn their head. The weird, almost human, voices of Owls add not a little to the superstitious fear with which they are frequently re- garded. The eggs of Owls are uniformly white, unmarked. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 10-00. A. Belly without bars, striped longitudinally. a. Upper parts with cross-bars. a1. Toes feathered 368. BARRED OWL. aa. Toes bare 368a. FLORIDA BARRED OWL. b. Upper parts striped longitudinally .... 367. SHORT-EARED OWL. B. Belly with cross-bars. a. With conspicuous horns or ears. a1. Wing over 13-00 375. GREAT HORNED OWL and races. «a. Wing under 13-00 366. AM. LONG-EARED OWL. b. Without horns or ears. b1. Plumage white, more or less barred with black. 376. SNOWY OWL. Ja. Plumage fuscous, mottled and barred with whitish. 370. GREAT GRAY OWL. 11. Wing under 10-00. A. Toes heavily feathered. a. Wing more than 6-00. a». Tail more than 6-00 377a. AM. HAWK OWL. a3. Tail less than 6-00 371. RICHARDSON'S OWL. b. Wing less than 6-00 372. SAW-WHET OWL. R Toes thinly, if at all, feathered. a. Tarsi heavily feathered ; with conspicuous horns. 373. SCREECH OWL. 373a. FLORIDA SCREECH OWL. b. Tarsi partly bare ; no horns . . . 378a. FLORIDA BURROWING OWL. 366. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. Ad. — Ear-tufts conspicuous, an inch or more in length, black bordered by white and buffy ; upper parts fuscous-brown mottled with white, the bases of the feathers ochraceous-buff ; tail with six to eight fuscous cross-bars ; facial disk butty bordered by black; under parts mixed white and ochraceous-buff, the breast broadly streaked, the sides and belly irregularly barred with fuscous; I'ycs yellow. L., 14-80; W., 11-90; T., G'OO; B., 1-06. Range. — North America ; breeds from Nova Scotia and Manitoba south- ward to the Gulf States. OWLS. 215 Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, not common P. R. Nest, generally in an old Crow's, Hawk's, or Squirrel's nest. Eggs, three 150 six, 1-65 x T30. " This species, like the Screech Owl, is nocturnal in its habits, and differs from the Short-eared Owl in never hunting during the day- time. It usually spends the day in some evergreen woods, thick wil- low copse, or alder swamp, although rarely it may be found in open places. . . . " The bird is not wild, and will allow itself to be closely approached. When conscious that its presence is recognized, it sits upright, draws the feathers close to the body, and erects the ear-tufts, resembling in appearance a piece of weather-beaten bark more than a bird. . . . " Like the other Owls, its flight is slow and wavering, but in com- mon with them it is buoyant and devoid of any appearance of heavi- ness. The note of this Owl is said by some to resemble the noise made by kittens, while others state it is like the barking of small dogs. " Of 107 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game bird ; 15, other birds ; 84, mice ; 5, other mammals ; 1, insects ; and 15 were empty " (Fisher). 367. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.). SHORT-EARED OWL. Ad. — Ear-tufts very short, difficult to distinguish in a dried skin ; upper parts fuscous, the feathers margined with cream-buff' or ochraceous-buff, not mottled with white ; tail with ochraceous-buff' and fuscous bands of about equal width ; under parts varying from whitish to ochraceous-buff', the breast broadly and the belly more finely streaked with fuscous: eyes yellow. L., 15-50; W., 12-75; T., 6-05; B., 1-20. Range. — Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in the United States locally from Virginia northward. Washington, common W. V. Sing Sing, casual. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., Apl. ; Oct. and Nov. Nest, on the ground, in grassy marshes. Eggs, four to seven, 1-60 x 1-25. This species might well be named Marsh Owl, for, unlike most of our Owls, it does not frequent the woods, but lives in grassy marshes. It is not shy and does not take wing until almost stepped upon, when it arises noiselessly and flies low over the marsh. Sometimes it alights on a knoll or slight elevation and watches the intruder in the intent, half-human manner of Owls. During the migrations and in the winter this bird is occasionally found in flocks or colonies containing one or two hundred individuals. "Of 101 stomachs examined, 11 contained small birds; 77, mice; 7, other mammals ; 7, insects ; and 14 were empty " (Fisher). 368. Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.). BARRED OWL ; HOOT OWL. (See Fig. 31.) Ad.— No ear-tufts; upper parts grayish brown, each feather with 216 OWLS. two or three white or buff'y white bars; tail with six to eight similar barsj facial disk gray, finely barred or mottled with fuscous ; under parts white, more or less tinged with buft'y, the breast barred, the sides and belly broadly streaked with fuscous; bill yellow; legs and feet feathered to or near the bases of the nails; eyes brownish black. L., 20-00; W., 13-50; T., 9-50; B., 1-50. Range. — Eastern North America, northward to Nova Scotia and Manitoba ; resident, except at the northern limit of its range. Washington, not common P. K. Sing Sing, rare P. K. Cambridge, rare P. K., sometimes common in Nov. and Dec. Nest, in a hollow tree ; sometimes in an Old Crow's or Hawk's nest. Eggs, two to four, 2-00 x 1-65. The deep-toned, questioning voice, the absence of " horns," and the dark-brown, nearly black eyes, combine to make Barred Owls appear among the most human of these strangely human birds. They inhabit large tracts of woodland, and are generally resident in certain localities. Their notes are uttered more or less throughout the year, but are more frequently heard during the nesting reason. As a rule they call only during the first part of the night and again before sunrise, but on moonlight nights they call throughout the night, and occasionally they may be heard during the day. They readily respond to an imi- tation of their cries, and even at midday 1 have drawn them from their nesting place to meet a supposed intruder on their domain. Un- der favorable circumstances they may be heard at a distance of at least half a mile. Their usual call is a sonorous whoo-ivhoo-whoo, who-whoo, to-whoo- ah. This is varied, both as to relative position and length of the syllables, by the same individuals, and is apparently the cry of ques- tion and response. When two birds, perhaps rival males, come to- gether, there ensues a striking medley of ivha-whas mingled with roll- ing whoo-dhs, the whole reminding one of deep-voiced, mirthless laughter. Sometimes two birds give a concerted performance, One utters about ten rapid hoots, while the other, in a slightly higher tone, ^hoots half as fast, both performers ending together with a whoo-ah. At times they utter a single, prolonged whoo-ah, and more rarely a weird, gasping shriek emphasized at its conclusion like a cry of dis- tress. "Of 109 stomachs examined, 5 contained poultry or game; 13, other birds; 46, mice; 18, other mammals; 4, frogs; 1, a lizard; 2, fish; 14, insects; 2, spiders; 9, crawfish; and 20 were empty" (Fisher). 368a. S. n. alleni tiidgw. FLORIDA BARBED OWL.— Similar to the preceding, but averaging somewhat darker, and with the toes nearly naked. W., 12-50; T., 8-50. Range. — Florida, and region of the Gulf coast to Texas. OWLS. 217 370. Scotiaptex cinereum ( Gmel.}. GREAT GRAY OWL. Ad. — No ear-tufts, size very large ; upper parts fuscous, everywhere mottled with white, and with little or no buffy ; facial disk gray, barred with black ; under parts white, the breast broadly streaked, the belly and sides irregularly barred and streaked with fuscous; legs and feet heavily feathered; bill and eyes yellow. L., 27 -00; W., 17'50; T., 12-00. Range. — Breeds from Hudson Bay northward, and wanders southward in winter to the northern border of the United States. Cambridge, very rare and irregular W. V. Nest, in coniferous trees. Egg*, two to four, 2-16 x 1-71. " Dr. Dall considers it a stupid bird, and states that sometimes it may be caught in the hands. Its great predilection for thick woods, in which it dwells doubtless to the very limit of trees, prevents it from being an inhabitant of the barren grounds or other open country in the north. . . . " The note of this Owl is said to be a tremulous, vibrating sound, somewhat resembling that of the Screech Owl. . . . " Of 9 stomachs examined, 1 contained a small bird ; 7, mice ; and 4 other mammals " (Fisher). 371* Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni (Bonap.}. RICHARDSON'S OWL. Ad. — Upper parts grayish brown and the head and back spotted with white ; tail with four or five imperfect white bars ; under parts white, heavily streaked with grayish brown ; legs and feet heavily feathered, whitish, barred with grayish brown ; eyes yellow. Im. — Upper parts dark cinnamon-brown, with a few more or less concealed white spots ; tail as in the ad. ; breast like the back ; belly ochraceous-buff. L., 10-00 ; W., 6'75 ; T., 4-40. Range. — Northern North America : south in winter to the northern United States. Nest, in holes in trees or in old nests of other birds (?). Egg*, three to seven, 1-35 x 1*14. " Richardson's Owl is nocturnal in its habits, remaining quiet dur- ing the day in the thick foliage of the trees or bushes. In fact, its vision is apparently so aifected by bright light that many specimens have been captured alive by persons walking up and taking them in their hands. On this account the Eskimo in Alaska have given it the name of ' blind one.' " The song of this Owl, according to Dr. Merriam (Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, vol. vii, 1882, p. 237), is a low, liquid note that resem- bles the sound produced by water slowly dropping from a height " (Fisher). 372. Nyctala acadica (Gmel.) SAW-WHET OWL; ACADIAN OWL. Ad.— Upper parts dark cinnamon-brown, the head finely streaked, the back spotted with white ; tail with three or four imperfect white bars; under parts white, heavily streaked with cinnamon-brown or dark rufous ; legs and feet 218 OWLS. feathered, buffy white, unbarred; eyes yellow. 7m. — Upper parts as in the ad., but head and back with little or no white ; breast like the back ; belly ochraceous-bufi: L., 8-00; \V., 5-40; T., 2-80; B., -60. Remarks. — Its small size and absence of ears at once distinguish this species from any Owl of eastern North America except N. t. rickardsoni, from which it may be known by its lighter color, streaked instead of spotted head, and unbarred legs and feet. Range. — North America ; breeds from northern New York northward, and migrates southward in winter as far as Virginia. Washington, rare W. V., Oct. to Mch. Sing Sing, rather rare W. V., Oct. 38 to Jan. 13. Cambridge, not uncommon W. V., Nov. to Mch. Nest, in a hole in a tree ; frequently a Woodpecker's, sometimes a Squir- rel's deserted nest. Eggs, three to five, 1-19 x 1-00. " The species is not migratory, but is more or less of an irregular wanderer in its search for food during the fall and winter. It may be quite common in a locality and then not be seen again for several years. It is nocturnal, seldom moving about in the daytime, but pass- ing the time in sleeping in some dark retreat. So soundly does it sleep that oftentimes it may be captured alive. . . . " During the day it frequents the thick evergreen woods, though sometimes it is found in comparatively open groves, but always in dense trees. . . . " The note of this species is peculiar and has a rasping character, resembling the sound made when a large-toothed saw is being filed ; hence the name. It is more often heard during March and early April, though occasionally it is heard at other times of the year. " The flight resembles that of the Woodcock very closely — so much so, in fact, that the writer once killed a specimen as it was flying over the alders, and not until the dog pointed the dead bird was he aware of his mistake. . . . "Of 22 stomachs examined, 17 contained mice; 1, a bird; 1, an insect ; and 3 were empty " (Fisher). 373. Megascops asio (Linn.}.' SCREECH OWL. Ad.,rnf on* phase.— Size small ; ear-tufts conspicuous, about an inch in length ; upper parts bright rufous, finely streaked with black ; under parts white, the feathers centrally streaked with black and irregularly barred with rufous; toes rather scantily feathered ; eyes yellow. Gray phase. — Upper parts generally brownish gray, streaked with black and finely mottled with ochraceous-buff; under parts white, finely streaked and more finely and irregularly barred with black, more or less bordered by rufous. Young. — Entire plumage regularly barred with grayish or rufous and white. L., 9-40: W., 0-40; T., 3-09; B., -63. Remarks.— This bird may be known by its small size and ear-tufts. Its color phases are not dependent upon age^ sex, or season, and both phases are sometimes represented in the same brood. Between the two there is a com- plete intergradation. - OWLS. 219 Range, — Eastern North America, northward to New Brunswick and Min- nesota ; generally resident throughout its range. Washington, common P. B. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, com- mon P. E. Nest, generally in a hollow tree. Eggs, four to six, 1-55 x 1-22. The Screech Owl frequently makes its home near our dwellings, and sometimes selects a convenient nook in them in which to lay its eggs. But its favorite retreat is an old apple orchard, where the hollow limbs offer it a secure refuge from the mobs of small birds which are ever ready to attack it. A search in the trees of an orchard of this kind rarely fails to result in the discovery of one or more of these feathered inhabitants who may have resided there for years. They attempt to escape capture by a show of resistance and a castanetlike cracking of the bill, but when brought from their hiding place sit quietly, dazzled for a moment by the sudden light. They then elongate themselves and almost close their eyes, thus rendering themselves as inconspicuous as possible. How differently they appear when the western sky fades and their day begins ! Is any bird more thoroughly awake than a hungry Screech Owl ? With ear-tufts erected and his great, round eyes opened to the utmost, he is the picture of alertness. When night comes one may hear the Screech Owl's tremulous, wailing whistle. It is a weird, melancholy call, welcomed only by those who love Nature's voice whatever be the medium through which she speaks. " Of 255 stomachs examined, 1 contained poultry ; 38, other birds ; 91, mice; 11, other mammals; 2, lizards? 4, batrachians; 1, fish ; 100, insects; 5, spiders; 9, crawfish; 7, miscellaneous; 2, scorpions; 2, earthworms ; and 43 were empty " (Fisher). 373a. M. a. floridanus (Ridgw.). FLORIDA SCREECH OWL. — Much like the preceding, but smaller, with the colors deeper and markings of the under parts heavier. W., 5-95 ; T., 2-80. Range. — Florida and Gulf coast region to Louisiana. 375* Bubo virginianus (Gmel.). GREAT HORNED OWL. Ad. — Size large ; ear-tufts conspicuous, nearly two inches in length ; upper parts mottled with varying shades of ochraceous-buff and black ; facial disk ochraceous- buff; ear-tufts black and ochraceous-buff ; a white patch on the throat, rest of the under parts ochraceous-buff, barred with black ; legs and feet feath- ered; eyes yellow. $ L., 22-00; W., 15-00; T., 8'50; B., 1-60. Range. — Eastern North America ; northward to Labrador and southward to Costa Eica ; resident throughout its range. Washington, rare P. E. Sing Sing, tolerably common P. E. Cambridge, occasional at all seasons. Nest, generally in an old Crow's, Hawk's, or Squirrel's nest. Eggs, two to three, 2-20 x 1-80. * 220 OWLS. This " tiger among birds " is an inhabitant of heavily forested re- gions. and is common therefore only in the wilder, less settled portions" of our country. It is the only one of our resident Owls which destroys poultry and birds in any numbers, but, in spite of its frequent visits to the farmyard, Dr. Fisher considers that in many localities it is a " beneficial species " because of its great fondness for rabbits. Its usual call is a loud, deep-toned whoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, wkodo, wlwoo. The syllables are all on the same note, and bear some resemblance to a bass-voiced dog barking in the distance. A much rarer call is a loud, piercing scream, one of the most blood- curdling sounds I have ever heard in the woods. "Of 127 stomachs examined, 31 contained poultry or game birds; 8, other birds ; 13, mice ; 65, other mammals ; 1, a scorpion ; 1, fis"h ; 10, insects, and 17 were empty " (Fisher). 375a. B. v. subarcticus (//o#). WESTERN HORNED OWL.— Similar to the preceding, but much lighter in color, the ochraceous-buff markings largely replaced by gray or white. Range. — Western United States, east casually to Wisconsin and Illinois. 375c. B» v. saturatus Ridgw. DUSKY HORNED OWL. — Similar to B. virgimanus, but much darker, the prevailing color fuscous or dusky. Range. — " From Labrador and Hudson Bay ; west through the interior to Alaska, and south probably through all the higher regions of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains; south to Arizona (San Francisco Mountain)" (Bendire). 376. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.}. SNOWY OWL. Ad. 6 . — Size large ; no ear-tufts; white, more or less barred with dark grayish brown or fuscous; legs and feet heavily feathered ; eyes yellow. Ad. $ . — Similar, but more heavily barred. L., 25-00 ; W., 17-00 ; T., 9-50 ; B., 1-50. Range. — Breeds from Labrador northward and wanders southward in winter regularly to the northern United States and occasionally to Texas. Washington, casual W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, rare and irregu- lar W. V. Nest on the ground. Eggs, three to ten, 2-24 x T76. "The Snowy Owl is diurnal in its habits, but like most birds is more active in search of prey during the early morning and again toward dusk. Like many of the Hawks, it occupies a commanding perch for hours, watching what is going on about it, occasionally varying the monotony by dropping on a mouse or launching out over the broad country, soon to return to its perch. During its southern wanderings it is very partial to localities in the vicinity of water, especially the barren sand wastes along the seashore or extensive marshy flats bordering the bays and rivers. . . . " The flight is firm, smooth, and noiseless, and may be long pro- OWLS. 221 traded. It is capable of rapid flight, and, according to Audubon, is able to capture Ducks, Pigeons, and even Grouse on the wing, striking them down after the manner of the Duck Hawk. '• Of 38 stomachs examined, 2 contained game birds ; 9, other birds ; 18, mice ; 2, other mammals ; and 12 were empty " (Fisher). 377. Surnia ulula caparoch (Mull.). AMERICAN HAWK OWL. Ad. — Size medium ; no ear-tufts ; upper parts dark grayish brown or fuscous ; head and hind neck spotted with white ; back, and especially tertials, barred with white; tail with broken whitish bars, long and rounded, the outer feathers more than an inch shorter than the middle ones ; middle of the throat with a fuscous spot and below it a white one ; sides of the neck and up4?er breast streaked with fuscous, rest of the under parts barred with fuscous and white ; legs and feet fully feathered. L., 15-00 ; W., 8'V5 ; T., V'25. Range. — Breeds from Newfoundland northward, and occasionally wanders southward in winter as far as Pennsylvania. Nest, in coniferous trees or in the holes of dead trees or stubs. Eggs, three to seven, 1-50 x 1-23. "The Hawk Owl is strictly diurnal, as much so as any of the Hawks, and like some of them often selects a tall stub or dead-topped tree in a comparatively open place for a perch, where it sits in the bright sunlight watching for its prey. " Although the flight is swift and hawklike, it has nevertheless the soft, noiseless character common to the other Owls ; when starting from any high place, such as the top of a tree, it usually pitches down nearly to the ground, and flies off rapidly above the tops of the bushes or high grass, abruptly arising again as it seeks another perch. " The note'is a shrill cry, which is uttered generally while the bird is on the wing " (Fisher). 378a. Speotyto cunicularia floridana Ridgw. FLORIDA BUR- ROWING OWL. Ad. — Size small; no ear-tufts; legs and feet nearly naked; upper parts grayish brown, spotted and barred with white ; throat white, rest of the under parts barred with grayish brown and white in about equal amounts. L., 9-00 ; W., 6-50 ; T., 3-00 ; Tar., 1-75. Range. — Southern Florida, chiefly in the Kissimmee " prairie " region of Osceola, Polk, and De Soto Counties, and also Manatee County. Nest, in a hole in the ground excavated by the bird. Eggs, five to seven, 1-23 x 1-03. This diurnal Owl is locally abundant in its restricted range. Ex- cellent accounts of its habits will be found under the following refer- ences: Rhoads. Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 1-8; Scott, ibid., 216-218; Bendire, Life Histories North American Birds, pp. 400-402. The BURROWING OWL (378. Kpeotyto cunicularia Jiypogcva), well known in our Western States, has been taken once in Massachusetts. 222 PAROQUETS. ORDER PSITTACI. PARROTS, MACAWS, PAROOUETS, ETC. FAMILY PSITTACID^E. PARROTS AND PAROQUETS. The order Psittaci is divided into six families containing in all about five hundred species. The American species, some one hundred arid fifty in number, are included in the present family. Only one species inhabits the United States, and it is not found south of our boundaries. Parrots and Paroquets — the dividing line between the two can not be sharply drawn — are forest-inhabiting, fruit- and seed- eating birds. They are poor walkers, good climbers, and strong fliers, making extended flights in search of food. Their voices in Nature are harsh and discordant; nevertheless, almost all the species possess the power of speech. Some, however, rarely learn to talk, while others invariably do. The red-tailed, gray African Parrot (Psittacus erylha- cus) takes first rank for ability in this direction, while the Mexican Double Yellow-head (Amazona levaillanti) is usually accorded second place. 382. Conurus carolinensis (Linn.}. CAROLINA PAROQUET. (See Fig. 34.) Ad. — Head and neck all around yellow ; forehead and cheeks deep orange ; bend of the wing and tibiae orange ; rest of the plumage bright green ; the inner vanes of the wing-feathers fuscous ; the under surface of the tail yel- lowish. Im. — Similar, but the head and neck green like the back ; forehead and region in front of the eye orange ; tibiae and bend of the wing without orange. L., 12-50 ; W., 7'40 ; T., 6-50. Range. — Formerly eastern United States north to Maryland, the Great Lakes, and Iowa ; west to Colorado, the Indian Territory, and eastern Texas ; now restricted to a few localities in the wilder parts of Indian Territory and Florida. (On the extermination of the Paroquet, see Hasbrouck, Auk, via, 1891, pp. 369-379, with map; and Butler, ibid., ix, 1892, pp. 49-56.) Nest, said to be in a hollow cypress or sycamore tree, but no exact, de- tailed account of the nidification of this species has been published. -Eggs, two, white, 1-44 x 1-12. The complete extermination of the Paroquet throughout the greater part of its range is due chiefly to four causes : first, it was destructive to fruit orchards, and for this reason was killed by agriculturists; second, it has been trapped and bagged in enormous numbers by pro- fessional bird-catchers; third, it has been killed in myriads for its plumage ; and, fourth, it has been wantonly slaughtered by so-called sportsmen. In short, in the present century the Paroquet has always disappeared soon after its haunts were invaded by civilized man. I made three visits to Florida before learning of a locality where Paroquets could be found. Finally, in March, 1889, while collecting PAROQUETS. 223 in eastern Florida, information was received of their presence near the head waters of the Sebastian River, a small stream flowing into the Indian River near Micco, and I at once started for this locality. The following notes made on this trip are from the Abstract of the Pro- ceedings of the Linnaean Society of New York city, No. 2, 1890, pp. 5, 6. Since they were written the Paroquet has been found to be a locally common bird in the unsettled parts of Brevard, Osceola, Polk, De Soto, and Dade Counties. Late on the afternoon of our arrival we started a flock of seven Paroquets from a productive patch of the thistles (Cirsium lecontei) which proved to be their favorite food. Evidently their meal was finished and they were ready to retire, for they darted like startled Doves through the pines, twisting and turning in every direction, and flying with such rapidity they were soon lost to view, the ring of their sharp, rolling call alone furnishing proof it was not all a vision. Two days passed before I again met Conurus, and this time to better ad- vantage. It was a wet and drizzling morning when we found a flock of six birds feeding on thistles at the edge of a " prairie." Perched on the leafless branches of the tree before us, their brilliant green plum- age showed to the best advantage. Several were skillfully dissecting the thistles they held in their feet, biting out the milky seed while the released fluffy down floated away beneath them. There was a sound of suppressed conversation ; half-articulate calls. We were only par- tially concealed behind a neighboring tree, still they showed no great alarm at our presence ; curiosity was apparently the dominant feeling. One of the three birds which fell at our fire was but slightly wounded, a single shot passing through the elbow, and his loud outcries soon recalled his companions — a habit which has cost thousands of them their lives, and in part, at least, accounts for the rapidity of their ex- termination— and one alone of this flock escaped. There was evident regularity in the habits of the birds we after- ward observed — in all about fifty, in flocks of from six to twenty. At an early hour they left their roost in the " hummock " bordering the river and passed out into the pines to feed, always, so far as I ob- served, selecting thistle patches, and eating the seeds only when in the milky stage. At about ten o'clock they returned to the " hummock " and apparently to some favorite tree, here to pass the rest of the morn- ing and early afternoon, when they again started out to feed, return- ing to the roost just before sunset. A flock of these birds feeding among the thistles is a most beautiful and animated sight; one is almost persuaded not to disturb them. There is constant movement as they fly from plant to plant, or, when securing thistles, they fly with them in their bills to a neighboring tree, there to dissect them at their 224 CUCKOOS. leisure. The loud rolling call was apparently uttered only when on the wing, but when at rest, or feeding, there was a low conversational murmur of half-articulate, querulous notes and calls. Of their roosting habits I can say little or nothing. Late one morning (March 15th) we found a flock of eight birds resting on a tall, dead cypress near the center of the ''hummock" on the river's bank. On a previous expedition my guide had observed them in this same tree, which was evidently a favorite midday haunt, and it is not impos- sible they may have roosted in the hole we discovered near its top. ORDER COCCYGES. CUCKOOS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. FAMILY CUCULID^E. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. Only thirty-five of the some one hundred and seventy-five known species of Cuckoos are found in the New World, and they are largely confined to the tropics. Cuckoos as a rule are rather solitary birds inhabiting wooded areas. The Anis, however, are always gregarious and live in open places. Their flight is weak, generally from tree to tree, and their feet are largely used as a means of progression. Some species hop, others walk, and one is celebrated for his speed as a runner. They are pos- sessed of peculiar vocal powers, and their strange calls are frequently the origin of their popular names. Many species are remarkable for the irregularity of their breeding habits. The Old-World Cuckoo (Cu- culus canorus), like our Cowbird, deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds, and leaves to them the duties of incubation and rearing of the young. The Anis are communistic, and build but one nest, in which several females lay and share the task of incubation. The smaller species are insectivorous, but the larger ones add small reptiles and batrachians to their fare. 386. Coccyzus minor (Gmel.']. MANGROVE CUCKOO. Ad. — Upper parts brownish gray, grayer on the head, with glossy reflections ; wings and middle pair of tail-feathers like the back ; outer tail-feathers black, broadly tipped with white; ear-coverts black, bill black, the lower mandible yellow except at the tip ; under parts ochraceous-buff. L., 12-50; W., 5-40 ; T., 6-50; B. from N., -80. Range. — Greater Antilles, west coast of Central America, northward to coast of Gulf States (?) ; west coast of Florida. Nest, a platform of sticks, in low trees and bushes. Eggs, three to four greenish blue. This bird is apparently a rare summer resident on the Gulf coast of Florida, but its relationships in this region to the following race are not known. CUCKOOS. 225 386a. C. m. maynardi (Ridgio.). M A YNARD'S CUCKOO. — Similar to the preceding, but with a slightly smaller bill and much paler under parts, the throat and breast being grayish white, very faintly washed with oohra- ceous, which becomes stronger on the belly. B. from N., '75. Hinge. — Bahamas and Florida Keys. This bird is a regular summer resident in the Florida Keys and probably adjoining Atlantic mainland (see Scott, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 250). 387. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.}. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. (See Fig. 36.) Ad. — Upper parts brownish gray »vith slight greenish gloss ; most of the wing-feathers rufous, except at the tip ; outer tail-feathers Hack, conspicuously tipped with white, which ex- tends down the outer vane of the outer feather; under parts dull whitish ; bill FlG. 73. -Tail-feathers of Yellow-billed Cuckoo, black, the lower man- dible yellow, except at the tip. L., 12-20 ; W., 5'70 ; T., 6'20 ; B. from N., '76. Remarks. — This species bears a general resemblance to the Black-billed Cuckoo, but may always be known from that species by its yellow lower mandible, rufous wing- feathers, and black, white-tipped tail-feathers. Range. — North America ; breeds from Florida to New Brunswick, and winters in Central and South America. Washington, common S. K., May 2 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. E., May 4 to Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S. R., May 12 to Aug. Nest, a platform of small sticks, with a few grasses or catkins, generally in low trees or vine-covered bushes, four to ten feet from the ground. Eggs^ three to five, pale greenish blue, 1 -22 x -92. A long, slim, dovelike bird slips noiselessly by and disappears in the depths of a neighboring tree. If you can mark his position you will find him perched motionless, and apparently slightly dazed. After a moment he recovers and begins to hop about the tree in an active search for his favorite fare of caterpillars. He is especially fond of the kind which make nests in trees, commonly known as " tent cater- pillars," and if you examine the conspicuous homes of these pests you will frequently find them punctured with many holes made by the Cuckoo's bill. A Cuckoo I shot at six o'clock one September morning had the partially digested remains of forty-three of these caterpillars in his stomach. The notes of the Cuckoo are strikingly characteristic, and while subject to much variation may be fairly represented by the syllables tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, tut-tut, cl-uck-d-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck-cl-uck, cl-uck, cow, cow, cow, cow, coiv, cow. It is not »usual, however, to hear the whole song given at once. 16 226 KINGFISHERS. 388. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (Wils.). BLAOK- BILLED CUCKOO. Ad. — Upper parts grayish brown with a slight green gloss; wings and tail the same, the latter narrowly tipped with white ; under parts dull white ; bill black. L., 11-83; W., FIG. 74.— Tail-feathers of Black-billed Cuckoo. 5-50 ; T., 6-26 ; B. from N., -74. Remarks. — This species is to be distinguished from the Yellow-billed Cuckoo chiefly by the absence of rufous in the wings, black in the tail, and yellow in the lower mandible. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds as far north as Labrador, and winters in Central and South America. Washington, rather rare S. K., May 2 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. K., May 3 to Oct. 7. Cambridge, common S. K., May 15 to Sept. 20. Nest, similar to that of the preceding, but more compactly built ; location the same. Eggs, two to five, greenish blue, of a deeper shade than those of the preceding species, 1-14 x -85. This species resembles the preceding in habits. The two birds may be distinguished in life by the differences in the color of their bills and tails. Mr. William Brewster has called my attention to an easily rec- ognizable difference in their calls. The present species has a much softer voice, and the cow, cow notes are connected. The ANI (S8S. CrotopTiaga ani], a common species in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles, is of accidental occurrence in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Louisiana. Its plumage is black with bluish reflections, the tail is rounded, the bill high and thin, the depth at the nostril equaling or exceeding the distance from the nostril to the tip of the bill. FAMILY ALCEDINID^E. KINGFISHERS. Kingfishers are most numerous in the Malay Archipelago, and the majority of the one hundred and eighty known species are found there. Only eight are American, and seven of these are confined to the tropics. They are solitary birds of somewhat local habit. All the American species are, as their name implies, fish-eaters, and are rarely found far from the water. Some of the Old- World species, however, are forest- inhabiting and feed on small insects, mollusks, etc. 390. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.}. BELTED KINGFISHER. (See Fig. 35.) Ad. $ . — Upper parts bluish gray ; wings with small white spots, most of the feathers tipped with white, the inner web of the primaries white at the base ; tail-feathers with numerous spots and broken bands of white : a white spot before the eye; throat white, this color passing on to the sides of the neck and nearly meeting on the back of the neck ; a band across the breast, and WOODPECKERS. 227 the sides bluish gray — in immature specimens tinged with rufous — lower breast and belly white. Ad. 9 . — Similar to the male, but the sides and a band on the belly rufous. L., 13-02; W., 6-17 ; T., 3-60 ; B., 2-00. Range.— North America ; breeds from Florida to Labrador, and winters from Virginia to South America. Washington, common F. K. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 1 to Nov. 23; casual in winter. Cambridge, common S. K., Apl. 10 to Oct. Nest, in a hole in a bank, about six feet from the entrance. Eggs, live to eight, white, 1-34 x 1-05. The shores of wooded streams or ponds are the chosen haunts of the Kingfisher. Silently he perches on some limb overhanging the water, ever on the alert for food or foe. Paddle toward him as quietly as you please, just as you reach his danger line he drops from his perch and with loud, rattling call flies on ahead. This may be re- peated several times, until finally the limits of his wanderings are reached, when he makes a wide detour and returns to the starting point. The Kingfisher hunts after the manner of the Fish Hawk. In passing over the water it needs only the glint of a shining fin or scale just beneath the surface to catch his watchful eye. On quickly mov- ing wings he hovers over the place, waiting only a fair chance to plunge on the unsuspecting fish below. Emerging from the water with his prey in his bill, he shakes the spray from his plumage, and, with an exultant rattle, flies away to some favorite perch. ORDER PICI. WOODPECKERS, WRYNECKS, ETC. FAMILY PICIDJE. WOODPECKERS. Woodpeckers are found in all the wooded parts of the world ex- cept Australia and Madagascar. About three hundred and fifty species are known, of which nearly one half are confined to the New World. Some twenty-five of this number are found in North America. Woodpeckers are rather solitary birds, but are sometimes found associated in scattered companies during their migrations. Above all other birds they are especially adapted to creep or climb. The peculiar structure of the foot, with its two toes directed for- ward and two backward (except in one genus), assists them in cling- ing to an upright surface, while the pointed, stiffened tail-feathers serve as a prop when the bird is resting. The stout, chisel-like bill is used to cut away wood and expose the hiding places of grubs, etc., when the long, distensible tongue with its horny, spearlike tip is thrust in, the food impaled and drawn out. The vocal powers of Woodpeckers are limited, and the bill is also used to beat the long, rolling call which is their love-song. The eggs of Woodpeckers are 228 WOODPECKERS. uniformly white, and are placed in a hole, generally in a dead tree er limb, hollowed out by the bird. KEY TO THE SPECIES. 1. No red on the head or nape. A. Entire under parts black. a. Wing about 10-00, bill ivory-white. 392. IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER 9 . B. Under parts white, without black spots or streaks. a. Wing under 4-00; outer tail-feathers barred with black. 394. DOWNY WOODPECKER 9 . b. Wing over 4'00 ; outer tail-feathers white, without black bars. 393. HAIRY WOODPECKER 9 . 393ft. SOUTHERN HAIRY WOODPECKER 9 . C. Under parts with black spots, bars, or streaks. a. Back entirely black . . 400. ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. b. Back black and white. b1. Outer tail-feathers entirely white, crown yellow or spotted with white 401. AM. THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 6a. Outer tail-feathers barred with black, no black patch on the breast, ear-coverts white . 395. RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER 9 . b3. Outer tail-feathers black, with generally a narrow white margin ; rump white 406. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 9 . b*. Outer tail-feathers black and white, a large black patch on the breast 402. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 9 . II. Whole top of the head red. A. Throat red. a. Primaries spotted with white, belly yellowish. 402. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER $ . 6. Primaries black, rump and belly white. 406. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER RED-HEADED WOOD- PECKER. Ad. — Head, neck, throat, and upper breast deep red ; upper back, primaries, bases of the secondaries, and wing-coverts bluish black ; end half of the secondaries, rump, and upper tail-coverts white ; tail black, the feath- ers more or less tipped or margined with white; lower breast and belly white, the middle of the latter generally tinged with reddish. Im.— Red head and neck of the adult replaced by mixed grayish brown and fuscous ; upper back bluish black, barred with ashy; primaries and wing-coverts black; end half of the secondaries irregularly barred with black ; tail black, generally tipped with white ; lower breast and belly white, more or less streaked or spotted with fuscous. L., 9'75; W., 5-52; T., 3'30 ; B., 1-17. 234 WOODPECKERS. Range.— Eastern North America; breeds from Florida to northern New York and Manitoba ; winters from Virginia, and occasionally from northern New York southward. Washington, rather common S. R., rare W. V. Sing Sing, rare P. R., common in fall, Aug. 27 to Oct. 12. Cambridge, irregular at all seasons ; sometimes common in fall. Nest, generally in a dead tree. Eggs, four to six, TOO x -75. Give a bird an abundance of its favorite food, and its movements no longer seem to be governed by the calendar. Red-headed Wood- peckers were supposed to migrate southward in the fall and pass the winter south of Maryland until Dr. Merriam, in his interesting ac- count* of the habits of this species, told us that in Lewis County, northern New York, their abundance in winter was in no way affected by the severity of the weather, but was entirely dependent upon the success of the crop of beechnuts which constitute their food. Indeed, few birds seem better able to adapt themselves to their surroundings. They change their fare and habits with the season, and to the accomplishments of Woodpeckers add those of Flycatchers and fruit-eaters. We should expect, therefore, to find them very gen- erally distributed, but in the Northern States they show an evident choice for certain localities, and may be wanting over wide stretches of intervening territory. They are noisy, active birds, and their loud, rolling, tree-toadlike call, ker-r-ruck, ker-r-ruck, and bright colors combine to render them conspicuous. When on the wing the white secondaries of both adult and immature birds make a striking field mark. 409. Melanerpes carolinus (Linn.). RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. ^d. a .—Whole top of the head and back of the neck bright scarlet; back regularly barred with black and white ; primaries black at the end, white, irregularly barred with black, at the base ; secondaries black, regularly spotted and barred with white ; upper tail-coverts white, with streaks or arrowheads of black ; outer tail-feathers and inner vanes of the middle ones irregularly marked with broken black and white bars; cheeks and under parts dull ashy white, the region about the base of the bill, the middle of the belly, and some- times the breast more or less tinged with red. Ad. 9 .—Similar, but with the crown grayish ashy, the scarlet confined to the nape and nostrils. Im.— Simi- lar, but with the belly sometimes tinged with butty instead of red. L., 9-50 ; W., 5-00 ; T., 3-40 ; B., 1-10. Range— Eastern United States, breeding from Florida to Maryland, and in the interior to Ontario and southern Dakota ; occasionally strays to Massa- chusetts; winters from Virginia and southern Ohio southward. Washington, locally common P. R. Cambridge, A. V., one record. Nest, in trees, about twenty feet from the ground. Egg*, four to six, 1-05 x -75. * Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iii, 1878, pp. 123-128. WOODPECKERS. 235 This is a common bird in our Southern States. It inhabits alike coniferous and deciduous growths, but prefers the latter. It ascends a tree in a curious, jerky fashion, accompanying each upward move by a hoarse chuh-clmh. 412. Colaptes auratus (Linn.). FLICKER; HIGH-HOLE; CLAPE; YELLOW-HAMMER ; GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. Ad. $ . — Top of the head ashy gray, a bright scarlet band across the back of the neck ; back, wing- coverts, and exposed part of secondaries brownish gray, barred with black ; rump white ; primaries black externally, the inner surface of the wing and the shafts of the feathers yellow ; upper tail-coverts barred or streaked with black and white ; tail black above, yellow tipped with black below, the outer edges of the feathers slightly margined or barred with white ; sides of the head, throat, and upper breast vinaceous ; a broad black stripe on either side of the throat from the base of the bill, and a broad black crescent across the breast ; rest of the under parts white, more or less tinged with vinaceous, and thickly spotted with black. Ad. ? .—Similar, but without the black streaks on the side of the throat. L., 12-00 ; W., 6-00 ; T., 4'00 ; B., 1-40. Remarks. — Exceptional specimens have a few red feathers in the throat stripes. A male from Louisiana has this mark entirely red and the head gray- ish brown, while another specimen from Toronto has half the tail orange-red. These unusual markings are supposed to be due to hybridization of our Flicker with the western or Red-shafted Flicker, which resembles the eastern species in pattern of coloration, but has the crown brownish gray or grayish brown, the throat stripes scarlet, the throat and breast gray, the under surface of wings and tail dull red, and lacks the red nuchal band. (See an important paper on the relationships of these birds by Dr. J. A. Allen, in the Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iv, 1892, pp. 21-44). Range. — North America, west to the eastern slope of the Kocky Mountains and Alaska ; breeds throughout its range, and winters from Illinois and Massa- chusetts southward. Washington, common S. R., rare W. V. Sing Sing, common S. R., Mch. 25 to Oct. 30 ; a few winter. Cambridge, very common S. R., common W. V. Nest, in trees, about ten feet from the ground, frequently in orchards. Eggs, five to nine, 1-10 x -86. The habits, notes, and colors of this well-known bird are reflected in the popular names which have been applied to it throughout its wide range. No less than thirty-six of these aliases have been re- corded, and many have doubtless escaped the compiler. The Flicker is a bird of character. Although a Woodpecker, he is too original to follow in the footsteps of others of his tribe. They do not frequent the ground, but that is no reason why he should not humor his own terrestrial propensities, and we may therefore fre- quently flush him from the earth, when, with a low chuckle, he goes bounding off through the air, his white rump showing conspicuously as he flies. 236 NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, ETC. The Flicker, like other Woodpeckers, beats a rolling tattoo in the spring, but his vocal song proper is a rapidly-repeated, mellow cuh- cuh-ciih-cuh-cuh, etc., as springlike a sound as the peeping of frogs. His usual note is a vigorous, nasal kee-yer. It recalls frosty fall morn- ings when the High-holes are gathering to feed on the woodbine and pepperidge berries. Approaching their feeding grounds, one may hear the " Flicker " note. It can be closely imitated by the swishing of a willow wand: weechew, weechew. iveechew. I never remember hearing a bird utter this note when alone. It is accompanied by the oddest gestures, as with tails stiffly spread the birds bob and bow to each other. ORDER MACROOHIRES. GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, HUMMINGBIRDS, ETC. FAMILY CAPRIMULGID^E. NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, ETC. Goatsuckers are found in most parts of the world, but are more numerously represented in the tropics. Some eighty-five species are known, of which about one half are American, though only seven reach North America. Most of the American species are forest-inhab- iting, passing the day upon the leaves or perched lengthwise upon the branches of trees, where their dull, blended colors harmonize with their surroundings. The Nighthawks, however, are equally at home in treeless countries. Nighthawks feed high in the air, like Swifts, while other species frequent the borders of forests or clearings, where, they feed nearer the ground. All the species capture their food of insects on the wing, their enormous mouths and the long, stiffened bristles, which in some species beset its base, especially adapting them to this mode of feeding. Many of the species are possessed of remark- able vocal powers, and their cries are among the most striking of bird notes. KEY TO THE SPECIES. A. A white spot in the wing. 420. NIOHTHAWK. 420c. FLORIDA NIGHTHAWK. B. No white spot in the wing; primaries spotted with rufous. a. Wing under 7'50 417. WHIP-POOR-WILL. b. Wing over 7'50 416. CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW. 416. Antrostoimis carolinensis (Gmel.). CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDO.W. Ad. $ . — Upper parts streaked with black and finely mottled with ochraceous- buft' and black ; primaries black, with broken rufous bars ; tail mottled with black and ochraceous-buff, the end half of all but the two middle feathers white, more or less washed with bulf'y on the inner vane / under parts mot- NIGI1THAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, ETC. 237 tied with black, ochraceous, and cream-buff; an imperfect whitish band across the upper breast ; base of the bill beset with long, stiffened bristles, the basal half of these bristles grown with hairlike branches. Ad. ? . — Similar, but with no white patches in the tail, the upper breast with an ochraceous- buff instead of white band. L., 12-00 : W., 8-50 ; T., 6-00 ; B., -40. Range. — Eastern United States; breeds from North Carolina and Illinois southward ; winters from our southern borders southward ; accidental in Massachusetts. Cambridge, A. V., one record, Dec. Eggs, two, laid on the ground or leaves, in woods or thickets, dull white, with delicate, obscure pale lilac markings, and a few distinct brownish-gray spots, 1-40 x -98. Generally speaking, this species resembles the Whip-poor-will in habits. Its notes are quite similar to those of that species, but are louder, less rapidly uttered, and each call has an additional syllable. Its gape is enormous, the wide-open mouth of an adult measuring about two inches from corner to corner. For this reason it can swal- low large objects with ease, and both Hummingbirds and Sparrows have been found in Chuck-wiU's-widow's stomach. Perhaps they were mistaken for large moths. 417. Antrostomus vociferus ( Wils.}. WHIP-POOR-WILL. Ad. $. — Upper parts streaked with black, the head finely mottled with black and white, the back mottled with ochraceous-buff and black ; primaries black, with broken rufous bars ; tail irregularly barred with black and mottled with whitish or cream-buff; end half of three outer feathers white ; black on the outer vane of the outer feather extending farther down than on the others ; throat and breast blackish, finely mottled with cream-buff or ochraceous-buff; a narrow white band across the upper breast; belly cream-buff, irregularly barred with blackish; base of the bill beset with long, stiffened bristles, which are without hairlike branches. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but three outer tail- feathers narrowly tipped with ochraceous-buff; band on the throat cream- buff instead of white. L., 9-75 ; W., 6-08 ; T., 4 65 ; B., -37. Range. — Eastern North America, north to New Brunswick and Manitoba ; winters from Florida southward. Washington, common S. E., Apl. 15 to Oct. Sing Sing, common S. K., Apl. 19 to Oct. 17. Cambridge, common S. K., Apl. 28 to Sept. 20. Eggs, two, laid on the ground or leaves, in woods or thickets ; dull white, with delicate, obscure lilac markings and a few distinct brownish gray spots, 1-18 x -84. In walking through rather densely grown woods I have sometimes been surprised by having a Whip-poor-will fly up from beneath my feet and disappear in the surrounding growth. I say surprised, be- cause the bird's flight is as noiseless as a moth's, and this unusual, ghostly silence is almost as startling as the whir of a Grouse. The Whip-poor-will's day begins when the sun goes down. Then 238 NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, ETC. he passes out into bushy fields near his home, and, flying low, catches his supper on the wing. Between courses he rests on some low perch, and gives utterance to the notes familiar to many who have never seen their author. Whip' -poor-ivill , whip' -poor-will' he calls, rapidly and with unexpected snap and vigor. If one is quite near the singer, a preliminary chuck may be heard before each call. These notes are given for about two hours after sunset and for a short time before sunrise. It is a singular fact that, in spite of the marked difference in their habits and notes, the Nighthawk and Whip-poor-will are frequently considered to be the same species. It is not the only case, however, where the notes of some species difficult of observation have been attributed to a species whose habits render it conspicuous. 420. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel). NIGHTHAWK; BULL-BAT. (See Fig. 38.) Ad. $ . — Upper parts black, irregularly marked with whitish, cream-buff, or ochraceous-buff ; primaries fuscous, crossed in the middle by a conspicuous white bar which rarely reaches the outer vane of the first pri- mary ; tail fuscous or black, with broken bars of cream-buff and a white band near the end on all but the middle feathers; throat with a broad white band; chin and upper breast black, the feathers tipped with ochraceous-buff, cream- buff, or white ; the rest of the under parts barred with black and white, some- times tinged with buff. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but with no white on the tail, throat-patch ochraceous-buff, under parts more or less washed with ochra- ceous-buff. L., 10-00 ; W., 7-85 ; T., 4-60 ; B., -25. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds from the Gulf States to Labra- dor; winters in South America. "Washington, not common S. K. ; abundant T. V., Apl. 20 to Oct. Sing Sing, common S. K., May 9 to Oct. 11. Cambridge, not uncommon S. K., May 15 to Sept. 25. Eggs, two, laid on the bare ground or a flat rock in open fields, rarely on the roof of a house, dull white, evenly marked with small, irregularly shaped blotches or fine specklings of grayish brown or brownish gray, 1-20 x -86. In wooded regions the Nighthawk passes the day perched length- wise on a limb, but on the plains he roosts upon the ground, where his colors harmonize with his surroundings. Soon after sunset he mounts high in the air to course for insects. Batlike he flies erratically about, and at more or less regular intervals utters a loud nasal peent, this call being followed by two or three un- usually quick, flitting wing-beats. Long after the light has faded from the western horizon we may hear this voice from the starlit heavens, for the Nighthawk is one of our few truly nocturnal birds. Occasionally the peents are given more rapidly, and after calling several times in close succession the bird on half-closed wings dives earthward with such speed that one fears for his safety; but just SWIFTS. 239 before the ground is reached he checks his rapid descent by an abrupt turn, and on leisurely wing again mounts upward to repeat this game of sky-coasting. At the moment the turn is made one may hear a rushing, booming sound, which, as writers have remarked, can be imi- tated in tone by blowing across the bung-hole of any empty barrel. It is made by the passage of the air through the bird's primaries. In late summer Nighthawks gather in large flocks and begin their southward migrations. When flying the white mark on their primaries is a conspicuous character, and has the appearance of being a hole in the bird's wing. 4 2 Ob. C. v. chapman! (Coues). FLORIDA NIGHTHAWK; BULL-BAT. — Similar to the preceding, but smaller, and with the white and cream-buff markings of the upper parts more numerous. L., 8'60 ; W., T'10 ; T., 4-10. Range. — Breeds in Florida and westward on the Gulf coast ; south in win- ter to South America. The WESTERN NIGHTHAWK (4*20a. C. v. henry i), a near relative of our spe- cies, has been recorded from Waukegan, 111. FAMILY MICROPODID^E. SWIFTS. The seventy-five known species of Swifts are distributed through- out the greater part of the world. About one half this number are American, but only four are found in North America. Swifts are generally found associated in scattered companies, and when roosting or nesting are eminently gregarious. Hollow trees and caves are their natural retreats, but in some parts of the world chimneys are now used exclusively. They feed entirely while flying, and with their unusually long wings and small, compactly feathered bodies possess unrivaled powers of flight. Swifts are popularly confused with Swallows, but the re- semblance is only superficial and exists chiefly in the similarity of their feeding habits, while the structural differences between the two are numerous and important. 423. Chsetura pelagica (Linn.}. CHIMNEY SWIFT; CHIMNEY "SWALLOW." (See Fig. 39.) Ad. — Entire plumage fuscous, more grayish on the throat ; a sooty black spot before the eye ; shafts of the tail-feathers ex- tending beyond the vanes. L., 5-43 ; W., 4-94 ; T., 1-90 ; B. from N., -15. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds from Florida to Labrador ; win- ters in Central America. Washington, abundant S. E., Apl. 15 to Oct. 10. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 19 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, abundant S. E., Apl. 25 to Sept. 20. Nest, a bracketlike basket of dead twigs glued together with saliva; at- tached to the wall of a chimney, generally about ten feet from the top, by 240 HUMMINGBIRDS. the gummy secretion of the bird's salivary glands. Eggs, four to six, white, •80 x -50. It is unnecessary to give any aids to the identification of a bird as well known as the Chimney Swift, or, as it is more frequently called, "Chimney Swallow." It is not, however, a Swallow, but a Swift, and its structural relations are with the Hummingbirds and not with the Passerine Swallows. Few sights in the bird-world are more familiar than the bow-and- arrow-like forms of these rapidly flying birds silhoueted against the sky. They are most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when one may hear their rolling twitter as they course about overhead. Sometimes they sail with wings held aloft over their backs, and some- times, it is said, they use their wings alternately. It is a common thing to see a trio of birds flying together, but it has never been ascer- tained that the Chimney Swift is polygamous. In some localities Chimney Swifts congregate in large flocks, mak- ing their headquarters in a disused chimney which morning and even- ing they leave and return to in a body. In perching they cling to the side of the chimney, using the spine-pointed tails, as Woodpeckers do, for a support. The habit of frequenting chimneys is, of course, a recent one, and the substitution of this modern, artificial home for hollow trees, illustrates the readiness with which a bird may take ad- vantage of a favoring change in its environment. FAMILY TROCHILID^. HUMMINGBIRDS. Hummingbirds are found only in the New World. About four hundred species are known. They range from Alaska to Patagonia, but are most numerous in the Andean regions of Colombia and Ecua- dor. Seventeen species are found in the United States ; only eight of these advance beyond our Mexican border States, and but one species occurs east of the Mississippi. Several species inhabit the depths of dark tropical forests, but as a rule they are found with the flowers which bloom in the clearings, or far overhead in the sunlight. They are not gregarious, but an abundance of food sometimes brings large numbers of them together, when the air becomes animated with their rapidly moving forms. The smaller species fly so swiftly that their wings are lost in hazy cir- cles, and it is difficult for the human eye to follow their course. The flight of the larger species is less insectlike, and each wing-beat can be detected. As a rule their voice is a weak squeak or excited chip- pering, but some of the tropical species have songs of decided charac- ter which they sing with much energy. Hummingbirds feed largely on insects, which they generally cap- IIUMM INGBIRDS. turc in flowers, but many species catch insects on the wing or pick them from beneath leaves. They also feed on the juices of flowers. All the species whose nesting habits are known lay two white eggs. Strangely enough, these beautiful little creatures are possessed of a most unfortunate disposition which frequently leads them to attack any bird they fancy is trespassing on their domain. They know no fear, and with equal courage rush at one of their kind or a passing Hawk. 428. Trochilus colubris (Linn.}. KUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. (See Fig. 40.) Ad. $ .— Upper parts bright, shining green; wings and tail fuscous, with purplish reflections ; throat beautiful metallic ruby-red, bor- dered on the breast by whitish ; rest of the under parts dusky, washed with greenish on the sides. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but without ruby-red on the throat. Im— Similar to the female, but with tho upper parts more bronzy. L., 3'74 ; W., 1-54 ; T., 1-15 ; B., 67. Range.— Eastern North America ; breeds from Florida to Labrador ; win- ters from southern Florida to Central America. Washington, common S. E., Apl. 28 to Sept. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 30 to Oct. 3. Cambridge, uncommon S. E., May 12 to Sept. Nest, of plant down, covered externally with lichens and firmly wound with almost invisible plant fibers ; generally fifteen to twenty -five feet from the ground, saddled on a limb. Eggs, two, white, -50 x -35. The Ruby-throat needs no song. Its beauty gives it distinction, and its wings make music. Its only note, so far as I know, is a squeak, expressive of distrust or excitement. It has no rival in eastern North America, and is to be confounded with nothing but sphinx (hum- mingbird) moths. One hears of " Hummingbirds " seen in the evening about flower beds. The mistake is not unnatural, and a correction is sometimes received with incredulity. The birds spend but a com- paratively small part of the time upon the wing. Whoever watches a female busy about her nest will see her constantly perching here and there in certain branches of the tree, preening her plumage and look- ing about her. The male, at the same season, forgetful, to all appear- ance, of his conjugal and parental duties, may be found at home day after day on a dead twig in some tall tree, where he sits so constantly as to make the observer wonder what he can be about, and when, if ever, he takes his food. Further investigation, however, will show that he makes frequent and regular rounds of favorite feeding places. A tall blueberry bush, for example, will be visited at short intervals as long as the observer has patience to stand beside it. The Hum- mingbird is curiously fearless. Sometimes one will probe a flower held in the hand, and when they fly into houses, as they pretty often do, they manifest but the smallest degree of suspicion, and will feed almost at once upon sugar held between the lips. The old bird feeds 17 242 FLYCATCHERS. the young by rcgurgitation — a frightful-looking act— the food consist- ing largely of minute insects. The young remain in the nest for some three weeks, and on leaving it are at once at home on the wing. BRADFORD TORREY. ORDER PASSERES. PERCHING BIRDS. FAMILY TYRANNISE. FLYCATCHERS. From the systematist's standpoint Flycatchers are songless Perch- ing Birds. It does not follow that they are voiceless, or even truly songless, but that, having the voice-organ or syrinx less highly devel- oped than other Passeres, they are possessed of comparatively limited vocal powers. This family is peculiar to America. The Old- World Flycatchers belong to the family MuscicapidoB and are true Oscines. Some three hundred and fifty species are known. They are most abun- dant in the tropics, where their services as insect-catchers are in great- est demand. About thirty-five species reach the United States. Flycatchers are found wherever there are trees. As a rule they are of sedentary and solitary disposition. Their manner of feeding is characteristic. From a favorable perch, hawklike, they await passing insects, and with an aim that rarely misses launch forth into the air ; there is a sharp, suggestive click of the broad bill, and, completing their aerial circle, they return to their perch and are again en garde. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 3-00. A. Tail black or blackish, sometimes tipped with white, a concealed orange- red crown patch. a. Under wing-coverts yellowish, no white tip on the tail. 445. GRAY KINGBIRD. b. Under wing-coverts blackish, tail tipped with white . 444. KINGBIRD. B. Inner vane of tail-feathers pale rufous ; throat and breast grayish ; belly sulphur-yellow 452. CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 0. Tail fuscous, not tipped with white ; no crown patch. a. Entire bill black ; tail rarely more than -50 longer than wing ; tarsus decidedly longer than bill ; under tail-coverts always pale, yellowish white 456. PIKEBE. b. Under mandible generally in whole or part pale brownish ; wing always more than -50 longer than tail; tarsus about equal to bill; some of under tail-coverts frequently with darker centers. b1. Wing over 3-50; sides and breast, except a narrow whitish line through its center, of the same color as the back. 459. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. ia. Wing under 3-50; breast and sides washed with olive-gray. 461. WOOD PEWEE. FLYCATCHERS. 243 II. Wing under 3-00. A. Upper parts between olive-brown and dark olive-green, but with an evident brownish tinge, or lower mandible, brownish. a. Wing over 2-60 ; lower mandible flesh-color or whitish ; under parts with only a very slight tinge of yellow . 466a. TKAILL'S FLYCATCHER. • b. Wing under 2-60 ; lower mandible rarely clear flesh-color ; generally strongly tinged with brownish 467. LEAST FLYCATCHER". B. Upper parts olive-green without a brownish tinge; lower mandible straw-color. a. First primary about equal to fifth ; under parts white, slightly washed with yellowish on the breast and belly ; throat white. 465. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. b. First primary shorter than fifth ; under parts sulphur-yellow ; the throat and breast more or less washed with olive-green. 463. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. The FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (442. Milvulus tyrannus), a South Amer- ican species rarely found north of southern Mexico and the southern Lesser Antilles, has been recorded from Mississippi, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (443. Milvulus forficatus) is found in the summer as far north as southern Kansas and western Louisiana. It has occurred accidentally near Hudson Bay, in Manitoba, Ontario, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida. It may be known by its long, deeply forked tail and scarlet sides. 444. Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.}. KINGBIRD. Ad.— Upper parts grayish slate-color, darker on the head and upper tail-coverts ; head witli a concealed orange-red crest; tail black, tipped with white ; under parts white, washed with grayish on the breast. Im. — Similar, but without the crown patch, and with the plumage more or less tinged with ochraceous-buff. L., 8-51 ; W., 4-64 ; T., 8-55 ; B. from N., -55. Range. — North America north to New Brunswick and Manitoba ; rare west of the Rocky Mountains ; winters in Central and South America. Washington, common S. K., Apl. 20 to Sept. Sing Sing, common S. K., Apl. 29 to Sept. 10. Cambridge, abundant S. K., May 5 to Sept. 1. Nest, compact and symmetrical, of weed-stalks, grasses, and moss lined with plant-down, fine grasses, and rootlets, generally at the extremity of a branch fifteen to twenty-five feet up. Eggs, three to five, white, spotted with umber, 1-00 x -73. The Kingbird is most frequently seen on a fence or a dead twig on a tree, where leaves do not come in the way of his sight. He stands very upright, like a Hawk or an Owl, and, though as quiet as if he had nothing to do, he is keenly awake to every movement about him, and every few minutes he dashes into the air, seizes a passing insect, and returns to the spot from which he started. While his mate is sitting he usually establishes himself near the nesting tree, and spends hour after hour in this apparently monotonous way, varying it only to 244 FLYCATCHERS. relieve her by watching the nest, and thus give her an opportunity to seek food for herself. I never saw a Kingbird either assist in brooding or carry food to his mate, but his manners to her are most affection- ate, and he is untiring in his labors in the feeding of the young. This bird is accused of being quarrelsome and aggressive to other birds, and his scientific name means Tyrant Flycatcher, but in my study of his ways I have found him less aggressive than are most birds in the neighborhood of their nest. With the exception of the Crow, against whom he seems to have a special grudge, I have never seen a Kingbird take notice of any bird unless he alighted near his nest, and the meekest creature that wears feathers will try to drive away stran- gers who approach that sacred spot. The calls and cries of the Kingbird are generally loud and attract- ive, if not particularly musical, but while his mate is sitting — and pos- sibly at other times — he indulges in a soft and very pleasing song, which I have heard only in the very early morning. OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 445. Tyrannus dominicensis (G-mel,). GRAY KINGBIRD. Ad.— Upper parts ashy gray ; a concealed orange-red crown patch ; wings and tail fuscous; under wing-coverts pale sulphur-yellow; under parts white, tinged with grayish on the breast. L., 9-00 ; W., 4-60 ; T., 3-50 ; B. from N., -80. Range,. — Breeds from the coast of South Carolina southward through Florida and the Greater Antilles ; winters in the Lesser Antilles, Mexico, and Central America ; accidental in Massachusetts. Nest, of grass and weeds, lined with fine grass and rootlets, in bushes. Eggs, four, deep salmon, irregularly spotted and blotched with umber and lilac, 1-00 x -75 (Maynard). The Gray Kingbird is a common summer resident of parts of our South Atlantic States, arriving early in May. It resembles the King- bird in appearance, but lacks the white band at the end of the tail, and has quite different notes. Its usual call is a vigorous pitirri, pitirri, which in Cuba gives it its common name. The ARKANSAS KINGBIRD (447- Tyrannus verticalis), a western species, has been taken in Iowa, District of Columbia, Maine, New Jersey, and New York. 452. Myiarchus crinitus (Linn.). CRESTED FLYCATCHER; GREAT CHESTED FLYCATCHER. Ad. — Upper parts grayish brown, washed with olive- green ; outer vane of primaries margined with pale rufous; inner vane of all but the middle tail-feathers pale rufous ; throat and breast pearl-gray ; belly sulphur-yellow. L., 9-01 ; W., 4-14 ; T., 3-75 ; B. from N., -62. Range. — Breeds from Florida to New Brunswick ; winters from southern Florida to Central America. Washington, very common S. "R., Apl. 25 to Sept. Sing Sing, common S. R., May 7 to Sept. 12. Cambridge, uncommon S. K., May 15 to Aug. LEAST FLYCATCHER. PHCSBE. FLYCATCHERS. 245 Nest, of grasses, twigs, and rootlets, with generally a piece of a cast snake skin, in a hole in a tree, generally less than twenty feet up. Eggs, three to six, creamy white, streaked longitudinally with chocolate, t(JO x -68. During the spring migration each day brings its own surprise and pleasure. The bare, silent woods where I walked alone before are now astir with flitting wings and ringing with glad music. Each morning I hurry out, full of eager anticipation, to be thrilled by the greeting of some old friend come home again. There are red-letter days, however, even in this calen- dar. Hark ! from the woods a loud whistle pierces far through the clearing. The Great-crest has come ! FIG. 75.— Crested Flycatcher. (Natural size.) I break away from the confusing chorus of small voices and hurry off to the woods for the first sight of the distinguished bird. Full of life and vigor, he flies about in the green tree tops, chattering to himself or calling loudly as he goes. Not many days pass, however, before he is so taken up with do- mestic matters that his voice is rarely heard outside the woods. Is he engaged in his famous pursuit — hunting snake skins to line his nest1? Absorbed in my daily round of nest calls, I cherish the memory of each passing glimpse of him. Now I see him launch from a bass- wood top, with wings and tail spread, to sail down through the air, his tail glowing red against the light. Again, when looking for a rare Warbler, his calls arrest me. In the dead top of the highest tree in sight I find him with his mate. With crests raised, the handsome birds chase each other about the bare branches. Tired of that, they explore the old Woodpecker's holes in the trunk, and one of them walks out of sight down a hollow limb. A Blackbird lights in the tree, and the Great-crest above becomes so agitated that I am con- vinced his mate has gone to her nest, when lo ! both Flycatchers are off and away to another of the great trees that overtop the forest. FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. 456. Sayornis phoebe (Lath.}. PH. Tail over 2-20. a» A white throat-patch; breast gray; a yellowish line over the eye ....... 558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. «>. A black spot on the throat ; breast yellow, or both. 604. DICKCISSEL. a4. No yellow over the eye ; breast ashy or buffy ; outer tail- feathers much the shortest. 575. PINE-WOODS SPARROW. 575a. BACHMAN'S SPARROW. b1. Tail under 2--20, the feathers narrow and sharply pointed. b*. Crown olive-brown, a blue-gray line through its center; cheeks and breast ochraceous-butf. 549a. NELSON'S SPARROW. b3. Crown blackish, a cream-buff line through its center. 546. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. 5. Bend of the wing not yellow. b1. Crown bright reddish brown, the feathers sometimes tipped with ashy or brownish, but without Hack streaks. b3. No white or whitish wing-bars; outer tail-feathers much shorter than middle ones; lesser wing-coverts, upper tail- coverts, and margins of most of the tail-feathers rufous; wing under 2-50 584. SWAMP SPARROW. b9. Cheeks and throat ashy, a narrow reddish brown line from back of the eye to the nape, an indistinct black spot in the center of the breast 559. TREE SPARROW. J4. Eye-ring whitish, entire bill brownish flesh-color. 563. FIELD SPARROW. b6. Kump slaty gray; under parts generally all grayish white; forehead black, with a narrow grayish line in its middle, a narrow black line from back of the eye to the nape. 560. CHIPPING SPARROW. c1. Crown streaked or spotted with black or black and white. c9. Crown with chestnut streaks, and sometimes a slight ashy line through its center; no white or whitish wing-bars ; outer tail-feathers much shorter than middle ones. 584. SWAMP SPARROW (Im.). c*. Crown with reddish brown ; rump ashy ; wing-bars bulfy ; middle tail-feathers shortest. 560. CHIPPING SPARROW (Im.). FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 275 c*. Center of crown white; the sides black; wing-bars white. 554. WHITE-CROWNED SPARUOW. c*>. Crown grayish ; mandibles crossed . 521. AM. CROSSBILL. dl. Crown mixed grayish brown and rufous, ashy, or slate-color, without black streaks, d*. Wing 2*50 ; bill brownish flesh-color ; back rufous, streaked with black 563. FIELD SPARROW. d3. Wing 3-00; center of crown grayish brown, bordered by chestnut - rufous ; back grayish brown, spotted with olive- brown 554. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. d*. Crown slate-color; a chestnut patch behind th.e eye; throat black P. 282. ENGLISH SPARROW $ . d5. Crown entirely dull brown; lesser wing-coverts broadly tipped with buify P. 282. ENGLISH SPARROW 9 . HI. Under parts without red and with numerous streaks. 1. Tail-feathers without white or yellow spots or patches, the outer ones little if any shorter than the middle pair. A. Head of about the same color as the back ; no yellow over the eye, or on the bend of the wing, or under wing-coverts. a. Rump yellowish or yellowish green ; mandibles crossed. a1. Wing-coverts tipped with white. 522. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL 9 . a3. Wing-coverts not tipped with white . . 521. AM. CROSSBILL 9 . b. Mandibles not crossed ; rump brown or brownish or sandy like the back ; wing under 3-25. b1. Back pale brownish ashy, streaked with brownish ; a whitish streak over the eye ; legs flesh-color ; first primary as long or longer than the second . , 541. IPSWICH SPARROW. 62. Back and most of under parts streaked with black and reddish brown ; upper and under tail-coverts streaked ; first primary shorter than second ; outer tail-feathers shorter than middle ones. 581. SONG SPARROW. b9. Back distinctly streaked ; a cream-buff band across the breast. 583. LINCOLN'S FINCH. b*. Back grayish brown, the feathers with or without distinct streaks; first primaries nearly as long or longer than second; outer tail-feathers longer than middle pair ; legs and feet black- ish ; with bristly feathers over the nostrils. 517. PURPLE FINCH 9 . b6. Back without streaks ; no bristly feathers over the nostrils. 598. INDIGO BUNTING 9 . c. Mandibles not crossed ; upper tail-feathers and tail bright reddish brown, without black streaks ; rump brighter ; wing about 3-50. 585. Fox SPARROW. B. Head of about the same color as the back ; a yellow mark before the eye, or on the bend of the wing, or under wing-coverts. a. Wing about 4-00 ; under wing-coverts deep yellow. 595. KOSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 9 . 276 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. b. Wing generally under 2*90; feathers of the crown black, bordered by chestnut- brown; a buffy line through the center of crown. 542a. SAVANNA SPARROW. c. Wing generally over 2-90 ; feathers of crown with small black cen- ters bordered with cinnamon-brown and pale brownish gray. 541. IPSWICH SPARROW. d. Wing about 3-00 ; breast washed with yellow . . 604 DICKCISSEL. e. Wing about 3-00 ; sides brownish ; throat white, quite different from the grayish breast 558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. C. A bright red crown-cap ; no yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing. a. Kurnp and flanks always heavily streaked with blackish. 528. EEDPOLL and races. b. Eump white, generally without streaks ; flanks lightly streaked ; more or less white in the feathers of the back. 527. GREENLAND REDPOLL. 527a. HOARY KEDPOLL. 2. Tail-feathers without white or yellow patches, narrow and generally sharply pointed, the outer feathers always much shorter than the middle pair. A. Crown of a different color from the back, or a buffy line over the eye. a. Center of crown with a more or less distinct brownish or buffy line. a1. Nape dull, pale olive-green, of the same color as the line over the eye, but finely streaked with bHtck ; back rufous-brown, streaked with black 547. HENSLOW'S SPARROW. aa. Nape bright rufous-brown, the feathers bordered by gray; the feathers of the back black, bordered by buffy whitish. 548. LECONTE'S SPARROW. b. Center of crown with a more or less distinct stripe of ashy blue. b1. Breast and sides distinctly streaked with black or blackish. 549. SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. Ja. Breast and sides buffy or brownish, the former generally without distinct black streaks . 549a. NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. 5496. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. B. Crown of the same color as the back ; no buffy line over the eye. a. A yellow spot before the eye and on the bend of wing. a1. Upper parts very dark brown or black ; the feathers edged with olive-gray or ashy, breast generally with black streaks. (Florida.) 550a. SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW. 551. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW. a*. Back olive-gray ; breast with grayish brown streaks. 550. SEASIDE SPARROW. b. No yellow before the eye ; bend of the wing yellow. 575. PINE-WOODS SPARROW. 575a. BACHMAN'S SPARROW. c. No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing. c1. A broad cream- buff' band across the breast. 583. LINCOLN'S SPARROW. c9. No cream-buff band on the breast; streaks on the breast tending to form a spot in its middle 581. SONG SPARUOW. 3. Tail with white patches or base of tail yellow. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 277 A. Base of the tail yellow 533. PINE SISKIN". B. Outer tail-feathers with white patches. a. Hind toe-nail shorter than the bill from the nostril. a1. Lesser wing-coverts rufous ; breast streaked with black. 540. VESPER SPARROW. as. Sides of crown and ear-coverts chestnut ; a black spot on the cen- ter of the breast 552. LARK SPARROW. b. Hind toe-nail longer than bill from nostril. b1. Under parts cream-buff; two outer tail-feathers mostly white. 537. SMITH'S LONGSPUR. Ja. Under parts whitish ; breast streaked or spotted with black or entirely black ; second outer tail-feather with but little white. 536. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. A FIELD KEY TO THE ADULT MALE FINCHES AND SPARROWS OF THE MIDDLE STATES (VIRGINIA TO MASSACHUSETTS) IN BREEDING PLUMAGE. I. Breast with more or less yellow. II. Breast blue. III. Breast or throat red. IV. Breast without either yellow, blue, or red. I. Breast with more or less yellow. A. Chin white, throat black; haunts grassy fields; song an unmusical eifort of six or seven notes delivered with great earnestness from a low perch (rare east of the Alleghanies) 604. DICKCISSEL. B. Under parts and breast pure yellow, crown and wings black; song a sweet canarylike warble ; flight undulating, frequently accompanied by the notes chic-o-ree, per-cJilc-o-ree 529. GOLDFINCH. II. Breast blue. A. Length over 6*00 ; plumage deep blue, a chestnut bar across the wings (not found north of Virginia) 597. BLUE GROSBEAK. B. Length under 6-00; plumage indigo- blue ; haunts woody fields, scrub or second growth ; song clear and musical, generally delivered from a tree-top '. 598. INDIGO BUNTING. III. Breast or throat red. A. Length 8*00 ; throat and region about the base of the bill black, rest of the plumage bright vermilion-red ; head with a conspicuous crest; song a rich, musical whistle ; call-note an insignificant cheep / haunts thickets and bushy woodland (rare north of New York city). 593. CARDINAL. B. Length 7'50 ; breast rose-red ; belly, tip of the tail, rump, and a band in the wings white ; rest of the plumage black ; haunts wooded growths ; song loud, clear, and highly musical; call-note a metallic peek. 595. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. C. Length under 6*50 ; plumage more or less heavily washed with dull 278 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. reddish ; haunts orchards and wooded growths ; song a liquid warble ; call-note a metallic ckinlc, frequently uttered while on the wing. 517. PURPLE FINCH. D. Length about G'OO ; plumage dull blood-red ; mandibles crossed at the tips; generally found in small flocks in coniferous woods; utters a clicking or whistled note when on the wing (rarely found south of New England after May 1) 521. RED CROSSBILL. E, Breast white, tinged with brown ; region about the bill red, a yellow band in the wings (rare except in the vicinity of New York city). EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH. IV. Breast without either yellow, red, or blue. 1. Under parts distinctly streaked or spotted. A. Outer tail-feathers white, showing conspicuously when the bird flies ; haunts dry fields and roadsides ; song loud and musical. 540. VESPER SPARROW. £. Outer tail-feathers not white. a. Song loud and musical ; an abundant and familiar bird of gen- eral distribution ; spots on the breast tending to form one larger spot in the center ; crown umber, a whitish line over the eye. 581. SONG SPARROW. b. Song not loud and musical; short and generally unattractive; haunts wet meadows or marshes ; passes most of the time on the ground, rarely perching far from it, and when flushed generally returning to it. bl. A bufty line over the eye and at the side of the throat, breast generally washed with buffy ; haunts only salt marshes (rarely found far from the vicinity of the seashore.) 549. SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. ia. No buif on the sides of the head or breast ; upper parts black- ish ; song toip-tsip-tsi^se-e-e-s'r-r-r / rarely breeds south of New York city ; haunts both salt- and fresh-water marshes. 542a. SAVANNA SPARROW. b3. Back reddish, head and neck bufly olive; haunts generally wet pastures ; song an inconspicuous see-wick (rather rare; liv- ing in small colonies of local distribution). 547. HENSLOW'S SPARROW. 2. Under parts not distinctly streaked or spotted. A. Throat pure white, sharply defined from the grayish breast, a yellow spot over the eye ; crown black, with a central stripe of white; haunts thickets or bushy woodlands; song a high, clear, musical whistle ; call-note a sharp chink. 558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. £, Throat and breast black. a. Sides of the throat and belly white, crown ash, sides of the head chestnut P. 282. HOUSE SPARROW. b. Length 8'00 ; sides of the body light rufous, outer tail-feathers tipped with white ; haunts thickets and bushy woodlands ; call- note a vigorous towhee or chee-wink 587. TOWHEE. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 279 C, Throat and breast slate-color, like the back ; belly and outer tail- feathers white ; bill flesh-color (nests in the Middle States only on the higher parts of the Alleghanies) 567. JUNOO. D, Under parts white or whitish, practically all one color. a. Haunts wet marshes. a1. Haunts always salt marshes, generally near the sea; back grayish 550. SEASIDE SPARROW. aa. Haunts both salt- and fresh-water marshes ; back brown, streaked with black ; cap and wings chestnut ; song a loud, sharp, rapidly repeated weet-weet-weet, etc. 584. SWAMP SPARROW. 6. Haunts dry fields, pastures, roadsides, lawns, thickets, etc. bl. Outer tail-feathers white, middle of the breast with a small black spot (not found east of the Alleghanies). 552. LARK FINCH. c1. Outer tail-feathers not white. c8. Upper parts reddish-brown, bill pinkish flesh-color; haunts bushy fields and pastures ; song a musical, plaintive cher- wee, cher-wee, cher-wee, cheeo-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee. 563. FIELD SPARROW. c>. Bill dark brown, a buffy line through the center of the ground; song an insect-like pit-tuk, zee-zee-zee-zee-zee. 546. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, c4. Back streaked with black, cap chestnut, a white line over the eye, bill black ; song a monotonous chippy -chippy - chippy, etc 560. CHIPPING SPARROW. c8. Larger, length about 7'00; crown black, with a white central stripe ; throat not noticeably different from the breast; no yellow over the eye (rare; nests north of New England) 554. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 514. Cocothraustes vespertinus (Coop.}. EVENING GROSBEAK. Ad. $ . — Forehead yellow, crown black ; sides of the head olive-brown, chang- ing to dull yellow on the rump ; belly and scapulars, wings and tail black ; end half of the secondaries and their coverts white. Ad. 9 . — Brownish gray, lighter on the under parts, more or less tinged with yellow, especially on the nape ; wings black, inner primaries white at the base, secondaries edged with white; tail black, the feathers tipped with white on the inner web; upper tail-coverts black tipped with white. L., 8-00 ; W., 4-50 ; T., 3-50 ; B., 72. Range. — Interior of North America, from Manitoba northward ; southeast- ward in winter to the upper Mississippi Valley and casually to the northern Atlantic States. Cambridge, known to have occurred only in winter of 18&M90. Nest, known but from few specimens, composed of small twigs lined with bark, hair, or rootlets, placed within twenty feet of the ground. Eggs, three to four, greenish, blotched with pale brown (see Davie). This distinguished inhabitant of the far northwest is a common winter visitant in Manitoba and the contiguous parts of the bordering 280 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. States. At irregular intervals it invades the northern Mississippi Valley in numbers, while still more rarely it extends its wanderings to the north Atlantic States. It travels in flocks of from six or eight to sixty individuals which by their tameness show their ignorance of man and his ways. They feed largely on the buds or seeds of trees — maple, elder, and box elder. Their notes are described by different observers as a shrill " cheepy-teet" and a " frog-like peep" while one writer remarks that " the males have a single metallic cry like the note of a trumpet, and the females a loud chattering like the large Cherry Birds (Ampelis garrulus)." Their song is given as a wander- ing, jerky warble, beginning low, suddenly increasing in power, and as suddenly ceasing, as though the singer were out of breath. During the winter and early spring of 1890 there was a phenom- enal incursion of Evening Grosbeaks into the Northern States, ac- counts of which, by Amos W. Butler, will be found in The Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 238-247 ; x, 1893, pp. 155-157. 515. Pinicola enucleator (Linn.'). PINE GROSBEAK. Ad. $ .— Slaty gray, more or less strongly washed with rose-red, strongest on the crown, rump, upper tail-coverts, and breast; wings fuscous, their coverts edged with white ; tail fuscous. Ad. 9 .—Slaty gray, crown, upper tail-cov- erts, and breast more or less strongly washed with olive-yellow ; wings and tail as in the a . Im— Eesembles the ? . L., 9-08 ; W., 4-36 ; T., 3-67 ; B., -54. Range. — " Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, breeding far north ; in winter south, in North America, irregularly to the northern United States." Washington, casual in winter. Sing Sing, irregular W. V., Dec. 18 to Apl. 12. Cambridge, irregular W. V., frequently common, sometimes abun- dant, Nov. to Mch. Nest, of twigs and rootlets lined with finer materials, in coniferous trees a few feet up. Eggs, " pale greenish blue, spotted and blotched with dark brown surface markings and lilac shell-spots, 1*05 x -74." The Pine Grosbeak, like the Spruce Partridge and Canada Jay, may be said to find its true home in the coniferous forest or Canadian belt, which crosses the continent diagonally from Maine to Alaska. Like many of its congeners in this inhospitable region, it nests so early in the springtime that the winterrs frost and snow are still dominant among the evergreens when the eggs come to claim the at- tention of the pair. Its habits at this season are but little known, as very few natural- ists have had the opportunity of seeing it in its native pine wood. But in midwinter, when it comes southward in search of food, it is a well-known frequenter, in flocks, of plantations of mountain-ash trees, or groups of sumach bushes, whose unfallen berries provide it with a bountiful supply of nourishing diet. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 281 It is said to make an admirable cage-bird, as it readily takes to confinement, and during the springtime has a prolonged and melo- dious song. Its form has a general resemblance to that of the common Robin, but its very short, thick beak and its forked tail are striking differ- ences. It is rather slow and inactive when in a tree, and when on the wing it has a loud whistle which is very characteristic ; at all times its colors, as above described, should distinguish the bird at a very considerable distance. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 517. Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.\ PURPLE FINCH. Ad. <$. — Entire body suft'used with rose-red, strongest on the head, rump, and breast, more brownish on the back ; whiter, gen- erally white, on the belly ; wings and tail brownish fuscous, the outer webs of the feathers finely edged with rose-red; a small tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils; outer tail-feathers longest. Ad. 9. —Very different, sparrowlike in appearance ; upper parts dark grayish brown, finely streaked with black ; wings and tail dark grayish brown; under parts white, streaked, or with wedge- shaped spots of i'uscous. L., 6-22 ; W., *}*94- • T1 2*20 ' T5 *45 f . . , , FIG. 79.— Purple Finch. (Natural Remarks. — r emales bear a decided size.) resemblance to some Sparrows, but the rounded bill, tufts of feathers over the nostrils, and forked tail are distin- guishing characters. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from northern Minnesota and Long Island northward ; winters from the northern States to the Gulf. Washington, common W. V., Sept. 15 to May 15, largely a migrant. Sing Sing, rare P. R., common T. V. Cambridge, P. K., very common from Mch. to Oct. ; irregular, but sometimes abundant, in winter. Nest, of twigs, grasses, and rootlets, thickly lined with long haira, in conif- erous trees, five to thirty feet up. Eygs, four to six, blue, spotted about the larger end with fuscous, -79 x -56. During the nesting season the Purple Finch frequently takes up its abode in private grounds, even becoming a familiar garden bird, while others of its race find a congenial home in wild mountain forests, far away from the society of man. The rosy plumage of the males makes it attractively noticeable as a garden bird ; but a serious offense must be charged against it — it has far too ready a taste for the blos- soms of fruit trees, and is perhaps the most confirmed bud-eater of all our birds. It has naturally a roving disposition and, in the autumn especially, seems ever to be impelled by some restless impulse. At this 282 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. season it may often be seen descending with airy, sweeping flight into some leafless treetop, as if from a far aerial journey, its identity made known by its very characteristic utterance, a short, rather dull-sound- ing note, scarcely metallic — the metal pressed the instant the bell is struck. Although the Purple Finch often essays to sing in the autumn and earliest spring, its full powers of voice belong alone to the nuptial season. Then it easily takes its place among our noteworthy song birds. Its full song is a sweet-toned, carelessly flowing warble — not too brief to miss definite character as a song, and positive enough in modulation and delivery to find ready place in the memory. At times, indeed, its singing is of a character not to be easily forgotten. The song bursts forth as if from some uncontrollable stress of gladness, and is repeated uninterruptedly over and over again, while the ecstatic bird rises high into the air, and, still singing, descends into the trees. EUGENE P. BICKNELL. domesticus (Linn,}. HOUSE SPARROW; ENGLISH SPARROW. Ad. $ . — Crown gray, bordered from the eye backward and on the nape by chestnut; lesser wing-coverts chestnut, middle coverts tipped with white; back streaked with black and chestnut ; rump ashy ; middle of the throat and breast black ; sides of the throat white ; belly whitish. Ad. ? . — Head and rump grayish brown; back streaked with black and deep ocliraceous-buff; under parts dirty whitish, the breast and sides washed with pale grayish brown. L., 6-33; W., 3-01 ; T., 2-30; B., -48. Range. — " Nearly the whole of Europe, but replaced in Italy by P. italim, extending eastward to Persia and Central Asia, India, and Ceylon" (Sharpe). Introduced and naturalized in America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. jtfest, of any available material in any available place. JEyys, varying from plain white to almost uniform olive-brown, generally white, finely and evenly marked with olive, 1-86 x -62. We learn from Bulletin No. 1 of the Division of Economic Orni- thology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agri- culture* that this pest was first introduced into the United States at Brooklyn, New York, in 1851 and 1852. As late as 1870 it was largely confined to the cities of the Atlantic States, but since that date, partly through man's agency and partly through the bird's rapid increase in numbers and adaptability, it has spread over most of the United States and Canada east of the great plains, and isolated colonies are estab- lished throughout the west. * The English Sparrow (Passer dontesticus) in North America, especially in its Relations to Agriculture. Prepared under the Direction of Dr. C. Hart Mer- riam, Ornithologist, by Walter B. Barrows, Assistant Ornithologist, Washington, 1889. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 283 This report shows that in ten years the progeny of a single pair of Sparrows might amount to 275,716,983,698 ! It also states that during the year 1886 the Sparrow added approximately 516,500 square miles to the territory occupied by it. The day is evidently near at hand, therefore, when the English Sparrow will be in complete possession of the country. The EUROPEAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) has become naturalized in and about St. Louis, Missouri. 521. Lioxia curvirostra minor (BreJim), AMERICAN CROSSBILL; RED CROSSBILL. Ad. $. — Tips of the mandibles crossed; body dull red, brighter on the rump, browner on the back ; wings and tail fuscous. Ad. 9 . Dull olive-green, yellower on the rump, indistinctly mottled with blackish on the head and back, mixed with whitish on the under parts. Im. $ . — Similar to the 9 , or mixed red and green. L., 6-19 ; W., 3-40 ; T., 2-13 ; B., -66. Range. — Breeds from the Northern States northward, and, in the Allegha- nies, southward to the Carolinas ; in winter wanders irregularly southward, sometimes reaching the Gulf States. Washington, irregular W. V., sometimes abundant. Sing Sing, irregu- lar ; noted in almost every month. Cambridge, of irregular occurrence at all seasons. Nest, of twigs and grasses, lined with bits of moss and rootlets, in conifer- ous trees, fifteen to thirty feet up. Eggs, three to four, " pale greenish, spotted and dotted about the larger end with various shades of brown and lavender shell-markings, T75 x -57." These parrotlike Finches are famous for their erratic wanderings. They seem to have no regard for the laws of migration which regu- late the journeys of most birds, and, having no home ties, may linger in regions which offer them abundant fare without much regard to season. They nest early in the spring, sometimes when they are far south of their breeding range, but they seem quite unconcerned by their unusual surroundings, and their young are born and raised in a foreign land. Coniferous forests form their natural surroundings, and their bills are especially adapted to aid them in forcing off the scales from the cones of these trees to obtain the seed within. They live in flocks, and when in the trees climb about like Parrots, sometimes exhibiting as little fear of man as Polly on her pedestal. When feeding, they have a short, whistled call-note ; they take wing in a body, and their undulating flight is accompanied by a sharp click- ing or whistled note. Their song is described as " varied and pleas- ing, but not powerful or in any respect remarkable." 522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. Ad. $ . — Tips of the mandibles crossed ; body dull pink, brighter on the rump, more 284: FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. or less marked with black on the back ; belly whitish ; wings and tail black, the greater and middle wing-coverts, and sometimes tertials, tipped with white. Ad. 9 . — Dull olive-green, yellow on the rump, grayer on the under parts, mottled with blackish on the head and back; wings and tail as in the $ . Im. 6 . — Similar to $ , but passes through a party-colored plumage while becoming mature, and, as in the preceding species, is subject to much variation. L., 6-05 ; W., 3-27 ; T., 2-41 ; B., -62. Range. — Breeds from the Northern States northward; in winter wanders irregularly southward, sometimes reaching Illinois and Virginia. Washington, casual. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. 29 to Dec. 6. Cambridge, irregular W. V. Nest, of twigs and strips of birch bark, covered exteriorly with moss .(Usnea), and lined with soft moss and hair, on the fork of an evergreen in .deep forests. Eggs, three (?), pale blue, spotted and streaked near larger end with reddish brown and lilac, -80 x -55 (Chamberlain). Colonel Goss writes that in general habits these birds resemble the American Crossbill. Their flight is swift and undulating. While feeding and moving about they are quite noisy, almost constantly uttering a plaintive wheep or cheeping note. Their song is low, soft, and sweet, much like that of the American Goldfinch. 527. Acanthishornemannii(^o?5.). GREENLAND REDPOLL. — Simi- lar to the next, but " larger (length about 5-50-6-50), with proportionally thicker and less acute bill. 6 W., 3-37 ; T., 2'75 ; exposed culmen, -35 ; depth of B. at base, -31." Range. — u Northern Greenland (breeding from 69°~73° N. latitude) and eastern arctic America, south to Labrador in winter" (Kidgw.). 527a. A. h. exilipes (Cones). HOARY REDPOLL. Ad. $ .— Bill very sharply pointed, a small tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils; crown-cap bright red ; back dark grayish brown, the feathers more or less margined with white ; rump white, generally unstreaked, and tinged with pink ; wings and tail brownish fuscous, the feathers all more or less edged with white ; middle of the throat blackish, breast tinged with pink, belly white, a few streaks on the side. Ad. $ .—Similar, but with no pink on the rump or breast. Im — Similar to the $ , but without the red crown-cap. L., 5-00 ; W., 3'00 ; T., 2-30 ; B., -30. jRemarks. — This species is to be distinguished from Acanthis linaria and its races by the greater amount of white in its plumage, its unstreaked rump, and comparatively unstreaked under parts. Range.— Arctic regions; south in winter rarely to the northern United States. Cambridge, casual W. V. Nest, of grass and twigs lined with feathers, in a low tree or on the 'ground. Eggs, three to five, white, tinged with blue or green, spotted with reddish brown, -65 x -50 (Chamberlain). 528. Acanthis linaria (Linn.}. REDPOLL. Ad. 6 .—Bill very sharply pointed, a small tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils ; crown-cap FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 285 bright red ; back fuscous grayish brown, the feathers margined with ochra- ceous-buff ; rump tinged with pink ; wings and tail fuscous, the feathers more or less edged with whitish ; middle of the throat blackish,.breast suffused with pink, belly white, sides streaked with fuscous. Ad. 9 .—Similar, but without pink on the rump or breast, the sides more heavily streaked. Im. — Similar to the 9 , but without a red crown- cap. L., 5-32 ; W., 2-80 ; T., 2-32 ; B., -36 ; depth of B. at base, -22. Range.— Breeds in the northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in winter migrates irregularly southward, in America, to Illinois and Virginia. Washington, very rare and irregular W. V. FIG. 80.-Redpoll. (Natural Sing Sing, irregular W. V., Nov. 25 to Mch. 26. Cambridge, irregular W. V., often very abundant, Oct. 25 to Apl. 10. Nest, of dry grass and moss lined with hair, feathers, or plant down, in a low tree or tuft of grass. Eggs, four to six, white, tinged with green or blue, spotted with reddish brown, -65 x -50 (Chamberlain). The little Redpoll is one of those birds that are best known as win- ter visitors. Sometimes it comes from the north in flocks when driven from home by the annual failure of the food supply, and speedily at- tracts attention by frequenting the gardens and orchards, even when these are within the limits of a town. In general habits it resembles a Goldfinch, and while with us it finds its wants supplied chiefly by the various grasses and herbs which project through the snow and still retain their seed in spite of wind and weather. It is noted for its affectionate and confiding disposition, and although it is not known to breed in captivity it has always proved an easily tamed and inter- esting pet. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 528a. A. 1. holboellii (Brelim). HOLBCELL'S REDPOLL.— Similar to A. linaria, but larger, the bill longer. W., 3-20 ; T., 2-35 ; B., -38 ; depth of B. at base, -22. Range.—" Northern coasts of Europe and Asia (Norway to Japan), and portions of Alaska" ; casual in eastern North America. This is an intermediate between A. linaria and A. I. rostrata, most closely approaching the former, from which it sometimes can with difficulty be distinguished. It is an exceedingly rare bird in eastern North America, where there are but two records of its occurrence : Quebec (Ridgway) and Massachusetts (Brewster). 528b. A. 1. rostrata (Coues). GREATER REDPOLL.— Similar to A. linaria, but larger, the margin to the feathers of the upper parts averaging darker, the bill shorter and stouter. L., 5-50; W., 3'20; T., 2-55; B., -35; depth of B. at base, -28. 286 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Range. — " Southern Greenland in summer, migrating south, in winter, through Labrador to (sparingly) the northern border of the United States (New England, lower Hudson Valley, northern Illinois, etc.), and west to Manitoba" (Ridgw.). Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, irregular W. V., Nov. to Feb. " The Greater Redpoll is often rather common, and in February, 1883, it occurred along the seacoast near Boston in positive abundance. On the 19th of this month Mr. Spelman and I took thirteen specimens at Revere Beach in* about two hours ; and on the 22d, at Nantasket Beach, two young collectors, by a few random shots into an excep- tionally large, mixed flock of Redpolls, secured forty specimens, of which six proved to be A. linaria and thirty-four rostrata. " As one sees them in winter in New England, the forms just men- tioned, with A. hornemannii exilipes, do not differ appreciably in notes, habits, or general appearance. It is true that A. L rostrata may be often recognized by its superior size, but the birds as a rule are so nervous and restless, and when in large flocks so constantly in motion and so likely to depart altogether at any moment, that a free use of the gun is ordinarily indispensable to positive identification " (Brewster, Minot's Land Birds and Game Birds, 2d ed., App., p. 472). 529. Spinus tristis (Linn.}. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ; YELLOW- BIRD ; THISTLE-BIRD. Ad. $ . — Crown-cap black ; back and under parts bright yellow ; wings black, the coverts and secondaries tipped with white ; tail black, the feathers with white on their inner webs. Ad. 9 . — Upper parts grayish brown with an olive tinge ; wings and tail as in the $ , but somewhat more dusky and the white markings less distinct ; under parts whitish, washed with buffy brown and more or less tinged with yellow, espe- cially on the throat. Ad. $ in winter. — Similar to the ad. 9 , but with the wings and tail as in summer. L., 5-10 ; W., 2-82 ; T., 1-95 ; B., -40. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from South Carolina to southern Labrador ; winters from the northern United States to the Gulf. Washington, common P. K. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, very common P. R. Nest, externally of fine grasses, strips of bark, and moss, thickly lined with thistle down, in trees or bushes, live to thirty feet up. Eggs, three to six, pale bluish white, *65 x -48. Except when nesting, Goldfinches are generally found in small flocks. Few birds seem to enjoy life more than these merry rovers. Every month brings them a change of fare, and in pursuit of fresh dainties the nesting-time is delayed almost until summer begins to wane. Seed-bearing plants, whether in field or garden, form their larder ; the old sunflowers rattle before their vigorous attack; the thistles spring into sudden blossom of black and gold as they swing from the nodding heads. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 287 Their flight is expressive of their joyous nature, and as they bound through the air they hum a gay Their love song is delivered with an ecstasy and abandon which car- ries them off their feet, and they circle over the fields sowing the air with music. The song has a canary like character, and while it is less varied it possesses a wild, ringing quality wanting in the cage-bound bird's best efforts. The BLACK-HEADED GOLDFINCH (582. Spinus notatus), a Mexican species, is recorded by A udubon from Kentucky, where its occurrence is, of course, purely accidental. 533. Spinus pinus ( Wils.). PINE SISKIN ; PINE FINCH. Ad.— Bill sharply pointed, a small tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils ; upper parts streaked with black, the feathers margined with buffy ; wings fuscous, most of the feathers margined with yellow, and yellow at the lose ; tail fuscous, all but the middle feathers yellow at the base ; under parts white, tinged with buffy and heavily streaked with black. L., 5-00; W., 2-76; T., 1-90; B., -40. Remarks. — The yellow markings in the wings and tail of this species will always serve to distinguish it. Range. — North America generally; breeds mostly north of the United States ; winters as far south as the Gulf. Washington, irregularly abundant W. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, irregu- lar P. R. Cambridge, irregular W. V., Sept. to May ; sometimes very abun- dant. Nest, of twigs and rootlets, lined with plant down and long hairs, in conif- erous trees. Eggs, four, pale bluish white, thinly spotted with reddish brown, •67 x -46. Like the American Crossbill, this bird is rather erratic in its move- ments, and its presence or absence at any season can never be predicted with certainty. It resembles the American Goldfinch in habits, but is more often found about coniferous trees, and its notes and song are less musical. It has been found nesting in May at Sing Sing, N. Y. (Fisher), and at Cornwall-on-Hudson (Allen). Carduelis carduelis (Linn.}. EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH. Ad. — Region about the base of the bill bright red ; crown, and a stripe extending from it on to the sides of the neck, black; back cinnamon-brown; wings black, crossed by a broad yellow band ; tail black, the inner webs of the feathers tipped with white; under parts white, the sides tinged with the color of the back. L., 5-50 : W., 3-00 ; T., 2-95 ; B., -50. 288 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Range. — "Europe generally, except extreme northern part" (Sharpe). In- troduced near New York city and Boston. Nest, externally, of grasses and plant down, lined with plant down, in coniferous trees. Eggs, four to five, white, with purplish spots, '72 x -50. This European species was introduced into this country at Ho- boken, N. J., in 1878. The following year it appeared in Central Park, New York city. It has since spread over the northern parts of the city, and in favorable places is a not uncommon permanent resident. It has also been introduced in the vicinity of Boston, Mass., where it is to be found in small numbers. In general habits it resem- bles its American cousin, with which it sometimes associates. 534. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.}. SNOWFLAKE; SNOW BUNT- ING. Ad. $ in summer. — Whole head and neck, rump, and under parts white ; back and scapulars black ; wings white, the end half of the primaries and inner secondaries black ; outer tail-feathers white, inner ones black. Ad. 9 in, summer. — Similar, but entire upper parts streaked with black; primaries all fuscous ; secondaries more or less tipped with fuscous. $ in winter. — Upper parts a kind of rusty brown, almost umber on the center of the crown ; back streaked with black, caused by the black bases of the feathers showing through their rusty tips ; wings and tail much as in summer, but more or less edged with rusty ; under parts white, the breast and sides washed with rusty. 9 in winter. — Similar to $ , but the primaries all fuscous. L., 6-88; W., 4'07 ; T., 2-70 ; B., -42. Range. — "Northern parts of the northern hemisphere, breeding in the arctic regions; in North America, south in winter into the northern United States, irregularly to Georgia, southern Illinois, and Kansas." Washington, W. V., casual, one instance. Sing Sing, irregular W. V., Oct. 25 to Mch. 22. Cambridge, common W. V., Oct. 25 to Mch. 25; abundant in migrations. Nest, of grasses, rootlets, and moss, lined with finer grasses and feathers, on the ground. Eggs, four to seven, pale bluish white, thinly marked with umber or heavily spotted or washed with rufous-brown, '85 x '64. The Snowflake may readily be known by the fact that it is the only one of our sparrowlike birds that has white predominating on its wings and tail, as well as on its body. It feeds exclusively on seeds, and is so much like the Shorelark in habits that the two species occa- sionally associate. The Snowflake is also strictly a ground bird, never perching on a tree, though it often does so on a house or fence. It always progresses by walking, not by hopping. Throughout Canada and the northern tier of States this is the familiar little white bird of winter. As soon as the chill season comes on in icy rigors, the merry Snowflakes appear in great flocks, and come foraging about the barnyards wheii there is no bare ground left in the adjacent fields. Apparently they get but little to eat, but in reality they always find enough to keep them in health and spirits, and are as FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 289 fat as butter balls. In midwinter, in the far north, when the ther- mometer showed thirty degrees below zero, and the chill blizzard was blowing on the plains, I have seen this brave little bird gleefully chasing his fellows, and pouring out as he flew his sweet, voluble song with as much spirit as ever Skylark has in the sunniest days of June. As long as the snow lasts the Snowflake stays, and as soon as the ground grows bare and there is promise of better days, this bird of winter betakes himself again to the north, as far as ever human foot has been, and there builds his nest. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 536. Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.). LAPLAND LONGSPUB. Ad. $ in summer. — Hind toe-nail as long as or longer than toe ; head, neck, throat, and breast black ; a buffy line behind the eye ; nape rufous ; back streaked with black and ochraceous- and cream -buff ; tail fuscous, the two outer feathers with more or less white; belly white; sides streaked with black. Ad. 9 in summer. — Upper parts streaked with black, rufous, ochraceous- and cream-buff; nape ochraceous-buff, the color sometimes concealed by the tips of the feathers ; tail fuscous, the outer one or two feathers marked with white ; under parts white, the breast and sides streaked with ^ 81 _Hind~oe of Lap. black and ochraceous-buff. 3 in winter. — Simi- land Longspur. lar to 9 in summer, but upper parts blacker, nape more rufous, breast more heavily marked with black, most of the feathers black at the base. 9 in winter.— Similar to 9 in summer, but upper parts duller, nape with little or no ochraceous. L., 6-25 ; W., 3'75 ; T., 2-55 ; B., -40. Remarks. — In some plumages this bird bears a general resemblance to cer- tain Sparrows, but differs from them in having the hind toe-nail as long as or longer than the toe. Range. — "Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, breeding far north; in North America, south in winter to the northern United States, irregularly to the Middle States, accidentally to South Carolina.'" Washington, W. V., casual, one instance, Dec. Sing Sing, W. V., casual. Nest, of grasses and moss lined with grasses, on the ground. Eggs, four to six, bluish white, almost obscured by a uniform grayish brown, -82 x -60. In the east Lapland Longspurs are generally found among flocks of Shorelarks or Snowflakes, but on the western plains they occur in great numbers. " High in the air they fly in long, straggling flocks, all singing together; a thousand voices, a tornado of whistling. . . . When in the fields they have a curious habit of squatting just behind some clod, and, as their colors are nearly matched to the soil, they are not easily observed, nor will they move until you are within a few feet ; they then run a few feet and squat again. . . .'* (Thompson). 537. Calcarius pictus (Swains.). .SMITH'S LONGSPUR. Ad. $ in sum- mer.— Top and sides of the head black, a line over the eye and the ear-coverts 20 290 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. white ; back and rump streaked with black and ochraceous-buff; lesser wing- coverts black, broadly tipped with white ; tail fuscous, the two outer feathers mostly white ; nape and under parts ochraceous-buff. Ad. $ in summer. — Upper parts black, the feathers margined and tipped with pale cream-buff; two outer tail-feathers mostly white; under parts pale cream- buff; breast and sides sometimes lightly streaked with blackish. $ in winter. — Similar to ? in summer, but with the lesser wing-coverts black, tipped with white. L., 6-60 ; W., 3-T5 ; T., 2-50 ; B., -42. Range. — Interior of arctic America (chiefly Mackenzie Eiver Valley) in summer, breeding north to the arctic coast and upper Yukon Valley; south, in winter, over the Great Plains and prairies to Illinois, Texas, etc. Nesting, similar to that of the preceding. " Their habits are quite similar to those of P. lapponicus while upon the ground. . . . When flushed they invariably uttered a sharp clicking note, rapidly repeated several times. When driven from their feeding place by my approach they would rise in a loose flock, and, after wheeling about a few times, start off in a direct line, gradually rising higher until they disappeared. After a short time their pecul- iar note would be heard, and. darting down from a considerable height, they would alight near the place from which they were driven " (Nelson). The CHESTNUT-COLLABED LONGSPUR (538. Calcarius ornatus), a species of the Great Plains, has been recorded from Massachusetts and Long Island. McCowN's LONGSPUR (539. KhynchopJianes mccownii), a species of the Great Plains of the interior, is of casual occurrence in Illinois. 540. Poocsetes gramineus ( Gmel.}. VESPER SPARROW ; BAY- WINGED BUNTING ; GRASS FINCH. Ad. — Upper parts brownish gray, streaked with black and a little ochraceous-buff; wings fuscous, greater and middle coverts tipped with white, lesser coverts bright rufous; tail fuscous, the outer feather mostly white, the next one with much less white ; under parts white; the breast and sides streaked with black and ochraceous-buff. L.,6'12; W., 3-06 : T., 2-38 ; B., -41. FIG. 82,-Tail-feathera of Vesper Sparrow. Amar&.-The white tail- feathers and rufous lesser wing-coverts will always distinguish this species from any of our Sparrows. Range.— North America; breeds from southern Illinois and Virginia northward to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters on the Atlantic coast from Virginia southward. Washington, P. R., very common in migrations, less so in summer and FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 291 winter. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., Apl. 2 to Nov. 4. Cambridge, very common S. R., Apl. 5 to Oct. 15. Nest, of rather coarse grass, lined with finer grasses, rootlets, and long hairs, on the ground. Eggs, four to five, bluish white or pinkish white, speckled and spotted with rufous-brown or umber, 1-83 x -61. In walking through dry upland fields or along dusty roadsides a rather pale, streaked Sparrow will sometimes run rapidly ahead of you, wait for you to catch up, then run ahead again. It is best to be content with what measure of his confidence and society he voluntarily grants you, for, if you quicken your steps and try to overtake him, he will rise and bound on before you or swing off to one side, showing, as he flies, the white feathers on either side of his tail. Frequently he will alight on a fence rail or even the higher branch of a tree, for, although a field Sparrow, he is by no means a purely ter- restrial one. When singing, he generally selects an elevated perch and gives himself entirely to his musical devotions. Early morning and late afternoon are his favorite hours, but he can be heard at other times. His song, which is loud, clear, and ringing, may be heard at a distance of several hundred yards. It resembles that of the Song Sparrow, but is sweeter and more plaintive. When heard in the even- ing it is a truly inspired and inspiring melody. 541. Axnmodramus princeps (Mayn.}. IPSWICH SPARROW. Ad. — Generally with a spot of sulphur-yellow before the eye and on the bend of the wing ; upper parts pale brownish ashy, streaked on the head, back, and upper tail-coverts with black and cinnamon-brown; the nape and rump with few or no streaks; a white line over the eye; wings grayish brown, outer webs of greater coverts and tertials margined with pale ochraceous-buff ; tail grayish brown, the outer webs of the feathers margined with brownish ashy ; under parts white ; breast and sides lightly streaked with blackish and ochraceous-buff. L., 6-25 ; W., 3-00 ; T., 2'25 ; B., -40. Range. — Breeds on Sable Island ; winters southward along the coast regu- larly to Virginia and rarely to Georgia. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. Those who care to visit in winter the bleak, wind-swept sand hillocks of our Atlantic coast will find this bird much less rare than it was once supposed to be. It never strays far from the waving tufts of coarse beach-grass that scantily cover the sand drifts, and single in- dividuals may be found skulking among such surroundings. They seldom allow a near approach, but fly wildly away to considerable dis- tances, and on alighting run off so rapidly that they are difficult to find a second time. The flight is rapid and irregular, and the birds may easily be mistaken for Savanna Sparrows, with which, during the migrations, they are sometimes associated. On rare occasions a sharp chirp is heard, but as a rule they are silent. 292 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. It is an interesting species, discovered in 1868, and at first mistaken for Baird's Sparrow of the far west, a species, by the way, that it re- sembles very little. For many years nothing was known of its breed- ing range. In 1884 some large eggs from Sable Island, Nova Scotia, supposed to be of the Savanna Sparrow, were unearthed at the National Museum, Washington, and later a summer specimen of the Ipswich Sparrow was obtained from this island. Ten years later I had the pleasure of visiting Sable Island and solving all the conjectures that had become current regarding the Ipswich Sparrow's summer home. The bird proved to much resemble the Savanna Sparrow in breeding habits, song, nest, and eggs. J. DWIGHT, JR. 542a. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna ( Wils.), SA- VANNA SPARROW. Ad. — A pale yellow mark over or before the eye and on the bend of the wing ; general tone of the upper parts brownish black, the centers of the feathers black, margined first by rufous or ochraceous-buff, then by ashy ; wings fuscous, the outer webs of the feathers margined with ochra- ceous-buff ; tail fuscous, the outer web of the feathers margined with whit- ish ; under parts white, heavily streaked with blackish and rufous, the breast feathers tipped with wedge-shaped marks. L., 5-68 ; W., 2-62 ; T., 2-09 ; B., -40. Remarks.— Fall specimens are more or less suffused with ochraceous. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds from Missouri and northern New Jersey north to Labrador and Hudson Bay ; and winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward to Cuba and Mexico. Washington, abundant T. V., Mch. 20 to May 5; Oct. 14 to Nov. 15; a few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. 3 to May 13 ; Aug. 28 to Oct. 28. Cambridge, abundant T. V., Apl. ; Oct. ; breeds sparingly. Nest, of grasses and sometimes moss, lined with finer grasses or hair, on the ground. Eggs, four to five, bluish white, thickly marked, sometimes heavily washed, with reddish brown or cinnamon, -78 x -56. This is essentially a bird of the fields and one of the most abun- dant species of the Maritime Provinces of Canada — in fact, character- istic of them. The roadsides abound with the birds bobbing up and down on the fence posts and chipping vigorously at every passer- by. Their boldness is tempered with a certain timidity that becomes apparent when they are followed, for, dropping into the grass, they will slip away with surprising rapidity. They have a startling way. some- times, of springing up with a whirr of wings almost from under your very feet as you cross the fields where they have been feeding. At the southern limits of their breeding range they gather into irregularly distributed, isolated colonies frequenting wet, boggy meadows, and ex- hibit a shyness that is not shared by their northern brethren. In the fall, young and old gather into bands and, joining with other species, form an important part of the large flocks of migrating Sparrows that fill the fields and hedgerows. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 293 The song is insignificant — a weak, musical little trill following a grasshopperlike introduction is of such small volume that it can be heard but a few rods. It usually resembles tstp-tslp-tsip' se'e-e-s'r-r-r. More singing is heard toward sunset, when of a quiet evening the trills are audible at greater distances. Each male seems to have a number of favorite perches, weeds or fence posts, which are visited as inclination dictates, but he is of too restless a disposition to remain long on any of them. The most familiar note is a sharp tslp of alarm or expostulation heard during migration, but so constantly employed by both sexes in the breeding season, even on slight provocation, that one gets to think of them as veritable scolds. They are more likely to be mistaken for the Vesper Sparrow, which they resemble even in flight, than for any other except perhaps the Ipswich and Sharp-tailed Sparrows. J. DWIGHT, JR. 546. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus ( Wils.}. GRASS- HOPPER SPARROW ; YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. Ad. — Upper parts mixed black, rufous-brown, ashy, and cream-buff ; crown blackish, a cream-buff line through its center ; nape rufous-brown, each feather with a small black central spot and bordered by ashy ; back black, the feathers bordered by cream-buff and with a small central tip of rufous-brown ; rump rufous- brown and ashy; an orange mark before the eye ; bend of the wing yellow, lesser wing-coverts yellowish olive- Fia ^-" green ; greater coverts tipped with whit- ish ; tail-feathers pointed, of about equal length, dark grayish brown, the centers of the feathers darker, the end half of the outer feather generally dusky whitish ; under parts generally not streaked ; breast and sides buft'y ; belly white. Young in first plumage have the breast spotted with blackish. L., 5-38 ; W., 2-38 ; T., 1-79 ; B., -43. Remarks. — The yellow on the wing, unstreaked under parts, even, pointed tail, and grayish mark on the outer tail-feather are the principal characters of this species. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from the Gulf States northward to Massachusetts and Minnesota; winters from North Carolina to Cuba. Washington, very common S. R., Apl. 15 to Oct. 25. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 27 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, rare S. R., May 15 to (?). Nest, of grasses, sometimes lined with hairs, on the ground. Eggs, four to live, white, distinctly spotted and speckled with rufous, '73 x -54. Few common birds may be more easily overlooked than the Yellow- winged Sparrow. Its terrestrial habits and weak notes place it among the birds that you are not likely to find unless you know how and where to look for them. I remember once introducing this bird and its song to a visiting ornithological friend. On returning to his home, 294 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. greatly to his surprise, he found it a common resident of the fields about his house, where, owing to his unfamiliarity with its notes and habits, its presence had been before unsuspected. In the north you will generally find it in old, dry daisy or sorrel fields; in the south it inhabits the broom sedge. It will not take wing until almost stepped upon ; then, if bushes are near, it takes refuge in or under them, but out in the open field it flies rapidly some distance and drops to the ground. Its usual perch, when singing, is a fence rail ; and it does not often seek a more elevated position. Its fine, insectlike notes give it the name of Grasshopper Sparrow. They may be written pit-tuck, zee-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e. Under favorable circumstances they can be heard by an attentive listener at a distance of two hundred and fifty feet, but the casual observer would pass within ten feet of a singing bird and be none the wiser. 547. Ammodramus henslowii (And.). HENSLOW'S SPARROW. Ad. — Top and sides of the head and the nape dull, pale olive-green, more buffy in the fall ; side of the crown black ; nape finely streaked with black ; back rufous-brown, the feathers with narrow, central, wedge-shaped black streaks, and narrow ashy margins; bend of the wing pale yellow; wing-coverts much like the back ; tail-feathers very narrow and sharply pointed ; middle feath- ers rufous-brown : the outer ones much the shortest ; under parts white, more or less washed with butty and streaked with black on the breast and sides. Young in first plumage have no spots on the breast. L., 5-00; W., 2-20; T., 2-00 ; B., -42. Remarks. — The peculiar olivaceous color of the head and nape, and the bright rufous-brown color of the back, wing-coverts, and middle tail-feathers are the best distinguishing marks of this species. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds locally from Missouri and Vir- ginia northward to New Hampshire and southern Ontario ; winters from about the southern limit of its breeding range to the Gulf. "Washington, common S. R., Apl. 12 to Oct. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. 5 to Oct. 10. Cambridge, very rare S. R. Nest, of grasses, sometimes lined with hairs, on the ground. Eggs, four to five, grayish white, thickly and evenly speckled with pale rufous-brown, •75 x -57. During the summer this species seems to prefer wet meadows, but in (he winter it inhabits the dry "old fields" grown with broom sedge, which are so common in the south. It has the secretive habits of the Grasshopper and Leconte's Sparrows, and takes wing only when forced to. Mr. P. L. Jouy writes of its song: "Besides the characteristic notes of tee-wick, they have quite a song which may be fairly represented by the syllables sis-r-r-rit-srit-srit, with the accent on the first and last FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 295 parts. This song is often uttered while the bird takes a short flight upward ; it then drops down again into the tangled weeds and grasses, where it is almost impossible to follow it" (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vi, 1881, p. 57). 548. Ammodramus lecontei (And.}. LECONTE'S SPARROW. Ad. — No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing ; a broad ochraceous-buif line over the eye, and a cream-buff line through the center of the blackish crown; nape rufous-brown, each feather with a small black central spot and an ashy border ; back black, the feathers margined first by rufous, then cream- buff and whitish ; tail grayish brown, with a slight rufous tinge, darker along the shaft; the feathers narrow and sharply pointed, the outer ones much the shortest ; breast and sides tinged with butfy, and more or less streaked with black; belly white. L., 5-00; W., 2-00; T., 2'0o; B., -35. Range. — " Great Plains and more western prairies, breeding from Dakota, Minnesota, etc., to Manitoba, migrating southward and eastward, in winter, through Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, etc., to South Carolina, and Gulf States from Florida to Texas " (Eidgw.). Nest, of fine grasses, on the ground. Eggs, three, delicate pink, lightly spotted with brownish and black near the larger end, '75 x -50 (Thompson). My experience on the coast of Texas with this elusive little Spar- row conforms with that of most observers, and the few specimens I found were in wet marshes. Mr. L. M. Loomis, however, tells us that at Chester, South Carolina, where Leconte's Sparrow is a locally com- mon winter visitant, it shows a marked preference for dry " old fields " of broom sedge (Auk, ii, 1885, p. 190). Few birds are more difficult to flush. It exhibits a rail-like disin- clination to take wing, and, flying low and feebly, makes for the nearest cover. Ernest E. Thompson records it as an abundant summer resi- dent in the willow sloughs and grassy flats of Manitoba, and describes its call-notes as a thin, sharp, ventriloquial tweet, and a single, long- drawn Mzz ; while its song, which is delivered from some low perch a little above the grass, is a tiny, husky, qlouble-noted reese reese, " so thin a sound and so creaky, that I believe it is usually attributed to a grasshopper." 549. Ammodramus caudacutus (Omel.\ SHARP-TAILED SPAR- ROW. Ad. — General color of the upper parts a brownish olive-green ; crown olive-brown, with a blue-gray line through its center; gray ear-coverts, in- closed by ochraceous-buff lines, one of which passes over the eye and one down the side of the throat; feathers of the back margined with grayish and sometimes whitish ; bend of the wing yellow ; tail-feathers narrow and sharply pointed, the outer feathers much the shortest; breast and sides washed with butty, paler in summer, and distinctly streaked with black ; middle of the throat and belly white or whitish. " L., 5-85 ; W., 2-30 ; T., 1-90 ; B., -50" (Dwight). 296 FIXCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Remarks. — The chief points of difference between this and the two fol- lowing birds are found in the markings of the breast and sides. In the pres- ent species these parts are pale ochraceous-butf, distinctly streaked with blackish ; in nelsoni they are deep ochraceous-butf, lightly if at all streaked ; in subvirgatus they are cream-buff, indistinctly streaked with grayish. Range. — Atlantic coast ; breeds from South Carolina to New Hampshire, and winters from North Carolina to Florida. Cambridge, common S. R., May to Sept. Nest, of grasses and seaweed, lined with fine grasses, on the ground. Eggs, three to four, white or grayish white, finely speckled with cinnamon-brown, especially at the larger end, -78 x -57. This species is confined exclusively to the salt-water marshes of our coast, where it may be found in large numbers. It runs about among the reeds and grasses with the celerity of a mouse, and is not apt to take wing unless closely pressed. Mixed flocks of the several varieties of the Sharp-tail, together with the Seaside Sparrow, gather in the fall among the sedges, and may be observed hiding in the grass or cling- ing to the tall stalks of the cat-tails. In the breeding season it is usually associated with the Seaside Sparrow on the same marsh, but it prefers the drier parts, and builds its nest in the tussocks on the bank of a ditch or in the drift left by the tide, rather than in the grassier sites chosen by its neighbor. From some bit of driftwood or a convenient stake its infrequent song may be heard morning and evening. It is short and gasping, and only less husky than the somewhat similar performance of the Seaside Sparrow. J. DWIGHT, JR. 549a. A. C. nelsoni Allen. NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. — Sim- ilar to A. caudacutm, but smaller, the upper parts darker, the feathers of the back more olive-brown and more broadly margined with whitish ; the throat, breast, and sides deeper ochraceous-buff, very slightly if at all streaked with blackish. " L., 5-50 ; W., 2-25 ; T., 1-90 ; B., -43 " (Dwight). Range. — Breeds in the marshes of the interior from northern Illinois northward to Dakota and Manitoba; occurs as a migrant on the Atlantic coast, and winters from South Carolina to Texas. Washington, rare T. V., two instances, Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably com- mon T. V., Sept. 28 to Oct. 17. This interior representative of the Sharp-tailed Sparrow occurs on our coasts only as a migrant and winter visitant. It associates with the Sharp-tailed and Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 549b. A. C. subvirgatus Dwight. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPAR- ROW.— Similar to A. caudacutus, but with the throat, breast, and sides washed with cream-buff and indistinctly streaked with ashy. " L., 5*55 ; W., 2-30 ; T., 2-00; B., -46" (Dwight). Range. — " Marshes of southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 297 and probably Nova Scotia, and southward in migration along the Atlantic coast" (Dwight). Sing Sing, rare T. V., Sept. 29 to Oct. 16. Cambridge, very common T. V., May ; Sept. and Oct. Since this race was separated by me in 1887 few new facts have been developed regarding it, except that, as I anticipated, it has been found in other parts of the Maritime Provinces, and never far from salt water. While frequenting brackish or fresh-water marshes, where the grasses grow more luxuriantly than in the haunts of its southern relative, it prefers the more open spots or those where damp ditches make high- ways of escape for it afoot. It is locally abundant, particularly in the great marshes that border the Bay of Fundy, but so retiring that, save for its little song, its presence might be easily overlooked. Swaying on a tall stalk of meadow rue or squatting on a convenient fence, the males may be found at all hours of the day repeating their song a few times and then flying to some new perch or burying themselves in the grass. Occasionally toward nightfall one will mount into the air and with set wings float down, fairly gushing with song, a habit shared by the ordinary Sharp-tail and by the Seaside Sparrow as well. With these birds they associate in autumn, and may be flushed one or two at a time from the strips of grass or reeds that are left on the salt marshes along the ditches after the hay has been cut. The song is a husky, gasping effort, not very loud, and executed with a nod of the head. It is sung in less than a second, and resem- bles Jcsh-sh-sh-oolp, the last syllable occupying one fifth of the time and rather musical compared with the harsh lisp that precedes it. They also have a tchep of alarm, but it is the exception for them to show much anxiety about their nests or young. The nest has never been taken. J. DWIGHT, JR. 550. Ammodramus maritimus ( Wils.). SEASIDE SPARROW. Ad. — A yellow line before the eye and on the bend of the wing ; upper parts grayish olive-green; tail grayish brown, the outer webs of the feathers mar- gined with olive-greenish ; a dusky line from the base of the lower mandi- ble passes down the sides of the throat ; breast more or less suffused with huffy (wanting in summer specimens), and indistinctly streaked with grayish ; throat and middle of the belly white ; sides grayish. L., 6-00 ; W., 2-50 • T , FlG- 84.— Seaside Sparrow. (Natural 2-20 ;B, -60. size-} Range. — Atlantic coast ; breeds from North Carolina to Massachusetts, and winters from Virginia to Georgia. Sing Sing, A. V. 298 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Nest, of coarse grasses and reed stalks, lined with grasses, on the ground. Eggs, three to four, white or bluish white, clouded or finely speckled with cinnamon-brown, especially at the larger end, -80 x -63. Like most marsh-loving birds, Seaside Sparrows are so consistent in their choice of a home that it would be quite useless to look for them anywhere but in a marsh, and that a salt one, generally within sound or at least sight of the sea. The baymen call them " Meadow Chippies," and often when Snipe and Plover shooting 1 have drawn numbers to me by simply squeaking. They tipped all the reeds about my blind, chirping excitedly at the peculiar sound which aroused their curiosity. They pass much of their time on the ground among the reeds and grasses, but mount a stalk to sing their short, unattract- ive song of four or five notes. Sometimes they flutter into the air a few feet above the reeds and deliver their song while on the wing. The absence of distinct streaks on the breast and lack of rufous in their olivaceous or grayish plumage will distinguish them from the Sharp-tailed, Swamp, Savanna, or Song Sparrows, the only ones which are likely to be found in their haunts. 550a. A. m. peninsulas Allen. SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW. — Similar to the preceding, but much darker ; prevailing color of the upper parts brown- ish black, the feathers margined with grayish olive-green ; under parts more heavily streaked, the breast and sides streaked with black or blackish. W., 2-30 ; T., 2-00 ; B., -52. Range. — Atlantic coast from northern Florida to South Carolina; Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. A common southern representative of the Seaside Sparrow. 551. Ammodramus nigrescens Ridgw. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW. Ad. — Upper parts black, narrowly margined with grayish and grayish olive- green; under parts sharply streaked with black and white in about equal proportions. " L., 5-95; W., 2-25-2-40; T., 2-10-2-50: B., -50--60" (Kidgw.). Remarks. — This species is very distinct, and can be at once distinguished from A. m. peninsula,, its nearest known ally, by its much darker upper parts and conspicuously streaked under parts. Range. — Marshes at the northern end of Indian River, Florida. Nest and eggs unknown. Mr. C. J. Maynard, the only collector who has ever met with this species, found a single individual, March 17, 1872, at Salt Lake, near Titusville, while in April it was "quite common on the marshes of Indian River just below Dummett's Grove," and " very abundant on the upper end of Merritt's Island." I have searched for it most care- fully, but without success, during February and March in the marshes of the east peninsula of Indian River opposite Micco, and for a species which is not rare, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow apparently has a more PINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 299 restricted range than any other North American bird. Mr. Maynard considers it migratory, and states that it is not found in Florida during the winter. In flight as well as in habits, he says, it resembles the Sharp-tailed rather than the Seaside Sparrow (A. maritimus). Its song of low, sputtering notes is given while the bird hovers in the air, after which it drops quickly into the grass. 552. Chondestes grammacus (Say}. LARK SPARROW; LARK FINCH. Ad. — Sides of the crown and ear-coverts chestnut, a whitish line over the eye and through the center of the crown ; a black streak on the sides of the throat ; upper parts brownish ash ; back streaked with blackish ; tail fuscous or black, the outer feathers tipped with white; under parts white, a small black spot in the middle of the breast. L., 6-25 ; W., 3-50 ; T., 2'75 ; B., -45. Range. — Interior of North America, eastward to Illinois ; breeds from Texas to Manitoba ; accidental on the Atlantic coast (Massachusetts, Long Island, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Florida). Washington, A. V., July, Aug., two captures. ' FIG. 85.-Lark Sparrow. (Natural Nest, of grasses, lined with rootlets, fine grasses, and long hairs, on the ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, three to five, white or pinkish white, spotted, blotched, or scrawled with pur- plish or black, chiefly at the larger end, *78 x '60. ' This is an exceedingly common bird in the west. It frequents localities of much the same nature as those selected by the Grass Finch, and in its general habits and song reminds one of that species. 554. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst.}. WHITE-CROWNED SPAR- ROW. Ad. — No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing; center of the crown with a white stripe bordered on either side by black stripes, all of about equal width ; no white before the eye ; a white line from over the eye passes backward along the side of the head; nape gray; back dark grayish brown, margined with gray ; rump dark brownish ash ; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white ; tail fuscous ; under parts grayish white on the belly, flanks and under tail-coverts cream-buff. Im. — Generally similar, but sides of the crown rufous-brown, center of the crown pale grayish brown ; nape brownish ash ; back margined with the same color. L., 6'88 ; W., 3'03 ; T., 2-88 ; B., -43. Range. — " Breeding from higher mountain ranges of western United States, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, and eastward, north of the Great Lakes, to Labrador; in winter, over whole of United States, and south into Mexico" (Ridgw.). Washington, irregularly common W. V. and T. V., Apl. 15 to May 15 ; Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. Sing Sing, rare T. V., May 9 to 26 ; Oct. 3 to 30. Cam- bridge, uncommon T. V., May 12 to 22; Oct. 1 to 20. 300 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Nest, of grasses, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, four to five, pale green- ish blue, speckled and spotted with bay, especially at the larger end, -90 x -62 (Davie). This is one of the aristocrats of the family. Its size and its hand- some markings at once distinguish it from its congeners, and are sure to attract attention. Though its season of love and music is spent in the far north, it often favors us with selections of its melodies as it rests in thickets and hedgerows while slowly passing through our country on its northward pilgrimage. Its usual song is like the latter half of the White-throat's familiar refrain, repeated a number of times with a peculiar sad cadence and in a clear, soft whistle that is charac- teristic of the group. It resembles its relatives also in singing its sweetest songs in the woods, sometimes during the darkest hours of the night. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 558. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmel.}. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW ; PEABODY-BIRD. Ad. — A yellow line before the eye ; bend of the wing yellow ; center of the crown with a white stripe bounded on either side by much wider black stripes; a white stripe from the eye passes backward along the side of the head; back rufous or rufous-brown, streaked with black and slightly margined with whitish ; rump grayish brown ; greater and middle wing-cov- erts tipped with white ; tail grayish brown ; under parts grayish, more so on the breast; throat with a square white patch; belly whitish; flanks and under tail-coverts tinged with grayish brown. Im. — Yellow before the eye, and on the bend of the wing duller; crown streaks brownish ashy and mixed chestnut and black, instead of white and black; throat patch less sharply defined. L., 6-74; W., 2-89; T., 2-86; B., -44. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from northern Michigan, and occasionally Massachusetts, northward to Labrador; winters from Massachu- setts to Florida. Washington, very common W. V., Sept. 28 to May 20. Sing Sing, com- mon T. V., Apl. 10 to May 21 ; Sept, 20 to Oct. 30 ; a few winter. Cambridge, very common T. V., Apl. 25 to May 15 ; Oct. 1 to Nov. 10 ; a few winter. Nest, of coarse grasses, rootlets, moss, strips of bark, etc., lined with finer grasses, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, four to five, bluish white, finely and evenly speckled or heavily and irregularly blotched with pale rufous- brown, -82 x -60. In September, when the hedgerows and woodland undergrowths begin to rustle with Sparrows, Juncos, and Towhees, I watch eagerly for the arrival of these welcome fall songsters. There is little in their modest appearance to tell one, as they feed on the ground near their haunts, of their vocal powers, and one might be pardoned for believing that a feeble tseep was their only note. I whistle a bar or two of greeting in their own language. They are evi- dently puzzled, but make no reply, for it has apparently been agreed among themselves that singing shall not begin for at least a week after WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 3Q1 their arrival. Then there are a few sweet, tremulous trials before the plaintive, sympathetic whistle brings cheer to the browning woods: Few birds are more sociable than the White-throats. At this season they are always in little companies, and they frequently roost together in large numbers in the depths of dense thickets or clumps of ever- greens. After they have retired one may hear the sharp chink of their " quarrier " chorus, and when darkness comes, with low, brooding notes of cozy companionship they are hushed for the night. 559. Spizella monticola (Gm-el.). TREE SPARROW; WINTER CHIPPY. Ad.— No black on the forehead ; an indistinct black spot on the center of the breast ; top of the head rufous-brown, sometimes edged with ashy ; a grayish line over the eye and a rufous-brown line behind it ; back streaked with rufous-brown, black, and pale ochraceous-buif ; rump pale grayish brown ; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white ; outer web of the outer tail-feather whitish ; breast grayish white ; middle of the belly white ; sides tinged with pale grayish brown ; upper mandible black, lower, yellow at the base, the tip black. L., 6-36; W., 2-99 ; T., 2-82 ; B., -41. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds in Labrador and the region about Hudson Bay ; south in winter, through eastern United States ; west to the edge of the Great Plains. Washington, abundant W. V., Nov. 1 to Apl. 5. Sing Sing, common W. V., Oct. 10 to Apl. 27. Cambridge, common W. V., abundant T. V., Oct. 25 to Nov. 25 ; Mch. 20 to Apl. 20. Nest, of grasses, rootlets, and hair, on or near the ground. "Eggs, four to five, pale green or greenish blue, spotted with reddish brown, *Y5 x -60 " (Chamberlain). Tree Sparrows wear a small black dot on the center of their other- wise unmarked breasts, a badge which will aid in their identification. They come in flocks when the fields are beginning to look brown and dreary, but seem contented with the surroundings from which other birds have fled. They feed on the seeds of weeds and grasses, and even when the snow is deepest always find an abundance of food. I like to see them feasting on the seed stalks above the crust, and to hear their chorus of merry, tinkling notes, like sparkling frost crystals turned to music. Winter Chippies they are sometimes called, but at this season there 302 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. is little of the Chippy's nature about them. In February or March they begin to sing a song which has been compared to that of a Ca- nary, but is " finer, sweeter, and not so loud." 560. Spizella socialis (Wilt.). CHIPPING SPARROW; CHIPPY. Ad. — Forehead black, a short grayish line in its middle ; top of the head rufous ; the nape generally with a few black streaks; a grayish line over the eye and a black line behind it ; back of the neck grayish, separating the rufous crown from the back ; back streaked with black, a little rufous, and more pale buffy ochraceous ; rump slaty gray ; wing-bars not conspicuous ; under parts grayish white, whiter on the throat and belly ; bill FIG. 86.— Chipping Spar- entirely black. Im.— Similar, but no rufous crown- row. (Natural bize.) cap or black on the forehead ; top of the head streaked like the back ; bill brownish. Young in first plumage have the breast streaked with black. L., 5-37 ; W., 2'74; T., 2-29 ; B., -36. Remarks. — In adults the rufous crown, black forehead, gray rump, and black bill are characteristic; in the young the gray rump is a good distin- guishing mark. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from the Gulf States to New- foundland and Great Slave Lake ; winters in the Gulf States and Mexico. Washington, common S. K., abundant T. V., Mch. 15 to Nov. 1, occasion- ally winters. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 9 to Nov. 7. Cambridge,, abun- dant S. R., Apl. 15 to Oct. 25. Nest, of grasses, tine twigs, or rootlets, thickly lined with long hairs, in trees or bushes, five to twenty feet up. Eggs, four to five, blue or greenish blue, with cinnamon-brown or blackish markings, chiefly at the larger end, •72 x -51. The Chippy is among Sparrows what the Phoebe is among Fly- catchers—the humblest, most unassuming member of its family. Both show trustfulness, which, in spite of their unattractive appearance and far from pleasing voices, wins our affection. Chippy makes his nest in the vines on our piazza, and feeds on the crumbs at our doorstep, quite as though he were a member of the family; and he needs only a little encouragement to give evidence of his entire confidence in our good will by feeding from our hands. His song is a monotonous cJiippy-cJiippy-chippy-chippy, rather high and wiry and frequently running into an insectlike trill — by no means a musical performance. In the fall Chippy changes his dress, dons a streaked cap for the one of bright bay, and, with others of his kind, goes to the fields to feast on the year's harvest of seeds. He is generally found near trees and hedgerows, into which, when alarmed, he flies with his com- panions. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 303 561. Spizella pallida (Swains.). CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Ad. — With a general resemblance to immature S. socialis, but less rufous above, whiter below, the line over the eye white, and the rump pale grayish brown instead of slaty gray. W., 2-40 ; T ., 2-35 ; B., -34. Range.— Interior of North America ; breeds from northern Nebraska, cen- tral Iowa, and northern Illinois northward; winters from southern Texas southward; accidental in North Carolina. Nest, of grasses, lined with hairs, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, three to five, similar to those of S. socialis. " This pale Sparrow of the plains is very similar in actions to the Chipping Sparrow, but less familiar and confiding in habits " (Goss). BREWER'S SPARROW (562. Spizella breweri), a western species, has been recorded once from Massachusetts. 563. Spizella pusilla ( Wils.}. FIELD SPARROW. Ad.— Bill reddish brown ; top of the head rufous, a gray line over the eye ; nape slightly gray ; back like the crown, but finely streaked with black and narrowly edged with brownish ashy; rump brownish ashy; middle and greater wing-coverts tipped with white; under parts white, tinged with ochraceous - butf on the breast and sides. Im. — Similar, but the colors duller, the crown edged with grayish and sometimes a faint grayish line through its center. Young in first plumage have the breast streaked with black. L., 5-68 ; W., 2-50 ; T., 2-55 ; B., -36. Remarks. — This bird may be known by its brightly colored back, bu fly- breast, and especially by its reddish bill. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from southern Illinois and South Carolina to Quebec and Manitoba; winters from Illinois and Virginia south- ward. Washington, very common P. R. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 2 to Nov. 7. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 15 to Nov. 1. JVest, of rather coarse grasses, weed stalks, rootlets, etc., lined with fine grasses and long hairs, on the ground or in low bushes. Eggs, three to five, white or bluish white, with numerous rufous markings, chiefiy about the larger end, '70 x *52. Its bright rufous color, the absence of spots on its breast, and espe- cially its flesh-colored bill, are the best field-marks of this misnamed Sparrow. He is not a true Field Sparrow, but prefers old pastures dotted with clumps of bushes or young cedars. There is something winning in his appearance ; he seems such a gentle, innocent, dove- like little bird. His song is in keeping with his character, being an unusually clear, plaintive whistle, sweeter to the lover of birds' songs than the voice of the most gifted songstress. It is subject to much variation. Not only do the same individuals sing several different songs, but two individuals in the same locality rarely sing alike. There is also much variation in the songs of birds from different regions. For this reason it is quite impossible to give a description 304 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. of the song which wjll apply throughout the bird's range. However an average song consists of the syllables cher-wee, cher-wee, cher-wee, cher-wee, chee-o, de-de-de-de-de, the last notes joined in a trill. This gives, of course, no idea of the quality of the Field Sparrow's song, but to be convinced of its rare beauty one need only hear it as the sun goes down and the hush of early evening is quieting the earth. The WESTERN FIELD SPARROW (568a. Spizella pusilla arenacea) has been recorded from the vicinity of New Orleans. 567. Junco hyemalis (Linn.}. J UNCO; SNOWBIRD. Ad. 6 .—Upper parts, throat, and breast grayish slate-color ; upper parts more or less washed with grayish brown; belly white, sides grayish ; no wing-bars; tail fuscous, the two outer feathers and part of the third white ; bill flesh-color. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but the upper parts browner, throat and breast paler. Young in first plumage resemble the adults, but have the upper parts, throat, and breast streaked with black. L., 6-27 ; W., 3-03 ; T., 271 ; B., -41. Range. — North America; breeds from northern Minnesota and northern New York northward and southward along the summits of the Alleghanies to Virginia; winters southward to the Gulf States. Washington, abundant W. V., Oct. 5 to Apl. 25. Sing Sing, common W. V., Sept. 19 to May 4. Cambridge, rather common W. V., abundant T. V., Sept. 20 to Nov. 25 ; Mch. 20 to Apl. 20. Nest, of grasses, moss, and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and long hairs, on or near the ground. Eggs, four to five, white or bluish white, finely and evenly speckled or spotted, sometimes heavily blotched, at the larger end with rufous-brown, '76 x -58. When the snow begins to fly you will look out some gray morning to find a flock of small, plump, slate-colored birds hopping about the dooryard, picking up what they can find, or sitting in the bushes with an air of contentment that it is pleasant to see. Coming, as they do, when most of the home birds have left for the south, they bring their own welcome, and soon seem like old friends. But if you would really know your gentle winter visitors, you must go back into the woods when summer comes and find them in their own homes. Look for them in a tangle of fallen tree-tops, logs, and upturned roots. A pair I once surprised in such a place at first sat and chirped at me — with bills full of food — but soon they were flying freely back and forth to the upturned root where they had hidden their nest. I noticed with surprise that their gray plumage toned in so well with the dark earth that they were hard to see. The sharp horizontal line across the breast where the gray turns abruptly to white added to the disguise, the straight line breaking the round form of the bird. The 'tsip of the Junco is unmistakable and more often heard than FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 305 his song, but he has both a trill and a low, sweet song as unpreten- tious and cheery as the friendly bird himself. FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. 567e. J. h. carolinensis Brewst. CAROLINA JUNCO. — Similar to the preceding species, but slightly larger, the upper parts, throat, and breast uni- form grayish slate-color without a brownish wash, bill horn-color. W., 3*26 : T., 2-85 ; B., -43. Range. — Mountains of Virginia, North and South Carolina. This is a common and apparently permanent resident species in the higher parts of the southern Alleghanies. SHUFELDT'S JUNCO (567b. Junco hyemalis shufeldti), a western species, has been recorded from Illinois, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Massachu- setts. It resembles J. hyemalis, but has the back browner and the sides brownish vinaceous. 575. Peucsea aestivalis (Licit.}. PINE-WOODS SPARROW. Ad — Upper parts light chestnut, more or less streaked with black and margined with gray ; a grayish line over the eye; bend of the wing yellow; tail- feathers narrow, grayish fuscous, the outer ones much the shortest ; breast and sides washed with pale brownish ash ; breast sometimes with a few black spots ; middle of the belly white. L., 5'80 ; W., 2-50 ; T., 2.50 ; B., -45. Range. — Florida and southern Georgia. IVest, of fine grasses, on the ground, beneath scrub palmetto. Eggs, three to four, pure white, '72 x -61. This is a common bird in Florida. It winters in the southern part of the State and migrates northward in March. It is found only in pine woods having an undergrowth of scrub palmetto. Here it passes most of its time on the ground, and is difficult to flush. When singing, it seeks an elevated perch. In my opinion its song is more beautiful than that of any other of our Sparrows. It is very simple, but it possesses all the exquisite tenderness and pathos of the melody of the Hermit Thrush ; indeed, in purity of tone and in execu- tion 1 should consider the Sparrow the superior songster. It sings most freely very early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the world is hushed and the pine trees breathe a soft accompaniment to its divine music. 575a. P. 8B. bachmanii (Aud.\ BACHMAN'S SPARROW. — Similar to the preceding species, but the upper parts rufous, black streaks generally confined to the back, or absent; line over the eye bufty ; breast and sides brownish cream-buif without streaks. Range. — Lower Mississippi Valley north to southern Indiana and southern Illinois; west to northern Texas ; east to Georgia, South and North Carolina; south in winter, in the Atlantic States, to southern Florida. Nest, of grasses, domed and cylindrical, on the ground. Eggs, three to four, pure white, -74 x -CO (Bendire, Auk, v, 1888, p. 356). 21 306 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. In Florida, where this bird is not uncommon during the winter, I have found it in pine woods undergrown with turkey oaks, and not in localities frequented by P. ccstivalis. Mr. Ridgvvay writes that in Illinois this is " emphatically a bird of open oak woods, where large white and post oaks prevail, with grass land immediately adjoining, or where the intervals between the trees consist of sward rather than undergrowth ; but neglected fields, grown up to weeds, and in which dead trees are left standing, are also its favorite haunts." He speaks of its song as reminding one somewhat of the plaintive chant of the Field Sparrow, but as far sweeter and louder ; •' the modu- lation, as nearly as can be expressed in words, resembling the syllables theeeeeee-thut, lut, lut, hit, the first being a rich silvery trill, pitched in a high musical key, ihe other syllables also metallic, but abrupt, and lower in tone." 581. Melospiza fasciata (Gmel.}. SONG SPARROW. Ad.— Crown rufous-brown, with a grayish line through its center; a grayish line over the eye; a rufous-brown line from behind the eye to the nupe ; feathers of the back streaked with black and margined with rufous-brown and grayish ; greater wing-coverts with black spots at their tips; no white wing-bars or yellow on the wing ; tail rufous grayish brown, the middle feathers darker along their shafts; outer feathers shortest ; sides of the throat with black or blackish streaks; breast with wedge-shaped streaks of black and rufous- brown which tend to form one larger blotch on the center ; sides washed with brownish and streaked with black and rufous-brown ; middle of the belly white. L., 6-30 ; W., 2-52 ; T., 2-G2 ; B., -49. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from northern Illinois and Vir- ginia north to Quebec and Manitoba; winters from southern Illinois and Massachusetts to the Gulf States. Washington, common P. R., abundant T. V., Mch. and Oct. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, very abundant S. R., Mch. 10 to Nov. 1 ; locally common W. V. Nest, of coarse grasses, rootlets, dead leaves, strips of bark, etc., lined with finer grasses and sometimes long hairs, on the ground, sometimes in bushes. Eggs, four to five, white or bluish white, with numerous rufous-brown mark- ings which sometimes nearly conceal the ground color, -76 x -60. The Song Sparrow's vast range in a dozen varying climates, its readiness to adapt itself to the different conditions in each of the re- gions it inhabits, its numerical abundance and steady increase while some of its family are dying out, its freedom from disease and vermin, and its perennial good spirits evidenced by its never-failing music — all proclaim that it is indeed one of Nature's successes. Its irrepressible vivacity and good spirits in spite of all circum- stances are aptly illustrated by the fact that its song may be heard in every month of 'the year and in all weathers; also by night as well as by day — for nothing is more common in the darkest nights than to SONG SPARROW. SWAMP SPARROW. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 307 hear its sweet chant in half-conscious answer to the hooting of the Owl or even the report of a gun. It is never seen far from, water, and when it is alarmed it flies downward or along — never upward — into some low thicket, pumping its tail as it flies. Its alarm note is a simple metallic chip, which is very distinctive when once learned. But its merry chant — which has won for it the name of "Song Sparrow" — is its best-known note. It is a voluble and uninterrupted but short refrain, and is perhaps the sweetest of the familiar voices of the meadow lands. The song that it occasion- ally utters white on the wing is of quite a different character, being more prolonged and varied. Though so abundant, it can not be styled a sociable species. Even during the migrations it is never seen in compact flocks like the Red- poll or Snowflake ; at most it will be found forming a part of a long, scattered migrating train that usually includes a number of different but nearly related species. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 583. Melospiza lincolni (And.}. LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Ad. — Upper parts streaked with black, brownish gray, and grayish brown ; tail- feathers narrow and rather pointed, the outer ones shortest; under parts white, rather finely streaked with black, a broad cream-buff band across the breast, a cream-buff stripe on either side of the throat ; sides tinged with cream-buff. L., 5-75 ; W., 2-50 ; T., 2'40 ; B., -41. Remarks. — The cream - buff baud on the breast is distinctive of this species. Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds from northern Illinois and north- ern New York northward; winters from southern Illinois to Mexico; rare east of the Alleghanies. Washington, rare T. V., several records, May and Oct. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Sept. 29 to Oct. 16. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., May 15 to May 25 ; Sept. 15 to Oct. 5. Nest, generally similar to that of M. fasciata, on the ground. " Eggs, four to five, pale green or butiish, sometimes almost white, thickly spotted and blotched with reddish brown and lilac, -80 x 60" (Chamberlain). The most striking characteristic about the Lincoln's Sparrow is its shyness, whether migrating in the lavish abundance of the west, stray- ing casually through the States of the Atlantic seaboard, or settled for the summer in a chosen spot of the northern evergreen woods. Scampering like a mouse along some tumble-down stone wall half buried in poison ivy, sumach, and all the tangled growth that goes to make up an old hedgerow, or peering out from a clump of low- spreading bushes, this little bird may sometimes be detected ; but as he hurries northward late in the migration, when all the woods and fields are ringing with bird music, our attention is seldom directed 308 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. toward the silent straggler, while in the autumn he is lost in the waves of Sparrows that flood the country. If we follow him northward, we find him irregularly distributed in small colonies or single pairs in damp clearings, perhaps along brooks or ponds, but avoiding almost entirely the wetter, more open localities, where the Swamp Sparrow is at home. Attracted by a sharp chirp which, at times reduplicated, resembles that of a young Chipping Sparrow, we may succeed in catching a glimpse of him as he lurks beneath a little spruce perhaps no bigger than an umbrella. Sometimes venturing timidly to the outer boughs of a spruce, he surprises the hearer with a most unsparrowlike song. It is not loud, and suggests the bubbling, guttural notes of the House Wren, com- bined with the sweet rippling music of the Purple Finch, and when you think the song is done there is an unexpected aftermath. The birds sing very little and at long interrals, and are seldom heard dur- ing the later hours of the day, ceasing at once if anybody approaches. J. DWIGHT, JR. 584. Melospiza georgiana (Lath.}. SWAMP SPARROW. Ad. in summer. — Crown chestnut-rufous; forehead black; a grayish line over the eye ; a blackish line behind the eye ; nape slaty gray with a few black streaks ; feathers of the back broadly streaked with black and margined with rufous and cream-buff or ashy buff'; wing-coverts rufous, the greater ones with black spots at their tips ; rump rufous grayish brown, sometimes streaked with black; tail rufous grayish brown, the middle feathers darker along their shafts ; throat and middle of the belly white, breast grayish, sides washed with pale grayish brown. Ad. in winter and Im. — Similar, but the top of the head streaked with black, rufous-brown, and grayish ; nape less gray; breast washed with brownish. L., 5-89; W., 2-34; T., 2-32; B., -46. Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from northern Illinois and Penn- sylvania northward to Labrador ; winters from southern Illinois and Massa- chusetts to the Gulf. Washington, very common T. V., Apl. to May 15 ; Sept. 25 to Oct. 30 ; a few winter. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. K., Apl. 4 to Dec. 2; a few winter. Cambridge, abundant S. R., Apl. 12 to Nov. 10 ; a few winter. Nest, generally similar to that of M. fasciata, on the ground. Eggs, four to live, similar in color to those of M. fasciata, but the markings are generally more confluent, -76 x 57. While wintering in the south, Swamp Sparrows frequently belio their name, and I have often found numbers of them in dry "old fields" of broom sedge; but at the north they are more consistent, and one rarely sees them beyond the confines of a wet meadow, or, more preferably, a large grassy marsh with reed-bordered streams. Swamp Sparrows may be distinguished from their cousins, the Song Sparrows, by their unstreaked breasts and totally different notes. Their FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 309 usual call-note is a sharp cheep, not unlike that of the White-throated Sparrow, and quite different from the rather nasal chna of the Song Sparrow. Their song is a simple, sweet, but somewhat monotonous tweet-tweet-tweet, repeated many times, all on one note, and sometimes running into a trill. 585* Passerella iliaca (Merr.). Fox SPARROW. Ad. — Upper parts rufous-brown, the feathers margined by cinnamon-brown ; upper tail-coverts and tail bright rufous; wings mar- gined with rufous; under parts heavi- ly streaked and spotted with rufous- brown and blackish ; middle of the belly white ; lower mandible yellow- ish. L., 7-26 ; W., 3-39 ; T., 2-85 ; B., •50. Range. — Breeds from the Magda- len Islands and Manitoba to Alaska; winters from Virginia southward. Washington, very abundant T. V., Feb. to Apl. 5 ; Oct. 25 to Nov. ; a few FIG. 87.— Fox Sparrow. (Natural size.) winter. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., Mch. 4 to Apl. 20 ; Oct. 14 to Nov. 28. Cambridge, abundant T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl. 20 ; Oct. 20 to Nov. 15. Nest, of coarse grasses, lined with finer grasses, hair, moss, and feathers, on the ground, and in low trees and bushes. -Eggs, four to five, pale bluish, evenly speckled or heavily blotched with umber or vinaceous-brown, -80 x -63 (see Bendire, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 108). In the early spring the Fox Sparrow is seen mostly about damp thickets and roadside shrubbery ; later it takes more to woodsides, foraging on leaf-strewn slopes where there is little or no undergrowth, often associated with small parties of Juncos. On its return in the autumn it again becomes a common denizen of hedgerows and thickets, and also invades the weedy grainfields, rarely, however, straying far from some thickety cover. Sometimes large numbers congregate among withered growths of tall weeds, whence they emerge with a loud whirring of wings as their retreat is invaded, and hie away in tawny clouds, flock after flock. It is a great scratcher among dead leaves, and can make the wood rubbish fly in a way which, in propor- tion to its size, a barnyard fowl could scarcely excel. The usual note of the Fox Sparrow is a feeble tseep. A note of excitement is louder and sharper in tone. Its song is not surpassed by that of any of our Sparrows. It is a revelation to hear it at sun- down on some vernally softened evening of early springtime; little swarms of gnats hover in the balmy air; from the twilight meadows comes the welcome, half-doubtful piping of the first hylas — no other 310 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. sound. Then perhaps from some dusky thicket a bird's song ! An emotional outburst rising full-toned and clear, and passing all too quickly to a closing cadence, which seems to linger in the silent air. It is the song of the Fox Sparrow with that fuller power and richness of tone which come into it, or seem to, at the sunset hour. It breaks forth as if inspired from pure joy in the awakened season, though with some vague undertone, scarcely of sadness, rather of some lower tone of joy. EUGENE P. BICKNELL. 587. Pipilo erythrophthalxnus (Linn.}. TOWHEE ; CHEWINK ; JOREE. Ad.