~ RIDGWAYS ~ 1.) MANUAL OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS ee ————— an FOR THE PEOPLE | FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY BY GIFT OF OGDEN MILLS ? 7 a - 7 ~ - 7 i - 7 al —s ? > ’ = : _ ' — Ky - L At NT ASIN Ua hs OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. ILLUSTRATED BY 464 OUTLINE DRAWINGS OF THE GENERIC CHARACTERS. SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 1896. Copyright, 1887, by J7B. Lieprxcorr Company. Copyright, 1896, by J. B. Lrpprncotr Company. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. Durine the eight years which have passed since the first edition of this work was published the number of active ornithologists in the United States has greatly increased, and through their united research in the exploration of new or imperfectly worked fields and the careful revision of particular genera our knowledge of North American birds has been materially extended, thus rendering a new and carefully revised edition extremely desirable. It is well known that few, if any, books are quite free from typographical and other errors, due to various exigencies, avoidable and otherwise. Such imperfections of the first edition have been located, largely by friends and correspondents who have detected them in their practical use of the book, and have all, so far as they have been discovered, been corrected. Of the ninety-one species and subspecies which have been added to the North American fauna since 1887, twelve were fortunately included in the analytical “ keys,’ and it has therefore been necessary in their case only to change the typography of the names and prefix the catalogue number of the AmeERIcAN OrnitHoLocists’ Unton’s “Check List of North American Birds.” The remainder are given in regular order in the Appendix (pages 583-614), marginal reference numbers in the body of the work at once directing attention to the supplementary matter. Some complaint has been made that in the original edition no directions were given for using the “keys.” This omission was not an oversight, such directions being deemed unnecessary because it was supposed the plan of the keys was so simple as to be self-explanatory. iii iv PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. For those who are already familiar with the use of analytical keys in works on natural history such instructions would of course be quite superfiuous ; but as some who possess the book may not have had pre- vious experience with such “keys,” the following directions are given for their benefit : In the first place, it may be stated that the principle upon which the keys are constructed is that of dichotomous antithesis. That is, each character tested must conform to one or another phrase, there being only one alternative. Therefore, if the characters mentioned after a’ do not fit the bird in hand, everything following must be ignored until a’ is reached. Having found that the bird belongs to a’ or a’, as the case may be, then the immediately following Jb" is to be tested, and so on until the ultimate division is reached and the bird identified. The method may be more fully explained by selecting some par- ticular species for identification; and for better illustration we will select one belonging to a mainly extralimital family, and therefore less familiar to the student of North American birds. The bird is from the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, somewhat resembles a medium-sized, thick-set flycatcher, but is evidently not a member of the Tyrannide. We will suppose that the person is a beginner, and does not even know the Order to which the bird belongs. In this case it is necessary to on page 1, which > commence with the “Key to the Higher Groups,’ begins as follows: ‘a’. Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe.” The bird in hand has the hind toe quite free from the inner toe; therefore it must be sought for under ‘“a*. Hind toe, if present, not connected with inner toe,’ in regard to which character it agrees. Then &' must be tested. ‘“b'’ says, “Nostrils tubular and feet webbed.” It has not tubular nostrils nor webbed feet, and therefore it must belong to 0°, which says, “ Nostrils not tubular, or else feet not webbed,” both of which alternatives fit the bird in question. Pro- ceeding to “c'. Cutting-edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. Vv or dentate; feet webbed,” it is at once seen that this will not do; “¢. Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor dentate, or else feet not webbed,” will do, however. It cannot belong to “d',’ because the legs are not “inserted far behind the middle of the body,” ete., but it agrees all right with “d’.” The anterior toes are not webbed; there- fore it cannot belong to “e’,” and search must be continued under «ee «Fr will not do, for the thighs are not naked; therefore eh? «oP “hi” and “h’,” which follow successively, must be passed over, and “/”’ tried, which, being done, is found to agree. “g”” will not answer, because the bill is not hooked, etc.; therefore it must come under “g’.” This being determined, it is found that, “/”” being inapplicable, “”’ fits. Then, the bill being “without a swollen cere,’ it must come under “7.” It is next found that the wings are “not very long and gape not very wide . .. and tail-feathers 12 in number ;” the toes are not “only 2 in front,” ete.; therefore it must be beyond “4.” “k*” is then tried, and found to fit; the bird is identified as a member of the Order PassErss, and the reader referred to page 321 in order to determine the family to which it belongs. Turning to page 321, as directed, it is found that the tarsus is cylin- drical, ete. (a’), and that the inner toe has the “basal phalanx united to that of the middle toe” (2°); therefore the bird belongs to the Family Cotincip#, which is further treated on page 323, where the genera are analyzed. Seeking here for the genus, we find that, as the nostrils are not “wholly exposed,” it must belong under “a.” The tip of the bill being only “very slightly hooked,” it must belong to “,” and the tail being “graduated for only about half the length of the exposed culmen,” etc., it must belong to the Genus PLatypsaRIs, treated further on page 324. Comparison of the bird with the con- “ce densed description of generic coloration under the heading of “ common characters” removes all possible doubt as to its being a member of this genus; therefore it remains only to determine the species, for which the key proves quite adequate. The bird fits exactly the characters ascribed to “adult females and young males” under “a.” An ap- vi PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. parent difficulty or “hitch” is now met, for the diagnostic characters of the different species are very obvious only in the adult males. A careful consultation of the characters of the adult female and young male following “c',’ “c’,’ and “d’,” in connection with the length of the culmen and the known locality, results, however, in the final determination of the species as PLATYPSARIS AGLALZ (Lafr.). Rospr- THROATED BECARD. The measurements of eggs have been revised with the assistance of Major Bendire, the corrections made being based upon the measure- ment of a much larger number of specimens than were measured before. ROBERT RIDGWAY. UnitTep States NaTionaAL Museum, September 20, 1895. CONTENTS: PAGE NOUR CHELONG fe? So ist ofeite! wtlcl sof Stu) vebtt) fetal ce aati el a Wael aYi-c pan nyeere etre coma ot: ix EY LO THE HIGHER GROUPS. ......+.. GGL onamoks oho 6M Sate 1 Ordon VGORODES— Cho Divine Birds), cs le' fe deltas tetris: wel ah el a eiier ice), dee) erst whe is 4 Ramil ye odici pid — bei Grahess.. jac eich st cikawet ial to) (abivi iste) ca) ci teuis) cist enter 4 & Urinatoride—The Loons ......, “4 DP owas lo a} order cole toile tagee 6 SCO AN cidie—DheA wks: MUrres; ic ca miite els iel sn ie) aije ele) o isiteg Stree ere 8 Order LonGIpENNES—The Long-winged Swimmers .. 2... 1... ee eee eee eee 20 Family Stercorariide—The Skuas and Jaegers ... 1... 2... 2 ee see eee 20 cee Daridss— tho Gullsiand,, Terms’ iy arejterse inte estas st ere) eer ie nelerene 23 Go Usvaiite) y CESS aber) ongas ofp Wit aud GC Gid Oo bio 6 aoc no cus 48 Order TonindtrEes—The Tubé-nosed: Swimmers... 5 . 3805 6 s0 8 eo 8 en es ee 6 amily Diomedeids—The Albatrosses: <<< 3.5 ae) se cl wis © Siew © of es 50 « Procellariide—The Fulmars and Shearwaters ...........+..-.-- 53 Order StEGANoPoDES—The Totipalmate Swimmers... . 1... 2.12 ee ee eee eee 73 Family Phethontide—The Tropic Birds. ........... Coeciice a rege [had ys 73 LO ASEING ES SADE CCN Che Roi meee Mey Alice lamonieint at i) Guicntneitc Garantie Oo 74 “ PAI NATI OTOL NG MIUATLORS sats. ell ces ei csl wi ch aclaral ted vol eMac ct aia Gin cian ae moths 76 cc ebulatrocoracidre—ahe Cormorants: =) 2 < «=. «\.5 % o ole cues eieale 77 co meh clecanids——huGneGliCHNS\s 0 ..usns) isl su siien euistus. ie (oh Giiai eis Wee) dearest eMtomme 81 ( Precatidsa—The Man-o' War Birds. 25 9. 6 6 wt te tw 82 Wrder A NeERES— one LamellirostralsSwinimerg! <0 6 2. so ts) sie) os 6 6) pp seit el 84 Family Anatide—The Ducks, Geese, and Swans .......2.s++s.+.se0- 84 Order OpontToaLoss#—The Lamellirostral Waders .........2-2e.e2eeees.eee 121 Family Phonicopteride—The Flamingoes ...... 1.2.0.2. 20s cee crease 121 Order HEropionEs—The Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. . . . 2. 2 2 2 ee ee ee we ew we 122 Family Plataleide—The Spoonbills ............,.. Eoin tech tt Gi 122 REA ME DIGI aa— I HEISCA Is «uch msteict tonto Me Prieta) F's) o.'e, . fue Brash tethaie Ps 123 tt.) \Ciconiids—The Storkshnd Wood Tbises: Ss. 655.2 3 ee ww ww es 124 cco) ceardeldas— the Finron’ And Bibbexns! ots sis eh ei vce.e 1s 6) s)he eet ae 126 Order PatupicoL“—The Cranes, Rails, ete. . . . . SNE Sok bet Suit bic cc cok eee 13 aril yiGruide— ho Cranes. s cise eked ca 3) Swaps) os) 0, o, eh sy 6) fo odes 134 Seog eres — GS COUPADN «cetkette esr iaies 4s «cs us eto. fe a Ja Loe | ethecteemas Cane 135 « Rallide—The Rails, Gallinules, Coots, etc. ....... 0520s ee ee 136 PrmerliMicoum— Line Shore EArdS <<. <) be calelie les a. vce % wun iei ¢ ales bow Sleae ee 143 eels Ehslaropodide— Che Phalaropesicis sj. < 2) os ois 6 0) ss oe ct 143 Recurvirostride—The Avocets andStilts ..........-+.e+sese+e., 146 ““ Seolopacidw—The Snipes, Sandpipers, ete. .. 2... -...-+22.- eee 147 Ee ODGTHETIIOSS—LHOCE LOW EIS curcpectaey ach ial tila) seceeie vis. oy iegage Ss face wiolvewe ferme 172 “t= Aphrizide—The Surf Birds and Turmstones. . .......-.+.+4-.--. 179 st Hematopodidwe—The Oyster-catchers. . 2. 2. 2 ee Set we te wt 181 PPM ROBIE ail Ged HCHMION felsic) Gueee Pe IP aa wb, Se “cla Ce wali s halter yee ners whe 183 ani CONTENTS. PAGE Order GALLINZ—The Gallinaceous Birds .....-..-+-++++.eeeees Peary so iiss! Family Tetraonide—The Grouse, Partridges, etc... - 2. - + 212 se ee eee ew 184 s’ Phasianide—The Pheasants, Turkeys, etc. . ......+++s-+eeeeec 205 « Cracide—The Curassows and Guans . . . . 22 + see ee ee we we 207 Order Conumpz—The Pigeons 2. 2s sae 6 8 te oe mw so in 210 Family Columbide—The Pigeons... .. ..-. s« see 5 © os Se 210 Order RAPTORES— The Birds/of Prey = < 5s js «s,s Mee eos ee 218 Family Cathartide—The American Vultures. .... 2... 2+ 22s sence 218 t¢ ‘Waleonidse—The Waleons, Hawks, etc. . . . << . « «so cs) anes 222 Strigide—The Barn Owls... 5 )i- S ae el eo © Be oe 255 kK ‘Bubonids—The Horned Owls, ete... 2s 2 uc < w= os) 6 Se 255 Order Psrrract—The Parrots, Macaws, Paroquets, ete. ........+-.e-+.s.s cee es 268 Pamily Psittacidse—The Parrots, ete. . <6 2s es es eo ns 9 268 Order’ Goccxaxus—The Cuckoos, ete... . 6 <5 «G&S Gs we, = = ow 271 Family Cuculide—The Cuckoos .. . . - : 2 2 = am @ - «en 271 « ‘Wrogonide—The Trogons' «2... <=) doa a) 0 ©) © ve)» bao 275 “Momotide—The Motmots.. ... - « = ..5 = « «=.» @\ =) ais) sts 277 st. Allcedinidwe—The Kinefishers << 2 . 5 2. «= = « «= «) on 278 Order Picr—The Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc... . . . . «6 6» < « «) oho) One aneneene 280 amily; Picide—The! Woodpeckers, << 5 5 os.) mls) + lc) « eeueai ne Pe en) Order Macrocuines—The Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc... . - - » 2 6 «= «ss = © © eal 297 Family Caprimulgide—The Goatsuckers. . .....-+-+.2-+sse ses eee 297 «t Micropodide—The: Swifts... 2 6) S jerss «m= 9 es 802 ce ‘Trochilide—The Hummingbirds < = 2: 2. < = = = « =~ ieee 803 Order PAssenps—The Perching. Birds... . 3.3 2 . . 5 = «5 « « «pa) AR 321 Family Cotinpide—The Cotingas’ . ... 5 6s «we 6 we > she ae eee s/s ee peeD « “‘Tyrannidse—The Tyrant Wlyeatchers - . . . « « » = «6 «© ese 326 tc -Alandide—The barks: 2 0566 2s 6 ele » © & 6 lee 346 ‘© Corvide—The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc... ......+.+.:s:+ecss68-8 850 > SSturnidS— he starlines: <)s. iay eile Mpiew) iwalciikon lo aioe a: aa ga oe 864 « Teteridse—The Blackbirds, Orioles; ete, - . . « = = « « i, a) «) Sennen 865 «© Wringillide—The Finches, Sparrows, ete. . . 1... 1... 50s see we 382 « Wanagride—The Tanagers. . . 2 6 si 6 = © 6 +» % ain) 6) lS een 453 « _Hirundinidss—Dhe Swallows. . . = 3.1 «© = © © 9 6) oom i) lan 457 « Ampelidw—The Waxwings, ete.... . . - 2-2 6 ee ee we ew we 463 ‘© Laniide—The Shrikes ...... Wee fo 465 « Vireonidw—The Vireosis.. . - 2 ee 6 she ew 6 ee 468 « ‘Ccerebide—The Honey Creepers ~~... . . - + s+ « + © = oe eusees 479 st = Mniotiltide—The Wood Warblers... .....+:s-+esese8 ces 480 «© Motacillide—The Wagtails:. . . 2. - «5 » «+» = «© 0) © =u pene 532 « “Cinelidss—The Dippers: . . . 2 6 6 8 os 0 0 so 538 “© Troglodytidw—The Wrens, Thrashers, ete. . . . . 6 + 2+ + + ee ee ee 538 “ —- Certhiidss—The Creepers . 2. - 2 ne 2 ee we ss 6 5 557 « ~=Paride—The Nuthatehes and Tits . . 2. 2. 2 «5 = «<= seen 558 « — Sylviide—The Warblers, Kinglets, and Gnateatchers ......+.++:+-. 566 “ Turdide—The Thrushes, Solitaires, Stonechats, Bluebirds, ete. .......- 571 PARPENDIN c+ 4. 6:0 ov jm Yesejie) @ nice lol w. vole 0s sol jeteseyeMe emt eihce 0 new heey ten 583 MDEK 5c ch Ye te 6 tal @ Be Re BS PEAN, ee ow) om Ame SOPRA Tin om 1 Co hn 6 ene 615 END RODS EEO WN: In Crasstrication, NomENcLature, and Numeration the present work corre- sponds strictly with the “ Check List of North American Birds” published by the American Ornithologists’ Union,’ which represents the joint labors of a “ Commit- tee on Classification and Nomenclature” appointed by the Union during its first Congress, held in New York City, September 26-29, 1883. During the year which has elapsed since the publication of the A. O. U. Check List several species have been added to the North American fauna, while others have been for the first time described. These are of course included in the present work, being interpolated in their proper places.* At the same time, it has been considered desirable, in the interest of the student of North American Ornithol- ogy, to include, for reasons stated farther on,* certain extralimital species from contiguous countries. All such additional species have, however, been carefully distinguished typographically, in order that no confusion may arise, the method of discrimination being as follows: (1) All species which are undoubtedly North American, even though of doubt- ful validity, are in larger type, those given in the A. O. U. Check List proper being numbered as in that list, while eighteen of the twenty-six species composing the so-called “ Hypothetical List,”* and also those subsequently added to the fauna, are preceded by a dash (—) instead of a number. (2) All species which have not been established as North American (the majority never having been claimed as such) are printed in smaller type, and have neither a number nor a dash. The GrocrapHicaL Limits are also, so far as numbered species are concerned, those of the A. O. U. Check List ; but practically these limits have been enlarged so 1The Code of Nomenclature | and | Check List | of North American Birds | Adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union | Being the Report of the Committee of the Union on Classification and Nomenclature | (Motto) | —— | New York | American Ornithologists’ Union | 1886 | [Svo., pp. i-viii, 1-392.] 2 For lists of these additional species, see Appendix, pages 591-594. 3 See under “ Geographical Limits.” * “ Consisting of species which have been recorded as North American, but whose status as North Ameri- ean birds is doubtful, either from lack of positive evidence of their occurrence within the prescribed limits . . . or from absence of satisfactory proof of their validity as species.” Of the twenty-six species constituting this list, eighteen are unquestionably North American (one of them having been recently established as such), while the remaining eight have very scant claims to a place in our fauna. ix x INTRODUCTION. as to include all the species known to inhabit Socorro Island, off the coast of north- western Mexico, which is decidedly Nearctic, or North American, in its zodlogical affinities, while in many cases other extralimital species have been included, for the sake of comparison and also on account of the greater or less probability of their occurrence within the southern boundary of the United States. In most cases this ignoring of geographical limits has been confined to the inclusion of only the Mexi- can,’ Cuban, and Bahaman species of characteristically North American genera, or of genera from the same regions belonging to North American Families, the Euro- pean analogues of certain North American species, and species of northeastern Asia which have been ascribed to Alaska, or which may from the close proximity of their habitat be expected to occur there. A notable departure from this general rule has, however, been made in the Order Tubinares, consisting wholly of species inhabiting the “high seas,” whose more or less erratic or fortuitous wanderings render them specially liable to a place in the list of “accidental visitors” to any sea-girt country, for which reason it has been considered desirable, as an aid to future research, to include all known species belonging to genera of which repre- sentatives have been taken in North American waters. MarertaL.—Although the unrivalled collection of American birds and their eggs forming part of the National Museum? has furnished by far the greater por- tion of the material upon which this work is based, several other public museums, as well as rich private collections, have been carefully studied. Thus, the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City ; the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; the Boston Society of Natural History ; the Museum of Compara- tive Zodlogy, in Cambridge, Mass.; and the splendid private collections of Messrs. George N. Lawrence, of New York City, William Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass., and H. W. Henshaw,’ of Washington, D.C., have furnished indispensable material in the way of extralimital species or more extensive series of certain North Amer- ican species, for comparison, than had yet been secured by the National Museum. It is not, however, the large number of specimens alone that has furnished the sub- stantial basis of the following synoptical tables; for, however much the proper dis- 1 Under the head of “ Mexican” are included not only Mexico itself, but also Guatemala and Honduras. (See page vii, regarding typographical distinction between extralimital and North American species.) 2 The total number of specimens of American birds in the National Museum collection at the end of June, 1886, was about 36,000, exclusive of duplicates and mounted specimens; the North American “ study series” of Passeres and “ Picariw” (i.e., Macrochires, Pici, and Coccyges) alone aggregating nearly 13,000, counting only those obtained from North America proper, as defined in the A. 0. U. Check List. At the same time, the collec- tion of North American birds’ eggs numbered 38,400 specimens, constituting by far the most extensive and valu- able one in existence. Eyen before the addition of the magnificent private collection so generously donated by Captain Charles E. Bendire, U.S.A., no other was comparable to it, either in the number of species represented or in their careful identification, it having from the commencement been made a rule to destroy all specimens regarding which there appeared the least doubt or suspicion. Captain Bendire’s celebrated collection, while representing fewer species, included far more extensive series of a large number of species, showing extreme variations of size, contour, and coloration, all perfectly identified, while it was wholly unique in the exquisite preparation of the specimens. 8 Special mention should be made of Mr. Henshaw’s valuable collection (embracing more than 7000 speci- mens and unusually complete series of many species), which through the owner’s courtesy has been constantly accessible to the author. INTRODUCTION. xi crimination of species and subspecies may be a question of material, a great deal depends upon our knowledge of the birds in life, their natural surroundings, and other things which can be learned only out of doors. Fortunately, a very large number of accomplished field-naturalists have carefully observed the habits of our birds, and through their published records have together contributed a vast store of information which no single person could himself have gained. To the much that has been gleaned from this source have been added the author's field-notes, col- lected during the period extending from a recent date back to the year 1863, and embracing many measurements of fresh specimens, notes on location of nests, fresh colors of bill, eyes, feet, ete., and various other useful memoranda. Measurements are in English inches and hundredths, except when otherwise stated. Whenever practicable, they have been taken from large series of speci- mens, and the extremes given, as well as the average, which follows in parenthesis. Thus, 5.75-6.50 (6.12) would indicate the minimum, maximum, and average, re- spectively, of the measurements taken. In the case of closely-allied forms, or where distinctive characters are largely a matter of dimensions or the proportionate meas- urements of different parts, care has been taken to measure, whenever possible, an equal number of specimens of the several forms to be compared; and specimens in abraded or otherwise imperfect plumage, as well as young birds, have been excluded. When there is any marked sexual difference in size, the number of males and females measured of allied forms has also been made as nearly equal as possible. Length is to be understood as meaning the total length (from end of bill to tip of tail) of the fresh specimen, before skinning, unless otherwise stated. This measurement is the least important of any for the purpose of determination of the species, being of any value at all only when taken from the fresh specimen, before skinning, and even then subject to much variation, according to the amount of stretching to which the bird is subjected. In a very large number of species the author’s measurements from freshly-killed specimens are given, but in perhaps a majority of cases it has been necessary to take measurements made by others. Owing to the fact that all our leading authorities have been consulted on this point and only the extremes given, it has been found impracticable (even if desirable) to distinguish the latter from the former, but it may be remarked that nearly all of those in which the range of variation between the extremes is very great belong to the latter category. Length of wing is from the “bend,” or carpal joint, to tip of longest primary, the rule being laid along the outer or convex side and the wing brought up close to it for its entire length. Length of tail is from tip of longest feathers to their apparent base, a point often very difficult to determine, and subject to more or less variation according to the method of preparing the skin, the amount of shrinkage to which the flesh at the base of the tail has been subjected, ete. Length of culmen is the chord of the curve, measured with dividers, from the tip of the upper mandible to the extreme base of the culmen (this often more or less concealed by feathers of the forehead)—unless the qualifying word “ exposed” is prefixed, in which case the measurement is similarly made to where the frontal feathers close 1 See foot-note on page xii., as to conversion of inches and decimals into millimetres. xii INTRODUCTION. over the base of the culmen. Depth of Dill is also measured with dividers, and is a measurement requiring extreme care. Length of tarsus is measured with dividers, one point resting in the tibio-tarsal joint, on the outer side, the other on the lower edge of lowermost tarsal scutella, in front (in Passerine and certain Picarian and Raptorial birds), or to the more or less obvious transverse depression marking the line of separation between tarsus and base of middle toe (in most water birds and some others). Length of middle toe is always measured with dividers from the last-mentioned point to the base of the claw, on top, and not including the claw, unless so stated. Measurements of eggs represent the average of six specimens (more or less, ac- cording to the extent of the series available for the purpose) which represent or approximate the average size and form as nearly as could be determined by the eye alone. THE NAMES OF COLORS used in the diagnoses are adopted from the author's “ No- menclature of Colors,’ in which may be found an elaborate though concise treatise on the subject, designed especially for the uses of the naturalist, and in which 186 colors, embracing all that are named in descriptive ornithology, are depicted, by hand-colored plates. ILLustrations.—With the exception of those which have already appeared in the Review of American Birds? History of North American Birds, and Water Birds of North America, the illustrations have been made specially for the present work by Mr. John L. Ridgway, under the author's supervision, and engraved by the cele- brated “Jewett” process of Messrs. Matthews, Northrupp & Co., of Buffalo, N.Y. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS are specially due to Professor Baird, not only for the 1A | Nomenclature of Colors | for Naturalists, | and | Compendium of Useful Knowledge | for Ornitholo- gists. | By | Robert Ridgway, | Curator, Department of Birds, United States National Museum, | With ten colored plates and seven plates | of outline illustrations. | Boston : | Little, Brown, and Company. | 1887. | [In this work is also embodied a “ Glossary of terms used in descriptive ornithology,” in which references are given to all the plates. The latter include, besides those representing the colors, three showing the exter- nal anatomy or “topography” of a bird, with special reference to the names used in descriptions, one illus- trating various egg-contours, one showing a comparative scale of standard measurements, and two upon which are depicted the various forms or patterns of feather-markings. There is also, among other things useful to the naturalist, a series of tables for the easy conversion of inches and decimals into millimetres, and vice versa.] 2 Smithsonian Miscellancous Collections. | —181— | Review | of American Birds, in the Museum of the | Smithsonian Institution. | By | S. F. Baird. | —Part I. North and Middle America, | —[Medallion.] Wash- ington : | Smithsonian Institution. | One yolume, 8vo; date of publication (by signatures), June, 1864, to June, 1866. 3A | History | of | North American Birds | by | S. F. Baird, T. M. Brewer, and R. Ridgway | Land Birds | Mustrated by 64 colored plates and 593 woodcuts | Volume I [—IIT]. {Vignette.] | Boston | Little, Brown, and Company | 1874. | [This is the most recent work on North American ornithology, giving, besides technical descriptions, synonymy, ete., a general account of the history and habits of each species, as known up to date of publica- tion. The size is small 4to, and the total number of pages nearly 1800.) 4 Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zotlogy at Harvard College, Vols. XTI. and XIII. The Water Birds of North America. By S. F. Baird, T. M. Brewer, and R. Ridgway. Issued in continuation of the pub- lications of the California Geological Survey. J. D. Whitney, State Geologist. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company, 1584. [Two volumes, uniform in general style, typography, ete., with the “ History of North American Birds,” and in reality the conclusion of that work. Total number of pages 1104, embellished by numerous wood-cuts.] INTRODUCTION. xiil privilege of consulting specimens and books so essential to the preparation of this work, but also for the friendly advice and valuable suggestions which have ren- dered comparatively easy the performance of a task which under less favorable auspices would have been far more difficult of accomplishment. For valuable aid, always most cordially rendered, the author is much indebted to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, whose well-known thorough bibliographical knowledge and excellent judgment have greatly facilitated the settlement of many vexatious questions of synonymy and difficult problems of relationship. To the authorities of the several public museums and the owners of the private collections already mentioned, the author is glad to have this opportunity of publicly expressing his sense of obliga- tion for many courtesies, including, besides unrestricted access to the collections in question, the loan of valuable and unique type specimens. R. R. ei eT aes i te ‘| ; ‘per NortH AMERICAN BIRDS. Ray TO: LEH BIGEnn GROUPS. a’. Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe. Order Steganopodes. (Page 73.) a*, Hind toe, if present, not connected with inner toe. b'. Nostrils tubular and feet webbed............... Order Tubinares. (Page 50.) b?. Nostrils not tubular, or else feet not webbed. ce’. Cutting-edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed or dentate; feet webbed. ad. Legs short, or but slightly lengthened; bill not abruptly bent downward from the middle......... Order Anseres. (Page 84.) @. Legs excessively lengthened; bill bent abruptly downward from iets 6 Ge ccgcescoseacenctec ee Order Odontoglosse. (Page 121.) c*. Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor dentate, or else feet not webbed. d'. Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which in standing position is more or less erect, the toes webbed or conspicuously WOH Ode. disse ne cae wos seececccceesasnes Order Pygopodes. (Page 4.) @, Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which in standing posi- tion is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. e’. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, and tarsus shorter than tail. Order Longipennes. (Page 20.) é. Anterior toes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus decidedly longer than tail, or else bill extremely small, with gape very broad and deeply cleft. f'. Lower portion of thighs naked ; or else bill lengthened and grooved along each side, the outer and middle toes sepa- rated for their entire length, and with three toes in front. g'. Hind toe long and inserted at nearly same level with anterior toes, the claws never excessively length- ened; loral or orbital regions, or both (sometimes whole head), naked. Order Herodiones. (Page 122.) 1 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. g°. Hind toe (if present) short and inserted above the level of the rest, or else size small or medium (never as much as 3 feet long); loral and orbital regions fully feathered, and middle claw with edge not pectinated. W. If more than 3 feet long, the hind toe decidedly elevated ; if under 3 feet long, the hind toe on same level with anterior toes. Order Paludicolz. (Page 134.) W?. Never over 3 feet long (usually much less), the hind toe (if present) short and elevated, or else the claws excessively lengthened and wings spurred. Order Limicolz. (Page 143.) f?. Lower portion of thighs feathered (or else middle and outer toes united for at least half their length), the bill if lengthened not grooved along the side. g'. Bill strongly hooked, with a distinct naked cere at base of upper mandible; or if no naked cere, the toes 2 in front and 2 behind. i’. Toes 3 in front, or else outer toe reversible. Order Raptores. (Page 218.) H?. Toes 2 in front, 2 behind (outer toe permanently reversed). ...... Order Psittaci. (Page 268.) g. Bill not strongly hooked, and without naked cere at base of upper mandible; or if with a cere, the latter swollen and the bill straight. }}, Hind toe small and elevated, or else bill with- out soft swollen cere. Order Gallinze. (Page 184.) i’. Hind toe (or toes) well developed and on same level with anterior toes. 7. Bill with soft swollen cere at base of upper mandible. Order Columbee. (Page 210.) 7. Bill without soft swollen cere. j'. Wings very long, with 10 primaries, tail of 10 feathers, and gape very wide and deeply cleft, or else bill long and slender, tongue extensile, and secondaries only 6 in number. : Order Macrochires. (Page 297.) jy. Wings not very long and gape not very wide nor deeply cleft, or else wing 1 Or else toes 2 in front and 2 behind, and tail-feathers stiff-pointed (Order Pict), KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. 3 with only 9 primaries and tail-feathers 12 in number. kK. Toes only 2 in front, or if 3, the middle and outer toes con- nected for at least half their length. [. Tail-feathers stiff and more or less pointed, and bill more or less chisel-like. Order Pici. (Page 280.) P. Tail-feathers neither stiff nor pointed, and bill not chisel- like. Order Coccyges. (Page 271.) #2. Toes 3 in front, 1 behind, the middle and outer toes not united for half their length, lower part of thighs feathered, and tarsus equal to or longer than lateral toes. Order Passeres. (Page 321.) t NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Orver PYGOPODES.—Tue Divine Birps. (Page 1) Families. a. Tail-feathers wanting. Anterior toes lobed, the nails very broad, flat, and with rounded tips. (Sub- Order Podicipedes)...cna--c:.--<2ss0essesscosnacevsnussees Podicipide. (Page 4.) a. Tail-feathers present, but short. (Suborder Cepphi.) B. Hind toe present............-sccses-sssasecnsssssoncensssass Urinatoride. (Page 6.) Gry uN TOGIADSENT <2;.0.00+cc-eccenes-na-csncvscuscessecnresesmeay ... Alcidz. (Page 8.) Famity PODICIPIDA£.—Tue Greses. (Page 4.) Nest a thick matted platform of rushes, sedges, ete., usually floating upon the surface of the water in grassy or sedgy ponds or marshes. Eggs 2-5, dull white, bluish white, or very pale bluish green, usually stained more or less (often quite deeply) with light brown, by contact with decomposed vegetable matter. Genera. a‘. Bill slender, the length of the culmen much more than twice the depth at the base. b. Length of culmen five or more times as much as greatest depth of the bill; neck nearly as long as the body................ 42chmophorus. (Page 4.) b?. Length of culmen less than four times as much as greatest depth of the bill ; neck much shorter than the body.........sseeceeeee Colymbus. (Page 5.) a. Bill very stout, the length of the culmen less than twice as much as the greatest Geptbeotethe: Dillseece-avascseaccsessvapamactmeceusccereste .. Podilymbus. (Page 6.) Genus ZECHMOPHORUS Cours. (Page 4, pl. I., fig. 1.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Pileum and cervix slaty black ; rest of upper parts slaty, inner webs of remiges chiefly white; entire lower parts, including lower half of head and all of neck except stripe down the cervix, pure satiny white. Downy young: Above uniform brownish gray, lighter anteriorly ; lower parts uniform white. a‘, Length 24.00-29.00 inches; wing 7.45-8.50 (average 8.07); culmen 2.60- 3.05 (2.78). Hggs 2-5, 240 & 1.54. Hab. Western North America (chiefly the interior) from Mexico and Lower California to Manitoba. 1. AE. occidentalis (LAwr.). Western Grebo. a, Length about 22.00 inches; wing 6.70-7.75 (7.31); culmen 2.10-2.48 (2.25). Lyqs 2-5, 2.16141. Hab. Western North America, chiefly along Pacific (1.) CORSHis sx avacereat arsine Grevaterareseren —. 42. clarkii (LAwr.). Clark's Grebe. COLYMBUS. >) | Genus COLYMBUS Linvavs. (Page 4, pl. L, figs. 2, 3.) Species. a. Wing 5.00 inches or more. }. Bill about as long as the head. Wing more than 6.00 inches. (Subgenus Colymbus.) cl. Feathers of lower parts pure white to the extreme base. Nuptial plumage: Throat and chin buffy white, passing posteriorly into rich ferruginous on the very prominent auricular frill, which is tipped with black; top of head and elongated tufts on each side of occiput glossy black. Length 22.00-24.00; wing 6.80-7.75; culmen 1.75- 2.30. Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan, but no authentic record for any portion of America. 4 C. cristatus Linn. Crested Grebe.! c. Feathers of lower parts white only superficially, the concealed portion being distinctly grayish. Nuptial plumage: Top of head dull black, somewhat glossy ; rest of head ash-gray, bordered above and poste- riorly by whitish ; neck rufous. d', Length about 17.50 ; wing 6.45-7.00 (6.63) ; culmen 1.50-1.55 (1.53). Hab. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere. C. grisegena Bopp, Red-necked Grebe.* @. Length 18.00-20.50 ; wing 7.30-8.10 (7.65) ; culmen 1.65-2.40 (2.02). Eggs 2-5, 2.23 x 1.37. Hab. North America, including Green- land, breeding far northward ; eastern Asia. 2. C. holbcellii (Rernu.). Holbeell’s Grebe. v*, Bill much shorter than head. Wing not more than 6.00 inches. (Subgenus Dytes Kaur.) c’. Bill compressed (deeper than wide) at base. Nuptial plumage: Lower neck and chest rufous; sides of occiput with a very full dense tuft of soft, blended, ochraceous feathers. Downy young: Whole top of head dusky; sides of head whitish with two stripes and several irregular spots of dusky; a dusky streak on each side of throat ; upper parts plain dusky grayish. Length 12.50-15.25 ; wing about 5.75. Eggs 2-7, 1.78 x 1.20. Hab. Northern portion of northern hemisphere, breeding in America chiefly north of the United States.......... feasee serie 3. C. auritus Linn. Horned Grebe, c. Bill depressed (wider than deep) at base. NVuptial plumage: Head, neck, and chest black; sides of head, behind eyes, with a tuft-like or somewhat fan-shaped loose patch of slender ochraceous feathers. Downy young: Top of head dusky, with several white markings, the middle of the crown with a small naked, reddish space; no dusky 1 Colymbus cristatus Linn., S.N. ed. 10, 1758, 135. 2 Colymbus grisegena Bopp., Tabl. P. E. 1783, 55. 6 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. streak on side of throat, or elsewhere below level of eyes. Length 12.00-14.00 ; wing 5.20-5.50. d', Three or four inner quills mostly or entirely white. Hab. Central Europe and Asia. C. nigricollis (BrrEHM). Eared Grebe.' @. Inner quills with inner webs wholly dusky. Colors generally duller and bill mere slender. £ggs 4-8, 1.75 x 1.19. Hab. Western North America, north to Great Slave Lake, south to Guatemala, east to Mississippi Valley. 4. C.nigricollis californicus (Hxxrrm.). American Eared Grebe. @. Wing less than 5.00 inches. (Subgenus Podiceps Laru.) Tarsus decidedly shorter than middle toe without claw. WVuptial plumage : Top of head dull greenish black; rest of head dark gray or dull plum- beous, the chin and throat dull black. Downy young: Top of head black, with a rufous spot in middle of crown, and various white markings; sides and underparts of head and neck white varied with black lines. Length 9.00-10.50; wing 4.00. Hggs 1.35 x .94. Hab. Tropical America in general, north to southern Texas and Lower California. 5. C. dominicus Linn. St. Domingo Grebe. Gents PODILYMBUS Lesson. (Page 4, pl. L., fig. 5.) Species. Brownish above, silvery white beneath, the feathers dark grayish basally. Nuptial plumage: Chin, throat, and anterior portion of malar region black; rest of head and neck brownish gray, darker above; lower parts spotted with dusky ; bill whitish, crossed about the middle by a black band. Winter plumage: Black throat, etc., of nuptial plumage replaced by dull whitish, the rest of the head browner; lower parts without dusky spots; bill brownish (paler on lower man- dible) without black band. Young: Similar to winter adult, but sides of head more or less distinctly striped with brown. Downy young: Head and neck distinctly striped with white and black, the crown with a rufous spot; a rufous spot on upper part of nape and on each side of occiput; upper parts blackish, marked with four strips of grayish white. Length 12.00-15.00; wing 4.50-5.00. Eggs 4-5, 1.72 x 1.99. Hab. The whole of America, except extreme northern and southern districts. 6. P. podiceps (Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. Famity URINATORIDAZ.—TuHE Loons. (Page 4.) Genus. (Characters same as those given for the family) .......... Urinator. (Page 7.) 1 Podiceps nigricollis Bren, Vig. Deutschl., 13831, 963. Colymbus nigricollis Stesn., Auk, ii,, Oct. 1885, 340, URINATOR. 7 Genus URINATOR Cuvier. (Page 6, pl. II., fig. 1.) Species. Common Cuaractrers.—Above blackish or slaty, beneath white. Jn summer, upper parts spotted or speckled with white, the throat and fore-neck blackish or chestnut. Jn winter, and in young, upper parts without white markings, and throat and fore-neck white like rest of lower parts. Downy young uniform sooty grayish, the belly white. West built on ground at edge of marsh or lake. Hygs 2, elongate- ovate, deep brown or olive, rather sparsely speckled or spotted with dark brown and blackish. a’. Tarsus shorter than inner toe with claw; fore-neck blackish in summer. b. Distance from base of culmen to anterior point of loral feathers, above nostrils, greater than the distance from the latter point to anterior bor- der of nostrils. Summer plumage with head and neck black all round, the middle of the fore-neck and sides of lower neck each crossed by a bar or transverse series of white streaks. c', Basal depth of bill’ not less than one-third exposed culmen; bill in adult blackish (almost wholly deep black in summer); head and neck glossed with velvety green ; white spots on scapulars broad as long ; length 28.00-36.00; wing 13.00-15.25 (14.06); culmen 2.75-3.50 (3.07); depth of bill through base .90-1.05 (.96). Eggs 3.52 x 2.27. Hab. Northern part of northern hemisphere, breeding from northern United States northward..... 7. U. imber (Gunn). Loon. ce’, Basal depth of bill less than one-third exposed culmen; bill in adult whitish (almost wholly yellowish white in summer); head and neck glossed with velvety violet-blue ; white spots on scapulars de- cidedly longer than broad; length about 35.00-38.00; wing 14.85- 15.45 (15.11) ; culmen 3.50-3.65 (3.59) ; depth of bill through base 1.00-1.20 (1.09). Hab. Western Arctic America and northeastern INSTA soon dedow ce decnse snes 8. U. adamsii (Gray). Yellow-billed Loon. b*. Distance from base of culmen to anterior point of loral feathers, not greater than distance from the latter point to anterior extremity of nostril. Summer plumage with upper part of head and hind part of neck gray- ish ; throat and fore-neck black, without white streaks, but several lon- gitudinal series of the latter down the side of the neck, between the black and the gray. c’. Fore-neck and under side of neck glossed with velvety purple; occi- put and hind-neck deep gray, almost plumbeous. Length 26.00- 29.00; wing 12.15-13.20 (12.55); culmen 2.50-2.85 (2.60); depth of bill at base, .75-.80 (.78). Eggs 3.09 1.96. Hab. Northern por- tions of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic regions; in North America, south, in winter, to extreme northern United States, east of the Rocky Mountains. 9. U. arcticus (Linn.). Black-throated Loon. 1 At base of exposed culmen. s NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. @. Fore-neck and under side of head glossed with dull bronzy greenish, sometimes inclining to purplish; occiput and hind-neck very pale smoky grayish, sometimes nearly white. Wing 11.20-12.25 (11.54); culmen 2.00-2.35 (2.15); depth of bill at base .55-.65 (.62). Eggs 3.11 1.92. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to Lower California, breeding far northward. 10. U. pacificus (Lawr.). Pacifie Loon. a. Tarsus longer than inner toe with claw. Fore-neck rich chestnut in summer; head and neck plumbeous gray, the top of head and hind-neck streaked with white; upper parts speckled with white. Summer plumage: Throat and fore-neck plumbeous, like rest of head and neck, hut marked down the mid- dle with a wedge-shaped patch or stripe of rich chestnut. Winter plumage and young: Throat and fore-neck white. Downy young: Above uniform dusky, or sooty slate; lower parts paler and more grayish. Length 24.00- 27.00; wing 10.00-11.50; culmen 2.25; tarsus 2.75. Eggs 2.82 x 1.76. Hab. Northern portions of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic regions; in North America, south, in winter, nearly across the United States. 11. U. lumme (Guny.). Red-throated Loon. Famity ALCIDA®.—Tue Auxs. (Page 4) est a cavity among rocks, usually on face of cliffs. Egg single, variable as to form and color. Genera. a’. Inner claw much larger and more strongly curved than the others; corner of mouth with a thick naked skin, or “rosette ;” bill excessively compressed, nearly as deep as long, the terminal portion transversely grooved (except in young), the basal portion with several accessory deciduous pieces, cast at end of breeding season. (Subfamily Fraterculine.) }. Basal outline of permanent (terminal) portion of upper mandible convex ; lower mandible wholly destitute of grooves, in all stages; grooves of upper mandible with concave side toward tip of bill. Vuptial ornaments : Deciduous nasal shield or saddle widest toward culmen, where forming an arched and much thickened ridge; eyelids without horny append- ages; on each side of head a large pendent tuft of lengthened, silky, SEPAW-CUIOTGD TOAERGES os cc. covascsenenvossennacnaicreueene Lunda. (Page 10.) &*. Basal outline of permanent (terminal) portion of bill concave, or nearly straight and very oblique; permanent (terminal) portion of lower man- dible grooved (except in young); grooves of the upper mandible with concave side toward base of the bill. Muptial ornaments: Deciduous nasal shield widest toward nostril; basal outline of upper mandible con- cave; eyelids furnished with horny appendages; head without orna- mental tufts or plumes.........sccescscsccesceceesesss Fratercula. (Page 11.) ALCID. 9 a’, Inner claw not obviously different in size or shape from the others; corner of mouth without thickened naked skin or “ rosette.” b. Angle of chin much nearer to nostril than to tip of bill. c. Nostrils exposed, overhung by a more or less distinct horny scale, and feathers of lores never reaching to anterior end of nostrils; second- aries without white tips. (Subfamily Phalerine.) d', Gonys occupying more than half the total length of the lower mandible, or else tip of upper mandible not abruptly decurved from a long, straight culmen. e. Distance from anterior border of nasal hollow to nearest loral feathers equal to one half or more than one half the dis- tance from the same point to the tip of the bill. (Phaleree.) f?. Bill about as long as the head (culmen about 1.00); wing more than 6.50................6+ Cerorhinca. (Page 11.) F?. Bill much shorter than head (culmen less than .75) ; wing less than 6.50. g. Upper mandible broader than deep at base; culmen nearly straight. (Wing about 5.00.) Ptychoramphus. (Page 12.) g. Upper mandible higher than broad at base; culmen decidedly curved. i, Lower mandible very narrow, strongly and very regularly recurved, the tip acute; edge of upper mandible very regularly convex. (Wing 5.25-6.00.)...... Cyclorrhynchus. (Page 12.) i?. Lower mandible more than half as deep as the upper, not recurved, or else tip not acute; upper mandible with edge nearly straight or else not regularly convex. (Wing 5.25 or NGRE: )sccesessanenns Simorhynchus. (Page 12.) é. Distance from anterior border of nasal hollow to nearest loral feathers equal to not more than one-fourth the distance from the same point to the tip of the bill. (Brachyramphee.) f. Tarsi scutellate in front, much longer than the horny portion of the commissure. Synthliboramphus. (Page 13.) f?. Tarsi reticulate in front, not longer than horny portion of COMMISSUTE.........2+0+8 Brachyramphus. (Page 1+.) @, Gonys occupying less than half the total length of the lower man- dible ; culmen straight to near the tip, where abruptly decurved. (Cepphee.) Loral feathers forming an acute angle. (Wing 6.50-7.50; culmen 1.00 or more.)..........02++0++ Cepphus. (Page 16.) ¢. Nostrils completely concealed or enclosed within a dense, velvety feathering, which extends from the lores to or beyond their an- 2 10 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. terior end; secondaries sharply tipped with white. (Subfamily Alcine.) d‘, Bill narrow, the culmen slightly or gently curved, both mandibles destitute of grooves; tail rounded, the feathers not pointed. (GUT C0eS) race eicacensieo sceances coeneseeaeeecmementeee Uria. (Page 17.) d’. Bill very deep, much compressed, culmen strongly curved, and one or both mandibles transversely or obliquely grooved (except in young); tail graduated, the feathers pointed. (Alcew.) e. Size medium (culmen less than 1.50); bill much shorter than head, the lower mandible with not more than two grooves, or none; wings well developed, admitting of sustained flight. Alca. (Page 18.) _ é. Size very large (culmen more than 3.00); bill as long as the head, the lower mandible with numerous grooves; wings rudimentary, not admitting of flight.. Plautus. (Page 19.) b*. Angle of chin much nearer tip of bill than to nostril. (Subfamily Alline.) Bill very short and broad, the culmen much curved; size very small (wing less than 5.00); secondaries sharply tipped with white. Alle.’ (Page 19.) Genus LUNDA Patras. (Page 8, pl. III, fig. 1.) Species. Above uniform sooty black, lower parts sooty grayish, the feathers of breast and belly grayish white beneath the surface, this color sometimes showing through, and breaking the continuity of the dusky. Nuptial plumage: Anterior portion of side of head white; springing from each side of the crown, immediately above the eye, a thick pendent tuft of lengthened, silky, straw-colored feathers; terminal half of bill bright red, basal portion olive-yellowish; feet bright scarlet (in life). Winter plumage: Side of head wholly dusky, but lighter in region of insertion of the nuptial tufts, which are wholly absent; basal deciduous horny covering of bill replaced by soft, dusky brown skin; feet flesh-color (in life). Young, first winter : Similar to winter adult, but upper mandible destitute of grooves, and nuptial tufts present in a rudimentary condition but of a light brownish color; terminal portion of bill inclining to brownish orange-red. Young, first summer or autumn: Bill smaller, narrower, and browner in color; nuptial tufts wanting. Downy young: Uniform dark sooty grayish, or blackish. Length 14.40-15.60; wing 7.75; culmen 1.30-1.45. Hyg 2.86 % 1.92, more or less ovate, white (sometimes tinged with pale buffy, pinkish, or brownish), usually more or less marked round larger end with faint spots, splashes or streaks of pale brown, or lavender-gray, or both. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from southern California to Alaska, and from Bering’s Strait to Japan; accidental in Bay of Fundy and Kennebec River, MUBINGH nub cas ceinssesetvenseeestesmektecasteccescenracee 12. L. cirrhata Pati. Tufted Puffin. 1 Alle Linx, Beschr. Nat. Samml. Univ. Rostock, i. 1806, 46 (not p. 17, as given in A. 0. U. Check List). FRATERCULA. 11 Genus FRATERCULA Brisson. (Page 8, pl. IIL, fig. 2.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Upper parts, together with a band across fore-neck, uniform blackish ; sides of head grayish or white; lower parts pure white. Downy young, uniform sooty blackish, or dark sooty slate, the belly white. Egg shaped and colored like that of Lunda cirrhata. a. Grooves of the bill very oblique, broad, and distinct, the deciduous basal shields occupying less than the basal half of the bill. Wuptial plumage: Chin and whole throat grayish, the sides of the head gray; horny process on upper eyelid short, subconical; length 11.50-13.75. b.. Bill and general size smaller: Culmen 1.60-1.90, gonys 1.40-1.50, depth of upper mandible at base .75-.90, of lower, .40-.50. Hyg 2.46-1.74. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, from southern Greenland south, in winter, in North America, to New Jersey, breeding as far south as the Bay (Obey Wm dy <2 asc cave--c sees sweceescacseceeseeeeeaes 13. F. arctica (LINN.). Puffin. b*, Bill and general size larger: Culmen 2.00-2.30, gonys 1.40-1.60, depth of upper mandible at base .85-1.00, of lower, .70.-80. Egg 2.65-1.82. Hab. Coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean, from Spitzbergen to northern and western Greenland. 13a. F. arctica glacialis (Trmm.). Large-billed Puffin. a*, Grooves of the bill nearly vertical, narrow, and rather indistinct; deciduous basal shields occupying much more than the basal half of the bill. NVuptial plumage: Whole throat blackish, the chin, only, gray; sides of head white ; horny process on upper eyelid elongated, horn-like. Downy young : Uniform sooty blackish, the belly, abruptly, white. Length about 12.50-14.00; culmen 2.00-2.25, gonys 1.60-1.70, depth of upper mandible 1.15-1.25, of lower, .70- 80. Egg 2.74-1.84. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from British Columbia to the Kurile Islands. 14. F. corniculata (Naum.). Horned Puffin. Genus CERORHINCA Bonaparte. (Page 9, pl. IV., fig. 1.) Species. Bill much compressed, longer than deep, the culmen regularly curved, but gonys nearly straight; upper parts uniform dusky; under portion and sides of head and neck, down to the chest, together with sides, smoky plumbeous; rest of lower parts white, usually clouded with smoky gray ; a row of narrow, pointed, white feathers along each side of occiput, commencing just above and behind the eye; another row of similar but larger feathers across cheeks, from near corner of mouth. Nuptial plumage: Base of upper mandible surmounted by a compressed upright horn, the base of which clasps the mandible as a saddle, down to, and en- closing the nostrils. Winter plumage: Similar to nuptial dress, but breast more 12 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. - uniformly gray, the belly more uniform white, and the horn-like process at base of upper mandible entirely absent. Young: Similar to winter adult, but white fila- mentous feathers of head wanting, and bill smaller and darker in color. Downy young : Uniform sooty grayish brown, very similar to corresponding stage of Lunda cirrhata, but rather lighter in color and with more slender bill. Length 14.00- 15.50, wing 7.25, culmen, from cere, or anterior edge of horn, 1.00. Egg 2.70 x 1.82, similar in form, color, etc., to those of Lunda and species of Fratercula. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Lower California (resident) to Japan. 15. C. monocerata (Patt.). Rhinoceros Auklet. Genus PTYCHORAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VL, fig. 3.) Species. Above uniform slaty blackish, changing gradually into plumbeous on sides of head and neck, throat, and fore-neck; a white spot on lower eyelid; lower parts white, the sides (beneath wings) plumbeous; length 8.00-9.50, wing 4.75-5.25, cul- men.75. Egg 1.83 X 1.34, ovate, pure white. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Aleutian Islands to Lower California. 16. P. aleuticus (PAttL.). Cassin’s Auklet. Gents CYCLORRHYNCHUS Kavpr. (Page 9, pl IV., fig. 5.) Species. Above uniform blackish slate, beneath white; bill orange-red. Wuptial plu- mage: Throat, fore-neck, and sides dusky ; a line of narrow pointed white feathers starting just below the eye, and extending back across the ear-coverts. Winter plumage: Similar to summer dress, but throat, fore-neck, and sides partly or en- tirely white; white feathers behind eyes wanting? Young (?): Similar to winter adult, but bill duller red (or inclining to brownish), and entire lower parts, including throat and fore-neck, continuous white ;! length 9.00-10.40, wing 5.40-6.00, culmen about .60. Egg 2.12 146, clear bluish white. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific from Sitka to the Kurile Islands.... 17. C. psittaculus (Patt.). Paroquet Auklet. Genus SIMORHYNCHUS Menrrem. (Page 9, pl. IV., figs. 2 to 4.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Upper parts blackish, the scapulars sometimes mixed with white. Adults with a series of slender, pointed white feathers commencing beneath the eye and extending backward across the ear-coverts. J2ygs ovate, pure white, sometimes faintly tinged with bluish. a’. Wing more than 4.00; adult with a recurved frontal crest ; lower parts uniform sooty gray, the belly sometimes whitish ; no white on scapulars. 1 The seasonal and other changes of plumage in this species are not well understood, and we have not the material with which to determine them. The above may, therefore, be not quite correct in some particulars. SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS. 12 b.. Wing 5.00 or more; adult in breeding season with several conspicuous de- ciduous plates on basal portion of bill, including a roundish or semicir- cular piece at corner of mouth ; no white feathers between bill and eye ; belly never whitish. (Subgenus Simorhynchus.) Breeding plumage: Bill bright orange-red, the tip horn-colored. Winter plumage: Bill horn- colored, much smaller, through loss of the deciduous pieces. Young: Frontal crest and white feathers beneath eye wanting, or but slightly developed; bill much smaller, dusky brownish. Length 8.50-10.80; wing about 5.25. £yg 2.14-1.49. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific from Kadiak, Unalashka, and the Prybilof Islands through the Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 18. S. cristatellus (PALL.). Crested Auklet. B. Wing less than 4.50; adult in breeding season without conspicuous deciduous plates on basal portion; belly whitish; a more or less distinct patch of narrow, pointed, white feathers between bill and eye (indistinct or ob- solete in young). (Subgenus Phaleris Trmuinck.) Breeding plumage: Bill dull purplish red, the tip whitish. Winter plumage not materially different. Young: Frontal crest and white feathers on sides of head wanting or barely indicated; bill dusky. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate, lighter beneath. Length 7.10-8.30, wing 4.10-4.25, culmen .35-.40. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Unalashka through the Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka... 19. S. pygmzeus (Gmet.). Whiskered Auklet. @. Wing not more than 4.00; adult without frontal crest ; lower parts white, some- times blotched with dusky; scapulars with more or less white; base of bill with a small compressed knob on top. (Subgenus Ciceronia Rutcu.) Breed- ing plumage: Lower parts white, more or less spotted or blotched with dusky, this often forming a distinct band across the chest. Winter plumage: Lower parts, including sides of neck, entirely white; white ornamental feathers of forehead, ete., usually less developed. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but bill smaller, scapulars more extensively white, and white orna- mental feathers of forehead, ete., wanting. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate, paler and grayer on lower parts. Length 5.50-7.20, wing 3.50-4.00, culmen .35-.40. Zggs 1.58 X 1.10. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan and southern Alaska to the Aleutian and Prybilof Islands. 20. S. pusillus (Patt.). Least Auklet. Genus SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VI., fig. 1.) Species. Common CHAractEers.—Above plumbeous, beneath white. Breeding plumage: Chin and part, or whole, of throat dusky ; top of head with a broad white stripe along each side ; sides, from neck to flanks, uniform sooty blackish. Winter plumage : Whole throat white, the chin plumbeous; no white stripes on top of head; sides and flanks white, striped with slaty. 14 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. a. Never crested. Breeding plumage: Chin, throat, and fore-neck, with top and sides of head, sooty black ; sides of neck and a broad stripe along each side of occiput, pure white; white stripes on side of occiput not extending forward of the eye; upper back streaked laterally with white. Winter plumage: Whole throat white; stripes on sides of occiput and streaks on upper part of back wanting. Length 9.50-10.80, wing 5.25-5.50, culmen .60. Hyg 2.42 x 1.55, elongate-ovate, buffy (variable in shade from nearly white to almost an isabella-color), speckled or otherwise marked all over with deep brown and lavender-gray. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan and southern Alaska (Sitka) northward...... 21. S. antiquus (Gmet.). Ancient Murrelet. a’. Crested in the breeding season. Breeding plumage: Fore part of crown with a loose crest of slender, lengthened feathers slightly curved or nearly straight ; upper half of throat velvety plumbeous, with a truncated posterior outline ; ear-coverts deep plumbeous; white stripes on sides of top of head extending forward far beyond the eye; upper back not streaked with white. Winter plumage: Whole throat and malar region white, the chin, only, plumbeous ; no white on top of head, and no crest. Downy young: Above brownish gray, the back and rump indistinctly streaked with grayish white; lower parts, including chin, entirely pure white. Length about 9.50-11.00, wing 5.10- 5.50. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan (and Washington Ter- ritory ?) northward. (Very doubtfully American.) 22. S. wumizusume (Temm.). Temminck's Murrelet. Grenus BRACHYRAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VI, fig. 2.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Size small (wing less than 5.50); bill small and slender, much shorter than head (not longer than the short tarsus), compressed, and pointed; culmen gently curved, gonys nearly straight; plumage very plain, with- out ornamental feathers about head at any season. a. Tarsus shorter than middle toe, without claw. 1, Exposed culmen about equal to inner toe, without claw; secondaries and outer tail-feathers entirely dusky. c. Culmen .70 or less. Summer adult: Above dusky, barred more or less with deep rusty; beneath mixed white and sooty brown, in varying relative proportion. Winter plumage: Above slaty, interrupted by a white collar across nape; scapulars mixed with white, and feathers of back, ete., tipped with plumbeous; entire lower parts pure white, the orbital and superciliary regions dusky, like top of head, and outermost feathers of flanks striped with dark grayish. Young: Above uniform dusky, with indistinct white collar and scapular patches; lower parts white, transversely mottled with dark sooty ; bill much smaller and weaker than in adult. Length 9.50-10.00, wing about 5.00, culmen .60-.70, tarsus .70, middle toe .92-1.00. Egg BRACHYRAMPHUS. 15 2.14 < 1.42, ovate, ground-color buffy, speckled or otherwise marked with various shades of brown. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from southern California to western Alaska. 23. B. marmoratus (Gmet.). Marbled Murrelet. c. Culmen .75. Summer adult: Similar to corresponding stage of B. mar- moratus, but markings of upper parts buffy and dull whitish, instead of deep rusty. Wing 5.50, culmen .75, tarsus .70, middle toe .95. Hab. Coasts of northeastern Asia, from Japan to Kamtschatka. B. perdix (PALL.). Partridge Murrelet.! b*, Exposed culmen not more than two-thirds as long as inner toe without claw ; secondaries broadly tipped with white, and outer tail-feathers partly or wholly white. cl. Tarsus .60 or more. Summer adult: Above plumbeous, thickly marked with irregular, mostly longitudinal, spots of buff; lower parts chiefly white, the chest and sides washed with buff and irregularly spotted and barred with dusky ; belly more faintly marked with more regular erescentic bars. Winter plumage: Above glossy plumbeous, the back and rump very narrowly and indistinctly barred with white ; scapu- lars chiefly white; sides of head (including lores and superciliary region), a narrow collar round hind-neck, and entire lower parts, pure white, the sides of the breast crossed by a broad band of slate- gray, narrowing toward the middle of the chest. Wing 5.10-5.80, culmen .35-.45, depth of bill at base .20-.22, tarsus .60-.65, middle toe .85-.95. Hab. Unalashka, through Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 24. B. kittlitzii Branpr. Kittlitz’s Murrelet. ce. Tarsus .50. Wing 5.25, culmen .50, tarsus .50. Summer plumage: Above grayish brown, head and neck spotted with white; beneath white, waved and spotted with brown. Hab. San Blas, western Mexico. B. brevirostris (Vic.). Short-billed Murrelet.? @. Tarsus as long as or longer than middle toe without claw. b'. Lining of wing white; above plain dark slaty, beneath entirely pure white; length 9.60-10.50, wing 4.50-5.25, culmen .70-.80, tarsus .90-.95, middle toe .85. Hab. Southern California to Cape St. Lucas. 25. B. hypoleucus Xantus. Xantus’s Murrelet. bv’. Lining of wing smoky gray, or slaty ; in plumage otherwise like B. hypo- leucus; length about 10.25, wing 4.60, culmen .78—.80, tarsus .88-.90, middle toe .80-.88. gg 2.03 x 1.40, ovate, ground-color buffy, isabella- color, or fawn-color, thickly sprinkled, speckled, or otherwise marked with dark brown. Hab. Lower California (vicinity of Cape St. Lucas). 26. B. craveri (Satvap.). Craveri’s Murrelet. 1 Cepphus perdiz Pauwas, Zoog. Rosso-As. ii. 1826, 351, pl. 80. Brachyramphus perdix Sresn. Zeitschr. Ges. Orn. iii. 1886, 213, p. 7. 2 Uria brevirostris ViG., Zool. Jour. iv. 1828, 357. Possibly the same as B. kittlitzii BRaNpr. 16 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Genus CEPPHUS Patras. (Page 9, pl. IL, fig. 3.) Species. Common Craracters.—Summer adults uniform black, with or without white on wings. Winter specimens white, varied above (sometimes below also) with black, the wings and tail as in summer. Young similar to winter adults, but white of wings varied with dusky, the quills marked at tips with white. Bill black; feet bright red in summer, pinkish in winter. Hyg varying from ovate to elongate- ovate, greenish white or buffy white, heavily spotted or otherwise conspicuously marked with dark brown and lavender-gray. a’. A large white patch on outer surface of wing. b'. Under wing-coverts pure white. c’. Greater wing-coverts white to the extreme base, sometimes a little dusky along the basal portion of the shafts. Adult in summer: Uni- form blackish, except a large roundish or oval patch of pure white on the wing, including the greater, middle, and posterior lesser coverts, these feathers all white to the base; axillars, under wing- coverts, and basal half, or more, of inner webs of quills, pure white. Winter plumage: Wings as in summer; rest of the plumage pure white, the upper parts varied with black. Young : Similar to winter plumage, but white wing-patch broken by blackish tips to all the feathers; secondaries and primary coverts marked with white at ends, and lower parts indistinctly barred with dusky. Downy young: Uniform sooty blackish, paler and more grayish below. Length about 12.50-13.50, wing 6.25-7.20, culmen 1.00-1.20, gonys .50, depth of bill at nostril .85-.40. gg 2.38 x 1.36. Hab, Circumpolar sea- coasts, south in North America, in winter, to New Jersey and Norton Sound, Alaska. (Breeding south to Hudson’s Bay and coast OfeWabrador)\eeses.se--o 28. C. mandtii Licnr. Mandt’s Guillemot. c. Greater wing-coverts with at least their basal half black, this often showing as a narrow bar beyond tips of middle coverts; plumage otherwise as in C. mandtii, and measurements nearly the same, but bill larger and stouter; length 12.00-13.80, culmen 1.20-1.30, gonys .55-.60, depth of bill at nostril 40-45. Hyg 2.25 x 1.55. Hab. Coasts of northern Europe; also from southern Greenland along Labrador coast and south, in winter, to New Jersey ; breeding from Newfoundland and southern Labrador to vicinity of Eastport, Main Gi(2)) response cecenswshines'ee ses 27. C. grylle (Linn.). Black Guillemot. &*. Under wing-coverts smoky gray. Greater wing-coverts black basally, this increasing in extent toward edge of the wing, where occupying almost the whole extent of the outermost feather, thus producing a broad black “ wedge” between the two white areas; plumage otherwise as in C. grylle, with similar seasonal changes, etc.; length 13.00-14.00, wing 6.90-7.30, culmen URIA. 17 1.20-1.40, gonys .55-.60, depth of bill at nostril 40-42. Egg 2.41 x 1.64. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from southern California to the Aleutian Islands, and across to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 29. C. columba Pau. Pigeon Guillemot. a, No white on wings. b'. A whitish area surrounding the eye; plumage otherwise dark sooty. (Winter plumage and young unknown.) Length about 14.50, wing about 7.75, culmen 1.55-1.70, gonys .75-.80, depth of bill at nostril .50. Hab. Coasts of northeastern Asia, from northern Japan to Sea of Okhotsk, Kurile Islands, and Bering Island (accidental ?) ; Unalashka ?? C. carbo Pati. Sooty Guillemot. b*. No white anywhere, the plumage entirely dark sooty ; about the size of C. carbo. Hab, High north Atlantic (Iceland, Greenland, and west side of Cumberland Gulf). —. C. motzfeldi Benick. Black-winged Guillemot. Genus URIA Brisson. (Page 10, pl. IL, fig. 2.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Culmen as long as or longer than the tarsus; bill much compressed, the gonys more or less concave, and nearly as long as the culmen; cutting- edge of upper mandible notched near tip, its basal portion more or less thickened or swollen; a distinct longitudinal furrow in the feathering behind eyes; upper parts uniform dusky, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts white. Summer plumage:. Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, uniform velvety brown. Winter plumage: Chin, throat, fore-neck, and sides of head and neck white, with a dusky stripe behind eye. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but no white on side of occiput, and that of fore-neck faintly mottled with dusky ; bill smaller. Downy young : Head, neck, and upper parts smoky grayish brown, the head and neck finely streaked with dingy whitish; lower parts whitish centrally. Egg as large as that of a goose, elongate or ovate pear-shaped, and excessively vari- able in color, the ground-color varying from white to cream-color, pinkish, pale blue, and yellowish green (the last two colors probably most common), and varie- gated with variously-formed marks of black and brown. a. Depth of bill at angle less than one-third the length of the culmen; top of head and hind-neck smoky brown; basal portion of cutting-edge of upper mandible always dusky or similar in color to rest of the mandible. Summer plumage : Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, velvety smoky grayish brown, sometimes marked with a narrow white postocular line, connected with a white ring around eye.’ (Length 15.00-18.00.) b.. Wing 7.75-8.30 (7.99), culmen 1.70-1.90 (1.81), gonys 1.05-1.20 (1.14), depth of bill through angle .50-.60 (.52), tarsus 1.40-1.60 (1.51), middle toe 1.60-1.75 (1.70). gg 3.26 1.99. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, 1 Such specimens constitute the U. ringvia Brtn., by some authors considered a distinct species, and pos- sibly entitled to such rank. Its proper status is a matter of doubt, and is a fit subject for special investigation. Such specimens are only known from the North Atlantic. 3 18 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. south, in winter, to New England, on American side; breeding from Nova Scotia northward. ...........0...sss0ses 30. U. troile (Linn.). Murre. b*, Wing 7.85-8.80 (8.30), culmen 1.60-2.50 (1.86), gonys 1.15-1.40 (1.27), depth of bill through angle .55-.62 (.57), tarsus 1.35-1.60 (1.50), middle toe 1.65-1.85 (1.74). yg 3.24 < 2.01. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, south to southern California. 30a. U. troile californica (Bryant). California Murre. a. Depth of bill at angle more than one-third the length of the culmen ; top of head and hind-neck sooty black ; basal portion of cutting-edge of upper mandible thickened, and conspicuously light-colored in adult. Summer plumage : Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, velvety snuff-brown. (Length 14.50-18.50.) b. Wing 7.45-8.80 (8.24), culmen 1.40-1.50 (1.45), gonys .75-.90 (.83), depth of bill through angle .52-.58 (.55), tarsus 1.40-1.55 (1.45), middle toe 1.65- 1.75 (1.70). Egg 3.16 x 2.03. Hab. Arctic Ocean and coasts of the North Atlantic, south, in winter, to New Jersey ; breeding from Gulf of St. Lawrence north ward...... 31. U. lomvia (Liyn.). Briinnich's Murre. b% Wing 8.15-9.25 (8.71), culmen 1.45-1.75 (1.65), gonys .85-1.00 (.92), depth of bill through angle .55-.60 (.58), tarsus 1.45-1.60 (1.51), middle toe 1.70- 1.90 (1.81). Hyg 3.21 x 2.01. Hab. Coasts and islands of Bering’s Sea, and Aleutian chain, from Kadiak to Kamtschatka. 3la. U. lomvia arra (PALL.). Pallas’s Murre. Genus ALCA Linnaus. (Page 10, pl. V., fig. 2.) Species. Upper parts uniform black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts pure white. Swmmer plumage: Head and neck (except top of head and hind- neck) uniform velvety snuff-brown ; a white line from the base of the culmen to the eye; bill black, both mandibles crossed about the middle by a white bar. Winter adult: Whole under portion of head, fore-neck, and space behind ear-coverts, white ; no white line between bill and eye; bill as in summer, but without basal lamina. Young: Similar in plumage to winter adult; but bill smaller, without grooves, and lacking the white bar. Downy young: Head, neck, and lower parts plain dull whitish, usually more or less tinged above with brownish buff; back, rump, and flanks varying from pale brownish buff (the down dusky immediately beneath the surface), more decidedly brownish posteriorly, to dark sooty brown; posterior and lateral lower parts more or less tinged with sooty brownish or brownish buff. Length 15.00-18.00, wing 8.00-8.50, tail 3.50, culmen 1.25, greatest depth of bill .90. Egg 3.06 1.89, ovate or elongate pear-shaped, buffy, buffy whitish, pure white, or white faintly tinted with bluish or greenish, very heavily spotted with dark brown round larger end, and marked with smaller spots elsewhere, of brown and lavender- gray. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, south, in winter, to southern New Eng- land ; breeding from eastern Maine northward. 32. A. torda Linn. Razor-billed Auk. PLAUTUS. 19 Genus PLAUTUS Briwnicu. (Page 10, pl. V., fig. 1.) Species. Upper parts uniform black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts pure white. Summer plumage: Chin, throat, fore-neck, and sides of head and neck, velvety dark snuff-brown, or soft blackish brown; a large oval patch of white covering the greater part of the space between bill and eyes; bill black, its grooves whitish. Length about 28.00-30.00, wing 5.75, culmen 3.15-3.50, greatest depth of bill about 1.50. Egg (average size) 4.67 < 2.91, pyriform-ovate, pale olive-buffy, variously marked with brown and black. Hab. Believed to be now extinct; for- merly (previous to 1844), coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, chiefly on the American side; south to Massachusetts Bay, north to the Arctic circle. 33. P. impennis (Linn.). Great Auk. Genus ALLE Link. (Page 10, pl. VI., fig. 4.) . Species. Head, neck, and upper parts black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white, and scapulars streaked with the same; lower parts white, the flanks striped with dusky. Summer plumage: Sides of head and neck, with chin, throat, and chest, uniform dark sooty brown. Winter adult: Chin, throat, etc., white, this color ex- tending upward toward occiput; feathers of chest dusky at base only. Young: Similar to winter adult, but bill smaller and weaker, and colors duller. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate-color, paler or more grayish below. Length 7.25-9.15, wing 4.50-4.75, culmen .50. Egg 1.90 x 1.29, ovate, very pale bluish green or green- ish white. Hab. Arctic Ocean and coasts of the North Atlantic; on the American side south, in winter, to New Jersey; accidental on Detroit River. 34. A. alle (Linn.). Dovekie. 20 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Orver LONGIPENNES.—Tue Lonc-wincep SWIMMERS. (Page 1.) Families. a‘. Bill with the lower mandible not longer than the upper, and not excessively compressed. b. Covering of the upper mandible composed of three distinct pieces—a ter- minal unguis, or hook, a lateral piece, and a cere-like piece saddled upon the culmen, its edge overhanging the nostril. Stercorariide. (Page 20.) b*. Covering of upper mandible consisting of a single piece, through which the MOStrilstareyplOLcad. nc. .c<..erece