Front matter (continued 7)

378. 1. Anser Canadensis, Linn. Canada Goose.

Plate CCI. Male and Female.

Tail of eighteen feathers; bill, feet, and claws black, head and two upper thirds of neck glossy black; forehead, cheeks, and chin, tinged with brown; lower eyelid white; a broad band of white across the throat to behind the eye; rump and tail-feathers black; general colour of the rest of upper parts greyish-brown, wing-coverts shaded into ash-grey, all the feathers terminally edged with very pale brown; lower part of neck passing to greyish-white, which is the general colour of the lower parts, unless in old birds where it is buff, with the exception of the abdomen, which is pure white, the sides, which are pale brownish-grey, the feathers tipped with white, and the lower wing-coverts, which are also pale brownish-grey; margins of rump and upper tail-coverts pure white. Female with the tints somewhat duller.

Male, 43, 65. Female, 41.

Breeds sparingly from the Mississippi to Nova Scotia; abundantly in Labrador, and farther north. In the interior, on the Missouri, and across to the Columbia River. Abundant. Migrates far south in winter.

Canada Goose, Anas canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 52.

Anser canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 377.

Anser canadensis, Canada Goose, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 468.

Canada Goose, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 349.

Canada Goose. Anser canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 1; v. v. p. 607.

379. 2. Anser Hutchinsii, Richardson. Hutchins's Goose.

Plate CCLXXVII. Adult.

Tail of sixteen feathers; bill, feet, and claws black; head and two upper thirds of neck glossy black; a large subtriangular patch of white on each side of the head and neck; general colour of the upper parts brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler, of the lower parts pale greyish-brown, margined with yellowish-grey; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; hind part of back brownish-black; primary quills and tail-feathers deep brown.

Adult, 25, 50.

From New Jersey to Maine, during winter. Breeds in the Arctic Regions. Columbia River. Abundant.

Anser Hutchinsii, Hutchins's Bernacle Goose, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 470.

Hutchins's Goose, Anser Hutchinsii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 526.

380. 3. Anser leucopsis, Bechst. Bernacle Goose.

Plate CCXCVI. Male and Female.

Tail very short, rounded, of sixteen feathers; bill, feet, and claws black; anterior parts of head, including a broad space above the eye, the sides of the head and the throat, white; feathers margining the bill, and a line from the bill to the eye, curving beneath the lower eyelid, and running along the upper, brownish-black; neck all round glossy bluish-black, of which colour are the anterior feathers; the scapulars, and the wing-coverts, towards their extremities, while the bases are ash-grey, and their terminal margins white; rump and tail-feathers deep black; quills greyish-black, darker towards the tips, the outer webs more or less tinged with ash-grey; upper and lower tail-coverts, and sides of rump, pure white.

Male, 27, 56. Female, 23¹/₂, 52.

Accidental in North America.

Anser leucopsis, Bonap. Syn. p. 377.

Bernacle Goose, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 355.

Bernacle Goose, Anser leucopsis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 609.

381. 4. Anser Bernicla, Linn. Brent Goose.

Plate CCCXCI. Male and Female.

Tail of sixteen feathers, rounded; bill and feet black; head and neck all round black, glossed with blue; a small streak under the eye, a spot on the chin, and patch on each side of the neck, white; general colour of upper parts brownish-grey, the feathers margined with light greyish-brown; quills and primary coverts greyish-black; upper tail-coverts white; tail greyish-black; fore part of breast light brownish-grey, the feathers terminally margined with greyish-white; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; sides grey, the feathers broadly tipped with white; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts grey.

Male, 24¹/₂, 48. Female, 23, 44¹/₂.

Abundant along the coast of the Atlantic, from Maine to Maryland, during winter. Never seen far inland. Breeds from Labrador northward. Columbia River.

Brant, Anas Bernicla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 131.

Anser Bernicla, Bonap. Syn. p. 378.

Anser Bernicla, Brent Goose, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 469.

Brant or Brent Goose, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 358.

Brent Goose, Anser Bernicla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. pp. 24, 610.

382. 5. Anser albifrons, Bechst. White-fronted Goose.

Plate CCLXXXVI. Male and Female.

Tail of sixteen feathers, rounded; bill carmine-red, with the unguis white; feet orange, claws white; head and neck greyish-brown; a white band, margined behind with blackish-brown on the anterior part of the forehead along the bill; general colour of back deep grey, the feathers of its fore part broadly tipped with greyish-brown, the rest with greyish-white; hind part of back deep grey; wings greyish-brown, toward the edge ash-grey, as are the primary coverts, and outer webs of the primaries; the rest of the primaries and secondaries greyish-black, the latter with a narrow edge of greyish-white, the former edged and tipped with white; breast, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, sides of rump, and upper tail-coverts, white; the breast and sides patched with brownish-black, on the latter intermixed with greyish-brown feathers.

Male, 27¹/₄, 60.

Through the interior of the Western and Southern States during winter, as well as along the coast, from Massachusetts to Texas. Columbia River. Breeds in the far north.

Anser albifrons, Bonap. Syn. p. 376.

Anser albifrons, Laughing Goose, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 456.

White-fronted Goose, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 346.

White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 568.

383. 6. Anser hyperboreus, Gmel. Snow-Goose.

Plate CCCLXXXI. Adult Male and Young Female.

Bill and feet carmine, unguis white, claws dusky; plumage pure white, fore part of head tinged with yellowish-red; primaries brownish-grey, toward the end blackish-brown, their shafts white, unless toward the end. Young in its second plumage, with the bill yellow, or flesh-coloured, the feet lake; head and upper part of neck, with the wing-coverts, greyish-white; lower part of neck all round, fore part of back, scapulars, fore part of breast and sides blackish-grey; hind part of back and upper tail-coverts, ash-grey; quills greyish-black, secondaries margined with greyish-white; tail-feathers dusky grey, margined with greyish-white; breast and abdomen greyish-white.

Male, 31³/₄, 62. Female, 26, 55.

Western and Southern States, in autumn and winter. Breeds in the Arctic Regions. Abundant.

Snow Goose, Anas hyperborea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 76.

Anser hyperboreus, Bonap. Syn. p. 376.

Snow Goose, Nutt. Man. p. 344.

Anser hyperboreus, Snow Goose, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 467.

Snow Goose, Anser hyperboreus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 562.

GENUS III. CYGNUS, Meyer. SWAN.

Bill longer than the head, higher than broad at the base, depressed, and a little widened toward the end, rounded; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge very broad at the base, with a large depression; narrowed between the nostrils, convex toward the end, the sides nearly erect at the base, gradually becoming more horizontal and convex toward the end, the sides soft and thin, with numerous transverse little elevated internal lamellæ, the unguis obovate; nasal groove elliptical, subbasal, covered by the soft membrane of the bill; lower mandible flattened, with the angle very long, and rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges with numerous transverse lamellæ. Nostrils submedial, longitudinal, placed near the ridge, elliptical. Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed; neck extremely long and slender; body very large, compact, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind the centre of the body; tibia bare for a very small space; tarsus short, a little compressed, covered all round with angular scales; hind toe extremely small, with a very narrow membrane; third longest, fourth very little shorter; anterior toes covered with angular scales for nearly half their length, then scutellate, and connected by broad reticulated entire membranes. Claws rather small, strong, arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Space between the bill and eye bare; plumage dense and soft. Wings long, broad; primaries curved, stiff, the second longest. Tail very short, graduated, of twenty or more feathers. Œsophagus very slender, at the lower part of the neck a little dilated; stomach transversely elliptical, with the lateral muscles extremely large, the epithelium dense, with two concave grinding surfaces; intestine long, and of moderate width; cœca rather large, narrow; cloaca globular. Trachea generally enters a cavity in the sternum, whence it is reflected, before it passes into the thorax; no inferior laryngeal muscles.

384. 1. Cygnus Buccinator, Richardson. Trumpeter Swan.

Plate CCCCVI. Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXVI. Young after first moult.

Tail-feathers twenty-four; bill and feet black; plumage pure white, excepting the upper part of the head, which is often brownish-red. Young after first moult with the bill flesh-coloured in the middle, the feet dull yellowish-brown; upper part of head and cheeks bright reddish-brown, each feather tipped with whitish; throat nearly white; general colour of the other parts greyish-white, slightly tinged with yellow.

Adult, 68; wing, 27. Young, 52¹/₂, 91.

Breeds from North California northward. Fur Countries. Abundant during winter on the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and in Texas. Never seen eastward of South Carolina.

Cygnus Buccinator, Richardson's Trumpeter Swan, F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 464.

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus Buccinator, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 370.

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus Buccinator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 536; v. v. p. 114.

385. 2. Cygnus Americanus, Sharpless. American Swan.

Plate CCCCXI. Male.

Tail feathers twenty; bill and feet black, the former with a small orange spot on each side at the base; plumage pure white. Young grey.

Male, 53, 84.

Common during winter in the Middle Atlantic Districts, especially on Chesapeake Bay. Not seen south of Carolina. Columbia River. Breeds in the Fur Countries.

American Wild Swan, Cygnus americanus, Sharpless, Amer. Journ. of Sc. and Arts, v. xxii.

American Swan, Cygnus americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 133.

GENUS IV. ANAS, Linn. DUCK.

Bill about the length of the head, somewhat higher than broad at the base, depressed and widened towards the end, rounded at the tip; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, and a little concave, the ridge at the base broad and flat, towards the end broadly convex, as are the sides, the edges soft and rather obtuse, the marginal lamellæ numerous, oblique; unguis decurved, obovate; nasal groove elliptical, subbasal, filled by the soft membrane of the bill; lower mandible flattened, slightly recurvate, with the angle very long and narrow, the unguis roundish, the lamellæ numerous. Nostrils subbasal, elliptical, near the ridge. Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed; neck rather long and slender; body full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind the centre of the body; tibia bare a little above the joint; tarsus short, somewhat compressed, anteriorly with small scutella, laterally and behind with angular scales; hind toe extremely small, with a very narrow membrane; third toe longest, fourth a little shorter, but longer than second; all covered with numerous oblique scutella; anterior connected by reticulated membranes. Claws small, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage dense, soft. Wings of moderate length, acute; second quill longest, first very little shorter; inner secondaries elongated and tapering; tail short, much rounded, of sixteen feathers. Œsophagus rather narrow, dilated on the lower part of the neck; stomach an extremely muscular, transversely elliptical gizzard; intestine long and rather wide; cœca long. Trachea of the males, with a transverse bony unsymmetrical dilatation at the inferior larynx.

386. 1. Anas Borchas, Linn. Mallard.

Plate CCXXI. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and neck short, blended, and splendent; tail much rounded, of sixteen acute feathers, of which the four central are recurved; bill greenish-yellow, feet orange-red; head and upper part of neck deep green; about the middle of the neck a white ring; its lower part anteriorly, and the fore part of the breast, dark brownish-chestnut; fore part of back light yellowish-brown, rest of the back brownish-black, the rump black, splendent with green and purplish-blue, as are the recurved tail-feathers; upper surface of wings greyish-brown, scapulars lighter, except their inner webs, and with the anterior dorsal feathers, minutely undulated with brown, speculum on about ten of the secondaries purple and green, edged with velvet-black and white, the anterior bands of these colours being on the secondary coverts; breast, sides, and abdomen very pale grey, minutely undulated with darker; lower tail-coverts black. Female with the bill black in the middle, dull orange at the extremities and along the edges; upper parts pale yellowish, streaked and spotted with dusky; feathers of the head narrowly streaked, of the back with the margins and a central streak yellowish-brown, the rest dark, the scapulars similar, but with the light streak on the outer web; speculum as in the male, but with less green; lower parts dull ochre, deeper on the lower neck, faintly streaked and spotted with brown.

Male, 24, 36. Female, 22.

Breeds from Texas sparingly throughout the United States. Columbia River, and Fur Countries. Abundant during winter in all the Southern Districts. Not found in Maine, or farther eastward.

Mallard, Anas Borchas, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 112.

Anas Borchas, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

Anas (Borchas) domestica, Mallard, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 442.

Mallard Duck, Anas domestica, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 378.

Mallard, Anas Borchas, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 164.

387. 2. Anas obscura, Gmel. Dusky Duck.

Plate CCCII. Male and Female.

Tail much rounded, of eighteen acute feathers, none of which are recurved; bill yellowish-green; feet orange-red, the webs dusky; upper part of head glossy brownish-black, the feathers margined with light brown; sides of head and a band over the eye light greyish-brown, with longitudinal dusky streaks; general colour blackish-brown, a little paler beneath, all the feathers margined with pale reddish-brown; wing-coverts greyish-dusky, with a faint tinge of green; ends of secondary coverts velvet black; primaries and their coverts blackish-brown; secondaries darker; speculum green, blue, violet, or amethyst-purple, bounded by velvet-black, the feathers also tipped with a narrow line of white; under surface of wing and axillaries white. Female more brown, with the speculum similar, but without the white terminal line.

Male, 24¹/₂, 38¹/₂. Female, 22, 34¹/₄.

Breeds in Texas, westward, and throughout the United States, British Provinces, and Labrador. Columbia River. Common in autumn and spring along the Middle Atlantic Districts. Abundant in the Southern and Western States, in winter.

Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 141.

Anas obscura, Bonap. Syn. p. 384.

Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 392.

Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 15.

388. 3. Anas Breweri, Aud. Brewer's Duck.

Plate CCCXXXVIII. Male.

Very nearly allied to the Mallard, but with the bill narrower, no recurved feathers in the tail, and the feet dull yellow; the speculum more green without white bands, and a large patch of light red on the side of the head; bill dull yellow, dusky along the ridge; head and upper part of neck deep glossy green; an elongated patch of pale reddish-yellow from the base of the bill over the cheeks to a considerable way down the neck; a space immediately over and behind the eye light dull purple; a narrow ring of pale yellowish-red on the middle of the neck, of which the lower part is dull brownish-red, the feathers with a transverse band of dusky, and edged with paler; upper parts dull greyish-brown, transversely undulated with dusky; smaller wing-coverts without undulations, but each feather with a dusky bar behind another of light dull yellow; first row of smaller coverts tipped with black; primaries and their coverts light brownish-grey; some of the outer secondaries similar, the next five or six duck-green, the next light grey with a dusky patch toward the end; rump and upper tail-coverts black, as are the parts under the tail, excepting two longitudinal white bands; tail-feathers light brownish-grey, edged with whitish; all the rest of the lower parts greyish-white edged with yellow, beautifully undulated with dusky lines, on the middle of the breast these lines less numerous, and each feather with a reddish-grey central streak.

Male, 23, 39.

One specimen procured in Louisiana.

Brewer's Duck, Anas Breweri, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 302.

389. 4. Anas strepera, Linn. Gadwall Duck.—Violon.

Plate CCCXLVIII. Male and Female.

Tail short, rounded, of sixteen pointed feathers. Male with the bill bluish-black, the feet dull orange-yellow, the webs dusky; head light yellowish-grey, its upper part and nape much darker and barred with dusky, the rest dotted with the same; lower part of neck, sides of body, fore part of back, and outer scapulars, undulated with dusky and yellowish-white, the bands much larger and semicircular on the fore part of the neck and breast; the latter white; abdomen faintly and minutely undulated with brownish-grey; elongated scapulars brownish-grey, broadly margined with brownish-red; hind part of back brownish-black, rump and upper and lower tail-coverts bluish-black; anterior smaller wing-coverts light grey undulated with dusky, middle coverts deep chestnut-red; primary coverts brownish-grey, outer secondary coverts darker and tinged with chestnut, the rest black, excepting the inner which are grey; primaries and inner elongated secondaries brownish-grey, of which colour also are the inner webs of the rest; part of the outer webs, of five of the outer black, and their terminal margins, white, of which colour are the whole outer webs of the three next to the inner elongated quills; tail brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler. Female with the bill dusky along the ridge, upper part of head brownish-black, the feathers edged with light reddish-brown; a streak over the eye, the cheeks, the upper part of the neck all round, light yellowish-red tinged with grey, and marked with small longitudinal dusky streaks, which are fainter on the throat, that part being greyish-white; the rest of the neck, the sides, all the upper parts, and the lower rump-feathers brownish-black broadly margined with yellowish-red; wing-coverts brownish-grey, edged with paler; wing with the speculum fainter; tail-feathers and their coverts dusky, laterally obliquely indented with pale brownish-red, and margined with reddish-white.

Male, 21³/₄, 35. Female, 19¹/₄, 31.

Breeds in Texas, and westward to the Columbia River, Fur Countries, and sometimes in the States of New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. Rather common in autumn and spring in the middle Atlantic districts; more so in the Southern and Western States.

Gadwall, Anas strepera, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 120.

Anas strepera, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

Anas (Chauliodus) strepera, Gadwall, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 440.

Gadwall or Grey, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 383.

Gadwall Duck, Anas strepera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 353.

390. 5. Anas Americana, Gmel. American Widgeon.

Plate CCCXLV. Male and Female.

Tail short, pointed, of sixteen feathers. Male with the bill and feet light greyish-blue; upper part of head white, more or less mottled with dusky on the sides; loral space and cheeks reddish-white, dotted with greenish-black; a broad band from the eye to behind the occiput deep green; lower part of hind neck, scapulars, and fore part of back, minutely transversely undulated with brownish-black and light brownish-red; the hind part similarly undulated with blackish-brown and greyish-white; smaller wing-coverts brownish-grey; primary quills and coverts dark greyish-brown; secondary coverts white, tipped with black; speculum duck-green, anteriorly bounded by the black tips of the secondary coverts, black behind, internally black with white streaks, the inner elongated secondaries having their outer webs black, margined with white, their inner webs brownish-grey; tail-feathers light brownish-grey; throat brownish-black, lower part of neck in front, and fore part of breast light brownish-red; breast, belly, and sides of rump, white; sides of body finely undulated with white and dusky; rump beneath and lower tail-coverts black. Female similar, with less white on the head, the back duller and less undulated; the wings greyish-brown, the secondary coverts tipped with white, secondary quills brownish-black, inner greyish-brown, all margined with white; tail-feathers greyish-brown, edged with white, lower parts white, except the feathers of the sides and under the tail, which are broadly barred with dusky and light reddish-brown. Perhaps not distinct from Anas Penelope.

Male, 20¹/₂, 34¹/₂. Female, 18, 30.

Breeds in Texas, and in the Northern Districts. Abundant in the south and west in winter. Columbia River. Middle Atlantic districts in autumn and spring.

American Widgeon, Anas americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 86.

Anas americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 384.

Mareca americana, Steph. American Widgeon, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 445.

American Widgeon, Anas americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 389.

American Widgeon, Anas americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 337.

391. 6. Anas acuta, Linn. Pintail Duck.

Plate CCXXVII. Male and Female.

Tail tapering, of fourteen tapering feathers, of which the two middle project far beyond the rest. Male with the bill black, the sides of upper mandible pale blue; feet greyish-blue; head, throat, and upper part of neck anteriorly greenish-brown, faintly margined behind with purplish-red; a small part of hind neck dark green; the rest and the upper part in general beautifully undulated with very narrow bars of brownish-black and yellowish-white, smaller wing-coverts, alula, and primary quills grey, the latter dark brown toward the end; speculum coppery-red, changing to dull green, edged anteriorly with light brownish-red, posteriorly with white; inner secondaries and scapulars black and green with broad grey margins; upper tail-coverts cream-coloured, the outer webs blackish and green; tail light grey, the middle feathers dark brown glossed with green; on each side of the neck an oblique band of white, of which colour are the lower parts in general, but the sides undulated like the back, the lateral feathers of the rump cream-coloured, the lower tail-coverts black, and those at the sides edged with white. Female with the upper parts variegated with brownish-black and light yellowish-brown, the margins of the feathers, and a mark on each side of the shaft being of the latter colour; the speculum dusky green, margined behind with white; primary quills greyish-brown; lower parts light brownish-yellow, sides variegated with brown.

Male, 29, 36. Female, 22¹/₂, 34.

From Texas, throughout the interior, to the Columbia River, and along the Atlantic coast to Maine, during winter, and early spring. Breeds in the Arctic regions. Abundant.

Pintail Duck, Anas acuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 72.

Anas acuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

Anas caudacuta, Pintail Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 441.

Pintail or Winter Duck, Anas acuta, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 386.

Pintail Duck, Anas acuta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 214; v. v. p. 615.

392. 7. Anas Sponsa, Linn. Wood Duck.—Summer Duck.

Plate CCVI. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and upper and hind part of neck elongated and incurved, inner secondaries very broad, tail much rounded, of sixteen feathers; bill bright red at the base, yellow on the sides, ridge and unguis black; feet greenish-yellow; upper part of head and loral space deep green; below the eye a patch of dark purple, behind it a larger patch of the same colour; sides of neck, its hind part under the crest, and the middle all round, very dark purple; a narrow line along the base of the upper mandible and over the eye, meeting on the occiput, pure white, as are some of the feathers of the crest; another from behind the eye meeting below the occiput, and including several of the lower elongated feathers; throat pure white, with a process on each side a little beyond the eye, and another nearly half-way down the neck; sides of the neck and its lower part anteriorly reddish-purple, each feather on the latter with a triangular white tip; middle of the neck behind, back and rump, very dark reddish-brown, the latter deeper, and tinged with green; upper tail-coverts and tail greenish-black; some of the lateral tail-coverts dull reddish-purple, a few on either side with their central filaments light red; smaller wing-coverts, alula, and primaries dull greyish-brown, most of the latter, with part of the outer web greyish-white, and the inner toward the end darker and glossed with green; secondary quills tipped with white, the outer webs green, with purple reflections, those of the inner secondaries and scapulars velvet-black, their inner webs partially glossed and changing to green; the broad feathers anterior to the wings white, terminated with black; breast and abdomen greyish-white; feathers under the wings yellowish-grey, minutely undulated with black, and tipped with a white and two black bands; lower wing-coverts and axillar feathers white, barred with greyish-brown; lower tail-coverts dull greyish-brown. Female with the bill blackish-brown, the feet dull green; upper part of head dusky glossed with green, sides of head and neck, with hind part of latter, light brownish-grey; throat white, but without the lateral processes; fore part of neck below and sides light yellowish-brown, mottled with dark greyish-brown, as are the sides under the wings; breast and abdomen white, the former spotted with brown; hind neck, back, and rump dark brown, glossed with green and purple; wings as in the male, but the speculum less, and the secondaries externally faint reddish-purple, the velvet-black of the male diminished to a few narrow markings; tail dark brown, glossed with green; lower tail-coverts pale greyish-brown, mottled with white.

Male, 20¹/₂, 28. Female, 19¹/₂.

Breeds throughout the country from Texas to the Columbia, and eastward to Nova Scotia. Fur Countries. Accumulates in the Southern Districts in winter.

Summer Duck or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. viii. p. 97.

Dendronessa sponsa, Summer Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 446.

Summer or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 394.

Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 52; v. v. p. 618.

393. 8. Anas Carolinensis, Steph. American Green-winged Teal.

Plate CCXXVIII. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and upper part of hind neck elongated; tail short, acuminate, of sixteen feathers; bill black, feet light bluish-grey; head and upper part of neck chestnut-red; a broad band, narrowing backwards, from the eye, down the back of the neck, deep shining green, edged with black below, under which is a whitish line, meeting before the eye another that curves forward and downward to the angle of the mouth; chin brownish-black, as are the feathers at the base of the upper mandible; upper parts and flanks beautifully undulated with brownish-black and white lines; anterior to the wings a short broad transverse band of white; wings brownish-grey; speculum in its lower half velvet-black, the upper bright green, changing to purple, and edged above with black, behind margined with white, before with reddish-white; tail brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler; upper coverts brownish-black, edged with light yellowish-grey; lower part of neck partly barred as behind, yellowish-white and spotted with black, as is the fore part of the breast; abdomen white, faintly barred with grey; a patch of black under the tail; lateral tail-coverts cream-coloured, the larger black, with broad white margins and tips. Female with the head and neck streaked with dark brown and light red, the fore neck whitish, the upper parts mottled with dark brown, the anterior feathers barred, the posterior margined with yellowish-white; the speculum less extensive; the lower part of fore neck tinged with yellowish-red, and mottled with dark brown, as are the sides; the rest of the lower parts white. This species differs from Anas Crecca chiefly in having a white band before the wing, which the European bird has not, while the latter has the greater part of the outer webs of most of the scapulars white, there being none of that colour on those of our bird.

Male, 14³/₄, 24. Female, 13³/₄, 22¹/₂.

Dispersed throughout the country during autumn and spring. Extremely abundant during winter in all the Southern States and Texas. Breeds sparingly along the Great Lakes, and far north.

Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 101.

Anas Crecca, Bonap. Syn. p. 386.

American Teal, Anas Crecca, var. Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 400.

Anas Crecca, Green-winged Teal, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 400.

Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 218; v. v. p. 616.

394. 9. Anas discors, Linn. Blue-winged Teal.

Plate CCCXIII. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and hind neck slightly elongated, the tail rounded, acuminate, of fourteen feathers; bill bluish-black; feet dull yellow; upper part of head black; a semilunar white patch on the side of the head before the eye, margined before and behind with black, the rest of the head and the anterior parts of the neck purplish-blue, with purplish-red reflections; lower hind neck and fore part of back brownish-black, glossed with green, each feather with a curved band of pale reddish-buff, and a line or band of the same in the centre, the hind part of the back greenish-brown, the feathers edged with paler; smaller wing-coverts light blue; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills greyish-brown, edged with pale bluish; outer secondaries of the same colour, those of the speculum duck-green, changing to blue and bronze, with a narrow line of white along their terminal margin; the inner greenish-black on the outer web, greenish-brown on the inner, with a central line and narrow external margin of pale reddish-buff; the more elongated scapulars similar, but some of them margined with greenish-blue; secondary coverts greenish-brown, the outer tipped with white, the inner with blue; tail-feathers chocolate-brown, slightly glossed with green, their margin buffy; lower parts pale reddish-orange, shaded on the breast with purplish-red, and thickly spotted with black, the number of spots on each feather varying from eight to twenty-five, those on the upper and hind parts of the sides running into transverse bars; axillar feathers, some of the lower wing-coverts, and a patch on the side of the rump pure white; lower tail-coverts brownish-black. Female with the upper parts blackish-brown, the lower lighter, the feathers edged with greyish-white, the throat and lore whitish; the smaller wing-coverts light blue, but the scapulars without that colour.

Male, 16, 31¹/₄. Female, 15, 24.

Breeds in Texas and westward. Great Lakes. Fur Countries. Columbia River. Very abundant in autumn and spring in the Middle Atlantic Districts, as well as in the interior. Abundant also in all the Southern States.

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 74.

Anas discors, Bonap. Syn. p. 385.

Anas discors, Blue-winged Teal, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 444.

Blue-winged Teal, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 397.

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 111.

395. 10. Anas clypeata, Linn. Shoveller Duck.—Micoine.

Plate CCCXXVII. Male and Female.

Male with the bill longer than the head, depressed and much widened towards the end, where its breadth is doubled; laminæ of the upper mandible very numerous, prolonged beyond the edges and tapering to a point, unless at the commencement of its broadest part; tail rounded, of fourteen acute feathers; bill greyish-black; feet vermilion; head and upper part of neck deep green with purple reflections; a longitudinal band on the hind neck and the back, greyish-brown, the feathers edged with paler; rump and upper tail-coverts greenish-black; anterior scapulars white, posterior light blue on the outer web, longitudinally banded with white and greenish-black on the inner; smaller wing-coverts light blue; alula, primary coverts and quills blackish-brown, their shafts white; outer secondaries greyish-brown, eight of them externally of a rich duck-green, the inner greenish-black, with a longitudinal white streak; secondary coverts broadly tipped with white; tail-feathers greyish-brown, margined with reddish-white; lower part of neck pure white; breast and middle part of abdomen dull purplish-chestnut; a large patch of white on each side of the rump, with a band of the same towards the tail; lower tail-coverts greenish-black; axillaries and lower wing-coverts pure white. Female with the bill much less dilated, and the laminæ less elongated; the bill dull green; feathers of the upper parts blackish-brown, edged with light reddish-brown; throat and sides of the head light reddish-brown, which is the prevailing colour over the lower part of the neck, part of the breast, and the sides, of which, however, the feathers are edged with dusky, middle of breast whitish; smaller wing-coverts dull brownish-grey; alula and primaries as in the male; inner secondaries brownish-black, speculum as in the male but paler, and changing to blue.

Male, 20¹/₂, 31¹/₂. Female, 17, 29¹/₂.

Breeds abundantly in the Texas, westward to the Columbia, and Fur Countries. During winter from the Middle Atlantic Districts to Texas. Common.

Shoveller, Anas clypeata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 45.

Anas clypeata, Bonap. Syn. p. 382.

Anas clypeata, Shoveller, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 439.

Shoveller, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 383.

Shoveller Duck, Anas clypeata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 241.

GENUS V. FULIGULA. SEA-DUCK.

Bill about the length of the head or shorter, higher than broad at the base, depressed toward the end, the margins parallel, slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded, the frontal angles rather pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line generally declinate, but various at the base, being often prominent, the ridge broad at the base, narrowed at the middle, enlarged and convex at the end, the sides nearly erect at the base, gradually more declinate, the edges soft and internally lamellate, the unguis oblong and decurved; lower mandible flattened, being but slightly convex, with the angle very long and rather narrow, the dorsal line very short and straight, the edges internally lamellate, the unguis flat, obovato-elliptical. Nostrils submedial, linear-oblong, rather large, near the ridge, in an oblong depression covered with the soft membrane of the bill. Head rather large, compressed, convex above; neck of moderate length, rather thick; body full, depressed. Feet very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly with narrow scutella continuous with those of the middle toe, and having another series commencing half-way down and continuous with those of the outer toe; hind toe small, with an inner expanded margin; middle toe nearly double the length of the tarsus, outer a little shorter, all scutellate. Claws small, compressed, that of the first toe very small and curved. Plumage dense, firm, blended. Wings shortish, narrow, pointed, first and second quills longest; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. Tail very short, rounded or cuneate, of fourteen or more feathers. Œsophagus rather wide, considerably dilated at the lower part of the neck; stomach an extremely muscular, roundish gizzard; intestine long and wide; cœca long. Trachea of the males with a transverse, bony, unsymmetrical dilatation at the inferior larynx.

* Bill of ordinary length, broad, without enlargements at the base, unguis small, decurved.

396. 1. Fuligula Valisneriana, Wils. Canvass Back Duck.

Plate CCCI. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill black; upper part of head and a space along the base of the bill dusky, a small transverse band of white on the chin; the rest of the head and the neck all round for more than half its length, rich brownish-red; a broad belt of brownish-black occupying the lower part of the neck and the fore part of the body; upper parts white, minutely undulated with dark grey or blackish; primary quills brownish-black, tinged with grey towards the base; secondaries ash-grey, toward the end whitish and undulated, five of them also having a narrow strip of black along their outer margin; rump and tail-coverts above and below brownish-black; tail brownish-grey; lower parts white, the sides and abdomen marked with five undulating grey lines. Female with the upper parts greyish-brown, the top of the head darker, the chin whitish, the neck greyish-brown, as are the sides and abdomen; breast white; wing-coverts brownish-grey; primary quills greyish-brown, dusky at the end, secondaries ash-grey, five of the inner with an external black margin; the innermost greyish-brown, like the back, and with some of the scapulars faintly undulated with darker; tail greyish-brown, paler at the end; axillars and smaller under wing-coverts white.

Male, 22, 33. Female, 20¹/₄, 30³/₄.

Abundant during winter from the mouth of the Delaware to New Orleans, in all the estuaries. Columbia River. Breeds on the Rocky Mountains and northward.

Canvass-backed Duck, Anas valisneria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 103.

Fuligula valisneria, Bonap. Syn. p. 392.

Fuligula valisneria, Canvass-back Duck, Swains. &. Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.

Canvass-backed Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 430.

Canvass-back Duck, Fuligula valisneriana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 1.

397. 2. Fuligula Ferina, Linn. Red-headed Duck.—Dos-gris.

Plate CCCXXII. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head, tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill light greyish-blue, with a broad band of black at the end, and a dusky patch anterior to the nostrils; head and neck all round, for more than half its length, of a rich brownish-red, glossed with carmine above; a broad belt of brownish-black occupying the lower part of the neck and the fore part of the body; back and scapulars pale greyish-white, being minutely traversed by dark brownish-grey lines; sides and abdomen similar, the undulations gradually fading away into the greyish-white of the middle of the breast; upper wing-coverts brownish-grey, the feathers faintly undulated with whitish toward the end; primary quills brownish-grey, dusky along the outer web and at the end; secondaries ash-grey, narrowly tipped with white, four or five of the inner of a purer tint tinged with blue, and having a narrow brownish-black line along the margin; the innermost like the scapulars, but more dusky; tail brownish-grey; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts white; rump above and below brownish-black. Female with the head and upper part of the neck dull reddish-brown, darker above; the rest of the neck all round, and the upper parts in general, dull greyish-brown, the feathers paler at their tips; flanks and fore part of the neck dull reddish-brown, the feathers broadly tipped with pale greyish-brown; wings as in the male, but of a darker tint, and without undulations; tail as in the male; lower wing-coverts light grey, those in the middle white; middle of breast greyish-white, hind part of abdomen light brownish-grey.

Male, 20, 33. Female, 21, 32¹/₂.

Breeds throughout the Fur Countries, from which it migrates southward in early autumn. Abundant on the Chesapeake, New York Bay, Ohio, and Mississippi, with their tributaries. None seen westward of the Mississippi.

Red-headed Duck, Anas Ferina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 110.

Fuligula Ferina, Bonap. Syn. p. 392.

Fuligula Ferina, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 452.

Red-headed Duck or Pochard, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 434.

Red-headed Duck, Fuligula Ferina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 198.

398. 3. Fuligula Marila, Linn. Scaup Duck.—Flocking Fowl.

Plate CCXXIX. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head, enlarged toward the end; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill light greyish-blue, the unguis blackish; head, neck, and fore part of the back and breast black, the head and neck glossed with purple and green, the rest tinged with brown; hind part of back, rump, abdomen, and upper and lower tail-coverts brownish-black; middle of back, scapulars, inner secondaries, anterior part of abdomen, and sides greyish-white, beautifully marked with undulating black lines; wings light brownish-grey; alula, primaries, at the base and end, brownish-black; speculum white, as are the middle of the breast, the axillars, and some of the lower wing-coverts. Female with the head, neck, and fore part of the back and breast, umber-brown; a broad patch of white along the fore part of the forehead; upper parts in general blackish-brown, the middle of the back and the scapulars faintly undulated with whitish dots and lines; primary quills greyish in the middle; speculum dull white; the greater part of the breast and abdomen white, the sides and parts under the tail umber-brown.

Male, 16¹/₂, 29. Female, 16¹/₂, 28.

Abundant during autumn on the Ohio and its tributaries, as well as those of the Missouri and the Mississippi. Rather common also along the Middle Atlantic Districts. Breeds far north.

Scaup Duck, Anas Marila, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 84.

Fuligula Marila, Scaup Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 456.

Scaup Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 437.

Scaup Duck, Fuligula Marila, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 226; v. v. p. 614.

399. 4. Fuligula rufitorques, Bonap. Ring-necked Duck.

Plate CCXXXIV. Male and Female.

Bill about the same length as the head, a little enlarged toward the end; tail much rounded, of sixteen feathers; occiput slightly crested. Male with the bill black, with a basal and subterminal line bluish-white; head and upper part of neck greenish-black, with purple reflections; a very narrow brownish-red collar; lower part of neck all round, as well as the back, scapulars, smaller wing-coverts, and rump above and below, brownish-black; inner secondaries of the same colour, outer bluish-grey on the outer web, light brown on the inner, as are the primaries, of which the outer webs and tips are dark brown; tail brownish-grey; chin white; breast greyish-white; sides and abdomen greyish-white, minutely undulated with grey. Female with the bill dusky, the neck umber-brown, upper part of head darker, back blackish-brown, speculum bluish-grey as in the male; breast brownish-white; loral space and chin pale brown; sides and abdomen dark umber-brown.

Male, 18, 28. Female, 16.

Abundant on the Ohio during autumn, winter, and early spring; rather rare along the coasts of the Middle Atlantic Districts. Breeds far north.

Fuligula rufitorques, Bonap. Syn. p. 393.

Tufted Duck, Anas Fuligula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 60.

Ring-necked Duck, Anas (Fuligula) rufitorques, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 453.

Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufitorques, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 439.

Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufitorques, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 259.

** Bill very broad, much flattened, the unguis abruptly curved backwards.

400. 5. Fuligula rubida, Wils. Ruddy Duck.

Plate CCCXLIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail short, much graduated, of eighteen stiff, narrow feathers; plumage of lower parts stiff and glossy. Male with the bill light greyish-blue; upper part of head and nape deep bluish-black; a large white patch on each side of the head, from the bill to behind the ear; neck all round, all the upper parts, and sides glossy chestnut-red; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with brown, and marked with transverse interrupted bands of dusky; wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers blackish-brown. Female with the bill darker, the crown, and all the upper parts dark reddish-brown, minutely dotted and undulated with dusky; lower parts duller, but similarly marked; throat, and a band from the base of the upper mandible to beneath the eye, brownish-white. Young, in second plumage, reddish-brown above, barred with dusky; wings and tail dark greyish-brown; cheeks, fore part and sides of neck, and all the lower parts dull yellowish-white, undulated with dusky, as in the rump above; lower tail-coverts white.

Male, 14³/₄, 21¹/₂.

Ruddy Duck, Anas rubida, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 137.

Fuligula rubida, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Fuligula rubida, Ruddy Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 455.

Ruddy Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 426.

Ruddy Duck, Fuligula rubida, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 326.

*** Bill semicylindrical, at the end enlarged by soft membranous expansions, the unguis broadly obovate and incurved.

401. 6. Fuligula Labradora, Lath. Pied Duck.

Plate CCCXXXII. Male and Female.

Bill nearly as long as the head; tail much rounded, of fourteen tapering feathers. Male with the bill pale greyish-blue at the base above, dull orange on the sides, black toward the end; head and upper half of neck white, except an elongated patch of black on the crown and nape; below the middle of the neck a black ring, from the hind part of which proceeds a longitudinal band of the same colour, gradually becoming wider on the back and rump; below the black ring anteriorly, a broad band of white, including the scapulars; all the under parts black, excepting the axillaries and lower wing-coverts, which are white, as are the upper wing-coverts and secondary quills, some of the inner secondaries having a narrow external black margin; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills brownish-black; tail brownish-black, tinged with grey; upper tail-coverts dusky, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. Female brownish-grey, darker on the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, lighter on the throat, breast, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries, which latter are margined externally with black; seven or eight of the secondaries white, as are the sides of the forehead.

Male, 20, 30. Female, 18¹/₄, 29.

Along the shores of the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to New Jersey, rather rare, in winter. Breeds from Labrador northward. Never seen in the interior.

Pied Duck, Anas labradora, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 91.

Fuligula labradora, Bonap. Syn. p. 391.

Pied Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 428.

Pied Duck, Fuligula labradora, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 271.

**** Bill about the length of the head, very broad; upper mandible with a prominence at the base above, and two lateral protuberances; unguis very large, slightly arched.

402. 7. Fuligula fusca, Linn. Velvet Duck.

Bill with an abrupt prominence in front, the lateral protuberances covered with feathers; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff, narrow feathers. Male with the basal prominence and sides at the base black, toward the end bright red; unguis flesh-coloured, with a black line on each side; feet carmine on the outer, orange-red on the inner side, webs greyish-black; plumage brownish-black, glossed with blue above, lighter beneath; outer secondary quills and a spot beneath the eye white. Female with the bill dusky, its basal prominence slight; plumage sooty-brown, breast and abdomen lighter; two whitish spots on each side of the head; outer secondary quills white, as in the male.

Male, 22, 39. Female, 22, 38.

From the coast of Georgia eastward to Nova Scotia, during winter, when it is extremely abundant in all the estuaries and bays. Breeds from Labrador northward.

Velvet Duck, Anas fusca, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 137.

Fuligula fusca, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Oidemia fusca, Velvet Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 449.

Velvet Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 419.

Velvet Duck, Fuligula fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 354.

403. 8. Fuligula perspicillata, Linn. Surf Duck.

Plate CCCXVII. Male and Female.

Bill with a gently sloping prominence in front, the lateral protuberances bare; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff narrow feathers. Male with the bill deep reddish-orange, bluish-white on the sides, with a black patch, the unguis greyish-yellow; tarsi and toes orange-red, webs dusky; plumage deep black, glossed with blue; a white patch on the top of the head, and another on the nape. Female with the bill greenish-black; the plumage brownish-black, darker on the top of the head, back, wings, and tail.

Male, 20, 33¹/₂. Female, 19, 31¹/₂.

Abundant from Nova Scotia to Maryland during winter, and removing southward to the mouth of the Mississippi in severe weather. Never seen in the interior. Breeds from Labrador northwards.

Black or Surf Duck, Anas perspicillata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 49.

Fuligula perspicillata, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Oidemia perspicillata, Surf Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 449.

Black or Surf Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 416.

Surf Duck, Fuligula perspicillata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 161.

404. 9. Fuligula Americana, Swains. American Scoter Duck.

Plate CCCCVIII. Male and Female.

Bill a little shorter than the head, with an obtuse prominence at the base of the upper mandible; tail graduated, acuminate, of sixteen pointed feathers; first quill with the inner web extremely attenuated. Male with the bill black, the basal prominence rich orange; feet brownish-black; the general colour of the plumage black, on the lower parts tinged with brown, the inner webs of the quills brownish-grey. Female with the bill brownish-black, and having scarcely any protuberance at the base; the upper parts light sooty-brown, the lower light brownish-grey.

This species differs very little from Fuligula nigra, being nearly of the same size, proportions, and colours. The male differs from that of the other species in having the sides of the unguis narrowed, and the orange patch on the upper mandible less extended beyond the nostrils, and destitute of the median black line and lateral streak.

Male, 19, 33¹/₂. Female, 17, 29¹/₂.

In winter abundant in the Bays of Boston, New York, and Chesapeake, and as far south as the mouth of the Mississippi. Never inland. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic seas.

Scoter Duck, Anas nigra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 135.

Fuligula nigra, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Oidemia americana, Swains. American Scoter, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.

American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 422.

American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 117.

***** Bill shorter than the head, with a basal protuberance above, the inner secondaries curved outwards.

405. 10. Fuligula spectabilis, Linn. King Duck.

Plate CCLXXVI. Male and Female.

Upper mandible with a soft tumid compressed substance at the base, extending perpendicularly upon the forehead, and by a medial band of feathers divided into two broad lobes; tail much rounded, of fourteen stiff feathers. Male with the bill flesh-coloured. The sides of the upper mandible and soft frontal lobes bright orange; band of feathers separating the frontal lobes and margining their upper and posterior edges, lower eyelid, and a forked patch on the throat, black; upper part of head ash-grey; hair-like feathers on the sides of the head pale bluish-green; fore neck cream-coloured; sides and hind part of neck, a patch on the wings, and another on each side of the rump, white; hind part of back, scapulars, large wing-coverts, and secondary quills, brownish-black, the latter glossed with green; primary quills and tail blackish-brown; breast and abdomen blackish-brown; lower wing-coverts white, the outer brown. Female with the bill shorter, pale greenish-grey, with the tumid basal lobes scarcely apparent, so that the forehead is low; head and neck pale greyish-yellow, with small lines of brownish-black; feathers of the back brownish-black towards the end, with yellowish-grey edges; the scapulars brownish-red on the margins; quills and tail-feathers deep greyish-brown; fore part of neck, breast, sides, and lower tail-coverts, with a central mark and submarginal band of brownish-black, the middle of the breast scarcely spotted, being of the general colour of the lower parts, which is pale yellowish-brown.

Male, 25; wing, 11¹/₄. Female, 20; wing, 10¹/₂.

Rare in Massachusetts during winter. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Seas.

Fuligula spectabilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Somateria spectabilis, King Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 447.

King Duck, Fuligula spectabilis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 414.

King Duck, Fuligula spectabilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 523.

406. 11. Fuligula mollissima, Linn. Eider Duck.

Plate CCXLVI. Male and Female.

Male with the bill nearly as long as the head, greyish-yellow, the upper mandible with a soft tumid substance at the base, extending upon the forehead, and deeply divided into two narrow rounded lobes, its whole surface marked with divergent oblique lines; tail much rounded, of sixteen narrow feathers; the upper part of the head bluish-black, with the central part white; the hair-like feathers on the upper part and sides of the neck of a delicate pale green; sides of the head, throat, and neck white; fore neck at its lower part cream-coloured; the rest of the lower surface brownish-black, as are the upper tail-coverts, and the central part of the rump; the rest of the back, scapulars, smaller wing-coverts, and inner curved secondary quills white, the scapulars tinged with yellow; secondary coverts and outer secondaries brownish-black; primaries and tail-coverts greyish-brown. Female with the bill shorter, pale greyish-green, its tumid basal part much less and narrower; head and neck all round light brownish-red, with small lines of brownish-black; lower part of neck all round, the whole upper surface, the sides and lower tail-coverts light brownish-red, with transverse brownish-black markings; secondary quills and coverts greyish-brown, tipped with white; primaries brownish-black; tail-feathers greyish-brown; breast and abdomen greyish-brown, obscurely mottled.

Male, 25, 42. Female, 24, 39.

Breeds in Maine, on the Bay of Fundy, in Labrador, Newfoundland, as far northward as travellers have proceeded. Common in winter from Nova Scotia to Massachusetts; rarely seen in New York.

Eider Duck, Anas mollissima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 122.

Fuligula mollissima, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Somateria mollissima, Eider, Swains. &. Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 448.

Eider Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 406.

Eider Duck, Fuligula mollissima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 344; v. v. p. 611.

****** Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at the base, narrowed toward the end.

407. 12. Fuligula Clangula, Linn. Golden-eye Duck.

Plate CCCCIII. Male in summer.

Plate CCCXLII. Male and Female in winter.

Bill shorter than the head, very high at the base; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers. Male in summer with the bill black, feet orange-yellow, webs dusky; head and upper part of neck deep greenish-blue, changing to deep dusky purple; back, posterior scapulars, inner secondaries, edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer four secondaries black; an oblong curved or semilunar patch of white between the bill and eye; lower part of neck all round, sides of the body anteriorly, lower parts generally, scapulars, excepting their margins, which are black, a broad band across the wing formed by the first row of small coverts, and several of the others, of which the base only is black, and a large patch formed by the tips of some of the secondary coverts, and six of the secondary quills, pure white; the two patches on the wings separated by an intervening band of black; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts dusky; elongated feathers of the sides with the inner, some of them also the outer margins, and many with a large portion of the tip black, that colour on those of the innermost covering the whole inner webs; tail brownish-grey. Male in winter similar, but with the white patch on the side of the head elliptical, and the black band separating the white patches on the wing not apparent, although seen on turning aside the tips of the smaller coverts. Female with the bill dusky, but having a portion toward the end yellow; head and upper part of neck dull reddish-brown; lower part of the neck and sides of the body brownish-grey, the feathers margined with pale grey, the rest of the lower parts white; upper parts greyish-brown, much darker behind; wings brownish-black, seven of the coverts, unless at the base, white; the small coverts lighter and tipped with grey; tail brownish-grey.

Male, 20, 31¹/₂. Female, 16, 28.

Abundant during winter on all the running streams of the interior, as well as along the Atlantic coast, as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high northern latitudes. Accidental in the North-eastern Districts. Rocky Mountains, and Columbia River.

Golden-eye, Anas Clangula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 62.

Fuligula Clangula, Bonap. Syn. p. 393.

Clangula vulgaris, Common Golden-eye, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 456.

Clangula Barrovii, Rocky-mountain Garrot, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 453.

Common Golden-eye, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 441.

Golden-eye Duck, Fuligula Clangula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 318; v. v. p. 105.

408. 13. Fuligula dispar, Gmel. Western Duck.

Plate CCCCXXX. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, greyish-blue; tail rather short, pointed, of fourteen feathers; upper part of head and broad band surrounding the neck, white; throat and some feathers around the eye black; a light green patch in the loral space, and a transverse patch of the same on the nape, margined behind and laterally with black; a broad band on the neck and the whole of the back velvet-black, with green reflections; smaller wing-coverts white; secondary coverts bluish-black, terminating in a broad white band; elongated secondaries and scapulars with the inner web white, the outer black, with blue reflections; primaries and coverts brownish-black; tail black, as are the lower tail-coverts and abdomen; the breast and sides reddish-buff, fading towards the shoulders and neck into pure white; a bluish-black spot on each side of the lower part of the neck anterior to the wing.

Male, 16; wing, 8³/₄.

North-west coast.

Anas dispar and Anas Stelleri, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 535, 518.

Fuligula Stelleri, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Western Duck, Fuligula dispar, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 253.

409. 14. Fuligula Albeola, Linn. Buffel-headed Duck.—Spirit Duck. Butter-box. Dipper. Die-dipper. Marrionette.

Plate CCCXXV. Male and Female.

Bill much shorter than the head, light greyish-blue; feet pale flesh-colour; feathers of head and upper part of neck elongated; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers; fore part of head of a deep rich green, upper part rich purplish-blue, as are the elongated feathers on the fore part and sides of the neck; the hind part of the latter deep green; a broad band of pure white from one cheek to the other over the occiput; rest of the neck, lower parts, outer scapulars, and a large patch on the wing, including the greater part of the small coverts, and some of the secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars narrowly margined with black, as are the inner lateral feathers; axillars brownish-black, some of them white on the margin and towards the end; lower wing-coverts brownish-black, the smaller tipped with white; back, inner scapulars, and secondary quills velvet-black; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills deep black; rump gradually fading to greyish-white; tail-feathers brownish-grey, with the tips whitish. Female much smaller, with the feathers of the head not elongated, unless in the median line; bill darker, feet greyish-blue; head, upper part of neck, hind neck, back, and wings, greyish-brown; a short transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a slight speck of the same on the lower eyelid; six of the secondary quills white on the outer web; lower parts white, shaded into light greyish-brown on the sides.

Male, 14¹/₂, 23. Female, 13, 22¹/₄.

Distributed throughout the country and along the Atlantic shores during autumn, winter, and spring. Texas, Upper California, Columbia River. Breeds very far north.

Buffel-headed Duck, Anas albeola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 51.

Fuligula albeola, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Clangula albeola, Spirit Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 458.

Spirit Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 445.

Buffel-headed Duck, Fuligula albeola, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 217.

410. 15. Fuligula histrionica, Linn. Harlequin Duck.

Plate CCXCVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill much shorter than the head, comparatively narrow, light yellowish-olive; feet light greyish-blue, the webs dusky; a broad median band from the base of the bill to the occiput bluish-black, margined behind with light yellowish-red, before with white, that colour forming a broad triangular spot on the cheek anterior to the eye; sides of the head and neck all round purplish-blue; a spot of white behind the ear, a curved line on the side of the neck, and a complete ring below the middle of the neck, with a curved band of the same anterior to the wing, all broadly edged with black; fore part of back light purplish-blue, hind part gradually deepening in tint, so as to become almost black, of which colour is the rump all round; scapulars chiefly white; wing-coverts purplish-blue, as are the alula and primary coverts; the quills dark greyish-brown; tail greyish-black; a band of white across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondaries, of which the inner have their outer webs principally of the same colour; fore part of breast purplish-blue, hind part and abdomen greyish-brown, sides light red, generally undulated with dusky; a lateral spot of white near the root of the tail. Female greyish-brown, deeper on the head and rump, lighter on the fore neck, and mottled with greyish-white on the breast; quills dark brown, edged with lighter, tail blackish-grey; a large whitish spot mottled with grey before the eye, and another of a purer white behind the ear; bill and feet dull bluish-grey.

Harlequin Duck, Anas histrionica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 139.

Fuligula histrionica, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Clangula histrionica, Harlequin Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 459.

Harlequin Duck, Fuligula histrionica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 612; v. v. p. 617.

411. 16. Fuligula glacialis, Linn. Long-tailed Duck.

Plate CCCXII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the bill black in its basal half, orange-yellow towards the end; the scapulars much elongated and tapering, the tail very long, acuminate, of fourteen feathers; a large oblong greyish-white patch on each side of the head from the bill to behind the ear; the upper part of the head and nape black, that colour being narrowed in front by the encroachment of the white patches; neck all round, and anterior half of the breast, dark chocolate; back and wing-coverts brownish-black; scapulars broadly margined with light reddish-brown; quills chocolate, secondaries externally margined with lighter, primaries internally; middle four feathers of the tail brownish-black, the outer two of these margined with white, all the rest white, but the inner with a longitudinal patch of dusky on the outer webs. Male in winter with the head, neck, fore part of back, and scapulars, white; space about the eye pale greyish-red, and a large oblong patch of chocolate-brown on the side of the neck; upper parts including the middle four tail-feathers, brownish-black, but the secondary quills tinged with reddish-brown, and having paler margins; anterior half of breast chocolate-brown, the rest of lower parts and the four lateral tail-feathers white. Female considerably smaller, with the scapulars not elongated, and the tail short and rounded; bill dusky green; head dark greyish-brown, with a patch of greyish-white surrounding the eye, but not extending to the bill; a large patch of the same colour on the side of the neck, the hind part of which is dusky brown, the fore part greyish-brown, the feathers broadly margined with whitish; the upper parts dark greyish-brown, the two lateral tail-feathers edged with white; lower parts white, the feathers under the wings slightly tinged with grey.

Male, 23, 29¹/₂. Female, 15³/₄, 26.

Breeds from Labrador northward to the Arctic Seas. Abundant during winter along the coasts of the Atlantic Districts to the mouth of the Mississippi. Never in the interior.

Long-tailed Duck, Anas glacialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 93.

Fuligula glacialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 395.

Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 460.

Long-tailed Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 453.

Long tailed Duck, Fuligula glacialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 103.

FAMILY XL. MERGINÆ. MERGANSERS.

Bill rather long, straight, rather slender but strong, tapering, higher than broad at the base, nearly cylindrical toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping gently to the middle, then straight, along the unguis suddenly decurved; the ridge broad and flattened at the base, then convex, the sides sloping, toward the end convex, the edges serrate internally with oblique dentiform lamellæ, the unguis oblong, much curved, abruptly rounded at the end; nasal groove elongated, covered by the soft skin of the bill; lower mandible with the angle very narrow and extended to the unguis, which is obovate, the sides nearly erect, with a long narrow groove, the edges internally serrate, the unguis convex, thick-edged. Head rather large, compressed, oblong; neck of moderate length; body full, depressed, rather elongated. Feet placed far behind, stout; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with small scutella, and another series on the lower half externally. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior toes half as long again as the tarsus, second shorter than the fourth, which is almost as long as the third, all scutellate, and connected by anteriorly concave webs. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, acute. Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy, blended beneath. Wings of moderate breadth, convex, acute; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. Tail short, much rounded, of more than twelve feathers. Upper mandible with an internal series of small papillæ or laminæ on each side, besides those on the margin. Tongue long, fleshy, emarginate and papillate at the base, tapering, with a double row of slender reversed papillæ along the upper surface, and two lateral series of filaments on each side, the tip lacerated; œsophagus very wide, of nearly uniform diameter; stomach a strong gizzard of moderate or small size, with the lateral muscles thick; epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine long, rather narrow; cœca rather long; cloaca globular. Trachea with one or two extensive dilatations, besides the enormously developed tympanum at the bifurcation; no inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in hollow trees. Eggs numerous.

GENUS I. MERGUS, Linn. MERGANSER.

Character as above.

412. 1. Mergus Merganser, Linn. Buff-breasted Merganser or Goosander.

Plate CCCXXXI. Male and Female.

Male with a short longitudinal crest, eighteen tail-feathers, the bill and feet of bright vermilion; the head and upper part of neck greenish-black, splendent, with bright green reflections; lower part of neck all round, and all the under parts of a delicate reddish-buff; sides of rump and part of abdomen greyish-white, finely undulated and dotted with dark grey; some of the lower wing-coverts dusky, the larger coverts grey; fore part of back and inner scapulars glossy black; hind part ash-grey, becoming lighter, and finally undulated on the rump; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers deep grey; outer scapulars white; a transverse band of black at the base of the wing concealed by the scapulars; wing-coverts white; alula, primary coverts and quills, and a band formed by the base of the first row of large coverts black; secondaries white, six of them margined externally with a black line. Female much smaller, with the crest much longer; the head and upper part of neck brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, the breast and abdomen tinged with buff; upper parts and sides ash-grey; smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries grey; bases and tips of secondary coverts black, the intermediate part white; middle secondaries white, outer and primaries greyish-black.

Male, 27, 36. Female, 24, 34.

In winter dispersed over the United States, and westward as far as Texas. Breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 68.

Mergus Merganser, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Mergus Merganser, Goosander, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 461.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 460.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 261.

413. 2. Mergus Serrator, Linn. Red-breasted Merganser.

Plate CCCCI. Male and Female.

Male with an elongated longitudinal double crest, eighteen tail-feathers, bill and feet deep carmine; head and upper part of neck glossy greenish-black, with bright green reflections along the sides, and purplish on the crest; a broad collar of white, succeeded by another of light brownish-red, longitudinally streaked with dusky; lower parts white, except the sides of the body and rump, which are transversely undulated with greyish-black, and the larger wing-coverts, which are ash-grey; fore part of back, and inner scapulars deep black; feathers anterior to the wing white, with a broad margin of black; some of the anterior wing-coverts ash-grey, the rest, the outer scapulars, and the terminal half of the secondary coverts, pure white; basal portion of the latter, primary coverts, and primary quills, black, the latter tinged with brownish-grey; secondaries white, with the base and the outer margin of most black, which colour predominates on the inner; middle and hind part of back ash-grey, undulated with white and dusky; tail brownish-grey. Female with crest shorter, the bill and feet paler; head and fore part of neck light reddish-brown; throat and under part white, excepting the sides and larger wing-coverts, which are brownish-grey; hind neck, back, tail-coverts, tail, scapulars, and wing-coverts brownish-grey; wings greyish-black, with a large white patch, formed by the terminal portions of the secondary coverts, and the greater part of some of the outer secondaries. Young, when fledged, resemble the female. Young, in down, with the head and hind neck reddish-brown, the back greyish-brown, with three white spots on each side, the lower parts greyish-white; a white band from the bill to the eye, a reddish-brown band under the eye, and along the side of the neck; the lower parts greyish-white.

Male, 24¹/₂, 33. Female, 24, 34¹/₂.

From Texas westward to the Columbia River and northward. Common during autumn and spring. Also throughout the United States, and along the Atlantic shores. Breeds from New York to Labrador and the Fur Countries, as well as along the Great Lakes, and on the Rocky Mountains.

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus Serrator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 91.

Mergus Serrator, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Mergus Serrator, Red-breasted Merganser, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 462.

Red-breasted Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 463.

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus Serrator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 92.

414. 3. Mergus cucullatus, Linn. Hooded Merganser.

Plate CCXXXIII. Male and Female.

Male with an elongated, compressed, rounded crest, the tail with eighteen feathers; bill black, feet yellowish-brown; upper part of the head, back, smaller wing-coverts, quills, and tail brownish-black; sides of the head, upper half of neck all round, the broad extremities of the large feathers on the shoulders, the scapulars, inner secondaries, and larger wing-coverts, greenish-black; a broad patch of white behind the eye, very conspicuous in the erected crest; lower part of neck and breast also white, as are the speculum and the central part of the inner secondaries; sides beautifully marked with undulated transverse lines of yellowish-brown and brownish-black; lower tail-coverts whitish, similarly undulated. Female much smaller, with the crest less elongated, and of looser texture; bill brownish-black, towards the base orange; upper part of head, including the crest, yellowish-brown; chin whitish; upper part of neck all round, and sides of head greyish-brown; general colour of the back, upper surface of wings, tail, and sides, blackish-brown, the feathers edged with paler. Young, when fledged, like the female, but with the crest shorter.

Male, 19, 26. Female, 17¹/₂, 24.

Breeds sparingly in South Carolina, along the Mississippi, Ohio, and the Great Lakes, as well as further northward. Abundant, during autumn and winter, on all the western and southern waters; rarer in the Middle Atlantic Districts.

Mergus cucullatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 79.

Mergus cucullatus, Hooded Merganser, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 463.

Hooded Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 465.

Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 246; v. v. p. 619.

415. 4. Mergus Albellus, Linn. White Merganser.—Smew. White Nun.

Plate CCCXLVII. Male and Female.

Male with a longitudinal crest; tail graduated, of sixteen feathers; bill black, feet livid blue; head, neck, lower parts, scapulars, and a patch on the wing, white; a short band on each side of the hind neck bordering the crest, duck-green; a broad patch on the lore and below the eye, a narrow band across the lower part of the hind neck, formed by single bars near the tips of the feathers, the middle of the back in nearly its whole length, a short transverse bar under the fore edge of the wing, the anterior margin to beyond the carpal joint, the outer edge of the scapulars, the primary coverts, secondary coverts, and outer secondary quills, excepting the tip of both, deep black; quills also black, of a less deep tint; hind part of back tinged with grey; rump and tail-feathers dusky grey; sides of body and rump white, finely undulated with blackish-grey. Female much smaller, similarly crested; all the lower parts white, excepting a belt across the lower fore part of the neck, and a narrow portion of the sides, which are pale grey; a patch of brownish-black on the lore and beneath the eye; upper part of head and half of hind neck light reddish-brown; the rest of hind neck and all the upper parts bluish-grey, darker behind, and in the middle of the back approaching to black; tail dusky grey; wings, bill, and feet as in the male.

Male, 17¹/₂, 27. Female, 15¹/₂, 25.

Exceedingly rare in America, one specimen only having been procured at New Orleans.

Smew or White Nun, Mergus Albellus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 126.

Mergus Albellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 398.

Smew or White Nun, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 467.

Smew or White Nun, Mergus Albellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 350.

FAMILY XLI. PELECANINÆ. PELICANS.

Bill longer than the head, rather slender, straight, upper mandible with the ridge separated from the side by a groove, and terminated by a narrow, generally decurved, pointed unguis; lower mandible with the crura elastic and extensile, the angle very long and narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, small, or obsolete. Space around and before the eye generally bare, as is a portion of the gular sac. Head generally of moderate size, but various; neck long; body elongated, rather slender. Feet short and stout; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus short, very stout, compressed, scaly or scutellate in front; toes four, all connected by webs, and scutellate; first small, fourth longest. Claws short, strong, curved, rather blunt, that of the third toe generally pectinate. Plumage soft, blended, on the back compact and imbricated. Wings long; tail of moderate length, narrow, rounded or tapering. Tongue extremely small, triangular, fleshy; œsophagus excessively wide; a gular sac, sometimes of enormous capacity; proventricular belt generally discontinuous; stomach very small, slightly muscular, epithelium smooth; a globular pyloric lobe; intestine very long and slender; cœca small, cylindrical; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, flattened; no inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. PHALACROCORAX, Briss. CORMORANT.

Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, nearly straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line concave, until on the unguis, where it is decurved, the ridge convex, flattened toward the end, separated from the sides by a narrow groove, the sides convex, the edge sharp and nearly straight as far as the unguis, which is decurved, convex above, acute, its tip ascending far beyond that of the lower; lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow towards the end, filled up by an extensile membrane, which extends to the level of the angle of the mouth; the outline of the crura very slightly convex, that of the terminal part descending and very slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip compressed, with its marginal outline decurved. Nostrils obliterated (in youth open). Head rather small, oblong; neck long and rather thick; body full, elongated, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed far behind; tibia feathered in its whole length; tarsus very short, strong, much depressed, covered all round with angular scales; a series on part of the inner side anteriorly, and another on the lower part of the outer, scutelliform. Toes all placed in the same plane, connected by webs, and covered above by very numerous oblique scutella; first the smallest, fourth the longest. Claws rather small, strong, compressed, acute, convex above, arched, that of the third toe pectinated on its inner edge. Plumage soft, generally blended, compact on the back and wings; the small gular sac, and the space before and beneath the eye, with the eyelids, bare. Wings of moderate size, broad; primaries curved, pointed, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, very narrow, much rounded, of twelve or more narrow strong-shafted feathers. Gular sac small; tongue extremely small; œsophagus very wide; proventricular glands disposed in two large roundish masses; stomach small, slightly muscular, inner coat smooth and soft; a globular or triangular pyloric lobe; duodenum at first curving upwards; intestine very long, and of moderate width; cœca small; rectum narrow; cloaca globular. Trachea considerably flattened; bronchi of moderate width.

416. 1. Phalacrocorax Carbo, Linn. Great Cormorant.

Plate CCLXVI. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail of fourteen feathers. In summer, a small longitudinal occipital black crest, and numerous linear elongated white feathers on the head and upper part of neck; bill dusky, with the lower mandible whitish toward the base; gular sac yellow; plumage black, glossed with deep greenish-blue; at the base of the gular sac a broad gorgelet of white; a patch of white on the side over the thigh; feathers of wings and part of the back dull bluish-grey, glossed with bronze, their fringe-like margins greenish-black; primary quills greyish-black, secondary like the other wing-feathers; tail greyish-black; shafts of all the feathers black at the end, leaden-grey towards the base. Female similar. After the breeding season the white feathers on the head and sides fall off. Young, before being fledged, with the skin dull livid, the bill dusky, at the base flesh-coloured, the feet purplish-dusky, the webs yellowish-brown.

Male, 37, 62.

Ranges during winter southward to New York. Abundant from Massachusetts eastward. Breeds on high precipitous rocks, in Newfoundland, Labrador, and Baffin's Bay. Migratory.

Phalacrocorax Carbo, Bonap. Syn. p. 402.

Cormorant, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 479.

Common Cormorant. Phalacrocorax Carbo, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 458.

417. 2. Phalacrocorax dilophus, Swains. Double-crested Cormorant.

Plate CCLVII. Male.

Tail of twelve feathers. In summer an elongated tuft of about forty long, slender, loose, recurved feathers, from behind the eye to the length of an inch and a half on each side; upper mandible dusky, along the edges greenish-yellow, lower yellow, irregularly marked with dusky toward the edges; bare space on the head, and gular sac rich orange; plumage greenish-black, strongly glossed with green; imbricated feathers on the back and wings greyish-brown, their fringe-like margins greenish-black; primary quills brownish-black, secondary like the other wing-feathers; tail black; the shafts of all the feathers black. Female similar to the male. After the breeding season the tufts disappear. Young after the first moult have the head and neck mottled with greenish-black and greyish-brown, the other parts as in the adult, but the tufts on the head wanting.

Male, 33, 51.

Common as far south as the coast of Maryland, in winter. Breeds in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as on the Saskatchewan.

Pelecanus (Carbo) dilophus, Double-crested Cormorant, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 473.

Double-crested Cormorant, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 483.

Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax dilophus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 420; v. v. p. 629.

418. 3. Phalacrocorax Floridanus, Aud. Florida Cormorant.

Plate CCLI. Male.

Tail of twelve feathers. In summer an elongated series of about forty linear feathers directed backwards, commencing behind the eye, and extending to the length of an inch and a half on each side; upper mandible black, along the basal margin bright blue, lower bright blue, spotted with white; bare space on the head and gular sac rich orange; plumage greenish-black, strongly glossed with green; imbricated feathers on the back and wings greyish-brown, tinged with purple, their fringe-like margins greenish-black; primary quills brownish-black, secondary like the other feathers of the wing; tail brownish-black; shafts of all the feathers brownish-black. Female similar to the male. After the breeding season the tufts disappear. Young after the first moult with the bill dull yellow, the ridge of the upper mandible dusky, naked parts of the head rich yellow; upper part of the head and neck brownish-black, tinged with green, throat grayish-white; fore neck and anterior part of breast variegated with pale brownish-grey and black; the rest of the plumage as in the adult, but the imbricated feathers of the upper parts lighter. This species differs from the last, chiefly in being smaller, and in having the elongated feathers behind the eye more slender and directed backwards instead of being recurved.

Male, 29¹/₄, 46¹/₂.

Constantly resident in the Floridas and their Keys, and along the coast to Texas. The young in summer pass up the Mississippi and Ohio, returning in autumn to the sea. Abundant. Breeds on trees only.

Phalacrocorax Floridanus, Florida Cormorant, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 387; v. v. p. 632.

419. 4. Phalacrocorax Townsendi, Aud. Townsend's Cormorant.

Plate CCCCXII. Fig. 2. Male.

Tail of twelve feathers; plumage of the neck and sides interspersed with linear white feathers: bill yellow, with the ridge brown; gular sac and bare skin on the head bright orange; upper part of head and hind neck dusky, tinged with green; hind part of back greenish-black; the rest of the upper parts brownish-grey, each feather edged with black; quills brownish-grey, similarly edged with black; outer primaries and tail-feathers black; sides of the head, fore part of neck, and breast light yellowish-brown; the middle of the neck in front darker, the sides, abdomen, and tibial feathers shaded into brownish-black, tinged with green. This description from a single individual shot on the 8th of October. Another individual, apparently a bird in its first plumage, has the head and upper part of the fore neck darker, the middle of the breast lighter, the feathers on the back margined with greyish-brown, and an inner band of dark brown; its bill is longer, but more slender, the unguis less curved, the feathers not entirely obliterated from the space before the eye, and extending farther on the gular sac.

Male, 35, wing 12¹/₂; tail 6³/₄.

Cape Disappointment, Columbia River. Common.

Phalacrocorax Townsendi, Townsend's Cormorant, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 149.

420. 5. Phalacrocorax resplendens, Aud. Violet-green Cormorant.

Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 1. Female.

Bill scarcely as long as the head, slender, dusky; tail of twelve feathers; gular sac and bare skin on the head, bright orange; plumage silky and splendent, deep green, seeming black in some lights and bright green and purple in others, the somewhat compact feathers of the back edged with dark purple; along the sides of the neck and the hind part of the sides of the body, numerous white piliform feathers terminated by a pencil of filaments; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black and less glossy. This description from an individual shot in October.

Female, 27; wing 10; tail 5¹/₂.

Cape Disappointment, near Columbia River. Abundant.

Violet-green Cormorant, Phalacrocorax resplendens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 148.

GENUS II. PLOTUS, Linn. ANHINGA.

Bill about twice the length of the head, almost straight, being very slightly recurved, rather slender, compressed, tapering to a fine point; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly declinate, very slightly convex, the ridge convex, gradually narrowed, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, and beyond the middle cut into minute slender-pointed serratures directed backwards, the tip acuminate; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line beyond it straight and ascending, the sides sloping slightly outwards, the edges sharp and serrated, the point extremely narrow; gape-line ascending towards the end. No external nostrils in the adult. Head very small, oblong; neck very long and slender; body elongated and slender. Feet very short and stout; tibia feathered to the point; tarsus very short, roundish, reticulated; toes all connected by webs, the first of moderate length, the fourth longest, the first toe and the first phalanges of the rest with transverse series of scales; the rest of their extent scutellate. Claws rather large, very strong, compressed, curved, very acute, the third with parallel slits on the inner edge. A bare space at the base of the upper mandible, including the eye; skin of the throat bare and dilated, as in the Cormorants. Plumage close, blended, silky, the feathers oblong; scapulars elongated, lanceolate, compact, the outer web of the largest undulated. Wings of moderate length and breadth; third quill longest, inner secondaries elongated and resembling the posterior scapulars. Tail very long, narrow, of twelve straight feathers, having very strong shafts, and increasing in breadth to the end. Tongue a slight oblong knob; œsophagus very wide; proventricular glands placed on the right side in the form of a globular sac; stomach roundish, of moderate size, rather thin, with its inner coat soft and smooth; a large roundish pyloric lobe; intestine long and very slender; no cœca, but a small rounded termination to the rectum.

421. 1. Plotus anhinga, Linn. American Anhinga.—Snake-Bird.

Plate CCCXVI. Male and Female.

Upper mandible dusky, lower bright yellow; gular sac orange; tarsus and toes dusky olive, the hind parts and webs yellow; general colour of head, neck, and body, glossy blackish-green, of the scapulars, wings, and tail, glossy bluish-black; long loose feathers on the neck purplish-white; lower part of neck behind marked with very numerous minute oblong spots of white, forming two broad bands, extending backwards, and gradually becoming more elongated, there being one along the centre of each feather, including the scapulars; smaller wing-coverts similarly marked with broader white spots disposed in regular rows; first row of small coverts and secondary coverts white, excepting a portion of the inner web; five elongated secondaries marked with a narrow white band; occupying the inner half of the outer web; tail-feathers tipped with a band of brownish-red fading into white. Female with only a few inconspicuous elongated feathers on the neck; upper part of head and hind neck dull greenish-brown, lighter on the lower part; fore part of neck pale reddish-brown, tinged with grey, lighter on the throat, that colour extending over part of the breast, and terminating abruptly in a transverse band of deep reddish-chestnut; the other parts as in the male, only the fore part of the back is tinged with brown, and its spots are less distinct.

Male, 35³/₄, 44. Female, 34, 43.

Constant resident from Florida to Georgia; in summer as far east as North Carolina, and up the Mississippi to Natchez. Common.

Plotus Anhinga, Bonap. Syn. p. 411.

Black-bellied Darter, Plotus melanogaster, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 75.

Black-bellied Darter, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 507.

Anhinga or Snake-Bird, Plotus Anhinga, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 136.

GENUS III. TACHYPETES, Vieill. FRIGATE BIRD.

Bill longer than the head, strong, broader than high, unless towards the curved extremity; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly concave, at the tip decurved, its ridge broad and nearly flat at the base, narrowed and more convex towards the end, the sides separated from the ridge by a narrow groove, convex, the edges sharp, direct, irregularly jagged, with a prominence at the commencement of the curve at the elongated, compressed, tapering, decurved point; lower mandible with the angle extremely long, narrow, the membrane bare and dilatable into a small pouch, the very short dorsal line decurved, the sides erect at the base, convex in the rest of their extent, the edges sharp, much inflected, irregularly jagged, at the tip narrow and decurved. Nostrils basal, linear, inconspicuous. Head of moderate size, oblong; neck of moderate length, stout; body rather slender. Feet very short, stout; tibia very short; tarsus extremely short, feathered; toes all placed in the same plane, and connected by short deeply emarginate webs, which run out narrow along the sides, scutellate above, first small, second shorter than fourth, third much longer. Claws strong, compressed, curved, acute, that of the third toe long, with the inner edge pectinate. Plumage compact, glossy; feathers of the head, neck, and back lanceolate. Wings extremely long, pointed, the first quill longest; the rest rapidly diminishing; secondaries very short, the inner long and tapering. Tail very long, deeply forked, of twelve feathers. Tongue exceedingly small, fleshy, flattened; œsophagus very wide; proventricular glands forming a complete belt; stomach very small, roundish, its muscular coat thin, the inner soft and corrugated; no pyloric lobe; intestine of moderate length; cœca extremely small; cloaca globular.

422. 1. Tachypetes Aquilus, Linn. Frigate-Bird.—Man-of-war Bird.

Plate CCLXXI. Male.

Male with the bill light purplish-blue, white in the middle, the gular sac orange; bare skin around the eye blue; feet light carmine above, orange beneath; general colour of plumage brownish-black, the head, neck, back, breast, and sides, splendent with green and purple, the former predominating on the head, the latter on the back; wings tinged with green; inner secondaries and tail with brown, the shafts of the former black, of the latter brown. Female with a broad white space on the breast, that colour extending forwards along the sides of the neck, and encircling it about the middle; feathers of the back less elongated, and glossy; the dark parts more tinged with brown. Young at first covered with yellowish soft down.

Adult, 41, 86.

Resides constantly on and about the Florida Keys, where it breeds in vast numbers on trees. Ranges over the Gulf of Mexico, Bays of Texas, but rarely seen to the eastward of North Carolina.

Tachypetes Aquilus, Bonap. Syn. p. 406.

Frigate Pelican, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 491.

Frigate Pelican. Tachypetes Aquilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 495; v. v. p. 684.

GENUS IV. PELECANUS, Linn. PELICAN.

Bill about thrice the length of the head, rather slender, almost straight, depressed; upper mandible linear, depressed, convex at the base, gradually flattened, and a little enlarged to near the end, when it narrows, and terminates in a hooked point; ridge broad and convex at the base, gradually narrowed and flattened beyond the middle, separated by a groove from the sides, erect at the base, sloping toward the edges, edges very acute, with an internal groove; lower mandible with the angle excessively long, extending to the unguis, the sides erect and convex, the edges thin and involute, the tip decurved. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, concealed by the wrinkles of the skin. Head small, oblong; neck long, stout; body full, rather flattened. Feet short, and very stout; tarsus short, compressed, covered all round with hexagonal scales; toes in the same plane, all connected by webs, first shortest, fourth longer than third. Claws short, strong, curved, that of the third toe pectinate. Feathers of head and neck exceedingly small, slender, downy; of the other parts generally lanceolate and acuminate; wings very long, rather narrow, rounded; primaries much curved. Tail short, broad, rounded, of more than sixteen feathers. An enormous bare, extensile, gular sac; tongue extremely small, papilliform; œsophagus excessively wide; proventricular glands arranged in broad longitudinal series; stomach very small, with its muscular coat thin, its epithelium smooth and soft; a globular pyloric lobe; intestine long and narrow; cœca very small, cylindrical; cloaca globular.

423. 1. Pelecanus Americanus, Aud. American White Pelican.

Plate CCCXI. Male.

Bill with an erect crest on the ridge, and with the gular pouch and feet bright yellow; plumage white; elongated feathers on the occiput and breast pale yellow, with which also the smaller wing-coverts are tinged; alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer secondaries, black, with white shafts, inner ten secondaries white; tail of twenty-four feathers. Female generally without the horny crest, otherwise similar.

Male, 61³/₄, 103; bill, 13³/₄.

Common during winter from Texas to South Carolina, both along the coast, and about the lakes and rivers adjoining Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers. Breeds from California northward, to Lat. 61°. Accidental in the Middle Atlantic Districts.

American White Pelican, Pelecanus americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 88.

424. 2. Pelecanus fuscus, Linn. Brown Pelican.

Plate CCLI. Male. Plate CCCCXXI. Young.

Bill greyish-white, tinged with brown, and marked with irregular spots of pale carmine; bare space between the bill and the eye deep blue, eyelids pink, gular pouch greenish-black; feet black; hair-like feathers on the fore part of the head light yellow, the rest of the head white; a stripe of the same margining the pouch to the middle of the neck; a short space between these two lines anteriorly, and the whole of the posterior and lateral parts of the neck dark chestnut-brown, the small crest paler; back and wings dusky, each feather with the central part greyish-white; the latter colour prevailing on the scapulars and larger wing-coverts; primaries and coverts brownish-black, secondaries greyish-brown; their outer edges greyish-white; tail light grey, shafts of quills and tail-feathers white, unless toward the end; lower parts brownish-grey; sides of the neck and body with narrow longitudinal white lines; on the fore neck, below the dark chestnut spot a smaller pale yellow mark, behind which the feathers for a short space are blackish-brown. Young in second plumage with the bill greyish-blue, its edges and unguis greyish-yellow; gular pouch dull greyish-blue; bare space around the eye dusky blue; head and neck dark brown, as are the upper parts generally; secondary and many of the smaller coverts margined with pale brown; primaries and their coverts, as well as the tail-coverts, brownish-black, with white shafts; feet and claws dull leaden. Tail of twenty-two feathers.

Adult, 52, 80.

Very abundant and constantly resident from Texas along the shores eastward to North Carolina. Breeds on trees and also on the ground; eggs three.

Pelecanus fuscus, Bonap. Syn. p. 401.

Brown Pelican, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 476.

Brown Pelican, Pelecanus fuscus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 376; v. v. p. 212.

GENUS V. SULA, Briss. GANNET.

Bill longer than the head, opening beyond the eyes, straight, elongated, conical, moderately compressed; upper mandible, with the dorsal line, straight and declinate, at the end convex and a little decurved; the ridge very broad, convex, with a slight median carnia, and separated on each side from the sides, which are perpendicular, slightly convex, and have an additional narrow-jointed piece below the eye; edges sharp, direct, irregularly serrate with numerous slender cuts directed backwards, tip compressed, a little decurved, rather acute; lower mandible with the angle extremely long and narrow, the dorsal line straight, ascending, the sides erect, convex, the edges sharp and serrated, the tip compressed, acute. No external nostrils. Head large, neck of moderate length, and very thick; body of moderate bulk, rather elongated. Feet short, strong, placed rather far behind; tibiæ concealed; tarsus very short, rounded before, sharp behind, scaly, with three lines of small transversely oblong scutella, which run down the toes, the latter long and slender, all united by membranes having their margins straight; first toe rather small, directed inwards and forwards; middle toe longest, the outer almost equal. Claws of moderate size, slightly arched, that of the third toe pectinate. Plumage generally close, rather compact, on the head and neck blended. Wings very long, narrow, acute; first quill longest. Tail rather long, cuneate, of twelve or fourteen feathers. Gular sac small, with a small median portion bare; tongue extremely small, blunt; œsophagus extremely wide; proventricular glands forming a broad belt partially divided by intervals; stomach extremely small, its muscular coat thin, the inner soft; intestine of moderate length, slender; cœca very small; cloaca globular.

425. 1. Sula Bassana, Linn. Common Gannet.

Plate CCCXXVI. Adult Male, and Young.

Adult with the bill pale bluish-grey, tinged with green towards the base; bare space about the eye, lines on the bill and gular membrane blackish-blue; tarsi, toes, and webs, brownish-black, the scutella light greenish-blue, claws greyish-white; general colour of plumage white; upper part of head and hind neck buff-coloured; primary quills brownish-black, their shafts white toward the base. Young at first covered with very soft white down; when fully fledged, with the bill light greyish-brown, the bare space around the eye pale greyish-blue; feet dusky, the narrow bands of scutella pale greyish-blue; head, neck, and upper parts, chocolate-brown, each feather with a terminal narrow triangular white spot; lower parts greyish-white, spotted with greyish-brown, each feather having a broad terminal margin of that colour; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black.

Adult, 40¹/₂, 75. Young fledged, 38, 72.

Ranges southward off the coast at all seasons as far as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds on rocks on the Gulf of St Lawrence, and off the coast of Labrador. Abundant. Migratory.

Sula bassana, Bonap. Syn. p. 408.

Gannet, Sula bassana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 495.

Common Gannet, Sula bassana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 222.

426. 2. Sula fusca, Linn. Booby Gannet.

Plate CCVII. Male.

Bill and naked parts at its base bright yellow, the former flesh-coloured toward the end; a dusky spot before the eye; tarsi, toes, and webs pale yellow, claws white; head, neck all round, upper parts in general, and lower surface of wings dusky brown, tinged with grey; breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, pure white. Young when fledged of a greyish-brown colour all over, the breast and abdomen being merely a little lighter than the rest; bill and claws dusky; tarsi and toes with their membranes dull yellow.