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I.: ; ^

THE WATER BIRDS

NORTH AMERICA.

VOL, I.

f^mc^

I) 5

i«emoirs of tjje iHuscuni of (JTomparatibc Zodloflg

AT IIAKVARD COLLEGE.
Vol. XII.

THE

WATER BIRDS

NORTH AMERICA.

S. F. BAIRD, T. M. BREWER,

AND

R. RIDGWAY.

ISSUED IN CONTINUATION OF TIIF

PUBLICATIONS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CALIFQllNIA.
J. D. WHITNEY, ST4TE Geolooist.

Volume I.

BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.

1884.

2 A ci r, // /»
V fi o i o

Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1884,
By J. D. Whitney,
In the office of tl»e Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CONTENTS.

IXTEODUCTIOX ....

SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN ORDERS OF

Order HERODIONES

Family Abdeii>.e. The Herons ....

Sul)-Fiimily Abukix.k ....

Sub-Fiimily ISotaubix.k .
Family Cicoxiid.k. Tho Storks

Sub-Family CicoxrTx.T;

Sub-Family Taxtalix.e
Family Ihiuid.k. Tlio Ibises

Sub-Family EuDociMrx.K
Family Plataleid.i:. The Spoonbills

Order LIMICOL.E

Family H.EMATOPODin.E. Tho Oyster-catchers

Family Stkepsimd.t.:. The Turnstones

Family CnAUAinMiD.E. The Plovers

Family Pakuid.e. The Ja(;anas

Family ScotoPACiCE. The Snipes, Sandpipers, etc'

Family Piialakopodid.e. The Phalaropes

Family Rkcukvikostbid.e. The Avocets and Stilts'

Order ALECTORIDES ....

Family Rallid^e. The Rails, Gallinules,"and Coots
family Auamtd.e. The Courlans
Family Gkuid.e. The Cranes

Order PIIffiNICOPTERI

Family Pnajxi(orTEKiD.E. The Flamingoes
Order ANSERES (not completed in this volume)

Family Axatid.e. The Swans, Geese, and Ducks "
Sub-Family Cvgxix^e .
Sub-Family Axskkix.e
Sub-Family Axatix/E , . "

WATER lURDS

Page

vii
x-xi

. 1-106

2-76

. 4-66

66-76
. 76-85

78-80
. 80-85

. 85-100
86-100

100-106

107-349
108-118
118-128
128-175
175-177
178-325
326-339
340-349

350-413
350-398
398-403
403-413

414-418
414-418

419-537

419-537
420-433
433-487
487-537

'wf.

iill-..,aw«;.

INTRODUCTION.

As this work will in nil pmlmbility fall into the hands of thoso who have
not soon tlu! ornithol(>j,'ical volunio issued ns n j)art of the Publications of the
State ffeoI()f;ic'al Survoy of California, it is proper that the origin and connection
of those two contributions to this branch of American natural history should
be here explained.

The Act authorizing a rroologioal survey of the State of California, which
became a law in 1860, ro(]uirod of the State (roologist, in addition to the
topographical and geological work usually expected on such a survey, "a full
and complete description of the botanical and zoological ]>roduction8 of Cali-
fornia." In accordance with thi.s requirement, the eflbrts of the head of the
Survey were, from the time of the beginning of the work, directed toward the
collection of such material as would be of value for use in the preparation of
Reports in the various departments of the natural history of California and the
adjacent regions of the Pacific coast. The establishment of a State museum
of geology and natural history was also contemplated — although not provided
for — in the Act authorizing the Survey, as supplementary to the preparation of
such Reports on the various branches of science as should make possible the
study of geology, botany, and zoology in the schools and colleges of California
and the adjacent States and Territories.

The Survey as thus organized went on without interruption until 1868,
when appropriations were withheld for two years ; but the worlc was not brought
to an absolute stoppage, all the materials having been left in the hands of the
State Geologist, without any direction as to what was to be done with them,
and also without any appropriation of money to pay either for the care and
preservation of collections then on hand, or for the continuation of publications
at that time actually in progress.

Nevertheless the work did go on ; and among the volumes completed during
the stoppage of the Survey was one on which considerable progress had been made
at the time the appropriations were suspended. This volume belonged to the

vni

INTIIODUCTION.

Natural History Hories, an<l was (Usvoti'il to a (IcHcription of tlu! Ijiiid WmU occur-
riti}^ west of tho |{oi'ky Moimtaiiis ami iiortli of Mt-xico, having boiui Holiicteil
as the volume most suitaltle to suoceed tlKtse of (leology ami Palu'ontology
already ])ulilishetl, partly Wecause it was thouglit tiiat the sulijeet would prove
popularly attractive, and i)artly because circumstances favored its being more
rapidly completed than the other volumes of the Natural History Series possibly
could be.

For the volume of Land l?irds published in 1870 by the California Survey,
the biographical portion was chictly drawn from the notes of Dr. J. G. Cooper,
Zoologist of the Survey ; and by mutual con.sent these notes were placed in the
hands of Professor Baird, at that time in charge of the Natural History Depart-
ment of the Smithsonian Institution, in order that they might be worked up
at the place where a more copious supply of materials and greater facilities for
such an undertaking existed than at any other scientific centre in this country.

The result was the publication, in 1870, of a volume entitled : " Ornithol-
ogy. Volume I. The Land JJirds." It was illustrated by nearly eight hundred
woodcuts, each species (except in the case of the Rnptorc^) being represented
by a head of life size, introduced witii the text, and intended to bo colored by
hand, and each genus by a fuU-lengtli Kgure, together with numerous diagrams
giving the details of wings, claws, and such other parts as are of special value
in generic determination.

During the preparation of this ornithological volume of the California series
of Reports, it was agreed between the State Geologist and Professor IJaird that
the illustrations of that volume should l)e used by him in a work of larger scope,
including the Land Birds of all North America; and this plan was carried out,
the result being the well-known work, in three volumes, entitled "A History of
North American Birds : Land liirds," by Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway.
This work — completed in 1875 — followed clo.sely the California volume in its
general style, appearance, and manner of illustration ; the principal exception to
this being that the heads were placed together at the end of each volume, and
printed by the chromolithographic process, uistead of being colored by hand. For
these volumes between seven and eight hundred illustrations were furnished by
the California Survey ^vithout charge — Professor Baird having promised, in return
for this favor, that the portion of the Ornithology remaining to be completed
and published as a part of the California Report should include all the Water
Birds of the continent north of Mexico. The propriety of this stipulation must
be evident to all, since it was clear that, after the appearance of the work of
Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, there would be only the most limited
demand for the much less comprehensive one previously issued by the California
Survey.

<ifl

INTIIDDICTIUN.

As it tunit!il nut, liowovcii', tliis .stiimlatiitii was not mu) of so imuli iiriuticai
iiupDitaiKu lis luul ItoL'U exiMicti'tl, sincn tlio cost of the imlilication of the " Land
llinls of North America " was so great that the publialiers of that work would
have been unwilling to continue it at tlioir own risk and expense — and, in
fact, did decline to do so, when, after the stoppage of the ('aliforniii Survey, the
present work was offered to them for pidjlication by joint consent of the authors
and the former State (teologist of California. The latter, however, having devoted
himself, subsequently to the second and linal stoppage of the Survey in 1H74,
to a continuation — chietly at his own risk and oxihsuso — of the publication
of the material left in a more or less fragmentary condition in his hands, finally
concluded to take up the unfinished volumes of Ornithology; and, with the
generous co-operation of the Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology,
now presents them to the public, as forming at the same time a portion of tho
series tjf Alemoirs of that institution, and a continuation of tho Reports of
the Geological Survey of California.

As in the previously pul)lished volumes of the North American Birds, tho
technical or descriptive portion of the present division of that work has been
projjared l)y Messrs. Baird and UidgWily ; and the latter has had the opportunity
of making, during tho printing, such additions and corrections as were rendered
necessary by the fact that several years have elapsed since the manuscript was
originally prepared for publication. The biographical portion of the volumes
devoted to the Water Birds is from the pen of Dr. T. M. Brewer — who, however,
did not live to see the beginning of the printing of this, the final, portion of
a work on which he had bestowed so much labor. The task of revising his
not entirely completed manuscript has fallen upon tho undersigned, who has
endeavored to do the best he could with it, esjiecially as regards the occasion-
ally somewhat uncertain orthography of tho names of persons and places. In
this he has had the assistance of Mr. J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Comparative
Zoology.

The illustrations of this volume were, with few and unimportant exceptions,
drawn upon the wood by Mr. Edwin L. Sheppard, of . Philadelphia, and engraved
by Mr. Hobart H. Nichols, of Washington. The coloring of the heads was
done under the direction of Mrs. F. H. llussell, of Brookliue, Mass., from patterns
prepared by Mr. Ridgway.

J. D. WHITNEY.
Cambridqe, Mass., March 31, 1884.

SYNOPSIS

NOKriI AMEHICAN OKDEKS OF WATER BIRDS.

A^ Leys li'ii^tlK'iied, tin- tiliiiu usually lU'iiuiU'il for u coiisidfralili' distauci' aliovt- tlic kiii.'e.
not fully wi'libed, fXi'i'iit in Iticiirriivntru iiiul J'lMiiicopUriis. (Waders.)

TOL'S

I. HERODIONES. Nirk uml logs inuch longthiMied. Hind toe inucli Ienjj;tliened, and
inserti'd at the saiui- li'Vcl as tlii' anturior toes (sliovtiTand sli:,ditly ulevati'd in Cicuniida).
llaliits altricial ' and youn^ dasyjuLMlii'.'- Palate desniO},'iiatlious. Carotids double,

II. XiIMICOLiB. Xi'tk and legs usually elongated (tlii> latter siinii'times excessively so),
the tibiio usually more or less naked lielow. Hind toe short or rudinienttiry, sonietiiues
absent, and inserted above the level of the anterior toes. Habits pneeocial,* and young
dasy]iiwlio. Palate sehi/.ognathous. Carotids double.

III. AIiBCTORIDES. Hind toe small and elevated (but neck much lenRtheued and bill

strong and hard) in llntiilif ; lengthened and ineumbent in Ammiihv and liallidiV.
Wings eoniparatively short and rounded, anil body eoniiiressed (except in Gntidn).
Habits jiriueoeial, ami young dasypiedic. Palate .scbizognathous. Carotids double.

IV. PHCBNICOPTERI. Xeek and legs excessively elongated, the anterior toes webbed,

and the tibia' naked fur the greater part of their length. Hind toe snnill and elevated,
or wholly absiyU. Hill of very peculiar form, being greatly thickened and abruptly
bent downward from the middle portion, the tomia provided with lamellie, as in the
Anisens. Habits pr.vcocial and young dasypa-dic. Palate saurognathous. Carotids
double, but the left much reduced in size.

B» Legs short, the tibia- wholly or mostly feathered, .\nterior toes distinctly (usiudly fully)
webbed, or else broadly loU'd and provided with bruiul ilat nails {Fodicipidie').
(Swimmers.)

v. ANSERES. Hill liroad and dei>ressed (nearly cylindrical in Mirijince), the tip provided
with a distinct nail or unguis, and the tomia with vertical lainelhu or straiiun-s (more
tooth-like in ^Vdv/iiki). Habits priucocial, young dasypx>dic. Palate saurognatLous.
Carotids double.

1 Altricial biids are those whoso young are hatched in ii blind and helple.ss condition, and are reared in
the nest luitil able to tly.

" Young birds which luv covered with down when hatched are said to Iw da.sypajdie ; «'. g,, chicks of the
Domestic Fowl and other gallinaceous birds, (hickliiigs, etc.

' I'ra'cocial birds arc tliu.se whose young arc cajiable of running about as soon as hatched, and although
led and otherwise oared for by the parents, are not fed by them ; e. ij., the young of the Domestic Fowl
Ducks, Oeese, etc.

INTUODL'CTION.

)S.

IH.'0.

Toes

liencd, aiul
Cicimiidw).
ilouble.

issively so),
, souietimos
' and youiij,'

led imd bill

|ul lialliihv.
liniiihr).
louble.

08 webbed,

elevated,

abnijitly

us in the

Carotids

€9

•^

VI. STEOANOPODES. iliiid tue leii^tiieiied ai\d iiu'iiiiibe:ed, and united to the inner
toe by a complete web (small only in Tiuhijiwtitli). Hill extremely variable, but
usually with a more or less extensible naked f,'ular sac between the mandibular rami.
Nostrils olisolete. Habits altriciai, youn;,' dasyiiiudie in Tachiipitidtr, PhalacrocDnicnltr,
Phlidir, and I'lmrlhiintiilw. j^ymnoiiiodic * in Vdecanidie aiid SulUhv. Palate 8auro},'na-
thous. Carotids doiilile.

VII. LONOIFBNNES. Hind toe small or rudimentary, and elevated, sometimes ahnost
obsolete ; anterior toes fully weldieil. Hill more or less eomiiressed (nearly cylin-
drical only in some Sttrcuniriiila), the nostrils linear, never tubular. Habits altri-
ciai, youuj,' dasypiedic. Palate schizo},'natUou.s. Carotids double. Ejjgs, two or more,
colored.

VIII. TUBINARES. Hind toe absent or very rudinientary ; anterior toes fully webbed.
IJill variable, but usually nearly cylindrical or compressed (rarely itepressed), the ter-
minal portion stronj;ly hooked. Xo.strils tubular. Habits altriciai, younj^ da-sypaxlic.
Palate schi/.ognathous. Carotids double. E<,'gs, never more than one, white.

IX. PTOOPODES. Le-^s inserted far backward, the tarsi extremely compressed. Anterior
toes fully webbed or else 8troni,dy lobed and with broad flat miiU (Podicipida). Rill
extremely variable. Habits jira'cocial in Podicipid(r and Culijtidiida-, altriciai in Alfid(T ;
young dasypa'dic. Palate schizoi^nathous. Carotids double, except in Podicipida and
some Akid(c (c. (/., genus Alli).

The above arrangement is not strictly natural, but the division of Water Birds into " Waders "
and "Swimmei-s" is adopted for the convenience of the student. The Oiilers most nearly related
are tlie Herodintus and Sligaiiopodes, Limico!(e a\u\ Alectoruh.t, Phcenicopteri and Ansereg, and Lomji-
pcnncs and Tithiiiarrg. Of the Pijucipodts (which as here defined is certainly not a properly
limited group) the Alcidw present many points of true relationship to the Tubinnrrs and Longi-
pennes, while the latter are not far removed from the Limicolw. The Podicipidw also appear to
resemble in some respects (perhaps only teleological) the Ster/aiwjyodes.

> Young birds nro gymnopwdic when naked or very inioniplptely covered with down when hatched ;
e. g., the young of all Passcres, Woodiieckore, Pigeons, etc.

tally fully)
'odicipidu').

ip provided
i;rs (more
•oynathous.

.re reared in
hicks of the

1 idthough
icstic Fowl

i ■ \

ill

THE

WAT E R BIRDS

NORTH AMERICA.

Order HERODIONES/

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES.

Char. Altricial Grallatores, with the hallux lengthened, and nearly or quite
incumbent ; in habits more or less arboreal (generally nesting on trees, while
all are "Perchers"). Palate desmoguathous. Carotids double.

The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to succinctly characterize this eminently
natural group of birds. The Jhrodloncs, Avhich inchule the Boatbills {Cuncromida'),
Herons (Ardt'!d(v), Storks (Clronlida'), Ibises (Ibididw), and .Spoonbills (Flutaleidce),
with perhaps, but not certainly, some other nunor groups, are at once distinguished
from the Prttcocial Grallatores {Limlcolw, Alectorides, and I'/iwnicojjtcri) by their
altricial nature, the young being comjiletely helpless at birth, and having to be reared
in the nest, instead of being at once capable of active movement and able to shift
for themselves, although thvy folloiu their ])arents for a considerable time. There are
also important peculiarities of the osteological and anatomical structure, which alone
are sufficient to demonstrate the fact that this group is not intimately related to
other Waders, their general exterior reseniblauce to them being one of analogy and
not of affinity. According to Huxley (P. Z. S. 1807. 4()1), the osteological characters
. of this group are as follows : Ther"^ are no basipterygoid processes ; the ])alatines
■'Sare usually united for a greater or Ibl^s distance behind the posterior nares, and are
destitute of a vertical plate depending from their junction; the maxillo-palatines
large and spongy ; the sternum bioad, and with two to four posterior notches. The
relation between the phalanges is the same as in the " C/ten&morphw" {= Anatidfe)
and ^'AmpIiimorj)ha'" (= PlKPnicojJterl).

The Water Birds most nearly related structurally to the present group are the
Stcganopodcs. — Pelicans, Cormorants, Gannets, and their allies, — which are
likewise both desmoguathous and altricial ; and what is an important fact in

vol,, r. — 1

An analysis of the Orders of Water BiiJs is given on pages x, xi.

ALTRICTAL ORALLATORES — IlEUODIONES.

this coimcction is the circuinstiiiii'c thiit, bt'siilcs bciii},' altricial, thoy are, witli
very few cxcoptions, also dccidi'dly arboreal, most of them evi'U jdaciiij,' their
nests on trees. Tliey an- all s-^vimmevs, however, instead of being strietly or in
l)art waders.

Withont disenssing further the characters which distinguish this ''order," wi-
jiroceed to d 'tiue the families into which it seems nu)st naturally divisible.

ii'li:

Synopsis of the American Herodionine Families.

A. Ptcrvlie very iiiiitdw, iiitiTsiKTsucl willi "iiowiler-dDWii '' traits. Hallux porfirtly iiicuiiihenl ;

iuui'r L'dgt' of middle claw distinctly iicctiiiatcd. {Hcrodiunta ardcifurmts, z= Ilerodii,
Sl'NDKV. Meth. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent. 1H7:2, U-2.)

1. Caucromidee. I'nur jiairs nl' iiowder-down tiacts. Bill ^ircatly deiirc^sed ae.d excessively

dilated laterally, the lateral (mtlines much bowed ; gony.s excessively short, not lonjjtr
than the wiiltli of the mandilmlar rami.

2. Ardeidae. Two to three pairs of jiowder-down tracts. l>ill compressed, elongnte-eonical,

the lateial oatliues slraij^'ht or even a little concave ; the vertical outlines nearly straiylil,
sbghlly conv x terminally ; gonys lengthened, several times longer than the width of the
manitihular rauii.

B. I'teryhe liroad, without powder-down tracts. Hallux elevated at the lia-sc above the base

of the anterior toes ; inner edj^e of middle (daw not pectinated ; claws restliiy vpon a
honnj, cnscviitic '■nlwc" {Hcrodiimus cicuiiii/niiius, = I'danji, SfXUEV. Meth. Nat. Av.
Disp. Tent. 187-', 1:2.$.)
a. Sides of the maxilla witlnuit any trace of lateral groove. Skull holorhinal. Angle of the
maniliblu truncau'd. I'ectundis nuijar nuiscle in two easily .sei)aralde layers, l^o acccss<inj
femoro-caudid muscle ; scmitemUnosus nuiscle tembnous for its distal half ; hiccpa cuhili
and teiicor pdtitijii Ioikjus muscles unconnectcMl. ((J.vruoi), P. Z. S. 187r), 801.)

3. Cicouiidae. ]>ill elongate-conical, either straight or curved a little up or down at the end.
6. Sides of the maxilla with a deep, narrow groove, extending uninterruptedly from the na.sal

fossiu to the extreme tip of the bill. Skull schizorliiual. Anglo of the mandilile jim-
duced and decurved. I'edomlis mnjor nuiscle simiile (not separable into distinct layers) ;
accessonj femoro-candid muscle well developed ; semitendinogus muscle muscular tliroiij,'li-
out ; biceps cuhiti and tcnsnr patafjii hmgus luuscle.s connected by a small muscular " belly."

((bvHROD.)

4. Ibldidae. Bill slender, atteuuateil terminally, nearly cylindrical or somewhat compressed,

conspicuously decurved, or arched above.

5. Flataleidae. Bill very broad, excessivcdy deju'essed and greatly expanded terminally, inucli

narrowed across the middle iiortion, the extreme tip only much decurved.

In addition to the above well-defined families, all of Avhich have American
rejiresentatives, while one (Cunrromnhr) is jieculiarly i'nerican, there are sev-
ei'al others which probably belong to the I/owl ioncs, but which, excepting the
Kiiri/p>/(/!(I(r (Sun Bitterns), are peculiar to the Old World, and may therefore
be passed by withont further notice.

Family ARDEID.E. — The Herons.

Char. Altricial waders havino; the bill compressed, pointed, all the outliiu's
nearly straight ; the lores and orbits naked ; the rest of the head (except, some-
times, the malar region, or part of the throat) feathered, the occiput frequently
with ornamental plumes. Lower part of the neck, back, or scapnlars, fr(^-

AHUKID.K — THE HERONS.

arc, witli
ciug tlu'ii-
ictly or in

order," W'
ble.

• incuuibeiil ;
I, i= llcrodil,

il excessivt'ly
t, not loi4;ti'

ignte-conii'iil,
arly striiiylil,
width ol' tlie

lOve the l);ist'
sting upon a
Ah. Nut. Av.

Aii{,'le ol' the

No accessonj

1 hicvps cuhiti

n at the eii<l.
1)111 the nasal
iiaiulilile ju'ii-
tiiict hiyi'i's) ;
liar tlirou;,'li-
uhir " belly."

t compressed,

liually, imuli

Amorican
•e are sev-
;t'pting the

therefore

le outlines
3ept, some-
fre(|ueutl.v
ulars, fre-

quently with oriiaincntal plumes. Pluniage {generally haiulsoiao and variegated.
Two to three jiairs of powder-down traets. Other charaeter.s variable.

The Herons are amonj,' the most wi(U'ly dittu.sed of birds, one siiecies, onr eomnion
Night Heron {yi/rflrora.r ijrisrii.s), being nearly or «iuite cosinoijolitan. Many of the
Old World fcn-nis have not boen examined in the present connection, but there
is good reason for believing that the number of sub-families here recognized as
rojircsented in America can be consistently increased.

Sub-family Ardelnee. Outer toe eriual to, or decideilly longer than, the inner. Claw.s u.^ually
short, generally strongly curved. Three pairs of powder-down tracts. Rectrices lengthened,
stitlish, twelve in number (except in /thrilnn).

Sub-family Botaurinee. Outer toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claw.s long, slender, slightly
curved. Two puir.s only of powder-dowu tracts. Rectrices very short, soft, only ten in miniber.

Synopsis of American Genera.'

«. Sun-FAMiLY AUDKIX.E. — Tni; TnuE Hkuoxs.
A< Rfctriccs twelve; tihiiv u-ith the Imrer portion more or less nnlMl.
(I. Pectoral tmd iwji'inid powder-down tracts widely separated.
J. Malar region completelij feathered (except in I'tlherodins, where anterior part is biire). Bill
shorter than the tarsus and middle toe (usually shorter than, or aiioiit ('(pial to, the tarsu.s).

1. Ardea. Size very large. Adnlt with scapular iiliimes elongated, narrowly-lancecdute, and

with comj)acl webs; in the breeding seasaii, the occiput with two long, slender, compact-
webbed, penilaiit jduines. Color mainly iilnmbeons- or slate-l due (rarely — c. jf. white
phase of yl. oecidentalis — wholly pure white). C'ulnien shorter than the middle toe.

2. Herodias. Size huge, but smaller than the species of the preceding genus. .l(?i(ZMvith

the scapular plumos greatly elongated, reaching far beyond the end of the tail, the shafts
thick and rigid, the webs decomposed, hair-like, and distant. Cohir entirely pure white.

3. Garzetta. Size small. Adnlt with occipital, jugular, nu<l scapular plumes, the latter

reaching to (n- a little l)eyoiid the end of tin! tail ; the shafts moderately rigid, and re-
curved terminally ; the webs decomposed, with long, hair-like, but not distant libres
Other plumes varying in structure, according to the species. Color entirely pure white.
4 Dichromanassa. Size medium. Adnlt with the feathers of tin; entire head and neck,
excepting the throat and foieiieck, elongated, linear, lanceolate, and stitlish, most elon-
gated on the occiput and jugulum. Scapular plumes extending beyond eml of tail ; the
shafts rigid, the webs decomposed, with rather do.se, hair-like librilhe. Color wlndly
pure white, or plumbeous, with or without reddish neck. Tarsus twice as long as
middle toe.

5. Hydranaasa. Size medium. Adult with an occipital tuft of .several elongated, laiiceidate

white feathers. Jugular featliei-s broadly lanceolate, with distinct outlines. Scapular
plumes hair-like, extending a little beyond the tail. Color mainly plumbeous, with lower
parts and rump white. Bill longer than tarsus.

6. Florida. Size small. Adult with scapular plumes elongated, extondiug to or beyond end

of tail, linear-huiceolate, with compact webs ; jugular plumes similar ; occipital pinnies
hair-like, a few of them much elongated. Color pure white, with bluish ti|)s to outer
primaries, dark slate-blue with maroon-colored head and neck, ov variously " patched "
with blue and white.

7. Butoridea. Size small. Adult with scapular iihimes elongated, compact-webbed, lance-

olate, but with rounded tips. Feathers of the pileum elongated, lanceohite. Jugular
plumes broad, blended. Culmen longer than tarsus ; middle toe almost ecjual to tarsus.
Color much variegated.

* The genera enclosed in bnickets are cxtraliinital.

w^^

I !!■

IT''';

4 ALTRK'IAL GRALLATORES — IIERODIOXES.

8. [Syrlgma.J Size medium. Ailnll witii several elni);,'ute(l, iinrrow, compnet-webbed, round-

tipped, Hoiiu'wlmt rij,'id and .nli^'litly recurved idiimes on lower part of occiput. Jugular
feathers soft, broad, l)lended. No seapular plumes. Culmon ul)out e(]ual to middle toe.
Color mucii variegated, the tail and lower parts white.

9. [Pilberodiua.J Size medium. Orbits and anterior i)art of malar region naked. Occiput

with two extn^niely elongated linear, compact-webbed plumes. Jugular plumes broad,
blended. No scapular jdunies. Color white, the crown and occiput black. Middle toe
shorter tiian culmen ; culmen sl",rter than tarsus.

10. Nyotioorax. Size medium. Adult with several extremely elongated linear, compact-

webbed occipital plumes. No scapular jilumes. Jugular feather-< broad, blended. Cul-
men about eipial to tarsus ; tai-sus slightly longer than middle loe. Lateral outlines of
bill cducave ; gonys nearly straight. Adult and young exceedingly dilferent in plumage.

11. Nyctherodius. Size medium. .!(/»/< with several extremely elongated linear, compact-

webbed occipital plumes. Scapular plumes elongated, narrow, round-tii)peii, the webs
somewhat decomposed. Jugular feathers broad, blended. Culmen much shorter than
tarsus (a little longer than middle toe) ; tarsus much longer than mid(lle toe. Color
much variegated. Lateral outlines of the bill straight ; gonys very conv. /. Adult nnd
young e.\ceedingly different in plumage.

§§. Malar region entirely naked. Hill lonyer than tarsus and middle toe.

12. [Agamia.] Size medium. Bill extremely elongated, narrow, and compressed. Adult

with greatly elongated, broadly lanceolate, acute occipital plumes ; lower back with simi-
lar, but more loosely webbed, plumes overhanging rump. Sides of neck with recurved,
sickle-shaped, narrow, and acute plumes. Jugular feathers broad, blended. Tarsus nearly
twice middle toe.
6. Pectoral and imjutnal 2}ovjder-down tracts imited into a continuous strip,

13. [Tlgrisoma.] Malar region and throat naked, the latter with or without a medial feath-

ered strip. Tarsits with hexagonal scutellw in front. Outer toe longer than inner ; claws
short, strongly curved. Plumage much variegated ; feathers of neck loose, "fluffy."

B« Rectriccs ten. TibUc with the lower portion completely feathered. Pectoral and inguinal powder-
down tracts widely separated. Malar region completely feathered.

14. [Zebrilus.] Size very small (among the smallest of Herons). Plumage exceedingly lax

and " fluffy." Bill and feet very small. Culmen about ecpial to tarsus, both longer than
miildle toe ; outer toe longest. Plumage dull, with transverse undulations of dusky and
light fulvous.

6. ScB-FAMii.Y BOTAURIN.E. — TuK Bittkrks.

15. Botaurus. Size medium, or rather large. Sexes similar ; young similar to adult.

16. Ardetta. Size extremely small (the smallest of Herons). Sexes dissimilar (in all

species I) ; young slightly different from adult.

ii'Hl

Genus ARDEA, Linn'.eu.s.

Ardea, Link. S. N. I. 1735; cd. 12, I. 1766, 233 (type, A. cincrca, Li\n.).
Atidubonia, Bonap. Consp. II. 1855, 113 (type, Ardea occidentalis, AuD.).

Chaii. Herons of largest size (of Stork-like stature), the adults distinguished by lengthened,
narrowly-lanceolate, acute Jugular and scapular jdumes (tlie former rather rigid, the latter over-
h.anging the wings and rumj)) ; a tuft of broad feathers on each side the breast (having a different
color from adjacent parts), and, in the breeding season, by the presence of two or three extremely
lengthened, narrow, pendant, occipital plumes.

Culmen almost straight ; gonys ascending, more or less convex, about equal in length to the man-
dibular rami ; upper and lower outlines of the bill parallel for the basal half. Mental apex anterior
to half-way between point of bill and anterior angle of the eye ; frontal apex a little posterior to

AUUEID.E - 'Tin: IIKHOXS - ARDEA.

tlu> nostrils and sli;,'litl.v nntorior to tlif malar apex* Miildlo toe more timn half tliu tarsus, and
iibout etiuiil to Ijari' |iorlioii of tiliia ; outer toe reaching,' to ahniit the niiddle of the penultimate
piialanx of the middle toe ; inner toe decidedly shorter, reaehinj; only to the second articulation of
the middle toe ; hallax a little lon^,'er than the basal phalanx of the outer toe ; claws rather ehort,

A. herodias

strongly curved. Front of tarsus with broad, transverse scutellcc, in single series, for upper half.
Pileum crested, the feathers of the crown and occiput being elongated, lanceolate, and decurved.
Primaries reaching decidedly beyond tertials. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal, and
longest ; first longer than tifth ; inner webs of outer three slightly siuuated near ends.

Synopsis of the American Species.'

Com. Char. Above bluish-i)lumbeous, the penicillate scapular plumes more hoary ; remiges
and rectrices slate-color. Lower parts longitudinally strijied with black and white. Young with-
out any plumes, and with the colors much duller, the pattern badly defined.

At Tibia: and border of tin: wiwj purplish-cinnamon or rufous.

1. A. occideutalis. Pileum and occipital jilunies, with rest of head, white ; forehead streaked

with black. Sovwtinies whole plumage pure white! C'ulnien, 6.40-6.75; tarsus, 8.00-
8.7;") ; wing, I!).()()-21.()0. Hah. Florida to Southern Illinois ; Cuba ; Jamaica.

2. A. Wardi. Similar to ,1. occideutalis, the white phase apparently undi.stinguishable, but

colored [jhase combining the head-pattern of A. herodias with light-colored under-parts
and large size of "U'iirdemnum." Culmen, 6.50-7.00 ; tarsus, 8.50-9.00; wing, 20.00-
■20.50. Hab. Southwestern Florida.

3. A. herodias. Pileum and occipital plumes black ; forehead and central feathers of the

crown white ; culmen, 4.;j0-6.25 ; tarsu.s, 6.00-8.25 ; wing, 17.90-20.00. Hab. North
America in general ; Middle America ; Galapagos ; Venezuela ; West Indies.

1 The terms "mental apex," "malar npex," aiul "frontal apex" are here employed to denote the
apices, or points, of the feathering of the liead at the ba.se of the bill.

* Of the exotic species properly referable to this gcnu.s, we have .seen only A. purpurea, Linn. (Euro-
pean). This sccnis to be strictly congeupric as to details of form, except that the claws are much length-
ened ; but it has a very difl'erent system of coloration.

:»,«„,

.i:/

Q ALTRICIAL GIIALLATOUES — IIERODIONES.

B« Tibiw and border of the wing white.

4. A. cinerea. I'ilcum aixl occiiiitiil jduincs bkck ; forclicad niitl cptitro of crown white (ii^

ill A. heroiliiin). Ntrk riiu'ivous. CiiiiiicM, 4.80; tursuH, G.tKMi.iJ ; wing, I8.fil». Halj.

Europe, etc. Accidi-ntal in Southern (irecnhind.
[5. A. cocoi.'] Entires iiiicuni (indudini,' lorclK iid, etc.) nnd occipital plumes Mack. Neck

white. (Julnicn, 5.«5-(i.76 ; tarsus, 7.:i(.>-8.CK.» ; wing, 18.50-19.60. llaO. South America

Ardea occidentalis.

THE OBEAT WHITE HEBON ; WttBDEUAKirB REBOH.

a. White i)li(ise.

Ardea oecidenMii, Atrn. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 542; V. 1839, 590 | Synop. 1839, 264; W. Am. VI.
1843, 111), 1)1. 308. — CouKS, Key, 1872, 2(i7 ; Clicck List, 1873, no. 451 ; 2d cd. 1882, no. 050. -
Sci,. & Sai.v. Noni. Ncotr. 1873, 125. — Kidow. Bull, U. S. Gcol. & ticog. Survey Terr. IV. no. 1,
1878, 227 (critiad). — linuiW. Noiii. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 48(i.

Audttbiinia oceidoitalh, Bonat. t'onsp. II. 1855, 113. — Baiiid, B. N. Am. 1858, 670; Cat. N. Am.

B. 1859, no. 489.

b. Colored phase,

Ardea U'ilrdemaiinii, BAinn, B. N. Am. 1858, 669; cd. 1860, pi. 86 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1869, no. 488.

— CouES, Key, 1872, 207 ; Check Li.st, 1873, no. 450.

Had. The "Austroriparian" region* of eastern North America, from Florida to Southern
Illinois (Waba.sh River) ; Januiica.

Sp. Char. («. White ])h(m; = occidentalis, Avd.). yWit/^* Entire plumage pure white. "Pjill
yellow, the upper mandible dusky green at the base ; loral space yellowisli-greeu ; orbital spac(^
light blue ; iris bright yellow. Tibia and hind part of tarsus yellow ; fore part of tibia [tarsus >.]
olivaceous ; sides of latter greenisli yellow ; claw.s light brown" (Audubon, I. c.).' Yoitng ; Simi-
lar in color to the adult, but destitute of any plumes.

* Ardea cocoi, Liun.

Ardcii cocoi, Linn. S. N. I, 1706, 237. — BoNAr. Consp. II. 18,').'5, 110. — Okay, llnnd-list. III. 1871,
27, no. 10103. —Sru & Salv. Xom. Neotr. 1873, 125. — Boitakd, Cat. Av. 1870, 49, no. 1372,

— Kidow. Bull. U. S. Gei>l. & Geog. Survey Terr. IV. no. 1, 1878, 244 (critical).
Ardea fuscicollis, Vieili,. Nouv. Diet. XIV. 1817, 410.

Ardea soco, Vieill. t. c. 423 (ex Lath.).

1 Ardea major, FitAsEii, 1'. Z S. 1843, 110 (Cliili).

Ardea pi umbca, Mi'.iiitEM. Krsch. Gruljcr's Encycl. V. 1820, 177.— Reiciienow, J. F. 0. 1877, 204.

Ardea maguari, Si'ix, Av. Bras. II. 1825, 171.

Ardea })alliata, "Illig." Waol. Syst. Av. 1827, Ardea sp. 2.

* From the fact of this species having lieen observed nt Jlount Cnrmel, Illinois, on several occasions, ii
is inferred that its range may comprehend the Austroriparian region, or Louisianian fauna in general,
although jirobably nowhere common, except in parts of Florida.

' The following measurements are given by Audubon : —

^ : "Length to end of tail, 54 inches ; to end of wings, 54 ; to end of claws, 70 j extent of wings, 83:

AUDKID.*: - THE HERONS - A IIDEA. 7

6. lihwphm (= ''U'iinkmauiii" ]\.\uw).

Adult: Entire hcml, inclmliiiK occiintal .n-st, imiv white ; tiic 1. ivhcad strwikf.l with Muck (the
r.iitlu'M i'ilj,'c(l witli l.hu'k, tiu- median M\\\h' luin^' wliiie). Al«l.>nifn and crissiini \>\\\i' white, tlu-
runner Hparsely Htreaked with l.laek (these stieal:^ on the inner e.l-e III' llie feathers, and broader
anteriorly) ; crissiini iniinacuhite. Neek deeii viohiceoii.'^-diah (dnrker and more viohiceoua than in
.1. Ii.roiliiu anil endin;,' ahnost aljuiplly a^jainst the wl if the h-aii) ; tlie throat with a narrow
series' of l)hiek and riifons danlie.s on a white ),'ronnd ; i>Iunies of llie hiwer neek white, most of them
edh'L'd witii black, bnt tbu lunyer without ^jrayish tin;{u. Lateral jugular tufts blue-black, witli

Southern

wide median stripes of pure white. Upper parts exactly a** in A. herodias, except that the lower
win^j-coverts have conspicuous median streaks of white, wliile the edj,'e of the winj,' from the carpus
back is irhiti; tinj,'ed with rufous, instead of irhollij rufous. Tibial feathers paler rufous than in
A. herodias, j,'ro\vin)^ almost white next the body on the inner side. Naked tiliiro yrUow ; niuler
side of toes i/(7/()i(' ; rest of lej^s ; id feet wlhu-ish-oliiv, Youuy : Similar to youn^' i>( A. herodias,
but lesser winj,'-coverts widely tipped witli lirij,'hl I'erruj^inous, producin;,' thereby a conspicuous
spottin;,' of this color ; all the lower wing-coveils, larj,'u and small, witii a lftr},'e, terminal, wedge-
shapeil >ipot of white. Forehead and crown dusky slate-color, most of the feathers with whitish
shafts; occipital ]il(inies all whitisli at tiie base, only the ends bein;,' dusky.

Win},', 21.(M); tail, 8.00; culmen, (!.-4o ; depth of bill (throU',']! middle of nostrils), 1.15; naked
portion of tibia, 5.50; tarsus, 8.(K); middle toe, 4.80. [Type, No. 8G90, South Florida.]

The specimen described above as the youuf,' of .1. " If "iirdcnuuini" is a very younj; bird, with the
downy tilametits still adherinj,' to the tips of all the feathers of the crown, and with the remiges
only half grown out. It is much larger than any .specimens of ,1. herodias of corresponding age,
the culmen measuring 5.15, the tibia 5.00, the tarsus 7.80, and the middle toe -1.(50. The ])lumage
is even more different : In the young of A. herodias, the dusky of the crown includes the entire
ujiper half of the head, the occiput being wholly blackish and the cheeks slaty ; in the specimen
under consideration the cheeks are entirely white, like the throat, and the occipital feathers white,
tipped with dusky, thus restricting the continuous dusky to the forehead and crown. The con-
spicuous white spots ou the wing-coverts agree with the similar but smaller markings seen in the
adult of A. " U'iirdemanni," but wanting in all ages and stages of A. herodias.

The identity of Ardea Wilrdeminni, I'aird, with A, occidentalis, AfDUBON, although not proven,
is inferred from a number of circumstances and coincidences iu the history of each, which, together

wing from flexure, 19 ; tail, 7 ; bill along the back, ej ; along the edges, 82 ; bare part of tibia, 6 ; tarsus,
8i ; middle toe, 418 ; its claw, IS. Weight, 94 lbs."

?: *' Length to end of tail, 50 ; to end of wings, 50 ; to end of claws, 65 ; extent of wings, 75 ; wing
from flexure, 182 ; tail, 6} ; bill along the back, 518 ; along the edges, 72 ; its depth at base, 1ft ; tarsus,
7i ; middle toe, 4i ; its claw, A. Weight, 7i lbs." — Aun.

ALTRICIAL (UlAM.ATOltKS— HKHODIONKS.

with tht'ir entire similarity of Hizo ami form, rentier it extri'mcly proliablo that the cane of Anlm
riifd, lt()(l<laert, aiitl .1." I'mlii" ISonaiiiirtc, is rcpt'iitfcl in tlic pri'Mcnt instanei' ; thu.iu twoHUpiiusfcl
si)ecies in all i)r()l)al)ility iK'in^, an has hccn inconlestahly i>ri(Ven with rnfa ami " I'mlti," "dichrn-
inatic " phaseH of the wimu HiieciuH. The facts Itearinj,' directly njinn the ciwc have already been
(,'iven at length elsewhere,' and ari' too voluminoUH to reiaiHlnie hiiv.

M'!'

I :

The Groat White Ht'voii, so far a8 wo arc awan", lias a rt'sidcin-i' rcHtrlctcd to
Florida and the West India IwlandH. It was first nu't with l»y Mr. Aiidulion at Indian
Key, Floriihi, in April, IS,'}!'. Alth()uj,'h Kt'ii*'>"ill.V nnniuii'sti'd l)y nnm at that time,
he found it shy, and extrenudy ditKcult to procure. Sonu'tinu's it wcmhl rise when
at the distant^' of half a mile, and Hy out of si>,'lit ; and it was inipossihle to approa<li
one while perched or standing,' in the water, lie found it a constant rcsich'ut on tlie
Florida Keys, and nn)re aliundant there duriii},' the iu'cediuf,' sca.son than anywhere
else. It was rare as far eastward as Cape Florida. It has, however, been seen in
Southern Illinois, and may have a more extended distrihntion. It ))airs early in
March, Imt nniny did iu)t lay their eggs until the miihlh' of April, Their nests were
usually found at considerable distancre from each other, although nuiny were found
on the .same keys. They were generally oidy a few feet above high-water mark, were
quite large, averaging about three feet in diameter, built of sticks, without any lining,
quite fiat, and several inclu's thick. He was infornu'd that incubation lasted abo\it
thirty days. Hoth birds sit, the female being the most assiduous, with their legs
stretched out before them. The young, from ten days to a month old, showed no
signs of a crest, and were pure white, with a tinge of cream-color; and even those
that had been kept nn)re than a year exhibited nothing of the kind. It is described
as quite sedate, and less animated than the /irroitlns. It walks with firmness ami
great elegance, collects in flocks at its breeding grounds, soinetinu's a hundred or
more being s«'en together, betaking themselves to the nuid-flats and sandbars at :i
distance from the keys, on which they roost and breed. It is diurnal in its habits, as
our observations appeared to show. While on the banks it stands motionless, wait-
ing until its prey conu'S near ; and then it strikes it and swallows it alive, or when
large beats it on the water or shakes it violently. It renuiins on its feeding-ground
until driven off by the tidi>. When roosting it stands on one foot, the other being
lifted up, draws in its long neck, and places its head tinder its wing. When sur-
prised it leaves its perch with a rough croaking sound, and flies directly to a great
distance, but never inland. Its flight is said to be iirm, regular, ami greatly pro-
tracted. It propels itself by regular slow flaps, the head being drawn in after it has
proceeded a few yards, and its legs exteiuled behind. It occasionally rises high in
the air, where it sails in wide circles, and rarely re-alights without performing this
circling flight.

Mr. Audubon carried several of these herons, taken when quite young, alive witli
him to Charleston. Two that had been allowed the liberty of the deck killed and
devoured the young of other and smaller species ; and Avhen placed in a coop witli
young of the hemdias, would have killed the latter if they had not been separated.
Two others, which had been kept in conflnement on Indian Key, he found with their
bills very much broken by the force with which they struck at the flsh thrown to
them on the rock of their enclosure. They never evinced the least animosity towards
one another, but would on every occasion seek to attack and kill those of other

1 Sec Bulletin of the U. S. Geol. & Gcog. Survey of tlie Territories, Vol. IV. No. 1 (Feb. .''., 1878),
pp. 229-236, uml Bulletin of tlie Nuttall Oriiithologiial Club, Vol. VII. No. 1 (January, 1882),
pp. 1-6.

AKDKIU.K - THK HERON'S - AHDKA,

^" "^ ^''"'''1' Hporii's. Four rciidii'd Cliuilt-ston iilivi-, and wi'it- kept hoiiic tiino by Pr. Baohmaii,

" "'aklirii ^^''- <^''''''^''^' '""I '^''- ^Vilsuii. Tht's;- provi'd to Ik- troublcsomo pets, devouring bucdi

I'muly bttii quantitifs of ti.sli that it was difficult to provide for them. They woidd strike at
and kill ehiekeiis, ducks, and grown fowl, and in one instance stallted throu},'h and
pinned to the wooden steps of the veranda a sleeping cat. They even pursued

tricted to and threatened the children; and it bfcanie necessary to ilestroy them,

lit Indian Dr. Hryant met with this Heron in Florida in only two places. One of tliese was

that time. on the headwaters of the St. Sebastian, where it was breeding in comi)any with the

rise when Wood Ibis; the other was on a small island in Lake Jessup, without any other

I approacli birds. The attachment of this sju'cies to its i)reeding-place was strikingly shown

iMit on the at this island. About a month before Dr. Jtryant's visit a dense tangled growth

anywhere of coarse marsh grasses and bushes, with which it was covered, had been acci-

■H seen in dentally set on fire, and numy of the birds and the majority of the nests destroyed.

i early in At the time of his visit the latter had been rebuilt, and the birds were again sit-

iiests well' ting on their eggs. In the few nests which had not been destroyed, and in most

•ere found instances had been blackened by the tire, the young were already hatched and nearly
nark were ^ l''i't gi'own. He found it breeding on many of the Keys. Two nests were rarely

my liniu". 8''*'" "^''i'" ''^'"1^ other, and oidy in one instance <lid he find two within twenty feet of

sted about one another. They did not seem to object to the company of other species, as he

their le^'s found one on the same bush with a nest of a (ireat IJlue Heron; and at Sandy Key,

ihowed m> '''''''' ^'^>*~' ^able, he found several jtairs breeding on tlie cacti, whii'h were growing

■ven those amidst trees covered with the nests of the Louisiana Heron. He never .saw more

described *'•'"' ^^'t* "i" ^^^ individuals feeding near each other, and regarded it as much more

mness and solitary than the hfroi/liKi, as the latter is than other species, and as by far the wildest

undred or ^'''^1 "^ '^** genus with which he was acciuainted. As he found many of its young

Ibars at ii nearly fledged by the L'Oth of April, and as at that time none at the Keys were less

, i,.^ijits [IS than half grown, and all older than the young of the herodius, he thinks it must com-

iless wait- nience laying by the 1st of February.

I' or when According to Mr. March, this species occurs occasionally in Jamaica, but is rare

n"-trrounil ^^ *'''^* island. It may always be readily recognized by its superior size, the absence

ler bein" ^^ occipital plumes, and by the lengthened feathers of the back of the head. It is

/hen sur- regarded as a straggler. Mr. Audubon states that the eggs are always three in num-

to a great ^*^''' "I'^'i'*"!'^ two and three quarters inches in length, and one and two thirds inches

■atlv pro- *" breadth, and have a rather thick shell of a uniform plain light bluish-green color.

ter it has -^'^ ^^'o "' "'^ collection (No. L'8.")) collected by Mr. Audubon in 18,'{L', is of a slightly

j^ jjj„]j i,, oblong oval shape, and nearly ecpially rounded at either end. Its color is somewhat

min" this faded, but seems to have been a light wash of Prussian blue mingled with rather

more than the usual proportion of green than in most of the eggs of the Heron fani-

alive witli *^'^' ^^ nieasures li.To inches in length, and LOO inches in breadth, having the same

cilled and length, but a greater breadth, than in the measurements given by Mr. Audubon.

coon witli '^'^'^ ^^"*^ known us A. Wiifthnnanni, which Mr. Kidgway regards as merely the

separated. colored phase of this species, is even more rare than the white form called occidcn-

rt'ith their '"''"*'• ^^^ habits may be safely presumed to be not essentially different from those

thrown to °* either of these two species. So far as known, its residence seems to be confined

V towards *° Southern Florida and to the AVest India Islands. It is enumerated by Mr. March

of other ^^ ""^ '^^ *^"^ ^'""^^"'^ "* Jamaica, where the fishermen and the gunners on the coast

regard it as the male of the hevodlus in its summer plumage. Mr. March's obser-

b. 5^ i878)_ vations led him to the conclusion that the two are entirely distinct species. Eggs

lary, 1882), ^^^ this species collected by Mr. Maynard in Southern Florida are more rounded than

^the eggs of most of the Heron family, and have the same uniform color of light

;S VOL. I. — 2

10 ALTUirrAI, fiHAr.LATOHKS- HKHoniON'KS.

KhmmiIhIi I'mssiaii blui'. Tluy mcuMiii'i' 'J.'JH inclifs in k'iit,'th l»y I.H5 inches in

lUfillltll.

Mr. \. II. .Mtidiv (Ir-oMis it iii;,'lilv |iri>lnililf tliat liii' hinls now Htandinp,' as A. Wiir-
lirmiiinil may innvc to !«• only a ran' ami (•l('j,'ant variety oi' /iiniiUns. He was liii
to tliiri (■onciiisiitii l)y t-.xamininK'. at. a ilistaiu'c of alxmt a iinn<lri'<l yards, a tiork ot
Herons wiiii'li sermnl to iiim to rorn'S|ion(i with tlir ili'scription of this ran> variety,
ami yet to li;' ratlier varieties of, tlian a spt'cies ditferinj,' from, tlie tnu- /ii rut/Ins. We
ai)riil;,'e iiis acconnt : Seated in shade of a huneli of "saw-nniss," near a ]>ond uhoiit
iialf a niih' from Sarasota Hay, Keli. I'O. 1H74, lie saw a (Jreat JMne Heron dewend ami
|iereii on a Imsli. Ity tiie aid of a s|iy-t,dass he was 'ii)h' to see, on wiiat seemed to lie
a trne .1. /irrni/lns, an oceipital wiiite plnme nearly ioni' inches in len^'th. In a few
miinites three others appeared ; one had a head that was pnre white in every part,
and occipital pinnies of the same color, sI.k or seven inches lonj,'.

He spent the remainder ot the day watching their movements, and at altont snn-
down the stranp' liirds rose and Hew away towards the north without coniin;,' within
the roach of his },'nn or nearer than ahont ei{,'hty yards. During five hcnirs of obser-
vation he saw it in every position and under every jiossiiile direction of siinheam and
shadow. The heail was entirely a pure white, as were also the occipital streamers.
The lower i)arts appeared to l»e white.' than those of its adult (omiianion. The
ui)per ]tarts of shonlders, hack, and lanceolate plumes seemed rather li},diter ami
nuu'o silvery than those (d' the other. The tibial feathers in both were riifons, ami
lK)th iiad black at the lower neck where uncovered at the carpus. The upper parts
of the neck in both were washed in cinnamon, and both had the m'ck below an ashy
lilae. llail he seen it by itself or in any other eomjiany than .1. /irrtK/lun, he would
have unhesitatin^dy rcj,'arded it as an elc.ifant specimen of .1. \\'iir<l(iii(iiiiil.

Aiiplyin^^ what he considers a never-failing' test — the habits of Herons in general
when in company with those of their own sjiecics — .Mr. .Moore was sure that this
bird was an .1. /irrm/ins.^ At this season this bird, the most unsocial of all the Jleroiis,
will admit to the same pond, to feed in si^dit of it, one or more of its kind ; but its
disposition to tease and harass all but its mate is occasionally exliibited, and oceurred
repeatedly here. These appeared to be migrants moving north. One was a young
bird of the first year. None <d' the others attempted to annoy it until it chanced to
pierce a siren, when the master bird, in the true dress of an herodius, rushed at it
and caused it to liberate its |)rey. The one with a white head when pursued seemed
to act as if in deference to its companion, and to ap|)roacli it, though not very near.
On being teased it seemed to submit, as if well acquainted with its ojjpressor. These
Herons came from the south, were evidently strangers, and moved on toward the
north. The young bird was the last to leave, but soon followed its companions.

Ardea Ward!

WABD'S GREAT BLUE HEBON.

AnUa fVnnU, Rid«w. Bull. Niitt. Oni. Club, Vol. VII. No. 1, January, 1882, p. 5 (Oyster Bay, Soutli-
western Florida).

Sp. Char. Colored jilinse cxixctly like A. Wiirdemanni (=: dark plinse of .4. occidentalis ?), but
with the liead colored as in A. hrodias. Dlflering from hcrodias in nuich larger size (culmeii,

• Mr. Moore's observations in respect to this matter do not correspond at all with the experience nf
others. His inferences are duubtless incorrect, and the birds he saw were in all probability A. " IFilrdc-
manni" ami A. Wardi. — U. K.

•»».

AUDKin.E - TIIK IlKFlONrt - AUDKA.

lu'hcs ill

1 .1. mi,.

' was It'll
I tlock (I I
I' varifty,
'his. \\>'
mil iilidiit
it't'iiil ami
iH'd to lie
III a t't'W
vn-y part,

iboiit Hilli-
ng' witliiu
(iT ohst'i-
ilicaiii ami
■drcaiiiiM's.
on. Tiu'
Hhtcr ami
li'oiis, ami
lipcr iiaits
w an asliv
, ho would

in gencriil
that this

1' llt'l'dllS,

; but its

ocoui'n'd

a youiit,'

laiicod til

led at it

I sconicil

ery near.

Dr. Thcsi'

)\vard the

uious.

Bay, Soutli-

talis ?), but
y.e (culuu'ii,

'xpcrience nf
4. " JFUrdc-

«,V)-7.()n inrlipn ; tnr«ns H .'i(M).(H) imlicn), linliltr ({fiii'ml Lolniulinn, and (iti ilrlwl Hkiii) li^'lit
liMwii iiiMltiul of black K-^jh. Diiliroiimlic ; llii' wliiU- itliiwi! iH'iiin iiid;-tiiiKui*lml)lf fnuii tliul of
A. ofiiilmlidiH (.').

Aihilt i (No. H-2,:\-2\), U. 8. Nut .Miii., O.VNtcr l»<iy, Kloiidii, Manli, ImhI ; ClmrliH W. Ward) ;
Iliiid wliilf, willi tliu Hidi'H i>{ till' cidUii ami iiitiiv ni(i|iut ( iinlinliii;,' llii' liii^-tlicinil |i|iuiic.'«)
dr.'p lilaik ; neck lavi'inlrr-niay (much liniilcr lliaii in liif ly\n' nf ll'ihili iiniiiiii), ihv iDic-iuTk
wliitf, lliirkly stivakid with Mack lor the iowir Iwn tinrds ; juj,'iilar iiIiiiiii'm ciii.ljy wiiiti-, tlicii
li'iif^lliciicd laiH'iinj,' iiiirliiiii culinly hd. rpiicr Hintacc niiit'iinii liliii-li ipliinilM'im", the l(ii;,'tliciiiMl
MiMimlar iiliiim-t Imaiy wliilidi or ludc hilvciy ^lav. V\>\\i.v \>ivn^\ uniforiii lilack ; alKloiufii and
JMWcr lircat-l while, lallicr imlistimtly stifakcd with dark nmy ; mud r»'K'i<'ii ini.xi'd Muck and
white, in liin;;iludinal da^lii'^ (tlic lilack ratlin- ini'dnniinatiii^,') ; ciisHniii iniinaciilatc imic while.
Tibiiu iiiiilbnn li;;hl cinnuimin ; ed-e ufthe win^,' (i"<iieciallv ni'ar the l>i.nd) dei|pei- cinnaiiiou, hut
thin much ini.\L'd with white tnwunl the Iiuhch of the i|imI1m ; lining of the wiii;{, M.\illur!<, niden,

and llallk^<, imifiinn iihiinl n^. liill, aiipareiilly, entirely olivuceoiis-yellow ; naked [lortion of

tiliiiu very jiale lnown (eviilently yellowish or llesh-colored in lile) ; tarsi lij,'ht liiowii (ulivaceoiiH
in life I), darker in front ; toes li^jlit hiowii. Win;,', :i<)..''i(» ; cnlnien, (I.Tri ; dt'iith of hill through
nostril, l.l(» ; tarsus, S.T.') ; miiiille toe, .'"i.io ; naked imttion of tiliiie, ,'1.50.

Mr. W. II. Collins, of Detroit, who kindly ]ire>enteil the s|ieiinieii descvilied ahovi; to the Na-
tional Museum, has sent measureinents of two other s|)eciniens, one in his own jiossession, the
other inoinited fi/C Mr. Ward. .\s niay he seen helow, they a;,'ree closely in tlilnelisions with the
type, tliwHlireasiirements hein;;, respectively, win;,', :J(i.(H>-2(i..')0 ; culinen, (!..")0-7.(Kl ; depth <if hill
tlirmyh nostril, 1.2.') ; tarsus, H.7.">-!t.<Mi; niiddh^ toe, r).i,')-.'i.4r> ; nuked portion of tihiu, .').".'>-(t.(Ki.
^'

Tho lollowing tacts in ndation to this apiiarciitly distinct species oi- race of large
Heron is siilistantially the same as that printed in the original account cited above.
The specimens desciihed were olitaineil liy Mr. Cliarles W. Ward, of I'oiitiac, Miidi-
igan, who spent several weeks at the hreeding-gronnds of the bird in (pie.stion, and
was thus enabled to make niaiiy very interesting observations on its habits, et<'. Air.
Ward's memoranda, \vhi(di are esiiecial'y interesting in connection with the question
of Ai'diii oir!(/r)ttit/is, Aii>., and J. Wiinlnntuni'i, I'iAIUD, are as follows : —

" My (di.servations of the Herons during the past sea.son do not correspond with
those of Mr. N. J$. Moore, as recorded on page L'.'ili of your artiide,' in regard to their
feeding habits. 1 found them generally living in comniunitie.s, roosting, nesting, and
feeding together, like Pigeons, and often (d)served flocks of the Little White, Heddish,
and other Egrets, feeding together like Teal Ducks. Two sjiecimens of J. oiTltfciifn/ls
were .seen feeding quietly within twenty feet of one of the Herons procured by me
[.I. W'tinU, n(d)is]. They were feeding on a inudd)ar at low tide. I was once con-
cealed in the low brush near a small po(d watching three Louisiana Egrets cdiasing
minnows, when two of them making for the .same minnow sipiared off for a knock-
down, while the third coolly aiipropriated the jirize, leaving the combatants situated
like eom|dainant and defendant at the close of a lawsuit. Li all my observations of
the Herons I have seen nothing to lead to a conclusion that one of these birds ludd
any particular antipathy against its own siiecies while feeding. In tin; many squab-
bles between Herons on their feeding-grounds, the enoountors occurred (|uite as often
between different species as members of tho same species, it may be that during
the breeding sciison they are more friendly than at other times. In order that you
may understand my opiiortunities for observing those birds, 1 imdose a rough map of
Mound Key and surr()unding.s, my camping-place from January 20 till A])ril 10. As
you will see by the figures marked .... it was in the midst of their feeding-grounds,
these places being mud- and sandd)ars, bare at h)w tide, Kegarding the lieddish
Egret, among many thousands of them I saw only one in the pure white plumage,

1 Cf. Bull. U. S. ticol. Gcog. Survey Terr. Vol. IV. No. 1, pp. 231, 232.

AMTJCIAL (lUALLATOUH.S- IIKHODIONES.

and no white young; but one of my dark spccinicus lias white feathers on the head
and in tiu> tail, while one of the seeoudary (juills has the outer weh ehiefly white.
My eonipauion of last winter's Florida trii) reports that he saw no Keddish Egrets
with white exeejjt on the secondaries.

"Regarding the large Herons [i. e. A. Ifarill], I am much inclined to think them
a geographical variety . . . the siiecimens being very uniform in color. ... I exam-
ined some thirty nests at least, fifteen of which contained young, all being dark col-
ored, in'fk one e.vvfjttlini. 'riicsc birds are comnuui in Southwestern I''lori(hi, and their
nests are fre(pu'ntly found along the coast. From all the infornuition at my com-
mand, connected with my own observations, I am almost convinced that the bird in
(juestion is sei)arate and distinct from .1. orcidcntdlls and A. ff'iinfciinnni!, and the
fact that Audubon found the former in immense uund)e"s anumg the mangrove
islands of Eastern Florida is strong evidence that he happene.'. in the vicinity of one
of their rookeries. As you will observe l>y exaniining the diagram of my eam])ing-
phice, and noting the rookeries of large Herons, . . . these birds were ([uite common
in that vicinity ; whiles I saw only a few specimens of ./. iici'idriitdHs. The white
bird found in the nest with the blue might liavc come there from an adjoiinng emjit y
nest, some thirty or forty feet distant, as it could easily have done, being nearly full-
grown. This surmise is strengthened Ity the circumstance that 1 saw a large white
Heron on the islaml nmrked '*,' and my com])anion killed a similar, if not the same.
specimen on the large island marked '1',' which he threw away, supj)osing it to
be a common White Egret {_I/fro(liiis r;/)rffii'\. 'I'hesc I now believe to have been
A. orr!</riitiil!s ; the other [//. f(jfvftti'\ was then laying its eggs, while the description
of A. ocridcntdlls corresponds to my recollection of the bird he killed. At the time,
I was not familiar with the descri[)tion of A. orrli/rvfa/is.

"In tlie Little Ulue Heron [I'londit nrnt/ca'] and Jieddish Egret [_Dichromniiasfin
rafd'}, where dichromatism appears to be an establisheil fact, ca<'h species presents
different pliascs and mixtures of both colors, esjx'cially the Little lUue, which shows
.almost every variety of curious markings of blue and white ; while in the Heddisli
Egret, one specumen shows white on the head, tail, and wings, ajid others reported by
Mr. Adams show white on th(> wings.

" As before said, I believe the bird to be a geographical variation of A. hcrodiax,
residing pernmnently and breeding in South I"'lorida. I think that further searcli
and observation will develop more evidencH! concerning A. orrhlciitiilis and A. If'iin/i-
manni, which may result in confirming your theory of their being (uie and the same
species. You will pardon my opposing your opinion ; but my convictions are so
strong, that only the finding of white birds with blue young, and more cases of blue
parents with white young, or adults showing mixtures of both phases, would over-
come them."

Assuming that tin; large white birds observed by Mr. W ard were really a wlute
phase of the dark-colored birds obtained by him, which were so numerous in the
locality, it certainly appears strange that so few of the former were seen. The case
of the Reddish Egret which he cites, affords, however, an exact parallel, and it is now
considered established beyond question that " I'eale's Egret" (Ardea J'ealeiyBoyAr.,
— a pure white bird) is merely a white phase of this species. As to the comparative
rarity of these large white birds, in the locality where observed by Mr. Ward, mili-
tating against any theory of their specific identity with the dark-colored birds, it
should be remembered that in the case of nearly every dichromatic si)ecies of bird
this condition is more or less variable with locality. A pertinent example may be
cited in the case of Demiegretta sacra, a Heron of wide distribution in the Ear East.

I: hi h

ARDEID.E — tup: HERONS — AUDEA.

the head
Hy wliitc.
jh Egrets

ink them
. 1 exiiiu-
: (lark eol-
aiul tlieii

my eom-
IP bird ill
I, and tlic
niangrovi'
ity of one

cainpiiif,'-
? coninum
rhe wliitc
injjt enijity
early fuU-
irge white
the same,
■iing it to
have been
eseriptioii
, the time,

rommiasso
s presents
ioh shows
e Heddisli
ported by

, hrrodiax,
ler seareli
A. Wiinlr-
the same
ns are so
es of bbu'
onhl over-

y a white
|)UH in the
The case
it is now

/, liOXAI'.,

m])arative
Tard, mili-
l birds, it
les of bird
le may be
Far East.

This species inliabits a consideraWe number of ishmds in the Polynesian group, and
it has l)eeu noticed and recorded by naturalists who have visited that region, that on
some islands all or nearly all the birds of this species are dark-<'olored, on others all
or nearly all are white, while on others still there may be a more eipial proi)ortion
of tlie two phases. It may be remarked that the two jihases in this species are even
more distinct in coloration than in the case of Dir/iruintiiinssa rufn, the colored pliaso
being darker than in the latter species. Ujion the whole, even admitting the po.ssi-
bility of the white young bird seen l)y Mr. Ward having of its own volition taken up
its aboile in a nest containing dark-colored young, I am strongly inclined to believe
that it belonged to the same species with the latter, th<' (]ue.stion of its i)arentagc
(/■.(■.. whether its parents were white or dark-colored birds) being a comparatively
unimportant consideration, as atfecting the main ipiestion. I?ut in adopting the view
of their specitic identity, a problem arises which in the light of our present knowledge
aj>pears un.solvable, aii<l which may be briefly stated thus: —

The large *'blut^" Herons obtained by Mr. Ward are, in every respect as regards
size and proportions, identical with Ardea ocrii/enfa/ls, Ai;n., and A. Wiinlcmanni,
IJ.viun; in i'oloration they agree exactly with the latter, except only in the pattern
of the head and tint of the neck, which are precisely as in A. heroil'ui.s. The bird in
question is apparently "dichromatic," liaving a white jihase ; lience, assunung that
A. nrridrnfdh's and ./. ff'iirdrniniui! are dichromatic phases of one sjjccies, it necessa-
rily follows that white individuals of the bird in (picstion would be iihxohitclif indis-
thifiu'ishdhlv from irliltr I'.rdiii/drs of A. urchlnttdHs ! Still, in view of the fact that
the colored phase dilfers from A. fHirdcmiiiiii! in its most essential feature of colora-
tion, i.i: the i)attern of the head-markings, it seems impossible to unite them, unless
it can be shown that the type of A. WiirdiniKtiuil does not represent the perfect
colored phase of that species.' There are hence several hypotheses which might be
plausibly argued upon theoretical grounds, and which nuiy be stated as follows:

(1) That A. o(r!(/ciif(i/!s, A. ff 'iirdfi/iinnii, A. If'ardl, and A. /irivdliis all belong to a
single S])ecies, which reaches its extrenu-s of variation in tiie first- and last-nanu'd ;

(2) That these nanu'S include three distinct nu'cs or species : A. hcrodias, wh'wh is
never white ; ./. i>crldriif(i/is, which is dichromatic (having separate white and colored
phases), and ./. Ildn/I, also dichromatic, its white phase indistinguishable from that
of A. occidcntoHn, and its colored phase distinguishable from that of the same species
(.(. Wiii'drmann!) by the different pattern and color of the head and neck alone; and
(;j) that there are two species, A. orvldvntalU and A. /irrodlns, which in Florida
hybridize on an extensive scale, producing the intermediate specimens which have
been distinguished as A. Ifiirdrmnnni and A. Ward!.

Of these hypotheses I have, after careful consideration of them all, concluded to
adopt the second, as being most consistent Avith known facts, and have accordingly
proposed for the bird in question ihe name given above.

Ardea herodias.

THE OBEAT BLUE HEBON.

A^-dca hcrndias, LiNN. S. N. I. 17.'')S, 143, cd. 12, I. 17t)ii, '237. - Wii,s. Am. Orn. VIII. 1814, 28,
)>1. 65, fig. 5. — Sw. & Rich. F. H. A. II. 1831, 373. — Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 42. — Aui). Orii. Biog.

' . tor many careful examinations of the tyiw speeinien, I am led to the conclusion that it docs rcpre-
?^8cnt the pei-fect colored pliase, since no combination or division of the markings of A. herodias and
: y/. occidenfa fin — or, in other words, no jiartial development of the head-pattern of the former— would
,1 give the peculiar markings which ilistinguish A, inirdemanni.

ALTRICIAL GRALLATOllES — IIERODIONES.

:il'r

llilir:

II. 1835, 87 ; V. 1839, 599, pi. 211 ; Syiiop. 1839, 205 ; H. Am. VI. 1843, 122, pi. 369. — Baiiih,
IJ. N. Am. 1858, (308; Cat. N. Am. U. 1859, no. 487. — ('ol-es, Koy, 1872, 207; Check l.i>t,
1873, no. 449 ; 2d eel. 1882, no. 655 ; Binls N. W. 1874, 517. — liiuow. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881,
no. 487.
Ardea Undsonias, LiNX. S. N. I. 1766, 238.

Had. Tlio whole of North ami Middle Aincrica, I'xcpptin^ Arctic districts; north to Ilud.son's
Bay, " Fur Couiitrie.'*," and Sitka ; south to New Uranada, Venezuela, and the Galapagos ; Bermu-
das, and throughout the West Indies.

Sp. Char. Adult: Length, about 42.(M)-.')(».(K) ; e.\teiit, 72.00 ; weight, .') to 8 pounds. Fore-
head and central feathers of tlie crown pure white ; sides of crown and wliole of the occiput,
including the long plumes, blue-black. C'iiiu, throat, and malar region pure white. Ncrk
lavender-gray, fading gradually above into the white of cheeks and throat. Foreneck with a
narrow medial series of iilack and ferruginous dashes nii.xed witii white ; lower neck-plumes pule
lavender-gray. Lateral jugular tufts uniform blue-black ; breast and abdomen black, almost uni-

I'll . ;,

>!*

*-4liil,ll!!

form laterally, but the middle feathers with broad medial .stripes of white. Crissum white, the
feathers sometimes edged witli rufous. Tibial feathei-s deep chestnut-rufous, not growing conspicu-
ously paler toward the body. Upper parts fine slate-blue, the dorsal and scapular plumes jjalcr,
more pearl-gray, — the lightness of the tint proportionate to the length of the plume ; remigcs
black, the inner .secondaries growing gradually more slaty, so that the innermost are scarcely
darker than the tertials. Tail deep slate-blue, a shade darker than the tertials. Entire bonier of
the wing, from the armpit to the metacarpo-phalangeal joint, rich purplish-rufous, scarcely mi.xed
anywhere with white, and nmch the widest at the bend. Bill olive above, the culmen blackisli ;
lower mandible wax-yellow, brighter terminally (sometimes wiiolly yellow) ; iris bright yelluiv ;
bare loral space cobalt-blue in spring, olive-greenish or yellowish after breeding season. Leys ami
feet dud-ii-hlack throughout. Youmj : Above slate-gray (less bluish than in the .idult), destitute of
any penicillate plumes ; anterior lesser wing-coverts bordered terminally with light rufous ; border
of the wing (broadly) white, more or less tinged with rufous, especially at and near the bend,
where this color prevails. Entire pileum, including all the occipital feathers, blackish-slate, with
a narrow median crest of more elongated darker-colored feathers, with pale fulvous shaft-streaks.
Cheeks dark grayish ; malar region, chin, and throat only, pure white. Neck dull gray, some-
times tinged with rufous, some of the feathers with itidistinctly lighter shaft-streaks ; forenei k
with a narrow longitudinal series of black, rufous, and whitish dashes, much as in the adult.
Breast and abdomen broadly striped Avith dark cinereous and white, in nearly equal amount

ARDEIDvE — THE UERONS — ARDEA.

. — Baikh,
Jheck List,
111. B, 1881,

3 Iludsoii's
s ; Beriiiii-

ids. Foiv-
,he occiiml,
ite. NiMk
leck with a
iliunos iiiilc
almost uiii-

n white, the
g conspicu-
uines puhr,
reiuij,'c'S
are scarcely
re border nf
rcely mixid
u blackish ;
,'ht yelluw ;
Legs (did
destitute <if
1)118 ; border
r the bend,
i-slrtte, witli
haft-strcaUs.
gray, soiiic-
s ; foreiicik
the adult.
ual anioiiiit

(sometimes suffused with rufous). Tibia; very pale nifous, sometimes almost white ; crissum
white. Upper mandibln black, paler, or hoiu-color, along the toiiiium ; lower, pale pea-greeii,
deepening into clear horn-yellow on terminal half; eyelids antl horizontal space on lore light
ai>]>le-^;reen ; iris gamboge-yellow ; tibiie and soles of toes, apple-green ; rest of legs and feet
blaek.i

Wing, 17.!)()-2().0() ; tail, 7.3()-8.(W ; culmen, 4.3(Mi.(H) ; depth of bill, through mi.ldle of
nostril, 0.85-1.10; naked portion of tibia, ;3.,^)0-5.(Kt ; tar.sus, (i.00-8.(K) ; middle toe, 3.50-4.50,
[I'].\lrenies of 17 adult speiiniens.]

(!i:()(iKAi'Hit'.vi. ASi) IxiJiviurAi, Variations. So far as is indicated by the rather scant
material before me (17 adult specimeii.s), tiiere is little, if any, variation in proportions or coloi's
which can bi; considered strictly geographical. Esiiecially is this so with regard to dimensions and
relative measurements of different i)arts in an individual, — a fact which is dearly shown by the
carefully-made measurements of the whole series. The typical style, indeed, prevails with such
iinifoi iiiity, that of seventeen specimens only four dilfer in any noteworthy respect from the average
style. These "alierrant" examples are the following : —

No. CS300, from Florida, is decidedly tht; largest in the whole series, its generol size almost
e(iualliiig that of A. occidoifalix. The liill also apiii'oaches (piife nearly to that of the latter species,
both in size and form. In colors, however, it is true lumdias, so far us essential characters are
concerned, the head-pattern being exactly as in typical specimens of that species ; the abdomen
with black largely pn^vailiiig, etc. The only obvious difference from ordinary specimens of the
species consists in the jieculiar plumage of the neck, which at first sight ajipears to be white
throughout. A dose examination, however, reveals the fact thai the feathei-s are very much
Worn oi' abraded, and that wherever they are least so a lavender-gray tinge is distinctly visible !
N(;w, if we examine closely the neck jduniage of typical A. huroduis, we find that it is only the
siirfiicc which has tliis lavender-gray color, the concealed portion of the feathers being irliitish ; so
that the white appearance of the neck in this specimen is thus readily accounted for. As probably
indicating a tendency to albinism, it may be remarked that there are in this specimen many pure
white feathers mixed through the rum]) and upper tail-coverts.*

The most important specimen of all, since its peculiarities are real, and not merely ap)>arent,
is No. 8005, from Mexico, also an adult. This example represents the opposite extreme in size
from that just noticed, being much the smallest in the whole series. As to plumage, it is typical
A. hiradias. The shades of c(dor are very deep and dark throughout, however, though not more
80 than 4524, from Cajie Flattery, W. T., which almost exactly resembles it in this respect. The
neck of this specimen is of precisely the same shade as that o( A. nrcidentalis (" Wiirdemanni").
The chief i)eculiaiity of this spi'eimen is that the bill is thi'oughout of a dear bright yellow,
whereas in true hcmdins only part of the lower mandible is of this color, the npper being mainly
dusky. Should this latter character, taken together with the very small size, prove constant in
Mexican adult specimens, they may rank as a geographical race, for which the term "Ardea Lessoni,"
BoNAP., would jirobably have to be employed.

The Cape Flattery specimen alluded to above agrees exactly with the Mexican specimen as to
colors, but its proportions are very iieeuliar. Thus, while the wing is above the average length
and the tail up to the maximum, the bill is considerably below the average, being smallest of all
except that of the Mexican specimen ; the tibia and tarsus represent the minimum length, while
the middle toe is shorter than that of any other in the entire series !

The only other specimen in the collection worth mentioning in this connection is No. 33134,
Cape Saint Lucas. This specimen, also an adult, is remarkable simply on account of its rei-y liijht
colors. There is an unusual predominance of white on the breast and jugulum, and the colors
generally (excepting, of course, the bhick) are two or three shades lighter than in the average. Its
measurements come near the maximum. In these pecnliarities, however, we see only the result
of an extremely dry and hot climate, the bleaching effect of which is ])lainly visible in all the
birds of brown or grayish plumage in that region of continued droughts, which embraces, besides

» Notes taken from fresh specimen [Xo. 84, D78, Nat. Mus., 9 juv.. Mount Carmel, Illinois, Sept.
26, 1870. Length, 42.00 ; expanse, 08.50].

••' Since the above was written, a re-examination of the specimen proves it to be A. Wardil The first
, inspection was made several years jirevious to the discovery of the latter species.

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIOXES.

I'l I

lj"l'

the neiiinsula of Lower California, the whoh; of the desert refjion of the Southwestern United States
and Western Mexico.

Younger specimens (probably in the second year), of which No. 12070, is a fair example, hnvi'
the forehead dusky-slate, there being only a few white feathers in the crown ; the cheeks strongly
tinged with bull'. The specimen alluded to is eciually dark with that from Cape Flattery, W. 'I'.,
and that from Mexico.

Seasonal Variations. Although the plumage of this species is essentially the same througli-
out the year, there are certain differences dei)ending on the season which are worthy of note, in
the spring, or at the commencement of the breeding season, thi! bill, except on the culmen, is
almost entirely yellow (generally a wax-yellow, brighter on the lower mandible) ; and the bare
orbital space col)alt-blue, while from the occiput grow two long, slender, ]>endant, black plunics.
After the young are hatched, these plumes are droi)ped, the bare skin around the eye has changed
to a yellowish-green hue, and the upper mandibk' become almost wholly dusky blackish-olive, witli
only the tomia and lower mandil)le yellowish. Of some twenty specimens killed June 11, 1877,
at the Little Cypress Swamp, of Knox Co., Indiana, none had the white occipital plumes, while the
bill and orbits were colored as last stated (djove. These birds were all shot at their Ijreediiij;
grounds, where were about one hundred and fifty occupied nests, mostly containing full-grown
young. A male killed at Washington, D. ('., April !), 1875, and conseiiuently in perfect plumage,
had the bill and soft parts colored as follows: — Bill dull wax-yellow, brighter on the lower
mandible ; bare orbital space cobalt-blue ; iris bright chrome-yellow ; legs black, the tibia3 inclin-
ing to brownish ; soles of toes dull grayish naples-yellow. A female obtained in .spring at Mount
Carmel, 111., was similarly colored.

The Great Blue Heron — one of the most eminently charaoteristie birds of North
America — is found, in varying abundance, tliroughout the continent, south of the more
northern regions, from the I'acitic to tlie Atlantic coast; it is also found in several
of the West India Islands and in Central America. Kiclmrdson regarded it as only
an accidental straggler in the Fur Region ; but Captain lilakiston notes it as a regular
summer visitant, and as breeding on th'^ Sa.skatchcwan. It was found by JI. 15our-
geau, in July, 1858, breeding on one of the tributaries of the north branch of tlie
Saskatchewan. There were several nests in a poplar grove, situated in a large ravine
near a lake ; they were all about fifty feet from the ground. One nest, containing six
eggs, was taken. This bird was found at Sitka by Bisclioff, where it was rare ; and it
is included by Mr. R. Rrowne in his list of the birds of Vancouver. In CalifV)ruia,
Dr. Cooper speaks of it as everywhere common about the shores and marshes, almost
forming one of tlio characteristic features of the landscape of that region. It is
resident, not even migrating from the Columbia River, though wandering to a consid-
erable distance for food. It visits the islands along the coast, and occasionally stands
to feed on the floating kelp at some distance from the shore. He found its nest with
fresh eggs about April 24, near San Diego. The nests were built in oak trees, up dry
ravines, at some distance from the water. Sometimes there were two or three nests
in the same tree. At Santa Barbara, he found them in lofty poplars, three miles
from the shore. They were loosely constructed of coarse sticks, laid flat. The
eggs, four in number, measured from 2.(50 to 2.G8 inches in length, and 1.78 to 1.80 in
breadth. The birds made no attempt to defend their nest, but flew around uttering
a low croaking.

It usually fishes in the early morning and in the evening, often wading up to its
tarsal joint in the water, standing motionless, watching until its prey comes near,
and then seizing it by a very rapid stroke of the bill, and swallowing it head down-
ward. It also feeds on meadow mice, frogs, small birds, grasshoppers, etc. Its flight
is rapid and easy, and when migrating is sometimes very high; but it usually kecjis
near the ground or water. It is at all times very vigilant, and difficult of approach.

AUUEID.E - THE HEKONrt - ARDEA.

lited States

imple, liiivi'
iks strou^'lv
:ery, W. T.,

lie tlirougli-
il' note. Ill

I culmcii, is
k1 the bari;
lick pluiiKS.
luiH clmiij,'((l
i-olive, witli
lie 11, 1877,
IS, while the
eir hreeiliiij,'
; fiill-i,'ro\vu
;ct i)luniaj,'f,

II the lower
;ibia3 incliii-
iig at Mount

s of Xortli
)f the inoiv
I in sevcnil
it as only
IS a vef^ulai'
y M. l?unv-
,nch of till'
u'ge ravini'
taining six
ire ; and it
Califoniiii,
les, alnujst
ion. It is
o a consiil-
ally stands
nest with
es, np dry
hree nests
iree miles
flat. The
to 1.80 in
d uttering

g up to its
omes near,
lead down-
Its flight
lally keejis
approaeli.

When wounded it defends itself witli its bill, and ean inflict a dangerous wound. In
flying, it doubles back the neck between the wings, and allows the legs to stick out
straight behind. It has been known to collect in flocks of two hundred or more, near
the Columbia, when the herring w(!re entering the bay in August. It is said to be
quite eatable when young, if properly cleaned.

Captain Bendire mentions this species as a very common summer resident through-
out the h)\ver Harney Valley, in Eastern Oregon. It breeds on one of the small
islands in Malheur Lake in great nuudiers, in company with the Double-crested Cor-
morant and the White Pelican. Its nests were placed on greasewood bushes, from
two to four feet from the ground, nearly every bush containing a nest. They were
all flat structures, built of such materials as were close at hand — dry sticks and
reeds, with a little swamp-grass for a lining. The usual number of eggs was five.
The measurement of the largest egg was 2.7.*{ X l.UO ; of the smallest, 2.4(1 X 1.82;
and the average, 2.(!r> X l.-SO. The first laid eggs in a set were usually of a lighter
or faded color. The female began to lay about the 2()th of Ai)ril. The young for
the first two weeks were nearly destitute of featliers, and made a hissing noise when
disturbed. They sit close together in a circle on their nests, with their heads all
turned toward its centre. When one of their colonies is disturbed, the old birds at
once depart, without any manifestation of concern.

This Heron is also known occasionally to breed on precipitous and rocky sides of
streams, where other opportunities are not present, making use of projecting ledges
of rocks instead of trees or bushes.

Mr. S.alvin notes the occurrence of this Heron near the Lake of Duefias, in
"Guatemala ; it was seen fishing on the Iliver (Juacalate ; he also met with it fre-
quenting the lagoons on the Tacific coast of that Itepublic, and mentions its great
shyness. Professor Newton cites this Heron as occurring in St. Croix in March and
April, and again in August, IXoT. ^Ir. E. Newton had no doubt that it breeds on the
island, as it was observed there on the 10th of .Fune. According to Dr. (Jundlach,
it breeds in Cuba; and on the authority of Mr. Richard Hill and j\Ir. March, in
Jamaica. Mr. Dresser found it common in Tamaulipas, Mexico, all the year, excejit-
ing oidy the two coldest mouths ; and Dr. IJerlandier, in his manuscript notes,
mentions its occurrence in Eastern Mexico from November to the end of February,
and as abundant throughout the entire State of Taniaulii)as.

Major Wedderburn gives this species as resident in the Bermudas, many arriving
in autumn, and a few remaining throughout the year. In 184() a nest of this bird
containing two eggs was found among the mangrove-trees in Hungry Bay, and the
Rev. H. B. Tristram is said to have kept one alive in his garden, at the parsonage
on Ireland Island, which was once seen to seize a Ground-dove and swallow it entire,
Mr. Hardis, however, regards it as entirely migratory in Bernmda; first seen about
the loth of Sejitember, continuing to arrive in October, when it becomes common,
and occasionally met with from that period to April ; it then disai)pears for the
summer months. During the violent gale of October, 184S, a number sought refuge
in the Bermudas, appearing on all parts of the coa.st, and landing in a state of such
gi-eat exhaustion that five were taken alive. In arriving it was seen to keep close to
the surface of the water.

Professor Verrill found this Heron 1 ceding in the interior of Maine, a hundred
miles or more from the coast ; and Mr. Boardman informs us that it is found in New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as far to the north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Accord-
ing to the observations of Mr. Giraud, it is common on all the salt-marshes of Long
-Island, where it confines itself almost entirely to the wet and miry flats in the vicinity

VOL. I.

ALTKICIAL GIIALLATUUES — HEKODIONES.

of the beach. In its habits it is (liumal as wi-U as nocturnal. It may bo observid
by (lay wadiuf,' out on the shoals, collecting (ii-abs and various species of shell-fisli.
and at other times standinj,' in the water up to its knees, witii its hill poised ready to
strike its prey. It is then especially shy, intently observing,' everything' that is pii>.s-
ing within a wide circle. Yet even this bird, vij,'ilant as it is, nuiy be enticed iiy
decoys within gunshot; and by mauy its tiesh is very highly esteemed.

It will venture even more fearlessly forth at night in (juest of food, always stand-
ing in the same motionless po.sture, with bill ready ii,)ised for the coming of its jtrcv.
While in this position its plumage is parted, exposing a portion of the breast, whiili
is .said to be furnished with a downy s\distance emitting a i)hos))horeseent light, i'.y
some this is called the bird's lantern, and is said to be serviceable to it while tishini,',
both by attracting its prey, and by showing it where to strike. Even in dead sjhi i-
mens this luminous substance is said to give out a pale glow, not unlike that i)roducc(l
by decaying wood.

This Heron was nu>t with by Mr. J. A. Allen in September, in the Valley of
Great Salt Lake, where it w.as (piite common. Mr. Kidgway also found it an abun-
dant species in the wooded valley of the Truckee River, and breeding in nund)ers im
all the rocky islands in i'yramid Lake. Several of its nests, containing from three to
four young each, were found on the large island. These were very bulky, but well
made, composed of sticks, ami jjlaccd on the tops of the greasewood bushes (O/iiomj,
about live feet from the ground. Those on the '* I'yramid" were placed among tiic
rocks, at varying heights above the water. Among the marshes around (treat Salt
Lake, and in the txhi lagoons near Sacramento, he also found it abundant.

Wilson fcmnd this Meron breeding in tlu^ gloomy solitudes of the tallest cedar-
swamps in the lower parts of New Jersey, where, if uiulisturbed, it continues many
years in succession. The young are hatched about the middle of May, and are unable
to fly until they are as large as their i)arents. It breeds l)ut once in a season. Tlic
noise which this Heron makes when disturlx'd in its breeding-place is said sometimes
to resemble the honking of a goose ; at other times it is a hoarse, hollow grunting
sound, like that of a hog, but louder.

Like the common Heron of Eurojx', which it closely resenddes in many otlicr
respects, this bird is of solitary habit, excepting during the breeding season, going in
pairs only from March to August; the rest of the year leading a solitary life. I-'u-
rious battles are said to take place between the males at the beginning of the
pairing season.

Mr. X. 15. Moore has supplied some very interesting observations upon the habits
of this species, tracing the history of a pair from the first labor of making a nest,
through the periods of egg-laying, incubation, and rearing their young. They were
observed at the nest with a field-glass, and were first seen Feb. o. One was carrying
sticks to a certain willow growing in a pond. The other was standing in a part of
the tree near the toj), or fifteen feet from the mud below. This was the female, and
a few sticks were jilaced near her. The sticks, broken from the blasted Avillow-to]is,
were brought by the male. He generally alighted with them a little higher than
she. The latter reached up her bill, took them, and placed them on the pile, each in
its proper place. The work was so carried on to its completion — the male acting as
procurer of materials, his mate as architect. During these labors, the female seems
by far the more impatient to advance the business. She takes the stick from him and
lays it in its place ; and if he stops, and seems loath to leave her side, she motions him
to leave, though no sound is heard, and away he goes for another stick. The sticks
were carried, not across the bill, but pointing out before it, in a line with it. Neither

AUnKID.E — THP: IIKKoXS - AUDEA.

observi'd
shell-tisli.
I ready to
at is jKi^s-
;utict'd liy

■ays staml-
if its ])i('y,
ast, wliicli
lif^lit. \<y
ill' tisliiii;^',
cad s]M'ii-
t product'd

Valloy of
it an al)uii-
iiiubors (in
m thiTc to
y, but Well
s (Ohloiiij,
among the
(Jroat Salt

Host ccdar-
iiucs many
are imalile
ison. Tlip
sometimes
r gvuntini,'

lany otlicr
, going in
life. 1 "li-
ng of the

the habits

ing a nest,

riiey were

,s carrying

a part of

'male, and

illow-tojjs,

;her than

e, each in

e acting as

ale seems

n him and

ations him

The sticks

Neither

the eggs nor the young, until the latter arc able to use their bills well for defence,
are ever left by l)oth birds at once. Copulation takes })laco in the nest.

Hoth parents ineuliate, and both l)ring food to the young. After these are able to
strike with their l)ills. the old liirds spend little time with them, or even in sight.
The eagerness and the (hish of tiie bill of a hungry nestling, as well as its powerful
, gripe, are interesting peculiarities. The struggle Ix-tween the young Heron and the
parent seems like a wrestling-match, the fornu'r standing up almost as high as the
latter, tlu? tree swaying to and fro, and both birds staggering ui»on the nest, to such
an extent that tiu- nu)ther is (x^casionally compelled to step off and stand on one of
the branches, to avoid falling. This struggle occurs when all the food has been given,
and the mother is seeking to extricate her bill from that of her young. On one occa-
sion Mr. Moore saw one of the jjarcnts, after having fed its young, jiick up a good-
sized eel from the nest, deliberately swallow it, and then fiy away.

This s[)ecies is never known to run, or even to walk briskly ; and it never rakes
the bottom for its food. It is sonu'tinu's seen in the water watching for its prey at
two o'clock in tlu; morning. It often feeds on sirens, eating the posterior ])ortion only
of the larger ones. In vi'ry c(dd winters many more are seen in Florida than in milder
seasons. After swallowing a good-sized tish, it drinks by dipping its bill into the
water from one to live timi's. The larger the tish, the more water it drinks. Mr.
Moore has seen one take a large lish that lay Hirting its tail, ami Hy two hundred
yards before laving it on the sand. On being ajjproached tlu^ l»ird again carried it
off as before. In catching tish tins Heron usually .strikes its prey through the body.
Now and then it is said to strike at a fish so large and strong as to endanger its own
life. Audubon was a witness to an incident of this kind, where a Heron, on the
Florida coast, after striking a fish, was dragged several yards, and was able to dis-
engage itself oidy after a severe struggle. This species is said to take three years
in attaining maturity; and even after tiuit period it gains in size and weight. AVhen
fii'st hat(du'd it has a very grotesqxie ai)pearance : the legs, neck, and bill seem dis-
proportionately long, and it is nearly bare. It is soon covered with a silky down of
dark gray color.

In Florida the nundjer of its eggs is nearly uniforndy three ; but farther north the
number increases to four or live, and in a few instam^es to six. The egg resembles,
in its rounded oval shape and in its color, the eggs of most of the Heron family.
This color is uniform and uusjjotted, and is a faint wash of a greenish Prussian blue.
Tlie eggs vary sonu'what in size, and sonu' are nu)re oblong in shape than others ;
eggs from Florida are noticeably smaller than those from .Massachusetts. Three
in my (tabinet exhibit the following measurements : No. GO, from (fraud ilenan,
2.50 X 1.80 inches; Xo. 01, from Naushon, Mass., 2.'>0 X 1.70; and No. !>77, from Cape
Charles, Va., 2.07 X 1.80 inches.

Ardea cinerea.

THE COMMON HEBON OF EUROPE.

Arden cinerea, Linx. Faun. Suen. 1746, 59 ; S. N. I. 1766, 236. — Fabh. Faun. Oroenl. 1780, 106
(Grocnland). — Omku S. N. I. ii. 1788, 627. — Xacm. Viig. Deutsihl. IX. 1838, 24, pi. 220. —
OoL'Ln, n. Vmv. 1837, \>\. 273. — Hdnai-. f'onsi). II. IS.IS, 111. — Kkvs. & Ri.as. Wiib. Eur.
1840, 79. — Ma('(!II,i.. Man. Hiit. Oni. II. 1842, 128. — Giiay, Cat. Brit. B. 1863, 145.—
Ueixh. Ibis, 1861, 9 (Xcnortalik, niwnland). — Hrwiw. N'oin. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 488.—
Coi'ES, CliPi'k List, 2(1 cd. 1SS2, no. 657.

Anha miijor, I.inx. S. N. 1. 1766, 236.

ALTRICIAL CiUALLATOliKS- IIEUODIONES.

!( ;

Ardea rhennnn, Sandeu. Niitiirf. XIM. 177!>, 105.

Ardca Jokitniin; (iMi:i,. S. N. I. ii. 17^S, t>'2».

Ardcii ciniriicai, IlliKllM, Vil};. DnitMlil. 1H31, .180.

Ardea vitlyni-i.i, Hkciist. Orii. Tasili. Ifio:), 'J'.ri.

ArdeabviKj, (ii;i(KK. .I:ini. V<iy. liiil. IV. 1^44, 85.

Ardia 1,'iioiphmi, Oori.n, 1*. Z. S. 1848, 58.

Ardai einmu mnjoi; minor, media, H bracJu/rhijncki, UiiEiiM, Verz. Siimiiil. C. L. Urelini's, 1860.

12(/iVi(7i«»"i''.).

Hub. Pnlii'iirt'tic ri'<;inii, south to Austmlia ; accidental in Soutliem Greenland.

Sp. Char. Adult: Koivliciid and centre of i.ilmini pure white ; siden of tro^vn and occipital
plunu's deei) Mack ; rest of lii-ad wholly white. Neck li;,'ht cinereous, with a very faint lavender
tinge, gradually fading into the white of the head ; the front part with a naiTow longitudinal series

of black dashes on a white ground. Upper parts bluish-gray, the penicillate plumes of the back
and scapulars much lighter or pale jiearl-gray. Border of the wing jiure wliite ; antea.\illur tufts
deep blue-black. Sides and flanks uniform pale blue-gray. Medial lower parts white, heavily
striped laterally with blue-black. Tibia; and crissum pure white. Bill yellow, usually with the
culmen brownish terminally ; bare loral space green ; iris yellow ; feet dull green ; tibias yellow.
(Macgillivray.) Juv. : Pileum deep ash-gray ; occipital plumes black. Neck nsh-gray, the
front with a narrow longitudinal series of bhick and rufous dashes, mixed with white, the former
predominating. Upper parts uniform slate-gray, destitute of penicillate plumes. Malar region,
chin, and throat white. Anteaxillar tufts white, tipped with a rusty tinge. Edge of the wing and
entire lower parts wholly wliite, tinged with buff.

Wing, 18.50 ; tail, 8.00 ; culmen, 4.80 ; depth of bill through middle of nostril, 0.85 ; bare
tibia, 3.25 ; tarsus, 6.25 ; middle toe, 3.80. [No. 57006 ; Europe.]

The Common or Gray Heron of Europe has small claim to a place in the fauna of
North America. Two specimens are recorded as liaving been known in Greenland, —
one, seen in August, 1765, by the missionary Sta«h ; the other, a young bird found
dead near Nenortalik in ISAG. It is a familiar European species, as also one of the
most numerous of this peculiar and well-marked family.

Formerly, before falconry had become one of the lost arts, it was the typical
Heron of olden times, and occupied an important place in the sporting world. The

ARDEID.E - THE HEIIONS — IIEnODIAS.

localities in which it bred were forbidden ground, except to th(( servants of royalty 5
the bird itself was exclusively royal giuue, and penal eiuictnienta preserved it for
rciyid s|)ort. But now that it must depend upon itsi'lf for safety, it has bei'onie shy,
watiiiful, and solitary, and during the winter sehloui more tiian one is seen at the
sanii' time and in the same jdace. In the spring, hov ever, nundjers coHect together,
mill resort anew to the favorite wood in which, for years in succession, they have
siieiit the breeding season. At this time their habits are said to resendjle those
of the Kook; and, like that bird, the Heron builds on high trees — generally large
oiiks — and associates in such great numbers that Vennaut counted more than eighty
nests of this species upon one oak at Cressy Hall — an estate then belonging to the
Heron family. In some instances it has been known to build on precipitous rocks
near the coast, and at otners on the ground amongst reeds and rushes. The nest is
usually of large size, formed of sticks, and often lined with wool.

The usual number of eggs in the nest of this Heron is said to be four or five, and
incubation lasts about four weeks. The parents sit on the eggs by turns, the sitting
bird being supplied with food by its mate. When the young are hatched, both parents
assist in the supi)ly of food. If the heronry is visited during the breeding season,
the old birds betray great anxiety, sailing in circles high above the trees. It feeds
the young with tish and reptiles, o(;casionally with small uuinnnalia also. It is assid-
uous in collecting food during the breeding season, but at other times it usually fishes
only late in the evening t)r very early in the morning, sitting the whole day perched
on the branch of a large tree.

It stands motionless in the water when fishing, the head drawn back toward the
shoulders, ready to strike with its sharp beak the approaching prey. When a large
eel has been secured, it is often disabled by beating it on the ground. Mr. Dana
states that in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, where this Heron is very plentiful,
it always selects the lee side of the island for its fishing operations.

iMr. Yarrell states that this Heron is said to be very long lived. It Avas in former
years held in great esteem as an article of food. The heronries are occupied for
breeding purposes from spring until August. During the winter a few stragglers
only are seen, who seem to be left to pay occasional visits to maintain the right of
occupation. Occasionally furious battles take place between the Kooks and the
Herons for the possession of particular trees.

This Heron is a summer visitant of Scandinavia, going occasionally as far north
as the Faroe Islands and Iceland, from which it straggles to the south coast of Green-
land. It is found in Russia and Siberia, and thence southward over the whole Euro-
pean continent. It is said to be specially abundant in Holland. In its uiigrations it
is found in most of the islands of the Mediterranean, and winters in North Africa.
It has been traced to the Island of Madeira, and is even said to visit the Cape of
Good Hope. It has been found in the coxmtries about the Caucasus, is said to inhabit
In(li4j,..Cl).ijia, and Japan, and is included by Horsfield among the birds of Java.

The eggs are of a uniform pale sea-green color, and are of a rounded oval form,
2.25 inches in length by 1.75 inches in breadth.

ALTRiriAL rtRAIJ-ATORKi^ — IlKUoDIONES.

Gksvh HERODIAS, ItoiK.

HerodiiU, BiilE, UU, lS2'.'. TyiH-, Jnlea rgntla, LiSN.

Oen. Chah, Wliiti! Herons of hv^t- ni/r, ami witlidiit pluiiii'M, except in the hrcedinf? Benson,
when ornnuu'nted simply (in most Hpcties') liy a lonj,' train of strainlit ifathiTs. wiiii tliiik shafts,
anil Ion;,', sparse, (Icromiinsi'il, slcmlfr IhiiI)^, wliicli <^vo\v from the ilorsiil ic^^ion ami overhang; the
tail. 15111 mislerati'ly slcndfr, the upper ami Inwer (nitliiies alimist puraUel to near the eml, when-
({untly eurvetl, the culmeii more ahniptly so limn the ^'onys, tlmn^'h the curve is (juite gradual.
Mental apex reaiddn^' a jioint ahout midway hetween ihe tip of the hill and the eye ; malar apex
decideiUy anterior to thtt frontal apex, and extcmlinj,' to liuneath the jiosterior end of the nostrils.
Toes very lon^', the middle oni! ahout two thirds the tarsus, the hallux much less than one half the
former. Tihiie bare for about one half their length, i>v lor about the lenyth of the middle toe.

'^
.; .»

//. eifreffa.

Anterior scutellie of tarsus lar^'e, distinct, and nearly quadrate. Nuptial plumes confined to the
anterior part of the back, whence spring numerous long, straight, and thick shafts, reaching, when
fully developed, to considerably Ix-yond the end of the tail ; each stem having along each side
very long, slender, and distant fibrilUe. Tail even, of twelve broad feathew. Lower nape well
feathered. Plumage entirely pure white at all stages and seo-sons.

This genus, like Anlm, (larrxtta etc., is nearly cosmoi)olitan, being wanting only in the islands
of the South Pacific and in the colder latitudes of other regions. It comprises but a single Ameri-
can species, which has a more extensive range than any other of the American IIeron.s, excepting
only Nycticmlea grisca mevia,'^ its regular habitat extending from the United States to Chili and
Patagonia. In their inunaturc stage and in winter plumage, the .several Old World species closely
resemble the American species, as well as one another. But it is believed that in full dress
the following distincti<nis will be found to hold good in the forms which we have been able to
compare. Gray's Jfaml-Ust (vol. III. p)). 27, 28) recognizes the following species : (1) //. (Ma, L.,
of Europe, Africa, India, and Australia ; (2) H. egntta, Gmkl., of America ; (3) H. intennedia, V.

1 An Old World species (IT. phanifcrus, CUnn.i)) has long jugidav feathers with decomposed webs.
* It is an unsettled iiuestion, however, whether the Night Heron of Chili, Patagonia, etc., may not be
a distinct race {N. yrisea obacum ; see page r>ii).

ARDEID.K — TIIK IIKUONH- IIKUODIAS.

ll.vrtrtELg., of Jiivft, Iiidiii, .laimii, Ni-w Simtli Wales, imd TiiHiiiaiiiii ; (\) II. timorentit,Viv,, ot
Tiiiicir ; uiul (■>) II lu-iriji, ^, \ kuu. & Dk.sm., Iintii New CalidDiiiu. To wliichof tht'Hc the fourth
rtin'cifs of lliu lollowini,' syuoiwi.-* IkIoiij,'', 1 am at [iii'si'iit iiiialile to dutermiiie.

Synopsis of Species.

A. Jiiiinldr i>Uimen ullijhllii linijlhiiinl, irilli hntiul niiil iiiiilitiiiiijioiial vvIih,
K. Witli li;,'lit-(ip|orfil U"^>i ami tccl, ami tin- liiil ii^-iiaily inimiiiaiiy tliisky.

1. H. elba.' I'liiim'^ of the tiiiiii reaching' to o;iIy almiit 2-:i imiii'.-i lii>yo)iil the tnil ; Itill
rhii'tly ilinky in tin- lnvicliu- ipjiima;<c ; li;,'s ami I'lcl (•liiiily ii),'lii licKJi-colorcd, with tin-
lar^i'r .Hiiitcliiu more luowniMli, \Viii',', 1(!.(m» |n.;j(i ; ciilim'ii, 4.7.j-()(mi; tarmis, (i.-ld-
7.!X) ; initl.llc Un; :}.(Mt-4.(iO. /I,il,. \']\u>'\>i- ami other imrts of Old World.
h. Willi dee|i lilacU ]i"^t ami feet, the hill Usually Mloslly yellow.

:;. H. ■yrmatophoruB.'' With a .short traiu, liki.' //. itlbn, hut hill wludly yellow, nnd the
le;;s and feet deep Iduek (e.\t'i'|it lihiir, which are pale dull yellow), as in //. eijnilu. ^V'iiij,',
U.riO ; eulnieii, l..")0 ; tarsus, (i.J.'i ; luidiUe toe, ;{.(i"). Ifiih. Australia.

3. H. egretta. Hill usually chielly yellow, with more oi less of the teruiiiiul portion block;

soMU'tiuies, howevir, with thn niuuilla wholly lilaek or entirely yellow ; tihito black.
Train e.vteudiu;; usually <• inches or more lieyoiid the tail. Win^;, 14. l()-l(i.8() ; culineii,
4.20-4. !J(» ; tarsus, ."i..")(i-(!.S() ; niiildle toe, ;i.")0-4.;}(». llah. Warmer parts of Ainericu.
B> JiHjiilar }iliimi,i .iiniilur In //nwc nf tin: (lunid Imiii, imbj KuviUir.

4. H. plumiferiiB." liill with aliout the terminal half of both nmndibles black, the bivtnl

portion pale-colored (yellow in life f) ; h-j^s and feet deep black. Wing, 12.50 ; culniLMi,
3.10; tarsus, 4..S0 ; middle toe. :}. //((/). Chimi (No. 85747 U. S. Nut. Mu». ; $ ad.,
Woo Snn^', ("hina, May 23, iMSl ; Shauj,'liai Museum) ; Australia (Gould).

Herodias egretta.

THE AMERICAN EOBET.

LnGrmdi- AigrHtrif'Amfriqnr, Wvvv. I'l. KnI. 1770-80, pi. 925.

Ureal JFIiitc Ifrroii, Latu. Synop. 111. Mi^'i, !»1.

Great Egret, Lath. t. c. by (lia.sod on I'l. Knl. \*2:i).

Anka eijretta, (!mki.. S. \. I. 1788, t;2it, no. 34 (ha.sed on PI. Enl. 92,5, and Lath., 1. c). — WiLs.

Am. Oin. VIL 1813, in(i, pi. 61, tig. 4. — Xnr. Man. II. 1834, 47. — Ari). Orn. Diog. IV.

1838, (iOO, pi. 38t) ; Synop. 183!t, 20.') ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 132, pi. 370. — CouES, Key, 1872,

207 ; Check List, 1873, no. 45".: ; liinls N. W. 1874, 519.
Herodias egretta, Oiiay, (ien. IJ. III. 1849. — Baiud, B. N. Am. 1858, 666; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859,

no. 486. — Coi-Es, ("heck List, cd. 2, 1882, no. 658.
Ifcmilias alba, var. rgrrlta, HiixiW. Am. Lyi'. N. Y. Jan. 1874, 386.
Herodias alba egretta, Uidgw. Hull. E.sso.\ Inst. Oct. 1874, 171 ; Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 489.

1 Hkuodias ai.iia, Linn. European Egret.

Ardra alba, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, I. 1758, 144 ; cd. 12, 1. 1760, 239.
Herodias alba. At'i'T.

Ardta cgrel.oides, S. O. C.MEI,. Reisc, II. 193, pi. 24.
Erodius VictoriiT, Macoii.!,. Man. N. 11. Orn. II. 131.
Herodias Candida, BilKIlM, Vi>g. Deutschl. 584.
^ Hkuodia.s .SYiiMAToi'iionus, Gould. Australian Egret.

Herodias syrmatnphnrus, OoiTi.n, B. Austr. A'l. 1848, pi. 56.
It is somewhat doubtful whether this bird can bo separated from //. egretta. A Floridian specimen of
the latter is in all rc.ipects identical, except as to size, the measurements Ix'ing, wing, 15.50 ; cuhnen, 4.50 ;
tar.sus, 6.00 ; and middle toe, 3.85, — certainly not as great a dilfcrcnco as occurs between specimens of
cither //. albn or //. egretta.

' Hf.ixodias vi.i'MiFERr.s, Gould. Plumed Egret.

Herodias pi umi/erus, Gori.D, P. Z. S. 1847, 221 ; B. Austr. VI. 1848, pi. 57.

ALTllICIAL UKALI.ATOlUvS- IlKUODIONES.

U.r.xfin.,ff,rrtt„, v«r. r„/./..nt.>-., H.MI.1.. I». N. Am. 1858, 667 ; Cat. N. An.. D. 1850, no. 486a.
Ar<l.iilnirf, " Ii.I.mikh." I.l'in. \ .r/. DoiiU. ISW, no. 7U3.
Anlia nihil, m\n\wi: gulaltn, KririiKNow, J. f. <>. 1877, 'il'L

IlAii Tlic whole of t.-nipfnitc uiul tn.pi.al Ani.-iini, from Novn Seotin, CiiniMla Wwt, Minnc
»<)t«, (UkI On'K'on, to Chili .m.l I'alaK'oniii ; tliiouKlioiit thu Went liidicH.

S|. ('ii.\R. b-.Kth, al.out :«7.(H^-:«!MHH .•.xfi.l, uhout 5.-..(H>-57.(K) ; wing. 14.10-10.80; tnil,

6.«M>-7.:iO ; culm 4.2(M.!H) ; .l.-pth of ImH, .70-.mo ; Uww, n..')(M!.H(» ; iiii.l.ll.> tor, .3.Ii(M.:iO ;

mk.'.l imrlion of til.irt, WM^.M ; weiKht, ulnMit i] H.^. Color .'i.tirrly ,.iir.' uhlt.' at all H'.w.onR
anil at all a;,'cH. Kill an.l lort's ri.h iliroiii.' yellow (the latter HoimlimcH tiiiKC'l with li«ht K'reen),
the .•iilmeii ucually l.la.k near the tip, MometimeK nearly the eiiliro maxilla black ; iris miples-
ycllow ; le>,'s ami feet onlinly <leep hiaek.

HoviiiK (.pccimcns Infore w* fnuii all parts of its raiine, wo are unable to tlotcct in this upcciei
any variations of a geo^fraphical nature. The chief ilillerence between imlividuals consists in the

1 i

amount of black on the maxilla, this bcin*; sometimes almost nil, while attain the maxilla may be
entirely black. Thui this variation has no relation to season is shown by the fact that in a consid-
eral)le series shot from one "rookery" in Florid s, and all liearin^,' thu nuptial train, the extremes
ore presented by different individuals, others beiujj varioufly intermediate.

The Amerioui Ejjret may l»e easily enou>,'h distiiiyuished from tliat of Europe (//. alba) by its
smaller size, jet-bluck instead of pale llesli-colored lo},'s, bri{,'hter yellow bill, etc. ; but I have thus
far been unsuccessful in my search for characters which will serve always to distinjjuish the
Australian Eyret from //. tijretta. Australian specimens a},'ree with the latter in black le(,'s and
feet (thoujjh the tibiic are said to be pale dull yellow), yellow bill, and .smaller size. A single
specimen in nuptial plumage has the train short, like II. nlba ; but a Florida example o{ H. egretta
differs in no respect whatever, that I can see, except measurements ; and in this respect the dis-
crejmncy is much less than between examples of //. egretta shot at the same time in the same
locjility I Following are the measurements of the two specimens in cj^uestioii : —

^o. 7^567, If. si/rmatoplwrus, 14.50 4.50 6.25 3.05 New South Wales.
No. 73524, /r. cyrcWa, 15.50 4.50 6.00 3.85 Florida.

It is possible, however, that a larger series of H. syrmatophorxis than the one which I have been
able to examine might show differences which have as yet escaped my notice.

The Great White Egret of America lias an extended distribution, breeding through-
out North America as far as New Jersey, on the Atlantic coast, in the interior as far
north as Southern Illinois, and throughout South America, almost to Patagonia. It
is a great wanderer, and stragglers have been met with from the Straits of Magellan
to Nova Scotia, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, where it is found as far to the
north as the Columbia River, and probably beyond. In midsummer it wanders to

AHr)KII).H - TflH lIKROVa - HKKODIAS.

l,.iki* MicluKim iiitil otlii't's of tht> l!U'K<'>' liikcs. Mr. Salviii foiiiul it coiuiiioii in C'fti-
trill Aiufi'ica, lM)tlM>n tlit> Athiiitic mid tlic I'lu-iHc coastM. It waH miich iiinro Nolitary
ill its liiiliits tliiiii tlir iiniiHiHsMimii. Mr. (r. ('. Taylor alsci met with it at TIkt"
Islaiiil, ill liiiinliiras, wlicic it was ui>t tmcommoii, It is an occasional visitant, l>oth
ill tlu> Hpi'iiiK ami in tlic tall, to licriaiida. I.cotaiid Hpeaks of it as a very coniUKm
species in Trinidad, where it was principally t'oiind on the lianks ol the sea, or of
rivers iiithieiiced liy the tiiles. It is said to jmiit lnr lish in the (hiytinie, and also to
iced on soft inollnsk.s. It reposes on tlu- liranidies of the nian^rove-trees in a state of
ciiiitiiuied iininoltility. It is fuuiiil usually siii^^ly, or not niort> than two or threu
toi,'cthcr. .Mthoni,'h very shy in its wild state, it is readily reconciled to ca|itivity.
Coiitiiied in a I'ourtyard or a K'l'dcn, it liecome.s a very attractive ornament. Tiie
lirilliunt wliitem's.H of its plumaj,'e, tiu* Kracefuliu>.ss of its movements, the elegance of
its Illumes, ami the di^jnity of its carriaK'f, comliine to make it very attractive. It will
watcii for a rat or a mouse with complete imnioliility, when suddenly, and with a
siirprisiiij,' rapidity of nutvement. it seizi'S its prey. It devours everything it meets
with, sparing,' neither insect nor reptile. If another of this si)e('it'H is put in the same
enclosure, a furious contest is sure to ensue, which not nnfrecpiently ends in the crip-
pling' of one ol the combatants. They strike furious lilows at each other with their
iicaks, hut these are usually warded off. In the struj,'j,'le they int«'rlace their feet ami
n iiii,'s. and not unfrc(picntly one of the wings gets hrokeii : this ends the contest.

The Kgret is a resident of Trinidad, iireeds there, and never h-aves the island. It
is given liy Dr. (Jundlach as hreeding in Cuba, and l>y Mr. (io.sse and Mr. March as a
resident in .lamaiea; ami it is found in other \Ve.st India Islands. Mr. C. W. Wyatt
iiiciitioiis meeting with this species on the Lake of I'atnria, in Colombia, S. A. Dr.
iiurnicistcr records it as found everywhere throughout the La I'lata region in South
.\nierica. on the banks of the rivers and among the higoons, or aiuung the reeds in
niursliy ground from the iSanda Oriental as far as the Andes. Specimens were
taken by Dr. Cunningham (Ibis. ISdT) near Port Ordway. in the Straits of Magellan.

During the summer this s]iecies straggles along our entire Atlantic coast, and even
into the interior. Mr. Hoarduum informs nie that it not only oeeasioiially is taken
in the neighborhood of Calais, but that individuals have been shot as far up the Way
of Fuiidy as Windsor, Nova Scotia. Several instances are on record of its having
been taken in Ma.s.sachusetts. Mr. Allen reports two taken near IIud.son by Mr.
.lillson in 1H()7 ; these were in immature pliuuage. Several others were seen at the
same tinu*. A male in full jilumage was taken at Ashland, in ^lay, several years
since, and another near Lynn by Mr. Vickary. Mr. II. A. I'urdie records the capture
of a line specimen in Westford in the summer of 1S73. In the summer of 1809 an
example of this species was shot on the ( )nion or Winooski Hiver, in Vermont. Though
rare in the interior, it is yet found in suitable localities. Professor Kundien informs
me that in the months of August and Septend)er it is to be seen every year, fishing
on the edge of Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin. New tJersey is the most northern point
on the Atlantic coast where it has been known to breed. On Long Island, according
to (iiraud, it is not a frequent visitor. Occasionally one may be seen, during the
suuuuer months, on the marshes or niea<lows, or wading about on the shoals in pursuit
of small tish, oji which it feeds, as well as frogs and lizards. The largest number
ever in sight at one time is five. These were seen on Coney Island, and were ex-
tremely shy and vigilant, eluding all attempts to secure them. In Wilson's time, or
about 1810, this Heron bred in considerable numbers in the extensive cedar-swamps
in the lower part of New Jersey, where their nests were built in societies on trees.
The young made their first appearance in the marshes in August, in parties of twenty

VOL. I. — 4

ALTRiriAL (IRALLATORES - IIERODIOXES.

or tliirty. an«l were frequently sliot. Tlie old birds were too shy to be often secured.
Their food, as shown by tlie reuiuins found in their stomach, consists of frogs, lizards,
small tish, insects, seeds of a si)ecies of iii/mji/ura, water-snakes, mice, moles, and
other kinds of vermin.

Audubon nu-t with this species abundantly in Florida, where it is resident through-
out the year. It is found along the (Julf coast to Mexico; but is rarely met with
inland, and \isually not more than fifty miles from the coast, and then always near
some large river. It freciuents, for purposes of reproduction, low, nuirshy districts
covered with large trees, the nuirgin of streams, jtonds, or bayous, or gloomy swamps
covered with water. In a few instances Mr. .\udubon met with its nests in low trees,
and on sandy islands at a short distan<^e from the mainland. Early in December Mr.
Audidion found this Jleroii congregated together in vast numbers, ai)i)arently for the
purjiose of nuiting, in East Florida. He dt'scribcs the courtship of the males as very
curious and interesting. Their throats swelling out in the manner of Cormorants,
emitting gurgling sounds, they strutted round the fenuiles, raising their long plumes
almost erect, and pacing majestically before the objects of their selection. Conflicts
now and then took place, but they were not so frequent Hi, he had been led to siqjpose.
These performances were continued from day to day for nearly a week, occupying
the warnun- ])ortion of the day.

The flight of this Heron is well sustained and vigorous. On foot its movements
are graceful, its step meusurcd, its long neck being gracefully retracted aiul curved.
Its long and silky ti'ain makes its appearance a few weeks i)revious to the love
season, and continues to grow and to increase in beauty until incubation has com.
menced. After this period it begins to deteriorate, and disappears about the time the
young bird leaves the nest.

Tliose that migrate northward leave Florida about the first of March ; but none
reach New Jersey before the middle of May. In Florida the young are full grown
by the 8th of ^lay ; in Xew Jersey, not l)efore the 1st of August : in the former
State two broods are raised in a season.

Regarding the supi)osed California form of the White Egret as identical Avith the
eastern ff/rcffn, T can find no mention of any jHCul'ir characteristics differing from
those found on the Southern Atlantic or the (Julf coast. Dr. Cooper has found
the Californian birds abundant in the southern part of that State throughout the year.
Being without doubt the bird referred to by Dr. Newberry as the Ardt'ft orcidenUd'is,
it is found in the sunnuer as far north as the Columbia Hiver. It in all probability
breeds throughout this extended range, chiefly in swampy woods near the sea. Dr.
Cooper met with a large number in June, in a grove near the mouth of the Santa
Margarita Hiver. He also met with it in Fay near Santa Barbara, and has procured
examples also near Fort Mojave.

Mr. Ki(,'gway mentions having met with this \)ird once, in June, near Sacramento;
and on several occasions in the vicinity of Fyra rid Lake, in the months of December
and May.

Cai)tain Bendire informs me. January, 1875, that a large heronry of this species
exists in the neighborhood of Fort Harney, about seventy -five miles south of Canyon
City, Grant (U)unty, Oregon.

The nests of this Egret vary greatly in position : some are found on the tops of
lofty cypress trees from erne hundred to one hundred and fifty feet from the ground,
others on low .nangroves not six feet above the water, and others in intermediate
positions. T)," nest is always a large flat stnu'ture, comjwsed of sticks loosely put
together. It usually overhangs the water, and is resorted to year after year by the

ARDEIDJ'] — THE IIKROXS — GAHZETTA.

same pair. When the nest is on a tall tree, the young remain in it or on the branches
until they are able to Hy ; but when it is near the water or ground, they leave much

sooner.

The number of eggs in a nest in Florida, iiceording to Audubon, is invariably
three. According to Wilson, in New Jersey the number is four or five. Audubon
(fives their size as two and a (quarter inches in length and one and five eighths in
hii'iulth, and their cohn- a [)ale blue, which soon fades. Two eggs in my collection,
olitaiued in Florida by Dr. Hryant, measure, oiu- i;..'5() x l.'>'2 inches; the other 2.28
X 1.00 inches. They are oval in .shape, nearly equal at either end, and their color is
that uniform unspotted washing or faint shading of greenish Prussian blue, common
to all our herons, the two bitterns alone excej)ted.

Genis GARZETTA, Kaup.

Ganctta, Kaup, Nat. Syst. Eur. Tliicrw. 18ai», 7t). Bonap. C'onap. II. 1855, 118 (type, Ardea
(jarzctta, Li.VN.).

GrEN. Char. .Small wliitc Herons, crested nt all ages and seasons, and in the nuptial season
iulnrned with jugular and dorsal plinucs. Bill slender, very little compressed, the culnien decidedly
liut ascending ; the lower edge of the mandibular rami straight or appreciahly concave. Mental
curved for the terminal halt', somewhat depressed for the basal half; the gonys nearly straight,

O. candidiasima.

apices falling far short of reaching half-wi
malar apices reaching just as far as the fr
the nostrils. Toes short, the middle one
about one half iti< length ; bare portion of
scutelloe as in Ilerndias.

Nuptial pbuiics adorning the occiput,
of similar structure, having decomposed \vi
(uid jugulum narrow and with compact w
beyond the tail, and strongly recurved at e;

ly from the middle of the eye to the point of the bill ;
tntal apices, and falling far short of the posterior end of
but little more than one half the tarsus, the hallux
tibia nearly three fourths as long as the tarsus. Tarsal

jugulum, and back ; these, in the American species, all
obs ; but in the Old World species, those of the occiput
ebs. Doi-sal plumes (in all species) reaching but little
lids.

§;■• -i

ALTRICIAL GRALLATDUES — HERODIONES.

Of the extraliniitiil species of this genus we have only 0. nivea, Gmel., of Europe nt hand for
comparison. This species bears a close general resc'iul)iance to (i. aindidissivvi, bein,!,' of nearly tlie
same size, and liavini,' exactly similar scapular plumes. The ,)uj;ular plumes, however, are acicular
and somewhat ri<,'iil, instead of hairliku, with decomposed webs ; while the occipital plumes are
entirely different, there beinj,' two very long, narrow feathers springing from the occiput, very
much like those of the species of Anlm. The differences between the two species are more
precisely expressed in the following table ; -

Com. f'HAK. Plumage wholly jnire white at all ages and seasons. Dorsal plumes reaching
to about the end of the tail, their shafts rigid and more or less strongly recurved at ends, the webs
decomposed, with the tiimlla; liairlike, and rather widely separated.

1. O. candidissima. Occipital crest composed of numerous elongated feathers with their

webs decomposed and liairlike; jugular plumes similar. Bill black, yellow at base; iris
and eyelids yellow ; tibiffi and tarsi black, the lower part of the latter, with toes, yellow.
Culmeu, 2.08-3.5') ; tarsus, 3..'it)-4.4() ; wing, 8.2()-10..5(). Hah. Warmer parts of America.

2. O. nivea.' Occipital crest composed of two or three long, slender, decurved or pendant

plumes, with compact webs ; jugular plumes acicular, somewhat rigid. Bill black, the
base light green ; tibia and upper half of tarsi black ; lower half of latter, with toes,
greenish-yellow. Culmen, 3.25-3.75 ; tai-sus, 3.60-4.(K) ; wing, 10.75. Ilab. Europe and
parts of Asia and Africa.

3. O. immaculata.^ Similar to G. nivcu, but without occipital crest, and with the toes

blackish. Culmen, 3.70 ; tarsus, 3.75. Hab. Australia.

Oarzetta candidissima.

THE SNOWY HESON.

Ardcanivca, Jacq. Beitr. 1784, 18, no. 13 (not of S. G. Gmel. 1770-1774). — Lath. Ind. Om. H.

1790, 696 (part).
Little While Heron, bATH. Synop. III. 1785, 93.
Little Egret, Latu. Synop. III. 1785, 90 (part ; includes also G. nivea).
Ardea candidissima, Gmki,. .S. N. I. ii. 1788, 633, no. 45. — \Vii,s. Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 120, pi. 62,

fig. 4. — Ntrrr. Man. II. 1834, 49. — .\v\k Oni. Hiog. III. 1835, 317 ; V. 1839, 606, j.I. 242 ;

Synop. 1839, 267 ; Minis Am. VI. 1843, 163, pi. 374. — Cones, Key, 1872, 267 ; Check List,

1873, 89, no. 453 ; Birds X. W. 1874, 521. — Keicuf.xow, ,I. f. 0. 1877, 273.
Garzetta candidissima, Boxap. Cons|). II. 1855, 119. — Baiuo, Birds X. Am. IS.'iS, 665; C.it. N.

Am. B. 1859, no. 485. — Ridu\y. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 490. — CouES, Check List, 2d ed.

1882, no. 659.
Ardca oula, Gmki,. S. X. I. ii. 1788, 633 (Chili).
Ardea thula, L.vru. Ind. Orn. II. 1791, 688.
Ardca carol incnsis, Oitn. ed. Wils. VII. 1825, 125.
Ardea lacfca, "Cuv." Less. Tmite, I. 1831, 575 (Cayenne).

Hab. The whole of temperate and tropical America, from the northern United States to Chili
and Buenos Ayres ; suunncr or autumnal visitant only at the northern and southern extremes of
its range. West Indies.

Sp. Char. Length, about 20.(X)-24.00 ; expanse of wings, about 36.00-40.00 ; wing, 8.20-
10.50 ; tail, 3.00-4.80 ; cidmen, 2.08-3.65 ; depth of bill, .40-.55 ; tarsus, 3.15-4.50 ; middle

I GAiiZETTA nivea, Gmcl. Tlie Little Egret of Europe.

Ardca garzetta, Lisn. S. N. I. 1766, 237. — Xaum. Vog. Dcutschl. IX. 1838, 101, pi. 223.

Egretta garzetta, Macgii.l. Hist. Brit. R. IV. 1852, 471 (Little White Egret).

Ardcanivca, S. G. Gmki.. Nov. Comm. Petrop. XV. 458, pi. 17.

Ilcrodim nivea, Buemm, Viig. Dcutscld. p. 587.

Heroditts JHbata, Bkeum, Vog. Deutsehl. p. 586.
» Garzetta immaculata, Gould. Australian Little Egret.

fferodias immaculata, GouLn, B. Austmlia, vol. VI. 1848, pi. 68.

ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — GARZETTA.

too, 2.20-3.20; hare portion of tibin, 1.70-2.75 ; weif^ht, about 10-14 ounces. Color entirely
nure white, at all ages and seasons. Bill black, the basal portion of the lower niantlible (some-
times one-half) yellow, or light colored ; lores, iris, and eyelids, yellow ; tibiie and tarsi black,
the lower posterior portion of the latter, with the toes, yellow ; claws blackish.

Nuptial plumes slender shafted and loose fibred, those of the back reaching to or slightly
bevoiid the end of the tail, and, normtJly, recurved terminally ; those of the occiput some-
times exceeding the bill in length ; those of the jugulum slightly less developed. In the young
tliese are all absent, except on the occiput, where they are but slightly developed ; in the
adults the occipital plumes appear to be permanent, the others assumed only during the breed-
iu'' season.

'-5fe'^-

^^■.

.s_

In this extensively distributed species there is a wide range of variation in size, and, to a less
extent, in proportions ; specimens from the Pacific coast of California and Mexico averaging con-
siderably larger than those from the eastern United States, while those from northeastern South
America are still smaller than the latter. There is not a suiHcient amount of material avail-
able to determine whether this variation is strictly geographical, or whether other difterences
constantly accompany these variations. It seems to be a general rule among the birds of this
family to vary in the same way, however.

As a rule, specimens from Losver California average a little larger, and those from Demerara
considerably smaller, than examples from otlier localities. Examjjles from Chili are intermediate
in size l)et«^.,n Demerara specimens and others from the etistern United States, In the full dress,
the bill is deep black, witli the extreme base and the lores yell(jw ; the tarsus deep black, the
toes yellowish (bright yeUow or orange in life), in more or less marked contrast. Winter speci-
mens, however, even if possessing the plumes, have more or less of the basal portion of the lower
mandilile yellow, but are not otherwise obviously different. Among individuals, even from the
same locality, there is a great range of variation in size and proportions ; there is also a con-
siderable individual variation in the color of the feet, the yellow being as a rule confined to
the toes, but sometimes occupying a greater or less extent of the lower part (if the tarsus.

Between specimens of tlie same stage from the eastern United States, tiie West Indies, Lower
California, Demerara, Chili, and Brazil, we can detect no differences other than those of an indi-
vidual nature except the very slight geographical one of size, alluded to above.^

The Snowy Egret is one of the most abundant, as well as one of the most widely-
distributed, of its family. It is found on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts,
wimdering on both shores several liundred miles farther north than it is known to
breed. On the Atlantic a few are supposed to be summer residents as far north
as Long Island. From thenee southward it is found along the entire Gulf coast,
and the shores of both oceans, throughout a very large extent of South America,

' Since the above was written we linvn noticed very nearly the extremes of size in a series of these
birds from Florida, collected at the same place and at the same time.

AI/riU("lAL (iUALLATOKKS — IIKRODIONES.

,^^-

incliiding the West India Islands. Mexico, and Central America. It is also found
distril)uted throngli tlie interior as far north as ()ref,'on and the (treat Lakes. ;Mr.
Salvin found it (luite connnon on tiie Atlantic coast of Central America, and .states
that it also occasionally visited the Lake of Dnefias in the interior. When observed
it was usually in companies. On the coast of Honduras he visited one of the breed-
ing places of this si)ecies. l)Ut tlie nests were mostly deserted, as all the young birds
of tliose still inhabited were able to run along th(( branches and make their escape.
The nests were composed entirely of sticks, and jdaced near the end of a horizontal
bough. He also found this species abundiint on the Pacific coast of (Juatemala. It
occasionally visits lierniuda, both in the spring and in the fall. Leotaud speaks of
it as a very common, and once a very abundant, bird in Trinidad, where it frequents
the borders of the .sea and the vicinity of streams and marshes affected by the influ-
ences of the tides. Its habits are said to l»e very similar to those of the larger
egrrtta. Its n>unbers were rapidly diminishing, and it promised soon to become an
extinct species in that island. It is given by Dr. (Jundlach as an abundant s))eeies
in Cuba, where it is resident, and brecls in large communities. In flamaica, accord-
ing to (losse. it is not so common, and occiu's chiefly as a visitant in midwinter. 31 r.
ALarch mentions it as of frt'(|uent occurrence. Mr. C. W. AVyatt found it in Colom-
bia, S. A., on the borders of Lake I'aturia. Dr. lUirmeister found it througlumt the
region of the La Plata even nu)re numerous than the Jli'militm vr/rcffa, especially in
the more westerly jjortions.

This species is found in the summer months as far to the northeast as Calais, Me.,
and a fcAV straggle up the Hay of Fundy, even to the extreme eastern arm of that
bay at Windsor, X. S. .1. ^latthew .lones states that it has been recently (1<S()8)
captured on the sea-coast of that province, near Halifax. A specimen was taken at
Windsor, \. S., in the summer of 1X72.

()n Long Island, according to (iiraud. it occurs during the summer months, but is
not abundant. Yet it is by no nu'ans unconunon, and is well known to nu)st of the
gunners. It is said to fre(pu>nt tlie salt marshes in small parties, and may be seen
wading about over the nuid-flats and sand-bars, or in the shallow w.ater, in search of
small crabs, lizards, and worms, which, with sevei'al species of aquatic jdants, con-
stitute its principal food. The Snowy Heron always feeds by day ; and when wading
about in search of its favorite food, or while making short excnraions, it is rendered
so conspicuous by the snowy whiteness of its jdumage, that it seldom parses unolv
served by the gunners. It visits Long Island late in the spring, and may be seen on
the salt marshes until late in the autumn, though it usually migrates southwards in
the last of September. It is not positively known to breed on any part of Long
Island.

In August, 18G3, Mr. Dresser saw large flocks of this Heron visiting the lagoons
near JLatamoras, in such large lunnbers that on one occasion he killed thirteen at one
discharge. In the spring of 1804 he noticed several near San Antonio, and found a
few breeding on (ialveston Island in June, and received one from Fort Stockton.

Dr. Cooper speaks of it as common, at all seasons, along the southern coast of Cali-
fornia. In summer it migrates to the summits of the Sierra Nevada, to Lake Tahoe,
and probably throughout California and Oregon. He has always found it very shy,
more so even than the larger white one. Abo\it the end of April it migrates to some
extent from the southern parts of the State in large flocks, but he has met with it in
July near San Pedro, when he supposed that it was nesting in the mountains, or
some other retired places, in the vicinity.

About the middle of May, Wilson visited an extensive breeding place of this Heron

auioii}.
shelter
water
to rend
four nt
1,' inc

ARDEID.K — TIIK HERONS — OAIJZKTTA.

aiiHMij,' the red eedars of Sninmci's Jieaeh, on the coast of Cape ^^^ay. The place was
slii'lteied from the AtUvntic liy a iiin},'e of sand-hills, and on its land side was a fresh-
Uiitcr mai'sli. Tlie cedars wei'c not hij^h, luit were so closely crowded toj^ether as
to render it ditticult to penetratt* throngh tlieni. .^onie trees contained three, others
Idiir nests, built wholly of sticks. The ej,'j,'s, usually three in nund)er, measured
1 ,' inches l)y l.}. The birds rose, without clamor, in vast nund)ers, and alighted on
the t(ii>s of the trees around. Wilson adds that this Heron was seen at all tinu'.s
(luriiig tiie siininier among the salt marshes, searching for food, or ptissing in flocks
iruiu (lue jiart of the l)ay to the other. It often made excursions up tiie rivers and
iulets, l)tit returned regularly in the evening to tiu' cedars to roost. He also found
th(? siimt' species early in dunt^ on the Mississijipi as far u\) as Fort Adams, among
the creeks and inundated woods.

According to Audid)on, it is a resident tiiroughout the year in Florida and in
Ldiiisiana. It is very sensitive to cold, and does not remain in severe weather
lu'ur Ciiarleston, nor return there in the spring before the liStii of March. It
reaches New .Jersey the first week in May. in its migrations it Hies, both by night
and by day, in loose flocks of from twenty to a hundred, sometinu's in lines, but
usually in a straggling manner. It is silent, and Hies at a height rarely more than
a hundred yards. Its Hight seems uiuletermined, yet is well sustained. In the
breeding .season it has been observed to exhibit the most singular nujvcments. now
and tlien tundding over and over, in the nuiniu'r of the Tumbler Pigeon. It breeds
ill large communities, is very social, and does not disturb such birds as seek to breed
in its neighborhood. Several nests tire sometimes built in the same tree, and occa-
sionally so low that a ])erson can easily see into them. Where it has been disturbed
it breeds in taller trees, but very rarely in high ones. The nest is usually over water.
The structure is ratiu'r snuill. is built of dry sticks, and has a shallow cavity. The
eggs are usually three, nu'iisuri' 1{|V inches in length, and \\ in breadtii, and are
broadly ellii)tical in form. Audubon .•^tates that while in the Candinas, in the month
of April, this bird resorts to tiu> borders of the salt-water nuirshes, and feeds prin-
cil)ally on shrimps. At the time the shrim])s are ascending the ^lississippi River
this Heron is fretpuMitly seen standing on floating logs busily engaged in ])icking
them up. At later periods it feeds on small fry, crabs, snails, aquatic insects, snuill
lizards, and young frogs.

This Heron, more than any other kind, is what Mr. N. 15. Moore designates as a
scriipi'i; or rnkcr, because it uses its legs and claws to start from their hiding-places
such aiumals as it wishes to seize for food — namely, crawfish, tadpoles, suckers,
a(piatic insects, etc. In this movement it far surjjasses all other species, and man-
ages its legs with greater adroitness and rajjidity. On Feb. IS. 1873, he watched a
Hock of seventy nuiking their meal, being himself concealed within a few steps. In
tiie same pond were a nund)er of the i-rjri'ttd, and a few of other kinds. Scarcely one
of tiiis species obtained any food without raking for it. nund)ers being thus engaged
at the sanu> time. The use of the foot was so rajjid as to cause the whole body to
(piiver. The scrapers will thus work sometinu\s in water so deej) as to reach their
bellies, and at times in water only an inch or two deep. Each species has its own
lieculiar mode of managing its feet.

On April 27, 18G7, Mr. Moore visited a heronry in Louisiana, where this species
and the Little Blue Heron were breeding in close proximity. He climbed to a tree-
top, where he could look down ujion many nests. In seventy belonging to this species
he found, in ten five eggs in each, in a large majority four eggs in each, while some
had only one egg.

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES - HERODIONES.

During the suininer, in Louisiana, the younj,' of this spt'cics resort to connnons and
dry pastures, to feed on insects of many kinds. Mr. Moore lias seen a floek of a dozen
hovering pretty close together ahove a shoal of minnows in the bay, settling down
with their legs hanging and dangling near the water, and attempting to seize them
by reaching (h)wn their bills. In the confusion of wings, legs, and necks so near
together, it was impossible to tell whether they took any tish, but he i»resunies that
they did. He has found their eggs from the 10th to the 2uth of April, and u .second
brood on the 1st of dime. Two eggs of this Heron, in iny collection, taken by l)v.
Bryant in Florida, have an oval shape, are ecpially rounded at either end, and are of
a uniform light greenish-blue tint. There is just a shade more of green tinting the
Prussian blue in this than in the other kinds of Heron. One egg measures 1.87 inches
in length by l.'M inches in breadth; the other is 1..S0 inches long by 1.30 inches in
breadth. The egg is more oblong than that of the cwruleit, but is more rounded than
that of the Imhviciunu.

Genus DICHROMANASSA, Eiduway.

<"Demiegrcna" (nee Bi.ytii), Baikd, B. N. Am. 18.58, CGO dmit).

= I)k-linmum(ssa, Kidgw. Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey, Ttrr. IV. no. 1, Feb. 5, 1878, 246.

Type, Anlca rufa, BuJd.
<£rodiiis, Kkiciiesow, Jour. I'iir Orn. 1877, 268 {inchnXes Hydmnassa, Ilcrodius, Lcpthcrodius, and

Oanctta).

Gen. Chars. Medium sized Herons, of uniform white or plumbeous plumage, with (adult) or
without (young) cinnamon-colored head and neck ; the form slender, the toes very short, and the
legs very long ; the adults with the entire head and neck (except throat and foreneck) covered
with long, narrowly lanceolate, compact-webbed feathers, which on the occiput form ati ample
crest, the feathers of which are very narrowly lanceolate and decurvetl.

Bill much longer than the middle toe (about two thirds the tarsus), the ui)per and lower out-
lines almost precisely similar in contour, being nearly parallel along the middle portion, where
slightly approxinuited ; the terminal portion of both culmen and gonys gently and about etiually
curved. Mental ape.x e.xtending to a little more than one third the distance from the middle of
the eye to the tip of the bill, or to about even with the anterior end of the nostril ; malar ape.x
about even with that of the frontal feathers. Toes very short, the middle one less than half the
tarsus, the hallux less than half the middle toe ; bare portion of tibia more than half as long as
tarsus ; scutellation of tarsus, etc., as in Jferodias, Ganetta, ami allied genera.

Plumes of the adult consisting of a more or less lengthened train of fostigiate, stitf-shafted feath-
ers, with long, loose, anil straight plumules, ami extending beyond the tail ; in addition to this
train, the scapulars a' ' the feathei's of the wholi; head and neck, except the throat and foreneck,
are long and narrow, distinctly lanceolate, and acuminate, with compact webs, and on the occiput
are developed into un ample decurved crest.

Affinities. — This genus is perhaps most nearly allied to Demicgretta, Blyth,^ with which it
agrees quite closely in the form of the bill, and also, to a considerable extent, in coloration.
Demiegretta, however, is at once distinguished by its e.xtremely short tarsus (nuich shorter than
the bill, instead of nearly a third longer I), which is altogether more abbreviated than in any
American genus of this group, in proportion to the other dimensions. The plumes also are
entirely different, there being none on the neck, with the e.xception of the jugulum, while those
of the back are slenderly lanceolate, with compact webs, almost exiwtly as in Florida cctrulea.

1 Type, Ardca jiigidaris, Blyth, Notes on the Fauna of the Nicobar Islands, Journ. Asiatic Soc.
Bengal, xv. 1846, 376, Hcrodias concolor, Bosav. Consp. ii. 1855, 121, -= Ardca sacra, O.mei.. This
Heron also is dichromatic, having a pure- white phase as in DichronuMMSsa rufa, the normal plumage
being uniform dark plumbeous or slate.

AKDEII).*: THE HERONS - DICIIRO.MANASSA.

I'lif very gitut difference in form between Demieijntta tinil the present genus n»uy be more cleurly
shown by the statement that while the bill niid win;,', as well as the jjiMieral bulk, are nearly the
same ill the two, Ikmieijrettu has the tarsus aljout 2.7") instead uf ti.HU inches lou},', the miilille toe
2.10 instead of 2.8l>, and the bare iiortionof the tibia 1.2(» instead of 3.501 It will thus be seen

D. rii/a.

that the proportions are entirely different in the two forms. The bill of Demiegrettu is also very
nuich more obtuse than that of Dichromanassa.

Ikmiegretta nova'-lwllumUw (Lath.) is of more slender build than the type-species, and is scarcely
strictly conj,'eneric ; but it is otherwise similar, especially in the character of the plumage. The
bill is more slender, approachiuj,' in form that of Hydranassa, but still different ; the legs are also
mure elongated, but are decidedly less so than in the genus under consideration.

Dichromanassa rufa.

THE REDDISH EGRET; FEALE'S EORET.

((. Volovi'd phase.
L' Aigrette rousse, de la Louisiane, BfFF. PI. Enl. 1777-1784, pi. 902 (adult).
Anica rufa, Bonn. Tabl. P. E. 1783, 54 (based on PI. Erd. 902). — CorEs, Key, 1872, 268 ; Check

List, 1873, no. 455. — Reichenow, .1. f. 0. 1877, 2G9.
Demiegrctta rufa, Baiiu), Birds N. Am. 18.'.8, 6f"2 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 483.
Dichromanassa rufa, RiDOW. Bull. V. S. (ii'ol. & Geog. Sarv. Terr. IV'. no. 1, 1878, 236 (in te.\t). —

Coue:s, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 661.
Reddish Egret, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 88 (ipiotcs PI. Enl. 902).
Ardca rufcsccns, C.MEi.. S. N. I. ii. 178S, 628, no. 33 (based on PI. Enl. 902). — Aun. Om. Biog. 111.

1835, 411 ; V. 1839, 604, pi. 256 ; Birds Am. VL 1843, 139, pi. 371 (adult ; both phases).
Ardca cubensis, "GusuL. MSS." Lkmb. Avcs de Cuba, 1850, 84, pi. 13, lig. 1 (young).
Ardea rufa, var. Pcalei, Reichenow, J. f. O. 1877, 270.

b. White pluxse.
Ardca Pealci, Bonap. Am. Lye. N. Y. II. 1826, 154. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 49.
Bemiegretta Pcalei, Baiud, B. N. Aiu. 1858, 661 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 182.
VOL. I. — 5

ALTRICIAL nUALLATOIlES - HEUODIONKS.

Hah. Warm-temperate and tropical North America, Mouth to (hiateiimla ; in the United
States, apparently restricted to the Ka.-<tern rrovince, but in Mexico oceurrinK on both cottsti* ;
north to Southern Illinois ; Jamaica ; Cuba.

Si'. (.'HAU. Length, about 27.(K)-;J2.(K) ; e.xpanse, about 45,(M>-50.(X) ; weight, about 1^ lb».
(Audubon). Wing, il.!X)-13.«0 ; tail, 4.i(>-r).m); culmen, 3.:K>-4.0(I; dq.tli of bill, .M-.TO;
t^u-sua, 4.!K)-5.75 ; middle toe, 2.5l>-2.S5 ; bare portion of tibia, 2.ti(»-:j.75. Colors uuiforu or
unvaried.

Colored phase.

Adult: Plumage in general uniform plumljeous, darker on the back, a little li^'hter beneath ;
entire bead and neck rich vinaceous-cinnamon, endinj^ alirujUly below ; the peiiicillate tips of some
of the longer feathers, particularly on the occiput, lighter ; train similar to the buck anteriorh', but
pas.sing into a more brownish tint towards the end, the tips sometimes whitish. Terminal half of
the bill black ; basal half, including the lores and eyelids, pale tlesh-color ; iris yellow or white ;
legs and feet ultramarine-blue, the scutellio and elaw.s black (Audubon).

Younij : No train on the back, and no lanceolate feathers on head or neck, except sometimes
(in older individuals) on the occiput orjugidum. Prevailing color uuU bluish-ashy, tinged here
and there with reddish-cinnamon, principallv on the throat and jugulum.

A specimen from Mazatlan (No. 02,832. $ Nat. Mus.) is the most richly-colored one we hove
seen. In this the train and back have a very decided lilac-])urple tinge, the former without any
trace of the usual brownish cast, and the tips of the longer jdumes scarcely whitish. The jugular,
occijiital, and medial plumes of the most delicate light pinkish-vinaceous, deejier and more purplish
beneath the surface. No. 39,320 has the malar region on the light side mostly white ; there are
likewise a few white feathera over the lore on the left side, while the anterior i)art of the forehead
is distinctly pearl bluish.

JFhite phase.

Adult : Plumage entirely pure white, the jdumes exactly as in the adult of the colored phase.
Iris white ; color of bill, lores, and eyelids in life also similar, but legs and feet " dark olive-green,
the soles greeni.sh-yellow " (Audubon).

Young: Entirely pure white, and destitute of the plumes and train of the adult.
The evidence proving the specific identity of Ardea ritft, Bodd., and A. Pculei, BoNAP., has
been discussed in full by Dr. Brewer in the American Sportsman (West Meriden, Conn.) for Feb. 6,
1875, 294. This matter being far too complicated for discussion here, the reader is referred to Dr.
Brewer's article, as above, or, as being perhaps more ea.sy of access, a rei)rint of it by Mr. Ridg-
way, in his remarks upon the relation between Ardea occidentalis, Aud., ami .1. Wilrdemanni,
Baird, in the Bulletin of the U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey of the Territories (Department of the
Interior, Washington, published Feb 5, 1878), Vol. IV., No. 1, i>p. 229-232. For the benefit of
those, however, who may not be able to consult either publicntion, we will state brieHy that in

ARDKID.K — THK HERoNS — DICHHOMANASSA.

I'liiriiln, where A. PenkinwA A. rufn brcwl alniiidaiifly, both Jbrnw hove been foiiiul in tlu; same
tiint, atti'iidi'il liy pari'iitH cillicr Imth iX'ildisli, lioth white, or oiu; in cacli of thuw Htaj^es of iihima^i; ;
ntiuT circuiiistanci'tt at tlie Hainc time h'adiii;,' irrcsintildy to thi; roiicliiHioii tliat tlie two jihaws arc

'"''^

'N.

\^n'

Wkitc p'uisc, = h. " I'ealei."

not only not specifically distinct, hut that they have nothing to do with either sex, age, or season.
Tlip same condition of " dicluDniatisni " exists idso in several Old World species of this family,
and probably also in the American Ardea occidentalis, Auu.

AViiile aecppting the ideutity of the two forms, rtifti and Pectlei, as one and the
same siu'cntically, notwithstanding the incongruities of their plumage, it will be con-
vciiii'iit in giving its history as that of one species, at the same time to distinguish
tiic white form as IVale's Egret, and tlu^ bliie-and-russet (me as the Reddish Egret,
or ruf'i. I'cale's Egret is an extremely southern bird to the United States, occurring
only in Florida and on the (}ulf coast to Mexico. It is found in several West India
islands, on the ^lexican coast, in Central America, and the northern parts of South
Anu'rica, in the last of which its distribution is not ascertained. It is common iu
Cuba, where it breeds abundantly, and from whence I have received its eggs from
Dr. (Jundlach. It is not given by either Gosse or March as a bird of Jamaica. !Mr.
Uri'sser mentions it, on the authority of Dr. Heermann, as not uncommon near San
Antonio, Texas, and throughout the eastern part of that State iluring the summer
mouths.

Mr. Salvin nu't with it on the Pacilio coast of Guatenuila, where it was very
generally, though nowhere very commoidy, met with among the mud-flats that sur-
round the salt-pools in the neighborhood of Chiapam. Mr. (r. C. Taylor mentions it
as i)lentiful in all suitable localities in Honduras. In the Bay of Fonseca he noticed
large trees overhanging the water, that seemed nearly covered with birds of this form.
Audubon regarded it as the young of the Eusset Egret, supposing that in its third
sunnuer the white bird would put on the plumage of that bird. The two forms are
now regarded as distinctly permanent ; and it is impossible to separate froni Audu-
bon's account of the nifescens that which may be peculiar to the whitc-plumaged
bird. It is not probable that there exist any very material differences in the habits
of the two forms. It is very evident from Audubon's account that they breed together
in the same heronries, and that they permit no other kind to frequent the same settle-

;](>

ALTKICI.VI- CltAI.LATORES- IIKRoDH»\Ea

lutMit. This, howpvcr, is not always tin- case. Tin- f^KS of tlu- wliitc l'f<il,'i aro
luuch Hinallor than arc those of thi" i)hu'-aiHl-nisH('t form.

Mr. Aii(hil)oii staffs th;it tlu' ,v<>iiii^' whi'ii just Imfclu'd arc nearly iiaki'il, and aro of a
(lark color, tlitT.' Ix-inK only a IVw scanty tufts of 1(Uik, soft down. When the fcatiu-r.s
Ix'K'in to appear, they are white. Tlie yoiuiK are fed hy rt-Kurwitation, Rit'w fast, and
soon l)oeonio noisy. When ahout a month old tliey sit uprij,dit on tiieir nest, and
soon crawl out into the ! ranchei. lieecuuiiiK' .sensilth- of danKi'r. they hide anions
the foliai,'!' whenever ii boat aiiproaches, or seek the interior of the Keys, wliero
it is very ditJieidt to follow tiieni. They do not fly until they are at least sovoii
weeks old; and even then th) not venture to leave the island on which they were
roared. Mr. Audubon canj,'ht several youn.i,' birds of this form ami kept them alive.
Thoy fed freely, and became tolerably docile. 'I'iiey were supplied with pieces of
groon turtle, and sonu' of them reaidied Charleston in p>od health. One was kept
alive for nearly two years by Kev. Dr. I'.achman. It was allowed to walk at lar^e in
the Ranh'n and pcmltry-yard. ate an enormous amount of fish and all kinds of ^^arba^o,
contenting itself, when other food was seareo, with the entrails of fowls; and it (ivon
fed freely on moistened corn-meal or mush. It canf,'ht insects with great dexterity,
was gentle and familiar, and a favorite in the kitchen, living to be twenty-two
months old, and retaining its white plunuige to the last. This was a male bird.

Two eggs of this Egret, collected in Cuba by Dr. (Jundlach, are of a rounded oval
shape, eipial at either end, ami in color aro of a very ])ale wash of Trussian blue very
.slightly tinged with green. One measures 1.90 inches in length by l.."»(t inches in
broadtli ; the other L'.OO inches by l.oO.

The russet tVuni, known as riifn, is ixlso eonfiiu'd to the extreme southern border
of the Tnitod States. It is aiunidant in Florida, occurs along the (lulf coast to
Mexico, and is common in the sonthein i)art of Texas. It breeds in Cuba and in
several others of the West Indian Islands. It has been nu't with on the I'acilie coast
of Guatemala, l)ut has not, that I am aware, been traced farther north on the racitie.
Mr. Dresser states, on the authority of Dr. Heormann, that it occurs in the summer
months near San Antonio, and also in the more eastern parts of Texas. Mr. March
includes it in his list of the birds of .Jamaica, where it is nuMitioniMl as rare. It is
also included by Dr. Gundlaeh in his list of the birds of Cuba, and marked as having
been found breeding there. Mr. Salvin found it in company with its kindred, the
D. Profri, on the nnid-flats near Chiapam, on the J'acilic coast of Guatemala. It was
the more abundant of the two forms.

According to Audubon, this Egret is a constant resident on the Florida Keys, to
which it is so partial at all seasons that it never leaves them. Some imlividuals
were observed by him as far ea.st as Capo Florida, and westward along the Gulf of
Mexico. He never saw it in other than salt water, and was not aware thiit it ever
feeds in fresh. It is more plump than most of the Herons, but possesses all the
gracefulness of its tril)e. In walking it lifts its feet high, and usually proceeds at
a quiet pace. It alights with ease on trees, and can walk about on the larger
branches. It is rarely seen to feed on the edges of the water, but resorts to the
shallows of extensive mud or sand flats. There comiianies of twenty or thirty, or
even more, may be seen v ading up to the knee-joint in pursuit of prey, usually
standing in silence, awaiting the approach of the object, and then striking at it.
The prey is either swallowed immediately, or, if too large, taken to the shore
and beaten, and then torn in pieces. It usually remains on the flats, thus feeding,
until the advancing tide compels it to retire to the land. This account of its
habits differs from the observations, referred to below, of Mr, Moore.

n.^ J;i

AKnKin.M — Till", IIKKON'S— DICIIROMAN'ASSA. 37

Tlu> flij,'lit of this HiK'cit'M is saiil to Im' more olcvatod and it'K'uliir than that of tin-
KiiiiilU'r lli'roiin. It is lUTuliarly Knuu-fnl UiiriiiK tlic matiii^ Hcasoii, t'spccially when
uiii' \iiiiiiiiti'cl iiiiili' is pmsiiinj,' aimtlifr. It is said to pass thnm^rli tin- air witii j,'ri'at
ci'lcritv. tiiriiiiiK and cutting,' alimit in ciiriiiiis cnrvt's and zigzag's, tiu! pursiiinj,' i)ird
tri'iiiicntiy froctin^ its l)i'antiiiil ircst and nttfrinj,' a cry at tlic moment it is al)oiit to
;;ivt' a tiirnst at thf otiicr. Wlu-n travelling' to and from tiieir feedinj,'-(,'ronndH, it
picipels itself with the usnal ii ','idar tlappin;,'. and in the cnstoniary manner of
liiL;iit of other Herons. < >n ai)proaehin^' a landin^'-plaee, it performs several eircnm-
vohitioiis. as if to satisfy itself that all is safe before ali^'htin^. It is niiieli more shy
and wary than the smaller Herons; and after the hreedinj,' season is over it is almost
iiiipossil)le to shoot one, except when it is taken hy surprise, or when Hyinj; overhead
anion;,' the nian},'roves.

Aiidnlxin re;,'ariled the two forms as identical, and mentions tindinj,' them in what
he ro;,'arded their mature and their immaturt! conditions, breeding,' to^'ether. At this
time, id jjassin},' and repassing they are said to utter [leenliar rough sounds which it
is inipossibhi to descrihe. He states that their nests are phiced for the most part on
tlie southwestern sides of the mangroves inuuediately bordering the Keys. Tliey are
rarely near together, and in'ver on trees at a distance from the water. Some are
]ilaced on the tops of the mangroves, other.s only a foot or two above high-water
mark. The nest is (piite flat, is large for the i)ird, and formed of dry !itick.s inter-
spersed with grass and leaves. The eggs are usually throe in number, average an
incli and three (piarters in length, and one and three eightlis in In'eadth, iiaving an
elliptical form, and are of a uniform pale sea-green color; they are ex(;ellent eating,
iioth birds incubate, as is the ease with all Herons.

lu its habits it seems to l)e as strictly marine as the Great White Heron. When
wounded, it strikes with its bill, scratches with it.s claws, and, tlu'owing itself on its
hack, emits its rough and harsh notes, keeping its crest erected and expanded, and its
featiiers swollen.

Mr. \. I>. .Moore, of Manatet', Florida, is of the opinion that Peale's Egret and tlie
Reddish Egret are identical as species. He does not think, with Audubon, tliat the
wliite form is the young bird and the recldish the adult, but that old and ycmng may
he white like the I'lulrl, l>luc and reddish like the nifcirms, or may exist iii a pied
form. On the liith of .luly he found a nest, where the jjarents were in the plumage
of nifi'svens, one of the young pure white, the other a blue or gray bird. The nest
was in a mangrove tree on a wet Key, and was the only Heron's nest there. Both
pait'uts were seen. The young were taken, and the attempt was made to keep tliem
alive in ordar to watch their change of plumage; but it was not successful. Except
in the color of the down, the young birds were alike in many respects — e.g. the bluish-
ash color of the skin, the proportions and color of the eyes, etc.

^Ir. Moore has twice met with specimens of })ied, or white and blue varieties of
this species, and feels (piite positive that the white bird is an unchanging variety
of the Reddish Egret, and that the pied varieties are equally permanent in their
plumage. The young bird in the white plumage renuiins the same for at least
twenty-two months, as is proved by the one kept by Dr. IJacihnmn.

The fact that Dr. Gambel has seen the young of the nifrscens in purple plumage,
while it does controvert Audubon's views that the young are always white, by no
means necessarily shows that none of the young are white, or that a large portion
may not be so.

Mr. Moore refers to the peculiar petulance displayed by all Herons while feeding,
and which is only manifested towards their own species. Several Herons, each of

Al.ilMCIAI, (iK.VI.I.ATHKKS IIKKODIUXKH.

■

ilitliTfiit HpfcioM, will f 1 iiiiii'tly lu-ar i<w iiiiotluT ; hut let anotlu'r uppiDiuli, iiiitl

iM'forc it is within a hiiiidri'tl viiids it will Iw at ouct- pursued, and tin- attempt nuulc
to drivi" it awa.v ; and the pul•^>ni•l and puisiied will always lie ol tiic sann- H[«'fi('s.

hut if the approai-liiuK l>iiil i« <>• ii spi'fit-s liitTenMit from any of tlnwe f linj,', it may

descend anmnj,' them withonl iieinj,' distiiri>e(i. In this petulance to one of its own
species a Meion never niaki's any mistake. Kven the small lllue llenm, whosj; youn>;
are for a year as white as tin- White Hnwt, never mistakes the latter for on« of its
own kind. It is this hahit of attacking only hirds of its own species that lirst led
.Mr. Moore to re^'ard the ni/n and the /*/■(//// as identical ; lor the purple (ha.se the
wiiite, and the white pursue the purple, ixit they never tease any other species.

ThPHu birds use thi'ir le^'s and toes to scrape tin zy hottom, (tr amcuig the

plants, in (U'der to luicover thi'ir hidden jirey. It is a nuide peculiar to this speeie.s,
and not to 1m' mistaken for that of any other; hut hoth of the two varietie.s pcr-
f(U'm this a<t in the same manner, and their unity of action in other respeets is said
to Ik* very conspicuous. No other Heron is so awkward, im|)etiums, and clumsy a
tisher. In clear water it ^ives chase to its ]Ufy with expanded winj,'s, which are Hirted
up and tlowii, or are held open, as it r\ins or ho]is. souictiiiies out (d' the water, sonu'-
times turning entirely rotind. In all the.se wild and awkward niovenu'uts tlu' two
forms exactly imitate e.ich other. In si/e. ton, they arc exactly the sanu-. .\s cha.sers
the two forms an* not only alike, Imt are superior to all others of the family. They
pursue their prey — which is alnuwt exclusividy fishes — by ha.sty steps, hops, and
(louhIin>,'.s. In.stead of \m\m shy and suspicious, as Auduhon .states, they are, ac-
cording to Mr. Moore, almost as unsusiiicious as the (ireen Heron. This bird breeds
in eomj)any both with its own ami with other s[)ecies. su(di as ri/nffn, iiiii</!(l!ssii)iii,
fiuiorlrlinid, n'irsrrn.i. etc. If. when wounded, it falls into the water, it ean swim
readily. So far as Mr. .Moore's experience goes, the proportion in numbers of the
white to the blue is as one to eight.

Two eggs of this spt'cie.s, obtained by Mr. .\udubon in IS.'Jli on the Florida Keys,
are of a rounded oval sliaiie, are larger than the eggs of the I'cuh-'i, and the shell
is thicker and rougher. They have the uniform greenish-blue shading eomnion to
the eggs of all our true Herons. — a washing of Prussian blue with a slight tinge of
green. One (No. 9.S) measures LM4 inches in length, by l.Oo inches in breadth. The
other (784) measures li.L'O inches by l.(>().

Gkms HYDRANASSA, Baird.

< " Demirgretta" (not- Blytii), BAnut, B. N. Ain. 1858, 660 (part).

= /[iidraiKisim, Bmisi", B. N. Am. 18.">8, 660, in text. Tvin', .trdin htdoviciana, Wil.s.,=.4. tricolor,

Miillcr.
<Erndinii, Beiciiesow, J. f. 0. 1877, 268 (iiiclndf.s Dkhromnnansn, Lrptcrodiics, Hcrodiua, nnd

GarzctUi).

Gen. Char. Small Herons of variogatcd colors, white liencnth, phunboous above, the bill
equal to or longer timii the tarsus, and very slender. Bill long and slender, but little compre8.sed ;
the upper and lower outlines appreciably concave about the middle, the gonys almost straight and
but slightly ascending, the cuhnen gently convex towards the end. Mental apex reaching less
than one thinl the distance from the middle of the eye to the point of the bill, but, at the same
time, about as far forward as the anterior end of the nostril ; malar apex reaching about as far for-
ward as the frontal feathers. Tarsus long, about e(pial to the bill ; middle toe about two thinls
the length of the tarsus, the hallux about half a.s long as the latter ; bare portion of the tibia
decidedly shorter than the middle toe. Adnlt, with feathei-s of the neck, except throat, distinctly

Ifiilill

AUnKlD.K — TIIK IIKUONS — IIVDIIAN'ASMA.

liiiui'iiliUi', with riiiMpui't wflir* ; tin- iM'ci|iut with ii hiujiU ]N>nilaiit <i(^<t ofwvi'nil floiiKiitt'd, browUy
l.iiiri'iiliUi' wliitr rcullit'iN; I't'ittlii'rx of llii' iiiitiTiiir iiiirliiiii III' tilt' liiu'k ami i4t'ii|iuliti>< iilsn lunccolutv ;
luiiiji I'livcrril liy u iimri- or Ic^.i I'lmi^iili'il tiitiii nl' Irii^tlu'iH'il I'urttiKiiittf I'iuiIUlth witii ImHt'iu'd
WL'li.->, lliL' |ilmiiiiLL' hU'ikIi'I', \<>uh, ami :<iirt.

Hydranaasa tricolor ludoviciana.

THK LOUISIANA HERON.

Ilt'ron bleudtre (> vrnlir Umn; ,(,■ r„iiniiir, Hi kk. I'l. Kill. 17*0-84, jil. 350 (lulult).
./,■,/..( //'.Vci/i-/-, MI'i.i.Kii, s. N. .Siiiipl. 177tl. Ill (Iki.miI on I'l. Kiil. ;).lo).
Ilijilrammt trkului; Coi'Ks' Kry, "Jil imI. 18s:!, no, Olio,

AidM Itiicixjivilir, HoDi). Tiilil, i'. K. 1784 (biiiwil on PI. Knl. USO). — U.mkl. .S. N. I. ii. 1788, 028,—
ItKiriiK.Miw, .1. I'. (). 1N77, ami.

Jhmi /■.;//•'■/, I-.\IM. .Synop. III. 178.'i, 88 (.[lloti'H PI. Knl. a-'iO, iti'.).

Jf,ron hrun, df (Jiijintin; \Uvh. I'l. Kill. 177ii-84, \<\. HM (Yiuiiik).

Ilruini Utrun, K.vrii. Symni. Suiipl. ii. 1801, yo4, no. 17 (umitus I'l. Knl. 8.18).

Ardiii fuaca, La'I'II. Iml. Orn. II. 1700, 700, iiu. 8:i (liiim-d on tlio iircri'iliiig).

Arilid hiiliiviiiuna, Wii.m. Am. <>iii. VIII. 1SI4, 13, |il, .\vi, tig, 1 (i l.inii. 17tJtt, = lluturidea vires.

f./iv). — N'riT. .Miiii, II. I.s;il, .''il. — Arn. Oiii. liioj,'. 111. 1m:!.1, l;)tl; V, I83li, tioo, pi, 217;

.Synop, 1831t, 'Jtlil; llinls Am. VI, 18»;t, XW, pi. :i7;Mailiill).
DaiiiajrMti Indovicima, H.vmii, H. .N. Am. I.s,-i8, (103; Cat. N. Am. II. 18.1'.t, no. 484.
Ai'diii leucoyaati'd, SuIihimt. ludiwiciunit, ItKiciiKMivv, J. I', O. 1877, 201».
tliiiliiiiuitHii Irii-tilnr ludiivicidiiii, Uiniiw. Nuin, M. Am. H. 18»1, no, 41i2,
K'/Mhi nifu-ollii, (liissK, II, ,Iiiiii. 1817, 338; IHiistr. II, .lam. pl. 113 (Vouiik).
IliriuUiiH /cticii/i/irifiiiiKi, " KiiiiT." IliiNAi'. Coiiip. II. Jan. IS-'lI, 124,
Anlxi Inicii'j'islni, var, liuoi/ihrifinnn, Coi'i;.-*, Key, 1.S72, 208; C'link List, 1873, no. 4.14.— C'imv,

niriU Balmina l.sl. 1880, 108.
Ardiit fiiiiniru.ilriii, < 'onv, llirili lialiaina Isl. 1880, 108, ]ilati> (Iiia^iia, Bahamas ; ailult in brcfiliiig

lIll'SS ').

UaU. Warni-toinperati' I'listtTii Noilh AiiiiMica, MiiUilc Aiiierii'a, uiul We.st Iinlius, North,
casually, to Iiuliaiia, ami New JiTsey. In Mc.xicn, rimml mi liotli coasts. C'lipu St. LiiciLs.

Si'. CiiAii. Lcn^rlh. about 2-l.(H)-2S.(K> ; ixpan.si', ahout ;M).(ki ; wiiij,', H.:jo-l(i.8() ; tail, 3.(K»-
4.1((; culiiR'n, ;i.;j(i-4.1."); depth of bill, .4.")-.."i.') ; tarsus, 3,2-2.7(» ; bare
portion of liliia, l.)Mt-2.7<> ; wei^dit, about I lb. (Al'UI'uon).

Adult: I'rcvailiii;,' color ubove, including' tin- Iicad and iii'ik, iduiubeous-blue, with a gluucoua

cast to the lanceolate feathers, and darker on the head and upper part of the neck than on the
wings. Lanceolate feathers of the occiput and upper part of the nape rich nmroon-purplish, from
which springs a crest of several feathers of similar form but much more elongated, and white in

ALTRICIAL GKALLATORES — IIERODIOXES.

■;i ']]

i I

if :

color; lanceolate feathers of the jiij,'iiluni luixeil inaroon-puiple and idumbeous-blue, the former
^irevailing Uiterally, the latter nuMlially ; chin and ni^ier part of throat pure white ; rest of the
throat briglit cinnamon-rufous (tin- feathers wliile heiieatli the surface), this gradually l.ecominf,'
narrower and finally broken up at about the middle of the foreneck, \. hence continued downward
in a series of mixed touches of white, rufous, and plumbuous ; rest of the lower parts, including
the whole liidng of the wing, and also the rump (the latter concealed by the train), pure white.
Upper parts nearly uniform plund)eous-blue, excej)! the train, which is light drab, paler towards
the extremilv of the feathers. In tin- hnalinij .iidson, the terminal third, or more, of the bill black,
"the rest sky-ljjue, shading into lilac at the base, the latter color extending to the eye; legs slate-
color ; iris red" (CouY). At other stasuns, "bill brownish black on the greater part of the npper
mandible, and on the sides of the lower mandible towards the point ; the rest yellow, as is the
bare space before and around the eye ; iris bright red ; feet light yellowish gr<'eii, the anterior
scutellie dusky, a.s are the claws'' (Audi itoxj.

Yoitiiij: Head and neck light cinnamon-rufous, the feathers plumbeous beneath the surface, the
pileuni overlaid with jplnmbeous, and na|ie tinged with the same ; chin, throat, and malar region
uniform white; fo-eneck white, with a median longitudinal scries of cinnamon-colored streaks,
these more broken posteriorly, where the white is much wider. Entire lower parts (including
axillars and lining of the wing), w ith entire rump and upper tail-coverts, uniform white. Uj>per
parts uniform bluish-plumbeous, the wing-coverts widely tijpped with light cinnamon-rufous, and
the back more or less tinged with the same. Occipital feathers slightly elongated, forming an
inconspicuous pendant crest, the feathers similar in color to those of adjacent parts ; no dorsal
plumes. Bill mostly yellow, the culmen and terminal third of upper mandible blackish ; "legs
deep greenish olive " (Audubon).

Demerara specimens, representing the true JI. tricului; are very much smaller than more north-
ern examples. They are also decidedly darker, the neck being in some specimens plumbeous-
black, in others dark plumbeous, and the ferruginous of the throat very deep.

The Loiii.siaiia Heron is eoninioii on our southern Atlantic coast from the Chesa-
peake to the Florida Keys, and is found from thence to Central America in abun-
dance. It is common on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, but lias not been met with
farther north than Mazatlan. It straggles along the Atlantic coast as far north
at least as Long Island. ( Jiraud imdudes it among liis birds of Loi'.g IsUind, but
states it to be only a very rare and accidental visitant. A single specimen, shot at
Patchogue in the summer of IS'M), was the oidy individiuil of this species known to
have been procured in that vicinity. Mr. Lawrence includes it among his list of birds
found near New York City. Mr. TiirnbuU states that it has been occasionally ob-
tained on the coast of New Jersey. Wilson speaks of it as sometimes found on the
swampy river idiores of South I'arolina, but more freipiently along the borders of
the Mississippi, particularly below New Orleans. Mr. Dresser speaks of it as common
at Matamoras, and also near San Antonio. He also received it from Fort Stockton,
taken there in the summer. At San .\ntonio he obtained one so late in the season as
to render it not improbable that some remain through the winter. In June, 18G4, he
found a luimber breeding on Galveston Island. They build a heavy nest, either on
the ground or in the low bushes. The number of the eggs was four. In Florida.
Mr. Boardman found it breeding invariably upon low bushes, and always in comjiany
with the condldistilma. Mr. Salvin states that he found this Heron common about
the lagoons that line the whole Pacific coast of Guatemala, but he met with none in
the interior. It is given by Dr. Gundlach as breeding in Cuba, and is described as a new
species by Gosse, among the birds of Jamaica, under the name of Et/rcffn ruficoUis :
but he oidy met with a few specimens, though he regarded it as undoubtedly a per-
manent resident in the island. Mr. March speaks of it as one of the most common
birds of the island, where it is known as the Red-necked Gaulin.

Audubon characterizes it as among the most delicate in form, beautiful in plumage,

AUDErD.1<: - TIIK HKHONS — IIYDRANASSA.

:inil j^raceful in inovt'inent.i, of its family. Its ineaHured stop is so liglit that it leaves
nil iiupression on tlie saiul. it feeds on inseets, tisli, snails, lizards, and the like,
mill iiothinj,' escajies its notiee, its (piick eye instantly detecting' any object available
lor food, from a small fly on a blade of grass, to the minnow in the wave.

It is said to be a constant resident in the southern part of Florida, seldom ramblinj^
l;iv from its liannts in tli(> winter season, and at that period rarely seen beyond
Siivannali, to the east. To the west, it extt-nds to tlu' broad, sedgy flats that border
till' mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico, and farther south.
In 111!' spring it is found abundantly in the (larolinas and even as far east as Mary-
hiiiil, and up the Jlississippi JJiver as far as Xat''hez. It is never found inland
fiirtlicr than forty miles from the sea. It is eminently a social bird, and moves about
in company with the White Egret or the Hlue Heron. It frequently associates with
the larger species, and breeds in the same places with the White Heron, the Night
Heron, and tlie Y'ellow-crowned Heron. More fretiuently, howevfr, it keeps by
itself, assembling in imnu'nse nund)ers to brei'd, and resorting to particiular spots for
that puri)ose.

Jlr. Audubon states that he found this sjiecies extremely abundant in January at
St. .Vugustine ; but after a hard frost of a few days all had disappeared, the other
Herons remaining, apparently unaffected by the cold : it returned again, however, when
the thermometer rose to 80°, and was in fidl spring jdunuvge by the end of February.
Though timid, it is nuu-h less shy than most of the other species, ami is more easily
procu.ed; and on account of its apparent insensibility to danger is called, in Lower
l-onisiana, /i;/n'ffr folic.

'{"lie flight of this Heron is described as light, rather irregular, swifter than that
of any other species, and capable of being cousiderably protracted. It moves in long
tiles, widely separated, in an undulating manner, and with constant fla])pings. When
pioi'cediug to or from their roosting-jdaiH'S, or when on their migrations, this species
passes as high over the. country as any of the other Herons. On being shot at. it
scliloni flies to a great distance ; and its attachment to a particular place is such, that
you are sure to find it there during its stay. If one of its niuuber is wounded, it
sympathizes with its eomjianion, and keeps about in the nuiuner of the (Julls and
Terns, and a nund)er nuiy in this manner be obtained.

On the liOth of April, in visiting one of the Florida Keys, Mr. Audubon came
upon one of the breeding-phu'es of this Heron. The southern exposures of the island
were overgrown with low trees and bushes, matted together with smilax and other
vines, internungled with which were several kinds of cactus. Among the branches
were si'veral hundred lu'sts of this species, so low and so close that several would be
within reach at once. The birds made loud and bitter complaints at being disturbed.
Tlie nests were fornu^d of snuiU dry sticks crossing each other in varif>''s ways.
Tiiey were flat, had but little lining, and each nest contained three eggs ; and this
number ]\rr. Auduljou thinks is never exceeded. He gives as the nu'asurement, a
length of one inch and six and a half twelfths, and a breadth of an inch and a quar-
ter. The period of incubation is twenty-one days ; and he expresses the oi)inion
tliat but one brood is raised in a season. The notes of the young bird are extremely
l)laintive, and resembh^ the .syllables ivlrc-ir'n'c-vln'. When taken by the liand, the
young bird defends itself to the utmost. Several were caught and kept in conflne-
nient on the vessel ; they fed on any garbage thrown to them by the sailors. Mr.
Audubon found this sjjecies breeding as far to the eastward as Charleston, S. C.
During the summer and autumn, after the old birds have separated from their young,
it is frequently seen among the rice-flelds feeding ah)ng the ditches, and at this sea-

vor.. I. — 6

ALTRICIAL fJRALLATORES — IIEUODIONES.

son is extremely unsuspicious and easily approached. It acquires its full plumage
the second year, but continues to increase in size for several years. The flesh of
the young bird is said to afford good eating. Its food consists of small fry, water
insects, slugs, snails, leeches, and aipiatic lizards.

According to Mr. Moore, it is a true Kn-dpi'r or rukrr ; but, like the Jleddish Egret,
resorts to this practi(!e much less freipiently than the mndklissliHU. It saunters
about at times in tlie waters of tlie l>ay, ne.;; the shores, on sandbars, and in the
fresh jKUids, in an awkward and heedless manner. There is less dash and impetuosity
in its style of fishing, or seeking its i)rey, than in that of the Reddish Egret, although
it runs through the clear water of the J>ay, with its wings exi)anded, and sonu'tiuu's
flapping, suddenly .vheeling. and halting to keej) its eyes on the flying flsh. At
other times — imitating the little (ireen Heron — having noticed some object near the
surface, a yard or more distant, it lowers its head, d(mbles up its neck, draws its head
back to its shoulder.s, holds its bill in a line with its back, which is parallel to the
surface of the water, and creeping al -ng by very slow steps till within striking
distance, thrusts its bill forward suddenly at the object. This is a very common
practice, either in the liay or in fresh ponds, and only this bird and the Green Heron
adopt this catlike mode of creeping, crouching, and springing upon their prey.

Eggs of this species in my collection, obtained by Dr. Bryant in Florida, measure
1.80 inches in length by LS'2 in breailth. They are oval in shape, one end but just
perceptibly more obtuse than the other. Their color is Prussian blue, with a slight
shading of green, and of a deeper tint than most of the eggs of this family.

Mr. Moore thinks that this bird has at least two broods in a season, as he has
found fresh eggs laid April 10, May 10. and June 1. On the ."lOtli of March, 1874.
he found a nest of this species containing six eggs, and on April 15 it had Ave young
and one egg.

■ i^

Genus FLORIDA, Baird.

Florida, Baird, B. N. Am. l£r>8, tl71. Type, Jnlcu cccrulea, Linn.

F. carulea.

Gen. Char. Small Herons, ilurk plumbeous, with maroon-colored necks ; pure white, with
bluish tips t<j some of the primaries ; or with the plumage variously intermediate between these

ARDEIIXE — THE IIEUUNS — FLORIDA.

cxtrciiK'S. Bill sknck-r, acute, npiiri'cialily curved toward tlie tiii, tlie culnieu somewhat depressed
juf^l iiliove the anterior end of the nostril ; lower edge of the niamliliuUir rami slif,ditiy concave,
ilio ^'iiiivs nearly strai^'ht, hut ascending,' ; anterior jxiint of the mahir feathers reaching; just about
us far forward as that of the frontal fcatliers, and very far posterior to the posterior end of the
nostril ; anterior point of cliiii feathers almost directly beneath the anterior end of the nostril, and
ii little over two thirds the <listance from the nuddle of the eye to the point of the bill. Toes long,
ihc niiildle one two thirds, or more, as loii>,' as the tarsus, the hallux a little less than half its
kii.uili ; bare portion of tibia considerably less than the middle toe. Tarsal scutello) as in Ganetta
and lliriiilias.

Nu])tial jilumes (occipital, jugular, and scapular) long, slenderly lanceolate, the webs rather
cdinpai't, especially tlio.se of the dorsal region ; those of the back reaching, when fully developed,
fur beyond the tail.

Florida caerulea.

THE UTTLE BLUE HERON.

Ardea ctcruha, Catesby, Carolina, I, 1731, pi. 7t5 (blue adult).

n.rnn hUudlrc dc C'mjennc, Wvvv. I'l. Kid. 1770-84, pi. 34!) (blue ad\dt).

Anhacctridm, Linx. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 143. no. 13 ('V Brown, Jam. 478 ; Catesby, I.e.), I. 1766,

238, no. 17. — WiLs. Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 117, pi. 6-2. — Ni'tt. Man. II. 1834, 58. — Aun.

Orn. Bing. IV. 1838, 58, pi. 307 ; Synop. 1839, 266 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 148, pi. 372. — CouEs,

Key, 1S72, 268 ; Check List, 1873, no. 456.
Florida cwnilcn, Haiiu), Birds X. Am. 1858, 671 ; Cat. X. Am. 15. 1859, no. 490. — Ridow. Norn.

X. Am. 1$. 1881, no. 493. — Covks, Check List, 2d cd. 1882, no. 662.
niKc Hirnn, var. A., LATir. Syuoi). HI. 1785, 79 (blue adult. Quotes I'l. Enl. 349).
Ardcd ricriilciccns, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 690, no. 40 (based on the above).
Lc Civhkr bleu i) eoii brun, BUFK. Ois. VII. 399 (blue adult).
liliic Ifenm, Latu. .Synop. IH. 1785, 7S {([{wtea Ardca carnlea, Linn.).

? Lilfle While lleron, var. B., Lath. .Synop. HI. 1785, 94 (.Mexico. Probably young white bird).
Ardm arde.fiacru, Li:ss. Traite, I. 1831, 575 (Cayenne. Individual in pied plumage).
Ihmlias Pomheli, BoXAf. Consp. II. 1855, 123 (blue adult).

" Kijretla niivii," Oosse, Birds ,Fam. 1S47, 334 ; lUustr. B. Jam. pi. 90 (young white bird).
Ardm cwrulca, vnr. albu, l!i:i( iiEXow, .1. f. (1. July, 1877, 264 (white phase).
Arden earnlen, vnr. n/rinn/ms, Heiciienow, I.e. (intermediate, or pied, phase. Ex Ardca eijanopus,

Gmel. S. X. 1. ii. 1788, 644).
Arden mcrieann ciiierea, Biass. Orn. V. 1760, 404 {intermediate phase),
Arden americana cincreit, Blilss. t.c. 406.
Arden cnnernphitrius hrn.iilieii.si.'t, BlMss. t.r. 479.
Ardea ehnbjbcn, Stei'IIEXs, Shaw's ticn. Zoul. XI. ii. 1819, 582.

IIau. Warm-temperate eastern North America, the whole of the West Indies and Middle
America, and northern .South America ; north to Massachusetts, Illinois, Kansas, etc. ; south to
Xew (iranada and Guiana.

Sp. Chah. Length, about 20.(M)-2.").(M> inches ; expanse, 40.(M)-42.(K) ; wing, 9.00-10.60 ; tail,
3.(i(»-4.7(l ; culmeii, 2. 7(^-3.30 ; depth <if bill, .4')-..-).-) ; tarsus, 3.15-4.00; middle toe, 2.35-2.60 ;
bare porticm of tibia, 2.(K)-2.ao. Weight, about 1 l-l(i ounces.

JVliite phuse .

Adult: Prevailing color white, with the ends of several outer primaries plumbeous, the plunuige
tinged here and there (in quantity varying with the individual) with delicate pale bluish pearl-
gray. Colors of the soft parts as in the blue adult. Yotoirj : Similar to the adult, but with the
plumes absent or but slightly develo]ied. Rill pale lilaceous, beconnng gradually black on ter-
minal thinl ; legs and feet uniform pea-green, lighter and brighter than in the blue phase ; iris
Xajiles yellow.i

* Fresh colors of a specimen killed August 6, near Washington, D. C.

ALTRICIAL GUALLATOKES - IIERODIONES.

Blue phase.
Adult: Head and neck rich purplish-maiocm, with a glaucous cast, the feathers more cliestnut
beneatli the surface ; rest of the ]pluiua;4e uniform (hirk Muish-iilumUMius, tlie idumes with a
gUiucous cast, the maroon and jiluMihcous i^'iadually blended. In Inrnliuij Kidxini, hill ultramarine-
blue at the base, the end black ; lores and eyelids tdtramarine-blue ; iris pule yellow ; tibia, tarsi,

i' tt

! ' 'tW

and toes black (ArnrnoN). In nntumn, bill li^'ht idumbeous on the basal half, the terminal half
black ; lores and eyelids veiy j)ak' dull j,'rcenish ; iris sulphur yellow ; Ic^s and feet uniform pea-
green, darker at the joints.' Voitny ; Similar in color to the adult, but with less developed plumes,
or with none at all ; the head and neck more plumbeous.

rial, or intermediate, phuse.

The plumaf,'e mixed white and pUunbeous, in proportion varying,' with the individual, forming
a series connecting unbrokenly the two extremes described above.

Many specimens show an irreguhir admixture of blue and white in the i)lumage ; but seldom,
so far as we have observed, is there any of the maroon color, seen on the liea<l and neck in the perfect
plumage ; the.«e parts being, in particohiicd bird-s usually tinged with a i)early-gray or bluish. The
comparative amount of the blue and white varies, of course, with the individual. A male from
Florida (N'o. 84591), apparently adult, though not in full breeding idumage, appears at tirst sight
to be entirely i)Ure white, with the exception of the usual blue on the ends cif the jirimarics. A
close in.«pection, however, shows that the feathei-s of the pileum ami nape, as well as tho.se of the
whole back and anterior lesser wing-coverts, are more or less strongly tinged, mostly beneath the
surface, with pale pearl-blue or glaucous ; this tinge, particularly on the dorsid region, partaking
of the character of minute, more or less denseljxsprinkled, dots.

No. (50319, from Porto Rico, an adult with perfectly develoiwd jdumes, is white, the pileum,
nape, and back washed with pearl-blue, th(^ long back-jdumes deeper blue, with the terminal
third or more white, finely and sparsely sprinkled with blue. S'.'veral of the slender occipital
plumes are marooii-i>urple. One of the secondaries, on each side, has the outer web nearly uniform
blue, and the inner web sprinkled with the same.

No. 39650, from the same locality, is pure white, with the long dorsal jdumes and many of the
feathers of the back uniform dark phind)eous-blue, the head anil neck pur]ilish-ldue, the throat
and foreneck white. Tliere is scarcely a trace of blue on the entls of the )irimaries ; but as these
are much abraded terminally, it is probable that the spots of this c(d(n- are worn oif.

No. 72892, Jacksonville, Florida, has the jilumage pied blue and white, in irregular blotches
and patches, the two colors nearly eipial in extent.

No. 70687 Demerara, is mostly blue, with the throat and foreneck medially, some of the
jugular plumes, and a few o*" the wing coverts, white, the latter mostly finely sprinkled with bluish.
In this specimen the white of the throat is almost as abruptly defined and conspicuous as in adult
Ifydraiiassa tricolor.

• From a fresh spflcimen, killed August 6, near Wnslungton, D. C.

ARDEIDJ'] — THE IIKllONS — FLORIDA.

Xn. 3040, i iidult, Liljerty Co., GeorKiii, lias the iHU'iiml liliui pluinago, exccjit that three of
ilm si'i'inidaiu's (lU each side, niiil weveial ol' the l'eutlier.s of tlie liase of the wiii(,' near its junction
Willi till' l>otly (mostly concealed liy the overhaiij,'iiij,' scapulais), are pure white. It is a noteworthy
111 I lliat iu this s))ecinieli these white feathers are (greatly ahrailed, while the rest of the jduniajie,
iiiiliidiiif,' the iukniediately adjacent renii.Ljes, have the fresh texture of new feathers. It is also a
cinuiiistance of imiiortance that on the two sides of this sjiecinien, a- M-ell as of all other [larticolored
i\iiniiilt's which we have seen, the pattern is symmetrical ; that is, the two colors correspond in
lliiir (li>tril)Utiou and patteru on the two opposite sides, there not beinj,' that iwyminetry of
|ialleni almost always seen in alhinescent hiiHls.

Spi'cimens from Demerara are ratlier smaller than others, hut the difference is very 8li;,'ht (not
nearly so ;,'reat as in the case of Uiidnnni.-iHd Irirular and (landta atiuUdminM), while, so far as we
can see, there is no constant dilference in c(jlorati(jn.

Nearly, if not <|uite, all specimens in the white plumage have a more or less j)erceptible tin{,'e
(if pcarl-hlut! on the pileum. Many adults have a well-ilelined plumbeous-lilue stripe down the
tlirnat and foreneck.

That the vounj,' of this species is not always white, and the adult invariably plumbeous, as has
^'pncrally been supposed, is <onclusively ])roven by the series we have been enabled to examine ;
till' true state of the case beinj,' that the white and blue plumaj^es, usually suitjiosed to rejiresent
respectively the younj,' and adult staf,'es, are in reality "dichromatic" i>hases. The ease, although
p;ii'allcl in its nature to that of Dirlirniiinnassit rttfa, differs, however, in the circumstance that the
white phase is seldom perfectly developed, while intermediate specimens are very much more
iiuiiierous.

Audubon thus describes the successive chanj,'es of plumaf,'e in this species, as understood by
liiiM : 1 —

"The youu},' bird is at first almost destitute of feathers, but scantily covered with yellowish-
wliile down. When fully ileuyed, its bill and lei,'s are yreenish-black, and its jilumaHe |uii'e white,
III' sliL;htly filliped with cream color, the tijis of the three outer primaries lij,dit j,'rayisli-blue. Of this
color the liird remains until tlu^ breedinj^ sea.son, when, howe\fr, some individuals exhibit a few
stiM,u;,']iiij,' pale-blue feathei-s. When they have entered on their second year, these youn^' birds
licidiue spotted with deeper blue on some ])arts of the body, or on the head ami neck, thus appearinj^
siiif,'ularly patched with that color and pure white ; the fornu'r iui'reasin;,' with the aj,'e of tlie bird
in so remarkable a manm-r, that you may see s[)ecimeiis with portions even of tiii' pendant feathers
iif their head and shoulders so marked. And these are produced liy full moultin^'s ; by which 1
mean the unexpected appearance, as it were, of feathers i^'rowin^.' out of the skin of the bird colored
eutiiely blue, as is the case in many of our land birds. In all these staj^'es of jdumai,'e, and from
the first sprin;,' after birth, the younj,' binls breed with others, as is e((ually the case with Ardca
nijiso Hs. You may see a jture white individual paired with one of a full blue color, or with one
patched with blue and white."

Tiio lUuo Egret is a Soutlioru species, imich more abundant in the (riilf States
than farther north, yet breeding along the Atlantic States as far nortli as New Jer-
sey, and straggling, in niidsiunnier, even as far eastward as Massaclmsetts. It is
found tliroughout Mexico, Central America, and in tin* more northern portions "
Soutli America, as far south as the Mercedes iJivcr and the l\io Negro. It is also
tomid in nearly or (juite all the West India Islands, and is a visitant of Bermuda
liiitli in the spring and in the fall.

This bird was found iit Coban in Guatemala by ^Ir. Salvin. and is also sjioken of
as conunon near Omoa by Mr. Leylaml. Mv. E. C. Taylm- mentions it as abundant
in Trinidad, especially near the month of the Caroni Kiver. He afterward found it
enninion at Porto Rico. Leotaud iilso sjieaks of it as common in Trinidad — in fact,
the nn)st common of the Egret Herons found there. It frequents the borders of the
sea, and the banks of the rivers near their outlets. This species is said to seek its

1 Birds of America, VI. p. ir>2.

ALTIUCIAL (IIJALLATUUES — IIEUODIONES.

food tliroughont the day, from inoniiiij,' until nij,'lit, and this consists of tisli, worms,
(•rustaci'a, and tlic like. It is always to lu' scimi in tiocks of various ap's and jilu-
niaj,'i's, i)ri'st'nting a sinj,'ular sij,dit, some bcin;; entirely blue, others wholly white,
and again others presentin},' a sin}j;ular condiinatiou of both i-olors very irregularly
distributed. Towards night the whole tlock rej)airs to a tree, usually the same one,
to pass the night. This bird can lie accustomed to captivity, but only with dittieulty.
It is a resident species in Triniihid, and perhaps in all the West India Ishxnds. It is
abundant in Cuba, where it breeds, It is also resident and breeds in Jamaica; but,
according to (Josse, is not very abuuihmt on that island. Mr. C. W. Wyatt mentions
finding it in Colombia, South .Vmcrica. near the Lake of Paturia, and Dr. lUirmeister
found it conuuou on the shores of the Rio Negro and the Alercedes Kiver.

This Heron has been found breeding in all favorable districts intermediate be-
tween Florida and Xew Jersey, on the coast, and a few wander into the interior'.
Mr. Brewster met with a single individual in Western N'irginia. During the sum-
mer it wanders along the .Vtlantic coast. Well-attested instances are known in
Avhicli several examples have been taken in 3Iassachusetts ; usually these occur in
the fall. It is said to be rare on the shores of Long Ishmd. It occurs along the
Gulf coast from Florida to Mexico, and thence southward, probably to Hrjizil. Mr.
Dresser found it very common near ^latamoras during the sunnuer. He did not find
it frecpienting the lagoons, but generally met with it on the Eio (irande, either close
under the banks, or perched on some old log in the stream. He noticed a few near
San Antonio, and also on the IJrazos and Colorado rivers.

Gosse speaks of this s])ecies as less susjiicious than most of its tribe, frequently
allowing the beholder to stand and admire it without alarm. Its nuitions are delib-
erate and slow while watching for prey, yet in the act of seizing as sudden as the
lightning flash. It feeds principally on small crabs, which are usually found miudi
changed in the stomach by the process of digestion. In others he has found (pian-
tities of small eel-like tish and insects. An individual that fell wounded into deep
water, although one foot was disabled, swam vigorously for several yards, keeping
in an uj)right posture.

"Wilson mentions finding this species breeding among the cedars near the sea-
beach at Cape May, in company with the Snowy, the Night, and the Green Herons.
He shot two specimens in May, and found their nests ; these were composed of
small sticks, were built in the tops of red cedars, and contained five eggs each.
Although only found, in the Atlantic States, in the nt ighborhood of the sea, this bird
seemed particularly fond of freshwater bogs or the edges of salt-marshes. These
it often frecpiented, wading in search of tad|)oles, lizards, mud-worms, and various
insects. In pursuit of these, it moves actively, sometimes making a run at its i)rey.
It is very silent, intent, and watchful. In the winter it is confined within narrow
limits along our southern coast. In most parts of Florida it is a constant resi-
dent, some going northward in the summer to breed, others leaving in the winter
for Texas and Mexico. About New Orleans the migrants ajjpear, moving north,
in March. They never leave the shores of rivers and estuaries. On the ^Mississippi
few are found above Natchez. They return southward in September. In Florida,
Mr. Audubon found this si)ecies associating with the crjMtn and the liulovk'uma,
roosting with them in the thick evergreen bushes which cover the central portions of
the islands. It spends the day princii)ally on the head-waters of the rivers and the
freshwater lakes of the interior, i)ref erring tlu> soft nuui-l)anks, where small crabs
are abundant. In fishing, this bird, instead of jjatie .\v watching the approach of
its prey, like the larger species, moves briskly through the water, striking here and

ARDEID.K — THE IIKllOXS — FLORIDA.

tilt re in rapid suceossioii. Wiicii it liiis ()l)tiiiiu'(l ciioui,'!!. it ivtircs to some quiet
ntii'iit, and there remains in reiiusc until its luuij{er returns. In this state it is
usually well on its j,'uar(l ajjainst the approach of (lan<,'er. .hist before sunset it may
iihvavs be .seen a},'ain searehiny for food. When satisfied, it usually ri.ses to the
hiij;lit of fifty or sixty yards in the air, and then Hies in u straight line to its roost-
iii.;-plaee. Very few were seen on the St. .John in the winter, but on several oeca-
sidiis sonu' were nu't with on small ponds in the pine-barrens, attraeted there by the
l;u';,'i' numlx-r of froj,'s. its tiij;ht is said to l»e very similar to that of the /lofuririnnii.
\\ Inn just about to alight, it descends with eireidar sailing;, but otherwise Hies, with
constant Happin}j;s, in a direct line; during' adverse winds it Hies very low. Except
when breeding, it is very shy and vij,Mhint; but when engaged in incubation it
appears to lay aside all its usual watchfulness.

Mr. Audubon regarded it as strictly diurnal in its habits. Mr. Moore is very
positive that the statenu'ut made by Mr. Audubon in reference to the habits of this
bird— namely, that where fish are i)lentiiid on the shallows near the slunx' it will run
briskly through the water, striking here and there, capturing several in suecessiou
— is very incorrect as apjdied to this bird, though true of the /iitlurln'tniii, tho nnit/!-
ilissi'iii'i, and the mfn. It is not kiujwn even when very ycnnig, at an age when
all birds are rather imiu'tuous feeders, to run, or even walk briskly through the
water; it never forgets to move slowly. Such acts of indiscretion r.nd greediu'^ss
have never been detected in the manners or motions of this Heron. Only wluMi
suddenly alarnu'd will it lay aside its calm and dignitted demeanor, and then nuini-
fcst the utmost confusion, awkwartlness, and end)arrassment.

This species is more disposed to Hy about, with its neck stretched forward to its
full length, using it as a front rudder to assist its legs — the true rudder — in guiding
its ccmrse. This Heron is not a serajjer or ralcer ; and although it often feeds in
close proximity to the rtindidisnimu, does not, so far as known, imitate its manner
(if procuring food.

in Florida it breeds as early as the first of Mareh — a full month earlier than in
ijouisiana, and two months sooner than in New Jersey. In the Florida Keys it
places its nest upon the tops of the tangled cactus ; in Louisiana, on low bushes of
tlic water-willow ; and in its more northern abodes, on the tojjs of cedars. Wherever
I'diuid, it is almost always sure to be in eompany with other species. The heronries
in the southern portions of the country are often of astonishing size. The nest, in
whatever situation it nuiy be placed, is always formed of dry sticks intermixed with
the leaves of various trees, grass, or moss. It is nearly flat, aiul without regular
lining. In Florida, the miml)er of eggs is three, rarely four, and never five, and
their average size is said to be 1.75 inches in length by 1.25 in breadth. They are
about the size of the eggs of the raiK/idlsshiKi, and of the same color, but are more
elongated.

Two eggs of this bird (Xo. 117), taken by Dr. Uaclnnan from a nest near Charles-
ton, S. C. measure, one 1.80 inches in lengtli by l.l'O in In-eadtli, the other 1.81
inches by 1.30. They are of an elongati'd oval shai)e, more so than those of any other
Herons, and the greenish tinge of Prussian blue with wiiich they are uniformly
washed is also deeper than is usual in the egg of a Heron.

^Ir. Moore states that at Sarasota ]>ay the eggs of this species are laid from April
loth to May loth — not agreeing with Mr. Audubon in point of time.

ALTRICIAI, (JitAM-AToKKS- limtODlUNKd.

Gknis BUTORIDES, 1!i-ytii.

lUiluriiliS, "Bi.YTii, 1810," UnNAi'. C'lMLsp. II. lS5r., I'JS (tjin', .h;l,u juvaiiku, lIoiiSF.).
Uniseii.i, t'AUAN. J. f. O. IV. 165(5, 343 (tyiir, Ankit vinncenn, Linn.).

Gen. CiiAii. Small IIltoii'*, uttlaikisli, iikhv or less viiiif^atid, lolors, tlie iiik-um and oocipul
m-atiMl. lilll' ratliiT stcmt, ili'Litk'tlly Uiw^'V lliaii llif Uikw. Mental a| I'X iva.iiin^,' lo a little
k'SH than halt' way (in />. ^nnni.sci /i.i exarlly hall' way) lioni the middle of the eye to the iioint ul'
the hill, anil to deeidedly heyond the anterior end of the nostril ; mnLir ajiex about uvun with thu
I'rontal, and deeidedly iiosdrior to the hinder end of the no.-tvil (in /.'. hniiitiim-ni.i this iioint falls
eonsiderahly short of the frontal one). Middle toe very nearly oi unite eiiual to the tarsus (etjual
to it in n. jiimnicits, a little shorter in the Amerieun forms, the dill'erence bein;; most nnuked in
H.vimcem); outer tue scarcely or not at all lon^,'er than the inner (except in IJ. bruiuiesccns) ;

«|i('i le
may 1 1

llle ill

('ill

wllill'

i'iiii^|ili|
iii<li~lifl

.4. N|

B. virescena.

hallux about half the lenjjth of the middle toe ; bare portiou of tibia eriual to or shorter than the
hallux.

Pileuni with a full crest of broadly lanceolate, compact-webbed feathers, these longer and more
narrowly lanceidate on the occiput. Scapulars and interscajmlars elongated and lanceolate in the
adult, but not reaching the end of the tail (very much as in Anhit).

It will be (d)served, from the terms of the above diagnosis, that the spccie.s of this genus vary
somewhat in tln^ minor details of external form ; the diti'erences aie so slight, however, that they
are evidently of not more than sjtecilic importance. As stated above, li.javniiiai dilfers from the
American species in the contour of the bill, the culmen being slightly dei>ressed about the middle
portion, as in IHchromanassa riifu. It should also Ije noted, however, that the several American

* There is a decided (liU'ercncc in the form of the bill lietwoen the type of this gemis, Ardca jnvnnica,
IIoiisFiui.n, and the four American sjiecies, it being in the former abnost exactly as m Dichromnnassn
riifa, in nil its outlines and i)roportions, uUlumgh it is, of course, very mncli smaller. All the other char-
acters, however, even the system of coloratimi, corresiioiid so entirely with those of the Amerienn foniis
that the latter nmy lie all considered typicid. The jjeneric cliaraeters are therefore nioililicd, as to the bill,
so as to include all. S. jKitrwNs, 1'kalk, fiom Tahiti, is cpiite similar in form to //. juvanica.

AUDKID-K - TIIK UKllON.S — KUTOIMDIX

j|iciic.'s iliU'iT unite ns iiiiicli anion;,' tlii'niselvcw in I'citiiin ic^ipctts. l'[»<u llio wiiulc, tliis ^onuw
i;i;iv lit' oonKltii'i'iMJ iini' III' the most stron;^ly inaikiil in llii' cntiif ^;ionii.

I.i'iiviii;,' lint II. pi II lulling III' llic ( iiiliiiiii^'iH, of wliii'li Wf have M^n imly an inimatniv cxuniiilc,
ill,, ihii'i' irniainin;; Anicriian spfiics of this ^'cniis may lu' ili.-lin:;iii>litil as rollnws ; —

CiiM. Chau. Nftk nnilorni clifslnnl or asli-;^iay, willi an anltiior ion^itndinal sciics oi'
uliili' ami rnl'iinrt stii|n's. I.anccolah' Teatin'is of llif iiiicnni ;^lo»y ^'ii'i'iiisli Mark ; win^'-covcits
.(iii-liicnonsly Imnluivd willi nisty or whitinL. Ynniuj willi thu tiolors (luilei', untl tliu jiatti'm
iMilisliiu'-t.

,4. Niik ilicstnnt or rnfonn.

1. B. bruniiesoens.- Hoail ami ni;ck, exci'iit i>ilc\ini, nnit'orni cliestnut-rnrous ; wiii^^-covi'Hs
very narrowly i'ii^'c<l witii rnfoiH, Y'lmmj; nearly unilonn rusty brownish. Win^', (l.K)-

1 linoi;ini;s I'l.i-Miir.A (Sunilcviill).

Ai-il'ii /iliiiiihf,!, Si'Nnr.v. I'. Z. S. Fdi. 7, Kh71, 125, 127 (.lanics 1., OalajMiKos).

lliiliiriilin /iliiiii/inis, Sci,. i Sai.v. Noim. N'rotr. Ih7-'', 125. — Hai.vin, Trans. Zool. Soi'. IX. ix.

187"), l!>7.
Anl'ii Siiiiilri-iiNi, ItKIcHKNow, .1. I'. (). .Inly, 1h77, 'J,'.:! (s. <^. /Iiilnriili.t).

Viiini't 9. Ii'inisiliiiii jil. (iiiiirhi iiiliill) : Wljipji' piliiiiii iniil'orni niriiiisji liiaik, sli^litly nliis.sy. I'lijiev
luiits ia f,'i'in'ial dark liriiwnisli slati', tlir siii|iMliir |iliiniis in rorlain li;.;lits ajuii'ariiig ^lancinis witli wiiitu
sliiil'ts, in iitliiM' lii,'litM slif^lilly nictailic l"illli't;irfiii>)i. IJi'ini^'is liinish iiinniliiMms, lii'ciili'iily c^laurous.
Wiiin-i'DVrrts (ni'w I'catiicrs, ailult |i]iniia^'r), ilaik slaty, with iKitlli'-^'nrii hIuss, narrowly cil^cd with
li;,'lit lasty. t'liin and throat white, sparsely marked with dnsky. Sides and I'oie part of the neek dusky,
like the nape, bat tin^'ed with pinplisli liiowii, the foieiieek marked with loni,'itMilinal streaks of white
;uiil lij,'ht rusty, liemainin^' lower parts uniform dark lirowiiiiih slate. Lining of the win>,'s dusky, nar-
Kuvly streaked with fulvous white.

Wing, fi.'.Mi ; tail, 2.70 ; enhiien, 2.riii ; dei>th of hill, through nostril, .50 ; tarsus, l.!)"! ; middle toe,
l.r.'i ; liare part of tihia, .la.

||)eserilied from a speeiuien in Mus. S.\rviN A: OiinMAN ; Indefatigable I., (lalapagns, Aug. 25, 1808.
Leiiitili, IS. nil ; extent, 2i).iiO. Iris oriinge yellow,]

- BiTniaoKs iiui-Nsr.scF.Ns. The Urown Heron.

Avikit hriiii>it:wi)i.t, "Oi-Nni,. MS.S." Lkmii. Aves de Culm, 1.S50, 84, pi. 12. — Rnif iir.Ninv,

.1. f. O. 1877. 255 (s. g. P,iit,i,-!,l<s).
Biitoridrs lirinnicsiviiD, Baiimi, Birds N. Am. 1858, 077 (in text); Cat. N. Am. B. 1S50, no. 4HI.

Sr. CnAl:. Length, alxait lO.OO-moOO; extent, 27.11; wing, 0.10-7.00; tail, 2. 50-:!. (10 ; culmen,
■J.-.'n-'_>.7.-, ; ili.pth of tijll, .45; tarsus, 1.,'*5-2.:H0 ; middle toe, 1.70; bare portion ol tibia, .50. Ail nil :
"The toll of the head and long glo.s.sy oecipitul feathers are ilark glossy green ; the sciipnlars and inter-

Ji. brunnescetis, juv.

scapidars pale grcpn, washed with bluish gray, lia\-ing light gray shafts ; the wing-covorts very narrowly
edged with rufous ; the entire neek and long feathers extending over the breast bright browni.sh eliostnnt,
lialer on the ehin ; abdomen dark jdumbeous ash, tinged with rufous on the side.s. The wing niea.sures
VOL. I. — 7

:.()

ALTRICIAL GltALLATOIMW- IIDUODIOXKS.

7.(Ht ; luliiinn, •2.-2i)-i.7^ ; lUiiili ai Imsf, l."i (in vdiiiik) ; Iuisuh, IM-iM ; miildlu toe,

l.7n (ill ymii^')- ^^"''- '''•'"'

2. B. viresoena. Foii'iifck HlriiuMl witli uhiti-li, iiiul Hide of Umii with a iminiw liital Ktripe

111' liif fiiuui-. Yoiiiiij : Stri[ii'(l lifiii'iitli, witli rusty wliitinli uiul ilu«ky. WIiik, (I.:»o-m.()(» ;
culiiii'ii, ;i.(H)-L'."i."i ; ilcptli ol' liili tiiroiij,-!! lui-f, ,10-. (Mi; lai^iis l.i:>--2 |."i ; iiiiiMli' loc,
l.(!.")-l.!):). JIab. TLiuiii-'mti' Xuilli Aiiii'iiia, WtNl Imlii.-i, Miililli' Aiiieiica, uml iiurtburii
Hoiilh Aiiiui'iuu.

I Nfi'k iim1i-;,'IiiV.

3, B. striata.' Similar tn II. virencviin, l)ut n«'ck fine nnli-gray in mliilt, dull KTuyi**'' •'» tl'*-'

young, iiwlwul of rlii'stiiut or luloUH. Win;,', (i.«'>-')-7.H> j tail, 2.r)(i-3. |(»; lulnicn, :J.:!0-
2.5.'); depth of liill, Ai-AC) ; tarsus, l.!)(i-J.|0; middle toe, 1.7(»-l.s."). Huh. South
America iii general.

Butorides vlrescens.

THE OSEEN HEBOK.

Ardin atillKrh miulniu, {"atksiiv, Cniolinii, 1. 17.14, ]p|. S(i (adiilt).

AriliU vircsccns, Linn. IS. N. ed. 10, ll^tS, 144, no. 15 (liiisod, in juirt, on tlie alxjve) ; ed. 12, 17C(), I.

238, no. 2(1. — \Vii.«. Am. Orn. Vli. 1813, li7, 1>1. 01. — Nrrr. Man, II. 1834, ti3. — Ai;i). Orn.

Biog. IV. 1838, 247, I'l. 333 ; Syiiop. 183y, 204 ; Hirds Am. VI. 1843, in.';, pi. 3ti7. — CoUEs,

11 ■
4

about 7 inolius ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 2^ ; bill, 2,'. ((!. N. Uwremr, in Am. I.yo. N Y. VII. 1860, p. 271.
Mr. Lawivnci' adds : " It scaircly dill'ds lioiii /!. viimaiis, of wliich it is a rrinarkabiL' rciircscntativc,
but unmistakably distinct. Tlir |iluniagc' gfiu'ially is daikrr tliiin in viirsirtm. In tlii' afipeaiain'r of their
upper (larts the two speeies closely lesembli' each other, but viirsiviis has the chin ami a eeiitial line down
the throat and neek, also a stripe on the sicle of the head, white ; these jiarts in hnnuirstrun are unilorm
in eolor, with no trace of white. Thi.s 8iK.'eie.s is also without the light edgings to the wing-coverts and
smaller ipiills so conspicuous in viiescenn."]

YoHiiij (No. 33(181, Cuba; Dr. (iundlach.); I'ileuin and occipital crest dull lilack, with a slight
bottle-green gloss ; rest of head and neck dull ferruginous, the malar and post-ocular regions streaked
with black, the lentral line of the throat and forciicik with imlistinct dusky streaks and narrower ones
of light bull'. Imwcv parts dull brown, tinged with light rusty ; under-siirfaee of wings uniform dull
slate. Uj)|per parts dull greenish brown, the Imek and .scapulars uniform, the wings and tail glos.sed with
bottle-green, all the coverts bordeied with fcniigiiious ; primary-coverts and primaries uniform slate with-
out trace of whitish tips; secondaries and tail uniform dark nu'tallic bottle-green. AVing, 0.4(1; tail,
2.50 ; enlmeii, 2.20 ; depth of bill, .45 ; tarsus, 1.85 ; middle toe, 1.70 ; bare ]iart of tiliia, .50.

This is apparently a very distinct s|)ecie.s, diirering from its allies, not only in colors, Imt in strongly-
marked peculiarities of form. W'q have never seen the adult, the only specimen in the National Museum
being an excellently mounted full-grown young bird of the year, presented by Dr. (Jundlach.

* Bl'TOUIDES NTIIIATA (Liuil.).

Cmhia; de Caynim; ]',ivv. Vl Kid. 008 (adult).

Ardm siroilii, Linn. S. N. I. 1758, 144 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 238. — Keicue.vow, J. f. 0. 1877, 253

(s. g. liiUoridcs).
Cancroma grisro, lioni). Tabl. I'. K. 1783, no. 908.
Ardca grisca, Lt.ot. Oi.s. Trinidad, p. 421.
Butorides grisca, Cas.s. i'roi'. Phihul. Acad. 1 .., 100 (Cartagena, Colombia). ~ Bouc. Cat. Av,

1876, 51, no. 1428.
Ardcn fiiscicollis, Vieim,. Nouv. Diet. XIV. 1817, 410.
Ardea cyanura, Vieill. t. e. 421 ; Enc. M^th 1120.
Butorides cyniiunts, BonaI'. Consp. II, 1855,128. — Sc

Buenos Ayres) ; Nom. Neotr. 1873, 125.
Ardea scapularis, "Ii.i.ic." Licnr. Verz. Doubl, 1823, 77.

Fi.Nscit. P. Z. S. 1870, 580 (Trinidad).
Egrctta seapnlnris, Sw. Anim. Menag. 1838, 333 (Brazil).
BiUorides scapulnri.i, Bi). Consp. ii, m55, 128. — Sii,. & .Sai.v. P. Z. S. 1866, 199 (Ucayali,

E. Peru).
Butorides scapulatna, Sci.. & Sai.v. P. Z. S. 1873, 305 (E. Peru).

& Salv. p. Z. S. 1808,145 (Conchitas,
BuuM. Th. Bms. iii. 1856, 411. —

I?!;.

ARDEin.E — THE IIKU0N8 - DfTORIDES.

Kpy, 1872, 2fl«! Check LlMt, 1873, no. 4.17 •, Itinlx N. W. 1874, 5'J2. — IIehiienow, .1. I. o.

1877. 2:.5.
Iliil<iriili.s viirm-ii^, DiiN.vr. Ciiii>ii. M. ISriri, 12S. — Baiuh, Kinls N. Am. 18.18, (I7tl ; Cut. N. Am.

U. I85lt, mi. i'Xi. — IliixiW. Xoiii. N. Am. II. 1881, im. 4iM. — C'ole«, CLtck List, 2U id. 188J,

im. 0(1:1.
Cniliin-ili- III Louhinm-, Wvrv. I'l. Kill. 1770-84, |.l. 000 (luhilt).
t'mbier tnehili; tl In Miirliiiiqiu; IIikk. I'l. Kill. 012 (youiiif).
Onvii Iffi-iiii, L.Mii. .Syimii, III. 178."., t)8.

Liiniaitiiia J/iiuii, I.AIII. t.c. 81.

.//■«/..( liidnviciiiiiii, (i.Mi'.i,. .'^. N. I. ii. 1788, (!;!n, no. .19 (bnscd on I'l. Enl. 009).

1. nine ill run, var. II., I.AIII. .S)i,.i|i. 111. I7,s,i, 7,1 (Ijiictii I'lmilottu's Sound).

Ardea chlurnplrrii, Wituit. Tiibl. V. K. 178:), j.l. 000.

Cniurnmn maciilalii, Buim. t.i'. jil. 012.

( Ardiit vinjitlii, (i.MKi.. .S. N. I. ii. 1788, 043.

Hah. Tliir wliulc of tciiiiMTato Xoitli Ainerica, West Iiidii's, Middle Aiucrii'ii, mid northern
South Aiiii'iira, to W'lif/.iii'la ; iiortli to Canada West and ()rej,'on ; aliundant l>oth in tliu I'acilio
Stute.M nnd Eiwtern Province, Imt niiparently wanting in the Middle I'roviiite ; IJermiulas.

^i: Char. Adull: Kntiie iiileiini, inrlnding oi'eii)ital ereit, flossy dark nietullic liottle-green ;
rest of tiu' head and neck, e.xcept tlimat ami I'oreneik, ricli elie.stnnt, varyinj,' I'roni 11 cinnamon
sbftde to a line puridish niuroon ; bare orbital space bordered posteriorly with greenish black, from

the lower part of wliioh projects backward, from the rictus, a short stripe of the Rnnic ; Wow this,
alonj; the upper ed},'e of the malar re},'ion, a narrow stripe of white, the lower malar feathers beinj,'
mi.xed black and rufous, formiii>; another stripe ; throat and foreneck, from chin to ju^'ulum, white,
marked with broad lon<;itudinal daslies of dusky. Lower jjarts ash-j^ray, the lininj,' of the winj;
somewhat spotted, and distinctly bordered, outwardly, witli creamy white. Scapular plumes glau-
cous-plumbeous, with a green rellection in certain lights, the shafts white. Wing-coverts and
rectrices brilliant metallic bottle-green, the formerdistinclly bordered, narrowly, with fulvous-white ;
tiiese boiilers on the lesser-coverts, more rusty or fulvous ; rectrices immaculate bottle-green ; remiges
ami prinmry-coverts plumU'ous, with a green rellection, the inner primaries and adjoining second-
aries with narrow crescentic tips of wiiite, the coverts with terminal deltoid spots of the same.
Bill deep black, the lower mandible sometimes partly yellowish or greenisli ; lores and orbits vary-
ing from olive-green to brigbt yellow ; iris giuuboge-yellow ; legs and feet olive-green or olive-yellow,
tlie scutellic more greenish ; claws horn-color. Y'nuiig : Pileum, including crest, as in tlie adult,
but usually streaketl witli dark rusty anteriorly ; sides of the head and neck dull dark rusty, indis-
tinctly stivaked with light ochraceous, or butf ; lower i)art8 white, tinged wivh bulf, and striped with
dusky. Back, scapulars, an<l rump uniform dull dusky-gr some of the feathers indistinctly
bordered with rusty ; wings and tail as in the adult, but . ^Iit borderi^ to hirger wing-coverts
more ochraceous, and the two or three middle rows marked with njedial wedge-shaped dashes of

AI-TltI(l.\r. (ilt.M.LAToKKH IlKUoDIONEiy.

the iwiiif. Hill li^jlilir-niloivil tlniii in lin' iniuli, iliill KiwiiNh iiri'vuilliiff, only the niliiiL'ii ilunky,
the ItiMiT iiiaiiilililr iiiii>ily pall- ycllowisii ; !«•>;■< ami Irii iliill j^ici'iiith ycllnw or ulivjuciiUH.

licii^'ili, uliniii i:>.(K»-l!».(H»; ixiiaiiKi', i':i.tKi-J7.<H), Wtixlil, (U imiihi'h (Ai im iio.v). \Vii%
(l.:t<>-H.(N) ; tail, :i 4<»-:i.4(i; I'liliiiL'ii, ^.(Ni-2>Vi ; iK'iilli uf bill, .KKIH); tul>tu^ 1.75-2.10; middlv
tipf, l.(;.VI.!(,'> ; Imiv |"iilii(ii iiriilda, .7<i-.)«'.

Till' iaiij,'t' 111' iinli\iiliial vaiialicm in ilii'< N|icri( •< in viiy ((mHiiU'iiililc, hh fai' uh ilinu'iiMiouH iirc
coiu'criifil ; liiit tix' ciirvfiil iiifaKiiii'iiifiit nt' a lai;,'i- m'l'iui* uf rt{ii-i'iiuL'tm tuiuli« to luovt- that tlit- viiria-
tioii ill tliii i('>iicrl i-i a |iiiiv!y imliv idiial (nn'. T\h; laip'st ."iMTimni in a xfrir-* ul' almnl loity i*
one t'i'iiiii (lie |>iliiiiii-> III' T('liuaiiti'|i<'r, Mcxiiii, jiii>l till' niiiallcMl it Iroiii I'miii Itiin.' As tn dilurs,
tlif (laikc^il ami i'ii'lii-Nt-|iliiiiiah'>'<l i'xaiii|iii' in llii' whole ni-ricH iit No. •2'>'.)''.), Itm ki'nril, lllimiis,
in whii'li llii' aliiliiini'ii is ■•11 stMiii^ly wa.^lii'il with dark rusty as not to dH'ci' any iiiaiki'd runtrast
to the iiiariiiiii III' till' jn^'uinnj ; tlic rnlm's ci^'whcr)' arc i|uitu mniual, tlmn^^li a litlli' darkri' and
richiT than usual. In s|i<'riiii('iis whirh have the R'athciH iiiuic advancud in a^'c, the lanri-nlatd
liluiiifs of the hack liwf the chalky III' Kliiiinms cast which distiii;,'nishcs these leathers when the
pliinm^u is mure recently aci|niivd, and assume a moru or less iinil'orin liron/y hue. The ludest-
coliiicd adult s|ieciinen i-< Nil, l!(.'»:il, Saciiiinentii, Calirornia (.(uiie In), which has tiie neck lij,dit
riiiiianion-rul'iius, in.-tead of rich [iiiriilish chestnut or niaruon, the lower jiarts very pale ash-j,'ray,
the n-mif^es and iiriiiiary-covertH very coiiHpicuously tijiiied with tieHccntic marks of luiro white,
and tin- iiliiinaj;!' ^'cnerally jiale and dull Another speciiueii killed at the same locality was
similar. The |K'culiarities presented liy these liirds, however, appear to lie the result of a sim|)le
bleachiii;,', caused hy the excessividy dry and hot climate which prevails continuously in that locality
for one half the year ; while the white lips to the remises and priinaiy-coverls are no douht rem-
nants of the immature pluiiia;^'e, since they may 1k^ seen, thi)Uj,di xfu'i'dly they mv smaller, in
specimens which otherwise have assumed the adult livery. Exce|itin^' the examples above noted,
no variations worthy of tin,' least mention can be detected in the series before us.

The (Jrecii Ilcroii i.s ii coniiuoii ami almiidiuit Hpccics tlirout^hout tlu' United States,
frctiii Jraiiie to Orefjoii, ami in the interuir extends its niif,'ratinns into Canada, being
found, ai'cortliiij,' to .Mr. Melhvraitli, near llainilton. where, however, it is ijiiite rare.
It occur.s near Niagara Falls, as I have its eggs from Druiunioiidville, Ontario. Mr.
Ihiardman informs us that it is eoninioii along the more western |iortion of the coast of
Maine, it is found at Calais, altlnuigh not eommoii there. It is quite rare in New
Brunswick, but abundant throughout the United States, in favorable localities, both
on the Atlantic and the I'acitic coasts. It is resident in all the West India Islands
and ill Central America, and is a freiiueiit visitant of the Herinudas. It is also
found in the northern regions of South America. ]Mr. J. A. Allen met with it in
Western Kansas, near Fort Hays. Mr. llidgway observed it in tin; vicinity of Sacra-
mento City, where it was (jnite eominon among the willows bordering the sloughs, and
around t.'iu stagnant ikuuIs; he did not notice it in the interior. Jlr. Dresser found
it quite common, breeding on all the large rivers in the scnitliwesteni ])()rtion of
Texas. Dr. Cooper mentions it as eomiuon in (Jalifornia throughout the snnimer,
and probably in Oregon also. A few winter in the southern portion of the former
State, but most of them migrate farther south, returning northward about the middle
of April. This bird chiefly frequents the banks of such running streams as are
wooded, and the borders of jxinds, and when startled, it usually flies along the stream

1 The extreme nieasurpnients arc as follows : —

Liircest. Sniallost.

Wing : 57877, from Tehuantcpcc, 8.00 ; (i032i), from Porto IJico, 6.30.
Tail: " " " 3.30 ; 73069, " " " 2.40.

Culmcn: 55570, Ft. Macon, N.C., 2.55 ; 730G0& 00.320, " " 2.08.

Tarsus • f ^^*'^' '^"'* ^""'^' '^""•'"'^' ^-l^- nn<l l fioi29 " •' 1 75
^"""^ ■ 1 31887. Manzanillo B,,y, W. Mcx., 2.15 \ ^^^^^' ^•'^'

Middle toe : 71221, City of Mexico, 1.5)5 ; 00320, 1..55.

AHDFID.K — TIIK IIKKONS - Hn'OKinKfl.

silfiitly iiml mIowI.v, iit times iittt'i-iiij; a nuttiiial ciKiikiiiK Hrrcuni, n«'i"'nill} iilinlitiii^
a^iiiii at a Hliort ilistame. It' it liiili'H in a tri'c, it HitH nu <iuictly tliat it can only with
(litticulty Im- (li.stin>,'iiisiii'il tnmi the tnliiif,'c. It is ^'iicrally iinsus|iiriuiis. ami easily
,>li(it. It usually leeds in the twilinht, is sluKKish, ami rests in the day. Its lodd
ninsists III' inseets, aijuatie larva', erustaeea, and small tishes ; althuugh sometimes
eati-hinn larj,'er ones, which it tlu-n lireaks in piece's.

Mr, Salvin found it quire coiumon in (iuatenuda, Iwitli on all the rivers alonj; the
coast, amoii<; the mangrove swam|)s, and in the interior. Aliout the Lake of Duei'ias
it was till- most common s|M'cies ol lleion. It is mentioned hy the Newtons aH very
common in St. Croix, where it is cs|Mcially tyrannized over hy the Ti/nniiiiis i/oniliii-
iiiimIh. MeiuK of a mild and inoffensive disposition, it oidy protests against these
attacks hy a few loud and hoarse croaks, and then drops into the nearest covert fiu-
shelter. The common IIumming-l)ird of the island, h'ii/iinij)l/i r/i/Dro/irmiin, also gives
cliasc to it, and compels it to change the direction (d' its flight. This iiird hreeds in
St. Croix from .Mandi to duly, a.il has two lnoods in the year. The nest is generally
placed in a tall tree, near dwelling-houses; for this i)ird seoniH to seek the society
and protection of num. The stomach of one that had heen shot was found to contain
live lizards, outf of them of good size, oiu! large cricket, with the remains of hectics.
The young in the down were hlack. Mr. E. C. Taylor I'ouml that this species was
comnnin in Trinidad, and also in all tho other West India Islands he visited,
licotaud st.ites that it is frcipu-ntly met with in Trinidad, where it keeps itself
among the reeds that cover the overflowed places, ami, at other times, among the
mangrove trees. Its food, for which it .searches in the night, is generally tho same
as that of the larger Herons. Whenever ohserved in the daytime, it seenu'd to he
plunged into a jirofouml sleep. It is a resident of Trinidad, and iireeds there.

In .Jamaica this hird is known us the (JralH'atchcr. According to ffOs.se, it is
found on that island wherever there is running water, and most ahundantly where
the streams e.\pand into hroad reedy pools. It is descrihed as perfectly solitary in
its haliits, and usually too wary to allow a near a|tproa(!h. When wounded so as to
lie uuahle to fly, it seeks to escape hy running, which it does very swiftly, its neck at
llic time projecting horizontally, and at intervals it utters a hiw cluck. Its ordinary
call is a loud scream, harsh and guttural.

According to tJiraud, this Heron is not so ahundant on Long Island as it is in
numy places in the interior. It arrives about tlu( middle of April, and fretpients low
and marshy situations. It hunts hy day .as well as hy night, and shows a great deal
of achlress in taking its jirey, feeding on frogs, lizards, and various small reptiles
such as are found in low hoggy grounds. It visits the neighboring mill-ixuids and
creeks, is a dexterous fisher, anil at times darts down after snuill eels, with which it
mounts in the air. Occasionally, as if tor amusement, this Heron drops its prey
— catching it again, however, before it reaches the ground.

Wilson states that this Heron builds its nest as early as the 2()th of Ajtril, usually
in single pairs, but sometimes in companies. This we have never known it to do.
It is freipiently seen in company with the Night Heron, and, at the South, with other
species ; but it must be very unusual for two jiairs of this bird to be found nesting
in (company. The uest is fixed among the branches of trees, is constructed of small
sticks lined with finer twigs, and is of considerable size, and very loosely ]mt
together. The young do not leavi* the nest until they are able to Hy, and, until late
in the autumn, are to be seen in the meadows and marshes.

A few of this species winter in Florida and Lower Louisiana, where some also
reside all the year ; but the majority retire southwards, beyond our limits. These

ALTRICIAL (;I{ALLAT(>1;KS — IIKIMDIUNES.

11:

i i

it'tiu'ii ill the early spriiij;, in titicks of fiom twenty to litty. 'riicir nii<,'iations are
inadi' at ni^lit; in tin- fall, lio' ver. tlicy Hy siii.i;ly. or in .small Hocks. In the
aulmrhs of ('liarlcston. and in the ni'ii,'lil)o!lioo(l of other Sontliern cities, this llerou
is known to Ituihl its nest close to houses, and even to raise its brood on the trees of
a garden.

Mr. .Moore continns the stuteiiient of .Mr. .Viuliiiion, that a few of this s])ecu'S
roinain in Florida diiriiij;' the winter. On the Sarasota some were seen throughout
nu)st of tlie winter; and as this s|iecies always fre([uents close and tangled woods,
if the spot is supiilieil with water and affords ahiindant food, it may e.\ist in eou-
siderahle numiiers. and yet esciipe noti<'e.

This Heron has its own iieculiiir iniinncr of searching for its food, which in sonic
respects differs from that of ;il! tlie other kinds. It li.shes from the shore or from a
log, root, snag, or shelving rock, preferring not to wade into tiie water or to stantl in
it; still, on seeing a tempting morsel, it will ([iiit its point of ohscrvation and walk
into the water towarils it. Its approach ;it siudi times is peculiar; though the Louis-
iana Heron seems occasionally to cojiy its style, e.\ce]it that the latter is constantly
in the water at the time cd' tishing. The (ireeii Heron. Iiowever. on seeiiig a tisli,
crouches low on its legs, draws i)ack its head, crooks its neck, creejis slyly along,
laying its tarsi almost down on the rock or tlie groinid. carries the iiill levid with the
toj) of the hiick. and when nc.ir enough darts the iiill forward towards it. .sometimes
with suidi foi'ce ;is to toi)|)le forward a step or two. It scddom immerses its head in
iishing. is always dis])osed to steal upon its prey in a sly, cat-like. crou(diing : laniier,
remaining quite motionless for a long time, and often advancing so slowly and
stealthily that even ii keen-eyed oliservcr would iiardly perceive the motion. Its
antipathy to and jcalon.sy of its own species at tiie feeding-grounds is decided. Its
eggs are found from the l.Sth of April to the 1st of .Fune ; there :ire rarely more than
four in a nest.

Two eggs of this species, from Lake Koskonong. Wisconsin, in my collection
(No. 1J)()5) nu'asure. one. 1.4."» hy l.L'O inclies; the other. Lid hy Llli inches. They
are of oval form, slightly rounded, aiul e(piid at cither end. Their color is like th;\t
of the Heron family — a light wiish vi' I'russian iilne .strongly tinged with green,
rather brighter than iu other kind.s, and of a lighter shade.

Gkxis NYCTICORAX, Stki'iikn-s.

Xycticoraj; SrF.riiKNs. .Sli.iw's (liti. 'Ai»A. W. xi. ISlii. (iOS (tyi>c, .Inliu nycticorax, LiNN.).
Ki/fHiirdcK, .Swains. Classit'. B. ii. ls;(7, :!5t (siiiiii> type).

Oen. Char. Mcdium-siziMl licniiis of very .'*li(irt tliick luiild, large, thick hofids, and .xliort
tai-si. Tiie phuiinge cxoeoiliiigly (lilfciciu in the adult ami yeuiig. but thu sexes similiir. Adults
with two or tliree ex< ('nliii|,'ly long tlircml-likc, white oriipilal ]ihuiu's.

Hill very .xtoul, tlie depth tliionnii the liase lieing more than one fourth the eulinen ; tiie latter
nearly straight for the hm\\ two tliirds, tlieii gently eiirved to the tij) ; lower edge of the iiian-
djlmlar rami nearly slniight ; gnnys nearly str.iiuht. very sligiitly aseending ; ina.\il]ary toinium
decidedly eoneave, with a very convex outline just foiwanl of the rictus. Mental apex reaching
more than iialf way from tlie centre of the eye to llie point of the hill, and to heyond the anterior
end of the nostril ; malar ajiex failing a liMh' slio,t of the frontal apex. Tarsi a little longer tlian
tiie middle toe, its naitdh- h<:ntijo)i ■' h> fmnl : lateral toes neatly ei|ual, hut the outer tiie iong'T ;
Imlluxless tliuii half tlie middle t. e; l.aiv jioitioii of iil)iii shorti^r tliuii the haliiix. inner wehs
of two outer immaries distinctly eniarginatetl near thu end. Tail of twelve broad, moderately
hanl featiiers, as in tiie typical Herons.

AUDEID.K — THE HERONS — NYCTICUllAX.

In ''llaml-list of liiiils," \'ii1. HI. j). 3;J, Dr.!!. 11. (.Jmy emiint'mte.s tliivo OKI World ^jiecifs
I'lsit''.^ A'. " nijelicoru.e" (ijrigi'.iig), Tliesii luu, " iidnldnicti, (!m.," Now C'liIedDiiiii ; " / miniillcns!g,
\iii.," IMiili|iiiiiii'.-< anil Soldiiiuii Islamls. uml " irii<.<lrii.itri.i, Xu;.,'' Island nl' Hmiiii. Tlii'sc jut-
li i|i-> ii'invsi'iil iiu.ii.s of one sjn'cic.-i, iiltliou;,'h we iiav*! si-un only the lii-st nuniud. A', cakdonicus

A. i/n'.icKs till vii's,

isstiiitly ooiijioncrii' with X. iirintii.-i, with wliu'li il ii,i,'I'(M's very closely in the details of fonn, in
size, ill general system of ((doialion, and in the ehaiaetei' of tlie occijiital iiluines. As to colora-
liiMi, the pattern is the same, except that the j,'n'enish black of tiie hack and seapulais is wantin;;,
while that of the pih'iim extends niiile to the liill, tliere lieini;, tllerefoie, no white fiontlet. The
1 hiiieoiis of .V. (//■/.svi/y, however, is entirely replaced liy a line cinnamon-rnfous, wliieli j^ives the two
liirds (|nile a different aspect. In the yoiin;,' plumaLie they are more similar, llioii|^di Htill readily
ilistin;,'ilishalple.

Nycticoraz griseus naevius.

THE AMERICAN BLACK CItOWKEO NIGHT HEBON.

llvlmirKS )wvius, Ititiss. Orn. V. ITtiit. lil"J.

.Irilxi jwviii, l!oi>n. Tiihl. r. r.. 17s:!, .-,i i.js (,-x PI. Knl. M9.)

Xiirl iiirilin tji-ixiii, WW. ,iiiri,i, \\.\.\.s, Riill. Mas. ('.mip. /..lol. III. 1S7"2, 182. — Col'Ks, Key, 187'2,

2t;!t; Cliirk l-ist, 187:i. no. LIS: U. N. W. 1,^71. WIX
Xiictiiii-ili'ii grisiii iiirvi'ii, liMKiW. Noin. X. Am. 15. 1S81, no. 495. — Coi'K.s, Check last, 2il td.

1882, no. ijtit.
Anlni /ii«ict/i, Cmki.. S. N. I. 1788, 630.
.tri/iii fdiiit, (iMr.r,. t. e. (illi.

Jrdiii (liirilriii, Cmki.. t. c. (!|,'), no. 81 (liascd on the Oiirdfiilnu Ifirnn of Pcnn. and Lntli.>.
XiHiiiirihii Uiinhnl, It.Miii). ISiids X. .\nt. IS'iS, ti78 ; fat. N. Aai. \\. IS.^O, no. lit.').
Ardiii ilisviihn; XflT. Mass. Orn. II. 1S:il, ')!.
Xjic/kiiriix niiiirioniii.'i, llos.vr. ('onip. List, 1S:18, 48.
Xiiiiicorar riilijiiri.i. D'Oini. <>i-^. Cnlm, 18:!!', 208.
Kycticorax ijrisitis (\miO, ItKienr.sow, .1. f, (•. 1877, 2:37.

Ji:il'"

ALTRICIAI. GIJALLATOUES — HKUODIONES.

Had, The whole of teiniiciate niul tioiiical Ameiien, I'mni British America to Cliili and the
Frtlkhiiid Ishlliils. I'lirt of tiie West Iiiilics; Ijeriiiudiis.

Si'. Char. Adult : Fileiiin, scaindars, and inters ai.uhirH, t,'lo.ssy Uackish bottle-green ; fore-
head, postoeiilar, malar, and ^'idar v.-i.ms, and medial lower parts, white ; lateral lower parts and
neck, except in front, pale ash-^'ray, witii a sli;,rlit lilaceous tin-e ; wind's, rumi., ui.per lail-coverts
and tail, deeper ash-.i,'ray. Occipital plumes jiure white, liill black ; lorea and orbits yellowish
yreen ; iris bright red'; legs and feet yellow ; claws brown. [Audubon.] Yoiiwj, second year :

jek. ■-■!»:.■—

WS 'tN ■■«-■ ■'-CC

.\o. of

Similar to the adult, but scapulars and interscainilai-s cinereous, like the wings, and the white of
the forehead obscured by tlie blackish of the crown ; tlie colors generally more sond)re, with neck
and lower jiarta more decidedly ashy. Yoitiifijjirnt ijvar : Above, grayis^h brown, with more or less
of a cinnamon cast, especially on the remigcs, each feather marked with a medial tear-shaped, or
wed"e-shaped stripe of wliite, the remiges with small white terminal spots ; vectrices plain ash-
gray. Sides of the head and iieck, i>nd I'Utire lower jiarts, striped longitudinally with grayish
brown and dull white ; chin \\k\ liiroat ]ilain white medially. ]!ill light apide-green, the tipper
half of the maxilla blai'kish, the mamlible with a tinge of the same near the end ; lores light
apple-green; eyelids siiuilar, but brighter — more yellowish, their inner edge black; iris dark
chrome-yellow tjr dull oiange ; legs and feet light yellowish apple-green ; claws grayish horn-
color.^

Length about 24.0(>-26.(K) ; oxpaiisp, -ll.lKt. Weight, 1 lb. 14 oz. (Aii)i Hon). Wing, 11. (M)-
12-80; tail, 4.2(>-.5.:j() ; culmen, 2.8(»-:}.l(»; depth of bill, .70-.85 ; tarsus, 3. U>-3.4(); middle
toe, 2.0.5-3.10 ; bare portion of tibia, .!)0-l .40.2

The series of specimens at hand is unfortunately too small to justify an oiv.nion ns to whether
the American Night Herons are really separable as a geographical race from those of the Old
World, or whether there are two races in America. Authors recognize a N. ohscurus from the
southern part of South America, but ten sjieciniens from that region compaied with thirteen from
Northern America certainly do not indicate any constant dilference, notwithstanding a certain
proportion (in this case four of the eight specimens before us, or one half) are more or less darker,
though only a small proportion of them are very much darker ; while of the other four, two are as
light-colored as the very palest of northern ones, the others being about like the average. There
being no other differences beyond the slightly larger avmifii- size of the .xoutliern birds (especially
noticeable in those from the high districts of Peru and Chili), we are hardly inclined, for the
present, at least, to recognize a var. olM-iirnn, but, on the other hand, to look ujion the latter as the
e.\pre9sion of a tendency to partial mtdanism all'ecting this species in certain localities of the regions
indicated, this tendency, moreover, perhajis affecting only some individuals in such localities.

laps

» From a .spocimcn killed .\ngiist 13, 1870, near Wnsliington, D. C.
* Extremes of thirteen examples from North and Middle America.

AUDEID.E — Till-: HERONS — NYCTICOUAX.

With five adult examples for comparison, we Lave been eciually unsuccessful in discovering
iliUVTcnecs liutween European liirds of tliis species and those from Anierifii, beyond the slightly
siimllcr size of the former, tliere l)eing no dilference whatever, that we can see, in plumage. We
liMvu not, however, seen amon^' European specimens those dark-colored examples which occur now
:iiid then in America.

A nearly adult specimen from the Sandwich Islands (N'o. 41<Jol ; Wainjea Kaui; V. Knuuskn),
is very similar in coloi's to No. 4!)(i4(> (typicid obscitruK) from Chili; it is smaller, however, and
li;^'htcr-i()lored beneath ; it is also more adult, and, besides jiossessing the occipital plume.-i, hiw
iIk' forehead 'Hstiiictly white. A joung bird from the same locality (No. 41!>u2) agrees strictly
with American specimens of the same age.

A young specimen from Lake Titicaca (24278, M. C. Z.) difl'ers from North American
ixamplcs in darker cohirs.

Tile following table of measurements, giving the extremes in each series, may serve to show
ilif dilference in size between specimens of this species from various countries, as indicated by the
scries Ijefoiv Us : —

.SllfC'

'J Country.

Wins;

Tail.

t'ulmcii.

Depth of bil

. Tarsus.

MidiUe-toc.

North and MiJillu America,

11.00-

-12.

4.20-

-5.30

2.80-

3.10

.70-

.85

3.10-

■3.40

2.05-3.10

Cliili and IVru,

12.30-

13.56

5.50-

O.OO

2.70-

.70-

.80

3.20-

■3.30

2.70-3.00

•2

Brazil and I'ara^'uay,

11.25-

-11.

4.70-

■4.80

2.00-

, ,

3.10-

-3.20

2.70

Sandwich Islands,

11.00

4.40

2.85

.75

2.75

2.55

Manilla,

10.80

4.30

2.75

.75

3.00

• > .

Kodluo Valley, India,

11.50

4.80

2.85

, .

. . .

2.75

South Africa,

10.80

4.10

2.40

.70

2.75

2.50

The Night Horon — "Qiiu-binl," or "QuAk," as this Heron is called in different
parts of the country — is distrihutcd over the entire continent, from the Arctic Circle,
(in the extreme northwest, to the opjiosite extrenn' of South Anu'rica. And it' we
regard our American bird as clearly ;i race of, and hardly varying from, the European
bird, it iiHist claim to 1h' cosmopolitan in the largt'st sense, since it is known to occur
ill nearly all parts of the glolie. It is resident througliout Central America, and
lirecds in all portions where the situation is favorable. It was found breeding at
r>(lize and at Onioa by Mr. Leyland. j\Ir. (J. C. Taylor mentions its ju'esence at
{•'onseca l>ay. in Honduras. It was found at I'arana, anuing the reeds of the lagoons,
iiiul on the islands of the river, by Dr. l»nrnu'ister ; and Captain C. C. Abbott, in his
paper on tlu' Uirds of the Falkland Islands (" Ibis," 1861), states that when he was in
Hope I'lace. in I)ccend)er. IiS.V.>, be visited one of the breeding-places of this Heron.
The places selected for laying were the tufts of grass near a freshwater pond, the
whole of one sidi' of which was covered with them. In some of the nests, which
were composed of a few coarse sticks, were young birds half grown; in others eggs,
tliree in nundier, sonu' fre^.h, others with largely di'vcloped end)ryos. There could
not have been less than a hundrt'd pairs on the spot, and they were so tanu' and
unsusi>icious that they had evidently lu'vcr been disturbed.

In Kurojie the Night Heron has apparently less of a northern range than the
.Vmerii'un form. It is rare in England, where less than a dozen stragglers are
known to have been taken since 1781', when the first recorded specimen was pro-
cured; and it is still more rare in Ireland and in Scotland. It is found, more or less
abumhmtly. in the warnu-r parts of Kuroj)!', Asia, and in Africa throughout the entire
region, even as far as the Cape of (food Hope. It is said to inhabit Nepal, as also
the country about Cahaitta, and to be found in China and Japan.

The Night Heron is found abundantly, and breeds, in nu)st of the West India
Islands, esi)ecially in Cuba, .Jamaica, and Trinidad. In the latter it is very abundant

VOL. I. — 8

i;;!

V '

i i

ALTRICIAL GRALLATOUES — HEUODIONES.

in all the inundated lands, in company with the other kinds of Heron, and its food is
tlie same. During the day it perclies in the mangrove trees, waiting for tlie sun to
set before it goes in quest of its prey. In .laniaiea, aeeording to Gosse, thougli com-
mon, it is mucli more frequently lunird than seen; and its loud and hoarse ipio/,; heard
in tlie dark solitudes, is often a souree of great alarm to the superstiticms negro. In
floating down the larger streams, especially those nuirgined by overhanging man-
groves, it may be frequently seen, seated on some high briinch whieh comnumds a
wide prospect ; but no sooner does a canoe api)roach, than, spreading its wings, it sails
heavily off, with its customary outcry. It is vigilant and suspicious, and by no means
easily shot. "It is," adds Mr. Gosse, "a noble bird. Its commanding lieight, erect
attitude, stout-built frame, fiery eye, powerful beak, hanging crest, and handsonuf
plumage, give it an imposing aspect.'' Crabs and other crustaceii, form its principal
diet. If wlien wounded it falls into water, it can swim well and rai)idly, with head
erect, and its body not more immersed than that of a duck. The young Night Heron
in its spotted plumage is known in Jamaica as the Guinea-hen Quok. It is a common
fall and winter visitant of Bermuda.

Mr. Kidgway found it quite common in the vicinity of Sacramento City, as well as
on the banks of the Carson and Truckee rivers, and in the neighborhood of Great Salt
Lake. Mr. J. A. Allen met with it near Fort Hays, in "Western Kansas ; fvnd in
Sejjtember he found it tolerably connnon in the valley of Great Salt Lake. Accord-
ing to Mr. Gosse, it breeds in large communities in Southern Wisconsin, on islands in
the lakes ; the nest is usually on low trees a few feet from the ground. Mv, Nelson
also found this species breeding in the almost impeiu'trable wild rice swamps of Lake
Michigan, in apparently improbable locations. He saw in Grass Lake — a widening of
Fox Kiver — over fifty nests placed in the midst of particularly dense bunches of ri(;e,
the stiff last-year's stalks of whicli, converging near the roots, formed a convenient
base for their sujjport. Tlie nests were all well-built structures, composed of small
pieces of dead rice-stalks from two to ten inches in length. They averaged from
twelve to fifteen inches in diameter ; and so firmly were they built, that he could
stand on them without doing them any perceptible injury.

Dr. J. G. Cooper states that the Night Heron is common in California throughout
the year, migrating in the summer at least as far to the north as the Columbia. It
is found chiefly in the freshwater marshes. He saw one of its breeding-places at
Santa Cruz, in a small grove of negundo trees, surrounded by cultivated iields and
near a house. The nests were about the size of those of the Crow, and built in the
usual loose manner ; about the 1st of June they were observed to contain young.
A number of Crows and Owls were on the watch for any luckless young bird they
could manage to steal away in the absence of its parents. The old birds were very
watchful during his visit, and flew around overhead.

This species appears to be pretty universally distributed over the United States,
occurring in isolated colonies in situations where food is abundant. It was found in
numbers throughout Texas by Mr. Dresser ; and Mr. I'oardmaii informs us that its
heronries are met with on the coast and in the interior of Maine, although the species
is not abundant in the neighborhood of Calais. According to Giraud, it visits Long
Island in the early part of April, and remains there until quite late in the autumn ;
ajul that writer was informed that it hius been occasionally met with in the depth of
winter. It inhabits the overgrown margins of watercourses and prnds, seldom ven-
tures abroad by daylight, and at such times is rarely seen, unless, met with by acci-
dent. At twilight it is seen flying over the marshes and following the streams,
reconnoitring for food, which consists of fisheSj frogs, mice, and lizards. AN'hen

■(i.^r

ARDEID.'E — THE HERONS — NYCTirORAX.

roaming about at night it utters a peculiar guttural sound, from which it derives the
iiaiiit', by which it is generally known by gunners, of (^uawk.

Mr. W. K. Endieott, in the first volume of the "Naturalist," gives an aeenunt of
;i licronry visited by him in Norfolk County, Mass., in a eedar swamit, wet and ditti-
ciilt (if aeeess. Tliis was first noticed in 1SG2, attention having been drawn to it by
the whiteness of the ground, caused by the surrouiuling excrements. The young
hiiils were fed from the adjacent ponds and river, their food being in large part
liiirings. The nests were always built against the trunks of the trees, six or
(■i;4lit feet from the tops. Sometimes as numy as four nests might be seen in a
single cedar. The eggs were usually four in number, occasionally six, and even
seven. The young are covered with down, and are at first quite helpless; but soon
,i;aiu strength enough to climb to the upper branches, where they are fed by their
jiarcnts until nearly full grown. Two broods were often reared in a season, and it
was no uncommon thing to see four or five of the first brood sitting on the tree-top,
while the nest below contained as many more of the younger brood, both sets being
ted by their parents. They are clumsy climbers, and yet difficult to dislodge. AVhen
one falls to the ground it usually sets off at full speed, croaking unceasingly as it
runs. Dr. Charles C. Abbott, writing to the "Naturalist" (III. p. 377), records an
interesting instance in which a family of five birds of this species spent the winter
MKUiths in a yard within the limits of the city of Trenton, New Jersey. The jjlace
was near the river, and retained much of its natural wildness. This little colony
remained during the daytime in the large pines in the yard, ' ''siting, after .sundown,
a little pond and spring-brook, from which they obtained a suiijdy of frogs and fish.
They occasionally visited the Delaware Kiver, and seemed (piite indifferent to the
near presence of man. Major Wedderburn states that this sjjecies, in the immature
phimage only, becomes common in Bermuda in the month of September, and so con-
tinues tlirough the winter, until March. The birds were found chiefly in mangrove
tii'cs, on the borders of ponds.

Tlie Night Heron is not common north of the forty-second parallel, and is found
(inly in a few scattered and isolated colonies. It has been stated that it does not occur
in tiie Fur Ccmntry ; but this is not strictly correct: it is known to have been found
in a single locality. Donald Gunn states that it is seen in great numbers at Sh(rul
iiake, where it makes its nest, in all instances, on the ground among the reeds, and in
a manner similar to that of the Grebes. Audubon states that it is not found in the
interior ; but this is not without many exceptions.

In the summers of 1S34 and 1835 we visited the once celebrated heronry of this
bird in the swam])y woods near Fresh Pond, Cambridge. It occujiied many acres,
and previous to the draining of that region Avas abnost inaccessible. At the time of
these visits most of the nests contained eggs, and the birds were sitting. Each one,
as it left the nest, uttered a loud qumrl; while a few remained and hovered over our
heads, but in silence. The nests were in the highest trees, and never less than
twenty feet from the ground. In no instance that we remember were there more
than four eggs in a nest. Subsequently we received four young birds taken from one
of these nests ; they Avere about a week old, covered with a thin down, and unable to
stand. They were easily tamed, fed readily, and grew very fast. They were fed
with different kinds of food — principally with liver, occasionally with mice, rat.s,
frogs, and other reptiles, Once only were they given fragments of snakes ; but as
that killed three of them, and nearly destroyed the survivor, this diet was avoided.
The last lived in confinement nearly two years, and i)roved a very interesting pet.
He lived in the society of the poultry, but would not permit their near approach, his

i,^

:l ■ i»

ALTRICIAL (IIIALLATOKKS — IIKRODKINES.

loud guttural croak always detorriuf,' tlu'ni from couiiuj,' too near. He was not afraid
of the family; and tliou^li !»' did not like to Itc liandk'd, woidd never run away
to avoid it, but would come at call, even from a distunee, evincini; disapiKjintinent
when no food was given him. The following illustrates his tenacity to first imjuvs-
sions. He was once caught wandering ott" to a neighlM)ring spring for frogs, and
driven back to the barnyard. In his jiatii was a cart — an obstacle which it was
necessary to go round — wliile iM-yond it was a pile of rubbish, over which he lialf
flew. Tliis was repeated three or four tinu's. Afterward, the cart and tiu' rubl)isli
having been removed, the bird, wlu'u driven home from his wanderings, jwrsisted in
making a «'ircuit around the spot where tlie <'art had formerly stooil. and in giving a
flying leaj) over the place where once the pile had previously nuule this necessary.
This amusing perfornuuice he would always go through with, and he was occasionally
made to repeat it for the entertainnuMit of visitors. Once in a while lie wotdd stray
off into Stony Brook, at a i»oint where it flowed past several houses, and would tisii
for himself. On ime occasion, his hoarse gurgling cries created an alarm in th<'
settlement, and the river was searched at midnight for the supposed drowning iiuli-
vidual ; and our \)vt was in .some danger of its own life before the real cause of the
alarm had been ascertained. It readily endured tiie cold of one winter ; but an
unusually severe night in the second winter killed the bird before it had assumed
its nuiture plumage.

Three eggs of this species, taken by Mr. Harold Ilerrick in a heronry at Chettam.
N. J., are abnost exactly oval in shape, equally tapering at either end, and uni-
formly washed with a bright, light greenish blue — a light wash of Trussian blue
with green slia<lings. These three eggs measure, respectively. 'J.IV2 1)}' Uhi inches ;
2.10 by 1.48 inches; and 2.(M> inches by 1.44, — showing a remarkable variation in
size. These were taken May iiO, 187.3.

GENU.S NYCTHERODIXTS, Keh iiExn.vrH.

Nydherodim, RF.iciiKsn. Uttiulb. Oni. (Naturl. Syst. Viig. in Systoinn Avium), 1851, \t. xvi. (tyjio,

Ai'dca vinhweii, LiSN.).
Nycficorax, Boik (jmrt), Isis, 1826, l»70 (tyix-, Ardea violacni, Linn.).

Gen. Char. Medium-.^ized Herons, of short, thick Iniilil ; the bill extremely thick and stout,
with both outlines strongly convex ; tlie legs long and slender ; the doi-sal plumes nmdi elongr.ted
and very narrow, reaching beyond the tail ; the occiput (in adult) witli several extremely long,
linear white feathers. Habits nocturnal.

Bill short and very stout, the culnien curved ivgulnrly from the base, the gonys deciiledly con-
vex and very much ascending ;i maxillary toiuium almost perfectly straiglit througliout, but
appreciably concave anteriorly, witli a barely percept ilde convexity toward the base; mandibular
toniium nearly straiglu, but i)erceptibly concave anteriorly .'•' Mental apex less tlian half way from
centre of ej-e to end of bill, and about even with anterior end of nostril ; apex of malar region a
little posterior to the frontal apex. Tarsi long and slender, exceeding the middle toe by more than

• The lower outline of the hill is, in fnct, more deeidedly convex than the ujuhm'.

* We find considerable vnrintion anions individuals in respect to these outlines: thus, a sjiocimcn (?
adult, No. 2750, Mas. I{.1{.) IVoin Illinois has the nmiidibulnr toniiuni exactly straight to near the end,
where it gradually ascends to the tip, thereby iiroduciiig a very slight subtenuinal concavity ; in Xo. 2758,
another adult ? from the same locality, it is decidedly coHir.»; in the middle portioc ; while in an adult
i, from Miizatlnn (No. 58811), it is decidedly concarr at the same |dace, —so much so, in fact, that a
space is left between it and the \ipper toniium, on ciich side, when the bill is closed tight ! These dis-
crepancies, however, do not affect the general fonn of the bill, which is eininentlv characteristic.

'■<■

■

ARDKID.E — THE HERONS — XYCTHEIl

'8.

halt' till' lt'nt,'tli tit" the latter ; outer Ine deciiledly l(iii;,'er tlmu inner ; hallux sli},'htly longer than
ilie first i)halanx of the niidiUe toe ; hnro jMirtion of tibia as long as the outer toe ; tarsal scutellip
wiili a teiiilency to form transverse plates on the upiier half, in front ; claws ext'ee(lin<,'ly short,
>tinnyly curved, and blunt. Inner webs of two outer primaries eniarginated near the end ; tail of

i^t

J\r. violacens.

twelve broad, moderately har<l feathei-s ; interscapular plumes j,'reatly elonf,'ated (extendinj; l)eyon<l
ilie tail), narrow, the plunuilic threadlike and soft, and separated outwardly. Occipital plumes
linear, liattened, longer than the head and bill, when fully developed, half a dozen or more in
number, and gmduated in length.

Nyctherodius violaceus.

THE WHITE-CBOWNED KIOHT HEBON.

Ardcrt sleUaris cristata nmcricfimi, Catesdv, Carolina, 17.54, pi. 79 (adult).

Bilwreau, dc Cnycnnc, Bvvv. IM. Knl. 1770-84, pi. 890 (.ultilt).

Anlia violatea, Linn. .S. N. cd. 10, [. 1758, 143, no. 12 (ex Catosby, I.e.) ; ed. 12, I. I'fiS, 238, no.

16. — Wn.s. Am. Orn. VIIl. 1814, 20, pi. 6',. — Xrrr. .Man. II. 1834, 52. — All). Oiii. Biog.

IV. 1838, 290, i>l. ant) ; i^ynop. 1839, 262; Birds .Vni. VI. 1843, 89, pi. 364 (adult and young).
Xi/ctinrdca violacrn, Sw.viN.s. Classif. B. II. 1837, 354. — CorE.s, Key, 1872, 269 ; Check List, 1873,

no. 459.
Xijclhcrodius violarrns, REicHExn. Syst. Av. 1851, p. xvi. — BAinn, Birds N. Am. 1858, 679 ; Cat.

N. Am. B. 1859, no. 490. — Rloow. Noiu. N. Am. H. 18S1, no. 490. — CoUES, Check List, 2il

wl. 1882, no. 005 {XiicterodiiiK).
Cniimnc Xight Ifemi, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 56 (quotes PI. Enl. 899).
Yelloiv-croirnrd Xiijht Ilcron, Lath. t.c. 80.

Ardea cayennensi.1, (^iMEL. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 026, no. 31 (based on Rl. Enl. 899).
Ardca sccHctncM, ViEii.i,. Enc. Moth. III. 1823, 1130 (KcichenowV
Aixka mllocrphaln, AVaoi.. Syst. Av. 1827, Anlea, sp. 34 (Keichenow).

Had. Warm-temperate Eastern North America, West Indies, Middle America, and Northern
South America, breeding north to Southern Illinois and Indiami. On Atlantic const north to
Pennsylvania (rare). West to Colorado, south to Western Ecuador and the Amazonian region.
Ik-nnudas.

ALTRICIAL GUALLATOUES — IIEUODIONES.

Sr. f'liAU. AiIhII : Knicliciul, iniiliUc of tin- trown, ami lunf,' occiiiital plunieH, with ft Iftr^'O
l«(ii;,'itiuliiml palcli IVom the riiliis In the i-iirs, imii! white ;' il-hI of thr iiciul ilei-p Itlaclv. I'lii-
iiiaj,'^ in •^(•lu'ial, ili'ar phiiiiln'ouH-hluf, or liiicii'ous, iijjhter hcnwith (l\w (ivj^ivu of hhiL-iicsM jnolc
aliiy (h'liciidiiit,' on (he aj^c of the hiiil) ; all the fuatliH-s of thu- uppiT snifaii' niarki'il with u nicilial
utripe of black ; the KitoiiilaiiLs and ivilriiis dark plunibuoii!*, boidi'iiid with u liyhtir shade of

-£!C*-

'-*^..

"^^

th(! same ; iiriniarios plain bluish plunibpous. Bill depp bluek, the lower basal portion of the mnn-
dibk', in soniu speiinicns, gu'cnish yellow ; lores and eyelids j,'reenish yellow ; iris jiale orange ;
k'tjs (hill yellowish jjreen, the larj,'e scutellic and the elaws dnsky.*

Young : Above, dark sooty j^rayish brown, sometimes of a slii,'htly olive cast, the feathers of the
pileum and winj,'s (in younj,'est individuals the entire uiii)er surface /) marked with medial streaks
of white or pale bulf; these streaks assuming on the winj;-coverts a narrowly cnneate form. Lower
parts soiled whitish, striped with brownish j,''"y. " 15ill },'reenish black, the lower and basal part
of the lower mandible greenish yellow, as are the eyelids and bare .npace before the eye. Iris pale
orange. Legs and feet dull yellowish green, the scutella and scales in front, a.s well as the claws,
dusky" (AuuUHON). Length, about 23.(H)-2r).(H) ; expanse, •l().(X)-4r).(K» ; weight, 1 lb. 7 oz. to
I lb. 9oz. (AuDL-noN). Wing, 10..'50-12.«r) ; tail, 4.20-5.10; culnien, 2.50-3.00 ; depth of bill,
.70-92 ; tarsus, 3.10-4.20 ; middle toe, 2.20-2.55 ; bare portion of tibia, 1.60-2.40.

The variation among different individuals of this species consists mainly in the absence or pres-
ence of the ochraceous stain on the forehead (and, if present, its amount;, and in the degree of
blueness in the plumbeous coloring of the general plumage. The most purely colored specimen I

* In living and freshly killed specimens the forohead is a delicate creamy sulphur-yellow color ; but
this fades perceptibly in a very short time after death, and finally disappears entirely. Audubon ("Biiils
of America," Vol. VI. p. 91) says, liowever, tlmt this is ehnraeteristic of the breeding sen.son, and "dis-
apiiears at the approach of auttunii, when the bird might with all propriety be named the 'White-crowned
Heron." In view of the fact that this lieautiful yellow color is seldom if ever to be seen in dried skins,
the term "yellow-crowned" is a decided misnomer; and .sim-e it is thus calculated to mi.slead the stu-
dent, we prefer the name "white-crowned," and have, for the reasons stated, ailopted the latter in this
work. In many skins the white of the forehead is tinged more or less with ochraceous- or cinnamon-
brown ; but this is without much doubt an actual stain caused by contact with the slimy ccating on the
under side of leaves of aquatic plants.

* In nn adult female shot from the nest, at Wheatland, Indiana, April 27, 1881, the bill and naketl
lores were wholly slate-black, the eyelids similar, but tinged with green anteriorly ; iris Mars-orange ;
legs pale olive-hulT, the largo scutellie of tarsus and toes deep brownish. In the adidt male in spring,
according to Audu1)on, the soft parts are colored as follows : " Bill black. Iris ivddish-orange ; nmrgins
of eyelids and Irnre space in front of the eye dull yellowish green. Tibia, upper part of the tarstis, its
hind part and the soles, bright yellow ; the scutella and scales, the fore jmrt of the torsus, the toes,
and the claws, black."

ARDEID.K — THE HERONS — NVCTHKRODIUa

liavo Hcen is on nilult I'lJinaliJ from Mount, ('arnit-l, Illinoir*. Tliiti Hiiciiiiu'n «•«« shot from the tuM,
mill II jifrfi'i'tly <K'Vi'lopt'«l i'j,'j,' taken from tliu nvarv ; consiMiucnlly llicrc cun lie no ilonbt iw to the
fifX. In this spwiniun tliu iiliinilioous is tiiron;;liout of u ileal', fnii' f,'niyisli-lilut' tinj,'e ; tlic rec-
triL't'K, even, are <larlc hlnisli i>liinilK'ous (willi u faint jji-uun rtllfction in certain ii^,'ilt^), and are
.liilinctly lioniered witii |)hunl)eous-l)]ne. Tliis tinu example is nearly matclieil hy \o. 171 IS,
National Miisenin, from the Torlii),'as, Florida (spring of IHdO). The opposite extreme is nearly
represented liv another udult female, ])ut proliahly a younger binl, from the miuic locnlity, and
oliiiiiiied at ahout the Mime time and uncler nearly tlie same circumstances. In this specimen the
pliiiiilieous is everywhere much less liluish, and on the hack and lesser wing-coverts is even very
mill li oliscurud by ii smoky tinge ; the l)luck stripes of the back mid wings show u very strong
lidilli'-green reflection, which is not the ease with other sjujcimens examine.d ; the reclrices are
alisoliili'ly uniform slaty idumbeoiis, without paler edges. The head is marked and colored iw
usual in fully adult specimens, and the forehead has a slight tinge of ochraccous anteriorly. A
specimen from Fort Brown, Texas (iKWi, March I(t), is almost precisely similar.

All adult, in nuptial plumiige (No. G7!)l!)), from the Talamanca district, Costa Rica, differs
from other specimens in full plumage in having several blue-black feuthei-s in the middle of the
crown. This specimen is also remarkable for its large size.

Some specimens, apparently in their second year, resi'inble adults in full jdumage, except that
tliey lack the scapular and occiiiital plumes, and that the black of the head, esja'cially underneath,
is mixed with white leathers. Nos. istiiiij and (iTiWO represent this stage. As a proof that the
brown tinge on the crown of this species has nothing to do with season or sex, init that, on the
contrary, if not an entiiely accidental stain from foreign substances, it is rather a mark of im-
maturity, it may be stated that both these immature specimens have the ferruginous stain very
strongly marked, it being in the former speiiimeii deeper than I have ever seen it in any a<lult,
and SI) dark in jdaces as to appear of a dark sepia- or snufT-brown tinge

A younger stage of plumage than the above, and one which i)erhaiis illustrates a change in color
iif the fiifthcrs thi'imi'lnn, irilhout an actual nwult, is represented by No. 118i)2 (Tortugas, April f)).
In this, all the well-detined strii)es and streaks of the first stage have become obliterated, but at
the same time the sombre cidors of this age are retained. The upi)er i)arts, indiidiii;) the scapiihir
lihimiii, which are not only jmsi nt, hut u-dl (h-fiinpal,^ are of a ilark oily, sooty, brownish-gray,
with a faint green reflection in certain lights ; many of the feathers darker medially (esju'cially
tin- wing-coverts and scapular jiluines), the wing-coverts having well-defined i)ale margins. The
fofelicail and middle of the crown are rich brown, of a shade between cinnamon and sepia ; the
oiiiput uniform blue-black ; the malar region and throat streaked with blue-blnck nnd white.
The lower jiarts much as in the first plumage, but the stripes more indistinct. There ore no
occipital ]>lumes.

From the above, we may reasonably infer that the a.ssumi)tion of the jjcrfect adult plumage is
a very gradual proces-s, and not accomplished at a single, nor solely by several moults ; but that
after each moult a gradual change in the cidors of the feathers takes jdace, — a fact which is cer-
tiiiiily established with regan.! to many birds. Thn>ie specimens in which the plumbeous is of a
clear, tine l)luish cast are therefore to be considered* the oldest individuals, and the more sombre
ones younger.

Ill the Cialapagos Islands is found a Nijcth<To(liu!t which is said to be distinct from the common
species. This form we have seen only in the immatui-e plumage, a description of which is given
iielow.^

' It is probable that the species breeds in this plumage.
' NvcTiiKiionius rAiTKii (Sd. k Salv.).

" Xijcticorax viiilaceus," D.uiwix, Zool. Reng. III. Birds, 1841, 128 (Onlapngos).
"Anleii violacM," Si'SDKV. P. Z. S. 1871, 125 ((ialaimgos).

Ni/clicoraj: jmu/if); Sci,. & S.M.v. 1'. Z. S. May 12, 1870, 323, 327 (Oalnixigos). — Salvin, Trans.

Zool. Soc. IX. ix. 1875, 498.

Young i , tratuiilion plumngr : Head chiefly black, unifonn on the sides of the pilcum and occiput,

the centre of tlio hitter mi.xcd with elongated light-brown featheiu having darker mesial 8trii)es. Stripe

on side of the head, from the rictus over the ear, light tawny brown ; malar region bluc-hhick, with a

IVw nan-ow whitish streaks ; chin and throat more heavily streaked with white. Upper parts in general,

ALTUICIAL (ilJALI.ATOltlvS— UKIIODIDNKS.

ti|

,-i

In tlic luliilt iduiiin^'i', tliJH H|M'(i('jly tlmkir than xV. I'iuliiftui, with the
bhick strijicH ol' the u|iiifr I'liit.-i Ii'n.i ili'^liiul, pfiliaiw nlpsolftc.

Tlic Vi'lldW-cniwiKMl Ilcnm is a sDUtlicr i species, not kiiiiwn td lireetl north of
tile Carolinus on the Athmtie emist, tlioiij^h tieeasioniilly wamhTiMK nineh I'urther
nortli, hotli on tlie Athmtie cdast ami in tiie interior. It is found ah)nj,' tlie \vhoh(
(Julf coast to Mexico, occuis lioth on tiie eastern and the western coasts of .Nfexico
iind of Central America, and has lieen rtHH'ived from South America. ( hi the I'aciliir
coast it Ikls not been taken, to our knowledge, so fur north as California, though ahun-
dant on the .Marias and Socorro Islands and the eorres|ionding coast. It is found in
and iireeds in several of the West India Islands. I'mfessor Newton mentions it as
occurring, hut us not very coiiinion, in St. Croix, where it inhabits the niangrovt- swamjis
in the daytime, hut leaves them at night to feed in the interior of the island It is
im'sumed to he resiih-nt and to hreed in that island, hut this has not heeii positively
a.scertained. Mr. K. C. Taylor found it ahiindant in the Oropuche lagoon, in 'rrini-
dad, hut he did not meet with any elsewhere on that i.slaml. Leotand also speaks of
this Heron as being quite ciuumon in Trinidad, where it is both resident and known
to breed. Its food, for which it .searches in tlie night, is not dilTereiit from that of
other Herons. During the daytime it keeps itself closely conceah'd iiniong the man-
grove trees, which till all the inlets from the sea. .\t times this bird is very fat, and
is then (piite good eating. Unlike the Night llentii, it can iievci be reconciled to
captivity, but always retains its wild and untamable character. It is mentioned by
Dr. (lundlach as a coninum resident species in Cuba, where he obtained its eggs. It
is not given by Mr. (Josse, who probably confounded it with the (ian/iii!, as among
the birds of .lamaica, but is meiiti(Uied by Mr. March as of frequent occurrence on
thut i.sland. It is known as the (iuinea-hen tiMiok. by which term Mr. (io.s.so supposed
the young of the (inn/iii! to be designated. .Mr. Salviii states that specimens of
this bird were among tlu' skins collected by ilr. Leyland in Honduras; and he after-
ward rcjtorted that he himself found it not uncctmmon on the Pacific seu-eoast of
(lUateiiiala. It is an occasional visitant of licrmuda, both in spring and in fall. It
is of rare and accidental occiirreiu'c along the .\tlantic coast, even as far as Massa-
chusetts. Mr. N. N'ickary, (d' Lynn, obtained a line siiecimen that had been killed
wit'iin the limits of that city in October, iStil'. .Mr. Oeorge N. Lawrence includes it
in his list of birds olitained near New York City ; and .Mr. (iiraud states that it occa-
sionally extends its visits as far north as Long Island. It is there (d' entirely noc-
turnal habit, keeping hidden in the marshes during the day. and feeding ehietly at
night. Profes.sor F. H. Snow records the capture (d' an adult female Vellow-crowned
Night Heron and three young birds at Neosho Falls, Kansas, by Colonel N. S. (ioss.
The female was in full breeding jilumage. One was also taken by Mrs. Maxwell, in
Colorado. Mr. Dresser found it more ahundant in Southwestern T»'xas than the
common Night Heron, hut none were seen ahont .Matamoras until .\ugust. ^Mr. Wil-

dark brownish slate, Ix^coiiiing gnidnnlly glauoo\is-iiluiiil)(nus on tlu: tcitials, rciniges, ninip, ujiper tail-
covt'i't.s, ami tail ; clongati-il s( iiimlar iiliiiiifs dark iilumlicdns, without Maik mrsial stiijn' ; wing-ioviits
narrowly edjji'd with lifjiit I'lilvous or i rcaiiiy lailV ; IhuiIci- of tlii' wiiiK I'lilvous-whitf, sjiottwl along the
inner edge witii ilark jdiiinhfous. Neck hrowiiish .slate, the I'oivneek lon<;itu<linally striped with jmle
oehiaeeous ; reinainiiiK lower jiaits similar, hnt more jirofusely streaked witli liglit oehraifoiis and white.
Under-snrfaee of tlie wings nearly uiiiform iihiiiilK'ous.

Wing, 10.40 ; tail, 4.50 ; eiilmen, '.2.0(1 ; depth of bill through nostril, .80 ; tai-sus, 3.40 ; middle toe,
2.30 ; bare ]>ortion of tibia, 1.50.

[Described from the tyjn- in Mus. .Sialvin & fiodman ; Iiich'fatij.'ablc L Galapagos, Aug. 30, 1878 ; Pr.
A. Haljel. Length, 21.00 ; e.\tent, 38.00. Iris, oraii^je ; bill, black ; le-js and feet, Kieeii.]

MthKlD.K- Till': IIKHONH NYCTIIKHOFHIS.

t)5

son tiUxU'n that it is iiliumliiiit, utul that it hr 1h iiitiio Itfrniuilas ; liut in thin ho was

iiiisint'<ii'iii)'<l. .Major Wt'ililfriiuni luitcs it as imlv nl' rare and iMcasinnal ix-curn'nc*'
ilii ri', ami <>i>lv iix'iitiniis tiinc iiistaiici's as roniin^' svithiii his kiiowh-dgt* : two of
llic hii'iis well' kiili-d in Apiil, iml nnt' in S('|itcndi<'i'.

WilHoii statrs that a Hpccinn'ii was shot un the SciinN lliill, in-ar I'hihuh'lphia, and
that it l'it'<iiii'ntly rxtcnds its nii;,'iations into N'irninia. He lonnd it inhaliitin^c tin-
lowi'i' parts of South Carolina, (icori^ia, and l.onisiana in tin* sninnn-r si-ason, ri'iiosin^
ihirinj,' the day anions hiw swanijiy woods, and Iccdin^' only at ni^'ht. It Imilds in
NH'iftiis. making iM'st.s of stitks in tin' Itranrhcs of low tri't-s. It was not nunn'i'oiiM,
iiid its siditary nioilc of life was the causf (d' its I'fin^; little known. It apiM-an-d
til iiavf a stroll},' attatlnuiMit for the vicinity of tin- oiran, ami tu ftril ou tish, crahs,
and lizards — |irinfi|ially the former.

.VudiilHUi rennirks that it is wholly ini;,'ratory within the I'liiti'd States, arriving
only about the end td' Manh, and leaving; in the middle id' Oetoher. In some parts
lit the Southern States it is saiil to he (|uite ahum. ant, while in others it is rarely
mi't with. In some portions of i'Morida it hreeds in ^M'eat niindters. On hi.s vi.sit to
i'l'xas he saw a few id this speeies on an island in ISaie I'danehe, and a^^ain oiilialves-
tiiii Ishind, where it was plentiful. <»ii the .Mississippi it is rare ahove Nati he/, hut a
few strajjjile farther u|i the river. He does not re^jard it as entirely iioeturnal, as
he has seen it seanhin}; lor inod at all hours of the day; and while at (ialveston lie
has freipiently .seen a lar^^e Ihnk similarly oeiupied. It is prolialde that this only
ociurs when the hird is ieedini< its yoiiii};. I have iiotiied the same exeeptional lon-
ihii-t 1>y day on the part of the Ni};ht Heron, at the Hiune .sea.son, when it loails itself
witli a supply for its youn,!,'. feedin^f them liy re},'ur},'itatiiit,' the eonteiits of its },'ullet.

.Mr. AudiilMin satisfied himself that this hird performs its mi},'ratory movements
in the ni},'ht, haviii;,' seen it eome down from a height in the air, after sunris*', for
list and food. Its Hi},dit is slow and less protraeted than that of the Night Heron.
When surprised on its pereh. it ri.ses perpeiidiiiilarly a short distaiiee and flies otT in
a stiaigiit line. When on the ground, it is less elegant in its movements than most
III tlie otiier Herons. Its paee is less sedate, its movements in seizing its prey less
rapid, and it feeds more in the manner of the domestie fowl. Its food is very varied,
lunsistiiig of snails, fish, small snakes, erahs. erays. lizards, leeehes, small i|uailru-
pcils. young bird.s, etc. lie adds that one whiih had heen killed hy Mr. Kchvard
Harris, on the islaml »>f Terre IMainhe, aliout four o'eloek in the afternoon, when
opened the ni'.\t morning was found to have swallowed a young terrapin, and that
tiiis was still alive when liherated. The nest of this Heron is plaeed in either a
liigli or low situation, aeeording to the nature of the phuu' seleeted for its breed-
iiig-giiiund. In the interior of sw.impy woods nests were found on the tops of the
loftiest lypresses, as well as on low Irishes, hut not so close together as with other
lIiMoiis; in the Florida Keys they were seen either ou the to])S of tlu' mangroves
or on their lower hraiiehes. just ahove the water. In the Carolinas this iiird builds
■111 low hushes on the edge of swamps, the nest being, like that of the other Herons,
foriiied of dry sticks loosely put together, lined with a few weeds and fibrous roots.
The eggs are three in numlM'r. and never more. The young do not remain in the nest
until alile to fly, but even leave the tree or bush to follow their parents to the shore.
Wlien alarnu'd, they can scramble off with conshlerable agility and hide. This bird
lireeds in Florida six weeks sooner than in South (larolina, two broods U'lng usually
raised in both sections. The slender pliunes on the back of the head oomiuonly fall
otf after incubation has commenced. When wounded, it defends itself vigorously
with its claws and bill, and can inflict severe scratches.

vol,. I. — a

ALTUICIAI. (iK.\l,I.A'n»l;i:s _ IIKUmDIoNKS.

Tlin t'KKi* o« this Hinrii'S a i' in xi/r uml .sliii|H' imt iiiiliki- tlio.sc ut' tin- Nif,'iit
llfi-uii — an oblong oval. Tin-ir ,><liailc ot ^'rcchihii l)lii«- i.s li^'litn- an*l duller, and
tin- pnipoition dI nn-i'U i.s less niaikiil. 'I'lu'y vary tonsidfialily in »'i/.v. Two in my
i'ollf(tii)n, takfu liy IM. Itiviint in I'lmida, nn'a.>>uii', (Mir, L'.lO l»y l.|<» inches, the
otiu'i-, I.'.U hy 1.44 inehes, avera^inK -'.(•L' l>y l.Kl inehis. .Vecordinn tt) .Mr. Alooie,
tlie nundKT of et,'m's in a «et is not limited to three, as staled hy ,\iidui)on. That
author nu'Utioiis that in Louisiana, in .May. lN<f7, he lound live ej,'j,'s in a nest, ami
in the following year one with evi'u six, and others witii live or lour. In Khuida,
April 'JS, \u' I'ound one with liv»> and another with I'uiir e^gs. .Mr. Moore disendits
the statement tiiat this Heron has two iiroods in a season, and does not helieve the
iieeount given iiy Auduhon ol its moving Irom one heronry to another in order to
nest and Itreed.

Mr. IJidgway found this Heron breeding very aliundantly at Monteur's IVuid, in
Knox Co., Indiana, where it was mueh the nmst numerous speeies (d' the family.
.Many dozens of pairs had their nests in tall sweet-gum and other trees, in a very
w«'t pieei' of "lK)ttoms," along one i-dge of the pond. A female was shot from her
nest, and in her oviduet was found an egg reaily for ejeetion. A few hours after-
ward another female was shot from the same nest ! In the similar wet liottoms of
ColTee Creek, in Wahash Co., Illinois, ipiite a nilonv of the.se hinls was also found
nesting, thu uests iK'ing phu'ed at various heights in white oak and other trees.

(Jknis BOTAURUS, Stki'iikxs.

Jlulduni.t, SrKi'HEX.s .Sjmw'.s Ccii. ZimiI. .\I, ii. isi'.i, aifj (t.v|H, .titlai Mlnrin, l.ixs.).
Biilur, Sw.viN.s. ('Ia.s»il'. B. II. Is;t7, .i.")4 (saim- tyi«<).

(Jkx. Ch.vii. — Miiliiiiu-si/(<l, i<v raliur largf, Iliroii.-*, with tin- phuimgc muib iiicptllL(l or
utrilK-'J with (lill'i-rLiit .-liiuUs i>f brown and (KhraLtou.'* (tliu pluiuiigi' i .xsiniially thf nuuc in liotli

Ji. li'Htiffinnsiia.

sexes and at all seasons) ; the j.luiiiage, particululy of the lower neck in front, exemlingly soft
and full, and destitute of any ..nuuii iitiil phnues ; ilic Mil comparatively small and short (shorter

^'ii-i'^ t-

AitDKin.i'; — rm: HKnoxs iioT.vrRT's.

iliuii till' iiiiilill'' toe) i iIk' t>l>>><' itliiKi!*! <'i>tii|ili-ti'ly t'catliiTi')!, nti<1 tlir I'laww very Inn^ r^xl liut
-li.'lillv fiirvfd. 'I'uil, <if ten xlinii, wilt lrulln'i!«, >li;,'liily rniuiilt'cl nr lu-arly i-vi'ii.

Hill ;;niiliially la|irriii;{ I'niiii tlic Imim' Io iIk- |Hiiiit, tlii' ii|i|m'|' niilliiii- iiiitii- convex than llir
|ii«rr, ilu'ppiiN-* Vfiy «li;^lilly nmvi'X ami k''"IIv a^niiilin;,', thr lnwi'r cdp' nf tilt' niaxillaty rami
hi'ifi'i'tiv Hliai>;lit ; inintal a|>i-\ ixti ii<iin;{ Inruaicj almul hall »!iv Inxn tin' icntic nl' ilir I'Vi' to
the jHiiiit of the hill, ami .'lii^htly in advanri' nl the anteiior emi ol the iio.^tiil ; malar a|><'\ hilling
la ^hort of tiiat of (he I'lontal t'ealheiK. Toes very lon^j, tjie middle one eoiisideraMy exieediii;;
llir liill .iMil alnio"! ei|iiallin;,' the tar-'Ms ; ininr to, ilinilfillij Iniiiji r Ihnii tin niili r ; hallux almiit
li.ilf the miihlle toe; rlaws veiy lon;^' (that ol the hallux nejnl\ e<|ual to it'< di>;it), and lait
• il^ditly ciirveil ; Iniiv |Hirlioii of the tihiii HJiorter than the hallux. 'rai>i with lar^'e iv>,'nlar
H iili'lhi' in I'lont.

Only two American xiieeicM are kiniwii, ImjiIi viiy di»tiial. They may Ik- dirtlinj^niHlieil by the

following' lioiliti* of diU'elenee : —

B. lentigiiiodua. Nape and >icles of the mek |>lain ochraceon.'*, or only tninntely frerkleil ;
«in>;-i ii\eit^ minutely -|iei kleil with dilfeii'Ut -hades of orhraceous or ru»ly. A Idaekisli
or dull ),'rayiHh stripe on the nidi' of the mtk. I^ower jiartr* dii«tiiully xlrijied. Winj,-,
U.'SO-IJJK* ; eiilmen, z.',.')!) IJ.St) ; depth of hill throUKh iio-tril, .U{\-AVt ; taisn-, ;j. |(i-
3.H'> ; middh^oe, :>.!M>-:i.l')i). ll.Mi. North Aineiiea; '••xith to (iuateinala, Cuha, ami
Jainaiea; Itermudas ; ociasional in British I-land-'.

B. pionatua.* Xajie and hides of nei k transversely rayi'd or harred with Maikisli ; winn-
fovert» coarsely varii'^jati'd, in iire;,'ular, somewhat " herrinK-l>oiie" jiallern with Markish.
No Mack or xi'iiyisli stripi' on side of neck. Lower |i:irls nearly nnvarie;,'ated. Win;;,
111. In ; culinen, ',\.'1'> ; dc|ith of hill throu;;h nostril, .Tn ; tarsus, 3. 7.') ; inidiUe toe, U.75.
II.\n. - Troiiical America, north to Nicara>;ua.

BotauruB lentiginosus.

THE AMEBICAN BITTEBK.

Aiil'ii slilhirin fiiiiitil-tms, KnwAiths, N;it. Hist. jil. VM.

1,1- lliiliiv ill' III Itiiijf ill- lluilmm, KnWAIiDs, I. r.

Ilnliiiinin Firfi-JJiiilsiiiili, Biiiss. Orii. V. 17ti<l, ^.'lO, |il. :17, Mg. 1.

.Inliii slilliiris, Varicliis, Koiisr. riiilos. Trans. I.Xll. 1772, 410, no. 38 (.tcveni R.).

Iliikni, Var. A., I,\rn. .><ym>|). III. Us'i, .^H.

Arilni Mliiiis, W., I.Aiu. Iml. (Irn. II. 17!Mi, «80, no. 18 11. (ex Kdwnnls, pi. 136).

Ariira iiiiitjiliiiin, llAurii. Tnivels, 17!'2, .

Ilotii II nt.t mil ij ill 111.1, CoiKs, Check List, 'Jil cd. 1882, no. (iOO.

Anliii liiiiiiiiiiimi, MoNTAorK., Orn. Diet. Sii].|.l. 1813. —.Sw. k Itnii. V. B. A. II. 1831, 374.—

N'rrr. .Man. II. IHiU, mi. — Acn. Syiiop. I8:i!i, -JtllJ ; llir.ls Am. VI. ls|;t, It4, yl 3ti!).
Jliitiiiini.i liiiliijiiiiisiiM, SrKriiKSs, .Shaw's (im. Zool. .\II. l.slli, TiDtt. Baikp, Binl.s X. Am. 18.18,

074 ; Cat. N. Am. B. IS.W, no. IHJ. — l!i ic iii;now. .1. f. (». 1877, 248. — KiDow. Nom. N. Am.

B. 1881, no. 4!t7.
Anlin liiiilHiiiiiim, Mr.liliKM, Ki-si'h. (inili. Kiicy. V. 1820, \7!>.
Aitli'i iiiiiiui; \Vii.s. .\m. Orn. Vlil. 1814, :!;'., |il. t!;"., lii,'. 3.
Jliifiiiinimiiiiiiir, Bon;, Isis, 182ti, Jirii' - Col i.s, Key, 1872, 200 ; Cluck LUt, 1873, no. 460; Birds

X. W. 1874, 623.
Jliitnr itnii-rii'tiniis, .Swains. Classif. B. II. 1837, 3.')4.
Ariliit Mobiki), ViKn.i.. Xouv. Di.t. .\IV. 1817, 440.
Iliiliiiinis mIsjterHiu, "C'An.," IJonap. Consp. II. 1S57, 156.

• BoTAl'Rfs I'ISNArts, Lieht.

Arden pinnnia, "Ln nr,," Waci,. Isis, 1820, 663.

JIntiiiinis piiiiiiihi.i, (!|!AY, (len. li. III. .'i.'>7.
Ardiit hviisiliiiiiiiii, .Max. lleitr. ls:t'i, tit2.

ALTIilClAI. (!1:ALI,AT<»K1;S — IIKKODIOXKS.

I ii

Haii. — Tlic will Ic cif tciii]Miiitc anil tii>iiiial Nintli Aiiii'iiin, iimlli In liititiuli-alioiit (k)", noutli
t<> (luati-iiiala. Cnlia; .laiiiaiia ; Itcniiihla.^. Orrasiciiial in Kiirii|ic (Is lliitj^h n'tiinls!).

Si'. CiiAU, — Auiitl : ('rdiiiul-iiiliiiiir tlif |>luiiia;4i' iiilinutMiu.s-liull' ; liul tliisdnisi'ly iiiottliMl and
lini'ly s|ii'iiikl('il almvc xvilli rnlilisli liiuwn ami Maikisli, llic laltiT culdr iHcvailiii;^' ini llic tlnrsal
anil Mapiilar rcf,'iiins, wln'ii' llu' Icallu'is liavr li^iilcf cilj,'!'.-!, ilu- laill' |ii'i'vaiiin^' un tlii' wiii^'-
covi'i't.i, wlifiv till' vaiicnaliiin foiiniMts ol' a liiiiT and >|iarsi'r sprinkling' ol' tiic diiskv and Ihowii ;
on the liTliaU ami ends of the scnuidaiii's, tlii' ri'ddisli la suit I'l' riiinanioii sliadc) I'lHins ili(>
j;riiiind-i'iiliir, and is lliirklv s|iiiiiklrd wiili irii'-nlar diisky dolliii^s and /,iL;zaj;.i ; ]ii'rtiiral lulls
iicarlv iinirnnii dark lirowii, tin' li-alliris wiili limad latrial linnlrrs ul' rlrar vi'llnwisli urlirarcnus.
rili'iiin, nisly lnowii. daikir anli'iimly, rlian;,'in>,' j^iadiially liarkwaid liiln liic f,'ifciiisli iilivc-j;ray
ol llii' na|n' ; fidi's of llu' lu'ad and iii-rk yellowish orliraeeoiis ; a nialai' slri|ie ol' dark rerni^iiious,
chaiij^iiij,' iMsteiiorly inlu a \iry iiins|pieui)iis siiiiie ol' Miie-lilaek (or in son •! s|iet'iiiii'iis dull

Ii i

•I

gniyisli) downi pneli fido of llip neek ; iliin and liiroal while, with a very narrow medial dusky
streak, suH'iised with oiliraeeous ; I'oreiH'ik jiale Imir, with sliarply detined stripes ol' einnaiiion-
lii'own eil;,'ed with a Mark line ; lower parts pale liuir, with narrower liiownish stripes ; iiliiii< and
erissuin plain li^lil ereainy liiiir ; priniary-eoveils and primaries dark slate, tipped with pale red-
dish oiliraeeous, liiiely, liul not densely, sprinkled with dusky. I'pper mandilile olivaeemislilaek,
the toiiiiiim iliioadlvi lenioii-yeliow ; lower mandilile jiale lemon-yellow, deeper hasally, with a
Htripe of dusky lirownisli aloii^' the posterior pari of the toniium ; lores and eyelids lemon yellow,
t'le I'oriner divided loii^'itudinally hy a median stripe of dusky olive, from the eye to the liase of
the upper mandilile ; iris elear, li;;lil sulphur-yellow next the ]iupil. shading' exteriorly into oraiij,'e-
lirownisli, this eiieireleil narrowly with Mack ; le;,'s and feet hrifilit yellowish kiim-ii ; claws pale
lirown, dusky toward points.' Yinniii : Similar to the adult, hut more leddisli, the inotili-'"eo„rser,
and with a lendeiiey to form raj;;,'ed transverse liars, es]» liallv on the posterior upper p.

Len>;th, alioiil :;t.(Mi-:i8.(Mi ; exjiaiise, a7.<HM,').(K> ; wei;;ht aliout I J Uis. (Ai IUIidn) ; wiiii;,
!».H(I-U'.()0; tail, :).l(»-».4(i; eulnien, •J.rn»-:i.-_>0 ; depth of hill, .WKdr) ; tarsus, ;i. Id- IJ.S.". ; middle
toe, 2.!)ii-;j()0 ; lare portion of tiliia, l.iHi-l.;t.-).''

Ill the larj,'e eollei'tioll of speriiuelis of this spoeies wllieh We have lieeli aide In examine and
eompare are rerlain variations of plumai'e and |iro|iortionx, wl "h ajipear, I iwever, to he ehietly,
if not entirely, of an individual and seasonal iliarartev. The most a)i|iareiil dilleieiire as to eolors
eoiisists iif a more reddish shade III the pluina'.!!' in autumnal hiids. while tlios,. olilained in the
spriii;; or sunn are ehaiueteri/.ed hy a more i,'rayish aspeet. There is also aiinllier nidieealile

dilferelice iM'tWeell speeiinelis, namely, in the distiuitlless of the liluek or ilusky stripe alnli;,' Ihe

side of the Upper ueik. This is Usually a deep ^;lii.-sy l.laik ; Imt in many individuals it is

• Ciilorsof fresh siM-einieiis ( J .iinl 9 ) killnl iilmiK llir Tniekir liiver, Nevada, Nov. IS, and Dee.
11, lStl7.

* From nienxureiiiciits .if Iweiify-five nilidl s]iiTinu'i'>, !

ARDEin.K TlIK HKllONS - HOTArUTS.

• ■rnvisli, ami in sonif even almost dlisulele. I I'linnut ileterniiiie, liowever. Iliut this tliH'ereuce is
^I'Mial or si'uxoiial, or ile|ieiiileiit nil liicalitv ; il in |ii'(ilial)ly »<iiii|il,v an iiiiiiviilnal variation.

i'lic ('(iiimioii IJittfiii of Niirlli Aiiu'riia lias a very fxtt'iidt'd (listriliution. ami one
almost ro-t'xtciisivi" witli tiie iKirtluTii coiitiiu'iit itst'li'. It is i'diiml iioiii Trxas to
I 111' Aretir rcj^ioiis. anil troin tin' Atiantie to the I'acilic, ami liict'ils wlicicvfr it is
toiiiiil. It is p'tn'rally, lait imt. iiMiviTsally. ilistrihutril, and tlocs ntit ot't'iir in rcj^ions
misiiitfil litr its n-siili-nrf.

lleariii'. in liis ••tloiiiin'v to llir Nintlirrii Oecaii,"" speaks of this liinl as liciii}^
ciiiiiiiion at iMirt. ^'(l^k ( llmlson's I Say) in siininicr, lint as licin},' si'lilnni nirl witli so
r,ir tiortli as Cliurrliill liivcr. it is always fi.nml InMini'iitin^' niarslics ami swampy
lilaci's. as also tin- liaiiks iif siicli rivers as alioiiml with reeds and lon>; f,'rass. Il
l^eiierally i'eeds (in the iiiseels that ai'e hred in the water, and pinlialily on small t'fd^s
and tadpoles; and tlionj^h seldom very fat, is f,'enerally considered t,'ood eatiiii,'. It is
l)V no means nnmerons. even at l''ort \'oik. nor, in la, t, even in the most southern ]iaits
III the r>ay that Heanu^ visited. Kiehaiilson speaks of it as a common liird in the
iiKirshes and willow thickets oi' tlit> iiiteiior of tliP l-'nr ('oniitry as lar north as the
."iMJi paiallel. Its lond lioominj; note is said exactly to resemlile that of the Conunon
r.itteni of Knrope; this may Im' heard every summer eveiiin;;. and also freipu'iit.ly in
the day. When distnrlied or alarmed, it utters a hollow croaking,' cry. Captain
lUakiston did not meet with it on the plains of tlw Saskatchewan. althou;,di he was
told that it was not uncommon in the interior, jlr. Mossay met with it on the coast
of lliulson's Hay ; and .Mr. l!oss cites its ranf.'e on the Mackeii/.ie River us extendinj^
even to the Arctic Ocean, where its presence I'uist lie very rare.

Mr. r>oai'dman informs us that this hinl is (piite common in the vicinity of
Calais, where it lireeds aliumhintly. It is usually louud on hi},di. <ir i-ither on dry,
tiromid, where it makes only a very slij,dit nest. The y<Min.i; birds hide in the long
1,'iiiss; and it is no* an uncommon oecurretice for mowers when at wiirk to take off
tiii'ir heads. .Mr. \>'. K. Kndicott writes to the "Naturalist" (I. p. ■'tlTi) that the
.statement that this bird builds in bushes, in the manner of Herons, is not in
acciivdance with his expeiience. lie has never met with its nest, either on low frei-s
or in Im.slies. So far as he knows, it does not make any nest at all; lint all the ej^ffs
that he has ever found have Ih'cu hiid on the bare j,'ronnd among thick tufts of
dwarf laurel on the l''owl-meadows that skirt the upjier jiarts of the Neponset River,
lie has never found this bird in commuiuties, and has never been able to discover
iiMire than a single m'st in a field of ten acres, though he has searched diligently.
That the Itittern, when it nests on the uplands, or on ground constantly dry and
secure from inundations, may have, a:^ mentioned by Mr. I'xtardman, a very scanty
nest, or even no nest at all, as was observed by .Mr. Kndicott, is [irobable ; but it is
not universally true. The IMtt«u'n in the Wt'st builds almost univer.sally a substantial,
and sometimes considendily elevated nest, always on the ground; but the portion
on whicdi the eggs are laid is consich'rably above the level of the ground. This is
undoubtedly due to the fact that it is forced to nest in jdaces either naturally swampy.
or which in niiny .seaH.ins are liable to be flooded to the dejith of .several inches. Kx-
liericnce has doubtless taught the liinl that the bare earth, or e^-eii a scanty supjilyof
dry ridibish, is not enough in such localities ; and thus we lind it breeding in the
nii.rslH's of hake Koskonong, in the o]ien ground, never among trees or in bu.slies.
and alw;iys keeping its eggs ii.-i dry as the Feast IJittern; the ne.st, or, more properly
speaking, the upper part <if tiie monm' <in w liiidi the eggs are laid, Indng always dry.
It is not at all gregarious in the breeding .season.

ALTIUC'IAI. (iKALLAToltKS — IIEIIODIOXKS.

On Long Jsliind, the Hittcrn is {jt'iu'ially known by tlio nnnu' oi tlic " Indiiin I'ul-
1ft," iM'ing n'lmtctl to liavf Itci-n one oT tlic tiivoiitc Itinls of tin- Indiiuis. It is more
conuiionly known us the " Look-up," troni its lialtit, when standinj,' on tlu' niarslics.
of I'lcviiting its head. It does not move aliout iiiucli Ity day. altliou},'li it is not strictly
nocturnal, but is sonictinu's scfii Hyin,i,' low over tlio nu'iidows. in |mrsuit of slioit-
tailcd or meadow niicc, which arc frc(iucntly taken whole from its stomach. It also
feeds on fish, frogs, lizards, etc. Late in tlu- season its tlesh is lieltl in high esteem.
It ean rarely be ])roeured in any great number, and only when the marshes art' over-
flowed by unusually high tides. According to (iiraud. it is hunted in boats, nuu'h
after the manner adojitcd in the pursuit of the Hail. On ordinary occasions it is a
dilKeult bird to Hush. The instant it becomes aware that it has attracted the atten-
tion of the fowler, it lowers its head, runs (quickly through the grass, and when again
seen, is usually in a ditferent direction from that taken by its pursui'r, whose move-
ments it closely watches. When thus jmrsiu'd it seldom exposes more than its head.
When wounded it makes a vigorous resistance, erects the feathers on the head and
neck, extends its wings, opens its bill, and puts on a tierce exinession. It will attack
a dog, or even his master; and when defending itself directs its sharp bill at its
assailant's eye. It never associates with any other species of Jleron, and does not
apjM'ar fond of the society of its own kind. It is distributed over the nuirshes either
singly or in pairs, and is nowliere abundant.

Mr. ISatty writes that he has taken mice from the stomachs of several; and from
one a large field-mouse which had apparently but just been devoured. The mouse
was whole, and had been swallowed hcail-tirst. This bird feeds during the day. but
is more nocturnal than diurnal in its habits. When wounded it drops its wings, raises
the feathers of the neck in a circle around the head, and then strikes out fiercely with
its sharp bill. Mr. IJatty has met with individuals about Fire I.sland aa late as the
last of Noveml)er.

It is an autumnal visitant of IJernuida, where, as .Major Wedderlmrn states, it is
to bo nu't with in all the marshes from October until ])t'cend)er, and occasionally in
March. In some .seasons it is quite rare. In illustration of its omniv(U(nis habits,
Mr. Ilurdis mentions that in the stomach of one shot in the IVMubroke Marshes were
>'ound an eel six inches long, a mouse, a dragon-fly. a grasshojtper, and a portion of a
small g(dilen carp.

Mr. J)resser found this a common resident siiecies in Southern Texas. Mr. J. A.
Allen mentions it as t(d ral>ly common in the Valley of (ireat Salt Lake, in Septem-
ber; and Mr. Hidgway constantly found it in all marshy situations in the interior.
Specimens were killed in the latter part of Septendicr. in Thousand Spring Valley,
in the northeastern ])ortion of Nevada. Mr. Salvin met with it in (Juatemala both at
Duenas and at Coban. It is also given by Mr. I{. I'.rowne iu ids list of the birds of
Vancouver. According to Wilson, it wa., known ou tiie New .lersey sea-eoa.st as the
Ihiuhniloo, in supposed imitation of its lioomiiig cries. Hut neither Wilson. Audubon,
nor Nuttall knew anything as to its nesting; and evidently never saw its egg, their
deserij)tions of whi(!h are quite i'u'orrcct.

Wilson states that when come upon smldeiily. it rises with a callow cry, and may
then be easily shot ; and .\udubon refers to its liability to be paralyzed with fear
when .sin-priscd. so that it may even i)e knocked down with a stick; but Mr. Everett
Smith, of Portland, in a ]taper exhiltiting coiuith'te familiarity with the habits of this
species, regards these results as less d\ie to the timidity of the Uittern than to its
unsuspici(ms and gentle nature.

Wilson states that this bird has no boonung cry corresjionding with that of the

ARDKID.K — TIIK HKHONS — ARDETTA.

l.uKHii'iin specii's. This is a mistake. Tlie cry of our bird is one quite as reiiuirkable,
ili(.ii,i,'li said by some writers — Init not by Hieiiardson — to be ([uite ditt'erent. Dur-
iii.;- mv residence in ('andiridj,'e, in tlie sprinj,' and early summer, its singular, resonant
, rits eoiild be heard at quite a distan<'e, issuing from the Fresh I'lUid meadows early
ill the evening, and even on cloudy tUiys. They seemed to l)o uttered. in a deep ehok-
iui,' tone, and have lu'cn well compared to the syllables ji<»nj>-i'n/-ijur. Dr. ISachman
.[.scribes it as a hoarse croaking note, sounding as if the bird's throat were tilled with
u.itcr. r>y many these .sounds are thought clo.sely to resend)le the noise made by
.hiving a stake in boggy soil; and hence the Jiittern is popularly known as the
• SiMkc-drivcr." and also as the " I'ost-driver."

It is an occasional visitant to tlreat IJritain, where some live or six instances of its
(•;i|)ture have been recorded.

According to the ob.servations of Captain Mendire, the number of eggs in its nest
v;irics from five to seven. 1 have never met with nujre than four. Kggs in my col-
lect inn (No. 7.S;>). procured l>y .Mr. Kundien in Wisconsin, are of a rounded oval
sliapc ecpially obtuse at either end. and of a uniform brownish-drab color, neither
siiiittcd nor having any tinge of green or olive in their shadings, as stated by some
writers. They range from 1.0(1 to \M inches in length, and from 1.45 to 1.50 in
lire;i(lth. These eggs vary but little in size, shape, or color, and are hardly ''pointed
at (Uic end," as described by Varrell.

(iKxrs ARDETTA, (ikay.

.trdiii/ii, UiiNAr. iSyiiopsis, 1828 (tcsti' (!|;av, (ini. & .Siilig. 18.'>5, 113). TyiH', Ariku cj-ilis,

(iMl-.l.. (X.il.il' ISoie, 1822 :)
.Iril'llii, (Ikay, List nl' (icncr:!, \y\\. 1812, Hi. Tvim', Anlcn miiinfn, Linn.
Eimliscitii, l!i.()(!i'.U, lluiiilli. 1. 1842, 410 (siiiuf tyix')-
•' Anldntllti " (ISy.'i), Vkiiiikacx (teste llAiiri,. Oni. WV.stafi-. |i. 224). Type, Artl<a Slurmi, Waul.

(1i:n. Cmau. Kxtrcnu'ly Hiiiail (tlic siiuillesi of) IlerDiiM, or miniature Uilteriis ; dilfeiiiig from
till' tiiie liitteriis cliielly in tlieir iliiniuulive si/.e, iind in tho fact that the sexes (h'lfei in enlor.'

■Ili.1.

' Wo cnn liml tio other tliirereiice in I'onn nr projiortionN l«'twi'eii IhlKurits ami Anh'lln. In the scxeil

s) iiiiciis of./. ('/(iv/i((TW wlii.'li We have iM-ei: ulile tu examine tlieie is no sexaiil iliU'ereiiee of i)lunuige.

Tile sex of the .single su|i]K)seJ feniah', however, may have iH'eii ini'orreetly iletermincd.

ALTUICIAI- (JIJAI.LATOUES— IIKUOUIONES.

Com. Char. Pruviiiliii},' culnr rKliriiccoiis, ilarker iibove mitl jmlfr K-low. rileum willi a loii-
Hiliiiliiml HiHue ol" lilack ; iiii iiiiiim.iiLilf imk-iDloivtl tiivii coVL-riiiji wiiij,'-covi'rts ; lidiit of iiuck
iinlisliiiclly stiiped l..iij,'iui(liiiiilly with ii tlttinT sliuilf, iiiioii u wliitiMh >,'ioiiii(l. Rtiiiigw iiml
rer.trici's iiiiironii dusky, with or witlmul uilinuiMUis tiiis,

A. Lower pitrt «/ lihiit ludnl all rouiul ; jtpjur jKirls marly uniform brown, or brown and blud-,
villiiint ri)nii]ticii(iii.i sirijns.

1. A. minuta.> lU'iiiigi;^ unilorm liliick. Wiiife', G.SO-.I.UO ; culiufii, 1.7t>-1.75. Huh. Vi\\x-

urctic Hi'jjiuii.

2. A. exilis. Hcnii;,'M iimrowly tippi-tl witli ruloiis. Wing, 4.30-5.:i5 ; culiufu, 1.00-1.90.

Hah. Xortli, Middle, ami iiortiiiin Suutli Aiiii'iica.
B> Lower }Hirt i>/ tihia fatthtnil in Jmnt. I'jipir parU conniiicuouslij striped with black and
orhraceitnit.

3. A. involuciis.'' Hiniij,'c.s broadly X\\>\>vt\ with nifoiis. Wiii},', 4.a5 ; culiiien, 2.00. Hah.

iSuutliL-iii South Aiut'iica.

Ardetta exilis-

THE AMEBICAN LEAST BITTEBN.

Little Bittern, Picsn. Airt. Zool. 11. 1785, V,,-\ no. 3r.ii (part).

Minute liittern. La ill. Syiiop. 111. 1785, CtJ (.laiuaica ; ^ 9 '"I)'

Ardca ej-ilis, (!mki.. S. N. 1. ii. 17»8, (!45, no. 8:! (Imsfd on liic .Miiutti liittern of I.ATII. I.e.). — Wll..s.

Am. Oiii, VIM. 1814. ;!7, pi. iW'., lig. I. — Ni n. Man. II. 1M)4, Hi;. - Aid. Orii. Biog. 111.

1835, 77 ; V. 18;!it, tllK!. jil. '.'10 ; Synop. 1,h:W, 'Jti;! ; ISirds Am. VI. 184;i, Ino, pi. 3t!»5.
Ardetta ej-il in, CrsiH,. J. f. O. l»5t;, 345. - 1!aii!1>, 1!. N. Am. 1858, r.73 ; Cat. N.Am. Ii. 185i»,

no. 491. — Hiliow. Noin. N. Am. IJ. 1881, no. 4l>8. — Coik.s, Chuck List, 'Jd ud. 1882, no. tiii7.
1 Ardea sjiadieea, (l.MK.I.. t.i\ till (liritliciiow).

Hah. Tilt' whole of tciiipi'iatc Noiih Aiucripa, north to tin- Briti.-ih Provinces ; West Il«lit'^',
Middh- Anu-rica, and iiortlu-iii South Aimrica, to iira/.il. IScrnimlas,

Si'. Chau. Ailnlt ni'ile : I'iluuni, imluding slight oci-ipital iivsl, with entire Imek, scapidars,
rump ami tail, ghissy greenish lilack, the outer weln of IJie outer row of scai)ulart edged with
pale Imlf, foriuing a narrow longitudinal stripe. Sides of the head and neck liright ochraeeoiis,
deepening into reddish chestnut on the impe ; chin, throat, and foivneck ]>aler, the tirsl sonietinies
whitish, with a nieilial series of dusky and yellowish-lnilf daslies ; the foreiieck and Jugulum
faintly strii>ed with white and pale oiange-ltutf, the lalli'r predominating ; on each side the Ineast
a ]iatch of maroon-dusky, the feathers tijiped with ])aler and sufl'iiseil with Mackish, forming tul't'^
of li'ige loose feathers, partly concealed liy the large feathers of the jugulum ; lowi'r parts whitish,
washeil with pule creaniy-Viulf. Carpal region, givater wing-covcits, lower webs of lertials ami

' AltliKrrA MINI'TA.

Arden minuta, Linn. .S. \. 1. 17ilii, 240, - Naum. Vog. Ueutschl. IX. 1838, 1!I4, pi. 227. — (il!AY,

lien. H. III. 5.5t!; Cut. Brit. U. 18t!3. 148.
Jliitiinnis mhnitns, Bon:, Isis, 1822, 550.
Aitbola miiintii, Bonai'. Coiis]i. l.i.st, 1838, 48.
Ardeii diinuhiiilin, liMKI.. .><. N. I. 1788, 1)37.
Ardea .Holonienni's, (1mi;i,. 1. c.
Bulaurua pitailliis, Bkkii.m, Vii({. Duutscld. .'»98.

* AlinETrA ISVoi.IcKIs.

Ardeu invidiicris, ViKll.l.. Kiic Mclli. 1823, 1127.

Ardetia invohwris, Sti.. k S\\.\. P. /. S. IHtJ'i. (!34.

1 Ardea enithromehut, ViKII.l.. Knc. Mclli. 1121 (ba.sed on flann mxn v neqrrt. AzAllA, Apunt.

III. 182).
Anleidii eriitlirmiieliin, BonaI'. Coiisp. II. 1855, 134.
Ardea farie(jala, ViKIl.l.. t.c. 1127 (liased on (iar:a varia, Azaua).

■flw

ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — ARDETTA.

tips (if priiimry-covertf, Hecondarit's, and inner iirininritw, rich iinniin»on-rufou>< ; liirgii arun, cov-
iiiiij,' niiihlle wing-covi'i't n';,'icin, pale oi'limccMtus, i>r Imfl' ; irniij,'cs and i)riinaiy-i.'iivi'it.s blackisli
r-hU; L'xci'jit at tips. " Rill dark (ilivc-browii almvi', I'dgus ol" ujiikt nmiidilili- and liaru I'nmtal
siiiii'f yi'llitw ; lowtT nianiliMi- )ialc yfllow, imliiiin}; to lli'sh-cclur ; iris yi-llow ; t'ot't dull j,'ri'i'nisli
yrlliiw ; ilaws lirown " (AiDinox). Aihill fi imili : Similar to tlio ailult niuli-, l>ut tin- j,'r(rnisli
M.K k niiLaed by brown (varyinj,' from umbur-drab tu cinnanion, tiif iiikuni diirkur and usually

Adult male.

opiuiui' Maokish dusky) ; tliu buff strijM) alunj,' outiT boiilur of .scaitulars inurh broadt-r antl more
fdii-piiuoii-i, and till' striiH's on tlie fDrfnt'ek (usually but not always) nioro distinct. OtliiTwise
ixiiiiiy like lilt' mall'. Yimmi : Similar to tin; adult I'l'malt-, but tin' fi'atlii'rs of tlie back and
scapular iv;;ioii tipped with buff; the strijics on the foreneck also lu.sually) more distinct.

Li'n|,'tli, about I2.<H>-I:}.50; expanse, l7.tM>-|>H.(Kt. Wei^dit. about -JJ ounces (AfULBox).
Will.:,', I.IU)-") J-) ; tail, l.fiO-i'.lO ; culnieli, I.CH-I.IMI ; depth of bill, .-.N-.U.-, ; tarsus. I..'>()-1 .75 ;
iiiiililie toe, 1. K»-I.<i(> ; baiv portion of tibia, .4."»-.."»(>.i

Willi a considerable scries of specinien.s before us, we can observe no }{co^'raphical variations
other than the slij,'hlly smaller si/e of skiii-< from iJeiiu'rara and Tehuaiite]M'c. As to colors, no
tiiipjral examples are brij^hter than two males from the eastern I'liited States (|.")4!), Carlisle, Pa.,
Mild imiii. District of ('nliimliial. The rant,'e of individual variation in colv' is also very sli^^ht,
tliiMi;,'li very ^iieat as to dimensions.

Ill a considerable series of Least Bitterns from (iiiateinala, kindly .-iibmilted to ns for exuin-
iiiiilion by Mr. Osbert Salvin, tlieix; is a sinj,de specimen, which, while a^ieeiii},' very closely in
pliiiiiii^'e with the ailult male of the common North American species, is so dilb'reiit in jiropor-
linii> as to leave little doubt of its specifu' distinctness. The tarsi and toes are disprojiortioiiately
>lii>rter than in .1. i.r'dig, the fprnier niea.^'urin}; only l.l.'i and the miiliUe toe 1.12, while the inner
luc is just jierceptibly lonj;er than the outer, measuring' o.iCs a^;aiiist (>.!».">. The libiic are com-
pletely leathered, even more so than in .1. inrnUn-rU, The other specimens, c'lielly from the Lake
of Diienas, are nil typical .1. uiUn, mostly youn^ of the year, eviilently ivi.rwl in the locality.
Without veiilurinn to name this biid, we ).;ive beUiw iv full ile.-iiiption.'-'

' K.xlrciucs (if twenty-one adult examples.

- t'n.vii. .Siiniliir to ./. r.n7/.v, but with the tar>i and toes ()is]ii(i|>()rti(Uiatcly shorter, and the tibiiu
ceiiiplrtdy IVatlicrcil. Adidl f. : I'ileiim iiiiil'i)iiii lilmk, with ii faint greenish glos.* ; n'niaiiiclcr of the
Iliad (MliiacM'diis, fjrowiiif,' ijiaijiiiilly iiioic riifniis on the siipciciiiaiy rej^imi ; nape bright rufous, U'coiniiif!
nearly i hcstiiiit on the lower portion ; sides of tlie neck like the cheeks. Chin and throat iiiiniuciilatc
imio white, the lower part of the latter with it very faint wash of pale butf niediiilly ; foiciieck eieaiiiy
white, with a niiri-ow mesial stripe of ;,'rayisli biowii. .Sides of the breast brownish black, the
reallii'is tipiKil with li^ht fulvous ; rcniainiiif,' loucr pari.' while, tinned with lifjht cr-amy bud', most
(lisliiiit laterally; tibiic deep fiilvoiis ; lining of the wind's >;iayish white, purer while anteriorly, where
i-i a sjkjI of mixed ochmccous and dusky on the carpal Joint ; axillars ash-griiy ; undcr-siirface of the
ivmiircs himilar, but dceiK'r. Mack and scn|iiilars j^lossy blink, with a faint niwu rellection, the outer
row of interscapidar featliers edged exteriorly with linht bulf, forininj;, wlnii the feathei-s are disarninged,
a somewhat V-shaped murk, dclining the lateral and jiostcrior boundaries of the intcrscajmlar region.

vol.. I. — 1(1

ALTlllCI VL (IHALl.ATOHKS - IlKlinDloNKS.

Tlir Least liittt'in has an cxtciiilcd distiilnitiitii. \tv\n<i idiind vciy nt-arly tlir('Uf,'li-
oiit the I'liitcd States, and tmlv not roiiiiil. so lar as we art' awair. in the inon-
Dortlicrly and fastern iiditions. It lias not licen nn't with li.v Mr. ISoanhaan near
Cahiis, it is not iMchuh'd liy Mr. Vrrrill as a iiird ol' Oxlord Cuiintv, and is nicn-
tioni'd as rare even in Sontlicrn Maine, and is chisscd as very rare hy Mr. Allen,
near Sprinj^dield. .Mass. Like all ntietiirnal liirds. and mure espeeially those speeies
that shelter theiuselve.s in the day-time anionj,' the rank ^ra.ss and rnshes, it
is jirolialily hy no means .so rare, in many jilaees, as has lieen supposed. It feeds
exelnsively in tiie nif,'ht-time. and is rarely seen liyin.y; dnrinj; the day. It is not
uncommon in eastern Massaehusetts, iireedin;,' in Fresh I'ond marshes, wheic
Mr. \Vm. Itrewster has met with it iN)th in .May and in .Inly, (iiraud inelndes it
amon^' tiie liirds of Lon^' Island, where it is usually found hidden in the tall }.;rass
and reed.s, altui},' the niar>,'ius of freshwater streams. .\ few were secured amon;^'
the salt meadows near IJaliylon. .md on tin- Hanover .Meadow m-ar I'ine Urook. It
has also lieeii occasionally found on the hanks of the llackensack. Specimens are
recorded as havii, ' 'cn taken near the city of l>rooklyn. and others in a swamji
lU'ar Fort Hamilton In the latter place yoiuin hird.s. still unahle to tly. were cap-
tured. In the Western States it is ninch niori- aimndant. and in Canada, especially
in the nei^hhorhood of the (ireat Lakes. Mr. .Mcllwiaitii mentions it as a common
sunnner resident near Hamilton, and .Mr. Kundien has found it iireedin^' in ahun-
dance around Lake Koskonon^,'. in Wisconsin. It appears to he resident in Texas
and in Northeastern .Mexico. Mr. Hresser met with it. in .Inly and Auj,'ust. in
the neij,'hl>orhooil of Matamoras. and occasionally saw it in the vicinity of San
Antonio. Mr. Salvin mentions it as found in (iuatemala. hut whether as a winter
visitant or a resident, he does not state. He found it lioth at Muenas ami at
(Johan.

It is also found in several of the West India Islands. In Cidia it is ^iveii hy
Dr. (Sundlach as a resident throii,y;huut the year, and its hreedinj,' is inferred. It
is mentioned hy (Josse as anumjj; the hirds id' .lamaica, where it is not unfreipiently
seen dod},'ini,' aliout the edj,"'s of the tall r<'eds of the morasses, or anion;,' thi' rank
8('df,'y >,'ra.ss that horders the streams. When alarnu'd. it does not \isually Hy. Imt
darts into the rushy covert, where the thinness (d' its form enaiiles it to make its
way with ease. U'hen surprised in an open jilace it crouches, as if expecting' tt)
escape ohservation. In its stomach are found small fishes and crustacea. In
.lamaica it is called, according to March, the ••Tortoise-shell IJittern." Leotaud
names it as one (d' the hirds of Trinidad; hut how <-ommon it is in that island he
was not aide to statt". It keejis dose amon;.^ the reeds whiidi cover the Hooded
re^'ions, and is proliahly (piite almndant ; althou,i,di rarely seen, on account of the
dilliculty of discovering' it in the midst of its retreat. It occasionally apiiroaclies
the edp's of narrow watercourses, to fish for the small fry on which it feeds. Its
flij^ht is very feelile. and not well sustained. It nests in Trinidad, ami has iiecn
ohserved there at all seasons of the year.

Dr. Cooper speaks of it as common amon.i,' the !,'reat fresh marshes of the interior

l<utni>, ujiiKT tiiil-oovcrtH niul liiil, iiiiifcuiii |iliinilM>nii8-1ilai'k. Anfcrinr iiml oiitiT lesser wiiiK-i'iiverts.
inner sei'oncliuiis (nuter welis) and ^.'reatir winK-inviTls, iinil'nrin cinniininn-nifDii^ ; iH)steriiii', lesNor, iiuil
all of tfie niiilille win^'-cKVcits. li",'lit ijiayisli laill' (inucli |iiilir tliaii in r.ri/is) ; linked with (lii'per '.^ilV,
tlie f^niyisli lints minutely freckled. Primary -enverts and remiguH Maty jihimbeoiis, ii|i|M'il wifli lifjlit
cinnanioM-nifoiis.

Winn, J-""; ''"1 1". 1-"S : deptli of l.ill, tlirouj;li nostril, .32; tarsus, 1.1.1; middle toe, 1.12;

Inner toe, .its ; miter, .tt.1 ; liallux, ..18.

AiU)i;ii».i-; — TiiK iiKKoN's — aim>i;tta

of ('iilit<i''iiia. lit' Ins met witli it aloiii,' tlic cnast in tuily a siii^jlu iiistauft'. This
was ill Aiiiil, at Santa ISarliaia. It ciiictiy tri'ijufiits tlu' niarslics ctiviMcd with fii/i;
(.1 Itmj,' jjrass, ami is not oasily iliscoviTcd ; dthiTwisr we siioiiiil Im' i>r(il>ai)ly aide to
a>sii;ii it a ranf,'t> as far north as tlir ('olnnil)ia IJivfr. It is only partially nii},'i'at<>ry
ill <';iliioiiiia. Mr. Iii(li,'\vay iin't with a sin;,'li' iii(li\i(liial. in May. on the Ixji'dcrs
ti'. a small strrani, amonj; thf wiUows. and not tar Iniiu I'yramid Laki'.

N'dtwithstandin,!,' the iiiiitrcssion wliiidi prfvails, whcrrvt-r this liird is at all coni-
111(111, that it is nnahlc to sustain a prolonj^cd flij,'ht. this idea can hardly lii' ri-^'ardt'd
iiH well I'onndt'd, as thcri' can Im- no donht (d' the mi(,'iatory hahits of the species.
A siiij,de specimen is mentioned as eajitiireil alive on the ro<ks of St. Mavid's Head,
I'.i'iiiiuda. on the L'Ofh of .\iiril. IS.V5, where it hail alij,dited in its Hi),dit to the north;
;iiid Major Wedihrlnirn, liesides the record of .several specimens of this hird taken
liv lii;ii in Itermuda in Oetolier and in I)eeend)er, mentions killini,' one near Uoss's
Cdvc, on the l."»th of .Mandi, while on the winj,'. With this e.\<'eptioii, he was never
ahli' to ^et them to take to wing, they always preferrinj; to rnn ahout among the roots
(if the mangroves, when^ they coidd only Ih' fonnd with great ditUoilty. Wilson
speaks of this l)ird as having liecn very rarely found on the Halt-marshes. A singh'
iiiid shot near (Ireat Kgg Ilarhor was regardeil as something very uncommon. It
w;is seen ill the meadows ludow riiiladelphia, on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers,
wiicic it lired every year in the thick tu.ssocks of grass, in swamjiy places; hut
iicitiicr Wilson nor .Vudulion seems to have known anything as to its eggs. Th(>
latter states that on one occasion he kept a pair alive, feedii«g them with small
ti^ii. They were very expert at catching flics, and would swallow cateriiillars and
other insects. They were very gentle, and. though they disliked to 1h' handled,
luiide no attempt to strike at any one. They would climh with ease from the floor
Id the top (d' the curtain with their feet and idaws. At the apjiroaidi of lught they
liciiiiiic much more lively. The same author states that this i)ird breeds in Florida
and ill the Carolinas. Dr. Ihdhrook found it also hreeding near Charleston. The
iicst was usually on the ground, and was coinpo.sed of dried and decayed weeds. The
iiiiiuhcr of eggs, as he states, is three; hut his aec(Uiiit of them is so incorrect as to
tludw douht over his whole description of nesting and eggs. When startled, this
liird utters alow cry. like "ijiiu ;" hut its ordinary cry is a rough croak — a fetdde
imitation of the note of the (ireat I'due Heron. Its flight. whi(di liy day is appar-
ently so weak, at tlusk is (piite dilferent. It then may he seen passing steadily
along, in the manner of the larger Herons. In the day it can hardly he induced to
lly, and it then moves in a confused and uncertain manner. Its food generally
consists of snails, slugs, tadpoles, young frogs, water-lizards, and occasionally
small shrews and tudd-miee.

Mr. Ntdson speaks of this hird as heing a common summer resident everywhere
in the marshes .'(ud sloughs of Illinois, arriving the 1st of .May. and nesting early
ill .lime. He has always found its nest supported, at fnmi two to three feet ahove
tiic water, liy the siirroundiiig rushes. It is de.scrihed as a very frail structure— -
a thin iilatform irom one to three inches thick, with scarcely depression «'Uough in
the centre to prevent the eggs from ndling out. .Small dry ])ie<H'H of reeds are used
in Imilding it. The eggs are usually from two to six in numher. If aiiproaidied
wliile on the ne.st, the female generally steps (pnetly to one side ; hut if suihU-nly
siu'iiriscd, takes to flight. Kach nest is usually placed hy it.self ; hut, in exceptional
ca.se.s, six or eight may sometimes he found in do.se proximity.

Mr. n. V. Goss informs nn- that the Least Hittern usually con.struets a little
jilatform nest a few feet fnun the ground, on liroken-<h)wn weeds and grasses, just

ALTinciAl, (lUAI.I.ATitllKS IIKKuDioNES.

large cuoukIi to lioM tin- i'kks. wliiili arc iisuall.v four in uiimlM'v. Thoro is a coarso
caiu'-liki' iivusH j,'ni\viiiK on tiic Itonlt'is of tiit- lakt's anil rivers of Wisconsin ; this is
sonic ci^'ht feet in iici},'lil, and is a favorite lireedinK-liannt for this liinl.

Mr. N. |{. Moure writes from Manatee, l-'loriihi. that on liie 2<»tli of April, 1874,
he found tiiis species witii already luil\ ^'own \oimi>,' luies. 'Die only other Heron
haviu},' yoiin),' ones so far ailvanced at tliat time was the (ireat Wiiite Kjjret. It
feeds chiefh from a perch over the water. cliuKin},' to the upri},'ht stems of grasses
and sedges, feeding apparently as comfortaldy thus as when perched on the
depressed stems or lilades of the same, on the liranches of wiUows. uv on other
small trees that overhang or dip into the water. It dodges away among the saw-
grass and sedges that serve for a hiding-place, chmdu'ring with ease along the
upright stems, or twisting and turning ahmg the tangled masses of the same in
the manner of a Kai'.

It has Itceii fo\ind lireeding in Wisconsin in great ab\nidauee liy I'rofessor
Kundien, and the nest was always near the ground and usually among reed.s, not
far from water, and was generally very slight — a mere collection of decayed rushes
and coarse grasses, liarely enough to keep the eggs from the damp ground. The
eggs, usually six or seven in numlter. are wiiite. with a very slight tinge of greenish.
They are of a rounded oval shape, and there is no difference as to size in either
end; they are entirely unspotted. Two eggs in my coUeetion, Nos. 114 and iL'dJ).
give the extreme of variation — one measuring 1.^- inches in length by 1 inch in
V)readth, the other 1.2r» iiu-hes by 1.1K>.

Family CiroXTTD.i:. — Tm: Stohks.

CliAit. Large, Heron-like Itinls, with the bill nmch longer than the head, thick
through the base, and niort^ or less elongate-eonieal ; the nostrils sub-basal, more
or less sujierior, and bored into the bony substance of the bill, without overhanging
or surrounding nionibrane ; maxilla without any lateral groove. I^'gs covered with
small, longitiiilinally-hexagonal scales ; claws short, dejtressed, their eiuls broad
and convex, resting upon horny, crescentic "shoes;" hallux with its base elevated
decicledlv above the base of the anterior toes.

The alxive characters ari' .suHicient to define this family, which is more intimately
related to the li)ises (I hidhhi) and .Spoonbills {/'/afolrlilir) than to the Herons (see
page 1,'). There are two well-marked sulvfuniilies, with the following characters : —

Sul>-I'iiiiiily Ciooniin». Itill cloii^'ati-conicnl, ncutc, ((iiiipivsspd, the ciul not docurvcil, thou},'li
somt'tiiiics iccurvi'il. Nostrils lalhtT lali'iiil than supciicir. Tucs very slunt, tlie injiliUc one iiiiuii
li'xs than half tliu tniviis (only ii litllc morn than one tliinl) ; lateral toes nearly imiuuI ; daws
short, liriiail. nail-like.

Hub-family Tantalinse. Bill elonj^ated. suliconiral, sulicylindrioal, the end nttenuatcd iiiul
deciirvc'd, with tin- tip romnltil ; nostrils ilcci.lLMlly superior; toes long, the niidillo one, one hall
or more the length of the tarsus ; lateral toes iiiieipial. the outer ileeidedly longer than the inner ;
claws moderately leiigtheiieil, rather narrow, claw-like.

t,::Hjil

CICON'IIP.f.;- Tin-; HTORKS.

fifUW

Synopsis of tho American Oenera.

Si ii-KAMii.v (iCnMlX.i:. Tiik Tiue Stoiiks.

Euzenura.' Dill innilciatcly hum; >''* ii|i|k'I' ami Inwcr iiuiliiic-!* Htriu;;lit tlirouf^'hout ;
t'litii'i* iuMul ami iicik Icjiilirii'il, rxfciit llu' Inivs nml u liaiv Ntrip alnn^' viwh mIiIc ciI' tlu-
tliii>al. Ttiil iililin riiitiit mul ilnjilii furknl, llu- |'l'alll(•l'^< viry ri^jid, llu Imnr liiil-canrts
iliiinitilnl (cxti'iiiliii;; liuvoiid llu? tnii! tail), uml atijj'mul, »it m Id imi iMc true rcclrica I
(Ivjii', Anliii iiKiijiiiiri, (Imki..).

Myctetia. liiil ('m>riiii>u>ly \in^i^; l\w ttriuinal halt' ivciirvctl. Kntin; head ami nock
iiakril, fX('C|it a )iiii;;iiiiiliiial liaiiy (latcli on (lie uucipiit. Tail and tuil-cuvl'l't^< nnrinal
(lyiK), Mijiiirin uim riciiiin, (!mki.. ice LiNN.''').

Srii-KA.Mii,Y TAXTAMN.K. — Tiik Wimh. ImsKs.

Tantalus." Adult uitli the wlioh- luad and u|>|>rr hall' of the iiirk naked, tlie skin hnnl

and Miiity ; crnwn cuvi'icd with a i|nadrate, or suniewhat Nliielil->lia|ied, .'-ninnth hurny

jil.ite, and skin nf iia])i' liansverscly wiinkleil.or cniinfiated. Niistrils suh-liasal ; tertials

lidi^'er than iiriniaries, ami with their webs eoiniiact or normal (ty|)e, TitiitaluK lui-iildlor,

LlXN ).

Pseudotantalua. Adult with only the fore part of the head naked, the hinder |iaii and
entile iiei'k deiiM'lv leathered ; naked skin of lore |iart of lii'ad siiniutli. Nostrils strietly
hasal ; tertials sliorter than |iriiiiaries, and with their welis sonu^wliat decomposed. Kill,
ll'^^, and tail very iiiueli longer, and IjimiI outliiii; of thu hill of ditrerent contour Cty|a>,

Titlltillil-'i ilii", Ll.NN.).

u' Wood lliiscs riirni a very natural j;rou)) of ulxiut live mjxjcIl's, HAiinlly included in the single
> TtiiiliilitK, inhaliiliii;;, like their kimlred, the Storks, .Fahirm^, and Adjutants, the warmer

' (ienus KfXKNniA, Iticljjwiiy.

I'iitniin (|>iiii), IliMss. Ojii.V. 17i>ii, MO'.t, no. 3. — lloNAi'. t'linsp. II. IS.IO, 104, ct Aucr.
^Irihi (pHll), (!mi.I.. S. N. 1. ii. ir>S, ll'J:!.

t'lii'iiiini, Itinow. Hull. r. .S. (Icoi. & (Jcoff. Siiivi-y Terr. IV. no. 1, Feb. 5, 1878, 250 (type,
Anlin iiiiiiiiiiiri, liMl'.l).
Tills f{i'iius i.s very deeuledly ili.stinet from fli.vmiiru, Caiiams (type, Afdni cyxVi/dji, Rodii, ), the only
ic'si'inlilaiici' iH'twi'i'ii thi'lii, in aililitinii to the usimi ('leonine elianuters, cuiislstin^ in the hiiiillnr fonii of
tin' t^iil.

* Willie jjiviiiK a niiTcct dlii},'iiosls of his >{i'iiiis .Ui/iit'i-iii, with .1/. iimiriciin<i as ty|H', Mniiieiis (S. N.
I, I'tiC), :;:i:!) ilesriiU's lis thr latter, III iiiimistiikiilile terms, the Mrds alti-rwiiril miiiieil Arika muguim
liy (iiiiiliii. Till' irrnciic'es jjlveii liy l.iiiiiieiis, however, refer nininly to the true Myclcna I

' The assciciaiioii of the Tdiiln/imr with the Storks, as lia.s latterly ln'eii done by several aiithoi's, Rcems
ft very pl'iiper pinedliili', even the external stnietlire sliowlllfj elearly that such are tlii' tllie nllillities of tho
;;niii|). The iiiteriinl struetinc all'inils still more eoiicliisive testimony to this I'lleet, as the l"ollowiii)»
•iilieiiie, adapted Ironi (iaiTiMl (I'lnri'ediiigs of the Zoological SiK'iely of London for 1S7;">, p. 301), may
bliDW : —

CiroNiin.K (including Tualalus).

1. Skull liolorliliial.

2. Anglo of the mandible trniieated.

!i. Pii/iimlis hiiijiir muscle in two layers, — a sii-
IxTlieial one, and a deep one, easily .sejNirable
from the oilier.

4. Acimsorii frmnni-fduiltil inusrlo absent.

5. Similnidiiinxiai iiiiisele ti'iidinous for its distnl

half.

6. " Xo slip lonves the ftiVc;w ciibUi muscle to join

the leitnnr jxiUigii InnifUS."

Ininin.t: (iiicliiding Plai'iUida),

1. Skull schi/orliinal.

2. Angle of the mandible produced nnd recurved.

3. IWfoniUs mnjiir niuscli' simple, not .seporoble

into disliiiet layei-s.

4. Acceiisorii femoro-ciiudiil muscle weil devclojieU.

5. StmUcndinoxtis muscle niusculnr throughout.

Ii. " A small niuscnlar Ixdly is sent from the biceps

c'tliiti to the tendon of the lennor imttigii Imi-

•• giis muscle."

Professor Onrrod aiUls to tin- above talinlation of the dingnostic elmmeters of the Vieoniidm nnd Ibididtr,

that "There nre many other structural jioiiiliarilles, which make it perfectly certain that Tantalus is n

nioinlier of the Cicnniida; nn<l not an aberrant one, either."

ALTUICIAL (iUAI-LATnlJKS — HKHoDlONKS.

rcjiiDiiH of Aiiicririt, Alririi, itml A-iii. 0( tlif tivc HiicrirH of Tiiiiliilliin juliiiiiit'il \>y iiiitlKirx, we
liiivi' M'cii, ill iiililiijiiii til Tdiiiti/iis l>iiihiiH,-, (Hilv till' T. iliin, l.iNN , liiihi NiiiiIii'hi ami Ka^li'in
Alricii. 'I'lii.x in hh liill'criiit in l.niii .iml uiiicr l•llll^ll^tl•^^« u." t" -cciii fniiilcil tn Ht'|iurati' jjciiciif
rank : .iiul Uniliii^ im iiaiiu' aliraiiv ('>lal>li<lii'<l <>i' availaMi', \\r have |ii'(i|>ii-.('il tlial i^'ivi'U alinvr.'
Tiif lihliaii WimhI IIiis ( ■/'. /<(/,i).-.yi/iif/(/;(. (i>i.)anil ail ilir niin-r (iM WoiM ^^lt■tit•.■^ ^ agivi! ilnsi-jv in

RtrUi'tUli' with llic Allirall -|Hrii- ('/', )V,m)

(iKM s MTCTERIA, LiNNKi-H.

Miji-tcrin, Lixv. S. N. .d. In, I. 17.V*, Un ; iil. I'J, 1. 17iltl, i'il (tyi>«', .1/. niiienfuiri, «iMi:i.. ex Lisn.).

(iKX. CitAit. Vny lar^i'. Stc>rk-lii\i' liinl^, with ('iii>riiii>u.-«, sunii'wliat I'niiirai aii<l imiIilt icinrvi'il
lieak", ami with ht'iitl iiml neck liaiv nl' tualliui''. Dili (.'mirniuiiffiy iai'^'i-, Inn^^iT llian tiii; vory lun^'

J/. Americana

> Cf. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. Vol. V. p. Son.

« T. lacleun, Tkmm., of , Java lunl SiiuiiitiM, iiiiil T. hnguimcmbris, Swinii., of South Chinn (Amoy).

iJ. '.._.

CKVIXIID.K — TIIK STUUK.H — MYCTKIMA.

tai'iH. much ciiiiiiiri'!*"*'!!, lln' luffral lUitlitii-H t'loni^iite-roiiii'iil, Iml Imili ciirvfil ii|i\viiril for the
li'i'iiiiiiiil lii>lf itlii' p>iiV4 iikhI nil); ili'|it|i III' till' liill at till' lia>(' ciiiial In alHUit Iwu iiiiitli» tlit*
li'ii;;tli <<| till' I'liliiirii ; ^.'niiV" I'liii^iili'iaMy liiii;;i'i' lliait tin' iiiiiii>lil>iilai' rami ; inmtiilM hiiiall, li>ii-
(;iiM<liiial, ill til*' ("I'lii <'l an rlmi^'ati'il I'llipM', witlmut iiii'inlnaiir, luit <i\i'iliiiii;; l>v a >liai'|i |)i'iijt'i't-
iii^' lii.iiy f<l>.'''- '•*'«"• *'''■> 1""^; ; iiii'Mli' liir a liilli- If^-. llimi mir iliinl llif lai-ii« ; laliial Uk-h
I'Mii^jili'iaMv >liiirli't', till' olllil a litllc llic |iiii;,'i'r ; liallil\ alnuit liall tin- lrli;;tli nl llir ililii'l' tin.-,
il- ailii'iilatioii flcvati-il tli-rjilcilly iiImivc that ol' tin- aiilrrinr ttH'» ; iiiiilillr tm- iiiiitnl In IhiIIi thu

lalilill I'"' at lln' lia-i' I'V Hi'll-ilfVili.|H'il \m1i>, llic mili'l' ulwllirll i^ llir lalj^l'r, tlu-.-r Wriw cxlrml-
illU'. Il.llliiwly, aloli^ rarll >ii|r nl' till' tnro Inr llii'il w hull' li'li^tll ; rlaWH .-hurt, liail-likc, III' llatti lli'il

mUiVi' atiil with lii'iNul riiiiiHlcii cikU ; liair iiiiilinii nl' tlii! tihia iiiiuh iimii' tliaii niiu iialf the tarxiiM ;

ail'l IrlllaU Wi'll ih'Vi']n|H'i|, Inll;.', Innail, Mllil iii|ll|ia'l, till' latli'l r.Vti'llilitl^' Ih'ViiIhI till' til'" nl' tint

|iiiiii.iii('H. as wi'll ai mill h lii'Vnml tln' rinl nl' thr tail; |iiiiiiarirs vi'iy ^till', tlirir iiiiU'i' wiIm
siiiiiali'il near the hasiv' Tail hhmi, a liltli- iiiuii! than niir tliinl as Inii^' iix tlir win^', cvi'ii, thu

l'ratlirl'-> hmail, nillllil-i'tlilril, ami liinilil'titi'lv '^lill'. OrrijUlt mill lljijii'l' jiai't iif thr lia)K' inVL'l-ril hy
a |mI( Il nl' latlirl' >hnit ainl '•jialM' liair-likr I'ratlirix, tiu' ri'>t nl' llir hiail alul ini k lial'i-.

Till-' p-tiiis, »* ili'liiii'il al>n\i', I'liiliiari's a Miii}.'lr .'■|>rrii's lit'lnii^iii;,' In trn|iii'al Aiinrii'ii, thu
.1/. iiiwriiiiiia, <!mki.. I'X Linn. Mnrc nr less lu-aily ivlatril (Hil WniM uriiiia arr A'/i/iz/iyn'i)-
ihiiii'liiiit, UoXAl'. (ly|>i', .l/i/.'/i('/i( HI iiiiinh niiiit, Hii\vi), .Wiiurliiiiiclniii, lV)ii\v. (t\\>t; M. (iiinlfiilit,
Shaw), ami Lviilvjitilim, Lk>>. (lyiir. Viinu'm rrnimtilfini, t'l viKIl). Tlu'w I liuNi- iml hfcll uMo
til I'xaiiiinu.

Mycteria americana.

THE JABIBV.

Miolrriii iimrrifanii, l.iw. S. N. nl. in, 17.',!*, 1 In, im. 1 (|.ait-) ; iil. I'J, I. l""!tl, -Ji'A'i (|>iirt, ('Xrl.
iliajjiiosis, wUi.U zz:^ h'li.i, iiiirii iiiinjiiiirit. (iMl.l.. .*<. N, I. 17'"'», •IM. I. AIM. IihI. t>ni. II.
17'.'ll, ti'O. — UiiNAl'. full-.!.. II. 1H.M, l(l7, - Cl.AV. Iliillill. III. !>7I, II.".. Iin. InllHI. Si I, &

Smv. Xoni. Nititr. 1S7:I. 1-'»I. — lannw. Nmn. .N. Am. IJ. Issl, iiu. 4UU. — Coi'd, Chfik l.ikt,

•J(l 111. !.>>!>•.•, iHi. u:.i.
I., .I,il,ini,il, r,ii,.„„r, III I !••. I'l. I'.iil. 177II-M, I'l. S17 (ailiilt).
JiikWi'iki Jiihiiii, I, MM. .Syimii. III. i. K."".'", '."J, Jil. 75.
Cict'iiiii iiijir/irid, Hlli.M. 'I'll. Ilia.i. III. It.-'ill, ilH.

Hah. Tiniijral Aiiiriira, I'iniitli III Ihii'iins Ayn'.>« ; imrtii, caHiiiilly, to Sniitlit.'rn Ti'xun. N" Went
IikII.im riToiil.

Sr. CiiAK. Adult (Xn. I7III5, "Sniith Aiiu'iiia'') : l'luiii.'i;.'i' nitiivly whitu ; hill, h-n^, and

I'lcl, with Iiaki'il |inl'tin|| nl' hiail ami link, Mark ; rrn|i, allil IcWir |>iirtinn nf lirrk ail rnllljil,

ixi'liOi (liri;;:ii nil in lid-i. Wiiii.', Jli.lMi ; tail, a.'io ; ciilnnii. U.ao; ili'iith nl' l>ill at haM-,
i'..'iO ; tai-siis, 11. .'■)0; iiiiililh- tnc, l.iiii; liaff iiortinn nl' tiliia, tl "in. yiiiniij, truiiHitinii jiluminje
(Nn. S74X.'., |,a I'aliiia, Cn-ta Kiia, Ajuil l'I. \'*^-2 ; ('.('. .Vulliiij,') : I'iliiiiii ami miiiait tlntlnil

»itliilii>ky Mark hairlikt' Iratliii's, tlir^c Inii^'i'st nii tin ri|>iit, w Ik'I'c tiny Inriii .--nnirwliat nl a

liii-iiy I Ti'sl ; I'l'atlu-i'i'il |inrtinii nl' InwiT nn k liu'lit 1ii'nw'iii>li u'lay ; iiiniji, ii|>|«'r lail-cnvi'its. aiiil
i.iil, wiiitu ; ii'st nl' u|)|K'i- |i.'iil suit liinwiii>li uray, ini'.i.'ulaily iiiixi'il with jiiiri- w liiti' I'l'athci'* (nf
ilii' adult liven), tlicsi- nm^t iiiinit'inus aiimiij,' tin- h'ssiT wiiiL'-invci'ts ami aiiliiinr M'a|iiilai'> ;
liriiiiaii('> wliitf, tinpil with ^lay at imls. Lnwir jiarts iiitinly white. Mill, all tlie nakeil

' Till' wiliffs of the only 8]M'i'iliii'li at IMrsi'llI lu'eessilile to ll.s ale lllllill ilullia^eil, i«> that the wing-
loriiiiila anil the exaet iliarneter '.il' the oiitliiie nl' llie inner Wilis of the i|nill.>* eaiiliol Ik- iiseeitauivil NitiS'
fiiitiiiily.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

.•V ^

1.0

1.1

t&WlA |2.5

|5o "^™ H^H

■i> m 12.2

S Hi ^"

: liiL i2.o

1.25 III 1.4

1.6

orw/

'^.

'4^

V ' ■ ! r

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES - HERODIONES.

portion of head and neck (except lower portion of the latter), legs, and feet, black ; "collar round
lower neck bright scarlet ; iria brown." Wing, 24.50 ; tail, 9.50 ; culmen, 9.75 ; tunsuB, 11.26 ;
middle toe, 4.50.

This species is of accidental occurrence within the limits of the United States.
There is but one record of its capture, and tliat very imperfect. It is said to have
occurred near (Jalveston, Texas. The Jabiru, or American Stork, appears to have
much in common, in its manner of life, with the Cironnda- of the Old World. It is
to be met with in portions of Central America and the larger jiortion of South
America, but is of rare occurrence farther north. It is abundant on the seaboard
and on the rivers of Uemerara, and mention of its presence there is occasionally
made by Mr. C. H. Brown in his "Canoe and Camp Life in British Guiana." He
speaks of fre(piently nun^ting with it, in conqjany with Ardea coco!, and of the pecu-
liar and striking appearance it presents, Avith its long, stout, up-curved beak, black
bare head, and scarlet-banded neck. When wounded and bi'ouglit to bay, it will
inflate the skin of the scarlet-colored portion of its neck like a great bladder. It
stands fully five feet in height, and walks with a slow and .stately tread. On one
occasion he passed near one of the nests of tliis bird. It was on a lofty tree, and
appeared to be a large flat jdatform. on the edge of which two young Jabirus
were standing. It was seemingly in all respects a complete counterpart of the
familiar nest of the White Stork of Europe. An egg in the cabinet of Count Turati,
of Milan, Italy, is of a rounded oval shape, of a uniform olive-green color, and meas-
ures 3.33 inches by 2.20.

Genus TANTALUS, Linnaeus.

Tantalus, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 140 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 240 (type, T. loculator, Linn.).
Tantalidcs, Keichend. Hand-b. 1851, p. xiv. Same type. (Not of AVaoleu, \iZ2,=Plegadis,
Kaup.)

Gen. Char. Large, Stork-like birds, with long legs, neck, and beak, the latter attenuated and
decurved terminally, much as in the true Ibises. Bill much ti, =ckened at the base, both vertically
and laterally, much attenuated terminally, where almost abruptly, but not greatly, decurved.
Nostrils bored directly into the bony substance of the bill, the maxilla destitute of any trace of a
nasal groove. Legs covered with small longitudinally hexagonal scales. Toes long, very slender,

;• :"!i'Vfi

CICONIID^ — THE STORKS — TANTALUS.

the middle one about, or a little more than, half the length of the tarsus, the outer one reaching
to the middle of the subterminal phalanx of the middle toe, the inner much shorter, not reaching
the subterminal articulation of the middle toe ; hallux about equal to the inner toe and claw ;
Ijare portion of the tibia longer than the middle toe, the upper third, or more, without scales, and

T. loculator. - ,

smooth ; web between inner and middle toes well developed^ but smaller than the outer web.
Plumage comi)act above, loose below, the feathers of the neck small, their webs somewhat decom-
jxjsed. Remiges well developed, the tertials reaching to the end of the primaries, the latter hard,
concave beneath, the outcn- i'our with their inner webs deejdy siiiuated at or anterior to the middle
portion ; second, third, and fourth quills nearly ecpial, or longest. Tail short (shorter than bill or
tarsus), even, of 12 broad, stiff feathers. Adult, with the whole head and upper half of the nape
bare, covered with a liard, scurfy, and more or less corrugated skin. Youny, with the whole
bead and neck, except the chin and forehead, feathered.

Tantalus loculator.

THE WOOD IBIS.

Wood Pelican, Catesby, Carolinn, pi. 81.

Tantalus loculator, Lixs. S. N. cd. 10, I. 1758, 140, no. 1 (ex Klein, 127 ; Catesby, I. 81) ; ed. 12,

1766, I. 241, no. 1. — Wils. Am. Orn. VIII. 1814, 39, pi. 66, fig. 1. — Nittt. Man. II. 1834,

82. — Ari>. Oin. Biog. III. 183.'), 128, pi. 216 ; Synop. 1839, 259 ; Birds Am. VI. 1843, 64, pi.

361 (adult). — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 682. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 497.

— Coues, Key, 1872, 262 ; Check List, 1873, no. 444 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 648 ; Birds N. W. 1874 ;

513. -lliDow. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 500.
Tantalus plumicollis, Spix. Av. Bras. ])1. 85 (young).
"Ibis nandMsswi ; I. nandnpoa, Vieiu,." (Gray & BoNAP.)
Le Cimaca, de Cayenne, Buff. PI. Eiil. 1770-84, pi. 868 (adult).
Wood Ibis, Penn. Arct. Zool. 11. 1785, 458, no. 360.
Tantalus ichthyophagus, the Gannet, Bartuam, Travels, 1791, 293.

VOL. I. — 11

•^^m^nr

!" 1
II

' 'nil

! ; ■ .'5

i:-4

MW^^

:^i ^ i!

iHI^!'

3 : ! ■ ;^

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES - IlERODIONES.

IIab. The whole of tropical and wttnii-tuinpemte America ; noitli to New York (casual),
Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California ; south to Ecuador and iJuenos
Ayre:j.

Sp. Char. Adult : Head and upper half of the neck naked, and covered with a hard, scurfy
skin, of a dusky color ; the vertex covei-ed hy a somewhat shield-shaped liorny phite, of a li;,'hter
color, the neck with transverse, somewhat ovute, Ijiuk-like, ru>,'ose scales. Plumage in general
uniform while, the primary-coverts, remitjes, and rectrices black, with metallic purple, bronze, and
green reflections. " Bill dusky yellowish l)rown, the edges yellow ; sides of the head dark bluish
purple, upper part of head horn-color, or <lull grayish yellow, the rest of the baie skin of the same

tint, many of the scales anteriorly blue ; iris deep brown, at a distance seeming black ; tibia and
tarsus indigo-blue ; toes above black, on tlie lateral and hind toes, however, many of the scutelhc
bluish gray, the webs pale yellowish flesh-color; claws black" (Aududon). Yotimj : Head and
neck covered with rather scant, somewhat " woolly " feathers, excepting tlie forehead, anterior part
of the crown, lores, anterior portion of malar region, chin, and anterior part of throat, which arc
covered with a smooth skin. Head and neck grayish brown, darkest on the occiput (where dark
sooty), growing gradually paler below. Rest of the plumage as in the adult, but the black feath-
ers of wings and tail less metallic* Immature: Head bare and corrugated, as in the adult ; neck
feathered, as iu the young. Wing, 17.60-19.50; tail, «. 10-7.30; culmen, 7.55-9.30; depth of
bill through nostril, 1.55-1.90 ; tarsus, 7.00-8.50 ; middle toe, 3.85-4.30 ; bare part of tibia, 5.00-
6.25 ;* weight, 11| lbs. ; total length, 44^ inches ; extent of wings, 62 inches (Audubon).

Varying accounts have been given of the habits and peculiarities of this re-
markable si)ecies ; and although some of these divergencies have at first appeared
irreconcilable with each other, and as if one or the other statement must be utterly
erroneous, more recent investigations have done much to exi)lain and harmonize
these apparent discords. Bartram, who enjoyed many opportunities for observing
the habits of this species in Florida, characterizes it as solitary and indolent, sel-
dom associating in flocks, usually frequenting the banks of tlie principal rivers
and marshes, especially where these are inundated, as well as deserted rice-planta-
tions near the sea-coast. He describes it as a feathered hermit standing listless
and alone on the topmost limb of some tall decayed cypress, its neck drawn in

1 According to Audubon, "the young are dusky gray all over, the quills and tail brownish bln(!k ;
the head all covered with down, excepting just nt the base of the bill. After the first monlt, the bare
space extends over the head and cliceks ; tlie downy feathere of the hind head and neck are dusky ; the
general color of the plumage is white, the quills and tail as in the adult, but with less gloss."

" Ten adults measured.

CICONIID.E — THE STORKS — TANTALUS.

ui)on its shoulders, and its enormous bill resting, like a scythe, upon its breast.
In this manner the bird is said to pass most of its time, until awakened by the
calls of hunger ; and it is also mentioned that it is easily approached and shot,
and is by many of the inhal)itants a(!counted excellent food. These were Mr. Bar-
tram's observations ; and for several of his statements he is severely taken to task
by Mr. Audubon.

J)r. Henry l?ryant, however, who has since gone over the same ground on the St.
John's as Hartrara did, and in the same way, remarks, in commenting upon Audu-
bon's criticisms, that the latter should have remembered that the habits of birds
vary at different times and in different places, and states that, strange as it may
seem when the long period of time that has elapsed is taken into view, his Jour-
nal is almost an exact repetition of Jiartram's. While in Florida he never saw a
flock of Wood Ibises except at their breeding-places ; and even there, except when
they were disturbed, they flew off and returned either singly or in pairs. He did
not see them feeding in more than a few instances, and then there was never more
than a pair at a time. The stomachs of all those that were killed by Dr. IJryant
contained only crayfish, which could not readily be procured in the manner Audubon
declares to be its only method of feeding.

The Wood Ibis is found distributed over a large portion of South America,
Central America, Mexico, and the southern portions of North America. It is
iV)und in all the Gulf States, is most abundant in Florida, straggles into Georgia,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentuirky, and is not uncommon in Southern Illinois
and Missouri, but occurring more rarely in Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, and Utah.
lUirmeister speaks of it as common on the banks of the Ttarana liiver, in small
tlocks, going from one lagoon to another, rarely seen except when flying. When
on the ground it always conceals itself in the reeds, and is hardly ever visible
there.

Mr. Salvin mentions it as not uncommon about the large rivers in the forests
of the Pacific coast region of Guiitemala. It is there known among the Spanish
by the name of Alcatras. Mr. Salvin afterward met with it on the Pacific sea-
coast of Guatemala among the lagoons; and Mr. G. C. Taylor mentions meeting
with it in Honduras, near the village of Lamani.

Keferring to this species, Mr. C. Barrington Erown, in his work on British
(iuiana, makes frequent mention of meeting with large birds, called by some, Sowe-
wies, by others, Negroscopes. He found them numerous in that region, and to be
seen in large numbers on the sand-beaches of the River Essequibo. He describes
their heads and necks as bare of feathers and as covered with a hard black skin
divided by furrows into plates. Their white bodies contrasted with their black
wings. They were frequently to be seen soaring high up into the heavens, in
circles, mounting up higher sind higher, until they appeared like mere specks.

In the Mississippi Valley this bird wanders occasionally as far north as Chicago
and Eacine ; in the Red River region of Texas it Avas observed by Lieutenant
M'Cauley as far up as the Staked Plains. It was also seen by Mr. Henshaw at
Rush Lake in Utah, where he procured two specimens in October. Mr. Bischoff
met Avith it in Nevada in July.

This bird is said to congregate at times in large numbers high up in the air,
where, with hardly any apparent motion, it sweeps in extended circles, in a man-
ner not unlike the graceful movements of the Turkey Vulture, with which bird it
is also not unfrequently seen to associate.

Dr. Gundlach includes it among the birds that breed in Cuba ; and it probably

ALTRICIAL GKALLATOIIES — IIERODIONES.

ilf

I'l 11

|i;i< 1 ll

r, ' ''jjii

iMl

t'it

occurs ill most of the West India Islands tliat afford suitable places of resort.
Leotaud states that it occasionally visits Trinidad, where he has often met with it
perched upon the large trees that grow on the edges of swampy places, or walking
on the borders of pools. lie does not give it as a resident of the island, but re-
garded it as a mere winter visitant, only seen from July to October. He speaks
of it as eminently sociable, as being usually seen in small flocks, and of its food
as chiefly reptiles.

Mr. Dresser mentions it as of not uncommon occurrence near San Antonio. He
was informed by the jdanters that it breeds on the Brazos and Colorado rivers,
Texas. Mr. Boardman informs me that in Florida it is usually known as a "Gan-
net," from the apiwarance it jjresents in the air as it flies. He found it nesting in
swamps, in cypress trees, the nests resembling those of Herons. In these this bird
roosts throughout the year, when not occupied in incubation.

Dr. Bryant visited two of its breeding-places. The flrst was in a large cypress
swamp at the head-waters of the St. Sebastian. The trees were more than a hun-
dred feet in height, and he could not by any means get access to the nests. The
Ibises were breeding in company with the large White Egret. The other breeding-
place was in the cypress swamp forming the southern border of Lake Ashby, where
there were probably a thousand pairs nesting. Every available spot on the tops of
the cypresses had been taken possession of by a pair, and lower down Avere nests of
the Anhingas. No other bird was breeding there except a single pair of Fish-hawks,
whose nest was surrounded by those of the Ibis. On flrst approaching the shore,
the birds all rose and flew round in circles, and after a few of them had been killed,
flew off; but soon returned, and alighted out of reach among the trees. The nests
were all made of small twigs, and seemed to have been occupied for many years.
The cavity was quite deep, and carefully lined with long moss. The eggs Avere three
in number, nearly white, when not soiled by the parent bird or stained by the moss.
Three specimens, selected by Dr. Bryant, gave the following measurements, — the
longest 2.56 by 1.54 inches, the broadest 2.28 by 1.57 inches, and one of average size
2.32 by l.Gl inches. Incubation had commenced by the 1st of April, and many of
the young were already hatched. The largest were about the size of a Pigeon, and
covered with white down.

Mr. Audubon's observations relative to the habits of this bird led him to some
conclusions which are not so general as he supposed, and which the experience of
others shows to be not without exceptions. According to him it is rarely met with
singly, even after the breeding-season. He states that a number of these birds get
together to feed, that they flrst dance about in the water to render it muddy, and then
take advantage of this condition to kill the reptiles and flsh in large numbers before
eating them. Without discrediting this statement, it is yet apparent that this is by
no means its universal, or even its common, course ; and much of the food found in
its stomach could not have been procured in this way.

He describes its flight as heavy on rising from the ground ; its neck is then deeply
curved downward, its wings flap heavily, and its legs are not stretched out behind
until it has proceeded several yards. It then ascends with great celerity, generally
in a spiral direction, in silence, if not alarmed ; if frightened, it utters a rough gut-
tural croaking note. It proceeds in a direct flight, with alternate flapping and sailing,
the latter being more prolonged. It alights on trees with more ease than the Heron,
and either stands erect, or crouches on the branch in the manner of a Wild Turkey.
When at rest it places its bill against its breast, while the neck seems to shrink
between the shoulders. In this position one may sometimes see fifty on the same

IBIDID.E — THE IBISES.

tree. lu the spring months it collects in huge flocks before returning to its breed-
ing-place. When a breeding-place has been once chosen, this is resorted to for many
years in succession, and tlie birds are Avith difflcultv made to abandon it. This Ibis
feeds largely on fishes, and also devours frogs, young alligators, wood-rats, various
kinds of young birds, crabs, snakes, turtles, and the like. It is very tenacious of
lite, and if wounded resists vigorously, and is dangerous to approach. It is very
tougli and oily, and unfit for food.

Mr. Moore states that the AVood Il)is, when feeding, rakes the oozy bottom, or
the marine plants, in the numner of several Herons, to startle their prey, crayfish,
minnows, sirens, etc. It keeps its long bill in the water, and open two or three
indies at the tip, the latter in contact with the mud, at about the depth of the
object sought. In this position it walks slowly about, raking the bottom with first
one foot, then the other, as each is moved forward to make a step, and just before
its weiglit is thrown upon it. Many of the animals on Avhich the bird feeds are
startled from their coverts by this raking, and in their fright take shelter within the
open bill of their enemy.

Tliis Ibis feeds both in fresh and in salt water. Mr. Moore counted, on the 28th
of February, 114 of this species feeding in one flock in a very shallow and muddy
pond, where they were apparently finding many sirens.

Dr. IJerlandier states that the Wood Ibis inhabits the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico, and is found ten leagues from it about the lakes, and especially in low and
marshy places. It occurs in flocks, and is found in summer — in the months of
tlune, July, and August — in the vicinity of Matamoras. It is in appearance a very
stupid bird, and is known as the Tagarates.

The eggs of this species are of a uniform dull white color, and vary in shape
from a rounded oval to a nearly exact oval shape ; one end is always a little more
obtuse than the other. They average about 2.50 inches in length by 2 inches in
breadth. One from Para, collected by John E. Warren, Esq., of Troy, measures 2.78
inches in length by 1.85 in breadth, which does not correspond with Dr. Bryant's
measurements.

Family IBIDID/E. — The Ibises.

Ibidince, Reichenb. Haiidb. 1851, pp. xiii, xiv (part ; includes Tantahts, Numeniun, and Pelidna I)

Ibldinae, BoxAi'. Coiisp. 11. 1857, 150.

Ibididcc, RiDow., Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey Terr. IV. no. 1, Feb. 5, 1878, 221.

Char. Wading birds of medium to rather large size, the bill much elongated,
attenuated, more or less, toward the end, and bent downward, more or less de-
cidedly, in sickle-fashion, like that of the Curlews {Nwrnenius). Nostrils sub-basal,
ktero-superior, with more or less of a membrane above and behind ; nasal fossa;
continued forward to the very extremity of the maxilla in the form of a deep,
narrow, continuous groove. Hallux almost incumbent ; claws slender, projecting
far beyond the ends of the toes.

The true Ibises form an eminently natural group of wading birds, distinguished
from their nearest allies by the above characters. The species are moderately nu-
merous (about twenty-six being known), and are dispersed over the warmer regions
of the earth — America possessing a larger number than any other country (nine

ALTllICIAL GUALLATOUES — IIERODIONES.

species, not including several of doubtful validity, or about one tliird of tliosc known).
Of tlic exotic species, Africa jmjsscsscs about nine (two of them in ('omnion witli
Southern Europe), Asia five, and Australia two. A very great diversity of form and
plumage is to be seen among tiie various species, some being trim and graceful in
their build, and others uncouth, with Vulture-like head and neck — some plain in
colors, while others are among the most brilliant of birds. The scarh^t jdumage of
iiWof/w its n<it'r is not surpassed in nature for purcness and intensity of color, and
tlio beautiful decomposed tertial i)lumes of Ibis a-thiopicus are scarcely excelled in
gracefulness. The species of Mol ijbdo2)huncs, Thrristicus, and Ccrcibls, however,
possess but little beauty.

The family is divisible into two well-defined sections, which may be termed sub-
families, distinguished mainly by the character of the tarsal scutellation. They may
bo detined as follows : —

Suh-iaiuily Ibidinae. Fioiit of the tnrsus covered with liexn^'onal sciiles.
Sub-fiunily Eudooiminae. Front of the tursus with large, transverse scutellic, urruiiged in a more
or less continuous single series.

Both the above sub-families are represented in America, but only the latter in the
northern continent. The North American genera may be recognized by the follow-
ing characters : —

SuD-FAMiLY EUDOt'IMINi^E.i — The Idises.

Budocimus. Head of adult wholly naked anteriorly. Feathers of tlie pileum short, close, and
blended, and those of the neck not distnictly lanceolate. Colors plain white or red, with black
wing-ti])s, in adults, dull gray and white in young.

Plegadia. Head of adult wholly feathered, except the lores ; feathers of the pileum distinctly
lanceolate and slightly elongated, fornwng a slightly rounded crest when erected. Colors
highly metallic, of varied tints ; in adult, metallic greeiush, bronze or purple above, plain
brown beneath, in yoiuig.

■■A

Genus EUDOCIMUS, Wagleii."

Eudocimus, Waol. Isis, 1832, 1232 (typo, Tantalus ruber, LiNX.).
Gunra, "JoAS de Lakt.," Keu henii. Hamlb. 1851, p. xiv (same type).
"Paribis, Geoffroy."
Lcucibis, Keiciienb. Handb. 1851, p. xiv (typo, Tankdus aJbcr, Linn.).

Gen. Char. — Bill moderately slender, attenuated toward the end, strongly decurved ; bare
portion of the tibia equal to er ra'ber shorter than tlie outer toe ; nuddle toe, with claw, shorter
than the tai'sus ; inner toe (withoi.i, claw) reaching to or a little beyond the subterminal articula-
tion of the middle toe ; outer toe reaching to or beyond the middle of the subterminal phalanx of
the middle toe ; hallux about etpial to the basal phalanx of the inner toe ; claws short, moderately
curved, that of the middle toe more or less bent outwardly toward the tip, its inner projecting

* For a more comprehensive account of tlie birds of this family, the reader is referred to the following
special papers : —

(1) Review of tlie Ibidhuc, or Suh-famihj of the Ibises, by D. G. Elliot, F.R.S.E., etc., in Proc. Zool.
Soc, London, 1877, pp. 477-510.

(2) Systematische Ucbcrsieht der SchreilvOgcl {Orcssores), etc., von Dr. Ant. Eeichenow, in Jour, fiir
Om., 1877 (the Ibises on pp. 143-146).

« Cf. Elliot, P. Z. S. 1877, 482 ; Scl. & Salv., Ibis, Oct. 1878, 449, foot-note. The latter say :
" Ibis was applied by Savigiiy in 1810 to the Sacred Ibis, before Vieillot used it for the former group
[i. e. /. alba end I. rubra], for which, consequently, Eudocimus of Wagler is the correct term,"

IBIDID.E — THE IBISES — EUDOCIMUS.

edge convex. Anterior hall" of the head bare (in the adnlt) iiicliuUng the Ibrelieail, lores, orbital
and malar ii'gions, chin, and more or less of the throat ; in the young, tliia bare nkin more
ivstiictL'd. Feathers of the head and neck den.fc but rather soft, with rathur distinct outlines,
lull with Honiewhat truncated tiiw. Primaries uxtendinj,' a little 1 eyond the tcrtials, the second
and third ([uills li)nj,'est and nearly eiiual, lirst a little shorter tliau the fourth j inner webs of
(inter four slightly sinuated toward their ends.

Synopsis of Species.

1. B. ruber. Adult: Ends of several outer primaries glossy blue-black; rest of pluningc

entirely uniform rich pun; scarlet, the shafts of the primaries white, as far as the black
tii)s. Bill dusky or reddish ; bare skin of head pinkish, or lake-red ; legs and feet ret).
Young: Dark brownish gray, the Ixdly white. Wing, 10.80-11.00; tail, 4.10-4.80;
culmen, fi.(KMi.,')0 ; depth of bill, .70 ; tai'sus, 3.70-3.80 ; nnddle toe, 2.r).")-2.()0. Hnh.
Tropical America, on the Atlantic side; accidental (( ) in Loui.siana and Texas.

2. B. albuB. Ends of several outer primaries glos.sy greenish black ; rest of plumage entirely

pure white. Bill, naked portion of head, legs, and feet, reddish (pale yellowish in dried
skins); iris pale blue. Yonmj : Uniform grayish brown, the rump, base of tail, and
under parts white ; head and neck streaked with white and grayish, the former feath-
ered nearly to the bill. Wing, 10..30-11.7r) ; tail, 4.(H)-.").00 ; culmen, 4.1.5-(i.30 ; depth
of bill, .()0-.72; tar.sus, 3.10-4.00; middle toe, 2.1.')-2.70. Hah.: Southern States,
north, casually, to Connet'ticut, Eastern Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Utah ; south to
Brazil and throughout West Indies.

EudocimuB ruber.

THE SCABLET IBIS.

Tantalus ruber, LiNN. S. N. I. i7C>(], 241, no. 5. — Wir.soN. Am. Orn. VIII. 1814, 41, \A. Ixvi.

Eiidocimiis ruber, yVAnu, Isis, 1832, 1232. — Kinow. .Vom. N. Am. li. 1882, no. 502. — CorEs,
Check -List, 2a cd. 1882, no. 6',2.

Scnfoprix rubra, .Scoroi.i, Bcincrk. od. Cliintli. 1770, 106, no. 130.

Ihis rubra, ViEii.i.. Nouv. Diet. XVI. 1817, 22. — NriT. Man. II. 1834, 84. — AuD. Om. Biog. V.
1839, 62 ; Synop. 1839, 2.')7 ; Birds Am. VI. 1843, 53, pi. 359 (adult and young). —Cassin, in
Baird's Birds N. Am. 1858, 683. — Baiud, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 498. — Coumcs, Key, 1872,
204; Check List, 1873, no. 447. — Scl. & Sai.v. Noni. Neotr. 1873, 126. — BoucAUi), Catal.
Av. 1876, 48, no. 1337.

Ilab. — Chiefly the northern .shores of South America, but also occurs .sjiaringly among the
West Indian Ishmds and on the Gulf Coast of Middle America; accidental (/) in Louisiana and
Southern Te.\as.

Sp. Char. — Adult: Ends of the four outer primaries glos.sy blue-black, with a steel-blue
reflection; rest of the plumage entirely uniform rich ]>ure scarlet, the shafts of the primaries,
as far as the bhick tips, pure white. Bill grayish-black ;i bare skin of the head pale lake-red
or ])inkish; legs and feet red. Young: Brownish gray, much darker than in E. alius; abdomen
white.

Length, about 28.00-30.00 ; expanse, 40.00-45.(H) ; wing, 10.80-11.00; tail, 4.10-4.80 ; cidnien,
fi.0()-6.,')0 ; depth of bill, .70 ; tarsus, 3.7(V3.80 ; middle toe, 2..55-2.60 ; bare portion of tibio,
2.00-2.40.

The scarlet color of this splendid binl is probably not exceeded in purity and intensity. It is,
in fact, the very perfection of that color. It far surpasses the red of any Passerine bird known to
us, even the plumage of the Scarlet Tanager (Pijranga ndmi) appearing dull and harsh beside it.

The black tips of the primaries do not always end abruptly, but in some specimens this color

' Audubon describes the bill ns "pale lake." This, however, is not the case with any specimens
which we have examined. He also says that the ijuills are iohite — an evident mistake, the sliafts of the
quills having no doubt been meant.

W'W

ALTKICIAL ORALLATOUES — IIEHODIONES.

in continued anteriorly along the edge of the ([uilU for uu inch or lens, in tbo form of an irregular
sp ittering or Hiirinkling.

A nearly adult i^jiecinien (No. "0089, Denierara), retaining traces of imuiaturity in the iiluniaj,'i',
(lilTei'H from the fully mature bird in the following purticularB : The leathern of the anterior
jiortion of the throat project forwanl in a |(oiiit about .(>"> of an inch in length, into the bare gular
skin, forming an acute angle, iw in mo.st Kjiecimens of A'. albu8. The plumage in general is con-
tinuous pure Hcarlet, but the head and neck are paler than in perfectly adult specimens, while
most of the feathers have a dusky brownish mesial streak. There are also ii number of wholly
dark brown leathers inlerspereed over the lower part of the nai)e and anterior portion of the back.
The bill is very light-colored, having been in life apparently of a pale red or pink color.

The Kcd or Scarlet Ibis is of very doubtful occurrence within the limits of the
United States. Wilson was misinformed in regard to its abundance in Carolina, Geor-
gia, and Florida. We are not aware that there is a single well-authenticated instance
on record of one having been taken within the limits of our territory. Audubon states
that in July, ISI'I, he saw a flock »)f three at IJayou Sara, in Louisiana. These were
flying in a line, in the manner of the White Ibis, above the tops of the trees, and he
had no doubt of their identity. The habits of this species are probably not ditt'erent
from those of the I/iIk ullin, but are not so well known.

The Scarlet Ibis is said by Mr. Gosse to be a not uncommon visitant on the shores
of Januiica, though he never met with it himself. He was informed by Air. Hill that
it was quite common in the winter of 184G-7. Mr. March never met with it, and
regarded it as a rare visitant. It was more frequent at the western end of the island.
It is not mentioned by (Jundlach as occurring in Cuba. It is, however, said by Leo-
taud to be very common on the Island of Trinidad, where it keeps jjrincipally about
the banks of rivers, and esi)e(dally of those which run through swamjjy jdaces. It is
always seen in flocks, ami these are generally composed of individuals all of which
are about the sanu> age. This bird is a resident of the ishmd, but at times its num-
bers are largely augmented by the arrival of others from the continent. During
these flights this bird moves in single file, one following closely another ; and when
there is a large number, the line seems almost interminable. It feeds on worms, on
soft moUusks, and, at times, on snudl fishes. It rests at night in the branches of the
mangroves ; and its brilliant red color forms a striking contrast to the deep green of
the foliage. It is easily tamed, becomes reconciled to confinement, and is not only a
great ornanu'ut to a garden, but makes itself useful by the destruction of hosts of
noxious larvir. This bird will follow closely upon those who are turning up the
soil, in order that it nuiy seize upon whatever of this kind is brought to view.
The flesh of the young bird is said to be excellent eating ; while the brilliant plumage
of the adult is nuich sought for, and a destructive warfare is kept up against it. Its
numbers are sensibly diminishing year by year ; and it will soon become very rare, if
not quite extinct. It was formerly known to nest in Trinidad ; but such occurrences
have now become quite exceptional.

This bird was found abundant on the Orinoco by Mr. E. C. Taylor, and on the
Amazon by Mr. John E. W^arren. Mr. Dresser was assured by friends living at
Matamoras that the Scarlet Ibis is found there, and at a lagoon near Bro\vnville dur-
ing the winter. He had no opportunity of verifying the fact ; but as this bird is one
not easily confounded with any other, he had no doubt of its occurrence, and includes
it in his list.

An egg of this species (S. I. No. 15504) obtained at Puerto Cabello by Mr. O. F.
Starke, measures 2.10 inches in length by 1.45 in breadth. Its ground color is a grayish
white, thinly marked over two thirds of its surface with small blotches of bistre. At

IBIDIF).!': - TlfK iniSRS — liUDOCIMUS.

tilt! larger end, and arcmnd the widest jiortion, these iiiiirkings iire ol' gri'iitcr size und
more muuerouH, and form u large erown, wliich covers the whole of the ohtusc! end of
the egg. These iiuirkings are diversified in their slmde, and consist of patches of
liislre, intenaihed in s[»ots.

An egg of this species in my own collection (No. 70), from the Amazon, procured
liv Mr. W. H. Edwards, is of a slightly oblong oval shape, very nearly eipial at either
(11(1, and measures IMI inches in length hy 1.(>(I in hreadth. The ground color is a
dull white, with a slight rufous tinge. It is lU'arly covered — profusely .so at the
linger end — with irregular blotches of a dull bistre; tiicsc arc nearly conHucnt at
tiie extremity, and a few are much (h'cper than the rest.

EudocimuB albua.

THE WHITE IBIB.

Sculiipnx alba, Lixx. S. N. I. oil. Id, l7i>S, U5.

Tiiiilithisalber, LiXN. 8. N. 1. l/liO, 242.

ruHl^dusalhiis, r,i\Ki.. S. X. 1. 1788, (151. - Wii.s. Am. Orii. VITI. 1811, 43, ji). 66.

Iliimilhi, ViKii.i,. Ndiiv. Diet. XVI. 1817, i(i. — Nurr. iMiiii. 11. 1*31, 8i;. — Am. (irn. Bioj,'. Ill,

ls;3."., 178 ; V. isy.), rm, i>l. i-l-l -, Synop. ISUli, •2r.7 ; U. Am. VI. 184H, .^.1, pi. 3t!0. — Cas.s. in

Biiinl's n. N. Am. 1858, 084. — lUiUD, Cat. X. Am. IJ. 185!>, iio. tw. - (di-Ks, Clink List,

1873, no. 440.
EHihif.iiiiiis alhii.i, Wa(ii,. Isis, 18:12, 1232. — liiuow. Norn. N. Am. 15. 1881, no. 5(11. — CorK..s,

Check List, 2il I'd. 1882, no. (151.
Tantal us eoco, Jacij. Beitr. 1784, 13.
Tiiiila/iis fjrisnts, fiMi'i,. S. N. I. 1788, (153 (young).
EuducimuH hiiijirunhu.% \Va(;i.. Lsi.s, 1829, 7(J0.

Had. Wanu-teiiipcrnte Eiistcrii North Amt'iicn, Wu.-it Indies*, Middle Ainuricn, nnd tropical
Suiitli Aiiu'vicii ; north to Coiiiiucticut, Eastern Feiinsylvaniii, Illinois, and Great Salt Lake, Utah ;
south to ni'ii/.il.

Sp. C'hau. Adult : Teriniiial jiortioii (beyond the eniurginatioii) of three to five • outer jiri-
iiiai'ies, ^'lo.isy greenish black, with a brij,'lit metallic j,'iveii lustre. i{est of the i>biiiiage entirely
|iMic while. Hill, bare skin of the head, leg.s and feet, brij,dit eariiiiiie in the breeiliii},'-seasoii ; at
otliii- limes iialer, or orange-red ; iris tine ]iearly blue (Ai'Dunox).'^ Knd of the bill soni('tiiiies

1 According to Audubon, "Tlieri^ is r. curious, though not altogether geiicml, difTcroncc hctwecii the
.sexes of this species as to the iibnnage, — the male has live ot' its piiiii.Tiies ti|i|ied witji glossy hliick for
seveiiil inelie.s, while the female, wliieli is very little smaller than the male, has only four marked in this
iimiinrr. On examining more than a hundred individuals of eiudi sex, I found only four e-xeeptions, which
iieeurreil in fciuales that were very old liirds, and which, as lia|)](eiis in souk- other sjiocics, might iierhaps
have lieeii undergoing the curious change exhiliited by Ducks, Pheasants, and some other hirds, the females
cif which, wlieii old, sometimes assunu! the livery of tlie males." This supposed sexual dilleri'iieo wc have
Iweii unable to verify with the series before lis, though it is very possible that some specimens may not
have the sex correctly 'ctermined.

2 " liaio parts of the liead [in the adult male] light oraiigo-red ; bill the same, but towards the tip
dusk}'. Iri.s of a lino pearly blue. Legs and toes paler than the bill ; claws du.sk}', tipped with horn-
color.

" After the fii'st moult, the bill is pah; yellowish orange, toward the base greenish ; the naked parts of
the head are i)ale orange-yellow, imdining to llesh-eolor ; the eye dark brown ; the feet pale blue.

" The change in the coloring of the bill, legs, nnd feet of this bird, that takes jdaoe in the breeding
season, is worthy of remark, the bill lieiiig then of a deep orange-red, and the legs and feet of a red nearly
amounting to carmine. Tlie males at this season have the gular jioueli of a rich orange color, and some-
what resembling in shape that of the Frigate Pelican, although jiroportionally less. During winter these
parts ari^ of a dull flesh-color. The irides also lose much of their clear blue, and i-esuino in some degree
the undicr color of the young birds. I am thus particular in these matters, because it is doubtful if any
one else has ever paid attention to them."

VOL. I. — 12

ALTRiriAT, aHAM.ATOllKS— IIKUODIONES.

Wuekish. YoHn(j: Uiiitorin, nithiT durk, Kriiyinh brown, the ruiiiii, iippur luil-coveits, bnsal hull'
ut'tuil, ami ciitiic lnwcr jiai'ts, iiiciinlin;; itxiilaix uixl lining of the wiii|;, iciiilinuoiis wliilt.' ; licail
mill iR'fk wtrt'iikud with dii^ky or t,'rayisli brown on a ;,'rayiHli or dull whitish yruiuid-color.
IVulhtrin); of thu huud t-xtunding forward alnioHt to thu hill '

^ . : s*

Length, about 24.00-26.00 ; t-xpnnse, about 40.00 ; winj?, 10.30-11.76 ; tail, 4.00-5.00 ; culmeii,
4.15-0.3O ; depth of bill, .(JO-.72 ; tarsus, 3.1(>-4.tHt ; middle toe, 2.16-2.70 ; bare portion of tibia,
2.(H)-2.80.

In this species there is a range of individual variation not exceeded by nny member of the
family ; this variation affectin;,' not only size and relative proportions of the ditl'erent parts, but
also characters which have been accordi^l freneric or sub;,'enc'ric value. Thus, tukinj,' two perfectly
adult birds from localities jjeoj^Taphically near to^'ctlicr (.Ma/atlan and Tehuantepec, Western and
Southwestern Mexico), they represent veiy nearly, if not (iuite, the extremes of size, especially
as regards the bill ; one of them (Xo. .'i^tSlt), Mazatlan) having this member (>.30 inches in lengtii,
while in the other (No. .')!)773. 9 . Tehuantepec) it measures only 4.70. As to colors, they arc
identical, both being pure white, with the terminal portion of the four outer ])rimaries glos.iy
greenish-black. Tiiere is a most remarkabli! difference, however, between these two examjiles in
the anterior outline of the feathering of the head, which difference nuty be explained as follows;
In the Mazatlan specimen the frontal apex all iiut comes in contact with the base; of the culmen,
there being left between a space only about .(»") of an inch wide; in the Tehuantepec specimen there
is an interval left of .80 of an inch ! In the Mazatlan example, the anterior feathers of the throat
form a broad angle projecting forward into the bare gular skin for a distance of .00 of an inch ; in
the Tehuantepec specimen, their anterior outline has exactly the opposite form, being regularly and
deeply concave, so that the bare gular skin has a semicircular or regularly con\'ex posterior outline —
exactly as in fully adult specimens of E. ruber! In the former of these specimens the malar
feathers extend forward to within .2.5 of an inch of the rictus, or to much beyond the anterior
angle of the eye ; while in the other they approach to within only about .70 of the rictus, scarcely
reaching to below the middle of tlu eyes.

Other characters in which the Tehuantepec example differs from the one from Mazatlan, consist
in the subterminal portion of the bill being black for the space of nearly two inches, and in the
distinct serration of the middle portion of the tomia. These extremes of variation are noticeable
among skins obtained during the breeding sc^ason in Florida, specimens from the same breeding
grounds differing as much as the two described above.

Immature specimens show, according to age, all possible stages of plumage intermediate be-
tween the pure white adult and gray young.

The White Ibis is a resident only in the more southern portions of the United
States, though it not unfrequently occurs as a straggler in various places farther

• Accoi-diiig to Auihibon, "the young birds arc at first covered with thick down of a dark gray
color."

iDiniDJ-: — TiiK iijisi;h — kudcjcimus.

iKirtli, especially dii tho sea-ooaHt iiinl why tin' liir>,'fr rivcns of tin- West. It is
jiliiiiulaiit throuKlii'iit .Mexico, (Jciitml Aiuericii, and tlie iiortheni portioiiM of .South
America. Mi'. '»■ *'• Tiiylor iiiciitioiiH hiiviiig met with it on the Maeaonie Kiver in
lldiidiiras; and .Mr. Salvin siiraks of having,' seen soini' anionj; the i)ays on the coast,
lit' afterward mentions liavinj,' met with it frc(inently on tiit- sea-coast of (i\iatemala,
amonff tho creeks emptying into tin- Paidtic. Mr. Dresser found it ainindant-in
Northeastern Mi'xico. near Matanioras. It fretiiicnted (hr town la^,'oon, wiiere on
several occasions he sliot four or live before breakfast. lie always ate them, and
found them excellent — inth-ed, far superior to the real Curlew, by who.se nanu' it
was known. In Florida it goes by the name of tiie "Spanish Curlew."

iMr. (tiraud mentions two instances wherein this bird has been met with on tho
shores of Long Island. One was shot at IJaynor South, in the summer of iJS.'JCi; the
otiier at Moriclies, in March, l.S4.'t. A single in.stanco only is repm-ted of its liaving
lieen deteeteil farther north. Mr. Allen met with a few examples of this species in
tile Valley of (Ireat Salt Lake, in Seiitcndjcr, and was informed that it is a common
summer resident in that neighborhood.

Mr. Audubon found it breeding in iinn\ense nund)ers on a snudl sandy island
al)o>it six miles from Cape Sable in Florida. It was in company with the Urown
i'elican, four or five species of Herons, both the (Jallinules, and other species. It
was breeding there in thousaiuls ; and on every bush, (cactus, or tree on the island he
found their nests, so that on one wild plum tri'e he counted forty-seven of them.
The nests of this species measure about fifteen inches in their greatest dianu'ter, and
are fornu'd of dry twigs intermixed with fii)rous roots and green branches of the
trees growing on tho island. The interior of each nest is nearly flat, and is finished
with leaves of the cane and other ])lants. This bird is suj)posed to breed only once
ill a year, the nund)er of its eggs being three, and they are said to bt; excellent eat-
ing; althougli they do not look inviting after having been boiled, since the white
resembles a livid-colored jelly, and the yolk is of a reddish orange, the former being
wonderfully transparent, and not opacpie, as is usually the ease. The eggs are usually
deposited after the 10th of April, and incubation has become pretty general by the
1st of May. The young are, at first, covered by a thick dark gray down, and are fed
l)y regurgitation. They leave the nest when about three weeks old, and stand either
on the ground or anu)ng tlu; branches, where they are fed by the parents with snakes,
small fiddler crabs, and crayfish. The young bird is fully five weeks old before it is
able to fly. As soon as it can provide for itself, the parents leave it, and the various
individuals may then bo seen searching for food separately. The White Ibi.s, when
it is nesting, is very gentle and unwary, unless it has been much disturbed, and will
allow itself to be touched while on the nest. The female is silent, but the male
manifests its disideasuve by uttering sounds Avhich may be imitated by the syllables
croo-rroo-rt'oo, and are not unlike the notes of the White-headed Pigeon. Even the
report of a gun does not disturb it at this season, though at other times it is ex-
tremely shy and vigilant. While breeding it is said to go to a great distance in
search of food for its young, flying in flocks of several hundreds. These excursions
take place at periods, determined by the decline of the tides, when all the birds that
are not sitting go off twenty or thirty miles to mud-flats, where they collect abundance
of food, and return as soon as the tide has begun to rise ; this is done by night as
well as by day. They do not go singly, however, for on such occasions the entire flock
seemed to rise, as if by common consent, from their breeding-ground, and then to form
themselves into long lines, and soon disappear. Soon after the turn of the tide they
might be seen returning in the same order, and on these occasions they were usually

AI/nUCIAl, (iKAM.AToUMS— IIKKOUK tNKS.

siloiit. Tlu'ir tli,i;lit is (Icsciilii'd us liciiiK rapid ami iirotnictotl ; tho iuh'anct' lu'iii^'
iiiiitlc Ity altcniatc lla|)|piii!4; and sailiiit;. In tlii'sc iiKivciiiciits tiic Hock iiuituti' tht>
leader, each individual lollowin^' witli iiei'fect. re,i,'idai'it_v the motions of tlie one pre-
cedinfj; it. It' at. tins time one is shot, the whole line is liroken up. and tor a lew
luinutes all is disorder; lint soon the former arrans^'enieiit is resnnn'd, an»l tho tloc'k
K<>es on as hel'ore.

A wounded lliis. it only win.u'ed. runs olT with ^'reat speed; liiil il never attenijits
to liite or otherwise to del'ein! itsell'. At other tinu's than the lireediui; season this
bird will perl'oiin wonderlul evolutions, in the course of which it soim'tinu's rises to
il f,'reat heit,'ht in the air. Alter thus apparently amnsinj;- itsell' lor a while, it will
suddenly ^dide down with astoiushinij; speed. It is apiiarently as I'ond as the Wood
Ibis of resortini;' to ponds ov hayons that are in the woods; and Mr. .\iulidion has
found it lireedini; in such situations nKUc than three hundred miles from the sea.
'I'his was the case in the Stale of .Mississippi, not far I'l'om N;itche/, and in the
swampy forests iiround l>ayou Sara and I'ointe Conpt'c. \Vhen disturlied in these
jilace.s it Hies to tlu' tops of the tallest trees, uttering' a hoarse cry. and is usually
very shy and dillicult of appro;udi. When a woundi'd I his I'iills into the wider, it
e;ui swim (piite Widl ; lint it is uiuisual for it to do this voluntarily, even to ;ivoid
pursuit. Amlnliou witnessed the escape of one liy swimnuny; when cluiscd liy an
allifj;at(ir. 'I'he liird h;i<l l';dlen hidken-winLj-ed into the water, ;iutl sou.nht jiroteclion
liy hastening to his feet. He kept il alive for souu' linu', feedins,' it with soaked
Indian nn-al and an occasional criiylish. which latter it received with evident pleas-
ure. On stM/ini,' one, the liii'd liciil it sideways on the j^round \intil its (daws and
Icfjs were broken oil', ;il'ter whitdi the body was swallowed whole. 'IMiis bird was
very I'ond of lyiufj; on its side in the sun and nursiiiij its sore wint:;. It walked
li^'htly and very }j;racel'ully, ;uid liec;ime very .yjentlc ".nd tiime, followinJ,^ like a com-
mon fowl, those who fed it.

Mr. L;iwreiice considers this bird ;is a rare species near New Vork ; Mr. Edward
Harris prooured it on the Delaware, near riiiladtdjilda ; and Mr. Turnbidl shot one
at Great K.y;^' Harbor, New .ler.sey, in the summer of lsr>.S. It is nire so l';ir north.
Dr. Hryant found it very numerous at Indian Wiver, Kloridii. Specimens shot .Vpril
20 were .still in the sjirin^' moult. Mr. 'rurnbull saw a larp' Hock of these birds on
the St. tlohn's, near Volusia, but none at I'hiterprise.

The i"fi\:;s are of an oblont(-oval shape, a little lari^cr and more obtuse at one end,
and vary (diielly in size, ran.Ljin.u; in len,i;th from L'.L'O to LMT) inches, and in brciulth
from l.'in to l.tiO inclics. Their j^ronnd color is a dull clayev white with a ^'reenish
tin^'f, over whicdi iire distributi-d spots, blottdics, and lont^itudinal markin,u;s of various
shades of ri'ddish brown. In some cases these are few, ami scattered over most of
the e^iij;, but increasing in size or conHiuMit towards the larger end. In others, those
markings arc distributed in large and nioro or less conHuent i>atehes over nearly the
pntir(> surface. In sonu' eggs the greenish tinge of the gro\ind is much nn)re api>;ir-
ent than in others, b\it it is always nu)re or less noticeable.

Gi:ni s FLEGADIS, Kaup.

"FalcinrUtis, nEcusr." Acer, (iii'f Ukcustkix ').

Phg(tdi.% K.MT. Skizz. Kiitw. (Icscli. 1S20, 8'J (typ.>, r,inlnhisfnMncUus, Linn.).

TimlaUdcs, Waiu,. I.sis, 1832, 12!il (typo, rnnluUii, j\,l,-i„eU\i.% I.inn.).

1 Cr. Sai.v. & Sci,. lliis, ,Iiin. 1878, p. 112.

iniDID.K - TIIH iniSKS — rLEOAms.

(iK.N. C'liAH. Hill slmllow llirou^li tlio liiisc, iiniilfrnlcly taiicriiifi, ami (gently I'urvi'ii ; tlic Imsc
not ttip'iil, hikI •'"' '•"■■"il oiilliiu' 1)1' tlio iimxillii ili'i'|ily coiu'iivc; luirc iMilioii nl' tiliiii iMiiml to oi-
loll"!'!' tlmn oiili'i' tiH' ; iiiiildli! too iilioiit tliici' I'oiirllis the tarsus ; iiinor too ivailiiiij,' imst tin- suli-
ici'Miinal articulation of liio niiilillo toe ; li.tllux aliout i'i|Ual lo tlio l>asal iilialanx of tiic inner too,
I'onlioaii and oiliital, malar, and t,'ul,ir roi,'ions ooniidolily I'oatliorod, tho loroa only lioiii^; iiakod,
tiio liatliorinj^ on tho oliin ronniiij,' an aiulo anf,do wliiili advamos to as I'ur as tho niiildlo of tho

/'. falcinelliui.

nostrils ; foathors ol' tho i>ilouin oloii^'alod, lanciMilalo, and distinct, forininf,', wlion oivctod, a sort
of lidl, roundod cvost ; those of the ocoiimt and napo, and ujnior half of tiie nock all round, also
ili>liuct and lanceolate. Plmna'^e chietly metallic •,'roen aliovo ; the adults with lioaci and upper
part of neck chestnut, and lower parts chostmil ( fiilriiiilliiK ami iiiiitniuuit) or violet-Mackish {h'iilij-
intiji) ; the youiif^ with head and upper part of neck streaked f^rayish hrown and white, tho lower
jiarls ^ravish brown (J'tiliiiiiUii:< and ijiiiiruiiud) or violet-dusky (liiilijirmii).

This M,>nns dill'i^'s conspicuo\isly from Kiidoriwiin in the complete I'eatherinj,' of tho lioail '
(cxceptin}^ only the lores and the sjiace between the mandilmlar rami) ami m the brilliantly
metallic plumage. I', falilmlliin and /'. (jimmiiiia aiX! exactly alike in the iletails of form and
i;cucral coloration ; but /'. //('(/i/icdi// is vi'ry dill'erent from them in both these resjiects. Their
comparative character- may bo thus ox]irossod in a synoptical table : —

A. Lejjs and feet lon^' an<l slender, the tarsus with a nearly continuous frontal series of trans-
verse scutolhe. Adult, with the lu'ck, back, lesser winjj-covorts, and lower parts opa<{ue
chestnut. Yninni, with tho head and upjier i)art of the neck streaked grayish brown and
white, the lower parts ]ilain ^'rayish brown.

1. P. falcinelluB. Feathers around base of bill, blackish ; lores j,'reenish in life. Winj^,

1(1.20-11.85 ; cnlmen, 4.;J()-.').4r. ; tarsus, '2.00 1.30; mi<ldlo too, 2.10-2.80. IM. Paliu-
arciic rof^'ion (warmer (lorl ions), Kastorn Ignited Slates and West Indies.

2. P. guarauna. Feathers around base of bill whitish ; lores lake-red in life. Win<^, D.30-

10.80; eulmon, :j.Tr)-().(K) ; tarsus, ;).00-4.40 ; iniihllo toe, 2.10-2.8r). Hah. South and
Middle America, and We.stern North America as far north as the Columbia River.

' In this feature there is consiilcralilc ruscnibliuicn to Hariilprion, which, however, is very diflercnt
ill other respects, and belongs to n ililVcrcnt " sulvfuniily " (flu'ilhia-).

'■I it^

■ 4 ■;

ALTRICIAL GKALLATORES — IIER0DI0NE3.

B. Legs and feet coniparutively short aiitl stout, tlin tarsus with the frontal scutelltc more or less
irregular ami interruiiti'd. Ailidt, with the liead and upper portion of necic dark chest-
nut, tlie lower neciv and lower jtarts violet-ldai'kish, tiie lesser wing-coverts metallic
green and bronzed purple, the back dark metallic green. Yomig, with the head and
upper part of neck .streaked with dusky and white, the lower parts dusky, with a violet
tinge.
3. P. Ridgwayi.1 l-'tjathers round ba-se of bill dusky chestnut, or dark rusty ; lores red-
dish in life. AVing, l().ir>-12.00 ; culmen, 3,40-5.10; tarsus, 2.70-3.85; middle toe,
1.80-2.30. Hub. Vicinity of Lake Titicaca, Peru ; Chili.

Plegadis falcinellus.

THE OLOSST IBIS.

Tantalm faMneUus, Lixn". S. X. 1. 1701), 241, no. 2 (based on Niimenius rostro aratato, corporc

caitanen, pcdibus ohscurc. rii'cnlibns, KuAM. Austr. 350. — Numcnius viridis, Biiiss. Av. 5, p.

326, t. 27, f. 2. —FnlcincUus, Oesx. Av. p. 220, etc.).
Ibis fiilciiirlhts, ViEiLL. Xouv. Diet. XIV. 1817, 23. — Hoxai'. Obs. Wils. 1825, no. 190. — Nutt.

Man. II. 1834, 88. — Aun. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, COS, pi. 387 ; Synop. 1839, 257 ; B. Am. VI.

1843, 50, pi. 358 (adult).
P!c(jadi.i fdlciiiclhis, "Kalt," FiiiTscn, Viig. Kur. 1869, Tnf. 43, fig. 3, p. 378. — Ridgw. Nom. N.

Am. B. 1881, no. 503. — Coue.s, C'lieck List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 649.
Tantalus castancus, Mi'i.i.El!, S. X. .Suppl. 1776, 112 (adult).
Courly, d'llnlie, BrFF. PI. Kid. 1770-84, pi. 819 (adult).
Bay Ibis, Penx. Aret. Zool. II. 1785, 460 (adult).
Green Ibis, Latu. Synop. III. i. 1785, 113, sp. 13 (young).
Glossy Ibis, Lath. t. c. 114, sp. 14 (transition pi.).
Tantalus viridis, Omel. S. X. I. 1788, 648, no. 8 (young).
Tantalus iyneus, Omel. t. e. 649, no. 9 (adult).

Falcinellus igncus, GnAV, Gen. B. n\. ■>, 1841, 87. — Elliot, P. Z. S. 1877, 503.
"Ibis noir, Savio. Hist. Myth, de I'lbis, p. 36, lig. 4, juv." (Elliot).
"Ibis sacra, Tem.m. Man. Orn. 1815, 385" (Elliot).
" Tringa autumnalis, Hasselq. It. Pal. deut.sche Ausg. p. 306" (Elliot).
" Tantalus Mcxicanus," Or.l). .lour. Pliilad. Acad. 1. 1817, 52 (not of Gmel.).
Ibis Ordii, BoxAr. t'ousp. List, 1838, 49. — Cass, in Baird's B. X. Am. 1858, 635 (part). — Baird,

t'at. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 500.
Ibis falcinellus, var. Ordii, foiEs, Key, 1872, 263 ; Check List, 1873, no. 445 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 517.
"Ibis guarauna," Cauot, Pr. Boston Soo. II. 1850, 313, 332 (not of LiNN.).
" A'umcnius longiroitris," GossE, B. Jam. 1847, p. 348 (not of Wilson).
Tantalus bcngalensis, " LlcUT." Bonap. Consp. II. 1855, 158.
Ibis percgrina, " Ml'LL." Boiiap. t. c. 159.

Had. Palffiarctic region, West Indies, and Eastern United States. Of iiTegular distribution,
and only locally abundant in America.

Sp. Char. Adult: Feathers Iwrderinij the base of the hill, all round, blackish. Pileum, cheeks,
and chin glossy greenish black, with violet-purple reflections. Hind part of the head, whole neck,
anterior part of the back, and anterior half of lesser wing-covert region, rich reddish chestnut, the
back d.arkest. Lower parts, except the crissuni, axillars, and lining of tlie wing, uniform bright
reddish chestnut, lighter, brighter, and less purplish than the neck. Remaining upper parts, as
well as the lining of the wing, axillai-s, and crissum, glossy, metallic, dark purple, green, and
bronze ; the posterior part of the back, posterior scapulars, wing-coverts, tertials, rumj), upper tail-
coverts, and tail nearly uniform dull violet-purple, changing to bottle-green in certain lights ; aluliv,

1 Plegadis Ridowayi.

Falcinellus Ridgwayi, Allex, Bull. Mus. Conip. Zool. III. .July, 1876, 355 (Moho, Conima, and

Vllquechico, near Lake Titieaca, Peru). — Elliot, P. Z. S. 1877, 506.
" Ibis falcinellus, ScL. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1809, 156" (Elliot).
? "Ibis Ordii," TsciiuDi, Fauna Per. 1844, 298.
? Ibis brcvirostris, Peale, Zoiil. Expl. Exp. 1848, 219 (Rimac R., Peru).

'.■'pTlI

IBIDIDyE — THE IBISES — PI.EGADIS.

jjiimary-coverts, primaries, and lower secondaries brighter broiize-greuu ; upper siicondaries more
lirciiizy. wiMi a purple shade in eertuin lights. Uudcr-suri'iu'e dI' wiiign and tail more Imrni.shed,
iiiulallic green, bronze, and purple, the tint viu'ving with tiie inclination to the lights ; axillars less

shilling, and more violaceous ; crissum violet-purple and green, like the rump. Bill black ■ bare
Idiid sjiace greenish; legs and feet greeiii.di blackish.^

Young {chawjimj from first to second jilunwrje): Head and neck distinctly streaked with dusky
brown and white, the dusky streaks wider and more blackish on the pileum, the whitish streaks
I'liiduallv beioming more indistinct btdow. Entire lower parts plain snutl'-brown, with a soft
purplish tinge, especially on tiie breast and tibia; ; crissum, metallic green and violet. Upper parts
dark, metallic violet-purple, green, and In'onze, the first largely predominating, the last in traces ;
the liiitk darkest and most uniform, the rump interspersi'd witii bright dark-green feathei's. A
it w (lark chestnut feathers intersptnved over the anterior portion of the lesser wing-covert region
(No. 57003, Greece). Ynitnij (jclMiujinij from second to third jdumagc) : In general appearance
iiiiuli like the preceding, but breast, abdomen, and tibia; mostly reddish chestnut, and the anterior
portion of the back and scaiailars niixccl with many feat liers of the same color ; head and neck
iiuicli tinged with chestnut, the streaks iiulistiiKt (No. 17493, 9 . Hungary).

[Note. — The Tantalus viridls of Gmklin (Syst. Nat. II. i. p. (US, no. 8, based on Green Ibis
of Latham, Synopsis, III. i. p. 114, no. 13) seems to be this species in incomplete first plunuvge,
or still n^taining the downy covering of the head and neck.]

Length, about 25 inches ; expaii.se, 4:2; wing, 10.20-11.85 ; tail, 4.30-4.50 ; culmen, 4.30-5.45;
ihiith of bill, .5(KC0 ; tarsus, 2.00-4.30 ; middle toe, 2.10-2.80 ; bare portion of tiliia, 1.70-3.10.

01' this species, there are at present before us four adult specimens, two being from Europe and
two from America (Tortugas and Jamaica) : between these there is not the slightest difference
whatever, beyond the indiviilual discrepancies of size observable in all species of this family.

The young of 1'. fakiniilus closely resembles that of P. (juaraiina, but is rather darker colored,
the upper parts being much more violaceous, and the lower parts less grayish. There are two
spcciiiie'is in the collection, — tho.se described above.

This species, identical with the well-known Bay or Glossy Ibis of Europe, occurs
irregulurl}' in the eastern portion of the L'nited States, and has been known to breed
in Florida. It has been found on several occasions as far north as Massachusetts,
although nowhere abundant in the States bordering ui)on the Atlantic. It was first
described as a bird of North America by Mr. ( Jeorge ( )rd, from a specimen obtained
at (ireat Egg Harbor, May 7, 1.S17. About the sanu* time another specimen was pro-
lured near Baltimore, and two others were taken in the District of Columbia. Mr.
Audubon states that in the spring of 1S37 he saw flocks of this bird in Texas ; but
it is possible that the birds which he saw there were not of this species. They were
apparently only summer residents, associating with the White Ibis, along tlie grassy
margins of the rivers and bayous, going to and returning from their roosting-places in
the country. Its flight resembles that of its companion, the White Ibis.

• Audubon says : " Bill black ; bare part of head grayish blue ; iris hazel ; feet grayish black, claws
brown."

ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES.

4 Hi

According to Nuttall, specimens were in his day occasionally seen exposed for sale
in the market of Boston ; and individuals had been at distant intervals shot off
Long Island and on the shores of New .Fersey. From time to time straggling speci-
mens are captured on the Massachusetts coast. Several were thus taken on Cajie
Cod in the fall of 1878; and individuals, undoidjtedly of this species, were seen dur-
ing the same season on I'rince Edward Island by Mr. Frank L. Tilestou; it also
occurs in the West India Islands.

At very irregular periods in the spring small flocks have been seen on the coasts
of the Middle States and on the eastern shore of Maryland and N'irginia. Mr. .7. A.
Allen states (Am. Nat. III. (i.'iT) that a specimen of this l)ird was taken in Nantucket
in September, 180!). Dr. Charles Palmer writes to the "Naturalist" (V. i). 120) that
one was obtained by him near Lake Winnepisseogee, in the town of Alton, N. H.
It was an old bird in full j)lunuige.

In Europe this species is supposed to be more common in the eastern than in the
western i)ortion. The course of i^s migrations for the summer toward the north of
Europe is said to be chiefly in a line from Egypt to Turkey. Hungary, and Toland,
and to the southern parts of Russia. It is occasionally seen, on its passage from
Northern Africa, in Crete, the (irecian Archipelago, in Sicity, Sardinia, and Genoa.
Stragglers are found in Switzerland, France, Holland, and Great Britain ; but in all
these countries it is a rare bird. In England, though not uncommon, it is always
accidental. Yarrell mentions about fifteen instances of its having been taken in
England, three in Ireland, and one in Scotland. It has also been known to occur in
Dennuirk ; and in Sweden also, although here but very rarely.

Specimens were obtained by Dr. Andrew Smith in Africa as far south r.,s the Cape
of Good Hope. It is migratory in Egypt, where it appears to have been once held ni
high veneration, although it is not the bird commonly known as the Sacred Ibis. It
was met with by ^Messrs. Dickson and Ivoss at Erzeroom. in the vicinity of the river;
and in the Kussian expedition it Avas found in the countries between the lUack and
the Caspian Seas. It has also been taken near Calcutta, in Thibet, and Nepal. Tem-
minck assigns it to Java, Sunda, and the neighboring islands; and, Anally, Mr. (Jould
states that this species has been found in every part of the vast region of Australia
known to him.

In the portions of Europe where this bird is most alnmdant, it is found to live
principally on the banks of rivers and on the shores of lakes, or on muddy flats which
are occasionally flooded. It feeds on suuiU reptiles, the fry of flshes, small Crustacea,
and aquatic insects.

Mr. Dresser mentions this species as having been found by him in great numbers
on the lagoons near Matamoras, in the month of August ; appearing there somewhat
earlier than the "White Ibis. He obtained quite a number of specimens, and one Avas
sent to him from Fort Stockton in a collection formed by Mr. P. Dutty.

Although Captain Iiendire did not meet with this S[)ecies in Oregon, he had no
doubt that it ranges within the State, as it was found breeding at Quinn liiver Cross-
ing, in Nevada, only twenty miles from the State line. Lieutenant "Wood, U. S. A.,
procured an example in that locality, July 1"). 1875, and on that occasion saw some
forty of these birds with young still unable to fly.

Eggs of this species in the Smithsonian Institution (1895) obtained by Dr. Bean
at ISIecanopy, Florida, are of a rounded oval shape, slightly smaller at one end than
at the other, and of a uniform very light shade of Prussian blue. They measure 1.90
inches in length by 1.38 in breadth. Yarrell describes the European egg as being
of a very delicate pale blue, and 2 inches in length by 1.50 inches in breadth.

IBIDID.E — THE IBISES — PLEGADIS.

Plegadis guarauna.

THE WHITE-FACED OLOSST IBIS.

? Scolojxix auarauna, Linn. S. N. I. 1700, 242, no. 1 (based on Xumcnius amcricanns f incus, Buiss.

Av. 5, p. 330. — Criiarauiut, Makioii. Hms. 204).
Fidcincll us ijuimiuiw, BoxAi'. Consj). II. 1855, luit. — Kli.iot, P. Z. S. 1877, 505.
Ibis ijutimuna, Waol. Syst. Av. 1827, sp. 8. — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. ej. 1860, pi. 87,

(yomif,'). — UiiHiw. Am. Nat. 1874, 110, 111 (eriticnl).
I'hijudis ijuaniuna, HiDOW. Noni. X. Am. 15. 1881, no. 504. — CoUEs, Cheek List, 2J cd. 1882,

no. 050.
(I. Mexican [bis, Latii. Synop. III. i. 1785, 108, no. 5.
?/ Tantalus nuxieanus, Omki,. S. N'. I. ii. 1788, 652 (based on N^umcnius mexicanus varius, Bkis.s.

Av. 5, p. 333, no. 7).
" lliis/alcincllus" (most (juotations from South America).
" //</,v On/(( "((jiiotations lioni Mexico, Central and South America). — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am.

1858, 085 (exil. synonymy).
Tantalus chalcoptcms, Tkm.M. PI. Col. 511 (1830), (adult).
"Fiikinclhis if/ntus," Sii,. & Sai.v. Noni. Ncotr. 1873, 120 (part).
i Ibis iriifhmrhi/nchus, (ioi'i.i), P. Z. s. Xov. 14, 1837, 127 (Hayti ; young?).
Ibin tliahtssinus, IJiDcw. Am. Nat. VIII. Fi'b. 1S74, 110, 111 (young in first plumage).
Falcincllus thalassiuHS, ELLiur, l*. Z. .s. 1877, 507.

Hab. AW'steni United Status, Middle Aiuericii, and South America, to Chili and Buenos
Avres, West Indies ( .Saiidwieli Islands f

Sp. Char. Adult : Fmthcrs hordurimj the base of the hill, all round, whitish, usually most distinct
on the forehead. Pileum dull metallic vi(jlet-j>urple, changing,' to green, tlie feathers blackish
beneath the surface ; rest of the head ciiinamon-browiiisli, paler on the throat, where lightest
anteiiorly ; neck cinnamon-chestnut, the feathers bhickisli beneath the surface, this showing where
the feathers are disarianged, and i^uite conspicuous on the najie, where the dusky ha.s, in certain
lights, a faint greenish lustre. Lower neck, entire lower jjarts (except the crissum, anal region,
.ixdlurs, and flanks), back, anterior scai)nlars, and lesser wing-coverts uniform rich chestnut, darker

and more purplish above, lighter and more ferruginous or clearer reddish beneath. Rest of the
phunage glossy metallic green, bronze, nuride, and violet; the green purest and cleare.st on the
primaries ; the secondaries and greatt verts more bronzy, the middle coverts and posterior half
of lesser covert region purplish, changing to dull green ; the crissum and rump mi.xed green and
purple, the green being of a richer, almost grass-green, shade, especially on the rump. Axillars and
under wing-coverts bronze-purple ; under-surface of remiges and rectrices very higldy burnished.
Bill dusky, sometimes tinged with reddisli ; lores, eyelids, and naked skin of chin lake-red or
pale carmine ; iris crimson ; legs and feet varying from grayish brown to deep lake-red.

Youmj, second year: Heail, neck, and lower jiarts dull grayish brown, the head and upi>er part
of the neck streaked with white ; back grayish brown with green or imrple reflections. Otherwise
as in the adult, but metallic colors less brilliant.

VOL. I, ^ — 13

ALTIUCIAL GRALLATORES — IIERODIOXES.

Young, first year: Heuil, iiuck, and lowci' imrts an in tliu lust, l)Ut upper parts and under side of
the wiujj uuit'orm, contiiuiuus bronzy gnen, with little, if any, admixture of purple or violet shades.

No chestnut on the lesser wing-coverts! Bill, pale greenish horn-ltlne, lilackish terminal'/ and
dusky basally ; iris, "hazel ;" k'j;s ami feet, dee[) black (= F. thalassiiius, RiuciWAv).*

Downy yuunri : Bill light yellowish, the base, end, and band around the middle deep black ;
lores blackish ; legs and feet black. Forehead black, bounded posteriorly by a crescentic patch of
dull, silvery white, extending from eye to eye, across the posterior portion of the crown ; the line
of demarcation between the white and black being somewhat mi.xed or sull'used with light rufous.
Rest of head, neck, and lower parts covered with soft downy feathers of a uniform brownish gray
shade, without any whitish streaks on head or neck. Partially complete plumage of the upper
surface entirely uniform, continuous bron/.e-green, or metallic bottle-green, without the slightest
admixture anywhere of purple, blue, or violet.

Length, about l!).(H)-:20.(i(» ; expanse, 3(Mt()-4(t.()<) ; wing, !).3()-l().8() ; tail, 3.50-5.00; culmen,
3.75-().(K) ; depth of bill, .5()-.(!0; tarsus, 3.00-4.40 ; middle toe, 2.10-2.85 ; bare portion of tibia,
1.50-2.75 2

According to Dr. J. ('. Merrill (Proc. U. S. Xat. Mus. Vol. I. p. 103), " The young, when first
hatched, are clothed in blackish down ; the bill i.s whitish, with dusky base. When nearly Hedged,
the wings and back have a very marked metallic lustre ; the liase nf bill, with terminal one fourth
inch anil a two fifths inch median band, black ; the intervening ])ortions j>inkisli white."

In this widely distributed species there is very little variation in colors among sjiecimens of the
.same age, but the difference in i>ripportions is often very great. A ])erfectly adult specimen from
the vicinity of Santiago, Chili, and one from San Francisco, Cal., are much alike in plumage,
except that in the former the crown is darker (being, in fact, decidedly dusky), while the back
is of a darker chestnut, with more decided violet-pur|i]e rellections. In dimensions, however, they
exhibit almost the extremes of measurements, as the following will show : —

Cntjil. no. Locality. WiiiK. t'lihiien. Tarsus. MuMlo Toe.

70028 San Francisco, Cal. 10.80 G.OO 4.25 2.75

40042 Santiago, Chili. 9.50 4.15 3.25 2.20

Specimens from the same locality, however, sometimes differ ([uite as much as those mentioned
above ; and we are unable to appreciate any geogra])hical differences whatever, examples from Chili,
Buenos Ayres, Mexico, and Columbia River being (|uite identical. A specimen from the Sandwich
Islands we refer to this species somewhat doubtfully, it being in immature jilunmge. It agrees
strictly with American examples of the same age in all respects wherein f/u(()((((/irt differs from
falciuellus, even to the reddi.sh color of the bill, lores, and feet. Still, it is possible that perfect
adults nuiy show differences from both forms.

This species, known in its mature form as the Bronzed Ibis, and in its immature
condition as the Green Ibis, is a common species in Utah, Nevada, and Southwestern
Texas, and probably also in New Jlexico and Arizona, in localities favorable for its
residence and support.

1 Notes from fresh specimens killed at Oreana, on the Humboldt River, Nevada, Sept. 3, 1867.
* Extremes of about forty specimens.

'^■\,P'

IBTDID.R — TIIK IBISES — PLEGADI8.

D'J

Mr. .1. A. Allfii met with it in the valley of (ireat Salt Lake, I'tah, in the month
of September, where it was known as the IJlaek Snipe. He was told that it was a
rather (,'onimon summer resident, hut this had only been the ease within a few years.
J\Iost of these birds had niij,M"ited south before Mr. Allen's arrival, and he found it
exceedingly wary, althonf,di his imrty suireedcd in proeuring seven specinuMis.

]iy Mr. Ridgway it was observed in large numbers at Franklin Lake, in August
and Septeud)er; a few had al.so been seen at (Ireat Salt I^uke in May and Jiine. This
bird is known to the ])eople of Nevada as the " Hlack Curlew," and also as the
" niack Snipe." In its immature! form it was ti'-st observed at the Humboldt Jlarshes
in September. It was one of the most abundant water-birds, oecurring in Hocks of
liuudreds of individuals. Thev were generally seen about tlu' margin of the pools,
standing in a single line along ti." .'dge of tlie water. At Oreana, forty miles fartlier
uj) the river, they were seen passing baek and forth over the camj) by the river, some
of the Hocks fornu'd with a widely extended front, but nutre frecpuMitly in a V-shaped
body. They Hew ijuite low — rarely higher than Hfty yards — and cjuite swiftly.
At that distance they seenu'd of a uniform black color, and resembled the Long-billed
Cm-lew in size and form. Only om'c was a Hock seen to alight. When approaehed,
under cover of the willows, they were found busily engaged in feeding among the
a<|uatie ])lants, in a slough entirely hemmed in by a dense growth of willows, each
individual, as it waded about, uttering a hoarse, low croaking not(;. Their movements
were easy and graceful.

Mr. {!assin refers to this species (Wilkes's Expediti(Hi, p. 302) as ap2)arently inhab-
iting nearly the entire southwestern regions of the continent, from New ^Mexico and
California to Patagonia. It is of fre(iuent occurrence throughout Peru and Chili ;
and, according to Chilian observers, migrates still farther south. It has been brought
in collections from Mew Mexico and Southern California. Mr. I'eale mentions that
it was observed in Hocks of Hi'teen or twenty along the banks of fresh-water streams
and lakes in Chili, during the month of May. Its Hight was (piite graceful.

The ih'onzed Ibis was Hrst recognized as a bird of North America by Dr. Wood-
house, who procured it on the Rio Zoquette, in Texas, in the expedition to the Zuiii
River.

According to the late Dr. Herlandier, this species is found among the swamps on
the eastern coast of Mexico ; and its habits are described by him as very similar to
those of the Green Ibis of Europe. He met with it, although quite rarely, about the
lakes near Tamiagua, Tuxpan, and Pueblo Yiejo. in the State of Vera Cruz ; also in
the vicinity of Tanqjico, Presas, and Soto la Marina, in Tamaulipas, as well as among
the swamps produced by the overflow of the Rio Rravo del Norte.

It is undoubtedly to this sjiecies that Dr. Kennerly refers, in his notes on the birds
observed on the Mexican Roundary Survey. He speaks of it as quite common in '
June in the vicinity of Santa Cruz, in the State of Sonora, as going in large flocks,
and as feeding in the valley of the river in swampy places. It was very tame, and
was easily killed.

Dr. James C. Jlerrill refers to this species as resident in Southwestern Texas, but
as much more common in summer than in winter. On the 16th of ^lay, 1877, in
company with Mr. G. B. Sennett, he visited a large patch of tule-reeds growing in a
shallow lagoon, about ten miles from Fort Brown, in which a large number of this
species and several kinds of Herons were breeding. The reeds covered an area of
about seventy-five acres, growing in water three or four feet deep. There were occa-
sional irregular spaces free from reeds, but the firm bottom permitted wading without
difficulty in any direction. Besides this Ibis, four or five kinds of Herons, as well as

100

ALTUIUIAL (illAI-LATORKS — IIEUODIONES.

several other kinds of birds, wt-rt- brtfediiiK tluMr j iind not unt'requently nests of all
these dift'erent species were placed within a tew feet of one anotlier ; Imt in general
the different species preferred to form, each for itstdf, a little nestiuf,' {,'rouii of ten
or fifteen pairs. The reeds f,MTW iiiitiiniUy to a height of about six feet alxivc the
surface of the water; but tiiey were either l)eaten down to form a support for the
nests, or else dead and partly floating stalks of the previous year wert; used for tliat
purpose. It was impossii)le to i'oriu any estimate of the uundM-r of tiiis s]tecies nest-
ing there. As he ai)i)roaci .'d the s[)ot many weri' seen about tiie edges of tlio lagoon,
or flying to ami from nuu'e di.staut teeding-grouuds. On firing a gun a pj-rfect mass
of birds arose, witli a noise like thunder, from the entire bed of reeds, but they soon
settled down again.

lioth the nests and the eggs of this Ibis were (piite unlike those of any of the
Herons, and could be distinguished at a glance. The nests were ma<le of broken bits
of dead tules, supported by and attached to lu'oken and upright stalks of living ones.
Tiiey were well and compactly built, and were usually distinctly cup])ed, and (piite
unlike the clvnu.sy platforms of the Herons. Karly in May in the following year
Dr. Merrill revisited this heronry ; but there were no nests and but few birds to i)e
seen : they had evidently moved to some other locality, where there were similar
beds of reeds ; but he was prevented by sickness from making any farther investi-
gations.

The eggs were found to be nearly always three in number, and at the time of his
visit — the middle of ]\lay — were far advanced in incubation. Many of the nests
contained young of all sizes. By a careful measurement of fifty examples. Dr. Merrill
ascertained the average size of the egg of this species to be l.Oo liy l.'.io, the extremes
being 2.20 by 1.49, and 1.73 by 1.2!). Tliese eggs are decidedly pointed at the
smaller end, and are of a deep bluish-green color.

Family PLATALEID^^:. — The Spoonbills.

Platalcidoc, Boxap. 1849 ; Consp. II. 1855, 146.

CiiAR. Large-sized Ibis-like birds, with the bill greatly flattened and expanded
terminally. Bill deep through the base (the culmen ascending), but immediately
flattened ; nan-owest across the middle portion, the end widely expanded, the tip
rounded and decurved. Nostrils superior, longitudinal, without surrounding or
overhanging membrane; nasal fossa? prolonged forward in a narrow, continuous
groove to the extreme tip of the bill (as in the Ibises), its course nearly (or in
some genera quite) parallel with the lateral outline of the maxilla ; approximate
surfaces of maxilla and mandible with one or two rows of more or less prominent
tooth-like papillfe along each side. Tarsus longer than middle toe, and with small
longitudinal hexagonal scales in front ; outer toe decidedly longer than inner, its
claw reaching to the base of the middle claw; hallux nearly incumbent, about
equal to the basal phalanx of the inner toe ; bare portion of tibia longer than outer
toe ; web between inner and middle toes well developed. Wings ample, reaching
about to the end of the tail, the primaries a little longer than the tertials. Tail
short, even, of twelve stiff, broad, round-ended feathers.

PLATALKID.K — TIIK SI'OON DILLS — AJAJA.

101

The iiluivt' (liagiid.si^. is .suHicicnt to ( liiiriictcri/c tliis wt'll-iuiirktMl j^roup of \nn\n.
Till' Siiooiiliills iuv very iiitiiiiatcly rciatt'd lo the Utist's, the only cssi'iitial tlillVrcncos,
so fill' as t'xti'rual tVaturos aro coiuHTiu'tl, lu-iiig in the form of tho hill.

Seven species of the family are known. ( ' one of these heiiif,' American; one is
.Vfrican, two Anstralian, two I'ahi'arctic, and one a native ol the l'liilii>pine Islands.
Tlnce of the si.K exotic species we have not seen, namely, I'/titd' » mtijor, 'I'v.mm.,
Sciii.Ko. of .lapan, Lnirrrodins frniiirosfn's (Thm-M.) of Africa, and L. /ii.-:oii!e>is!s
(Scoi'.) of the Philippines. The remainin,t,' species, however, are now lieforo ns,
and appear to he each assi^'nablo to a tlistiuet yenus, the generic characters of each
are as follows : —

Genera of Plataleidse.

A. Bill Idii),' and narrow, its )»rcfttust lireadtli nut UKin; tiiaii onii fourth the length of the culmcn.

Silk's luul top of tliL' head feathered in the adidt. Phiuiage of the neck normal and com-
pact.
a. OccijnU crested ; Icrtiah and juynlar feathers iinniuil.

1. Flatalea.' Forehead feathered. Tarsus nearly twice tho niiihllc toe ; hare portion of tibia

longer than niiihlle toe.

2. Spatberodia.'^ Forehead eompletely naked. Tai-sus much less tlmn twice the middle toe ;

bare portion of tiliia shorter than middle tou.
h. Occiput not nvntal ; tcrtiah with their louvr vrbs decompoaed, the fibrUlf lony, pendant, hair-
like ; jiiijnlar feathers acicular, stijfish.

3. Platibia.s Anterior part of forehead hare (also orbital, malar, and gular regions, the pos-

terior outline Well delined and nearly vertical). Tarsus nearly twice the length of the
nnddle toe ; bare portion of tibia longer than nnddle toe.

B. Bill rather short, very broad, its greatest l)readth about one third the length of the culmen.

Sides and top of the heail completely naked in the ndult. Plumage of the neck short
and downy.

4. Ajaja. Tarsus but little longer than nnddle toe ; bare portion of tibia shorter than

middle toe.

Genus AJAJA, Rkichenbach.

jljaja, Reichenb. Handb. 1851, xvi. Type, Platalcn ajaja, Lin'N.

Gex. Char. Bill much expanded and excessively depressed terminally, the tip decurved,
much broader than deep at the base, the middle portion contracted to considerably less than one
half the width of the terminal " disk." Nostrils sub-basol, superior, neai' together, longitudinal,
and without adjacent membrane. Head completely bald in the adult (feathered almost to the )jill
in the young). Legs comparatively short, the tarsus l)Ut little longer than the middle toe, cov-
ered in front, as well as all round, with small, longitudinal, hexagonal scales. Plumage of the
neck short, downy.*

1 Plataica, LiNN. Syst. Nat. cd. 10, L 1758, 139 ; cd. 12, L 1766, 231. Type, P. leucerodia, Linn.
(Palfenrctic region).

2 Spatlicrodia, Reiciienii. Hnndb. Sp. Orn. 1851, xvi. Type, Plataica mclanorhjinclui, REiciiKNn. =
P. regiu, Goulo (P. Z. S. Oct. 24, 1837, 106. — New f'nnibrin, AustriiHa).

8 Plntcibin, BoNAV. Consp. 11. 1855, 149. Type, Plataica flavijKS, Goui.n (P. Z. S. Oct. 24, 1837, 106.—
New Cambria, AustraHn).

* A peculiar modification of tlie trachea further distinguislies the genus .4jajn from Plataica, according
to Profossov (lAinioD (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 299, fig. 2), wlio describes this organ ns ".simple, straight, of uni-
form cnlibvo, and peculiarly short, extending only two thirds tlie neck, where the uncomplicated syrinx
is situated, and the bifurcation of the lironchi occurs." In Plataica, on the other hand, the trachea is
"convoluied within the thorax," etc. (see YARKELt, Hist. Brit. B. H. p. 504).

108

ALTUlt'lAI, (illAM-AT(»l!KS — IlKIUtlMONEH.

The above chnrncterH, in uililitioii to tlKw prcvioiiHly nivnn, are «iittlcient to define thin well-
marked nenus. Only one »|X!('le» U known, the A. rosea, whone di»tribution in coextensive with
tropical and sub-tropiual Antericu.

A, rosea.

^aja rosea.

TEE ROSY SPOONBILL.

Plalea rosea, Briss. Om. V. 1700, lifjG, i>l. 30 (lulult).

Platalca ajaja, LiXN. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 140, no. 2 (ex Sloaxe, ,Tam. II. 316 ; Marcgr. Ray) ; ed.

12, I. 17(56, 231, no. 2 (bised on Platca rosea, Bui.ss. V. 356, t. 30. — P. incarmta, Sloanf.,

Jam. II. 316. — /'. hrasiUcnsh, Ajaja dicta, Marcgr. Bras. 204).— WiLS, Am. Om. VII. 1813.

123, pi. 62 (yoiuig, third year). — Nrrr. Man. II. 1834, 79. — Arn. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 188,

131 ; .Synop. 1839, — ; Birds Am. VI. 1843, 72, pi. 302 (adult). — Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am.

1858, 686. — Baiiid, Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, \w. 501.~Coues, Key, 1872, — ; Chock List, 1873,

no. 448.
Platca vuxicana (" WiM.otTonuY "), (!a.mii. Jour. Philad. Acad. I. 1849, 222 ("San Francisco").
lioseale Spoonbill, I'ksn. Arct. Zool. II. 1785, 440, no. 338.
Ajaja rosea, Reich. "Nat. Sy.st. 16." — Kmcw. Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 505. — Coues, Check

List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 653.

Hab. The whole of tropical and subtropical America, including the AVest Indies ; south to
the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and Chili, north to the Southern United States.^

• The present northern limit to its range in the United States is not known with precision. We have
reliable information of its abundance less than twenty years since in the "American Bottoms," in Illinois,
below St Louis ; but whether it now occurs there at all, we do not know. Its former occurrence on the
coast of California as far north as San Francisco, is asserted by Gambei. (Jour. Phil. Ac. 1. 1849, p. 222).

H::\%

"TT

PLATA Li:iD.K — TFIK SI'OON'IULLS - A.IA.fA.

103

Sr. CilAU. Ailiilt : Himl tut inly hare. N'crk, Imck, iind luvuMt, wliilf ; tail oriuiKu-luitr, tliu
slmt'ts iif llic fi'iillifix (lt'f|i iiiiik, llic iiiiici' uilw iiM liiiiiij,' to pulu [>iiik. UuMt of the iiliiiminu imlu
iiMf-piiik, till! Il'um'V \viiij,'-riivi'it.s' n'j,'i()ii, uml ii|i|i('r ami Inwcr luil-cnvcitM, luilliurit, iiiteiim' tur-
iiiiii". Jii^'iiluiii willi a liil't <>r li^'lil raniiiiu', Hotiiculiat twisicil, or i'iiiIimI, iiariow |>Iiiiiu!m. SjiUm
of tlif lpiva-<t, at lia-f of tin' \\iii;,',M (coiicralcil \>y \\w laltiT), pale ircainy Imll". " liill yullowiHli
uniy at lliu Uuhv, mottlcil with luovviiiMli I.Lick, in llie lusl ul iln cxtfiit palu );riLiii»li iilin', ii^^lit on
tlie iimrKiiiH; lm«c of iiiai^'iii of lower iiiaiulililt! k''^'"'''*'' yt'llow ; iris l.ri^^iit laniiiiu' ; fed [lalo
lake ; claws lirowiii.Hli lilark ; linid yuUowiah jjri'fii ; hihicu uroimJ tLu uyu ami llie milar mho

(iipiiiiL'iit-oraiij,'!' ; a liainl of Mack from the lower iiiamliMc to tlic orcipiit" (ArnrnoN). Imma-
Inn:: Like the ailull, liut lackiii),' llic liriiliaul liiriiiiiic of llic lesser wiiii,'-coverts' re;,'ioii, tail-
Kiverts, etc., these portions beiuj,' pale iieacli-iilossoni pink. Tail ileli<'ate peacli-Mossoni pink,
instead of (jranj,'e-1mlf. Xiidial ami pectoral colored tufts alisent. Vniiiiii: Head completely featli-
ered, except ininiediatelv around tiie liase of the liill. Head, neck, hack, ami anterior lower parts
white, in some specimens more or less tin),'ed, especially ahove,' with orani,'i'-liulf ; \vinj,'s, tail, and
posterior part of the hody delicate pale pea(di-hlossoni ]iink, the shafts of the remij,'es and rectrices
deeper pink. Outer wehs of alulii", outer primary-coverts, and w'uht horders to outer [irimaries
(principally on outer wehs), clear snutl'-hrown.

[NoTi;. ^We have not seen the younj,' in down, nor when fust feathered. The latter is
descrilied hy Audubon as lollows ; — "The younj,', . . . when able to lly, . . . are grayish white.
The bill is tiien ([uite smoolli, of a yello\vish-),'reen color, as are the lens ami feet, as W(dl a.s thu
skill on part of the head. Voun^' liirds in their second year have the \vinj,'s and the lower wing-
coverts of a pale roseate tint, the bill more richly coloretl, and the lej,'H and feet dark brownish red
I'f purplish. At this a<,'i! they are unadorneil with the curlinj,' feathers on the breast ; but in the
third sprinj,' the bird is perfect, althou^'h it increases in size for several seasons after."]

Length, about 2H.(K1-:)1.(M> ; expanse, 48.W)-.'>3.(H) ; win-,', 14. lO-lo.UO ; tail, 4.20-.'i.20 ; cul-
nieii, (i.:2()-7.i."> ; width of bill, H.OO-i.H) ; tarsus, ;).75-4.(i5 ; middle toe, 2.95-3.35 ; bare portion
uf tibiii, 2. 80-3.20.

All the American Spoonbills examined by us appear to belonj,' to a single species. Jfr. W. H.
[Indson, however, who resided for a number of years in l')Uenos Ayres, entertained the belief that
there are two species of Spoonbills in that country ; and, without at all sharing in this belief, we
submit his arguments in its favor, as follows : —

"In reference to the Uose-colored Spoonbills of America, I believe ornitludogists have been
mistaken in referring them all to one species.

"Whether two or only one s])ecies existed wa.s a moot question a century ago ; it has been
decided that there is but one, tlu' Phitalea ajujti, and that the paler-jduniaged birds, with feathered
heads and black eyes, and without the bright wing-spot.s, the tuft on the breast, horny excrescences
on the beak, and other marks, are only immature birds. Now it is (juite po.ssible the young of
]'. (tjaja resembles the common Uose-colored Spooid)ill of Buenos Ayres; but in that country, for
one bird with all the characteristic marks of an adult P. ujaja, we meet with not less, I am sure,
than two or three hundred examples of the paler bird without any trace of such marks.

" This fact of itself might incline one to believe that there are two distinct species, and that the
common Platalea of Buenos Ayres inhabits the temperate regions south of the range of the true
P. ajaja.

1 Qu, An occidental stain I

'■

lit

i, J

ill J*

104

ALTUICIAL (HIALLATUHKH — HEUUDIONKS.

"Otht'i' lactn confirm me iti tliut oiiinion. A common SiMtonliill wan kupt tame liy a friend of
mine Mevcii ycut'x, at tiiu end of wiiii li time it died witliont liuvin^ auiiuiivd any of tiic diNtin-
^'lUHJiing mufkn of /', iijuju.

"I have dixHccted tbive exumplen of the latter H|)ccie», and olineiveil in them tjje ciiiionHly
formed tiiii'hea recently dewiilH'd |py Mr. (iiirmd.' I have nIiciI |perliiiiH a liuucintl -"ixMimenH
of the connnon liird, for tiiey are extremely almndant with n^. Of tiiene I have ojiemil aliont
thirty, hut in nonu of th.em did I liml thix form of trachea. 1 am therefore convinced that
we have two di>>iinil Hpeciex of KoHe-coluri'd S|)oonViill, iidialiitin^' dilferent portionH of the
continent."

Tlie KoHt'iito S|t()(iiil»ill has a wide distriiiiition. iicciirring in fiivomblo localities
throii^'lioiit Smitli Aiiu'rica, ('ciitnil Aiiu-rica, Mexico, ami the (Julf KcKioii ol tlie
United States, from l-'lorida to the Mexican (lepartnients. StraKRlers have heeii ob-
served even as far south as tiie Falkhmd Ishinds. Captain V,. C. Al)l)ott states that
a specimen of the Sjioonhill was shot in a pond near Kidney Cove, in the Kalkhind
IslundH, in •Inly. iSflO; and lie also found the remains of another in Wlialehone Kay,
in the same year. Dr. ISurmeister sjieaks of this species as every wiiere present in
tile La Plata Ke),'ion, tlirou},'lioiit m-arly tlie whole of which it was found frei[iieiiting
the reeds, on the shores of streams and la^fKni. . He always found it solitary, and
never noticed it in flocks. Mr. C. liarrinnton IJrown mentions lindiii^,' it common in
the inlets of tln^ Cotinga Iviver, in British (iiiiana. Mr. Salvin notices the pro-
eurinj,' of a single indivi(hial of this species in Guatemala. It had been shot by an
Indian on the borders of Lake Diienas. Mr. Salvin afterward mentions having met
with it occasionally on the Pacific coast of (Jiiatemala, wlieris not unfrccpieiitly, a
small Hock woidd tly across the creek, seldom witiiin shot, but often m-ar enough
to show their brilliant oolors. This species has not. that I am aware, been recorded
on the Pacific coast north of Mazuthm; but it is found in several of the West India
Islands, and according to J)r. (Jundlach it breeils in ('uba. It was not met with liy
Mr. Gosse in Jamaica, but is given by Mr. Richard Hill as a resident (tf that island;
Mr. March, however, regards it as being of very rare occurri'iu^e there. It is given
by Leotaud as an occasional visitant to Trinidad, the l)irds seen there being always
in their imnuiture plumage. These visitants usually arrive about the end of .June,
and leave in the month of October. It is abumlant in Southwestern Texas and
along the (Julf coast of Mexico. Mr. Dresser speaks of it as common near .Mata-
moras during the summer, and he never visited the lagoon near the town without
seeing several. On his j(mriu'y to San Antonio, in Sei»tend)er, lie saw a luimber at
different places near the coast ; and in .lune, 1(S()4, he saw two or three on Galveston
Island, wliere it is known under the name of " Klamingr)." lie was informed that,
in former years, it had been known to breed on the island, but that it does so uo
longer, having been too nuich disturbed. He received a specimen in a eolle(;tion
from Fort Stockton, where it was obtained on the .'{d of August. ( )ceasionally this
species wanders up the creeks and rivers flowing into the Gulf, and a specinu'u was
taken as high u)) on the 31ississippi as Natchez. This was the locality of Wilson's
type of the species. That author, luiwever, regarded this bird as rare in Florida,
while Nuttall thought it common in Jamaica; both these statements have, however,
proved to be incorrect. Nuttall records a straggler as having been taken on the
banks of the Delaware River ; but there is no recent record of such an occurrence.

According to Dr. Berlaudier (unpublished MSS.), the Roseate Spoonbill inhabits
almost all the eastern coast of Mexico. It is in winter quite common about the
lakes of Tampico, Tamiagua, the shores of I'anonco, etc., advancing in the summer

1 I'. Z. S. 1875, p. 297.

I'LATALIJID.K — TIIK Hl'UUNHILLH - AJAIA.

105

us far ntii-th ixs Ti'xuh. It ffcds on Hshcs and insects, wliidi it hunts in the wator.
Its coniniiin nanit's iin- "(iaiza Cnlinaila," •• HNpatiila." rtf.

l)r. Ilt'nry Krvant, wiio visitcil rimida in 1.S.1.S, states thai at tiie time of Ids visit
till' Ikiiseate S|Kii)nl)iil was lireedinK in siieh innulxTH at Indian Itiver tiiat in- lias
known one person to kill as many as sixty in a sinj,de day. The win;,'-leatliers. hein;,'
laiK'i'ly iiseil in the manulaetnie of I'ans, were selling at I'mm one dollar to one and a
half for a HiuK'le pair. Ho adds that tld« bird eonimenees Itrecdin^ at I'elican Island
in Felirnary. havinj,' e^'^'s as early as the ndddle of that month, the younj,' l)t'inj,'
nearly Hed^'etl hy the 1st of April, (hi the loth of that month he found one nest
containini,' an e),% All the rest were either empty, or the youni,' were on the point
of IcaviuK them. Tiiis I'gg uieasured '_*.."»(> inidies in h'n]L;th. and l.."»(i inches in breadth,
ami was of an elonj,'ated oval form, the dilTerence between the two ends beinj,' stron^dy
marked. The j,'round color he h'wvh as white, sprinkled all over with bri^dit rufous
spots of diftVront sizes, forniinj,' a rinj? near the lir>;e end. Dr. lUyant also met with
a few at the Hindnis, Itahama, where they were said to breed.

Mr. (i. ('. Taylor (Ibis, l.SdL'), who visited Florida three years after Dr. IJryant,
states that whih", only a few years i)revious to his visit, this species had been very
plcntifid on Indian Hiver, their nund»er had id' late become j,'reatly ilinunishcd,
owin;,' to the destruction of them for the sake <d' their w iuj^'s. lie was informed
that after breeding,' on Indian Kivcr it moves northwards, and remains duiinj,' the
summer in the salt-marshes about Smyrna. He saw a living;' bird that had been
brou^dit up from Indian Uiver a year previous. It was (piite tame, and associated
freely with the jjoultry. While he was staying,' at Smyrna a person l)rouj,dit with
him four youn^' Spoonliills from Imiian Kiver which had been taken from their ne.st
a short time previously. There apfieared to be no ditHeulty in rearing,' them.

Audidion states that it is randy nu't with as far north as the Carolinas. Dr.
Hachman, (Uirinj^ twenty years' observation, knew of Imt three instances. In one
of these lie obtained an individual in full pluma,i,'e ten miles north of Charleston.
He found it wintcriu),' amon^' the keys near Cape Sable, where it remained imtil
nearly the 1st of March, livin,L( chieHy alouj; the watercourses and not far from
the coast; they were not seen either winteriuj^ or breeding in the interior.

It is to 1)(! met with, for the most part, along the nuirshy or muddy borders of
estuaries, the nn)utlis of rivers, on sea islands, or k(!ys partially overthrown with
bushes, and still more abunihintly alon^' the sluu'es of the salt-water bayous so com-
mon within a ndle or two of the shore. There the Spoonbill can reside and breed,
with almost complete security, in the nddst of an abundance of food. It is said to
be t^rcijjarious at all st-asons, and that seldom less than half a dozen may be seen
to<,'ether, unless they have been dispersed by a tempest. At the api)roa(di of the
breeding-season these snuill flocks collect together, fornnng immense collections, after
the manner of the H)is, and resort to their former breeding-places, to whi(di they
almost invariably return. Their moult takes place late in ^lay ; during this time the
young of the previous year conceal themselves among tlu^ mangroves, there sj)ending
tile day, and returning at night to tlndr feeding-grounds, but keeping apart from the
old birds, whicdi last have passed through their spring moult early in March. Like
the several species of Ibis, this bird is said occasionally to rise suddenly on the wing,
and ascend gradually, in a spiral manner, to a great height. It flies with its neck
stretched forward to its full length, and its legs and feet extended behind. It moves
in the manner of a Heron, with easy flappings, until just as it is about to alight, when
it sails over the spot with exitanded wing, and conu'S gradually to the ground. It
flies in a confused manner, except Avhen on one of its extended movements.

VOL, I. — 14

106

ALTUICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES.

■■■'I 'i

It is usually found in the conipany of different Herons, whose vigilance apprises
it of any danger. It ean usually be approached, when feeding, with proper care.
When one is wounded in the wing it usually makes for deep water, and swims for
some distance witiiout attempting to dive. If the wing is uninjured, this bird, even
though mortally wounded, will tly until it drops dead. It is as nocturnal as the Night
Heion, and its principal feeding-time is from near sunset until daylight. In procair-
ing its food the Spoonbill usually wades up to the tibiie, innnerses its bill in the soft
nnid, with the head, and even the whole neck, beneath the surface, moving its par-
tially opened numdibles to and fro laterally, munching the small fry — insects or
shell-tish — before it swallows them. Where many are together, 'c usually acts as
a sentinel. He did not see it feeding in fiesli water, though he was told that it does
so occasionally.

It can alight on a tree and walk on the large branches with all the facility of a
Heron. Its eggs are usually three, and laid about the middle of April, in which his
experience differs from that of Dr. Bryant. It Iniilds on the tops of mangroves,
placing each nest within a few yards of others. These are formed of sticks of con-
siderable size, and are flat. The eggs are described as measuring 2.0.'} inches in length
by 1.87 in breadth, slightly granulated, eipially rounded at both ends, and of a pure
white color — evidently the egg of the I?rown Pelican, and not corresponding with
any egg I have ever seen belonging to tliis species.

An identified egg in the Snuthsonian Collection, obtained by Mr. Edwards in South
Anu'rica, measures 2.00 inches in length by !.()"> inches in breadth. The ground color
is a dirty white, marked with snuill scattering spots of sepia-brown. Two eggs in
my own collection (No. C9 and No. 71), from the Anuizon River, and collected, one
by Mr. John E. Warren, the other by Mr. AVilliam II. Edwards, are, as described by
Dr. Bryant, of an oblong oval shape, with one end much more tapering than the
other. Their ground-color is a dull creamy white, and they are marked with scatter-
ing blotches, '•()1)" of dark se])ia, '•71" of sepia intermingled with faintt'r blotches
of dilute sepia, having a purplish tinge. Tiiese measure, one L'.oo by 1.70 inches,
the other i;.4;{ by 1.71 inches.

Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (No. 17045), collected in Southern Flor-
ida by Professor .1. W. V. .Jenks, measure respectively 2.G5 by 1.80 inches; 2.80 by
1.70 inches ; and 2.55 by 1.80 iniihes. Their ground-color, as in all other cases, is a
dull chalky white ; the markings are rather sjjarse, chiefly about the larger end. of
different shades of amber-brown. This egg may always be distinguished from that
of the White Ibis by its larger size, more rounded smaller ends, and the total absence
of green tint in the ground-color. Another egg. No. 17044, given by Captaia Beudire.
is undistinguishable from No. 17045, measuring 2.G5 by 1.80 inches.

Order LIMICOL^.

PRyECOCIAL GKALLATORES.

Char. Prtecocial wading birds, usually of small size, distinguished from the
Akclorides (Cranes and Hails) by their lengthened, usually pointed, wings, small
or rudimentary hind toe, or the latter member entirely wanting.

The very numerous species whieli together make up this group vary to such great
extremes in the details of structure, that the above characters appear the most promi-
nent ones which, in a comprehensive sense, distinguish tlie Lhnicohr from tlie Alec-
torldi's. It is quite likely, however, that Avhen their internal stnu'ture shall have
been more extensively studied, more positive characters may be discovered for the
trenchant separation of these two "Orders."

It is ccpxnlly difficult to determine the exact number of Families into which the
Limicolir should be divided. It has been customary to allow five — nanudy, II<rmuto-
podidw (including Sfrrpsi/ns), C/KD'adrUdtv (including Ajihrha and Aiitirhijtu'hus),
Rcrurrlrosti'kla', rhalampodidw, and ScoloparUla: As to the three latter families,
tliis division appears perfectly natural ; but close study of the first two makes evident
the necessity of their sharper definition, by the elimination of certain forms which
appear too specialized, or which cannot be conveniently brought within the terms
diagnosing either family. Notable examples are Strepslhis, u.«ually associated with
liivmatopun, but which differs in numerous essential particulars; Aplwixu, which
resembles StrepsUas in most respects except the bill, whi(di is like tliat of the true
riovers; Anitrhipirhits,^ a very peculiar form, having the bill curved sidewat/s, the
other characters being Charadrine; and (Kdirnrmus, very large Plover-like birds,
somewhat resembling the JUistards. The last-named genus has latterly been raised to
family rank by IMessrs. Sclatcr and Salvin ; and it seems equally entitled with Hwmat-
opus to such a position. So, also, appear StrepsUas and Aiutrhi/nrhus, the only alter-
native being to consider all, inchuling Hn'miitojmx, of merely sub-family rank.

The following is an atte^ipt to define the principal groups of Limimlm according
to their external structure.

A> Bill much longer tlian the tarsus, excessively compressed, deepest through the middle portion,
Heematopodidee. No hind toe ; a well-developed web Ijetween outer and middle toes at

the base ; front of tawus covered with hexagonal scales. Size very large.
B» Bill about eipial to or shorter than the tai'sus, moderately compressed, deepest through the

base.
StrepailidaB. A well-develojted hind-toe, with a claw ; no trace of web between outer and

middle toes ; I'ront of tarsus covered by a row of transverse scutelloo. Size small.
C. Bill viiriable, but never longer than the tarsus ; more or less depressed in the middle portion ;

the terminal jtortion of the culmen being more or less arched ; never expanded laterally

at the end. Hind toe usually absent.

» Cf.

"Thp Ibis," 1869, pp. 304-310, pl.viii.

ff-T

108

PIJ.ECOCIAL f4i;ALLATUllES - TJMICOL^R.

'JP i

V I

V, .

t> 1

Cbaradriidae. Size large to very small. Bill slender or siimll, straight, always shorter than

the tarsus.
Anarhynchidae. Size small. Uill slender, curved tn nne side, e(iual to the tai-sus.
OldioueinidaB. Size very large (inueh the largest birds of tiie order). Tarsus nearly three

times as long as the middle toe, covered in front witii liexagonal scales. Plumage very

plain, conspicuously streaked or striped above.
D> Characters much the same as given for section "C,'' hut toes, induiling the hallux, exceed-
ingly lengthened, the claws also very much lengthened ; scutellatiou of legs jnuch as in

the Rallidie.
Farridee. Size medium or rather small. Claws very long and compressed, nearly straight,

tliat of tlie lialJux e(pial to or longer than its digit, linear, and slightly recurved. Bend

of the wing (head of metacarpus) armed with a sharp conical horny spur.
E» Bill exceedingly variable, — short or long, straight, .^lightly recurved, or decidedly decurved,

but usually more or less expanded laterally at the end, which is more or less sensitive.

Hind toe usually present, rarely absent.
Scolopacidas. Tarsus rounded in front, where clothed with a single row of transverse

scutellif.
F. Bill subulate (except in Phalaropus). Toes either partly webbed, or fringed by a lateral,

usually lobed. margin. I'lui'iage peculiarly soft and compact for this order, resemliling

greatly in this resj)ect thuc of the Lowjipetnies. Tarsi compressed, the anterior edge sharp.
Pbalaropodidae. Size small ; tai-si and bill rather short, or but moderately lengthened ; toes

edged with a lateral, usually scalloped, margin.
RecurviroBtridae. Si/.e large ; tarsi and bill very long ; toes partly webbed, and without

scjdlopped margin.

Family H.T.MAT0P0DID;E.— The Oysteu Catchers.

Ilcrviatopincr, " G. K. GuAV, 1840."

IIccmatopcidin(v, "G. B. Gray, 1841;" Handl. III. 1871, 21.

Ostrakginer, "Kekh. 1849."

Thi.s family is characterized Ijv the large size of the birds wliich compose it,
their long, extremely compressed, almost knife-like and nearly truncate bill ; their
robust legs and feet, the former covered in front with hexagonal scales, the latter
destitute of a hind toe, and having a well-developed web between the outer
and middle toes, at their base. Properly restricted, it includes only the genus
Hccmatopus, the characters of which are the same as those of the family.

Genus H2IMATOPUS, Lixn^us.

ffwmatopus, LiKX. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 152 ; ed. 12, 1766, 257 (type, H. ostralegus, LiNN.).

Ostrahgn, Briss. Orn. V. 1760, 38 (same type).

Melanibyx, Reich. Handb. 1853, p. xii (type, H. niger, Pai.l.).

Synopsis of North American Species.

Com. Chab. Bill bright red in life (dull reddish or yellowish in dried skins) ; head, neck,
and moat of upper parts blackish (in some species entire plumage blackish).

A« Plumage parti-colored (_ichite and blackish).

1. H. ostralegus. Entire rump white ; back and wings black, like the neck and breast ; iris

H/EMATOPODID.E — THE OYSTER CATCHERS — IT^E^IATOPUS.

109

crimson ; lejjs nnd feet (in life) purplish red. Wing, 9.80-10.25 ; culmen, 2.85-3.50 ;
tarsus, 2.00-2.20 ; middle toe, 1.20-1.40. Hnb. Piilrcarctic rei,'ion, New Zealand, etc.

2. H. palllatuB. Rump brownish slate, like back and win<.;s ; iris brij,dit yellow ; legs and

feet dull fleshy white or pale dull Hesh-color. Yimwj : Top ami sides of head speckled
with pale brown; feathers of upper parts broadly margined with dull buff; bill brownish;
iris brown. Dnwntj youwj : Above, Iij,'lit brownisli \i\\\\, faintly mottled with dusky, and
marked with two irregular black stripes down the back and one along each side ; a
post-ocular black streak ; lower jiarts, except foreneck, white. Wing, 9.7.5-11.00 ; cul-
men, 3.(K)-3.70 ; tarsus, 2.05-2.55; middle toe, 1.20-1.55. Hah. Coasts of America in
general, e.\cept Pacific coast north of Lower California.
B« I'ltimiKje entirehi hldclish,

3. H. niger. Entire plumage brownish black, more plumbeous on the head and neck.

((. Wing, 9.60-10.75; culmen, 2.50-2.95; greatest depth of bill, forward of nostril, .45-.52;

tarsus, 1.85-2.25; middle toe, 1.30-1. 65. Hub. Pacific coast of North America. Var.

n if/er.
h. AVing, 10.25-10.80; culmen, 2.90-3.(H> ; tarsus, 2.20; middle toe, 1.70-1.75; greatest

depth of bill anterior to nostril, .60. Hah. Pacific coast of South America. Var. ater}

In this species, or race, according to authors, the iris is yellow, eyelids red or orange-red, bill
orange-red, and feet flesh-color, or grayish.

H. palliatus.

The Hrrmalnpns lencopus (Gamot), recognized by Sclater and Salvin {Xomenclator Neotropi-
caliiim, p. 143), is a South American species, with which we are unacquainted. Its habitat is
Tierra del Fuego. In the adult of this species the bill is red or orange-red, the iris bright yellow
<ir orange, the eyelids yellow or red, the legs and feet flesh-colored or grayish. In the young, the
bill is browiush, the iris brown, the legs and feet grayish. (Cf. Sci.. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1878, 437,
438 ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1881, 15.)

^ H^MATOPUS KIGERATER.

Hmmatopus ater, Vieill. Gal. Ois. II. 1825, 88, pi. ccxx. — Cassis, in Bnird's R. N. Am. 1858,

700. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 514. — Scl. & Sai-v. P. Z. S. 1878, 438 Sharpe,

P. Z. S. 1881, 15.

Hrcmatopit^ nigcr, Cuv. R^g. An. I. 1829, 504 (not of Palla.s, 1831).

Hmmatopus Townacndii, AuD. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 247, pi. 427 ; Synop. 1839, 229 ; B. Am. V.
1842, 246, pl. 326.

PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

Heematopus ostralegus.

EVBOFEAH OTSTEB CATCHEB.

Heematopus ostralcijus, Lisx. Faun. Suec. 69 ; S. N. cil. 10, 1758, 152 ; cil. 12, 1766, 257. — Nai-
Vbg. Deutsclil. VII. 1834, 325, iil. 181. — SriiLEo. llev. Ciit. 85. — Kkys. & Ulas. Will). Ei

- Naim.

Eur.
71. — Okay, Geu. 15. HI. 517; Cat. Hiit. 15. 18(53, 142. — Maltjii.l. Hist, liiit. 15. IV. 1852,
152. — UiDiiW. Noin. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 500. — C(iUE.s, Check List, 2d cj. 1882, no. 505
(" ostri/cf)its ").

Ifcnnalopus hiipolriicu.i, Pali.. Zoiifj. ]{o.s.so-As. II. 1811, 129.

ILvma/opits hiifiirnstris, ViKiLi.. Ene. Moth. II. 1820, 310. — GouLD. B. Austr. VI. pi. 7.

liwmrilojms in'i-'itii.i, VliioKs, King's Voy. Austr. Alp. 420.

Ostrakga pieu, Bosnat. Enc. !Muth. 1790, 25.

Oslralegn curopccu, Li.ss. Tiaito, 1831, 548.

Hivnuitopus austrahmidnus, fioui.D, P. Z. S. 1837, 155.

Ostmleyus vithjnris, Li:ss. lii'v. Zoiil. 1839, 47.

Ostmlcgus lnrmnUpus, MAifiii.i,. Man. II. 59.

Ifcrmntopus balticus, Piiieii.m, A'iig. Dcutschl. 563.

Hirinalopus orkntiilis, BliEll.M, 1. c.

Hwmatopus osculans, Swinh. P. Z. S. 1871, 405.

Pied Oyster Cateltcr, Pkxn. Biit. Zoiil. II. 1812, 112, pi. 19.

Oyster Catcher, Yauu. Brit. B. cil. 2, II. 496, fig. ; erl. 3, II. 525, fig., ct Auct.

Had. Sea-const.'< of the Pala-arctic region, New Zealand, etc. ; occa.«ional in Greenland
(Reinh. J. f. 0. 1854, 425 ; Ibis, 1861-1869. Julianehaab, 1847 ; Godtbaab, 1851 ; Nenortalik,
three .specimens).

Sp. Chah. Adult : Head, neqk, juguluni, wings, and tail, black, the head and neck somewhat
plumbeous in certain lights, the wings and tail slightly brownish. Rest of the plumage^ including
the entire ninip, upper tail-coverts, base of the tail, greater wing-coverts, and lower parts, ))urc
white. Throat sometimes with a white transverse band, and in some specimens other white

markings about the head.^ Bill " vennilion, tinged with yellow as far as the end of the nasal
groove, the attenuated part dull yellow ; " iris crimson, eyelids vermilion ; feet " pale lake or
purplish red." (Macgillivray.) Young : " General color of the dark parts . . . deep chocolate-
brown, the feathers slightly margined with yellowish red ; the breast, belly, greater part of the
back [i. e. rump?], half of the tail, and its coverts . . . white ;" bill "more tinged with orange,
but the feet . . . nearly as described above " (Macgillivray).

1 According to Macgillivray (Hist. Brit. B. IV. p. 155), these variations appear to bo of an individual
character, " birds at all seasons occurring with the varieties as to the white marks on the neck mentioned
above."

-^'•■■-■^''^ ■

HiEMATOPODIDiE - THE OYSTER CATCHERS — ILEMATOPUS.

Ill

The changes of plumage with age are thus described by Macgillivray : "After the first moult
the bhick parts of the jilumage are tinged with brown, more espi'iially the ((uills and tail. There
is an obscure half-ring of grayish-wliite across the fore part of the neck, the tips of the white
feathers being black. The legs are pale livid gray, the claws brown, whitish at the base ; the
iris crimson ; and the bill a.s in the adult, but a little more dusky toward the end. It ai)peai'3 to
me that the younger birds only have the white marks on the neck, and that these gradually
ilisapiiear eadi successive moult, until in very old birds there exist only faint indications of
liiiMii, tlie feathers being merely whitish at the base. The chin, which is slightly mottled with
white in the young birds, becomes at length pure black."

The National Museum possesses but a single European specimen of this species, an adult male
I'rom Poinerania. Besides this, however, there are two examples (an adult male and fenuUe) from
Xing Po, China, and one from Xew Zealand. Xone of these possess the slightest trace of the
white markings described by Macgillivray, the entire neck being glossy black.

Tiie Pied Oyster Catcher from New Zealand and that from China have both been separated from
//. ostmlcgus, the former as //. longirostris, Vieili.ot, the latter as //. osculans, Swinhoe. With
the specimens before us, however, we are unable to appreciate any difl'erences beyond slight ones
of proportions, the measurements being as follows : —

Wing.

Culmen.

Depth
of bill
at buae.

Tanus.

Miadlo

toe.

No. 56899

S ad.

Poinprania,

10.25

3.10

.55

2.00

1.40

" 85740

S "

Ning Po,

10.00

3.35

.55

2.00

1.30

" 85741

9 "

((

10.10

2.85

.50

2.15

1.35

" C6276

9 "

New Zoaliuid,

10.10

3.50

.60

2.10

1.25

The difl'erences of measurements indicated above are not so great as have been found in a
larger series of H. palliatiis, and we are unable to discover any differences of plumage.

The Oyster Catcher of Europe is of occasional occurrence in Iceland and Greenland,
and claims, on that account alone, to be included among the birds of our fauna. It is
found along the entire Atlantic sea-<*oast of Europe, is to be seen around the shores
of (Ircat llritain, from the Scilly Islands to the Shetland, and is common in Denmark,
.Sweden, and on the west shores of Norway, from spring to autumn. Pennant states
tliat this species is to be found along the northern shores of Russia aiul Siberia,
wlii're it breeds on the great Arctic flats, and that it even extends its range to
Kumtschatka.

This species also inhabits all the coasts of the southern portion of Europe, passing
to North Africa by the line of Italy and Sicily. It is included by Temminck among
tiie birds of Japan, and by Keinhardt among those of Greenland, on the strength of
three specimens — one sent from Juliauehaab in 1847, another from Godthaab in
1851, and a third found in a collection from Nenortalik. Mr. Alfred Xewton states
that it is more common in the south than in the north of Iceland, and Eaber consid-
ered it resident throughout the 3'ear, as it remained in large flocks during the ■winter
in the south. It is most abundant on the sea-coast, but was found by Herr Preyer on
some of the inland waters.

In Great Pritain and Ireland it is a common and a well-known species. It appears
to prefer the sandy shores of bays and wide inlets bounded with banks of shingle
and other localities favorable for th - production of the various kinds of inoUusks
upon which it principally feeds. Its peculiar beak, truncated and wedge-like in its
shape, and having a sharp vertical edge, is admirably Avell adapted for insertion
between the two portions of bivalve shells and for forcing them open. The Oyster
Catcher is also able with this powerful beak to detach univalve shells and limpets
from the surface of rocks, and does this easily and rapidly. Its food appears to be
mollusca of all kinds, Avorms, Crustacea, and marine insects.

112

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

Mr. Selby speaks of this species as a very handsome bird when seen on the wing,
the marked contrast of its pure black and wliite coloration producing a very striking
effect.

The Oyster Catcher can run with great rapidity, and is able both to swim and to
dive with ease ; and may frccpiently be seen swimming short distances in search of
food, lint it seldom or never dives, except when driven to do so by danger, and in
order to effect its escape from an enemy.

Although the Oyster Catcher is essentially a shore bird, Yarrell cites quite a
number of instances in which it has been found far inland. In one case it was tiiken
at Oatlands, on the Thames, fifty miles from its nu)uth. Another writer, in the Maga-
zine of Natural History (V'T. j). l")!), states that in the summer it may always be found
along the Don, thirty miles or nu)re from the sea, and that it breeds as high up as
Kildrummy. Yarrell states that young l)irds of this species are readily and fre-
quently tamed, and can easily be made to associate with domestic poultry ; In; also
mentions that a flock of these birds used, some years ago, to run about inside the
railing on the grass in front of the Pavilion at Brighton.

In the wild state the birds of this species unite in small "lofjks towards winter, and
are then very shy and difficult of ai)proach. In spring they again separate into pairs,
many of these associating and breeding together at particular favorite localities.
Montagu nentions that they appeared to be more abundant on some parts of the
sandy flat coasts of Lincolnshire than in any other region with which he was ac-
quainted. At a point on that coast called (Jibraltar there is an isolated marsh where
Oyster Catchers were then known to breed, in such great abundance that a fisher-
man informed Mr. Montagu that \u', had collected a bushel of their eggs in a single
morning.

The Oyster Catcher makes no nest, but deposits its eggs — usually four in number
— on the bare ground, on a shingly beach above high-water mark. They are 2.17
inches in length by L.'JO inches in breadth, and have a yellowish stone ground color,
and are spotted and blotched with ashy gray and dark brown.

The female is said to sit upon her eggs about three weeks. During all this time
the male keeps a sharp watch, and on the approach of an enemy becomes very
clamorous. His mate, warned by this signal of danger, leaves her nest in silence,
and after a circuitous flight, joins him in his endeavors to mislead and to decoy away
the intruder. The young, when first hatched, are covered with a grayish-brown
down.

Haematopus palliatus.

AHEBICAN OTSTEB CATCHES.

Hcematoptis palliatus, TF.yiM. Man. II. 1820, 532. — Aun. Om. Biog. III. 183.5, 181: V. 580, pi.

223 ; Synop. 1839, 228 ; Birds Am. V. 1842, 236, pi. 324. - Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1853, 699 ;

Cat. N. Am. H. 1859, no. 512. — Coitus, K.-y, 1872, 246 ; Check List, 187.3, uo. 404 ; 2d ed.

1882, no. 596. — Kidgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 507.
" Hittmtopus ostrale.gus," \Vil.s. Am. Orn. A'lII. 1814, 15 pi. Ixiv. (nee Linn.).
Siemutopus nrcticus, Jard. ed. Wilson, III. 1832, 35.
? Haimatopus " brasiliensU, Licirr." (Guay, Handl. III. p. 21).

Hab. Sea-coasts of temperate and tropical America, from Nova Scotia and Lower California
to Patagonia ; Bahamas ; Cuba ; Tres Marias ; Galapagos. Apparently wanting on the Pacific
coast of the United States north of Santa Bavhara.

Sp. Char. Adult: Head and neck uniform black, with a plumbeous cast in certain lights ; back,
wings, and tail slate-brown. Rest of the plumage, including the greater wing-coverts, tertials, and

n,EMAT0P()DID.1? — THE OYSTER CATCHERS — H.EMATOPUS.

113

basal liulf of tbe secondaries, upper tail-coverts, sides of the runii), basal portion of the tail, and
tlic entile lower parts pure white. Bill (in liic) rich vermilion, most intense (jn middle third,
liasal third more scarlet, the tip yellowish ; cveliilM rich vermilion ; iris bri;,dit yellow ; legs and
feet pale dull fleshy white,* Yitang: Hea<l and neck dusky black, tbe pileuni and cheeks speckled
with dull fulvous, and the feathers surroundin;,' the base of tlie bill whitish ; njiper parts grayish
brown, each feather widely margined with pale fulvous or dull l>u(f. Otherwise much like the
mlult, but upper tail-coverts tijiped with bull', bill brownish, iris brown, and feet dull livid grayish.
Bdinuj ijDiiiKj: Head and neck dull light cinereous, finely mottled with darker, and with a narrow
postocular line of black ; rest of upper parts light fulvous gray, finely mottled with darker, and
relieved by two narrow stripes of black, which extend, parallel to one another, from the upper part
of the back to the rump. Lower parts, from tin; jugulum back, immaculate white. Hill dusky,
the ba.sal half of the mandible dull orange ; iris brown ; legs and feet pale tluU Hesh-color.

Total length, 17 to 21 Inches ; extent, 32 to 30. Wing, ».75 to 11.00 ; culmen, 3.00 to 3.70 ;
tarsus, 2.05 to 2.55 ; niddle toe, 1.20 to 1.55.

Specimens from nearly all parts of the ranG;e of the species have been compared. There is
little, if any, variation in colors, but the dimensions vary with the individual. Two Chilian
examples have the smallest bill, tlu; culmen measuring respectively 3.00 and 3.25, the greatest
dcjitli of the bill, forward of the nostril, being .48. In an example from Isabella Island, Western
.Mexico, these measurements are 3.10 and .55. In a specimen from Yucatan, the depth of the bill
i.s scarcely .45, the culmen being the same length as in the preceding.

On the Atlaiitio coast tlio American Oyster Catclier occurs in more or less abxin-
daiice, from iMassacliiisetts to Central America. Like the //. ostndeffiis of Europe,
it i)robably wanders inland, especially up the inlets and estuaries of the Carolinas.
Wilson mentions having received a stuffed specimen shot from a flock that had been
first discovered on a beach near the entrance of Boston Harbor, and in the summer
of 1837 a pair of these birds were procured at Marslitield by Daniel Webster and
presented to the Boston Natural History Society. It Avas then no uncommon thing
to see specimens of this bird on sale in the Boston nuirket ; but this seldom or never
occurs now, and the bird for many years, so far as known, has been a stranger to
]Massacliusetts. jMr. Boardman informs me that it is of occasional but rare occur-
rence in tho vicinity of Calais, Me., and that a single specimen has been taken on
Grand Me nan.

An (Oyster Catcher was observed by Mr. Salvin at the mouth of the Nagualete
River, and he regarded it as being referable to this species ; he also mentions meeting
with it on the Pacific coast of (.iuatemala. Dr. (Jooper states that he obtained two
specimens of this bird — one at San Diego, the > lier on Santa Barbara Island, in

* Fresh colors of several specimens killed in the breeding .ison at Cobb's Island, coast of Virginia,
vol,. I. — 15

114

PILECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOLiE.

the months of May and Juno. The last contained an egg nearly ready for exclusion.
The birds were alone, or rather, were associating with the black species oidy ; Init
not in pairs, as they did. From this Dr. Cooper su])posi'd that it is a mere straggler
on the l*acili(! coast : perhaps more common southward, but it had not been observed
by him farther north. He found them among the seaweeds on the rocks, or along the
sandy beach, feeding chiefly on small Crustacea and luollusca, and very wild. They
swallowed small shell-covered auinuils, either entire or i)artially broken.

Dr. Bryant mentions finding the Oyster Catcher abundant everywhere throughout
the Bahamas, resident and breeding wherever there were sandy or gravelly beaches.
It also breeds on the Island of Cuba, from whence we have received undoubted speci-
mens of its eggs.

Lcotaud mentions this species as an irregular visitant of Trinidad, where it arrives
in small Hocks sonu^ years, and not at all in others. It usually came in August, and
left in October. Mr. Dresser met with a couple in (Jalveston Bay in June. J lis
boatman called them " Pillwillet," but did not confound them with the Ked Willct.
He said they were not a common species, but that one or two ])airs bred occasionally
on the outer island in West Bay. And Dr. Alerrill informs us that the Oyster
Catcher breeds on I'adre and Brazos islands, near the mouth of the Ilio Grande.

Mr. H. Durnford ("'Ibis," 1878) mentions meeting with several pairs of this species
on Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, and evidently nesting, although he failed to
discover the eggs : this was in December. He also states that this bird occasionally
occurs at the mouth of the Chupat. The fact that it is found in the extreme southern
portion of South America is suggestive of its occurrence along the entire coast of tliat
continent ; and this is partially conhrmed by its presence on the ilarias, where Mr,
Grayson fouiul it common, as well as on the main (toast of Mexico on the Pacific.

Giraud, in his "Birds of Long Island," mentions finding this species a rather
scarce bird on Long Island, although during the siunmcr a few maybe seen on almost
every beach, along the whole extent of its sea-coast. Tn pairs or in small parties it
frequents the sandy beaches or shoals in quest of its food, which consists chiefly of
mussels, small crabs, and marine insects. It is apparently confined to the coast,
and along that of New Jersey and farther south is more common. Giraud was in-
formed that at low water it visits the oyster-beds, awaiting a favorable opi)ortunity,
when the shells open, to thrust in its hard and strong bill o.nd to rob them of their
contents. Those seen on Long Island were usually solitary birds, or at most a pair
at any time, aiul were all between Baynor South and Babylon, in which section no
oysters are found. They were shy, vigilant, and exceedingly difhcult to approach.
Their flight is swift, and they have a stately walk. "When alarmed this bird utters
a sharp whistling note, and runs rapidly along the beach. Should the pursuit be
continued, it takes wing, and passes rapidly out of sight. Although its flesh ic dark
colored and ill-flavored, yet, as it is regarded as a singular as well as a rare bird, it is
always sent to the New York market by the Bay-men, by whom it is called the
" Flood Gull." Giraud adds that it forms no regular nest, but deposits its eggs —
usually three in number — on the sand, leaving them, in fine weather, during the
day to be hatched out by the influence of the sun. When Avounded, this bird always
makes for the water, in which it can both swim and dive well. In autumn it
migrates southward, and large numbers are said to winter in Florida, and at that
season to collect in flocks ; it is, however, said to be rare at St. Augustine.

Wilson found it frequenting the sandy sea-beaches of New Jersey in small parties
of two or three pairs together. It was shy, and rarely permitted approach within
gunshot, except during the season of breeding. It walked along the shore in a

ILEMATOPODID.E — TIIK OYSTKR CATCHERS — ILEMATOrUS.

115

watchl'ul and stately manner, from time to time prol)ing the j,'roun(l with its bill in
search of food. The liard wand to which it resorts w,vs fonnd thickly perforated with
ol)lon>,' holes two or three inches in depth. The liddlir-cral), as well as ninssels, sport-
lisli, and a variety of other shell-hsli and sea-insects, with which those shores abound,
were its principal food. The inhal)itants of Kj^'j,' Harbor and those of other j)arts of
the coast did not credit its alleged feedin;,' upon oysters, statin},' that it is never seen
in their neif,'hborhood, but eontines itself .solely to the .sands; and this statement
Wilscm contirins, statinj,' that he has \iniforndy found it on the smooth beach border-
ing the ocean; and on the higher dry and level sands, just beyond the reach of tides,
and at ])oints where the dry flats are thickly interspersed with drifted shells, ho
usually found its nests between the middle and thtf 2i"ith of May. The nest is said
to be merely a slight hollow in the sand, and usually e()ntains three eggs, Avhich, when
fresh, have a bluish cream-colored ground, nuirked with large roundish spots of black,
and others of a fainter tint. In some eggs this blue tint was wanting, and in these
the blotches were larger and of a deep brown. The young wt-re hatched about the
2.")tli of May, and sometimes earlier ; Wilson himself found them running about the
hcacli at that period. When I visited tht; sandy islands off Cape Charles in June,
IHo'J, there were no young birds found, and all thi; eggs of this species were fresh — a
condition probably owing to the fact that their eggs had been previously taken, and
no opportunity afforded for their hatching at an earlier period. The j'oung birds are
described by Wilson as bchig at first covered with down of a grayish color, resendding
that of the sand, and marked with a .streak of blackish brown on the neck, back, and
rump, the breast being dusky where in the old birds it is black. Their bills are
slightly bent at the tip, and have a hard protuberance, which falls off in a few days
after they are hatched. They run along th(^ shore with great ease and swiftness.
The female sits on her eggs only during the night or during cold and rainy weather,
the heat of the sun and of the sand at other times rendering her presence unneces-
sary ; but she is said to watch the spot with anxiety and fidelity. The young follow
the mother from the shell, squat on the sand — from which they are with difficulty
difitinguished — whenever there is any danger, while both parents nmke large circuits
around the intruder, uttering repeated cries, and practising the common stratagem of
counterfeited lameness. Their note is said to be a loud and shrill whistling, like
whei'2)-inheej)-wheu sharply nttered. A Hock of these birds will often rise, descend,
and wheel in air with remarkable regularity, as if drilled to the practice ; at such
times the glittering white of their wings is very conspicuous. This peculiarity is
also mentioned by Jardine as having been noticed by him in the European ostvaloffus.

The stomachs of the birds opened by Wilson contained fragments of shell-fish,
pieces of crabs and of the great king-crab, with some dark brown marine insects,

Audubon claims to have met with this species in Labrador, and states that he
there found several breeding in the month of July. He afterward adds that he saw
this bird farther inland in Labrador than in any other part of the country. I am
only able to reconcile this statement with the remarkable rarity of this species from
Montauk Point to Grand Menan, and with the singular fact that we have no mention
by any other author of its appearance on that coast, by supposing that Mr. Audubon
was misinformed, or in some way misled in regard to its occurrence farther north.

The eggs of this species vary in length from 2.25 to 2.45 inches, and in breadth
from 1.66 to 1.70 inches. Their gi-ound-color is a fawn-colored white, and their
markings are of bistre ; these are partly rounded spots, and partly irregular confluent
blotches, lines, and oblong dashes. The dark-bistre is occasionally washed with the
fawn-co\or of the ground, giving to these markings a diluted, neutral appearance.

110

PR.ECOCIAL r, HALT, ATI )RKS — LIMICOL.E.

Btematopu* nlger.

BLACK OYSTER CATCHEH.

Uitmiilopiin iiltjn; P.VI.I.. Zoog. Itimso-As. II. 1H;)1, 1:11. — Baiiip, llinls N. Am. If.lS, 700 ; Cnt.

N. Am. n. 18,V.i, no. .113. — foiKs, Key, 1»7'J, -Jlti; fhcvk List, 1873, no. 4(i:i ; 'Jil I'J. 18SJ, no.

61*7— KiDiiW. Norn. N.Am. It. ISS'i, no. :.08.
IIirmolniniH llii,-lin„tin, An>. <>in. 111..),'. V. lS;)ii, •il"), \A. 427 i Synoii. 1831), 220 ; Birds Am. V. 1842,

213, pi, 32'). — T.)\VNs Nun. Ks31i, 348.

IIah. Piuilii' coast of Xorlli Aincrii'ii, iis far south n« Lower Caliloriiia ; lirecdin); »oiith to
Sunta C'rii/, CalU'oniia Kuril.- l^'Ianll'<.

Sr. C'H.vn. All nil : Hca.l, neck, aii.i juj,'uliini Mick, willi iiuirc or less of a pliniilicoiis cast ;
rest of till- ])liiiiiaj,'c uniform Ma.kisli In-own. " I'.ill vcrniiiion, fa.linj,' to vcllow on tin- worn j.ails
towanl till' cntl. E.l'.'fs of cycliiis vciniilion ; iris yellow. Feet white, sli^-litly tinged with Ite.sli-
color ; claws yellowish, t.iward the en. I dusky" (Arnriiox).

Win^', !K(i(>-lo.7.'> ; culnien, 2..')i>-2.!).') ; greatest dejith of hill (I'orwanl of nostril), .45-.02 ; tnr-
flu.«, 1.8.')-2.25 ; middle toe, l.;)t)-l. (!.").

There is no very young siiecinieii of //. iili/ir in the coHecti.in ; hut a very young exaniide of
the southern form (var. atcr) from Tierra del l-'iiego (No. i:)484) is wholly dusky blackish, each

feather, above and below, except on the head and neck, tipped with a naiTow bar of pale ochra-
ceous. This character of immaturity is indicated in several of the specimens of if. uigcr in the
collection by the presence of a few whitish narrow bars on the abdomen. One e.vaniple, still
younger (No. 28000, Straits of Fuca), ha;^ some of the wing-coverts narrowly and indistinctly
tipped with ochraceous, and the bill is yellowish horn-color, e.xcept on the basal portion.

This species, first made known as a Xortli American bird by Townsend, was called
by Audubon Hachman's Oyster Catcher. It had been ])rcviously described by Tallas
as belonging to Northeastern Asia and the surrounding islands. jNIr. Townsend men-
tions having found it abundant along the whole of our northwest coast, as well as
in Regent's Sound. The specimens mentioned by these authors were shot in June,
183(5. Other specimens have since been taken in Alaska, at San Miguel Island,
Sitka, Kadiak, in C^alifornia, and elsewhere.

Mr. R. Browne (Ibis, 1868) states that this species, though not a connnon bird in
the southern portion of Vancouver Island, is quite abundant at the northern end,
and very plentiful about Queen Cliarlotte Islands. In March, 1866, while rowing
along the narrow sounds among these islands, he often met with it. It was by no

H.KMATOPODID.K — TFIK uYSTKIl CATCHERS- 1 1. EM. \ To ITS.

mt'ans shy, but would sit on tlic rocks until lie coulil nlmost touch it; then, uttcr-
iuK ft low whistliu),' cit, if would dint olT to iinothi'i" Hki'rry, ri'|K'atiii},' tho huuio
lUMno'Uvn- iijjiiiu and iiijaiM.

Dr. ("ixipt'i' it'K'ards the lUack (hstcr ('atidicr as an cmiiu-ntly tliaractt'iistic bird
of our I'acitic coast. He adds tliat it is nioic conmiou to the northward than to
the south, and that it is i)artic\darly partial to rocky coasts and islands, hciii),' rarely
met with on sand hcatdies. lie t'ouml a lew on Santa Marhara Island, in .May, I.S().'{,
and discovered a nest on the .'Id of dune containiuf,' four fresh ej,'^s, supiioscd to
have heen a second layin^t. They were in a sli^dit dcpressitui in tho j»ravel, doso
to the edi,'e of a rocky clitT, ii,Ljainst which the waves were dashinj; almost to its top,
and a very sli^'ht roll would have sent the water over them. The (dd liinls, uuliko
the IMovers, showed great solicitude for their eggs, Itoth of them Hying round clo.se
to him, with a louil whistle, which was their only cry.

Mr. Cooper descril)cs their eggs as nu'asuring fnuu li.L'S to L',4(> iiudies in length,
and from l.od to l.o.'t inches in breadth. They hav(^ a brownish-white grouiul,
sparsely blotched with markings of a light and of a darker brown.

Dr. Coo|>er thinks that this species does not breed in any cd' the islands soutli of
Santa Barbara, as he nu't with none of them during the siimnuM'. and saw none along
the southern coast. He has notu'cd this species ou the Karallon I.slands in June, and
helievi's that this is the bird rtd'erred to by Dr. Heernuinn as //. Toifiisfiidl! oi Audu-
bon, inasmuch as this latter has never been seen mu'th of Panama. This last-named
species is one that may readily be rccogni/cd by its blood-red h'gs; and Dr. Cooper
ventures the suggestion that Townsend really obtained his specimen of it from
South .\nicrica, as it is now known that he did several other species of birds wrongly
credited to onr coast. Dr. Cooper adds th.at there apjicars to be really very little, if
any, difference in the habits or cries of the m'f/ir and those of the 2»'l/i<itt(>i, both of
whiidi specii's associate together during the breeding-seas. m.

.Mr. Dall mentions this bird as a summer visitor to the Aleutian Islaiuls, and says
that it was seen both in Malashka and in the Shumcgius. The eggs, partly incubated,
were obtained ou liange Island, I'opoff Strait, June 'J',i, 1871.'. There were two in one,
and one in another, nest, tlu'se being mere depressions in the giMvel of the beaeh,
with no lining whatever. The birds were exceedingly wary, and kei)t entirely out of
gunshot. When disturbed they uttered a peculiar low whistle, which, once heard, is
likely to be remend)ered ; and they have a habit of standing on the beach or rocks a
little way ajjart, ami whistling, one calling and the other answering, keeping this up
for half an hour at a time. It is one of the most peculiar birds of that region, having
a grave, solenni, and stilted gait, and bobbing its liead up and down with every step
as it moves.

Mr. H. W. Henshaw met Avith the Black (.)yster Catcher in considerable numbers on
Santa Cruz Island, and was informed that they occur on other islands of that group,
frequenting the little islets that are separated from the nuiin island by narrow chan-
nels, and finding these breeding-grounds safe from the intrusion of their enemies.
Their short stout legs and feet adapt them for a life among the rocks, and they
ol)tain much of their food among the kelp and seaweed which cover the slippery
rocks and shelter various crnstaceans and mollnsks. Their long, strong, and wedge-
like bill is admirably adnptcil for prying open bivalve shells. (1n Santa Cruz Island
they seemed to obtain a plentiful supply of food by feeding, along the sandy beaches,
on objects cast up by the waves or floating on the surface. Their movements a\>
peared rather clumsy, and as if they felt a little out of place. The birds were not
at all shy, and permitted Mr. Henshaw to approach them within thirty yards as

• - I

118

PR.KCOCIAL ilKAM.ATollKd — LlMlCoLE.

they waniK'red nloiiK tlu' \hw\\. Tlicy wt-rf tht> noisiest of all tlio tViitluTt'd triU' frc-
(|iU'iitiiiK the ishuitl, and tlu'ir liursh ami vdciliTouM cries were licunl nil the day hmj^.
After some seareli he siii'<'eed('(l ui tiiHliiiK' two nests, (hie, coiitaiiiiiiK a siiiKh' fresh-
hiid t%% was fouml, .lime (1, on the extreme point of a liiKh elitl jiittiiiK over the sea;
the Hpcond, olttaini'd a f«w (hiyH hiter, wiw on a small islet. The nests were nide
affairs, heiiij,' sliKlit hollows in the pelilily di'tritiis, with hits of stone hidiiijht from
elsewhere. There was no ^^vmh or any lining' softer than the stones themselves.
In ono east! the two e^^s had b«'en incubated, and were i)rol»al>ly all tliat would
have been laiil. The cj;>,'S were untlistin^'uishalile from those of the jtiif/i'ntns. Their
fjround-color was a faint ^''iiyi-'^h dralt, |irofiisely marked with irref,'ular blotches of
black. They measured L'.L'T Ity l..V.>, L'.l.".* by LIS, and L'.lH by \.n'J inches.

Eggs of this species ol)tained by Mr. Hepburn on I'liget Sound average ;i.l7 by
!.")'» inches. Their ground-color is a light olivaceous drab, spotted with rounded
markings distributed in a general, but scattered, manner over the entire egg. These
si)ots are of a «hirk bistre, almost black; and these eggs differ greatly from those of
the piiUintiiH. From the dilTcrent aspects presented by the eggs procured by Mr.
Hepburn and Mr. Ilenshaw, it would seem that the eggs of this species must vary,
and that while some closely resumble those of the eastern species, others are quite
different.

Family STREPSILID^E. — The Tuknstones.

Strepailincc, "G. R. (iUAV, 1840."

Slvrpnilidit, UiDfiw. ItiiU. Ills. .Stiitc Liihomt. Nnt. Hlfit.no. 4, May, 1881, p. 194.

Cindiim, "O. 11. UiiAV, 1841 ;" HuikII. III. 1871, •.'-'.

CliAU. Eather small, l*lover-like birds, dillering from the true Plovers {Chnrn-
flriida:) cliieHy in the more robust feet, without trace of web between the toes,
the well-developed hiiul toe, and the stronj:; claws ; the toes with a lateral mar-
gin, forming a broad flat under surface (especially in Aphrizn); the bill of one
genus (SfrqMlan) peculiar. The two genera may be distinguished by the following
characters : — .

Btrepailaa. Bill compres.'<e(l and pointed tenniimlly, somewhat upturned at the end, the cuhncn
straight or even slightly concave ; tarsus not longer than the hill ; tail slightly rounded.

Aphrlza. Bill slightly swcdlen turininully, the terminal portion of the culnien decidedly couve.\ ;
tarsus decidedly longer than the bill ; tail slightly emurginated.

Genus STREFSILAS, Illiger.

Morinrlla, Meyeii & Woi.f, Tnschb. Viig. Deutschl. II. 1810, 383 (type, Tringa interprcs, LiXN.).
Strcpsilas, Illiged, Prodromus, 1811 (same ty[)e).

Char. Fornj robust, the head small, neck short, wings long and pointed, feet stout. Bill
straight along the culnien (or else slightly concave above), somewhat upturned terminally, com-
])ressed toward the end and pointed. Wings reaching beyond the tail, the first primary longest,
the tertials not reaching to end of the primaries. Tail slightly rounded. Tarsus decidedly longer
than the middle toe, the latter shorter than the bill.

The two species of this genus, both of which are American (one of them exclusively so), may
be distinguished as follows : —

STItKI'SILin.K — THK TrilN'STONKfl — STIIKI'MILAS.

119

Cum. I iiAii I.Dwer |HirtM (i-xuupt jiiKiiliiiii), ii|i|><t purt <>f runi|), U|i|i*'r tail-toviTtx, niul ({n-ntir
win^-coviTtM, ])iiri! whitu ; niimiiiilui' of |iliiiiiaKi' 'luHky, Mutiiutiiiiux vutii'^ati-d with wliiti', or wliitu

aiiil rni'iiii**.

iSf. interpret,

1, B. interprea. Tliront always wliitc Ailult: UpinT partH moif or K'mh luixud willi riiroim,
(ilxMially ill wiiilfV i)liiiiia},'L', wlit'ii tliii* color prevailM in hw^o juitchcK ; head iiuMtly
wiiiti' ; jii^iiluiii iiiiironii ili'('|) hlack. Yunmj : Head mostly diifky ; iiiipcr part.-i without
rul'ous, but with ochruceoUK e<l),'iii;,'n ; ,ju;,'ulum motile I ilusky. Wiiij,', ahout (i.(K) ; cul-
meii, .8(>-.9<» ; tursuo, l.(K»; middle! toe, .7ft. Huh. Entirely coHmoj>()litan, but atl'iitinn
rhiclly \\w Hca-t'oasts.

i, S. melanooepbalua. Tliiout alwayM dunky. Ailult in sumnur: Uppor jiarts uniform broii/y
lirownish black ; head, netk, and ju^'uluni, black, with white Mtnaks on forehead and
juj^uhun, and lar;j;e si]iot of Hanie on lore?*. Ailull in irintir: Similar, but head, lu'ck,
anil juj,'ulum, smoky inownisii, and without white markin;,'s. Yhiukj : Similar to the
winter iiluniiij,'!', but head, etc., more grayixh, the feathers of n])iier parts bordered fermi-
nnlly with pale bull', or whitish. Win^, 8.H(M).I() ; culmen, .H.-)-l.(K) ; tarsus, l.(K(-l.|() ;
middle toe, .90, Hub. Northwetit coa-st of North America.

Strepsilas interprea

T1TBN8T0NE.

Tringa interpres, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 1. 148 ; ed. 12, 1. 1700, 248. — Wil.h. Am. Om. VII. 1813,
32, 1)1. Ivii.

Slrqmtas iitta-pren, Ilmo. Tindr. 1811, 203. -SwAtss. F. B. A. II. 1831, 371. — NuTT. Miin. Water
Bds. 1834, 30. — Arn. Oiii. Biog. IV. 1838, 31, pi. 304 ; Syiiop. 1830, 227 ; Birds Am. V. 1842,
231, ]p1. 323. — BAiiin, B. N. Am. UM, 701; Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 515. —Coifs, Key,
1872, 246 ; Check Ust, 1873, no. 400 ; 2d ed. 1881, no. 598. — Uidgw. Noin. N. Am. B. 1882,
no. 509.

Morinella interpres, Stkjx. I'roc. V. S. Nat. Mas. Vol. 4, 1882, 32,

Tringa morincUns, Linn. S. N. I. 1760, 249 (= young).

Strepsilas colliiris, Tem.m. Man, II. 1820, 553.

" Charadrius cinclus, Pai.lan" (BAinn, 1. c).

Had. Sea-cqaats of nearly nil countries ; in America, from Greenland and Alaska to Chili
and Brazil ; in the interior, more or less common along the shores of the Great Lakes and larger
rivers.

Sp. Char. Adult : Chin and throat, a large loral patch, another covering terminal half f>f the
nuriculars, border of the pileum, and large transverse patch on each side of the jiigulum, white j
stripe from the frontlet to the eye, s((uari8li jiatch beneath the eye, malar stripe, side of the neck,
Jugulum, and sides of the breast, uniform black, all these markings confluent and sharply defined.

■i i

lis

120

PR^COCIAL GIIALLATORE^! — LIMIC'OL^.

Remuiiider of the lower parts, upper part of tla- ntiiip, upper tail-toverta, and ends of secondaries,
pure white. BreeiUny-jdum'tiie : Uppi'r jtarts dr. Icy lilaciiish, the wiiii,'-covorta li^'htf-r, lUDro
brownish gray, tlie featliei's showing darker centre- ; back and scapuhus little, if at all, varied with
rufous; crown dusky, unifoni, or streaked. Spriinj (and winter .') p/nimtrje: Ujjper parts nii.xed
black and briglit lufous, the latter color occupying chiefly the middle of the back (longitudinally)
and the wing-coverts, the scapulars and tertials nii.\ed black and rufous. Piieuni more streaked
with white, and markings about the head and neck more sharply defmed than in the summer dress,
"Bill black; iris lia/el ; feet deep orange-red, claws black" (AlI)L'Bon). Yountj : Head chieHy
mill led grayish, witlnnit well-delined markings ; black of the jugulum and breast indicated by
niou'.ed dusky, occupying the same area, but not sharply defined ; upper parts grayish dusky, the
feathers bordered terminally with butf or whitish.

Total length about 9 inches ; wing, 0.1X1 ; tail, 2.50 ; culmeu, .80-.90 ; tarsus, 1.00 ; middle
toe, .7o.

Spring plunwfie.

The variations noted in a series of more than sixty specimens of this species are chiefly individ-
ual and seasonal. Examples are variously intermediate, according to the season, hetween the two
quite distinct stages of plumage described above as the breeding and the winter dress. Unfortu-
nately there are very few specimens from other countries than America, so that we cainiot say
whether those from diH'erent continents differ perceptibly. Two European examples, however, in
the winter livery, seem identical with American skins.

The specimens in the daik, dull-colored summer plumage have been erroneously considered as
sho "ing a tendency toward the charactei's of S. vulanocephalus, or forming the " connecting link "
betwt n that species and S. interpres — thij view being apparently based on geographical consider-
ations, the specimens upon which this o])inion was founded conung from the Prybilof Islands.
Specimens in the same plumage occur, however, thi.ntghout the northern regions, including the
Old World, and apparently represent simply the sum.ner dress.

The series of sununer specimens from other idealities than Alaska, however, is unfortunately
very small ; and it may possibly prove true, that what we ,;ave described above as the breeding-
plumage of true S. interpres represents really a darker-colo' ^d Alaskan race, and that the brighter-
colored plumage described as the winter dvess is really the full breeding-plumage of true interpres.
However this may be, the dark Alaskan birds have nothing whatever to do with S. melanocepliedus,
which has not oidy veiy different proportions, but also in every stage a conspicuously different
pattern of coloration.

The Common Tiu-nstone is one of the most widely distributed and at the same
time one of the r .ost abundant of l)ird.s. Breeding in great numbers in all the high
Arctic regions, oi- i in the northern portions of both continents, it wanders thence
southward over a!' lands. It is found at certain seasons on both the Atlantic and
Pacific shores, and also in the interior of North and South America, as far even as the
Straits of Magellan. It has been taken in various parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

STREPSILID.E — THE TURNSTONES — STREPSILAS.

121

Deriving its name from its singular habit of turning over small stonee when search-
ing for food, in quest of the marine insects that lurk underneath them, it is as
I'cniarkabU' in its appearance as in its habits. The singular variety of its colors
and the beauty of its jjlumagc render it conspicuous, and cause it to be universally
noticed.

Mr. F. Ducane Godnian mentions (Il)is. 18GG) meeting with this species in the
Azores. A few pairs could always be found inuong tlie rocks between Santa Cruz and
Tuuta Delgada, on Flores. He obtained several spct-imens in Juiie, in tlie full breeding-
l)luinage, and he had no doubt that tluiy were breeding on the small islands near the
coast, .as tliey remained there all the year. He afterward met with otlun-s in Fayal,
near Capellas, and has no doubt tliat this bird may be found on the coast of the
entire group in greater or less numbers. The same writer, in his paper on the
migratory birds of Madeira and the Canaries (Ibis, 1871), again expresses his belief
tliat the Turnstone lueeds in the Azores, and also on the Canary Islands, where it is
not uncommon near tlie coast.

Dr. J. C. Merrill mentions the presence of this species during the months of May
and June along tlie coast of Southwestern Texas, and was confident that it Avas
breeding there — an opinion strongly corroborated by his procuring examples of
females with denuded breast, the almost sure evidence of their having been nesting
birds.

Mr. Nelson also speaks of having found the Turnstone as a common migrant
along tlie shores of Lake Michigan, in which neighborhood it jirrives alwut the 15th
of May, coming in full bridal jdumage and remaining into June. It returns again in
.Vugust, still in the full breeding-plumage, which it loses about the last of that month,
it does not leave that neighborhood until about the 2()th of December.

Mr. E. L. Layard, when off Cape St. Francis, Africa, but out of sight of land,
observed a flock of four that came oif to his vessel. Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibi.s, 1878)
mentions the procuring by Jlr. Eillippoiii of three or four examples of this bird in
Egy])t.

Mr. R. Swinhoe enumerates this species in his li.st of the birds of Formosa (Ibis,
18G3). It comes there in small flocks, and, associating with the Sanderling, departs
after a short stay. The same writer, in his paper on the Hirds of Hainan, mentions
tiiuling large flocks of these birds in the Poochin River on the 5th of March. They
sat on tlie Ashing stakes, or ranged themselves in rows on the ropes which ran from
one to the otlier. These birds were all just assuming their summer plumage.

This species has been taken in Senegal, and specimens of it have also been ob-
tained at the (Jape of (iood Hope. Tenuninck includes it among tlie birds of Japan,
and mentions having received specimens of it from New Guinea, Sunda, and the
Moluccas.

Dr. Middendorff gives it as among the birds of Siberia and Northern Russia, and
includes it among those which go to the extreme north. It is found thence through-
out Europe southward to Italy, Sicily, Malta, and Africa. Von I3aer met Avith it in
Nova Zembla. Professor A. Newton noticed its presence on Spitzbergen, and this
was afterward confirmed by Professor A. J. Malmgi-en (Ibis, 1869), who found a pair
on Amsterdam Island. Mr. C. A. Wright mentions it as an irregular and rare visitant
of Malta, appearing there in May, August, and September, and once in December.
Mr. H. Saunders notices it as appearing regidarly in Southern Spain in its migrations.
Wheelwright speaks of it as common in the south of Sweden, in the Baltic, and on
the Norwegian coast. It goes up far within the Polar Circle. He has found it
breeding, and as often sitting on three eggs as on four,
voi,. I. — 16.

122

PILECOCIAL GUALLATOUES — LIMICOL^.

Yarrell states that it frequents tlie liritisli coast, either singly or in small flocks of
four or five in number, from August throughout the winter till May. 13r. Fleming
states that it is resident in Zetland, and found there at all seasons. liewitson men-
tions its breeding on the coast of Norway. After visiting numerous islands, he was
alxmt to land on a Hat rock, bare except where, here and there, tufts of grass or
stunted jani])er were growing, wlien his attention was attracted by the singular cry
of a Turnstone, which liad perched itself upon an eminence of the rock, assuring him
by its querulous, oft-repeated note and anxious motions, that its nest was tliere.
After a miinite search he succeeded in finding the latter placed against a ledge of the
rock, and consisting of nothing more than the dropping leaves of the junii)er-bush,
under a creeping l)ranch of which the eggs, four in number, were snugly concealed,
admirably sheltered, and allowing just sufficient room for the bird to cover them. He
afterward found several other nests, each containing four eggs. The time of breed-
ing was the middle of .June. He describes their eggs as having an olive-green ground,
spotted and streaked with ashy blue, and two shades of reddish brown. They meas-
ured 1.59 by 1.17 inches.

Professor Alfred Newton mentions that the Turnstone is said by Faber to occur
in Iceland, being more common in the south and west than in the north. It arrives
about the last week in April, and breeds in Iceland, as Mr. Proctor received its eggs
froju the northern portion of that island. It usually leaves again in the autunni ;
but a few remain late in the season, as Faber obtained one Dec. 11, 18L'0.

In America it occurs throughout the continent, Mr. Charles Darwin finding it, on
the voyage of the " Beagle," in the Straits of ilagellan, and the various Arctic ex-
plorers meeting with it in North (rreenland, on Winter Island, at Felix Harbor, and
on the coast near F uiy Point and Victoria Harbor. Dr. Walker found it breeding
early in June in the marshy valleys in Bellot's Strait. Ileinhardt includes it among
the birds of Greenland. Cai>tain Blakiston met with it at York Factory, Hudson's
Bay, in August, and Mr. Boss mentions it as i)resent, but as rare, on the Macken-
zie liiver. Ivichardson speaks of it as common in tlie Fur Country, where it reaches
its breeding-quarters on the shores of Hudsou's Bay and the Arctic Sea, as far north
as the T-jth parallel, in Jiuie, leaving them at the beginning of September. It is
common in Bermuda during the winter, and is of irregular occurrence in most, or all,
of the West India Islands. Professor Newton met with it in St. Croix in April, 1857,
and Mr. E. Newton saw it there, Sept. 8, 1858. Leotaud speaks of it as a migratory
visitant of Trinidad, where it never fails to arrive in August, departing in October.
It is said to be almost always found alone, flitting along the borders of the sea, some-
times silent, and at other times uttering a soft, peculiar cry, which is not easily
described. Certain kinds of shore seem to suit it best ; in these it stops to search
under the small stores, which it turns over with its bill for the worms, etc., on which
it feeds. It is the " Plover " of Trinidad ; but its flesh is not held in high esteem.
It was taken by Xantus on the Bio Zacatula, in Mexico, and by others in Ecuador,
Guiana, the Argentine Bepublic, I'eru, Chili, and in the West Indies.

Mr. Salvin obtained specimens late in April among the islands on the coast of
Honduras, and mentions it as common in winter on both coasts of Guatemala. Mr.
Dresser noticed a number of these birds quite close to Galveston on the 26th of May,
1864 ; and afterward, on a second visit, found them as late as June. It is a regular
visitant to Massachusetts in its migrations, passing north usually in April, and
coming south in September or August. It was quite common on tlie shore of Lake
Koskonong, "Wis., about Aug. 15, 1873. Gnly a single specimen is known to have
baeu taken on the Pacific coast — by Dr. Cooper at the mouth of the Columbia.

STUEPSILIDyE — THE TUIJXSTOXES — STREPSILAS.

123

In different parts of the United States it is known by various local appellations.
It is the "Jirant Hird" of Long Island and some parts of New England, and is the
" Ilorse-foot Snipi; "' of Egg Harbor, where it is so ealled because it feeds on the
spawn of the Horse-foot erab. Tlu' young are there known as " Head IJirds," Giraud
states that it reaches the shores of Long Island early in April, and leaves for its
l)rceding-places late in i\Iay. It returns to the shores of New Jersey and Long
Island in September, and there contiiuies until (piite late in the fall.

This bird is never seen in large companies, as its habits are rather solitary, and it
wanders singly or in small parties .along the beach in search of insects and minute
sliell-tish. Giraud adds that it is usually in tine condition in the fall, and is considered
a delicacy. According to Mr. N. B. Moore, many spend the winter in Florida. Al-
tliough it penetrates far north to breed, and is not known to do .so in any part of
Florida, it may be seen alorg the shores of Sarasota Bay dining every month in the
year. He met with a flock of eleven on the 20th of .lune, 1870, when their dress
was that of winter. After that he saw them almost every day for a month, during
which time their plumage remained as we And it in January. As the summer passed
on their numbers diminished, either by death or dispersion ; and by the time the
others had returned from the north — some of whom came in August, and Avere in
very gay plumage — this little band had dwindled down to only one or two. Their
plumage was neither worn nor faded, but displayed none of the summer tints, nor
did the birds themselves seem feeble. The question arises : Do birds, after they have
become old, effete, or barren, prefer to stay in a warm climate ?

This species is said by Mr. Moore to alight on the dead branches of mangroves, and
on the stumps and stakes which stand in the water near the shoi-e and from tAVO to
six feet above it ; and there they sit in the manner of the Carolina Dove,

The naturalists of the Wilkes Exi)loring Expedition appear to have found the
Turnstone at home along the sea-coasts of the temperate and tropical regions of the
globe. It was common on many of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, north and south
of the Ecpiator. None were in full plumage, and all were migrating. In the Kings-
mill grov >. near the Equator, it was seen in large flocks on the 24th of Ajiril. Nine
were shot at a single discharge ; they were exceedingly fat. A specimen was killed
at Callao, Peru, in the month of June. One was taken in the Feejee Islands. Dr.
I'ickering speaks of this bird as having been seen at nearly all the points visited
by the Expedition in North and South America, and in the islands of the Pacific
Ocean.

In the Smithsonian Collection specimens have been received from Lake Winni-
peg, Big Island, Fort Bae, Fort Resolution, Fort Anderson, the Lower Anderson
Iiiver, Plover Bay, Siberia, Nulato, Fort Simpson, etc. It is known to proceed as
far to the north to breed as man has yet penetrated, having been recorded by Dr.
lU'ssels as taken at Polaris Bay, and by Mr. Feilding, of the British Expedition of
1S75-7G, as tolerably common in Smith's Sound and in the most northern regions
visited by that Expedition. It was observed as late as Sept. 5, 1875, in lat. 82 ° 30'
N., and was first noticed on the 5th of June, 1870, in the neighborhood of the winter
quarters of the " Alert." By the 12th of August the young broods were able to fly.

The Turnstone is called the " Hebridal Sandpiper " by Pennant and by Hearne,
and in parts of England it is known as the " Variegated Plover." Its habits are
peculiar, and differ in several respects from the manners of most Waders, resembling
rather those of the Sanderling. It feeds on the smaller crustaceans and the soft-
bodied animals which inhabit thin shells, turning over the stones on the beach in
search of them, or hunting- among the sea-weed for its food. If not disturbed it

124

FILtlCOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOL.E.

usually remains longer in one place than most Waders. When on the wing it is said
to utter a loud twittering note. It can be readily reconciled to confinement, and will
feed on a variety of food, (luite different from that which it .seeks in a wild state.
Rev. Dr. Bachman once kept a bird of this species alive. It had recovered from a
slight wound, when lie presented it to a lady who fed it on boiled rice and bread soaked
in milk, of both of which it was cpiite fond. It became perfectly gentle, and fed
from the hand of its mistress, frequently bathed in a vessel kei)t at hand for that
purpose, and nevt-r attempted to escape, although left quite at liberty to do so. Mr.
Audubon, in the neighl)orhood of St. Augustiiu', Florida, saw this Turnstone feed-
ing on the oyster-beds, searching for such oysters as had been killed by the heat of
the sun, and picking out the contents ; it would also strike at such small bivalves
as had tliin shells, and break them. While on the Florida coast, near Cape Sable,
he shot one, in the month of May, which had its stomach filled with the beautiful
shells, which on acicouut of their resemblani i' to grains of rice are commonly called
rice-shells.

Mr. MacFarlane met with a flock of about a dozen of these birds at Fort An-
derson, June, 1864, and obtained a single specimen. They were seen on the river
below the fort. He was informed by the Esquimaux that this sijecies was tolerably
numerous on the Arctic coast as well as on the islands in Liverpool Bay. Except
on the large island in Franklin Bay, where several of this species were seen in July,
1864, Mr. MacFarlane's party noticed none of these birds, either on the "Barren
Grounds," or on any part of the coast visited by them. He afterward met with them
on the Lower Anderson, and found two nests, both precisely similar to those of the
other Waders, consisting of a few withered leaves placed in a depression in the
ground, each containing four eggs.

Mr. H. W. Elliott states that this bird visits the I'rybilof Islands, arriving in flocks
of thousands about the third week in July, and leaving September 10, but not breeding
there. On its arrival it is quite poor ; but feeding on the larvai on the killing-grounds,
it rapidly fattens, and often bursts open as it falls to the ground after having been
shot. Mr. Elliott met with this bird at sea, eight hundred miles from the nearest
land, flying in a northwesterly direction towards the Aleutian Islands.

The eggs of few species of Waders vary more than do those of Lhc Turi-stone.
They vary in shape from a rounded to an oblong ovoid, in length from 1.60 to 1.72
inches, and in breadth from 1.13 to 1.23 inches, averaging about 1.66 by 1.18. Their
ground-colors are a light olive-brown, a cream color, a light drab, and a deep clay-
color. The eggs are deeply and boldly marked, chiefly about the larger end, with
large splashes and blotches of light-brown, in some washed with a lilac shade, and in
others with a tinge of bronze.

Strepsilas melanocephalua.

BLACK TinurSTONE.

strepsilas melanocephalus, Vigors, ZoiJl. Joum. IV. Jan. 1829, 356 ; Zoiil. Blossom, 1839, 29. —
Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 702; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 516. — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881,
no. 510 (mdaiUHxphala).

Strepsilas interpres, var. melanocephahis, Coues, Key, 1872, 247 ; Check List. 1873, no. 406(i.

Stre.psilas interpres mclanocephaliLS, CouES, Check List, 2tl ed. 1882, no. 599.

Had. Pacific coast of North America, south to Monterey, California, north to the Aleutian
Islands; accidental in India.

Sp. Char. Head, neck, breast, and upper parts in general, fuliginous dusky, with a faint

'■1W^

STREPSILID.E — THE TURN'STONES — STREPSILAS.

125

bronzy green reflection, brij,'litest on the upper parts; posterior lower parts, upper part of the
rump, upper tail-coverts and ends of the greater coverts, pure white. Adult, in brcediuy-pliirrKuje :
Anterior lower parts sooty-bluck, like the back ; lores covered by a larj,'e patch of white; a small
postdciiliir spot of the same ; forehead and auriculars streaked or dashed with white ; juyulum
speckled and dashed with white, forminf; a wide band of these markings, more or less interrupted
ill tlie middle portion. Adult and ijouny in winter: Anterior lower parts and head, smoky brown.

Winter plumage.

much lighter than the back ; no trace of white markings about the head or juguluin. Younrj in
first plunuKjc : Similar to the winter dress, but breast, etc., more gray, each feather of the upper
parts narrowly bordered terminally with light buff or whitish.

Length, about !) inches ; wing, 8.80-9.10 ; culmen, .85-1.00 ; tarsus, 1.00-1.10 ; middle toe,
.90.

This very distinct species averages considerably larger than S. interpret, while it differs radically
in its coloration, the pattern of which is to a certain extent quite different, the dusky on the
breast extending much farther back than in that species. The summer dress is in this bird much
handsomer than the winter livery, while the reverse appears to be the case with the Common
Turnstone.

The Black-headed Turnstone is common along the Pacific coast of North America.
A single specimen, exactly this bird, has been received from India. Ur. Cooper
states that he lias seen a few Turnstones, in black plumage, along the southern part
of the California coast during the cooler months, and has found several on the
Farallon Islands in June ; and they have also been obtained at Monterey and in
Puget Sound in August, so that there seems to be no change in their colors with
the season. Still Dr. Cooper was inclined to regard these as only immature speci-
mens of (S'. interpres, interrupted, from some cause, in their full development. He
was unable to find their eggs, and susjiected them of barrenness. Their habits, so
far as he was able to observe, seemed similar to those of S. intcipres. They frequent
rocky shores, and are fond of perching on logs, wrecks, etc., where they find small
Crustacea, barnacles, etc., on which they chiefly feed. This bird is said to fly very
swiftly, and as it moves, to utter a shrill whistle, which is its only note. It is also
described as being very shy, and associating only in small parties.

At Michaelofsky, Alaska, on the shores of Norton Sound, ]\[r. E. Adams (Ibis, 1878)
met with what was probably this species. A few Turnstones made their appearance,
in pairs, on the 31st of May. They frequented the salt-marshes, where he often
found them sitting upon logs of driftwood which overhung the water. They fed
about the mud, on insects, worms, etc. ; but he did not see them near the sea-shore,
nor in company with any other species.

126

PRiECOCIAL GUALLAT011E3 — LIMICOLiE.

Mr. 11. lirowne mentions meeting v.'ith this bird on the sea-shore of Vancouver
Island, and (^uite a number of examples of this species were procured at Sitka, as
well as at Kadiak, by Mr. JJischott'. Others were taken by Mr. Bannister at St.
Michael's and at Nulato, on the Yukon and at Takehemut by Mr. Dall.

Eggs of this species (Smitlisonian Collection, 9, 37") obtained by Mr. Dall from
near the Yukon Kiver, June Ki, 1S()S, vary greatly in their size, one measuring 1.58
by 1.15 inches, the other 1.85 by I.IU inches. They are of an oblong pyriform shape,
their ground-color is a drab, strongly tinged with olivaceous, and very generally aud
profusely marked with tine sprinklings of suffused spots and dottings. In the
smaller example tliese markings are larger and darker.

Genus AFHRIZA, Audubon.

Aphrixa, Aud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 249 (tyi>e, Tringa virgata, Lath.).

Char. Similar to Strepsiliu; but the bill quite lUfferent, and much resembling that of the
Phivers (Charadriidw), the terminal portion of the cnhuen being much arched, the niidille portion
depressed. Tail slightly eniarginate ; lateral margin of the toes more distinct than in Strepsilas,
protlucing a broader, more sole-like under-surface.

A, virgata.

The single species of -; genus has usually been a-ssociated with the Plovers : but its affinities
appear to Ije much nearer to Strepsilas, with which it agrees very closely except in the characters
pointed out above. It differs essentially from all the various forms ranged under the Gliaradriidcc
ill the completely cleft toes, the large, nearly incumbent hallux, and the generally robust character
of the feet, which are even stouter than those of Strepsilas.

Aphriza virgata.

THB SUBF BntD.

Tringa virgata, Gmeu S. N. I. 1788, 674. —Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 735.

Aphriza virgata, Guay, Gpii. R. IIL 1847, pi. cxlvii. — Cassin, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 698. —

Baihd, Cat. N. Am. B. 18.59, no. 509. — Couf.s, Ki-y, 1872, 245 ; Check List, 1873, no. 403 ; 2d

ed. 1882, no. 594. — RiDow. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 511.
Tringa borealii, Gmei.. S. N. I. 1788, 674.
Aphriza Townsendii, Aud. Om. Biog. V. 1839, 249, pi. 428 ; Synop. 1839, 226 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 228,

pi. 322.

STREl'SILID.E — THE SURF BIRD — APHRIZA.

127

Hab. Tacific coast of Amerieo, from Alaska to Chili ; Suiulwicb Islands.

Si'. Char. Bill about us long us tliu lii'utl, lutliur thick ut thu liasu, ami shallowest about one
lliiid uf tlu! distance from the end ; nostrils hw^v, situated in a vt-ry distinct longitudinal groove,
which occui)ies the middle two thirds of the bill ; wings long ; tail rather long, ennirginate ; legs
stout. Adult in summer: Head, neck, and dorsal region spotted and streaked with dusky and
whitish ; the latter jnedonunating on head, neck, and breast, where the darker markings are in the
form of irregular streaks, but on the breast Ijecoming irregular, broad, erescentic bai-s ; scajiulars
with large, irregular sjjots of rufous. Upper tail-coverts, basal half of tail, a broad band across

ends of greater wing-coverts, edges of outer webs of secondaries, tips of primary-coverts (broadly)
buses, shafts, and tips (narrowly) of primaries, tip of tail, an<l lower parts from the breast, back
(including most of under-side of wing), pure white ; sides and crissum with angular spots of dusky.
" I'ill dusky toward the end, orange at the base; feet bluish green, claws black" (Audubon).
Winter ])lumarie : Head, neck, and lireast, and most of upper parts, plain dusky or brownish slate ;
white ureas as in the summer plumage. " Iris black ; eyeliils black ; legs olive-green ; claws
black" (Sharpe, p. Z. S. 1881, 15). Young: Much like the winter plumage, but with indistinct
wliite borders to feathers of the ujiper parts, and the breast, throat, etc., white, with dusky stnjaks,
instead of plain dusky. Differing from the summer plumage in the absence of rufous on upper
parts, and in the white maiyins to wing-coverts.

AVing, iibout '.00 • culmeu, .95-l.iK) ; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .90.

Very little is known in regard to the habits or the distribution of this species. It
is found on the Sandwich Islands and others of the Pacific Ocean, but is rare on our
western coast. A single specimen — a female — w^as obtained at Cape Disappoint-
ment, near the mouth of the Columbia, by Mv. Townsend. He states, in regard to
it, that it was sitting on the edge of the steep rocks, the heavy surf frequently dash-
ing its spray over it as it foraged among the retreating Avaves. It flew with a quick
jerking motion of its wings, and alighted again at a short distance. The stomach
was strong and muscular, and contained fragments of a small black sh U-fish which
is found adhering to the rocks in that neighborhood.

Dr. Cooper regards this species as a rather rare visitor to our Pacific coast, though
he has seen birds which he supposed to be of this species at the mouth of the Columbia
and on Santa Barbara Island ; but they were so Avild, he could not get a shot at them.
Dr. Heermann obtained a specimen of this bird in the San Francisco market in the
winter of 1849, and thinks that lie met with others of this species the following
June on the Farallon Islands, where they were gathered in small flocks, engaged in
|)i(kiug up marine insects from the rock-bound shores, which were covered with kelp
and shell-fish. They did not ajjpear wild. Dr. Cooper did not notice any of them on
the Farallon Islands in June, 18G4, but did see some of the Strepsilas melanocephalus,
which resembles this species, and may have been mistaken for it by Dr. Heermann.

128

PU.ECOCIAL GRALLATUUE8 — LIMIC'OL.E.

Mr. K. Browne includes it in his list of the birds observed by him on Vancouver
Island, and four spoeiniens of it were procured by Mr. IJischoR' near Sitka. }^..
Henshaw did not meet with any of this species on Santa Cruz Island, ami he is of the
opinion that none breed in that group. Mi". Gruber procured a fine specimen of this
bird at Santa Uarbara in spring. Mr. Henshaw regarded it as a rather unconrnon
species on the coast of California, and as one whose habits are but little kr.own.
Nothing has been learned in regard to its nesting. It occurs on the Pacific '.oast of
South America as far as Chili.

Family CHARADRIIDiE. — The Plovers.

Char. Small or medium-sized shore-birds (scarcely waders), with rather short,
somewhat Pigeon-like bill, large round head, short neck, long and pointed wings,
and moderately lengthened legs, the hind toe usually absent.

The above superficial characters are sufficient to define the family of Plovers, as
distinguished from the allied groups. The affinities of the Plovers are with the
StrvpsUiihe (Turnstones) on the one hand, and the (Edlcnemida' (Thick-kneed Plovers)
on the other ; but they seem sufficiently distinct from either, aud form, upon the
whole, a very well-marked family of the great Liiiiicoline group.

The American genera of Chanub'i'ulo' (with tlie exception of Phiviunellus, Homb.
& Jacq.,1 which we have not seen) may be characterized as follows ; —

Table of American Oenera.

Ai Size large (wing more than eight inches) ; bead more or less crested ; plumage more or less
metallic above.
a. Occiput with a slender recurved crest ; a well-developed hind toe, with claw ; wing rounded,
first quill shorter than foiirtli.

1. Vanellus. Wing unarmed, or with very rudimentary spur ; tarsus not more than twice

as b)ng as the middle toe.

2. Belonopterus.^ Wing armed with a very prominent curved spur on the head of the

metacarpus ; tarsus more than twice as long as tbe middle toe.
6. Occipital feathers lengthened, forming a soft, ])endant, rather busby crest ; no trace of bind
toe ; wing pointed, tbe first quill longest, or longer than fourth.

3. PtlloBoelys.* Wing armed with a very minute spur ; tarsus more than twice as long as

middle toe.
B> Size medium or small (wing less than eight incites) ; bead without crest, and plumage with-
out metallic gloss above.

c. Wing more tliau six inches ; plumage much speckled or spotted above ; lower parts chiefly

black in sununer.

4. Squatarola. A well-developed hind toe, without claw.

5. Charadrius. No trace of bind toe ; otherwise very similar to Squatarola, hut smaller and

more slender.

d. Wing less than six inches ; plumage nearly or quite uniform grayish or brownish above (tbe

rump ochraceous in Oxycchus), the lower parts chiefly or entirely white at all stages.

1 Type, P. sociabilii, HoMn. & Japq.

* Belonopterua, Reich. HanJb. 1851, xviii. (type, C/iaradriiis cayennensis, Gmel. Hah. South
America).

8 Ptiloacehjs, Bonap. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1856, 429 (type, Vanellus resplendens, Tschudi. Sab.
South America).

CHARADRIID.E — THE PLOVERS — VANELLUS.

129

d'. Wing unarmed,
e'. No trace of hind toe,
/'. Tiiil very lon^,' (iuilf as long as the wing, or more), extending hall' its length l)eyon<l
tips of closed wings ; rump and upper tail-coverts pule rul'ous or ochraceous in the
American specieH.
0. Oxyeohua. Bill slender, about ec^ual in length to the middle toe ; tarsus deci-
dedly less than twice as long as middle toe ; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous or
ochraceous (except in 0. triculUtrin).
/". Tail short (less than half as long as the wing), reaching little, if any, beyond ends
of closed wings ; rump concolor with the back.

7. 2Igiedlti8. Bill variable, but usually shorter than middle toe, or, if longer, very

slender ; tarsus less than twice as long as middle toe.

8. OchtbodromuB. Bill very large (as long as, or longer than, middle toe), the termi-

nal half of the cuhneu much arched, the base of the gonys forming a decided
angle ; tarsus about cjne and a half times to nearly twice as long as middle toe.

9. Podaaooys. Bill slender, wide at base, much longer than uiiddle toe ; tarsus more

than twice as long as middle toe.
10. OreophiluB.i Bill very slender, depressed, nearly twice as long as middle toe ;
tarsus nearly twice us long as middle toe. Plumage longitudinally striped above,
f". A well-developed, tliough small, hind toe, with curved claw.
11. Zonibyx' Size small (wing le.ss than six inches) ; plumage plain above, except in
young.
d". Wing armed with a conical spur on the head of the metacarpus.
12. HoplozypteruB.B No trace of hind toe. Size medium ; first quill longest ; tarsus
more than twice as long as middle toe. Plunnige white beneath, with black pectoral
collar ; above ashy, varied with black and white in large, rather longitudinal, patches ;
legs yellow.

Ge\u.«s VANELLUS, Brisson.
Vanellua, Schaeff. Biiiss. Orn. V. 1760, 94 (type, Tringa vanellus, Linn.).

Char. Size large (larger than Squatarola). Bill slender, about equal in length to the mid-
dle toe, which is about half as long as the tarsus ; a distinct web between outer and middle toes,
at the base ; a well-tleveloped hind toe, with a small claw. Wings lengthened, but rounded, the
tirst (^uill shorter than the sixth ; the second, third, and fourth nearly equal, and longest. Tail
slightly emarginated. Occiput (of adult) ornamented by an elongated, slender, recurved crest.
Plumage of upper parts metallic.

A single species only of this genus occurs in America, this being the common Lapwing or
Peewit of EuroiH! {V. cristatus), which has been found at several localities of Arctic America,
including both Greenland and Alaska. The South American birds usually referred to Vanellus
lieloug to two (juite distinct genera (Itdunopterus and Ptiloscelys), distinguished by important
dillVreuces of structure, as tabulated on page 128.

1 Oreophilm, jAr.n. & Sei.by, lUustr. Orii. pi. 151 (type, 0. totanirostris, Jard. & Selby, = Chara-
(Irius riiflco/lis, Waol. Huh. Southern South America).

^ Zunibyx, Reicu. Handb. 1851, xviii. (type, VnncUiis cinctua, hiiss., = C'/uiradriits modcatus, LiciiT.
Ilah. Southern South America).

^ Iloploxyplcrus, Bonap. Compt. Iteud. XLlll. 1856, 418 (type, Chanidrius cayamia, Latu. Hab.
South America.)

A nearly allied Old World genus, Hoploptcrus, Bonap. (type, Charadriua spinoaua, Linn.), differs as
foUowa : First primary shorter than the fourth, as in VaneUm wnA. Bclmwplerus ; wing-spur larger, and
curved ; the legs almost stilt-like in length (tarsus nearly thrice the middle toe), and black. There is
also a, well-doveluped web between the outer and middle toes, at the base, hardly indicated at all in
Hoploxypterua.

VOL. I. — 17

130

PRiECUClAL GKALLATOIIES — LnUCOL^E.

VanelluB capella

THE LAPWIMO.

TriiKja vanellns, Linn. S. N. id. 10, 1758, 148 ; ud. 12, 1700, 248.

Ckmulnita vaitrllus, \Va(il. Syst. Av. 1827, no. 47. — X.VUM. V0«. Dcutschl. IX. 1838, 200, pi. 179.

Vanellm ctijicllu, Scii.vKKb'. (hn. Mii.s. 178U, 40. — Stkjn. Pioc. L'. S. Nut. Mus. Vol. 4, 1882, 35.

Vtinelliis mil(j(vis, IlKfiisr, Orii. Tii.mIu'IiI). II. I,s03, 313.

Vancllus crMiiiis, Mkykis, Vo^. UcnUchl. I. 181(i, 10. — Mawim., Man. II. 55. — Ki'.Y.s. & Bi.as.

Will). Kur. tiO. — (iUAV, (icMi. B. 11. 541 ; (at. Biit. B. 1803, 137. — (Joui.D, Birds Lur. pi. 201.

— UiiHiW. Norn. N. Am. 15. 1881, no. 512. — Couks, ('licck List, 2d ud. 1882, no. 503.
Vandlua gavin, X.v.xvw, Syst. ("at. 1810, 20. -Srici-ii. Gen. Zoi.l. XL 500, pi. 38.
Vancllus biivruis, BuKiiM, Vdg. Dnitsclil. 557.
The Peewit, or Laptnng, Yaiiu. Brit. B. od. 2, II. 481, fig. ; od. 3, 11. 515, lig.

V, capella.

Had. Entire Palajarctic region ; occasional in Arctic America (Greenland, " Reixhahdt,
Ibis, 18G1, 9;" i^huuU in Norton Sound, Alaska, Dall & Bannister, Trans. Chicago Acad. I.
1869, 293).

Adult, breeding-plumitge : Pileuui, crest, fore-part of the lores and malar region, diin, throat
and entire breast, blue-black, faintly glossy. Side of the head and neck white, the aape ashy.

Back, scapulars, and tertials, metallic bottle-green, changing to coppery purple on the outer scapu-
lars ; wing-coverts dark purplish blue, changing to greenish, becoming decidedly green on the

i-^

rilAUADUIIDvK — THK I'LoVKRS — VANELLUS.

131

"iLiitfr coverts. Ui-iiiim's thill black, the inils of the outer three jiriiimrieg, for un inch or more,
(lull liKht cinereous, the 8hut't» white. Uunip like tlie buck, but le** nietuilic. ; upper tuil-coverts
ili'i'p rui'ous. liasal iiiili'iinil to|i of the tail piiie wliite ; sul)l<'ruiiutil poiilDii <lull liljiik, liiis culor
iliiii'iisinn in extent to tlie tiuter fealiiers, liualiy nearly or ipiite disaiiiieariii^- on the lateriil pair,
iiiiwer parts in general pure white, becoinin}; li^ht rufous on tlie lower tuil-coverts. Winter jilti-
iinuii : Similar, but with anteriir half of hires, liroad supeniliary stripe, chin, ami entire thmat,
white ; while of sides of na|ie and oe(i|put mori! or le>s tin^ecl with bull'. Hill lilackish ; iris
brown ; le^s and feet didl crimson or lake-reil (iirownish in winti'r).

Ihvnij ijoiiiiii : Top and sides of the head, ancl entire upper parts, dull Il;,'ht brownish gray
mottleil with iilaek, the shoulders tln^'ed with li;^iil rusty, ami the rump with huge spots of deep
black. Whole nape, chin, ihioat, and entire lower parts (e.xcept ju^'idum), white, the first tin{,'ed
with li;^hl ashy ; Ju^;ulum nearly uniform dusky grayish (.')(i8,s.j, Sa.xony).

Wing, ».5()-!),(K) ; tall, -1.00-4.25 ; cuhnen, 1.00 ; tarsu.s, •2.W ; middle toe, 1.00-1.10.

Tiu' wt'U-kiiow'ii Liipwiiif,' of Europe i.s oiui of tlu' uuist comiuoii and familiar of
the birds of the wesU-ni ptutious of that coiitiiu'tit. Its occasional presence in (Jreen-
liiml and other parts of North America gives it a place annyng our rare and accidental
visitants. It is common ami indigenous to Irelaml and tin' IJritish Islaiuls, ami is
iihumlant, in all suitable localities, as far as the most remote d' the Shetlaml group,
it is common in Denmark, ami is e([ually abumlant throughout Norway and Sweden;
also occurring on the Farcie Islamls ami in Icelaml, ami being common througlumt
the Emitire of Ivussia. It is fouml in less abundam-e in France, Spain, Italy, Egypt,
and Asia .Minor, ami has been taken on the plains between the IJlack and the Cas-
pian seas. Specimens have also been received from India ami Chimi ; ami Tem-
minck includes it among the birds of Japan. In some of its general habits the
Lii})wing appears to be similar to the Kildecr of our owji (!ountry. It is known to
many as the Lapwing, both from its peculiar slow flapping of the wings as it flies,
and the singular maimer in which it droops its wings, in affected lameness, wlieji its
nest is in danger. It is also called the I'eewit, from its fre(piently repeated note,
closely resembling the word jh'e-vcet. liy the French this note is thought to resemble
the word dije-hutf, and the bird is known to them by this name.

The habits of this species are those of a true I'lover. It frequtMits marshy grounds
or the margins of lakes and rivers, wild heaths, and open, uninclosed country. In
such localities these birds are very common in Great Britain, and breed la large
numbers. Their eggs are regitrded as a luxury, and are much sought after in all the
districts where this species is common.

When its nest is disturbed, the female runs from the eggs and flies near the
ground, but makes no noise. The males, however, are very clamorous, fly about the
intruder, and endeavor by various instinctive manoeuvres to draw off his attention
from their treasures.

In some of the English counties all the most likely grounds are carefully searched
once every day, in the season for eggs, by women and children, as well as by dogs
trained for the imriiose. Yarrell states that in 1839 two hundred dozen of these
eggs were sent to the London market from Komney Marsh alone.

The nests of the Lapwing, like those of the whole family of Plovers, are mere
depressions in the ground, with a few dried bents lining the bottom. The number
of eggs is four, and these have an average of 1.93 inches in length by 1.34 inches
ill breadth. Their color is dark olive, blotched and spotted with blackish broAvn.

The young Lapwings, just hatched, are covered with a yellowish fawn-colored
down spotted with brownish black, and there is a light-colored collar around the
neck. They can run almost as soon as hatched, following the parent bird, who

132

I'U.KCCJCIAL <i|{AI,l,AT«)l{i:s - MMIfM-.l-;.

leads tht'iii in Mciircli of t'ootl. Tlii'.v tt't'd on cartli-woniis, hIu^m, iiiul iiisi'ctH of
viirious kinds, in all tlicir (lilTcrcnl siaK<'^<. and, on accuunt of tlit'ir u.sidnlnes.s in tlic
dt'Mtrurtion of in.si'cts, art' frt'<iuiiitl) i<«'i»t in gunU-ns, wIu-it tin-)' btrunK' ^uite tunii',
and urn vuiy iutcn-Mtint,' |icts.

In till' antnnm the La|i\vinj,'s colliM't in Hocks; and from that time to the end of
the winU'r art- fxicllcnt eating.

This liird is rt'cordcd 1>} Kt'inhardt as of oci-asional occurrence in Greenland, and
Dall and ISaunistcr met with it in Alaska amonK tin- islandH in Norton Sound.

Gkni'h SQUATAROLA, Civikk.

Sqitalarola, Cvviv.w, Hi'g. Aiiiiii. I. 1S17 (typr, Tiiiiijn siiiwfdnilfi, Linn.),

Chak. a nulimentary himl toe. Let;*' roticulntiMl with I'lnnj-mleil hcxiiKoiis anteriorly, of
which tlu'ic me ftve or »h in u tnuisvi-iw row; fuwiT I'chiiicl. Firnt priniury lonjjcst. Tail
Blit,'hlly rounded.

iS. helvetica.

Squatarola helvetica.

THE BLACK-BELLIED FLOVEB.

Tringa squatarola, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 149 ; cd. 12, 1766, 2.'>2.

Tringn liclvetiat, I.inn. S. N. imI. 12, 1766, 250.

Sqimtarola Iwlvetim, Cuv. lifcg. Auiiii. 1817. — BiiEiiM, Viig. Deutschl. 1831, 554. —Cass, in

Bainl'sB. N. Am. 1858, 697. — nAinn, fat. N. Am. B. IS.W, no. 510. — C'ouF.s, Key, 1872,

243 J Check List, 1873, no. 395 ; 2(1 cd. 1882, no. 580 ; Binls N. W. 1874, 448. — Ridow.

Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 513.
Charadriua hclvcticm, Liciir. Vcrz. DonW. 1823, no. 728. — NrxT. Man. II. 1834, 26. — AuD. Orn.

Biog. IV. 1838, 280, pi. 334; Synop. 1839, 221 ; Birds Am. V. 1842, 199, pi. 315.
Charadrius apricariiis, Wilson, Am. Orn. Vil. 1813, 41.

Had. Nearly cosmopolitan, hut chiefly the northern hemisphere ; hreedinj? in the extreme
northern parts of its range, migrating,' in winter to southern regions, extending, in Americn, as far
as Brazil and New Granada. Bermudas, and throughout the West Indies.

Sp. Char. Bill and legs strong ; wings long ; a very small rudimentary hind toe. Summer :
Around the hase of the hill to the eyes, neck before and under parts of body, black ; upper parts

CITAllADniin.f! - TIIK I'LoVKIlS - .SylATAIMF-A.

133

wliitp, nmrlv ]WU' niid iiii«i")tt«il mi ih.. Inivliciul ; hIiIch uI' llif neck iiml rutii|) tinffwl with nxliv,
iiml liuviiin iiri'^iilar tnin^viTm! ^pots dI' IjiowiuhIi Muck mi the Imrk, Kni|iiiliirH, uinl wiiin-covt-rtM ;
till! l)ri)Wiii«li lilaik liv«iuriitly iircdmiiiiiiitiiiK on lliim its, uihI tln' niiiip uImo rrciumilly with
iraiifivfrsi; Imw ol' tliu muiv. Lowlt pint ul ihu ubiloiucii, tiliia, aixi uikIjt tail-covi-rlH, wliile.

Siiiniiiir /iliniKii/c.

Qm\h, hrownisli hlai'k, lii,'lit('r on tlioir iniuT wi-lw, with a iniiMlc pmlinii of their Khaftw white,
mill a narrow hinj^'itudinal wtripe ol' wliile lienuently on the .shorter ]iriniarieN ami serondarii'H.
Tail while, with transverse iinperlect narrow hamls ol' lilauk. The lilaek eolnr ol' the ninler imrtu
^,'enerally with a faint hroiizeil or coppery lustre, and presentinj,' a scale-like appearaiu'o ; the
hrownith black of the upper parts with a greenish lustre. Mill and le^^s Mack ; iris hrown. I'oioij/cr
and winter plKmnyn : En'iro upper parts dark hrown, with circular mid irrp^ular small spots of
white, and freipiently of yellow, most numerous on the winj,'-coverts ; njjper tail-coverts white.
Under parts white, with Hhort longitudinal lines and Hpots of dark hrownish cinureouH on the neck

Winter plumage.

and breast ; quills brownish black, with n lar},'e lon^dtudinal space of wliite on their inner webs and
also on the outer webs of the .shorter primaries. Young: Upper parts lighter, and with the white
spots more irregular or less rounded ; narrow lines on the neck and breast more numerous.

Total length about 11^ inches; wing, 7^ ; tail, 3 inches; culmen, about 1.10; tarsus, 1.95 ;
middle toe, 1.15.

We can discover no ditl'erence between American specimens and those from Europe. In the
young and winter plumage there is considerable variation in the di.stinctness of the yellow wash
on the upper parts, the light markings of the upper surface being in some examples entirely of
this color, while in others there is scarcely even a tinge of it.

134

PR.ECOCIAL GHALLATOUES — LIMICOL.E.

i t

While the coloration dI" tliis sjn'cit's liciirs considi'ra1)lc resonililnnco to that of the Golden
Plovers {Chara(h-iiis), it iiiiiy bi' rwulily (li.stiiimiisjied, in nil stii^fs. apart from other marked
differences, by the dusky bhuk axillaiK, these fenthera being either Hinoky gray or pure white in
the species of Charadrim.

The well-known Heetle-head, or Uliick-lu'lliod Plover, is t'lniiieiitly cosmopolitan
in its distribution, ranging over the northern portions of Asia, Europe, and North
America during its periods of re])rodu(!tion, at other times waiuleriug in an irregular
manner, in scattered groui)s, over Southern Asia, Northern and even Southern Africa,
Australia, the West indies, and Central and South America to IJrazil.

Mr. Swinlioc (Ibis, 180^, p. 404) mentions finding this sjiecies frequenting the
shore?: and the mouths of the rivers of Formosa during winter. This writer after-
ward speaks of meeting with it in small fioeks. in the same season, on the river
mud-flats at Amoy, where they were seen up to February, but not later. One was
kept in an aviary at Anujy, but appeared to have umlergone no change in plumage as
late as the end of May. Mr. Swinhor also records tiie procuring of a single specimen
on the Islaiul of Hainan; it was shot in the Huiigpe Lagoon on the .'{0th of March.
Captain Sperling found this bird conuuon at Zanzibar, where in November he proctired
it in immature plumage. Dr. Andrew Smith noticed it at Algoa l?ay, in South
Africa, till through the brecdiug-season, and brought specimens to England ; but as
none had the black color on the breast, it is not probable that any were actually
breeding. Mr. Blyth has obtained this bird at Calcutta ; aiul INIr. Temminck has
received it from Japan in both the summer and winter phunage. Specimens from
the Sunda Islands and from New Guinea, though killed at ditt'erent seasons, were all
in the immature or winter i)lumage. This species is also included by Dr. Horsfield
in his list of the birds of Java. Dr. Middendorff mentions this Ph)ver as one of the
birds of Siberia, and gives it in his hyperborean list, which incbules the birds pene-
trating to the extreme north. Mr. Saunders (Ibis, 1871) states that this Plover is
not uncommon in Southern Spain during its migrations. The first specimens were
obtained at ^lalaga in May. During the winter few were met with, the majority
having evidently gone farther south. Mr. Wheelwright obtained old birds of this
species on the southern coast of Scania in August, in nearly full summer dress, as
well as those of the year, and inferred that they must have bred somewhere on the
European continent. He is confident they do not breed at Quickiock, nor have any
of its eggs been taken there by Mr. Wolley or by any one else. Still he thinks that
they must breed somewhere on the Scandinavian fells, and they were found breeding
in 18G2 in Finland, by Mr. Tristram. I'rofessor A. Newton descril)ed an egg (P. Z. S.
1861) which was taken by Middendorff on the Taimyr Kiver, North Kussia, lat. 74°.
July 1, 184,'3; and Mr. Wheelwright received what were said to be the eggs of this
species from Greenland, and which reseml)led those of the European ('. jdtivialis.
Messrs. Alston and Brown (Ibis. January, 1873) mention meeting with this species
near Archangel, Russia, June 2. In Great Britain, Farrell gives it as a winter visitor,
and not a native resident. It occurs at the end of antunni, through the winter, and
in the spring, retiring to high northern latitudes during the breeding-season, and
rc-appearing when that season is over. Specimens in the full black phunage may
occasionally be procured in the London market in May. Mr. Selby met with a fcAv
of these birds in the Fen Islands in June, but could never detect any young. In the
winter this Plover is more common on the shores than inland. It is more abundant
in Holland and in France than in Germany, and is also found at Genoa and in Italy
generally, passing through Sicily on its way to and from Africa.

CIIAnADRIID.E — TIIK PLOVERS - SQl'ATAROLA.

135

In the Appendix to Captain ]*arry's Second Voyage, Richardson states that this
bird was found breeding near the margins of tlie marshes immediately to the south-
west of Fury I'oint in considerable numbers. Some specimens were also obtained
near Felix Harbor. The sanu- writer, in liis " Fauna Boreali-Amerieana," states that
it breeds in o])en ground from IVnnsylvauia to the nortiiern extremity of tlic con-
tinent. This is a mistake — an error origimiily of Wilson's, but co])ied also by
Audubon, Xuttall, and Samuels. It does not breed within the limits of the United
States, and probably nowhere south of the exLrenu' northern latitudes. Specijiieiis
have been received from Hudson's 15ay by Cr.ptain Blakiston which had been taken
there by Mr. Murray. It was found on the JMackeuzie by Mr. Ross, where, however,
it was rare.

This Flover passes northward througli the United States in May. and returns
southward in August. It occurs si)aringly in various ])arts of this country iiTCgu-
larly during the intervening winter months from August to May. According to
Giraud, it reaches Long Island early in the month of May, and s])ends but a few
days on the sandbars and beaches, tlien leaving for the north. In the month of
August it returns with its young. These are so different in their plumage, that by
many gunners they are supposed to be ;\ diiferent bird, and are knowni as the " l>ull-
lieaded Plover" or the " Reetle-headed Plover." They are very shy. but may fre-
(juently be enticed within gunshot by imitating their plaintive note. In autumn they
are found along the whole sea-coast of Long Island, subsisting on minute shell-fish
iuid marine insects, and becoming very fat. They renuiin until the latter part of
Septendier, when they move southward. Early in the autumn this bird is very abun-
ilaut about jMontauk I'oint, aiul during September Giraiul met with it thrcmghout
Ills entire route across the hills, but found it most niuuerous on a large bare sjjot
abounding with grubs, worms, and insects of various kinds, about four miles from
the lighthouse.

According to Lewis this bird is best known to sportsmen of the Middle States
as the '"Old Field." or "AVliistling" J'lover. It jiasses through Mew .lersey early
in Jlay, and returns in August.

Those that feed on the uplands on berries and grasshoppers are fat and of a line
tlavor; but those frccpuMiting the sea-coast soon accpiire a sedgy and unpleasant
taste. They naturally tiy high, and kec]) uj) an incessant whistling, which is easily
imitated and made use of as a decoy. This bird is ditHcidt of approach while feed-
ing, and its capture requires much precaution and the use of various stratagems.

So far as it is possible to ascertain, this Plover does not breed in the nu)untains
of Pennsylvania; and the statements of Wilson and Audubon in regard to its breed-
ing habits, and their dcscrii)tion of its nests and eggs, must be admitted to have been
based on incorrect infornuition. The eggs described by Wilson are probably those of
tlie Willet, and do not at all resemble those of this species ; while the eggs described
by Audubon are yet more dissimilar, and without much doubt were those of Rartram's
Tattler, which, as well as this species, is known as the " Field Plover."

In its winter wanderings this species visits the West Indies, Mexico, Central
America, and parts of South America. Early in Septend)er, or from the 5th to the
loth, they are found on the Rio Grande, and return on their way north during the
latter part of May. Mr. Salvin states that it occurs on the sandy plains of Chiapan,
in Guatemala, where it was found intermingled with flocks of Triiiyce. Leotaud
mentions it as a migratory visitant in Trinidad, where it is hardly ever seen by
itself, but is usually in the midst of a flock of the ChnrmJrlus virgininis. It arrives
about the end of August, and leaves in October. The Reetle-head not only accom-

136

PR.ECOCIAL GUALLATOliES — UMICOLJi.

panies the Golden I'lovei', but the manners of both appear to be identical. They are
thus met witli together botli on tlic shores and in the savannas, but always in
limited numbers.

(t. H. White procured it near the City of Mexico ; it was obtained in the Bahamas
by Dr. Bryant; and in the Bermudas, where it is of rare occurrence, by Lieutenant
Wtdderburn. Jt is found in Jamaica and in Cuba from August to April. In Florida,
according to Mr. !Moore, it is present throughout the year, and is (luite common even
in the sununer nuinths. The summer birds are all in their winter idumage, have no
black beneath them except on their axillaries, and no white on their heads, but
sober winter gray ; none show either by their actions or by the condition of their
internal organs any symptoms of breeding. Migrants return the 11th of August, and
many spend the Avinter in Florida.

The Baron Droste lliilskoff, in his " Birds of Borkum," states that this species
passes there late in May, and again ippears in its southward migrations in August
and early in Septembtn-. He describes it as a tine, lively bird, carrying its head and
body erect, and its breast thrown forward. It runs backward in the manner of the
Golden Plover; and, before flying, always lifts its wings high above its head. Its
flight is peculiarly swift — more so than that of most other shore birds — and it flies
off in a straight line, now a)iproaching, and now leaving the ground in easy dips,
extending the wings far, and flying with powerful strokes. The call-note of this
bird, he adds, is a sharp whistle, tIJ-e-ih, the final note being very softly sounded. On
the wing it rejjeats this mtte with long ]»auses ; and when at rest, if another of the
same species settles down beside it, the hist i)art of the call-note is repeated back and
forth between the two. At sunset they are most uneasy, and fly about, calling con-
tinually, late into the night. They are very Avatchful and shy, carefully avoiding
every susi)icious-looking mound, and very rarely ai)proaching a place Avhere a sports-
man is hid. This is the sentinel of other shore-birds, warning them by its sudden
flight and loud alarm-note. ( hi the edge of the water it seeks its food in the foam ;
and, like the sandpijter, wades up to its belly in the water.

Lord Lilford states that this bird has a curious habit of throwing somersaults in
the air, in the same manner as the Tumbler I'igeon and KoUer. He noticed this
particularly in ^larch, IS.")?, on the Gulf of Arta.

According to Dr. Cooper's observations, this Plover is not common along the
southern coast of CJalifornia, although sonu' are found there from October to May ;
but a single specimen was obtained by him on Catalina Island. Farther north in that
State it is more abundant in the wet season, and chiefly along the sea-beaches.
Occasionally it visits the prairies, and is then* known as the Whistling Field
Plover.

About the end of August these birds descend to the sea-coast at the mouth of the
Columbia River, but are later in their appearance Avithin the limits of California.
They there feed on shell-flsh, Crustacea, and other snudl marine animals. They are
generally very shy and watchful, whistling louilly as they fly, after the manner
of the Kildeer. This species Avas noticed in considerable numbers about Lake Kos-
konong, Wis., Aug. 15, IHlli.

Mr. Nelson mentions it as a not uncommon migrant on Lake Michigan, where it
arrives, in full breeding-plumage, about the Iflth of May. A few remain during the
summer; and although ;Mr. Nelson conjectures that they may breed, this is not
probable. Certainly none of their eggs have ever been detected except in the highest
Arctic regions. They return in September, Avearing their fall plumage.

Mr. MacFarlane discovered this species breeding on an island in Franklin Bay, on

CIIAUADRIID.E — THE PLOVERS — SQUATAROLA.

137

tliu Arctic coast, July 4. The uest contained tour eggs, and was composed of a little
u itlieri'd grass, placed in a depression on the side or face of a very gentle euiiueucc.
iiotli i)arcnts were seen, and the male shot. They were at tirst mistaken for the
Uoldeu I'lover ; but their note and general appearanc^e soon undeceived him. This
was the first of the species he had ever seen during his sojourn in the country.
While it may exist on tlu! Arctic coast and in the Barren (.J rounds, he is quite
coutidi'Mt that lu' never met with it before. The eggs in this instance contained
partially developed endnyos. On the following day, July ~>, 18G4, another nest,
containing four eggs also, in the same stage of development, was secured.

A third nest, with four eggs, Avas discovered the following night, and a snare was
set to secure the parent. The fenude was taken, but before it was secured, a Snowy
Owl devoured the bird and destroyed the eggs.

In regard to the breeding of this I'lover, we learn from Aliddendorft" that he
observed none of this species on the IJoganida earlier than the 2r)th of May. By the
L'Oth of June the females were sitting there on their nests, which had been formed
by collecting together dried leaves aiul grasses, and in which were four eggs, which
he compares in shape with the eggs of the Lapwing and the Dotterel {CJutntdrlus
iiinrlnellus). He gives their average length at li.lO inches, and their average largest
diameter 1.4)1 inches. They differed very considerably in size, the largest being 2.18
inches in length, and the smallest only 1.87 inches. Nor does the c(dor afford any
distinctive mark. The ground-color is sometimes yelloAvish gray and sometimes
brownish yellow, the dark-brown spots being like those of the Ch. ii/iirialis. Midden-
(lorff also found this bird breeding on the Byrranga Mountains, in latitude 74".

ilr. Dresser describes one of the eggs obtained by Middendorff as nu/asuring 2.07
by 1.40 inches, with a ground-color of a dull day-ltrown, and bearing markings
distributed over the surfaiic, but collecting together at the larger end, blackish brown
in color, and irregular in shape. There were al'-o a few unch'rlying jmrplish shell-
markings.

Eggs of this species collected by Mr. MacFarlane in an island in Franklin's Bay,
on the Arctic coast, in July, 1804, an<l in 18(!5, and nund)cred lllSW, 11196, and
11199, S. I., exhibit certain general resend>lances to the egg of the more common
(li)lden I'lover {Ch. virf/itnrus). Tlu'V have, however, certain constant differences
which do not readily adnut of exact description. These three sets, two of four and
one of three eggs, differ from the average egg of the fiftjinims in the more nearly
('([C'd distribution of the s])ots over the whole egg. In two of thes" sets the ground
color is of a light greenish drab; in the other the ground is a light rufous drab,
without any mixture of green. The s]K)ts are of a dark shade of umber or bistre,
and the darkness of the shade is tpiite uniform, and never intensified, as in the eggs
(if the virrjlitkus. They are strongly pyrifcu-m in shape, and vary in length from
1.90 inches to 2.30, and in breadth from 1.40 to 1.47 inches. They are longer and
broader than the virfjmicus, and their breadth is also proportionally greater.

.Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Seebohm. in the summer of 187o, found the Gray I'lover
breeding on the tundras of the I'etchora River, in Northern Bussia in Europe, where
tliey procured a rich series of eggs descriV)ed as intermediate in color between those
of the Golden Plover and the Lapwing, and subject to variations, some being much
browner, and others more olive, but none so green as the eggs of the Lapwing,
nor so orange as those of the Blover. The blotching is in every respect the same,
the underlying spots equally indistinct, and the surface spots large, especially at the
greater end, but occasionally small and scattered. In size they vary from 1.90 by
1.35 to 2.20 by 1.40 inches.

VOL. I. — 18

138

PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL/E.

Genus CHARADRIXTS, Linx^us.

Charadriua, Linn. S. X. eJ. 10, 1758, 150 ; cd. 12, 1766, 253 (type, C. apricarius, Linn.).

Char. Similar to Squntarola, but without any tmce of hind toe. Plumage also very similar,
but form rather more slender.

Only two si)ecies of Charadrius proper are known, one peculiar to the Paliearctic Region, but
occu'iiug accidentally in Greenland ; the other spread over the remaining portioua of the world,

C. dominiais.

including the greater part of America, the islands throughout the Pacific, and the coaste of Asia.
They differ chiefly in the color of the axillary feathei-s and the lining of the wings, as follows : —

1. C. aprioariufl. Axillars and lining of the wing pure white. Hah. Paltearctic Region,

breeding in Eastern Greenland.

2. C. dominicus. Axillars and lining of the wing smoky gray.

a. Var. ihminicus. Average dimensions : i Wing, 7.09 ; culmen, .92 ; tarsus, 1.70 ; middle
toe, .90. Hah. North America generally, migniting southward ; breeding in the high
north (including the coasts and_ i:*lands of Alaska ?).

h. Var. fulviis. Average dimensions : * Wing, 6.40 ; culmen, .92 ; tarsus, 1.72 ; middle toe,
.90. Hub. Pacific Islands and Asia ; coast and islands of Alaska in migrations.

Charadrius apricariua

EUBOPEAN GOLDEN PLOVEB.

Charadrius apricarius, Lixn. S. I. cd. 10, L 1758, 150 ; ed. 12, L 1766, 254. — Bukhm, Vog.

Deutschl. 1831, 541, pi. 27, lig. 3.
Charadrius pluvial is, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, \. 1758, 151 ; ed. 12, L 1766, 254. — Key,s. & Blas. Wirb.

Eur. 1840, 70. — Sciileg. Rev. crit. 1844, 81. — GitAY, Gen. IJ. III. 1849, 544 ; Cat. Brit. B.

1863, 1.39. — RiDow. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 514. — CoUE.s, Check List, 2d ed. 1882,

no. 583.
Charadrius aurahis, Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. IV. 1809, 395. — Naum. Viig. Deutschl. VII. 1834,

138, pi. 173.
Charadrius altifrons, BnEiiM, t.c. 542.
Pluvi^ilis aurea, Macoii.i.. Man. II. 1842, 49.
Tlic Qolden Plover, Auct.

Hab. Western Palsearctic Region, migrating to Africa, etc., in winter ; breeding in Eastern
Greenland (Finsch).

Twenty-four specimens measured.

Twenty-three specimens measured.

Ok.

CHARADRIID^ — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIUS.

139

Sp. Char. Lining of the wiii),' ami axiliiirs always pure white ; tiblic naked for only about
half the luii;,'th of the tarsus, or less. Adult in suiniiier : Ahove dusky lilack, everywhere spotted
with bright ochre-yellow, the wings with both the ground-color and the markings paler ; primaries,
priiuary-coverts, and alulu;, plain brownish-slate, with a narrow terminal margin of white ; about
tiie terminal half of the shafts of the (juills also wliii"; tail grayish slate, with rather naiTow
obliijue bars of white, these tinged with yellow on the middle feathers. Entire side of head, up
to the u|)per edge of the lores and auriculars, chin, and foreneck uniform dull black or dusky ; this
extending downward over the middle of the juguliim, grailually narrowing, until l)elow it forms a
stripe only a little more than half an incii wide, but, suddenly expanding, covers the entire lower
breast, abdomen, and anal region. Forehead and superciliary stripe white, thi.s continued down-
ward along the edge of the black, gradually widening below, until, where the black becomes nar-
rowest, the white measures nearly one inch in wiilth. Sides of the breast (|)osterior to and above
the white) spotted and barred black and ochre-yellow ; crissum mostly white. Bill black ; iris
dark brown ; legs and feet bluish gray (MAC(iii,LiVHAv). J F inter plumage : Upper parts as in sum-
mer, but the yellow markings more golden ; black of lower parts, throat, etc., replaced by light
grayish, .spotted and streaked with darker, the throat and abdomen immaculate white. Young:
Above .spotted dusky and ochre-yellow, much as in the adult ; lower parts as in the winter adult,
but jugulum and sides of breast strongly sulfused with light ochre-yellow. Doiouj young . " Bright
golden, varied with black on the head and back, the hind part of the neck bright yellow ; a spot
under the eye, and under surface of the body pure white" (Dresser).

Total length about 10.50 ; extent, 22.00. Wing, about 7.00 ; culmen, .90 ; tarsus, 1.60-1.60 ;
middle toe, 1.00.

Except in the pure white axillars and under wing-coverts, there is little in the coloration of
this species to distinguish it from the American C. dominicus and its Asiatic representative, G.
fulvus. It is more golden above, however, though some specimens of C. fulviis are as much marked
with this color.

Charadrins dominicus.

THE AMERICAN QOLDEN PLOVER.

Charadriiia dominicus, MiJLLEit, Syst. Nat. Suppl. 1776, 116. — Cass. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sei. Philad.

1864, 241. — RiOGW. Noni. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 515. — Coues, Check List, 2d ed. 1882,

no. 581.
Charadrins pluvialis, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 71, pi. 50, fig. 5 (nee Lixx.). — Swaixs. &

Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 369. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 16. — Aud. Orn. Biog, III. 1835, 623.
Chamdrius virginicn.i, " Bouckhausen and Bechstein," Licht. Verz. Doubl. 1823, no. 729. —

Cassix, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 690. — Baiud, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 503.
Charadrins fulvus, var. virginicus, Coues, Key, 1872, 243; Check List, 1874, no. 390, Birds N. W.

1874, 449 (.synonymy).
Charadrins viarmorafns, Waol. Sj'st. Av. 1827, no. 42. — Aud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 575, pl. 800 ;

Syuop. 1839, 222 ; Birds Am. V. 1842, 203, pl. 316.
Charadrins fiilvus aitwricanus, Suhleo. Mus. P.-B. Cursorcs, 1865, 53.

Hab. America in general, from the Arctic coast (including Greenland) to Paraguay and Chili ;
breeding in the Arctic and Subarctic districts, winter migrant to southern localities.

Sp. Char. Bill rather short, legs moderate, wings long, no hind toe, tarsus covered before and
behind with small circular or hexagonal scales. Summer plumage: Upper parts brownish black,
with numerous small circular and irregular spots of golden yellow, most numerous on the back
and rump, and on the upper tail-coverts, assuming the form of transverse bands generally ; also
with some spots of ashy white. Entire imder jiarts black, with a brownish or bronzed lustre,
under tail-coverts mixed or barred with white. Forehead, border of the black of the neck, under
tail-coverts, and tibiae, white ; axillary feathers cinereous; quills dark brown ; middle portion of
the shafts white, frequently extending slightly to the webs and forming longitudinal stripes on the
shorter quills ; tail dark brown, with numerous irregular bands of ashy white, and frequently
tinged with golden yellow ; bill black ; legs dark bluish brown. Winter plumage {young and

140

rU.ECOL'IAL GHALLAToliES — LIMICOL.E.

adult) : Under parts dull ashy, spotted with brownish on the neck nnd breuyt, fre(iuently more
or less mixed with l)liick ; muny spots of the upper' parts dull ashy while ; other 8i)ot», especially
on the rump, golden yellow.

Total length, about 9.60 inches ; wing, 7.00 ; tail, 2.ri() ; culmen, ,92 ; tarsus, 1.70 ; middle
toe, .90.

Specimens vary in the relative amount of the black and golden on the upper j)arts, in the
width of the white on the forehead, and other details of coloration. All the specimens in summer

plumage from Alaska, including St. Miihnel's, Popolf Island, Kadiak, and Sitka, are apparently
referable to the American form ; at least we cannot distinguish them from other Xortii Ameri-
can e.xamples in the same plumage, while their measurements are decidedly tho.se uf rfomtniViw.
Twenty-si.x specimens in all have l)een e.xamined, these; re])re.^enting almost as many localities,
from the Arctic coast to Costa Rica. Careful measurements of this series afford the follow-
ing re.sults : — Eleven gpeeimenit in mtmiiitr [ilumaije : Wing, 0.8(1-7.3."), average, 7.11; culmen
.85-1.00, average, .01 ; tarsus, l.(i(»- 1.8.5, average, 1.73; nii<ldle toe, .8.')-l.or), average, .91. Six
adults in chanrjimj plmnnge : Wing, (i. 90-7.30, average, 7.12; culmen, .90-1.00, average, .Oti ;
tarsus, l.()5-l.82, average, 1.70 ; middle toe, .80-.9."), average, .90. Seven specimens in uinter
plurn/ige (mosflij ijoumj) : Wing, ().80-7.20, average, 7.03 ; culmen, .80-1.00, average, .91 ; tarsus,
1.55-1.75, average, l.fifi ; middle toe, .85-.95, average, .87. Average of the whole scries: Wing,
7.09; culmen, .91 ; tarsu.s, 1.70; middle toe, .JK».

The Green, or Golden, Plover of North America is, within the limits of the United
States, a migratory speeies exclusively, and is confined, to a large extent, in its flights,
to the vicinity of the coast. Straggling parties, in the fall, pass south through the
interior; but these are chiefly birds in an immature phnuage. Their migrations
in the spring begin, in the more southern States, early in March, and continue
through thiit and the following month. Their movement at this season is more rapid
than in the fall, and they make few and short pauses, their flights being made more
frequently by interior routes. Audubon, when in Xew Orleans, March 16, 1821, wit-
nessed €an extraordinary flight of these birds near the Lake of St. John. They passed
in many thousands in a northeasterly direction. He estimated the number of Plovers
destroyed by the sportsmen on that day at forty-eight thousand. These flights took
place only just after there had been several very warm days, followed by a strong
northeast wind. The birds were not generally in good condition.

The late l)r. Lincecum, of ^Vashington Co.. Texas, states in his manuscript notes
that all through April the Golden Plov- is passing northward throughout Texas. Only
very few stop on the prairie and remain all summer, and these do not breed there.
They do not, when they are passing north, trav' in groups, but fly widely scattered,
chirping as they go, and seeming to try to keep in hearing of each other. They
appear to travel as much by night as during the day, since their peculiar call.

CHARADRIID.E — THE PLOVERf^ — CHARADRIUS.

141

or ohiri)ing, is heard during the month of their passage at all hours of the night.
Tliey often, wlien passing, fly at a great elevation. He states that, several miinites
l)efore the sun had appeared above the horizon, he has seen it shining brightly on
the under-part of their body and wings. They pass southward in early autuiuu in the
siiiue way, travidling wide-scattered, both night and ilay. lie considered it a poor
bird for food, never having been so fortunate as to get a fat one.

Their migrations in the fall are more geiu'rally noticed, and are more remarkable
than those whiidi take plact' in the spring. They occur with great rcgidarity late in
August, when the great body of the migrating flocks move south with so much regu-
larity, and with the accomiilisliment of such great distances passed over without
opportunity for rest, as to excite nuich interest. A succession of flocks pass through
Nova Scotia, striking b<;hlly out to sea, and if the weather is fair, taking a direct
line southward; they go to the east of tlu' Uernuidas, and if not interfered Avith
l)y storms, niaki' no stops until the West Undies niv reached. They (!ven ])ass over
the first of these in their course. Shoidd an easterly storm prevail about the 24th
of August, the birds are driven from their path, and pass in large numbers over the
eastern jmrtion of .Maine, and sul)se(pieutly over the southeastern extremity of
Massachusetts. In some seasons large numbers suddenly appear on iMontauk Point,
at the <'ast end of Long Island. Mr. Lawrence states that when they are seen in
such numbers it is usually about the li8th of August, not varying mort; than a day
or two from that time, and then only when a southeast storm has driven them out
of their regular course over the sea on to the island. Mr. Lawrence was at this point
in August, 18.~)8, and a southeast storm began on the 27th of that month. Flocks
of these birds were just ajipeariug as he left on that day, and he afterward learned
that on the 2<Sth tliey came in \nnisual uund)ers. In these visitations they remain
liut a short tiriie, the main body moving on south in two or three days. In ordi-
nary seasons only a few flocks pass the Point at the time of their migration. As
the result of Icmg observation, Mr. I'atriek Gould — ^Ir. Lawrence's informant — had
made out tluit unless a storm occurred just at the time named, no iniusu.al flight took
place, showing that their principal migration is made each year at a fixed period,
and is ended within two or three days, (riraud, whose observations of this Plover
are confined to their constant and regidar nugrations, and who took no note of these
extraordinary flights, states that in their northern movements in spring they arrive
on Long Island in the latter part of April, and soon pass on to more northern
regions. They return in the early part of September, and frequent the; Plains of
Hempstead, Shinnecock Hill, and Montauk, where they feed on a variety of insects.
Chasshoppers are their favorite fare, as well as berries. Occasionally he met with
these birds along the shores and about the ponds or the low wet meadows ; but they
generally prefer high and dry laud, unincumbered with woods. Hempstead Plains
are well adajited to their Iiabits, and in some seasons they are qirite abundant on
that miniature prairie. To Long Island hunters, and in the New York market, this
is known as the "Frost Pird." as it is usually most jdentiful during the first frosts
of autumn, when it is in fine condition and exceedingly well flavored.

In regard to the appearance of this bird at Permuda, Major Wedderburn states
that during some years large flocks pass over those islands ; but he gives the time
as September and October, instead of the latter part of August — the usual epoch of
its migrations. Except in stormy weather, it does not alight in any great numbers.
In 1847 the flight was as early as the 21st of August, and in 1848 a single bird was
seen on the 25th of July. On the 9th of March, 1852, one was shot on the north
shore — the only instance of its appearing in spring. To this statement Mr. Hurdis

142

PR^ECOCIAL ORALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

adds that this bird only visits Henmida (hiriiifj its great southern niifjration, a few
being met with by tlie 1st ot Si'iitenibcr, (ir. rarely, a few days earlier. As a gen-
eral rule, it passes over Herniuda in large and nunierou* Hocks between the Kith and
irth of September. If tlie weather is favorable, the Hoeks i)ass on, at a considerable
elevation, in a soutiierly or so\itlieasterly direction, the form of the Hight being a
leading (duster, from wliich extend three long lines in single file. They nnist have
come over a distance of eigiit hundred miles, and have u still longer flight to accom-
plish before they can reacdi tm-n jinini.

Occasionally hurricanes originate in tlie West Indies, rage with great violence,
and pjuss to the westward of JJermuda. It is impossible for the I'lovers to proceed
if they meet one of these territi(^ storms of wind and rain, and they take refuge in
the Hernnulas. It is very remarkable that they are always extremely fat, and they
are in consequence nuich .scmght l>y the hunters. A few flocks — later arrivals — are
met with up to the middle of October. Mr. Ilurdis was informed by a friend long
resident in Antigua that in September this island is ainuially visited by countless
flocks of this bird. ( )n one occasion, when the weather was stormy, this Plover made
its appearance in such multitudes that in St. John's the inhabitants in all directions
shot them from their doors and windows, even the boys killing them with sticks and
stones. Similar occurrences are narrated as having taken place in Martinique and
Barbadoes.

This bird is said to display great tivity when on the ground, and it often runs
with considerable rapidity before taking wing. It is not so timid as the Klack-bellied
Plover, and is easily decoyed by imitating its peculiarly mellow note, and is often
observed, if thus enticed when passing in a certain direction, to check its course,
turn round, and present itself as an easy mark. The stay of this species is short,
and as the season advances it passes southward, always moving in flocks and in a
very regular manner.

In their wintry wanderings they alternately visit the West Indies, Central and
South America, to Paraguay and Chili. Salvin noted their appearance in the open
pasture-lands about Duenas, Guatemala, in the second week of April, where they
were always seen in company with flocks of Kartram's Tattler. This bird appears to
be of accidental occurrence in Florida, where Mr. Moore saw but two individuals, one
in the spring. Professor Alfred Xewton refers to their autumnal migrations through
St. Croix, where they often appear in large numbers. There they are usually seen
after a gale from the south or southwest. From this he infers that they are arrested
in their southern migration by the wind, and compelled to defer journeying farther
until the weather has changed. To this Mr. Edward Xewton adds, that their arrival
is hailed with delight by the sportsmen, every one possessing a gun hastening to the
pastures on the south side of the island, and there awaiting the long line of these
birds as they fly up from the sea without exhibiting the least shyness. They were
first noticed by the Newtons, August 31, and as all the birds seen had more or less
traces of the black breast of the breeding-])lumage, it was supposed that the young
birds must have taken a different line from their parents in their migration. In
Trinidad, according to Lootaud, this species is a regular migratory visitant, arriving
about the end of August and moving south in ( )ctober, and is always found in flocks
of consideraVjIe size, frequenting the sea-side, but being even more fond of the interior
meadows, and especially of those freshly turned up, where it finds a great abundance
of the worms on which it feeds. It is the most regular of the birds of passage,
arrives in varyi' ' numbers, and is sought after by the local epicures ; although
L^otaud adds that this supposed excellence of its flesh is more imaginary than real.

CHARADRIIDiE — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIUS.

143

On the Pacilic coast this bird is comparatively rare. Dr. Cooper never met with
it in Southern Calii'ornia, and has only seen a single specimen, shot near San Fran-
ciHCO by Mr, J. Hej)burii. Dr. Newberry mentions having noticed it in the northern
part of that State in autumn.

In Nortlicastern Illinois and near the shores of Lake Michigan, Mr, Nelson con-
siders this species a very abundant migrant. It arrives in large flocks early in April,
tlie black of their breeding-plumage only just beginning to mottle their white breasts.
I'licy frcipu'nt wet ja'airies until the hist of the month, when they leave, a few
remaining into May. Returning early in September, they stay until October.

They resort to breed to the most northern portions of the continent, from Green-
laud to Sitka. Dr. Walkpr, of the " Fox," nu'utions meeting with them on the coast of
thecnland, near (iodthaab, and afterward finding them breeding in the marshy val-
leys of Bellot's Strait in .lune. This species is included in Keinhardt's list of the
birds of (ireenland, on the strength of specimens taken there by Holbtill.

Captain lUakiston noted it as only a passing visitor in the more southern parts of
British America, and as numerous in iaitumn on the shores of Hudson's Bay ; but it
did not appear to be common on the Western plains. Mr. Ross mentioned this Plover
as being abundant on the ^lackenzie, and Hearne speaks of it as having been called,
a century ago, by the Indians of Hudson's Bay, "Ilawk's-eye," — a name indicating
its watchfulness, when sitting, in preventing a too near approach. He describes its
motions when on the wing as swift and irregular, ])articularly when single or in small
flocks. Though never nunu'rons at Churchill Uiver, yet at Fort Y'ork, in the fall of
1773, he saAV this bird in immense flocks. They were, however, by no means equally
plentiful in all years nor in all places. At Fort Albany several barrelsfid were
aninially salted down for winter use. He adds: "This bird during the summer
resorts to the remotest northern parts, for I have seen them at Copper Kiver, though
in those dreary regions only in pairs. The young leave the nests as soon as hatched,
and when but a few days old run very fast. At night or in rainy weather the old
ones call them together and cover them with their wings in the same manner as a
lu'U does her chickens."

Richardson in his account states that the breeding-cpiarters of this species are the
Barren Ground, the Arctic coast, and the islands of the Arctic Sea ; that they hatch
early in June, and retire southward in vVugust. Numbers, however, linger on the
muddy shores of Hudson's Bay, and on the sandy beaches of the rivers and lakes of
tlie interior, until the hard frosts of September and (Jctober drive them away. At
this period they are very fat, and are highly prized by the epicures of the Fur
Country.

This Plover appears also to be a common species on the northwestern coast. Ban-
nister gives it as common at St. Michael's. It was procured by Bischoft" at Sitka and
Kadiak, and is mentioned by Dall as being abundant at Nulato and all along the
Yukon River, where it arrives during the latter part of May.

Mr. MacFarlane's Arctic Notes are very full in reference to the nesting and breed-
ing habits of this species. The nund)er of eggs was almost invariably four, but in
one instance five were said to have been found. Out of one hundred and fourteen
recorded nests, ninety-two contained four eggs. In one instance only one egg, nearly
ready to hatch, was found. The nests were noticed throughout the Barren Grounds,
from the time of the party's leaving the woods quite uj) to that of their arrival
on the Arctic Ocean. The nests were in all instances mere depressions in the soil,
generally lined with a few dry leaves, and were diflicult to find, as there was nothing
to distinguish them from the soil — which the eggs very closely resemble in color —

144

I'li.HCOCIAl- (H{AI.I,AT()UK.S ~ LI.MICOL/K.

and us tho ft'iiuile glides fnuu licr nest, if ivitproaclit'il, even wliuu the intnuk'rs are still
at a distancf. Slu' runs a rcrtaiii (listain'c, and il' slic smcchmmIs in enticing tiic party
away, will tiicii take to tii^ht. in a IVw instam-fs, wiicn tlir liird was siiriiriscd l)y a
near ajfiiroach iM't'orc slic Ictt, sin- iiretcndcd lauicness, and Huttert'd at tlu'ir fot't.
Tlu' «'Kgs wt'it' found in .luni', and sonic even as late as iluly, and (juitc t'rcsh. Wln'U
tiiL' gronufl was (covered with newly-fallen snow the nests were more readily recog-
nized. When approaciied the female usually left her position at a qu'ek paee —
between a run and a walk — and in no ease was slie known to tly up direetly from
her eg^s. In one instanee. where the presenee of a nest was susjieeted. hut the exai't
locality of which they were not alile to discover, the party withdrew to a distance
and watched, wlien the female, after resorting to various nmnauivrea to hide the place,
at last revealed it l)y Hnally settling down upon her eggs.

Tlie eggs of this sjiecies have a ground id' various shades of drab, differing in
several specimens, and varying from a light greenish drab to a very deep shade,
unmixed with any other color. Others have a ground of a pale rufous-tlrab. All are
marked with blotches of a deep umber, api>roaching to blackness. These nuirkiugs
are smaller and more scattered around the pointed end; but are larger and become
confluent, with intensified s^jots, around the obtuse ai)ex. Their average length is
al)ont l.Ul inches, and their average breadth l..'U inches. Their maximum length
is U inches, their mininuim 1.84; their breadth varies from l.'Jo to 1.,'55 inches.

Charadrius dominicus fulvus.

THE PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOTEB.

Charadritis fulvus, Gmki,. S. N. I. 1788, 687. — Couks, Klliott'.sPiybilof Islands, 1873, 179 (Prybilof

Isliiiuls, Alaska).
Charadrius f ah' UH, a. J'ulnin, t'oUEs, Birds N. W. 1874, 449 (syuoiiyiny).
PI uviaU.1 faleus, BoNAi'. C'omjit. Hfiid. 185(5, 417.
Charadrius diiminicuH fuhuH, IJiniiw. Proc. U. .■<. Xiit. Mils. Vol. 3, 1880, 198, 221 ; Nora. N. Am.

B. 1881, no. .IIS (f. — (.'oi-Es, Clieck List, 2a imI. 1882, no. 582.
Charadrius j-aiilhoduiluH, \Vai;i,. Syst. Av. 1827. — Cas.sin, U. S. Expl. Exp. 1848, 239.
C/utradrius tahi/rusis, I.K.ss. Man. II. 1828, ."521.
Charadrius rjiaucopstui, Fohst. Uescr. An. I'd. Licht. 1844, 176,
Charadrius hmijijtes, "Tkm.m. Mns. Luf,'dnn.''

Ouiradrius auralus oricntdlis, Ti;mm. k Si'iii.Ed. Faumi Jap. 1845, pi. 62.
Charadrius auratus, Sciiuknck, IJcise Amur. 1860, 410.

Hah. Whole of A.siu, and islands throughout the Piieitic Ocean ; Prybilof Islands and const
of Aliu>ka (nuniLTous specimens in National Museum).

Chau. Similar to G. duminicus, but wing much shorter, and color much more golden, the
upper surface being uhnost continuously washed with golden yellow. Average measurements:
Wing, «i.40 ; culnien, .92 ; tarsus, 1.72; middle toe, .90.

The only American specimens of this form of tho Golden .jver, which ranges throughout the
islands of the Pacific, besides Southern and Eastern Asia, are from the islands and coasts of Alaska.
They are all in the winter plumage, suggesting the probability of their being mere migrants to our
shores. The very fine specimens in the collection, obtained chiefly by Messrs. Lucien M. Turner
and E. \\ . Nelson, of the U. S. Signal Service, at St. Michael's, Norton Sound, are perfectly typical
of the race, most of them Ix'ing continuou.sly golden yellow above, relieved oidy by the black
spotting. The jugnhini is also deeply tinged with this color. There are no specimens in the
Bunnner plumage, from any locality, in the collection, so we are unable to point out the exact
differences from the con-espondiug stage of C. dominicus} Altogether we have examined in this

* Since the above was written, the National Museum has come into possession of an adult male in
changing plumage, from New South Wales (Xo. 71561, obtained from the New South Wales Museum),

CirAKADUIID.*: — THE PLOVKUS — CHAltADUns.

145

coniK-ctioti uiiwunlH of thirty sjieeiiuens, fl\o greater number hviii^ from tho Piicilic islnmlH. Mcum-
iiiviiieiitH of II part uf tliJH 8«rii-H (otiivr spfuimeiiit not liein^' availalilt' for tliu piu'iiosf) givu tlit-
I'lilliiwiii;,' ivsiiltii : — Sifcu 8j)ecimi:nii fram Aladd : Win;,', (!.:i')-<l>*(>, ii\i'raj,'L', (i. I!( ; chIiul'M, .85-
.!l,'>, avuruHi'i .SSI; tarsurt, 1.70-I.n"), avi'iaj;i', l.7t> ; niiijiili' tur, .s.'i-.KO, a\<ia;,'i', ,h!). Sijiern
:ipa-uiuitii /rinn I'wijic ulundu, Jnilia, iiitd China: Winn, <i. Kl-'l-''", uvtMaj^'c, (1.3(1 ; cniniL'n, .H5-
l.(M», avcra^i! .1)3 ; tar«us, l.r)")-l.H,'), uwragi', l.(i!) ; miildli! toe, .M-.'X>, avfra^i-, .1)1. Tiie uvura^L'
of iliii wliolu Hurit's i.-i aw j^ivun aliovc

In tlie I'olli'ftion tiieri; i.-t oni' s|)L-cinu'n (No. 1H53) lalu.'lli'd '• (7i(«;'i((/r('i(« yi/i/riVi/io," rccoiveil
from Au^. licfcvrc, i'aris, ami Hn|)i)o.seil to liavi? Itfcn olitaint'il in France — altliougii tlii.s i.s not
assertril on tin- ori^inul laln'l — which liearn, Ih-hiiIl* tho nanii-, only tiiu in.scrijttion, ^' /jremnit livr/e
il\'li'." It is typical fulvm, having Nnioky ^ray a.xiilars, ami measuring as follows ; Wing, (J.(X) ;
culnitMi, .\)-J, ; tarsu.s, I. To ; nii<l(llu toe, .<J(i. It is an adult in changing [)hunagu.

A siu},'lt' Hijpcimcii of this Asiatic sppcifS was piocurod hy Mr. Elliott on tho I'ry-
biluf Lslands, thus first giving it a jilaco in thf fauna of North Amcriea.' Tlii.s
t'xaniplt' was taken on the Island of St. Taul's, May I*. IS7.'3. Mr. Elliott states that
a few stragglers land in April or early in May on their way north to breed, but never
remain long. Tliey return in greater numbers the latter i)art of September, and grow
fat upon the larvif generated on the killing-grounds of the fur seal, and leave for
tlie .south by the end of (Jetolier. Numerous specimens taken on the coast of Alaska
are in the National Museum. This spooies is very closely allied to the r!r(j!uiiiiius,
so that Drs. Hartlauh and Finsch regard it as verj' probable that they art; identical
species.

Mr. Dresser, iu his nceount of this bird, refers to specimens taken in Nortlieastern
Africa on the Red Sea, in Siberia, India, Ceylon, Malacca, Java, Hanca, liorneo,
Timor, IJatchian, Australia, Hainan, Formosa, China, and also to one from the Arctic
seas, killed in hit. (H)° 30' N., long. 17o° L'O' E., Sept. 3, ISoL', and nearer the American
than the Asiatic shore. It also occasionally extends its range into Europe, having
once bei'n seen at Heligoland and twice at Malta. It will thus be seen either to be
a great wanderer or to have (piite an extended range.

It is without doubt this bird tliat is referred to by Pallas as C.jjluvialis. By that
traveller it is spoken of as being rare in the northern parts of Russia, but exceedingly
common in Siberia, whence it migrates in the autumn in Hocks to more southern
localities in comi)any with the Dotterel. It was met with on the banks of small
rivers and in cattle pastures. Steller is quoted as having taken it in Kamtschatka
in autumn.

Mr. Dresser states that it breeds within the Arctic Circle. Middendorff observed
it on the tundnts of the Taimyr, in lat. 74° X., in full summer plumage. The birds
were gathered in large flocks on the 4th of June, and had eggs by the 17th. They
assembled on the 2d of August, on Lake Taimyr, to return, and none were seen after

uml another, in nearly complete suninicr dress, from Shanghui, China (N'o. 85742, April 21, 1881 ; Shanghai
Miiscinii). Upon close comparison of these specimens with examples in convs|H)nJing plimiiij,'« from
Xortli America, wc cannot sec that they differ in the minutest particular as regards coloration. They are,
however, decidedly shorter winged, their measurements being, respectively, as follows ; —

Wing. Ciiliiien. Tarsus. Middle Toe.

No. 71.'i61, ,J, New South Wales, 6.30 .95 1.65 1.00

No. 85742, i, Shanghai, 6.S6 1.02 1.75 .95

Average of O. dominicm, 7.09 .91 70 .90

' Since the above was (M-nued by Dr. Brewer, numerous Alaskan si)ecka.<in8 have been received at the
U. S. National Museum, collected by Messrs. Turner and Nelson, and others, chiefly at St. Michael's,
Norton Sound. — H. H.

VOL. I. — 19

146

PR.ECOCIAL GKALLATUULS - I.IMICOL^.

:i.
I' ' '

iiii

tilt' 9tli of that month. ( Mi th»' UoKiiiiifhi, lut. 70° N., they arrived May LM, and wore
not noticed later than Aii>,'ust .'U. Tliev nested on the li:iriens of rid.skuj-Ostrog.

Aeeordinj? to Mr. Heiiiv Whitelv, as i[\ioted liy Mr. Dresser, it is liy no means a
rare liird in .lajian, wiii're he ol(taine<l three s|)eeimens. Sept. L't and Oet. .'{, IHCm.
In India, aeeordin^' to I>r. .lerdoii, it ueeiirs (^eiierally in open phiins, ^I'li^^^y thnviiH,
ploiigiied fields, and on the edt,'es of rivers and lakes, assoeiatinj,' in Hocks of varying
magnitude, and feeding,' on lieetles and other hard insects, worms, and the like. ||c
speaks of it as having a shrill whistling,' call, and as flyin),' very rapidly, lie also
states that many hreed in that conntry — even toward the sonth, as at Nellore —
while others were oliserved to pass northward to Itreeii, retnrnin^j in Septendier.

Mr. Iloldworth mentions this species as heing very common in Ceylon in winter,
especially in the north of that island, extending as far south as (loliunho. I'rcd'essor
Schlegel nd'ers to more than sixty specimens (d' this species, collected in nearly every
island of the Malay .Vrchiiielago, and now in the Leyden Museum.

In Australia, aeeording to Mr. (Jould, although nowhere very abundant, this bird
is generally dispersed all over the colonies, from Tasmania northward. Several
specimens were procured on the hanks of the Derweiit in Tasmania, and others were
observed in small nundters on the flats below Clarence Plains, lie also killed exam-
ples on an island in Uass's Straits. Its habits, manners, and general economy are
said closely to resend)le those of the (Jolden I'lover (d' Kurojte. It freipients o|)eii
plains in the nei;,'hbornood of marshy lands or the sea-beach, runs with amazing
facility, and Hies with great rapidity. Indications of the bn-eding-plumage begin to
appear early in the spring. Mr. Gould thinks that none remain to breed in any of
the southern parts of Australia.

Dr. K (Tiiilfe mentions finding this Plover in Tongatabn, one of the Tonga Islands,
where it occurred in flock.s of from thirty to fifty individuals. They ran in search
of food on sand-banks hd't dry at low water, and when approacdicd within gunshot
uttered a shrill tuli-lnH-twi-tiri, and then took to Hight. At high-water they freciuented
the open grassy jdaces on fitdds and fallows. This species was found all the year
round on that island, but was more numerous from October to March, and during the
season of migration.

Mr. Layard (" Ibis," 187S, p. li()l') mentions its occurrence in Now California, where
it was found breeding cm the i.slets off An.servata, elo.se to Noumea; and Mr. Hlakiston
(" Ibis," p. lilS) speaksof it as connuon throughout .Japan. .Mr. I{. Swinhoe ("Ibis,"
1874; mentions meeting with this species at Ilakodadi in Japan in May. He else-
where gives the range of this species as throughout China. He procured it between
Takoo and I'ekin, and states that he found it a common bird near (Janton, ])assing
the summer there. He also sjieaks of finding it in Formo.sa, where it was common
all the year round, breeding in great abundance in nuirshy plains U) the southwest.
He also met with it in his excursion to Hainan, and states that it was connuon in the
marsh near the city on the 5th of Ftdiruary. He found it in the dry rice-tields of
Paklai, in Western Hainan, on the 21st of March, and abundant anutng the sweet-
potato gardens of Hoitow on the 23d of that month. On the 2d of April, at Kinnge-
how, he saw these birds on the l)each, Avhere they were then l)eginning to acquire the
black uuderdress of sununer.

According to Mr. Swinhoe, its eggs — four in number — are laid in a loose nest
of dried grasses and fibres placed in a hollow. They have a yellowish-gray ground,
blotched and spotted with deep blackish sepia, and have occasional obsolete purplish
gray spots. The eggs do not vary much in their size, are narrowed near one end, and
measure 1.50 inches in length by 1.10 in breadth.

ciiARAnniin.E — the plovers — oxyeciius.

147

Mr. II. Hei'lM)hiu (Urn, 1M71>, p. l.').'{j first iiu'l with this Mju'cieH in Sihvriii, .luiic 5,
iiiul secured niaiiy HperiiiieiiH uh it puxMeil tlie Kou-rug-i-ka in its niigrutionH. ITe
ii^iiiii ""'t witli it on tilt' open tuin/ni, hcyoml tin- limit of I'orrMt-growth, in Int. GU"
.to'. The nest was ii mere hollow in the uronml, lint'd with broken stiilks of reindoer-
iiioss. The eggs, fonr in nnmlier, averaged 1.1M» hy !.;]«'. These were taken .fuly Hi,
and were very niueh incubated.

Mr. Seebolim shows that Mr. Swinhof prniialily erred in stating that this TMover
lirieils in Formosa, antl that he mistook the eggs of .Etjialitin (Jcojf'roi/l for those
of this species.

' ' ('If

i T

GKxrfl 0ZYECHX7S, ]!i:i( ukn-dacu.

Oxiiechm, REU'iiEsn., Av. Syst. 1853, Introil. p. xviii (tyj*, Ckaradrius vociferui, Linn.).

Cii.vK. IJill unmll, nk'tulur, iibeiit wpuil to tlie niiddli; toe (without null) ; tnrsiw nenrly twice an
long UM iiiiililii! lot' ; tail long (about two tliiriN us long m thu wings), reaching half its length
beyond till' ends of the primaries, grmlnated, the lateral feathers about ,75 shorter than the middle
jiiiir ; rump dill'ereiit in cilor from tin- back.

The single N'orili Ameriean species of this genus dilfers conspicuously Irom the Plovers usually
inilnded together under .Kijiulilii/ui the broad, lengthened tail, and, so far as coloration is c(m-
cerned, in tint ochraceoii. lunipand the pairof bhick bands across the breast. It may be remarked,
however, that uulurutiou uluiie is of slight importuuco as u churuuter iu thin group.

0. vociferus.

Two Old World species appear to belong here rather than with the true Alyinlitis, namely,
niriraihius friaillnriK, A'ieill., of South Africa, and C'h. nigrifrons, Cuvieh, of Australia. The
former is nnich like a ndniature Kildeer Plover, having two black pectoral bands, like 0,
vncifenig (though their relative width is reversed, the posterior one being the l)ro(ider) ; the pro-
portions and details of form are (pdte the same, but the rump and upper tail-coverts are concolor
with the back. The Australian spei^ies agrees essentially with the above in size and proportions,
liut has broader and acuuunate rectrices, and the tail is more nearly even, while the plumage is
handsomer and more varied than in any other species of the group ; the scajjular region being
adorned with a patch of rich maroon chestnut, the upper tail-coverts rufous chestnut, etc.

. I

^ ■I

148 PUJ-X'OCIAL GUALLAKtUES — LIMICoLJ:.

Ozyechus vocifems.

THE KILDEEB PLOVEB.

nhnradnit.1 vnn/criia, LiNN. S. N. ed. 10, I. \7M, luU ; vd. V>, I. 1766, 258. — Wii.s. Am. Orn. VII.

181it, 7;), i>l. uit, life'. 6. — XuTT. Man. II. \x:H, ii. — Ai D. Oiii. Biog. III. ISafi, 191 : V. 1839,

.'i77, pi. 225 ; Syiiop. 1S3U, 222 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 207, pi. 317.
^'li/ilis riifl/i'fu.i, I'xiNAl'. Coiiip. Li»t, 1838, 45. — ('.Vssin in Iliiinrs B. N. Am. 1858, 692.—

lUiiiK, tat. X. Am. IJ. l.S5!t, no. 504. — CofEs, Kry, 1872, 244 ', Check List, 1874, no. 397 ;

2(1 c<l. 1882, no. .181.
Oxi/frlinn fiM-i/fi-iin, lii:i( II. Sy.st. Av. 1853, pi. xviii. — HiDGW. Noin. N. Am. U. 1881, no, 516.
Chni-iiilriii.s tiirqiiiihtii, \AS\. S. N. 1. 1766, 255.
Charndnu-1 jmii" iccn.iis, fi.Mi:i.. S. X. I. 1788, 685.

Had. The wlioli- of ti'in]icrat(! Xoitli Anu-riia, inij,'ratiiig in winter into tropical America as I'ar
as New (Jranadii ; West Indies in jji'iienil ; Beriiiudas ; River Avon, Enj,'lan(l (tide ScL., Ibis,
18(i2, 2".") ; one specimen taiien April, 18.57).

Si', (.'hah. All "If: Pileiim and upper parts generally, grayish brown, inclining to umber,
rump and ujtper tail-coverts ncliraceons-rufous, lighter on the latter. Forehead and broad super-
ciliary stripe, throat, nuchal colliu-, and lower parts, white. Fore part of the crown, loral stripe,
continual toward occiput, coUur round neck, and band across breast, black. Primaries dusky, the

inner quills marked on outer webs with white. Tail chiefly pale ochmceous-nifous, variegated
with wliite, dusky, and grayish, chiefly towanl the end. Bill Idack ; iris dark brown ; eyeliils
(in life) orange-red or scarlet ; legs and feet pale pinkish grayish, or pale grayish yellow.

Yovy>(j: Similar to the adult, but feathers of the upper parts more or less con.spicuously mar-
gined with pale rusty or I'ulvous.

Dnwmj Yimwj: Upper parts genemlly, including pilcum, light grayish brown, the two areas of
this color boundeil all rouml by black, a wide 'ollar of which cro.s.ses the Juguluni, and, extending
across the nape beneath a broad white collar, completely encircles the neck ; a broad bar of velvety
black down the middle of the humeral region, and a narrow, more interrupted stripe of the same
down the rump. Forelieail, throat, lower parts generally, " hand-wing," and posterior border of
the humerus, pure wliite ; the flanks and crissum more isal)ella-color ; n narrow black line run-
ning from the rictus to the eye.

Total lengtli, about 10 inches ; extent of wings, 20.50 ; wing, 6. .50 ; tail, 3.50.

The Killrtee, or KiWeer Plover, has a with; distribution throughout the continent,
and breeds, wherever it is found, fiom Central America, Mexico, and Southwestern
Texas, to the plains of the Saskatchewan. It is more abundant in some parts of the

CHARADRIID.E — THK PLOVERS — OXYECHUS.

149

country than in otliors, and as a jjfMU'val tliinj; is more numerous in the interior than
near the sea-coast. A huge proportion are migratoiy in tlie winter to the West
Indies and Northern South Auu-rica.

Tliroughout New England it is found generally distriWuted, but nowhere common,
or only so in very exceptional instances. A few are seen as far eastward as Calais,
init only in the fall, and these arc evidently accidental visitors. A single specinuMi
is recorded as taken in England. In the interior it is found nuich farther north than
ni'ar the coast. Iiichardson notes its common presence in the Valley of the Saskatch-
ewan, where it arrives about the liOth of April, and where, during its residence, it
frequents the gardens an<l cultivated fields of the trading-jjosts in (pu'st of its food.
It is very familiar, hovering over the heads of intruders, and reiterating its loud,
shrill cry. Cai)tain IWakiston noted its first arrival at Fort Carlton, in 1858,
on the lUth of April, finding it a bird diftiindt to ajiproach within shooting dis-
tance. M. liourgeau also obtained specimens, as well as their nests and eggs, on the
Saskatchewan.

In Northeastern Illinois, near Lake Michigan. Mr. Nelson regards this species
as only a summer resident, arriving the 1st of March and departing in October,
although stragglers often .a]»pear in the mihler days of mid-winter.

In Southeastern ( hegcm Captain Uendire found it one of the earliest birds to arrive
in spring, and generally distributed in summer.

On Long Island, according to Mr. J. II. Hatty, the Kihleer remains until (luite
late in the fall, and is seen again very eiirly in the spring. He does not think, how-
ever, that it stays there throughout the winter, although one was procured by him
on the 27th of Novembi-r, IST'J, when the ground was frozen hard and all the ponds
were covered with ice : its stomach contained common ground-worms.

The Kihleer breeds as far south at least as Mexico. Dr. Berlandier states that
it lives in the neighborhood of Matamoras, in the vicinity of swamps, and that it
is also found throughout the entire State of Tamaulipas, where it is known as the
Tildeo.

Dr. Lincecum states that, in the neighborhood of Long Point, Texas, it remains
during winter in large flocks, flies, and feeds, and sounds its ])eculiar note as much
at night, seemingly, as in the day. It occtasionally nests about the rocky streamlets
on the prairies of that country. He never met with a nest, though he has once
been very near to one, the old bird trying by various pretences to allure him away
from a certain locality ity the side of a rocky stream. It carries its young about
with it from their earliest infancy. No bird — as Dr. Lincecum remarks — walks
with more ease or more gracefully than the Kihleer, young or old.

Though genertilly more common in the interior, the Kihleer is occasionally abun-
dant in certain localities near the sea. Dresser found it equally common near the
sea-coast, and itdand in Texas at almost every imol. This bird breeds in Texas, both
in the interior and on the coast, as Mr. Dresser received its eggs from Systerdale
taken late in May; and when on Galveston Island, ]\Iay 2(5, a German, who was
with hinj, found a young Kildeer in a depression in the ground made by the hoof of
a horse.

Major Wedderburn mentions this bird as a winter visitant of Bernuida, where
specimens were occasionally obtained from the 12th of November to the 4th of
March. Mrs. Hurdis adds that it is principally found in the months of December
and January in small flocks ; that its note is peculiarly soft and pleasing. It is not
seen in the spring.

While a few occasionally winter in the Central Western States, in all the South-

150

PRiECOCIAL GUALLATORES — LIMICOLiE.

ern States they are resident throughout tlic year, and most numerous in the winter.
They are also found at this season in Mexieo, Central America, and the West Indies.
Mr. Salvin observed a Hock of these Plovers frecjuenting the open land near Duenas
during the winter, and oecasionally feeding in the cochineal plantations between the
rows of nopal. He also found it common in other parts of (Juatemala, both in all
the highland swa:aps and in similar localities in the hot district with little eleva-
tion, everywhere jireferring interior fresh-water marshes to the tide-washed sand-
banks of the shore. Mr. Leyland also nu't witli individuals near Omoa, and Mr. G.
C. Taylor obtained several specimens on Tigre Island, and afterward on the open
part of the plains of C'omayagua. Specimens wer»' taken in St. Thomas by Mr.
Riise, and Dr. Bryant speaks of it as very common in tlie liahamas during winter.

Dr. J. G. Cooper mentions the Kildeer as a constant resident in California wher-
ever water is permanent. It was especially abundant at Los Angeles, December,
18G(). Except in its more northern places of abode, it is only partially migratory.

Dr. Cooper also states that this IMover winters in all j)arts of California south of
San Francisco. It migrates during April and May northwards, but a jwrtion remain
in summer in all the western i)art of that State. The}' prefer gravelly shores of
brooks and rivers, but sometimes visit inundated meadows, or even dry and barren
plains, where they feed on insects, and i)r()l)ably also on seeds.

They are very noisy, and their note — wliicli to the Si)anish ear sounds like tildeo,
and not kildeer — is uttered in a comiilaining tone wJienever anyone api)roaches
them. Though by no means timid, they always seem very much distressed by the
presence of man, and act as if they had nests at all seasons; and, whether they
are actually nesting or not, run before their pursuer, counterfeiting lameness, and
apparently trying to excite pity by their melancholy notes. In California they are
not generally regarded as good food, being of a strong and musky flavor ; but in the
autumn, when fat, they are not unfrequently eaten.

Near Fort Hays, in Western Kansas. Ttlr. J. A. Allen found this species by far the
most numerous of the Gnilln: He afterward ascertained it to be ecpiallj' abundant
in the northeastern portion of the valley of Great Salt Lake. Mr. Kidgway found
it more or less common in the prairies of the southern part of Illinois, and in his
Western explorations it was by far the most generally distributed, as well as the most
abundant bird of the order in all the fertile portions of the West, and resident in all
sections where the streams are not frozen for any length of time during winter.

On Long Island the Kildeer is more numerous than in New England. There,
according to (riraud, in summer it prefers the oi)en dry ground ; but on the approach
of winter it descends to the sea-shore. It is more numerous in the northern por-
tions of that island, which from their higher situation are better adapted than the
southern for its residence in the summer. In his pedestrian excursion around that
entire island, Giraud met with this I'lover occasionally, but found it most alnnidant
in a tract of waste ground near (Jreen Point. The l)irds were very tame, and had
evidently enjoyed undisinited possession of the place for some time. They were
collecting worms and various kinds of insects ; and he watched their employment
without interrupting it.

The Kildeer feeds on worms and various kinds of insects on the uplands, and i.lso
frequents shallow jiools and brooks in search of such small Crustacea as are found in
the water. In the fall it is said to follow the ploughman, and pick up the larv»
and other forms of insect life that are turned over in the furrows.

Like most of its race, this Plover passes much of its time on the ground, over
which it moves with great rapidity. It can run with such swiftness that — accord-

CIIARADRIID^ — THE PLOVERS — JIGIALITIS.

151

ing to Audubon — to run "like a Kildeer" has in some parts of the country passed
into a proverbial phrase. This bird is also e(iually active on the wing, and mounts
lit pleasure to a great height in the air with a strong and rapid Hight, which can bo
continued for a long distance. Sometimes it skims (piite low over the ground, and
at other times mounts to a great height ; and during the love-season it is said to
perform various kinds of evolutions wliile on the wing.

Its note consists of two syllal)les, resendding in sound kill-dac, rapidly enun-
ciated ; and occasionally, when the bird is imich excited, only the last syllable is
repeated after the first utterance of the doulilc note. (Jenerally it is sounded in a
loud, clear tone, and as a signal of alarm. It not unfrecpiently startles other birds
and puts them on tiieir guard, this habit rendering the Kildeer an object of dislike
to the hunter. During the summer — esi)ecially when it is breeding, and afterward,
even when its young are fully grown — the Kildeer is a noisy anil restless bird, and
is disturl)ed by the near approach of man. It will often s(pmt until one is close
upon it, and will then suddenly fly up or run off, startling the unwary intruder by
a loud and clear cry. According to Auilubon, during the winter it is an unusiuiUy
silent bird. At this season it is found dispersed over the cultivated fields in Florida,
Georgia, the Carolinas, and other Southern States, diligently searching for food.

It is said to breed in Louisiana in the iK'ginning of April, in the Middle States
in May, and on the Saskatchewan in June. Its nest is of very simple construction,
and is usually a mere hollow in the ground, without any lining, or with merely
a few bits of dry grasses. Occasionally it is said to construct a nest of grass in a
bunch of plants, but this is very rarely done. Wilson mentions having seen nests
of this species with snuill fragments of shells forming a rim around the eggs.
During incvd)ation the parents alternate in sitting upon their eggs, and do not leave
them day or night, differing in a marked manner, in this respect, from the melodus
and the Wilson t. The young run alwut the instant they leave the shell. If the
nest is approached during incubation, or when the young are in danger, both jiarents
resort to various manoeuvres to entice away the intruder : the female droops her
wings, utters plaintive notes, and simulates lameness; the male is more demon-
strative, and dashes about his head with angry vociferations.

The eggs are usually four in numlter. never more — so far as known to us —
and very rarely less. They are inriform in shape, being much rounded at one
end, and pointed at the other. Their ground, when the egg is fresh, is a rich cream-
color, fading into a dull white, over which are profusely sjiread blotches of varying
sliape and size, of dark purplish brown, ajjproaching black. These increase in size
toward the larger end, and cover a greater proportion of it, but are finer and more
scattered elsewhere. They measure 1.(m inches in length by 1.13 inches in their
greater breadth.

Gexus 2IOIAI1ITIS, BoiE.

jEgialUis, BoiE, Isis, 1822, 558 (tyiHj, Cluiradrius hiaiicitla, Linn.).

^gialitcs, BoiE, Isis, 182(5, 978.

^ijialcus, Ueuuksu. 1. c. (type, Charadrius semipalinatus, Bosap.).

Leucopoliua, IJoxap. Comiit. Rend. XLIII. 1856, 417 (tyiie, Charadrius leucopolins, Waol.ss C. mar-

ginatus, ViEII.l.. ).
? Oirripcdcsmus, Bonap. Coiupt. Ueud. 1856, 417 (type, Cluiradrius civrhipcdesmus, WA0L.=C7t. won-

golicus, Pall.).

Char. Similar to Oxyechus, but the species of smaller size, with shorter and less graduated
tail (leus than half us long as the wing), aud ruuip coiicolor with the buck (grayish).

152

PRiECOCIAL GKALLATOKES — LIMICOL.E.

The numerous species of this genus vary greatly among themselves in the details of structure,
iilthough there is a general similarity of coloration throughout the group. The American species
may be distinguished as follows : —

jE. nitwfd.

A» Nape crossed by n more or leas distinct white collar.
a. Bill decidedly shorter than middle toe, very stout (excejit in ^. curonica), the basal half

light colored (orange or yellow) in adults, except in -£'. curonica,
a'. A distinct web l)etween Imse of inner and middle toes.

1. JB. semipalmata. Abuve, grayish brown ; forehead, ling round neck, and lower parts,

white. In summer, fore part of crown, lores, and broad pectoral collar (continued round
back of neck, below the white nuchal collar) black or dusky. In winkr, these black
markings ixjplaced by grayish brown, like the back, etc. Yonnij, like winter adults, but
bill wholly black, and featiiers of upi)er parts nuirgined terminally witli buff. Wing,
about 4..'Jl)-4.7r) ; culnien, .J.J-.oO ; depth of bill at base, .20; tarsus, .95; middle toe,
.()5-.70. Huh. Nearly the wlnde of America.
a". No web between base of inner and middle toes.

2. XI blaticula. Colore of ..£'. semijHilmata, but pectoral band broader. Wing, about 5.00 ;

culmen, .50-..")5 ; depth of bill at base, .20-.:i2 ; tarsus, l.(H); middle toe, .60-.65.
Hah. Paliuarctic Region and jiortions of Arctic America.

3. JD. ouronioa. Similar to ^E. hiaticida, but smaller and much more slender, especially

the bill, which is always black ; middle of crown crossed by a more or less distinct
whitish Ijiir, immediately iH-hind the black patch. Wing, 4.3.5—4.70 ; culmen, .50-.52 ;
depth of bill at basi', .15-18 ; tarsus, l.(H^-1.05 ; middle toe, .55-.60. Hab. Paia'arctic
Regicm generally ; accidental in Cidifornia and Alaska f
. 4- JD. meloda. Above, i)ale brownish gray ; foi-ehead, lores, nuchal collar, aii<l lower parts
white. Ill summt'i; a band across {on \K\rt of crown, and one across each side of breast
(the latter .sometimes c(mnectetl, so as to form a continuous jjectoral band), black or
dusky. In winkr, the.se black markings replaced liy light brownish gray, and the bill
almo.st entirely, or wholly, l>lai:k. Yoiiiig, like tlie winter plumage, but feathers of upper
surface with distinctly i»aler terminal nmi-gins. Wing, 4.."iO-4.80 ; culmen, .45-.50 ; depth
of bill at base, .20-.22 ; tarsus, .85-1.00 ; middle toe, .,55.

a. var. vielwla. Black i>ectond baiul wholly oi' ])aitially interrupted iu the middle poi-
tion. Hah. AtLmtic coa.st of Uiuted .><tates.

/3. var. circumcincta. Black jjectoi-al band entirely continuous. Hah. Missouri River Region
of United States, straggling easlwanl.
6. Bill much longer than the middle toe, very slender, wholly black.

6. XL alezaodriQa. Above, light brownish gray ; forehead, superciliaries, nuchal collar,
and lower parts white. In summer, fore jtart of the crown, a transverse patch on each
side of breast (and sometimes a loml streak), black or dusky ; pileum sometimes (espe-
cially in adult nmles) buify or rufescent. Bill, legs, and fei-t, black or dusky.

CHARADRIID.E — THE PLoVKHS — .EGIALITIS.

153

a. akxatuhiiM.^ Lores ulwnys crossed by ii •lu'-ky striiii-. In sumnur, pileum brownish

gruy or dull Imff. Wiii^', 4.40 ; culiiieii, .55-.(iO; tarsus, l.(>:i-l.l:i ; middle toe, .55-.(i(>.

//((/). Eurcipe, etc.
/3. dmUmtn (?).'■' Lures ulways witli u bluclc streiik. In xninnur (and I'reiiuently in winter

also), jiileuni liri;,'lit rjddisli liul! or liiiiianion-rul'ous. Wiii^;, 4.;$;")— 4.7<» ; culnien, .(J8-,7H;

tarsus, l.l(»-l.l.') ; nuddle toe, .(i.'t-.TO. Ilnh. Eastern Asia (IIonj,'-Ki)nj,', etc.).
y. iiiroMi. Lores usually entirely wliite (never with a continuous or distinct dusky streak).

//( gnnimn: iiileiini [lale brownish Ki'ay or grayish liutt". Win;;, 4.20-4.30 ; culineii, .(!0 ;

tarsus, .!M>-i.O.') ; niitldle toe, .r)")-.(!o. Ilnh. Western America ; Yucatan; Cuba (f).
B. Nape without trace of white or dusky collar.
a. Culmen e(|ual to or lon^-r than the nudiUe toe, the bill slender.

6. JB. albidipectUB.^ iireast without trace ol either black or grayi.sh band, but tinged, es[)e-

cially on each side, with light cinnamon ; the sides of the neck and un indistinct nuchal
collar deeper cinnamon; lorehead, dieeks. and lower parts, except as described, white;
loral stripe, crown, post-ocuLir streak, and post-auricular spot dusky Idack. Wing, 4.10;
culmen, .(iO ; di'i'th of bill at base, .17 ; tarsus, l.lo ; ndddle toe, Sm. Huh. Chili.

7. .SI. collarlB.'' Foreliead, cheeks, and lower jiarts pure white, the juguluni with a dis-

tinct black transverse band, broadest later.illy ; di.stinct loral stripe and anterior half
of the crown black ; upi>er jiarts grayish brown, the leathers margined with paler, and
tinged witii rufous, especially on the crown, auriculars, and sides of neck. Ymukj, with
the black on the crown and lores al)seiit or barely indicated, and vhe jugular band much
narrowed, or even interrupted, in tlie ndddle portion. Wing, .■}.7o-4. 15 ; culmen, .(iO ;
depth of bill through base, .1')-.17; tarsus, l.(M)-I.IO; middle toe, .oO-..').^. Huh. Tropi-
cal America in general, from I'araguaj", Buenos Ayi-es, and Ciiili to Southern Mexico.

8. Si. falklandioa.^ Forehead, lores, and under ])arts white, the juguluni crossed by a

' vEoiAi.rris .M.Kx.vNiuiix.v (LiMii.). The Kcntisli Plover.

t'/iiirddriiis iili.niiiiln'iuis, I, INN. S. N. cil. Id, I. 1758, IHO.

^■Kiliii/ilin ali:fiimh-'uiiix, ( 'oi.i.iTr, Clirist. Vi<lcnsk. Fiirh. 1881, 4. — Stejn. Proc. U. S. Nnt. Mus.

Vol. ,1, 188-.', 35.
Cliiiroflrin.H vanliniuis, Lath. Iml. Orii. Suppl. 1801, p. Ixvi.
A^ijialitis oiiifiiiinis, BoiK, [sis, 18'J2, i'l.'iM, ct All T.
Chdradrius iilhi/rniis, Mkvi.ii, Tiisdiciili. dciitsch. Viig. ii. 323.
Vharadrius Utlnrulis, Bkiiist. Xaturg. Dcutscld. iv. 430, pi. 23.
j-EijialiUH alhigitlnn's, Bkku.m, Vug. DiMitscld. \i. 552.
2 (?) .'EoiAiJTis DKAi.iiATA, .Swinli. IMoc. Zoul. Soc. Lond. 1870, 138 (southern coa.st of Chinn,

including Fmiiiosa and Hainan).
To this liiitl I refer, with nmcli hesitation, live specimens of an A'ljinHtis from IIong-Koiig Hay, col-
lated by Mr. I'. L. .louy, of the I'nited States National .Museum. These birds, while closely rescinliliiig
.A,', iilixaniliiiiii (vel cniitiiinn), are unil'onnly inudi largev than K.uropean exanijilcs of the latter, iis
iniliiiited by the measurements ^iven aliove ; tliey are likewise nnieli inure richly colored, an adult male
collected Xovember 12, and an adult female olitidned about the same time, having the entire crown and
(Mci|int a .soft einnamon-bulf or light cinnanion-nil'uus, the leuiale having even the whole dorsal region,
iiicluiling the tertials, tinged with this color.

* -EoiALrris Ai.Bti)ii>K(Tis, Itidgw. Proc. r. S. Xat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1883, p. 526.

* ^EuiALiris roLl.Alils (Vieill.), A/am's Hinged Plover.

CImmdrius ollaris, Vikii.i.. Enc. Metli. II. 1823, 334.

Mji'ililes colloris, Set., k Sai.v. P. Z. .S. 18ti!», 252; Norn. N'cotr. 1873, 143.

CImi-adnm Azni-a; HciiT. Verz. Doubl. 1823, 71.— Tkm.m. PI. Col. 184.

"C/iiiradrin.s Inrvuliis, LKSso^i,"

./Eguililin (jrucilis, Cauan. .1. f. O. 1872, 158 (Isthnuis of Tuhuantepec).

* ^GiAi.rris KAi.Ki.ANnuA (bath.). Fidklund Island I'ing Plover.

Chffi-udriiui fiilUinidicu.i, Latii. Ind. (hii. ii. 17i)0, 747.
./Hijialites fidkltindieus, Aniiorr, Iliis, 18i!l, 155.
"C/mradrins anntiU'jeru.i, Waoi.. Syst. Av."
"t'/iiirii)lriu.s in/rrliocfii/uihtu, Liissos et (lAisNirr."
Chiimdrins Irifiiscwlnn, Liclir. Ver/. Doubl. 1823, 71.
" Charndriiis bi/iiscialna, \Va(1i.. Syst. Av. spec. 31."
VOL. I. — 20

— ~f^Wt<'

154

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATUUKS — LIMICOLJI.

iiorrow, till' bmiwt by a biomk-r, biiiul <•!' blmk (or timvish in yoiinn "'"' winter dress).
In Hiimmer, liuml acros-i I'oiv i>arl of crown, auriculars, narrow Jugular band, and broad
peL-tural zoni- black ; jiik-iun and naiM.- usually rufoint, niuru or K-ss niixeil with brown-
ish f^ray centrally (.lonictinii-s almost wholly yrayish, like buck). In winter, iiiluuni and
na|iu brownish '^vny, iikt- tlu' back, and all the black markings replaced by grayish.
Wing, 4."5-."i.(Mi; cuhiun, .(('i-.'."* ; tlepth ol bill at Iwwj, .18-.S{(i; tarsus, 1,25; middle
toe, .7<>-.7'). //ill). Southern South America.
9. JB. mongolioa. In imninin-, whole breast and nnjio dear cinnamon-rufous, and top of
head tinged with the same; lores, sub-orl)ital region, and auriculars black, the former bor-
dered above by a white line, sometimes meeting over the forehead ; chin, throat, fore-
neck, belly, and crissum jiure white ; ui>i)er i)arts brownish gray. In winter, the rufoua
entirely absent ; foreheatl and lower parts white, the breast crossed by a faint grayish
brown liar, darkening into a dusky patch on each side ; auriculars and loral streak
somewhat dusky. Wing, 5. 15-.'). 40. Ilalj. Asia in general, breeding northward j Choris
Peninsula, Aliuska.

JBgialitiB semipalmata.

THE BEMIFALMATEO BIITO FLOVEB.

Tringa hiaticula, Wilson, Ami. Oni. VII. 1S13, 65, pi. 51», f. 3 (ucc Linn).

Charailrins hiatictdn, Oun, cd. Wils. VI!. Cit.

Charmlrius Sfinipnliniilus, Bona I'. Coiiip. List, 1838, 45.

^IfinUtcsscmipiilhiiiln.s, Cahan. .1. f. U. LH5li, 4-.>5. — Cassin, in Bnird's B. N. Am. 1858, CDl —

Baiiu), Cut. N. Am. 15. 18uil, n... :,07. — CoiEs, Key, 1872, 244 ; Chuck List, 1873, no. SDl* ;

ad ed. 1882, N'o. 58(1. — Kiuow. Xoni. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 517.
Chnriidriua breviroslris, M\\. Beitr. IV. 70U (Brazil).

Had. North America in genenil, breeding in the Arctic and Sub-arctic districts, migrating
south in winter throughout the tropical regions, as far as Brazil luid Peru. Bermudas ; whole of
West Indies ; Galapagos,

Sp. Char. Small ; wings long, toes connected at base, esjxscially the outer to the middle toe.
Front, throat, ring around the neck, and entire under parts, white; a band of deep black across
the breast, extending around the back of the neck lielow the white ring, liand from the base of
the bill, under the eye, and wide frontal band above the white band, black. Upper parts usliy
brown ; quills brownish black, with their shafts white in a middle portion, and occa.sionally a lan-
ceolate white spot along the .shafts of the shorter jU'lmaries ; shorter tertiaries edged with white ;
greater coverts tipped with white. Middle feathers of the tail ashy brown, with a wiile cubter-
minal band of brownish black, and narrowly tipiied with white ; two outer tail-feathers white,
others intermediate, like the ndddle, but widely tipped with white. Bill orange-yellow at base,
black terminally; legs pale flesh-color. /"Vnui/i similar, but rather lighter cidored. Young with
the black replaced by ashy brown, the feathers of the upper parts bordered with paler. Downy
young: Above, pale grayish brown, mottled with black: a frontal crescent, broad nuchal collar,
and entire lower parts white.

Total length, about 7 inches ; wing, 4.75; tail, 2,25 inches.

The " Ring Plover " of America is coniraon to the whole of North America, not
even exonptinj,' its more northern portions. It is apparently as abundant on the
shores of the Pacific as of the Atlantic, and during,' its migrations is common on
the margins of the lakes, rivers, tind ponds of the interior. It probably breeds in
the more northern jmrtions of the United States ; but, so far as we are aware, its
nest has never Ijeen taken within (uir limits. A few pass the summer on the shores
of Lake Koskonong, in Wisconsin, but they are not known to breed there. Audubon
is mistaken in saying that they confine them.selves in the spring to the sandy beaclies
of our searcoasts. They are <|uite as numerous, and perliaps more so, about the
collections of fresh water, in the interior, wherever they can find suitable food.

CHAItADRIID.K — THK PLOVKRS — .WilALl 1 IS.

155

Dr. Cooper did not Hu<l this species comnioii along the soutliern portion of the
California »oa.st. At San Diego he saw only .)ne small Hook, on the lid of May. On
the 3d of May, l(Sr»4, he I'oinid tliem niigrating north of the Colinnhia Kiver, and
is eontident that none remain within the L'nited States during the summer. They
return in SeptcMuber, and frecpient the dry fields, as well as the shore and bays.

In its soutliern migrations it visits lierniuda. oceurring there fnmi the Kith of
•Vugust to the last of OetoU'r. It visits all tiie West India Islands, the (Jalapagos,
ami South America, as far at least as I?razil and Peru.

Its northern migrations e-xtend to IJreeidand. Dr. Walker, of the " Fox," met with
it thert', and afterward, in .Fune. in the marshy valli'vs near HeUot's Strait, where it
was breeding. It is not meiitinnt'd as having Imm-u met witli l>y Cai)tain H. kiston on
the Saskatchewan, but is recorded as having been taken at Vork Factory ; and Mr.
Murray |trocured it from near Severn House, from Hudson's Hay. and also In'tween
there and Lake Winnii>cg. Mr. H. K. Hoss found it common on the Mackenzie
Kiver. A few are known to summer, and probably to Inccd. on (Irand Menan.
Richardson states that this s])ecies al)ound during the summer throughout Arctic
America, where it breeds in situations similar to those inhaliited by the (Jolden
Plover. The natives aver that, on the approa<'li of a storm, this bird has been
known to clap its wings and to make a chirruping noise.

Mr. Kcnnicott met with it in .lunc at Lake Winnipeg, in Se])tember at Fort
Sim])Son. ami in May at Fort Resolution and on the Vnktni River. Mr. B. R. Rosa
procured specimens at Fort Simpson in .May, and Mr. MacFarlane found it breeding
on the Arctic coast, June 'JO, and afterward on the Anderson River. Mr. Mc-
Dougal met with it in the (Sens de Large .Mountains, and Mr. R. McDonald in the
mountains west of the Low»'r ^lackenzie River.

In Florida, according to Mi'. N. I?. ^loore, the Ring Plover is present during the
entire winter, arriving there as early as the 11th of August.

Dr. Rryant found this bird a winter resident in the Hahaiuas, where it remained
from its autumnal Higlit until its departure in May. Dr. (iray.son found a single
individual, assigned to this species, on Mare Island, in San I'ablo Hay, near San
Francisco. Mr. Nelson states tliat in Illinois the spring migrations of this Plover
extend from April 2."> to Alay .'50, and its fall movements from .Inly 31 to the end
of October. He is suspicions that some breed not much to the north of Chicago ;
l)ut ills ojiinions require confirmation.

Audubon states that this bird i>as.ses the winter along the shores of South Caro-
lina, (Jeorgia, Florida, and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Dresser mentions
it as common about the pond-holes near San Antonio in the autumn and spring, but
noticed noiu' near ^latamoras, and docs not speak of it as being seen in winter.
It is found during the winter in .Mexico, C'cntnil America, and in several of the AVest
India Islands. Salvin met with it in Guatemala on the sandy flats near Chiapam.
Mr. Leotand mentions its making its appearance in Trinidad each year, from the last
of July to October, and in much larger flocks than the in/sonluti. They live in the
same manner as the latter do. but not unfreqitently forsake the borders of the sea to
iced in the moist lamls of the interior. .Vt the time of their general dejiarture a few
are observed to remain behind and to continue about the edges of marshy pools.

While a few keej) in pairs, until joined by their i)rood, this Plover is generally
found in small scattered groups of five to ten associated together, yet each pair by
itself. They frequent alike salt-marshes, sandy lieaches, and mud-flats left bare by
the receding tide. They are found in company with several of the smaller Tringce ;
and although each bird, while searching for food, appears to be unmindful of the

156

riLKCOClAL OKALI.ATtHtKS - LIMirOL/K

otlicr's im'st'Mco us long us it is undistiirlMMl. yet if iilarmod tlioy riso and join in
Hocks. Tiu'v run witii },'r('at swiftness and ;,'iiui' over tiic sandy lifacdirs. Tlicy
arc a very silent liird except wiien tlicir treasures are tlireatcncil or when sud-
<leidy alarmed. Tiiey arc wnsus|>icious to an unusual dc;,'rce, few Waders more .so,
and may always he reailily aiiproaclicd. The younj,' acconi|)any the parents as
.soon as hatched, and until nearly f,'rown are sheltered hy the mother in the num-
ner of the domestic hen. When first hatched they have a somewhat striking mottled
appearance.

On Lake Koskouonj,'. in IST.'t. this sjieeies had reached its t,M"<'i't<'st alumdanoe hy
the l."ith of .\uj,Mist; and (iiraud mentions its always arrivinj,' in Konj,' I.sland in
the latti-r part of the same month. It passes northward in its sjirinf; mif,'rations
early in May. (Iiraud states that this Plover frccpu'iits the sanu' situations with the
Semipalmatcd Sandpiper, in company with which it is often seen j^atherinj^ its food,
and like that liird admitting,' of a very near a|iproach. When alarnu'd. it utters a
very sharp note. Late in the fall it mi},'ratcs south.

Auduhon states that in their l>reedin.i,'-|ilaces hirds (d' this species resort to moun-
tainous mossy lands. In liahrador he met with them in almost every [dace at which
he landed, and found them breedinjj; in all the spots that were adapted for that
jMirpose. On heinj,' surjuMsed, when in charj,'e of their youn};, they wouhl heat the
p^round with the extremities of their opened winjj;s. as if unalilc to rise. If pursued,
they at first permitted a near approach, and then took to Hij,dit, seekiu},' to <leeoy the
intruder fnuu their younjj, which sipiatted .so closely that it was ditticult to distin},'uish
them. If the latter were traced, they ran swiftly off, uttering a plaintive prpjK which
never failed to i)ring their mothers to their aid.

In that regiiui this bird hegins to breed early in June, and young ones Jiboiit a
week old were procured on the I'd of dune. The nest of this species is sim])ly a
small cavity in the nuiss, in a place sheltered from the north winds, and open to the
full rays of the sun, and usually near the margins of small ponds. The eggs are
always four, and placed with the snuiU ends together; they are pyriform in shape
— pointed at one end, and obtuse at the other.

AudidMui states that by the iL'th of August all the individuals that had bred in
Labrador had taken their departure, .some proceeding by the Atlantic shore, others
by the great lakes and rivers. .\t this period they are sometimes seen in plougheil
fields searching for insects and worms. Their \isiuil food consists of small Crustacea,
mollusks, and the ova of marine aniumls.

This I'lover extends its migr:itions to the shores of the Arctic Sea, and in these
more northern localities' lines the de])ression in the .sand which serves for its nest with
dried grasses. i\rr. MacFarlaiM> found its nest made of withered leaves and grasses
in a depression on the shore just above high-water mark. This bird was said to
be tolerably numerous in that region. Mr. Kennicott found it eonimon on the
shores of Lake Winnipeg. It was also found by Mr. Dall to be very common at
Nulato, St. Michael's, and near the mouth of the Y\ikon. There also the eggs were
found laid in small depressions, made very smooth and round, and lined with
a little dry grass, very carefully ])ut in. The nests observed contained only two
eggs each.

Mr. MacFarlane found this species qiiite common on the shores of the Arctic Sea,
at Franklin Bay, at Anderson River, Fort .Vndcrson, and other localities near the
coast. The nests were always mere cavities dug in the soil, sometimes with a few
withered leaves, and occasionally with no lining whatever. The numlier of eggs was
usually four ; in no instance more, but occasionally three or two. The parent bird

CHARAnRIin.K — THE I'l-OVERS — .flGTALITIS.

167

usually Klidod from her nest iiml run a sliort distiuu^e Ix-t'ore llyinj,' ; Honiotiincs slu'
(h'oupt'il lit'r wiiifjs, and prctt-ndt'd liuncnt'ss. The nests were near the edjje of the
sea. near the water of small lakrs, and on islands in rivers. Mr. MaeFarlane speaks
of tiiem as t()leral>ly numerous in that ipiarter, as well as in the country Ix'twixt
tlie .Vretie eoast and l'\u't (Jood Hope, (hi his annual .July journey to that post, I'ti
rimto for Fort Simp.soii, he has noticed Plovers of this sj)eeies, together with their
youu^' of the season, occupied in fecdinj; and diverting,' themselves on the shore.s of
the dilferent lakes.

Mr. Ludwif,' Kundien mentions the arrival of this bird in the (!unil»erland waters
aliout tiie middle of .luue. and says that it is l>y no means rare tiiere, hreediug on
tiie mossy hanks of fresii-water ponds. It mij,'rates southward as soon as the fresh-
water ponds are frozen over.

An e^K <'f this species (No. Ill) collected in Labrador by Thieuemann is of oblong-
oval shape, tapering at one end and rounded at the «)ther. The ground-<'olor is a nearly
pure drai), and tiu' markings are scattered, i.solated, nmnded, occasionally irregidarly
shaped Idotciu-s of dark bistre, hardly distinguishalde from Idack. Some are diluted
witli the groinid-eoh)r. and are more ob.seure, having a shading of ]mrplish slate;
another (No. 17-), also from Labradcu", collected by Dr. Trndeau, is nu)re rouniled
in shape, the blotciies Ix-ing larger, and the deep liistre, in a strong light, shaded with
wine-color. Three other.s (No. I.SH2) from St. (Jeorgo's I5ay, collected by Mr. Drexler,
,Fune L'('). ISfUt. corresjiond with No. 111. These eggs have the following nu-asure-
ments: No. Ill, L.T) inches by .UU; No. 171', 1.20 by .5)8; No. 1882, 1.25 by 1.00,
1..S0 by .90, and 1.35 by .99.

2!gialitis hiaticiila.

THE EUROPEAN BINO PLOVER.

Chnrndrim hiaficula, Lixs. .S. X. v<\. lo, I. 1758, l.TO ; v,\. 12, I. 1760, 2.53. — Nai'M. Viig.

neutsohl. VII. 1833, 2i»l, j.l. 17.'). - Maciui.i,. Man. II. .'•2. — Sciii.Kti. Hov. C'lit. 83.—

<!liAV, Oi'ii. III. ;,H ; (at. Brit. IJ. 18(i,'}, 140,
A:<jiiilitis hi'tHnild, BiiiK, Isi.H, 1822, .""lIS. - Kkvs. k Bi,A.i. Wirli. Eur. 71. — RiDow. Norn. N.

Am. n. 1881, No. .''.18. — CoiKs, Chock l>ist, 2(1 cil. 1882, No. 58»,
C/uinv/riiui tori]imh(s, Leacii, Syst. Cat. 1816, 28.
yEniiiliUa sr/itdilrinnnli.i, Iliii'.lIM, Viig. DtMitscIil. 548.
Ilialicitia iinniildtd, (iitAV, List (icii. H. 1840, 65.
The Ring Dollcnl, Hkwick, Brit. B. I. 1707, 334, fig.
Ringed Plover, Yauh. Brit. B. ed. 2, II. 405, fig. oil. 3, II. 404, fig. et AucT.

Hah. Tiie Paliniivfic Region, and portions of Arctic America, Ineoding on we.stcm shores of
CiuiilK>rlaii(l Oulf (Ki'mi.ikn).

Sp. Char. Adult : A narrow frontlet, band across fore part of the crown, auriculnrs, lores, and
Kul>-orl)ital region, Mack, nil these aivas conlliicnt ; collar across lower part of the nape, coiitiiiuouH
witli a broad Jugular band, also black. Forehead, postocular patcli, nuchal collar, chin, throat,
miliar region, and lower parts (except as described) pure white. I'ileiiin and upper parts generally,
deep brownisli gray or gniyisli brown. Basal half of bill oninge-red in life, yellowish or otherwise
hght colored in the skin ; legs and feet orange ; iris dark brown ; terminal half of bill black.
YouMj: The black markings obsolete (replaced by dull gr.iyish) and the feathers of the upper
surface bonlered with jiale huffy. Bill wholly ilnsky.

Wing, about riM) ; culnien, ..')(t-..').5 ; tarsus, about l.(M) ; middle toe, .60-.65.

With a close genend resemblance to .E. Kimipiilmaid, this sjKicies may be immediately dis-
tinguishetl by the entire absence of a web between the inner an<l middle toes, the smaller size of
that between the outer and middle toes, the much gnmter width of the black beneath the eye,
and of that across the juguluin. It is idso decidedly larger; while there are other differences of
coloration.

158

Pll.KCOCIAL ORALLATOHKS- I,IMI(Or,.K.

The four iiilult i>xitin|tli'» IwlorL' iii* ditfi-r very conHidunhly I'mni each other in Home pointx of
coloration. A (treunliinil Hpccjnicn iiml two skinx fi'oni tlii> American nliore of CntnlM-rland (iiiif
have till? iilai'lt jugular collar fxti'miiii;,' upwanl over the lowi'r ((art of the throat, forming llicrc
(|uite a lU'oniinent angle, while in a l^uropean Hpeeiincn the anterior herder of thin Jugular eollar

forni« a straight transverse line ; in tlie latter, on tlif other hand, the posterior edgi of the jugular
collar is irregular — decidedly concave in the niiddhs and convex laterally — while in the Amer-
ican specimens it runs nearly straight across. Whether these differences Itetwecu the hirds of this
species from North Ann rica antl Europe are coUHtant, can only be determined by the examination
of more extensive material.

Of the American skins, two adult males collected at the same [dace and on the same day (head
of Cumlierland (lulf, .Iinie i'l, 1878, L. KrMi.iKX) dilfcr remarkably from one another in the
width of the white frontal b:md. In No, 7(ii;32 this measures only one tenth of an inch in
breadth, while in No. 70133 it is three tin»es as wide ! ; there is a nearly corresponding difference,
however, in the extent nf the black on the crown, this measuring in the two specimens, respec-
tively, .40 and .30 of an inuh.

The present bird, so well known as the Kinf I'lover of Europe, and until quite
rerently supposed to Inive, no other claim to u plaee in our fauna than its rather
common presence in (Jreiniland, must now be fully admitted to be a North American
species, on other and quite indisputable ground.s. An uiulonbt»'d specimen of it has
been tiiken at (}reat Slave Lake, and it has since been found breeding within our
borders. I'rofessor Newton states that it breeds generally throughout Greenland,
and that it is found on Sabine and Olavering islainls. It is also said to l)e abundant
on the shores of Possession Hay and Regent's Iidet. ami was found by Professor
Jorell on the Seven Islaiuls (hit. .Sff 4.")' N.) — at that time the highest northern range
of any shore-bird. More recently its claim to be acknowledged as North Ameri-
can, as wt il as High-Arctic, has been confirmed by Mr. Feildcn, of the IJritish Arctic
Expedition of 187/)-7(!, and by Mr. Kumlien. The former states (Ibis, October,
1877) that a single example of this species was observed in Smith's Sound, where
it was obtained, Aug. 4, 187r». on the lieaeh Ordering the Valley of the Twin (ilacier,
in Buchanan Strait (lat. 78° 48' N.). Tt was seen threading its way among the stones
and .stranded blocks of ice near the Avater's edge, and was evidently nesting in the
neighborhood, as it was a female, and the feathers of the under parts were worn off
by incubation. Mr. Kumlien also informs us that this species is apparently more
common than even the spmipalvuttn in Cumberland. It arrives there about the
middle of June, and breeds in the same localities as that species. It is also very
common about Disco Island, Greenland, where he procured young birds.

" Tl

CIIAUADIlIin.K — THE PLoVEHH — .EOIALITIH.

159

This suiiiowluit cosimiiiolitaM sprcii-s is found thiuiighout th<> nurthcrn uiiil eentrul
portions ot Kmii|K', ami is inirticuliiiiv conimoii in (in-ut Hiitaiii, wIutu it occurs
tlirouj^iioul tilt' year. It i'S|n'(ially Irciiuciits inlets an<l hays, where it feeds at low
water, on the fiats alonj; the coast, at iioiiits where the eld) of the tide I'Xi.uses
extendetl surfaces. This liird is also found on the hanks of lar^o rivers, and is occa-
sionally met with ai)out the margin ot iidand sheets of water. As a sjiccics it iu very
ahundant, and its hahits are descrihcd as lively ami intcrestint,'.

.Mr. Varrell mentions that these hinls hav^; heen found hreeding on tiie warrens of
Iteachamwi'U ami at Klvcden, and on other warrens and heaths near Thetford in Nor-
folk, and in several otiier samly warrens in Norfolk and in Suffolk, at a considerahle
distance from the sea. They are said to jiair and nest very early in the season. Mr.
Hulmun found them sittiuj,' (Ui their e^^gs as early as the .'U)th of .March. Like all
the hirds of this genus, the Hing Plover makes no other nest than a .slight cavity in
the .sand, in which its four eggs are laid ; hut it sometimes lines or covers this cavity
with a nundier of small .stones ahout the size of peas, \ipon which the eggs are laid.
This very peculiar hahit of the sjiecies has given rise to the local mime, hy which
it is known in some of the ctiuntics of Kngland, of .Stonehatch.

When rohhed of its eggs, this Plover will lay another .set of four; and this it will
do three or four tinn-s in a sea.son if as often despoiled.

Others of this species de|)osit their eggs in any accidental depression on a hank of
sand, broken shells, or .shingle ahovc high-water mark. The j)arent hirds are devoted
in their attachment to their young; and when disturhed resort to various devices and
e.xiiedients to divert attention from their eggs or nestlings. The similarity in color,
hoth of their young and of thi' eggs, to the surrounding ohjects is u great source of
security, remh-ring it ditficult to distinguish them.

The fooil of tht! ISinged IMover consists of insects, worms, and various forms of
murine life, thin-shelled Crustacea, t'tc., with which salt-water pools abound. Their
note is said to he a shrill whistle.

This species is migratory in the high northern latitudes, in which it breeds, and in
which it is found only in the summer, or from March to October. Ilewitsoii found
it throughout Norway, and Linmeus met with it in various [)arts of Lapland in his
jiiiirncy, even as far north as the Lapland Alps. Scoresby, in his .Fournal, mentions
having met with this bird on the east coa.st of IJreenland ; and other Arctic explorers
have observed it on the west coast of the same island, at Princt; Kegent's Inlet, and
at Hccla Cove. In the interior of Europe it is seen on the hanks of rivers. Yarrell
states that it occurs as far south as Italy and Sicily, and also in .Malta ; and specimens
have Iwen received from Asia Minor.

The eggs of this Plover measure 1.41 inches in length by 1.00 inches in breadth,
and are pyriform in shape ; their ground is of a pale huft' or cream color, spotted and
streaked with lines and blotches of bluish-ash and black.

21gialiti8 cnronica.

THE LITTLE BIHGED PLOVEB.

Charadrius curoniciis, Gmei.. S. X. I. 1788, 6!t2.

Algialilis curoiika, OiiAV, Cat. Biit. 11. IS63, 141. — Haiitixo, Ilandb. Brit. B. 1872, 184.

Rincjw. Xom. N. Am. U. 18S1, no. .Ilit. - Couks, Oheok List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 690.
Charadrius philipphiiis, Lath. Iiid. Orn. II. 1790, 745.
Charadrius fluviatilii, Bkciist. Xiit. Viijf. Dputschl. 1809, 422.
Charadrius minor, Mi.VKii & Wolf, Tasch. Viig. Deutschl. II. 1810, 324.

100

IMl.KCUCIAL G/lALLAToUES— LIM1COL.E.

.^ijialiUn minor, llAliTINd, P. Z. S. li>7>, 117 uVliuku 0.

Chiirtiilritm iiiliriiiiilniM, Mt.si.Hi. <'at«l. SJ.

I<%$riiili-iiiii iiiiuitiiii, Sw viNH. It. \\ . Air. I!. 'IXi, \>\. •.'.'>.

.Kijiiil il 1.1 microrliiiiii/iiis, Kiimiw. Aim. Nat. VIII. Krli. l«71, \W (winter pluiimKi' ; "Sail Kmiiclsro,

Cal.").
Th, Link lliiigal I'hvr, Yauii. Hiit. II. nl. •.', II. p. 47:i, lix. i«l. a, II. p. &M1.', (ix.

Haii. Till' I'ahi'iii'i'tir iit'^iiiii ill ).'i'iu'i'iil ; WcKlrrii At'iiiii ; accidi'iitul on riHwt of C'ulir(>riiia(f)
iiiitl 111 Alankii {!). CI. IJAUTi.Nti, I*. Z. S. IhTI, p. 117.

.S|>. CiiAU. Ailiill 9 : liOi'i'H, aiiiii iiliti'K, anilU'iicuth tin- I'Vi-, iliixkv lirowii, ur iliill liluckiMh,
tlii.-« I'lilor I'l'os.'iiii;^ till' uiili'iiiii' part i>l tiir loivlirail at tlic Imm' oI' tlir liill ; a lii'oail liaml nl' Mack
fallout .41) III' an iiuli widi') rriM.xiii;; tin- aiiti'iior (nut ol' llic crown, Iroiii i-yi' to t-yt-, ami sciiaratcil
IVoni till' lilack I'mntli't \<y a Ixinil of wiiiti- almtit .l.'i of an inch wiiK- ; Iti'jiiiiil tliis Mack vertical
liaml a narniw mii! ol' a.^liy wliiti', cuntiiiui'il liack almvi- tlii' r\vn ami anriciilars to tlic occiput ;
ciiin, throat, malar ri'^'ion, ainl clu-i'k'*, pui'i* whit*', conlliu'iit witli a Inoail ami very ili^linctly
ili'tiiiL'tl wliiti! nuchal colla.' ; a Mack collar cmnpli'tcly fiicirclin^ the neck, iinniciliatt'ly lit'low the
white of the throat ami nape ; reiiiainiii^' iimler part^, iiicluilin^' umler Mirlace of the win^, entirely
pure white. Tpin-r part.'<, iiiclinlin^ the occiput ami posterior part of the crown, lirowiii.ili ;,'ray,
li;,'liter un the runipaml eentnil upper tail-cuvertn ; kIiU-s of the rump ami Literal upper tail-coverti<,
Hhaft of the outer primary, terininal inar>;iii4 of the M'conilarie.", outer wi-Im of two outer tail-
feathers, with ends of all e.scept the middle ]iair, white ; inner weli of outer tail-feather white,
with a dusky siili-terniinal spot. Hill small and Hlender, entirely Mack, e.xcept at the ham' of the
niamlilile ; iris dark limwii ; le;,'s and feet pale-colored, the latter with a small weli coiineciinj,'
the outer and iiiiddle toes at the liase, the inner and middle toes entirely .M'parated. Will},', 4..'>i) ;
culiiit'ii, ..')() ; tarsus, I.iki ; midille toe, Xi^t (No. .■)(lH7(i, Kiirope ; Schliillcr Coll.).

I'oiui;/ (((«(/ iriiilir luliill.'): Similar to the same staj,'e nf .K. m iiiljidlninld, Imt cheeks white
Up to the eye, white of the forehead miii'li less distinctly dellned, and ;,'radin>{ inseiisiMy into the
j,'ray of the crown ; two outer tail-feathers white, the inner welis with a dusky transverse spot near
till! end. Koriii niuidi more slender than -/i. miniiiuliiintit, the hill especially, which is also of
entirely ililfeient foiiii. Wiii};, 4.;W ; tail, :J.50 ; culmeii, ..')(>; >{reatest depth of hill, .10; tarsus,
I.IM) ; middle toe, .(!."). (Tyiie of ./•.'. " miVmWi///i(7iiw, UiimiWAY,'' No. :)!I*>23, U. S. Nat. Mus. ;
"Sau Fraiiclxco, L'ul. ; E. 1"". Luuyii.N. ")

;ir
III

i"
Ic;
«l
lill
an

2]gialitis meloda.

a. \'ai . meloda. THE COMMON PIPING PLOVEB.

" Cluimilrius hiaticulii, var.," \Vii.niin, Am. Orii. V. 181".', 30, ]il. 'Al, f. 2.

Cliuriidi-iun imilmliis, {)VAi. ill. Wils. VII. 1.S24, 71.— BoVAi'. Am. Oin. IV. 1832, 74, pi. 24. -

Ni-rr. Man. 11. 1834, 18. — Am. Orn. IJiog. 111. 183.^ 1.14 ; V. 1831), 578, pi. 22o ; B. Am.

V. 1842, 223, pi. 321.
Altjidlili.iVK/iMlim, HoXAl'. t'oiiip. List, 18.'}8, 4.1. — ( '.v.ssix. in llaird's H. \. Am. \SM, MKi. ~

llAiisK, Cliit. X. Am. B. IS-Mt, no. .los. — (oiks. Key. 1872, 214 ; Cluck l.iHt, 1873, no. 4(iu ;

2il I'll. 1882, no. 587. — UiiiiiW. Xom. X. Am. U. 1881, no. .V2i).
CJuiradriux Okcui, Waiii.. Syst. .Vv. 1>''.27.

h. Var. oiroumcinota. THE BINOEO PIPING PLOVBB.

^■Egiitlitis melodiin, var. ciirumi-im-lint, liinow. Am. Nat. VIII. 1874, 101).

^tjiiililismcMii, var. cireumdnctii, C'ouk.'*, Check Liot, App. p. 133, no. 400<j ; Binl.s X. W. 1874,

455.
^(jitiliku mrtodiMeirciimeinctits', Ihvr.w. Xom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. .V.'Oo. — CorK.s, Check List,

2il ud. 1882, no. 588.

Had. Thu Eastarn Province of North America, hreeilinn '" the northurn jMirtion of its rani,'e
(Ikitish Provinces and nioi-e Northeni Unitwl States), oml wiiiteriuf; southward. I5eriimilax ; Ualia-
uias ; Cuba ; Janiaicn. The var. circumcinda chietly itatrictud to the Misttouri River ri'nioii.

tila
to
wh
liai

vei
It

CIIAUADHIID.K - TIIK FLOVKHS — .KfJIALITIS.

161

Hr. Chah. Abuut the tUu uf .-E. ttmtpulmata ; bill nhurt, «ln)ii((. .Ii/h/( malt: Fun.Lvu<l
riii){ iirouii>l tlu' IhicW uI' thu iiuck, uiul tiiliiL' uiulir |iui'In, whiU' ; u l>uiiil uf l<lat k in front ulxivu
till' liiinil i>f white ; Imnil cnciivlin;^ the ntrk licl'uru und liehiiid, lint UHnalJy iMtciiiiiitcil in th(>
nndillu uf tht! liivuiit, liluck, ininiuiliutt'ly ln:lii» tiic lin^ uf Mhiti' un thu neck lichiuU. lluul iiIm)vu

,K. meluda.

luul upper parts oflxxly li>{ht liniwninh rint'ivou" ; rump and upper tiul-covcrtH li;,'hti'r, and id'tcn
neuily whitu ; ipiills dark brown, with ii lar;{(' portion of their inner welm and Hhufts white ; shorter
priniariei< with a larj^e ]ioilioii of their outer welw white ; tail at ba.w white, and with the outer
feathers white ; middle feathers w ith a wide Hub-terniinal baiul of brownish black, and tipped with
white. Ilill oran^,'e at baxe, tipped with black ; ie),'Hoian^'e yellow, t'l mnk : SimiLir to tlie nnilf,
but with the dark colors lighter and les.-i in e.vteiit. Vtiunij : No black bund in front ; collar
arouml the back of the neck asjiy brown.

Total len},'lh, about 7 inches ; win;,', 4..'')0 ; tail, 2 indies.

Atide from thu ;{eo;.'raphicul variations noted <in p. I.')2, the individual <liscrepancies in the
pliuua;,'u uf this species ure <iuite considerable, involving chiefly the e.\teut and intensity uf the

j£. mtluda circumcincta.

black areas. It i» quite the rule umnn^ s)iecimens from the Atlantic States for the pectorul bund
to be either decidedly narrower centmlly, or alto;,'ether interru])ted in the middle of thu breast ;
while in examples from the interior States, especially from the Missouri River region, the pectoral
baud is, in u large mujurity of sjjecimens, alisolutely continuous, uiid nearly ur quite as wide as in
A!, itmipalmata. . .

Tho conunon Pi|)ing Plovor of the Middle and New England States exhibits but
very few peeuliarities of habits and luainiers differing from the rest of tliis gronp.
It is. if anything, a little more shy and distrustful of man, and is less readily

VOT,. I. — 21

1G2

I'lLlXot'lAI, (iKAI.I-ATollKS— I.IMICOL.K.

ii|tpr(>;w'liiul ; but this i:, |)r()l>:il)ly owiiiji to tlir intrusions upon its privacy l>y tin-
timing ol suiimifr visitors to places in which this liinl was once aiiuntlaiit, and from
wliich it has iiccn forced to (h'part. From very many ol our most rrequciiled heaches
in New Kni,dand and New ilcrscy this },Macetul and attractive species lias In-en entirely
ilriven ; and in iii;iii\ otiieis wiicre a tew still remain their wihluess j;ivcs them, in
all proliai>ility. their only chance lor existence.

In Wilson's day the I'ipinj; Plover was very ahnndant during' the Kiiminer on the
low sandy shores all alont; oiir sea-coast, from Cape May northward ; and since then,
and until within twenty years past, it was trei|nently seen on all tin- iK-aehes of

issachnsctls.

This liii'd lives near theed''eol the sea. always on sand\ lieach

fcedini,' at low w. iter, on the sandy flats, ainoiij; the .sea-weeds of the micovcri'd rocks,
and also on minldy Hals, its food is various forms of ndnulc marine life — woinis.
Crustacea, and the like. It randy Hies while fcedini;, uniess alarmed ; Imt j,dides alonj,'
with a |iecnliar and raphi },'ait over the surface of the Hat .sand. .\t hi^di-tide it re.sorts
to the sandy uplands just above the water; and in these places deposits its e>;.i;- in
depressions on the bai.- saml. The e^}j;s — bmr in lumdier — arc so sinnlar to the
surroundin<; objects, that they are not. readily reco^ni/cd; and if approached, the
parents lesort to simple but usually successi id, artifices to draw away the intruder —
simulatin.u lameness, and lluttcrint; near the ,L;round as if di.sabled. The youii.t; are
alile to run on leaving; the shell, and are led by the mother to b'cd. 'I'hey also
rcsendtlc the .sandy soil on which tiic\ univc, and instantly sipiat if approached,
remainin^j: immovaitle, and will almost allow theiuselves to be trodden upon rathcr
than i>v their motion allow their presi nee to be reveale<l. Durin;.^ incubation the
parents rarely sit upon their *')iii!<. except in the ni^dit, or uidess the weather is damp:
but always kee|i lU the nei<;ldMirhood. and watch over their ti'casnres with threat
solicitude.

'he notes id' this I'lover are remarkably nnisical and pleasin

^pecih

name is oic not undcserscil. \\ here it can be seen in its natural condition, in a
rc^;i(Mi where it has never been ilistur'.ii-d or made apprehensive by intruders, it is a
jilcasin^' object as, <rra -elnlly L^lidini; over the sandy Hals, and ullcrini; from time to
time its soil and plaint ive note, il moves rapidly aloii};.

If, when on thi' nest, this bird be loo neaily approached, it immediately endeavors
to attract alteniiiin by sprcadini,' out itswini,'s and tail, draijttini,' il.self alon^ as if
niovin;,' with ^reat dilliculty, and at the .^amc time uttcriu;..; a peculiar siph-akin^ cry.
Then, if successful in causing' the intruder to abandon the search 'or the m' ' it

iiVuU

es rapidly away, and is soon out of reae

This species is b)uud aloiii; the toast as far to the eastward as l''astport, but
iH'conies quite rai'c in that iieiKhlHuhood, ami only a b'W are .seen at <irand .Menan.
Auilidton states that he met with it as far north as the .Ma>;daten Islantis, whcie he
foumi it paired and with e;^'^'s on the lllh of .Iniu'. iH.'t.'!. T'>e same writer menlions
havin;.; seen these birds brecdiii!.; in Florida as early as tli.' .'td <d .Ma : .so that, if he
is correct,' they arc found with more nr less abundance aloni.,' our entire .Mlaiitic
coast. .Mr. Dona''' tiiinn procured four specimens at Lake NN'innipc);. ' V. (iundladi
has iiibirmed us that he bmnd them breedini;, and procured their e;;},'s, in Cuba.
They are only partially mii,'ratoiy. leaviiif.', our more utirthern slion-s in the winti'r.
iiiul are foiiMil from (Ntclier to .\pril on the saiuly IhsicIics of the Carolimi.s and
riorida. They move simth in tlh- fall in family f,n'""'|'"* "' ''^'' '"' ^'•'''' '""' ""''•'

' Mr. !'. H. C.iiv foiiiMJ this hiM-ricN atiiiiulaiit iit tin- M.. iliilcii InIhiiiU hi 187S, ami .Mi. W. .\. Slriiiiii*
liUN I'l'Cfiitl}' lv[Mi|-ti'il it Hit I'liiniiiiiii ill S Mtliiiii l.iilii.iiliii'. .1. ,\. .\.

rUAUADUIII).!'; TIIK I'LOVKIIS— .KOIAI.ITIS

10;;

(III

till' winter I'i'tiirii in |Hiit.s. AiiiliilNtn st:itr> that during' tin- wiiiti'i- tlicy arc seen in
HcM'ks of twfiitv or lliirty, anti tliat llu'v as.siiriatc witli otlit-r s|Hrii's. particnlarlv
tlif 'rnrnstoiics. Tin' sann' wiili'r asscrtrd that this s|M'ci('s in'Vfi' |iriicn'ils Car inlaiul.
i-vt'n aloni; till' samlx niai'Kins nl mil' lai'L^rsI liviis; Iml in iliis In- was niistakrn.
This riiivrr is lonnil alini^,' tlir slniir^ nl mir inlainl lai'p- hikos, ('S|M'(iall\ l.akr
Ontaiiii; ami it oiriii's Imth as a rrsiili'iit ami as a migrant at l.akr KnskiiiiDiiK'. in
W isrnlisili. It is |i|'iilialili' that sinii rsrr|itiiilis as thrsi' will lif rniinil til III' nut
nnlii'iini'iit whricvrr I'avtH'ahh' Imalilirs rxist, Altliitiij,'h iliirin^,' its siinimrr nsi-
ili'iiri' it si'i'iiis to inrli'i' til inn lalhrr than tu tl\. \i't in its iiiiLrratinns it is rapalih'
111' rxtrrnii'lv rapiil as wrll as |iiiitrartril jnnnirvs - iiassiiii; thnuii^h tlu' air li_v a
^'liilin;^ I'Diirsi', rlusr nvi'i' tin- saiul ii its shinl llij^iits, lint hixli almvi' tiu' sliiiic in ilM
liiii^ IKissa^i's.

Ariiinliii!,' tu (liranil. llir ri|iinj,' I'luvir is vi'ry ahnmlanl mi tlir smithrrn slimi' of
LmiL; IslamI, lurlririn^' saml.v hfarhrs ami slmals. wIhti' it ici'ils mi tlir small liivalvt*
kIii'IIs which arc cxpuscil at low water. It mav also Im' sei'ii near the vil^r of the
siirt leeiliii^' mi the ile|iiisit ot the leeeiliin; waxes, it makes there no nest otiier
tliaii a sli^'lit exi-avatimi in tile .saiiil. The e.^'i^s, rmir in niimlier. tlial antlmr ilesriiltes
as heiii^ of a jiale M'liowisii or eream-eolor. s|iei'klei| with limwiiish hlaek. When
|iiirsiu>il it is saiil to run rajiiillv. ami if elusely lolluweil it takes w in^. ^'iviii^' iiiler-
iinee to a note whieh is more slirill than the orilit;;;rilv nieliow one wliieli it smimls
wIkmi not ilistnrlieil. In aniiimii this liini is saiil :m lieeome very fat, ami tu lie then
(•xeelleiit eating'. 'I'd the tisiieriiieii of Loii^' IslamI it is known a.s the jieaeh-liirii.

The IMpiii^' I'lover is thmi^'ht tn lie of aeeiilenlal oieiirrem-i' in lleriiimla. wliere
liolli Mr. Ilai'ilis ami .Major W'eilili'iliiirn have iioleil the ueeasimial |ii'eseiiee of
slrajL,'};lers ; these were iisnali.N seen niily alter .! .stmiii.

'I'wo r^i^s in mv eolieetioii ( Ni .■>.'!.">). fium I'lux imetuw n, .Mass.. are .-.' an oval
shape, iiineli roiimled at one einl, ami sharplv taperiiii; at the other. Their ^'lunml is
a li^ht lawn-eohireil iliah, over whieh are >parsel\ ilistiilniteil small rmimleil markiii);s
of a dark liislie, inteiisilied almost to lilaekiiess. Tliey measure !.'_'() ineiies in leiii;lli
li\ I imii ill tlieir greatest lu-eadth. I'!\repl in their siiialier si/.e ami their lii^iiter
^jronml, tliey are similar to the et;;j;s of \N ilsmi's I 'lover.

The haiiitat uf var. liniiiiiiiiiiliis is f;ivi'n li\ .Mr. I{id),'wav (Am. Nat. \lll. p. !(•".(»
as lietweeii the .Missiiiiri Itiver and the lioekv .Muiinlains. It is. huwi ver. Imiml as
far eastward as Lake l\iiskunun.\', in Smitiiein \\ isemisin, and oeeasionailv' even
aloiiK llie .\tlanlie eoast. Its haliits appear to lie ideiilieal with timse ol the nii/oi/iis.
Mr. Nelson refers to this speeies as a very eoiiiimiii siimmer resident on tiie liorders
of tile lakn, where it lireeds mi tin liat pelilily iH'aeh lietweeii the sand-diines and
the slime. Me olilained a perfect I'j,'^,' from an ex.implc shut at W ankcLtaii. mi the L'llli
of .\pril; and there were appearances indicating; that utiiers were lircciliii!.; in the
nei^diiHU'liood. Some tliirty pairs or more cxliiliited iinmistakalilc si.u;iis of having' their
iH'stH on the licach at that place vv illiin a space of two iiiih s; and lie afterward funml
llu'.se liirds ipiite niiiiiermis at other points almi^' tiic shore, altln-iiKli lie was nnalile
to discover their in'sts, Tliey were eontinnally ciiclinu; almiit, or standiii;.,' at a sliurl
distance iitierin^' an occasional nntc of alarm. !>r. N'clic procnred yoiiii^ of this
variety, only a few da\s old. near the same locality, on tiic Isl of .Inly. All depart,
it is said, iilMiut the la,st of .SepleiulKT.

1G4

rKJit\)CIAL GUALLAT0RE3 — LIMICOL^.

2Igialiti8 alezandrina nivosa.

THE BHOWT FLOVEB.

tEijialUis nivom, ('Aiwix, in Builds U. N. Am. 1S58, OOtt (San Franei8;;o, Cal.). — B\iiil>, Cat. N.

Am. li. 1808, no. uOD.
^Eiji(i'iti.ii-iiuti'iniii, var. iiivosii.t, liiiiuw. Am. Nat. VIII. 1874, 100. — Coi'Es, Chock List, 1873,

A|ni. p. lii'i, no. 401.
.Egiiilili'i •■'iiili'iiiii-t iiivn.iii.i, Uiiir.w. Norn. N. .Vni. B. 1882, no. 521. — CoUEs, Check List, 2d eil.

1882, no. 5111.
^Eginlili* canlianuK, ('"ri;s, Key, 1872, 215.

Had. Wt'steru Provimc "I' N'tniii AincriLa, both coasts of Midtlle America, nnd Western South
Aim'i'ii'.'i as l"iir as Cliili ; Ciilni I '

Si'. CiiAK. Hill sK'iiilt r, wliolly (Ucp Mack, as h\v^ as the middle toe. AtluU vml : Fonjhead,
Biiponiliary rt'ijion, indistinct nuchal collar, and entire lower parts, pure white ; a hand acros* the
fore part of the crown, auriculars, ami tran.'t verse jMitch on each side of the breast, black. Upiier

Smnmer plitmafie.

parts, rather li>?ht brownish fjray, the crown and occiput usually tinged with lifrht reddish buff.
Primaries, dusky with white shafts, the inner (juills marked with white ; inner secondaries almost

t A.lfiuiiroKlris, Lawii. (Aim. Lye. N. Y. VII. Feb. 1802, p. 455), presumably the same species.
T le (li'sciiptjoii is as follows : —

" Fniidli- : ( 'rowii, iH'ciput, niid Imck ciiiPi'i'ous, the fentlicrs with grnyisii-wliitc mnrj;iiis ; winR-i'ovorts
xoniovvlint darker tiiaii tin' back, tL> ends of the larger coverts white, formin}; a transverse liiir on the
wing ; primaries iiinlKT-brown with tlit' iunei' wel)s lighter, except at tin- en<l, and iiaving the shafts
white ; the secDinlaiies are of the same color as the primaries, and tipped with white ; tertiaries |ialer and
largely marked with white ; scapulars ashy brown, lighter on the inner webs, and having both webs
crossed with rather oWilete narrow brown liars ; the Uiiddlc npjM'r tail-coverts are pale oehioous brown,
the lateiid ones white ; the fonr iciiind tail-lVathei's are light oehreous brown at the base, Ix'coniing darker
toward their ends ; the other tail-feathers arc white, tliose next thi' I'cntral ones being pale oehreous iit
the end ; front, a line over the eye, cheeks, a collar on the himl neck, ami entire under plumage, pure
white ; n si-mi-collar of ashy brown on each side of the upper part of the breast ; bill black, with a small
space at the base of the und-.T mandible of ibill orange ; irides lilaek ; tarsi and toes purplish black.

" Length almut rt] in. ; wing. Mi ; tail, 1,' ; bill from front, i ; tarsi IJi.

" llnl.ihif, « 'uba.

" This species is allieil to //. vifhuliin, b\it is rather smaller ; the bill is longer, depresswl nt the bnsi',
and regularly tafH'ring to the end, where it is eiinipnrativoly sharp ; in the latter it is ipiite obtuse and
dilferent in form ; then" is less white on the 'luills, wiih more on the tail, and the tarsi are longer than
those of ./. iiiiIimIiih."

The alsive description, measurements ami all, accords in every rps|n>ct with the adult female of./;'.
«u'ni»(, and is prolmbly of a s|)ociinen of that species. But a single specimen was captured, this being a
fonmle caught with a not while sitting on her three eggs : the time Wing -July, and the place Guantananio,
on the south oooat of the eastern part of the island.

CIIARADRTID.E — THE PLOVERS — .EOIALITIS.

165

wliolly whitp. Two outer tail-fpnther;' wlmlly whit", thu rest j^rowiu},' j»ni<luiilly darker to the
inner pair, which i»re wholly (hisky. Ailitlt fi mnli : Siniihir to the ninle, hut the liliick niarkin^M
icsis distinct (rtonietime-* nearly ohsoletc). Bill and eyeliils deep lilack ; irin deep l)rown ; lejja
iliill slate-color ; toes ijlack ; interior of nioiilh lleshy white. Youiuj : More ashy iiliove, the Mack
nmrkingf' replaced by ashy ; feathers of tiie upper parts indistinctly bonleix-d with whitish.

IlVn/rr pliimai/i:

Bnirny younfi : Aliovo, jmlo fjmyish huff, interrupted by a white nuchal coUur, the whole of the
iiilored portion irregularly ni-iitleil with black. Forehead, lower parts, and liand-winj;, white. A
distinct po.'ttocular streak of dusky.

Total lenj,'th, «.2.") to 7 inches; extent of wings, 13 to 14.7'); wing 4.2(M..3() ; culmcn, .()(» ;
tarsus, .!)(>-l.(C) ; middle toe, ..V)-.(«).

.Specimens vary chiefly in the depth of the ocIiracfHius tinge to the hood and in the distinctness
of the black markings. In some the former feature is so pronounced as to offer a strong contrast
iil'crdor to the liack, wiiile in others, shot from the same llock, there is scarcely a trace of the buff
tinge. Some females have the black as distinct as in the males ; in others it is almost obsiilete.

There can be no ipiestiou as to tlie propriety of separating this bird from .L. ulr-miKlrinu (vel
cantiiimi) of Eurojte, although the ivlationship is very dose. The latter, however, is uniformly
larger, with longer tarsi and wings, and has invariably a distinct line of black running from the
rictus to the eye across the lores — which mark is rarely even indicate(l in the .Vmerican bird,
though in a veiy small percentage it occurs ; never .so distinct aiul continuous, however, as in the
Old World form.

Thi.s species was first dcsprilM'tl by Air. Cassiii from a single oxtuuple (d)taine(l by
Lieutenant Trowbridge on the eoast near .San Francisco. The extent of it.s distribu-
tion aiul its spreitic peculiarities may still be but imi)erfectly known ; it api)ears,
linwevcr, to be nearly restricted to the region between the shores of the I'acitic and
the Uoeky Mountains, occurring in South .\uierica as far as ("hili. aiul on both shores
of Michlle America. So far as its Jiabits have become kiu)wn, tiiey ajtpear to conform
to those of all the other uu'iul)ers cd' this family in regard to its food, its manner of
tligiit. its movements on the laiul, its mode of nesting on the bare sand, and in all its
]ieciiliarities of breeding. Thiit it nuiy migrate in the winter to the Pacific coast of
Central America is made to iii)pear jirobable by the fact that Mr. Salvin i)r()cured at
Cliiapam, (iiuitemala. in Septemljer. 1S(»1'. a single specimen of a Plover referable to
*liis species; ami Messrs. Sclater and Salvin mentiiui its occurrence at Islay, Peru.

Mr. H. W. llenshaw (Lieutenant Wheeler's '• Heport," 1870, p. li(>S) found this spo-
iii's abundant on the coast of (Jalifocnia. At Santa liiirbara it occurred in large num-
bers, t'rerpienting there oidy the .sandy shores, not following the creeks inland, and
never visiting the marshes, though ihese were within a few yards of its breeding-
ground. Its habits seemed to Ik^ exactly tho.se of the common IMping Plover, and
its notes very similar to those of that binl. Its fooil consists of all sorts of worms
and marine Crustacea, which it finds close to the water's edge, following the retreat-

166

PR.ECOCIAL GKAI-LATurcliS — L1.MIC( )I,vK.

inj; Wivves down, and Hcunyin},' liark as tln-y conif loUiiifi; in af,'ain. On tlit- Ttli of
.Inly he found two broods of youii},'. wliicli liail Itdt tlic nests Imt a fcsv limns In-foro.
They were olothed in down, and wen- yt't ho wt-ak as scarcidy to l)e al)l(' to stand.
8ubst'(jm'ntly he noticed (juiti- a nuinlH-r of nests eontaining ej,'j,'s. Tlie spot selected
for a breedinjf-ground was a strip of bare white sand, a hundred yards from tlio
oeean. In every instance but one the eg^I'^ were deposited in a siij^ht holh)W seratclied
in the sand, without lining,' of any sort. In tlie exceptional case the owners had
selected from ahm^' the shore little liits of pearly nacre, reiunants of iiroken sea-
shells, and upon a smooth liniii},' of this material had jilaceil their treasures. The
effect of the richly colored egj^s as they lay on their cushion of shining mother-of-
pearl is said to have In-en very j)leasing. .Mr. Ilenshiiw adds, that so slight was the
contrast Im^wccu the eggs and the drifted sand about them, that they woul.. be diffi-
cult enough to hnd. were it not for the tracks about the nests. .\s the birds came to
relieve their mates in sitting or to bring them food, they alighted near the nest, and
thus for a little distance around each one was a series of tracks converging to a com-
mon centre, which Ix'trayed their secret. (Ireat was the alariu of the colony as soon
as his presence was known. They gathered into little knots, following hitn at a dis-
tance with low sorrowfid cries. When her nest was seen to be really discovered,
the female would Hy close by him and m;>ke use of all the arts which birds of this
kind know so well how to employ on like occasions. With wings drooping aiul trail-
ing on the saiul, she wotdd juove in fiont till his attention was secured, and would
then fall helplessly down, and, Iturying her breast in the sand, jireseut the very pic-
ture of despair and woe. while the nude bird and the otlier ])airs expresvsed their .sym-
pathy by Ituul cries. The full nest coiujilement is saiil to have iH'en three eggs;
and in no instance were more fouml. He ilescribes tliem as of a light clay color,
marked with mnncrous bhitclies and scratchy splashes of l)laik. in size and appear-
ance approaching most closely to those of .K. nn Imlo. but easily to be distinguished
by the different style of the spotting. He gives their greatest length as l.JW; their
least, I.!'!' ; and their diameter as varying from .S".» to .'.(.'».

Dr. Cooper speaks of these birds as In-ing ipiitc common along the sandy Ijeaches
of the sotithern part of California, but becoming rather rare near San Francisco,
although found north as far as Cape .Mendocino. They did not seem to migrate at
any pa'ticular .sea.son, but were found at all tinu-.s. in small }iarties, running over the
drifted sand or along the edge of the water, catching insects and cruslacea. In the
spring they are less ^^egarious, and the females retire to lay their eggs, which arc
lound just alM)ve the edge of the highest water-marks, deposited in slight depressions
in the sand, sometinu's lined with i'ragnu-nts of shells. Tlu; eggs are laid from A})ril
loth to July .'Wth, the latter iM-ing ju-obably a second brood. They are large for the
size of the bird, measuring 1.1*1* inches by .*.(!*. and have a brownish-white ground,
thickly blotched ami speckh'd with blackish-brown marks rc.sendding Turkish let-
ters. In one instance, after an extremely high tide at night, Dr. Cooper found in
the early morning four eggs partly hatched in a (h'jiression just made in the wet
sand, at the very top of the wave-How. They must have bi'cn moved theie by the
old birds from another nest that morning. Their dara]>iiess could hardly have lK>en
favorable for their liatching, though soon to Im* dried by ti.-e sun, the heat of which
saves these birds much of the trouble of sitting. Dr. Coojjer has never heard this
bird utter any sound.

Mr. Ridgway characterizes this species as a graceful little I'lover, and states that
though previously known only froi:t the Pacific Region, he found if very jd)uiulant
in the neighborhood of the southeastern shore of (Jreat Salt Lake. On the bare

flpll

CHAUADUIID.E — THK PLoVKRS — yEGIALITIS.

167

I 'i

muil-fluts aroiuul tlie Wunn-spring Laki' numbers wcir si'oii luuniiig nimbly anil
swiftly over tliu ground, all the whilr iittt-ring a suit, ratlicr nnisical, whistling noti'.
All tilt' spt'ciiut'iis procurt'il were in the lull Invt'ding-pluniagc.

Mr. K. \V. Ni'lson alsd mentions nii'i'ting with this spfcics on tlu' shores of Salt
hake, near the mouth of the Kiver .Ionian. The birds were abundant, and he saw
the young — oidy a few days ohl — the 1st of August.

The eggs of this speeie.-i have an average length of 1.18 inches, and a breadth of
.'.)."i. Their ground is a light fawn-A-olored ilrab. over which tine dottings, lines,
and irregular markings of a dark bistre are etjually distributed, except aiiout the
smaller end. which is nearly free from any nuirk. These eggs were taken near San
i'lancisco by the late iMr. T. Hepburn. The eggs of .h'. nnitlmnis. to which this
sp»'cies is now regarded as being very closely allied, are of a slightly more oblong
shape, measuring !.:.'."> inches in length, and .*.M» in breadth. They have a yellowish
stone-colored ground, spotted and .streaked with bhick.

More re(!ent specimens of the eggs of the iih'usd have a ground-i-olor of a ]mle
grayish butt', with markings in form of snuill dots and zigzag i)encillings of black,
and measure l.l.'.i by .i)(>. and \.'S> by .S.l inches.

^Igialitis mongolica.

THE MONGOLIAN PLOVEB.

Charadriim vumiioluK, P.vi.i.. lirisc, iii. 177t>, 7iiO.

CliuriitlriuH iniiiiijiiliiiis, I'ai.i.. Zimjjr. I!iism)-As. ii. 1831, 130.

.■EijiiillUn iiiuiiiju/kiis, .SwiNH. I'. Z. S. l,sti:), :tlii ; 1«70, Hit. — H.msmxi;, Ibis, 1870, 384 ; P. Z. S.

1S71, 111, 114 (<'li(iri.>( I'l'iiiiisulii, Alaska, stnniiitT !), —
Charatlriits rirrlii/Hilaiiiiiis, Wai!!.. .S'st. Av. 1S27, fol. 4, [i, 13, no. 18.
Chiiriiili-iiiH iiiihtrh, Wahi,. Syst. ,\v. \^'l'. t. i', Inl. '>, \>. .1, no. 40.
Cliin-iiilriiiH siiiKjiihii iix, l.i-.ss. .Man. Oiii. ii. IS'JS, :i;(0.
Chiiriiiln'K.i i-iijli'olllt, "Ci'viKii A: Tkmm." I'icii. I!cv. Zool. IS.M, 282.
Chnniili-iuH riiji,i,//iis, Hr.vrn, An. & .Miij.-. N'. II. xii. 1843, lt!9.
Chiiriiilrhi.i siihnijiiiiis, llniMisiiN, Zmil. .Mi*i'. 1H44, St!.
i'liiiniili-iiiH iiiirrhiilhiii-(i.i\ " Tkmm." (im in. Pi. V.w. 1S37, pi. 'Jlty.
AJijiiilitii iiiii-i-liiii/iiiiii.i; Keys. & III. As. Willi. Kur. lS4ii, 7o, ct Ai'cr.
Ultiliciilii iiioriiiilii, tiiiri.n, B. Aiistr. vi. |il. !!•.

IIaii. Niirllicrii .Asia in general, \vi'.-,t tn St. IVlcrsliing, I'ak'stint', and Northcosteni Africa,
I'.'i^t to CJKiris IViiiiisuia. Alaska ; in winter, migrating south tliruiigh Soiithfri Asia, Pliilipiiiiics,
.Malay Ariliipclagu, etc.. to Ausiralia.

Ailiilt (J, Id sumiiiir (N'o. K."i77!), Vokolmma, .Japan, April 2k ; P. L. Jouy); Froiuk-t, lores, and
a liiiiad band hcncalli the eve. invnlviiiL; tlie auiinilars, iliill Mark; a latlici iiaiiow IVniital hand
lit ilull Mack, aiiti'iiiirly reaching to the liase of tlie calnu'ii and ]iosterioily joining the tipper
anterior iiiaigiii of the t^ye ; lietweuii this and the black loiid stripe n iiiirrow stripe of white, reach-
ing,' to within about .10 of an inch of the anterioi' aiiu'le of thi> eye ; lower eyelid white. Anterior
and lateral portions of pik-nni light rcildish Imif, the central ]iortioii (occiput and ]ioHteriiir part uf
ci'iwn) (hill lii'owiiish gi-ay ; nape and bivast clear li;,'ht ifdcli.',li cinnainon, paler on the former,
and laterally extending, brokenly, i.loiig the sides to the Hanks ; ivst of lower parts jmn- white,
tliat of the throat very abruptly bounded posteriorly against the reddish cimiair.on of the iiieast.
I'pp'T i>arts (except as descrihed) brownish gniy, witii a slight lironzy lustre in certain Iij,dits, the
li[is of the i:feater wing-coverts and .secondaries, basal ]iovtion of outer webs of iinier primaries,
sides of ruiiii», and tips of iip|HT tail-coverts, white. Hill, legs, and feet, black. Win^, .'i.l.') ; tail,
-MX); culiuen, .(i2 ; tarsus. 1,1."); iniildlc toe, .7!>. U'inhr jiliimuiie : "' I'pper parts light grayii^h
brown ; loral streak, ear-coverts, and latero-])ectoral patch, more or less marked with brown. A
faint brown bar runs across the breast. Forehead, eyebrow, chin, throat, and under parts, while.

168

PK.KCOCI.VI- (JIULLATOKKS— I.I.MICOL.K

U'iii^' )mii'-l)rnwii ; lowt-r nl^i' of iniiii, Ih'iiihI iiiui'};iiirt ami li|i» In f^iviitcr covi'itx, iiiar^iim to
^'('(.'lllllla^il's lii'oailciiiii^' iiiwanllx, liii>al lialvo o| Hiitci' wi'Ih oI' sixth and ii'iiiaiiiiii}; loiiiiarics, Hist
<|iiill-s|iart I'litii'civ, tlii'otlu-r.'* more or liwri, uliiti-. r|>|>ci tail-covi-its : ct'iitial Icallicis li;,'lit Idown
iiiai'}{iiii'i| uiih wliitt', tlir sidi- oih-h |iiii'i- wliiti-. Tail : liisl oi' niilcr icitrix wliili', with an oliloni;
lon^'iliiiliiial spot of |ialt' lnowii on llit' iniu-i' Wfii ; hccoihI li>;iil ln'ouii, with wiiitc slialt ami li|> ;
till' M'st iluikt'i' liiiiwn, wiili liiowii slial'ts ami wliiti- ti|iM, tliu whilu ilvca-UMiii^ on tlit- twu cviitniU,
Dill lilack ; K'^s lU'cp lilafki^li ({lay ; iLiws lihu'k."

" Jii'n>,'lli ol will);, f).4 imhcx ; tail. -1 .'> ; hill in lionl, .7.") ; tarsi, l.lM ; mitUllL' tou (claw, .17),
.h:i." (Swinhok, I'. Z. 8. If*7i>. p. I III.)

Gk.ms OCBTHODROBSnS, KKiriiKNiiAcii.

OchthmlroiHKH, ItKiciiKMi. Av. Syst. l.H.i;!, Iiitniil. p. .wiii (ty|M', I'lmnidiiitu U'ilnoniiis, Oiin).

CilAit. Hill laiv*' itii*l xtoi lon^for than tlit> niiihllv toe, tin- tirniinal half of the ciiliniii Htroii^^iy
convex, anil hasu of the ^onvs i aiii^; a ilcriilcil iin;,'lc ; liasal half of the niuxilla(lt.-pn-.ssi'il ika'idL'illy
hflow till- Irvcl of ihii It'iniinal hull. Tail shoit. scmrt'ly reaching,' thi^ tips of the priniaiii's.

Tlu* ilistiiii'tivf chunu'tcrs of ihix wcll-niaikitl );iMini4 i'iinxi!<t I'hictly in the hn^a licail ami licavy
hill, tdiilrastcil with tin- wi-ak fcrt ami heavy h';,'s. An exotic species, which seems to he slii''lly
conneneiic with ". //'//xi/h/ks, is the Clin mil ri UK llniffniiji. W'Atii.., which a),'iees niiniilety in all
the tielails of slructllle, e.xcept that the le;;s are very ileciileilly lo|ij,'cr. There is also colisideraMi'
tiiiiiilarily in the style of colnration. es|H'cially in the winter plnnia^^e ; hut in siiiiiiner dress, f>.
Uiiijlriiiii has a rnfons, instead of lihnk, jii;.'ular hand.

America possesses liiit a siiij,de >pecies, *'. iriliuiiiiiiK, the type iif the ).;enus. Thin aitjieals ill

the form of two well-marked ).'eo;,'rapliical races, whose characters are as follows : —

Co.M. CiiAii. Ahove, lirownish (.'ray ; forehead and lower |iarts white. ^ : Kore-parl of the

crown, lores, and jn^jiilar collar, hiack. 9 ' ''■'' '"lack repl.iceil hy hrownish j.'ray or VmUi hrown-

i)<li, paler on (he lores.

Vur. Wilsoniua. .sides of the ix ciput and upper part of nape slightly tinned w illi Imlly ochra-

ceoiis. Keiiiale with the hues nearly white. Ilnli. Coasts of .<oiith Atlantic (ami (Jiilf?) .*>l,ites.
Var. rufinuobua.' Sides of <^ccipii| ard upper part of iia|M' deep rusty. Female wiili lores

distinctly hrownish nfray. Colors ^{enerally darker in holh sexes. Hub. West Indies (and other

tro]iical coasts?;,

OchthodromuB WilsonluB.

WILSOrS PLOVBB.

('hnrmlriiis U'llmiiiiii^, Oiih, .d. WiU. |.\. is-.'.>. 77, p|. 7:t, lij.. .I — Xrrr. Man. 11. IHIU, 21.—
Ai 1.. Orii. Ilioj;. 111. XMU, 1:\; V. Is.Ut, r.77, pi. JM ; .Syii.ip. Ihan, 'JJ:1 1 H. Am. V. isl.', -Jit,
pi. ;ill'.

j-Kijiii/ilis irilHiiiiiiis, HoN.vr. CciiiHp. List. \s:\s, |,'). CorKs, Olirck Mst, 'J<! cd. \HH-2, no. .IS.'i.

^■Kitiiilills »'/7.w«i/».«, (ass. ill Hiiiid's II. N. Am. IHaH, (lit:!. — li.viiin, lat. N. Am. II. I8:.i>, no. iM. -
ColKs, Key, Ks7a, •.'14 : ("1 k List, 1«>7:!, im. :t!iH.

tk-hlliiiilriimiin H'il.viiiiiix, Itmcii. Syst. Av. lH.'.:t. wiii. — ItiiKiw. Noiii. N. Am. J{. 1881, no, j22.

1 I'liiiriiiliiiis cniiiMiiii.iln's, Svi\, .\y. Bias. ||. ls-_>."i, "7, ]il. !I4.

Hah. Atlantic seu-coust of teiii|M'rale North America, and of .'^otith America to Ura/il ; hotli
coasts of Middle America north to Cape St. Lucas; West Indies; Northwestern Peru (Taczan.
P. Z. S. lf*77, :W(>).

' Ocn'nioiiito.Mi's Wii.so.Nirs ui'kim'chiis.

U'hiiriiitriiis rriinKii-ialriH, Srix, Av. Hias. II. 182.'», 77, pi. 94 (cf. Pki.Z. Orii. Bms. 1870, 2fl7),
A'ljiiililis irilmiiiiiiH, var. niihiiirhiiK, ItlDiiw. Am. Nttl. VIII. Kch, 1S74, In'.i ('SpHnislitowii,
.laliiaini).
Then,' is now sumc iloiilit whether the ihaniclcrs <iri);iiially nMcriht-il to this sapjioscil nice nrc oonstimt,
III the iiluM'iii'c of Hiilllcii'iit niiiterial to di-c !.!.• the |riiiiit, however, \\v fur the present keep it separate.

CIIAKADIMFD.K - Tllli PLOVERS — OCllTIKtDUoMI'S.

IGU

Sp. Ciiah. Ailiilt mull ; l-'roiitiil cii'sccni, cxtcinliii^ Imck mi wu'li HJile of tin- crown lo Iwyotid
till' I'Vi', oii'lt 1)1' >.'rtiiii'r wiiij,'-riivi'itn, slmlts of |iiiiiiiiiiu», iiml iiitin- lowtr |iiirtx, |iiin' wliiU' ; avn-
.ciilii' imli'h coviriiij,' I'lUc inni cil'tlic crnwii, linvs, ami wide Imiitl luinss tlu' iii^'uliiiii, lilmk ; (icci-
]iiit iiioit' or li'ji.'* Htii(ii;^|y siiII'iimmI Willi iiihrari'iniM, <T.|icciully liitcntlly ninl |Misti'iicirly. r|i|Hi-
|iiirl^ (cxiflil iiH (li'si I'ilH'il) iiiiiriiriii liidwiii^ili niiiy, llir ifnii;;i'i< Jarkrr. Ailuli f, uml, ; Siiiiilar
III llii' iiiiilf, Imt the lilai'k rr|ilai'i'i| liy liinwiii-li ^lay, tlir Jiij^iilar tollar tiii;^('il wiili orlii'Mrciiu^.
Ihiivnij ijitumj : Crown aiitl (Hci|Mil li^jltl j.'rayisli Imfl', ilisiimlly Iml vcrv irrr^;iilaily niarlilcil or
iiiiittli'il with lilai'k ; liack and ruiii|i -similar, l>ul niort' ^'rayisli, tin- nioltliii;,' rnaiMT and lr>s diii-
tincl ; arni-win){ li^lit Imll', niolili'd willi du.-<ky ; liand-win;{ wholly iinniaciilali- while. Wholu

I'liri'lu'iul, hiivsi, snjK'rriliarici', fide of head, liroad nuchal collar, and entire lower jiarls, white; an
lirej^uhir lint ilisiinct poHlocular streak of lihick running; into the motllinjj of the oci'i|int. A lai>,'e
liaie siiace on each side of neck. Hill Mack ; eyelids j,'rayis|i ; iris brown; ie^s ainl feet pale
;,'niyisli tiesh-color.

Total len^jth, ahonl l.'itt ; extent, Ki.iHi ; win;;. \.:t{\ ; cnhneii, .ho ; tai-siis. |,2."i ; middle toe, .T.'i.

Till' ;;eo;;rapliical variations of this species are not wt-ll iinderHtood, on aiinnnt of lack id'
>uirn icnt material. .\ii ndnlt female from Ma/atlan (wiiilei) and iwo IVoni < 'ape Si. hncax
( lleceiiiliei) are uniformly, ihoii^^h sli;;litly. darker th.in eastern example^ ; lley n\>« have tliu
I'l'intal while very narrow, the liiowii of the lore> coiitinnoiis, extending; (in two N|ifciniens, and
;d-o ill an ailnit male frimiCape Si. Lnca>) ijiiite lnoadly iicioss the frontlet, while lieiieath the
eve the lifown is very " solid '' for a width of .;i() of an inch or more. It is possible, however, that
iliise ililh'i'eiices may not prove conslant.

Tlii.s I'ldvcr. lirst rfco^'iii/.t'il as a tlistiiict spceii-s in isl.'i, ami iltMlicatrd In tiic
mciiitiry of Wil.sun l»y .Mr. Onl. is met witii. iikhi' or less ciiinnnnilv, aloiiiL,' our wlndc
Allaiitir coast from Loii;.; isiainl to l-Morida. it also oitmi's on liotli roasts of CiMitral
.Vnicriea, ami prolialdy hrrcils wlierovei it is foiiml. I''.xr('|it that om is rrcordt'd liy
Mr. iiiiidslcy as liaviii^' lii'eii taki'ii in Stiatford, Comi.. so far as I know it lias
never Imtii traeed with ecrtaiiity to New Kn,i,'iaml. it is (|iiiti' pndiaiih'. however,
that individuals may oecasioiiaily visit tlic nortlieni sliore of liOiii; Island Sound, it
also occurs on Mm .Aflaidic coast of South .Vmerica to Ura/.il. Audiilion states that
it is idiiml oil the hIioi'ch of the <iulf (d Mexico, in all the Soutlicrii States, tliat it
lirccds there, and tli«t it also spends the winter in the n';,'ioii hetwccii Carditia and
the mouths of the .Missi.ssip|ii Itivcr. Tliat it ai.so occurs in 'I'cxas is stated hy
IhvBser, wii«> i'ouml it common aliout tlic coast duritij;^ the siiininer season, lie
noticed many on (Salvcston island durin^r liis stay tlicic in May and iliine. and shot
scvi'val spcciiueiis, Imt was tiot aide to tind tiieir nests or t'KKs. Dr. .Merrill speaks
<d' it as an alaindaiit resident, and a.s broediiiK' <>ii tlie cojwt of Soutliwestern Texas.

vol.. I. — •.'•J

170

PR.tlCOClAL (*RAI-LATOKES - LlMICOLi*:.

Mr. Salvin iiu-t witli Wilson's I'luvfi- mi tlu' coast of HotKlunis in the latter part

of April. It was tlitMi lir liii^. uinl lu- (liscovi-rcil two oi its iicsts. He iilso foiiiid

that this spt'cics was vcrv alnimlaut at Chiapain. in (iiiatt'niala, whi-ri- he met with it
in Hoi-k.H ill tin- company ol .K. mnil/i'i/mn/i'. It ocmirrcd also and remained to
l)rccd anions; the havs «( l>eli/.e. It is also recorded from the northwestern euast of
IVni.

Aceordin^r to Lt'otaiid, this I'lover is a nii^Matorv visitant of the Island of Trinidad,
arriving' there alMiiit the end of July, and leaving; in October. It frequents the lior-
ders of the sea, I'unnin;.; on the sand in ipietit of the worms on which it feeds. As it
takes to tlii;ht it usually utters a peculiar cry, which is slightly rolling, and not un-
ph'a.sant. These iiirds (M-cur sometimes Wy themselves, and sonu'times mingled with
Trliii/ir and other shore-birds; and Pr. Kryant found this an almndunt resident
species in the Kahamas.

(iiraud nn-ntioned this among the Iiirds of Long Ishind, hut as not common there.
When oli.served it was usually in company with the mml/tdfiiinfii, with the general
characteristics (d' wliicli its own very closely correspond. Audulion states that while
in Florida, near St. .\ugustine. in the months of DeoemlM-r and .lantuiry, he found
this species much more aliundant than any other. There were few of the keys
having a sandy lieach or a rocky shore without one or more pairs. The young birds
assembled in tie- fall and spent the winter months a|iart from the old ones.

J)r. ('ones, who had an excidlent opportunity for watching this species in North
Carolina, has given (Am. Nat. III. .'ill)) a full and minute account (d' its habits
during the summer months, lie regards it as eminently characteristic of the shores
of the South .Vtlantic Stitt's. It moves northward along the coast in April, collecting
in small tloeks (d' from six to twenty or more, and ]tassing at once to their chosen
places, there to explore the sea-iieaches anil the uiuiidy Hats in search cd' food. They
are gentle and unsuspicious. Their note is described as being half a whistle and
half a chir|». and as very diffen-nt from the clear mellow piping of the other species.
After a short interval b)llowing their first arrival, they separate in jiairs aiul resort
to the sand-hills near the coast to l»recd. When their nest is ajiproached they Hit
to and fro, near the ground, at a little distance, in anxious groups of three or four,
uttering indescribably touching apjicals. now alighting, as if in hopes their trea-
sures may remain undisci'vered. and then running swiftly along, too frightened for a
moment's rest.

Wilson's I'lover deposits its eggs in a ludlow in the sand about four inches in
diameter, but so shallow as to be hardly noticeable as a depression. Sometimes it
lays its eggs in a scanty tuft (d' grass, but in no instance has it been noticed as using
any lining for its nests. The numlter o( eggs is said to be invariably three; but that
oecasi(uially it may lay four is inferred from finding in the oviduct of a female ju.st
killed (uie egg ready for deposition, and three others in a highly devtdoped .state. It
begins to lay alMiut the middle (d' May, but differs as to the time so much that, early
in June, eggs tpiitc fresh, others nearly hattdicd, and newly Hedged young, may all
be oi)served. The nestlings are described as being curious-looking aiul very pretty.
They are able to run as soon as they are fairly dry from the egg, and are ditlicult to
Hud, as they scpiat so idoscly to the .sand, which they resendde in color.

Their i-ggs are somewhat like those of the Least Tern, but are larger, and in some
other respects different. Tin; variations of the eggs of the Tlovers, both in size and
shape, are considerable, one measuring 1.4r» inches by !.(»">, and another only 1.'--
inches by l.(M); tiiey also differ very materially in shape from each other. Their
ground-eohir wlien fresh is describeil as a pale olivo-drab, inclining to a greenish hue

I ill

CIIAHADHIID.E — TIIK PLOVKHS - I'ODASOCYS.

171

ill some exiunplt's, aiitl to a liiowiiisli in otlicrs. Tlu'V art' tliiiily iiiaikt'il all ovtT
with brown, ho dark as to Ik- almost IdacU, these markings lieiiif,' in irreKulur, 8har|ily
ijehneil spots, small splashes, ami line dots. In some speeimens the marking's run
into tine lines, and in these are the smallest, dark«>st, most numerous, and most
sharply (h-tined. The markings are usually lar;,'er and more thickly set on the lar>,'er
part of the e^'j,'. Here and there a tew pale obsolete spots are noticed.

Audidnin, who probalily observed this species in a more northern loiality. f,'ivefl
the 1st of .June as the date of the tirst deposition of itse^,'],'; and this more nearly
corresiMnids with my own experience. Visiting Cape Charles, .lune I, iH'i'J, I met
with several nests of this bird, in all id' which the e;,'f,'s were (piite fresh.

Audidion describes the tlij,dit as rajiid, elc(,'ant. and protracted. When tlyinj,' from
one sand-beai'h or islaml to another, they pass low over the hind or water, and as they
move give utterance to a clear and soft note. After the breed ing-sea.son they form
into flocks of twenty or thirty. They do not run ipiite so rapidly as the riping
Plover, nor are they so shy. They rarely mingle with any other species, and show
a (h'cided preference for solitary and nnfreipiented jilaces. Their food is almost ex-
clusively of a marine character, and consists of minute shell-tish, worms, and small
insects. With this food they mingle tine partiides of sand. Jn the fall they iH-come
very phuup, ami atford delicious eating. They are said to feed by night as widl as by
day, and their i)eculiarly large eyes seem t<i adajit them for nocturnal habits.

.Mr. Moore, who observed the habits of this bird on Sarasota P>ay, Florida, states
that out of tonrteen nests all but four had three eggs in a set, and tln-se had two.
The time of in('td)ation is twenty-four or twenty -five days. The eggs were very rarely
found placed with the small ends together. Occasionally an interval of one, two, or
three days would pass after the dejtosition of an egg before another was laiil. Kggs
were first laid April .Sth. No nests weru found nearer to one another than twenty
yards. Une was so uear the water and so low as to be Hoodeil at an unusually high
tide.

Three eggs of this species in my collection, taken at T'ape Charles in iH'ti (No.
ri21), are of an oblong oval shape, rounded at one end and tap(,'ring at the other. The
gnmnd is a dee]> drab, and the markings are of bi.stre intensitied to Idackiie.s.s, irreg-
ular in shape, some nmnded, others longitudinal, larger than in ./i\ tiitfot/ti. and with
more tendency to cojvlesce almiit the larger end. In one. the markings are nearly
confined to the obtu.se end. The measurements are lA't by 1.04 inches; 1.48 by
l.O") ; and 1.40 by 1.05 inches. The eggs are much more oval in shape than are those
of yE. me/oda.

Genus PODASOCYS, Coles.
Podasocys, ('(irF.s, Pr. I'hilnil. Aiad. 18(lti, !••! (tyiic Chfiradriui monlanun, Towns.)

Char. Bill iiither .iiimll mid slender (iimch an in 0.ri/''(/i »«), hut longer than the middle toe ;
ttti-sus considend>ly more tlinn twice as long as the niidillc toe. Tail short, even, scarcely reaching
to the ends of the folded wings. Plumage e.\ceediiigly jdaiii.

The genus J'odamciin is |>ci'lia]is more nearly related to the Old World Kudromim than t , any
American genus, Imt may readily he distinguished by the sevend characters given in the above
diagnosis, and in the table on p. 12f). At least oiii- Old W'orlil speci(>s, t'liuriidriim nrndus, GoULD,
.seems to he strictly congeneric. We have carefully compared specimens, oiid can liiid no difference
whatever in the details of structure. The C. asiatiiut, Pali.as, is said to he n near relation of C,
vercdu*, and may also belong to this genus. These two Old World species are characterized by a
nifouB pectoral band in the summer plumage, while the American species (P. nunitamui) has the

172

I'll.M'OClAI. tilt Al,I.An»lli;S— MMKOL.K.

Ill

.jii;{uluia iiifi'i'ly tliiuliMl uitli UkIii ^'invi")! Wruwii ; Iml tiiloriitinii in tliJH ^i'i)ii|) i* of Httlv vuluo
r()iii|Mii(il with il('viiiti4iiiN III Htnu'tnii', lli>' K|H'i'i('s nl' .Kijinlilin lu'in^' a ium' in |iiiiiil.

JuiilriiiuiiiK, till- iy|i<' III whirli i" Vhnrmliiii* lU'iniiillnn, Linn., ■liHi'i'* Irmii I'imIiihihijh in ln'iii^ of
iiiiii'li Kliiiitcr liiiilil, till' I'liiiiii'ii nliiii'Iri tliaii till' iiiiilillc Iih-, llu- lallci- lu'ailv liiilt a'* Imi^' uit llir
tiirHU.4, tht' Well lH-t\V('('ii till- iiiiti'i' ami iiiiililK' liir iiiiitli lar^rr, llic tcitiaU fxlcniling to tliu i-iuls
■if the |>iitiiai'ifH, etc. No Aiai'iiruii I'Iomt i* ivlvial'li' In Hiiilriiiiiiiin, u.-< piiniiTiy rcHtiictuil.

Poda«oc]ra montanna.

THI MOUNTAIN PLOVXB.

Ch'tiiiiliiKH mould iniM, Town*, .loiiin. Ar. Nut. Sci. I'liilail. VII IS!)', 11)2. — Afii. Mm. Iljojj. IV.

1n:ih, Wi, i-l. ;t.iii: .Sym.|i, l^aii, •.'•j:i ; H. Am. V. \>^i-i, •Jl;i, pi. :ilN.
.■E<jii>lilii iiiiiiiiii II i(.i, (■a»>in, ill Hiiinl'i II. N. Am. l».'ii*, tilKl. Ii.\ii!i>, (,'ut, N. Am. B. 185li, im.

:i0.l.
/'.«/.(.««•;/« mii.itiiiiii'i, ('iill>, I'l. Ar. Xiit. Sii. I'liilail. INtKI, HO ; Clli-ik List, 'Jil nl. 1882, no. 602.—

Ki.i.ior, llliiitr. Am. K. II. l^ilH, pi. :il>. ICidow. Nom. N. Am. It. \>-Hl, no. CSJ.
yKijiiili/is iisiiiliiiiM, var. niiniliiniis, ('i»fK>, Ki'V, 1S72, 'Ik'i \ (lurk Lint, I.'*?.'!, lio. 402.
Kudruiuitin miniliiiiHH, Cot M, C'lii'ik l.i»t, 1,h7;1, App. p. 135, no. 4oj ; HinU N. \V. 1874, 45(1.

H,\ii. WcMi'in Provimo of North Aiiu'iini ; aciiiloiitnl in Kloritla ; im cxtriiliiiiital rpconl.
Sp. Chah. Ailiill, hnnliwi pliiiniiiji: Wiilc finiitiil iTt-mi'iit, i-iipcniliary striiK-, ami cntiiv
lower |iurtH while, purestt on the foreiiead, nl a nnnv or Ics.-* soihij tint U-neulli, the Jumiluni

\ ..^^"

Dreediny lihimtujf.

shmled with li^hl j^rayi.sli lirown, most tlistiiict iateially where inseiiKilily mei^^inj? itUo the rolor
of the upjicr partn. V<j\v part of tlie crown, ami strijK- IVoni the rictus to the eye (acroci* lores),

Winter pliimnge,

bhick. Rent of upper part«, i. -iforin li^lit f>rayish lirown, the rcmit,^ ami tail ilitsky ; nhnfts of
primarioH, white. Adull in spring : Similar to the above, but ujipcr parts ami JiiKiiluni tinned with
Ji({ht biiffy oehraccous. Adull md ymtny in winter: More strongly tinged with buff, both olmvi-

'I I "

CIIAKADRTin.K — TIFK PLnVKRH — PODAHOCVS.

173

and bt'low, the Mmk iiiarkiiiKM <>i' thi' IicimI wuntiii^. Ymimj,Jirit ylumiufr ; All tliv frutlicrM ut'
till! ii|i|K'r iiaiin iliHtiiirtly hoiili-riMl with li^lil lniH'; whole xiilc nriifinl iuiiUii'>'k, iiixl ciitiic jii^ii-
liiiii, ili'r|i li;^lit I rniiiiy liiiir Ihiifiiij Y'liiiiij : Aliiivr lii'<iwiii>li liiiir, iiiiiIiIimI with liliii'k, tliih Inriii-
iii^' Ik ili-tiiii t itiiiililiii},' mi llii> ri'iiwii tiiiil iH'('i|iiil, wlici'c ilic ^^iduiiil-colui' i-> lii^litui ami clrun'r

llllir. LoUfI' iNUix |>ll|l' llllll', illlllllK llllllC.

Tiiliil li'li;{lli, iiIm.iU H iiuhcH ; wili^ II.IHI ; liiil, •>.!:> ; i ulliicll, .Mt>-1KI; IuIsIIh, LfiO-l.tKl ;

lllillillc llM', .70.

'I'lii'ic '\* I'liii-iili'iaiili* iiiiliviiliiiil viiiialimi in tiu* cxli'iil iiinl <li<liiii'liii'iK ul Maik on liif lioiul
ill I'lilK iiilult liinU, kdiik- ^|H'riiiii'iiM having' liic wiinlt' nciwii lilaik, wiiili- in ittliriH tlii^ ciilur U
liiiiilnl til II crtwi-titii' mark JiiMt lH-liiiii| llu! wliiii' ul' tin- tniTlu-itil ; in minif ('xaiii|>li-M tlu' Mack
jiii'iil Nti'i|H.> i** Ikiii'Iv iiiilii'iiti'il.

Till' l{«irk,v Mniiiitiiiii IMiiviT. us Mr. AihIiiImhi, not vci-y iiaiipily. lias ili'sinnatcd
tliis s|M'('ii's. has an rxtcinlfd (lisiriliiitinii, limii Aii/nii;i ami SuntliwcsliTii Texas on
till' siiiilli, tlialilv Im'ShuiI, and triiiu
I'lastiTii Kansas and Nrliiaska tn tin- ^nassy plains that liunlrr tlir rai-ilir itst-lf.
It is of accidrntal Drrnrrt'iict' in Flmida. Wliih- in ii'>,'ard tn its |icciiliar HiM-citic

lialiits, i>s|M'riall\ dnriii;,' thr lir Iin^'-srasnii, ihik'Ii ri'iiiains to hi' h>arnril, tin- last

ii'W yt-ars iiavc addni f;iratly to onr knowh'dKr ol its history. It is not iMitith'd to
III' rc^'ardrd as a iiionntain hird, as it ronliiii-H itsidt' to IiIkIi and dry h-vtd |ilains. and
is nt'ViM- to Ih- nii-t with nravi-r to iiioiintains than tlirir hasr.

This hird was first di'sirihrd Ity Town.srnd in lcS;;7. and tlii' dfsi'ri|)tioii ol' its
liahits, hrii Hy narratt-d hy Nnttall, was nuott'd hy .\iididMin in iHIl', Tin- lornn'r
author ri'j,'arili'd thi' spccii's as closidy allii'd to Wilson's I'lovrr. Ili' nirt widi it.
only during onr or two days, on the rrntral talih'lands ul' the Uorky .Mountains, in
till' plains nrar tin- last ot tin- Inaiiihi's id' thr I'Litli': and as it was in tin- nionth
id duly, he had no doidit that thr hird was lir<>i-diii^' in thr Snlialpinr ri'^dons. Thi>
only individual ohtainrd was sn-n skulkin;^ and running' tliroiadi thr artriiiisia Inishi's
that so ^'i-ni-rally rlothr thosi- arid and diy wastes. .Xtter rnnnini,' soini' tinii'. it
would ri'iiiain porl'i'ifly still, as if ronsiious of thr dillii'ulty id distiuKnishinj,' it Ifoiii
till' gray soil on whii-li it Htoud, and with i\w cidor of whiidi its own was so nearly
iilentieal. .Ml that were seen were similar to the si<eiinien ohtained. hut none eould
he indiiied. on \\v'\n<i tlushed. to take win;,', lie heard froni it no note or ery of
eoHiplaint of any kind, and it apparently sonj,dit l»y silence to epiieoul its younj,' or
its e^'K's.

We are indehted to l>r. .1. (i. Cooper (•• .\ni. Nat." 1 1 1, p. iS.'i) for our lirst lull and
aci-urute aeeuunt of the hahits and distiiiiution of this speeies. IM'. Cooper mentions
meeting with it on his route from Los Angeles. Cal.. to l-'ort Mohave. The hirds
were running in seattered tloeks over the driest trai'ts. or wheeling in swift eolumiis
uniund the sportsman, their white under parts shining like snowtlakos as thoy
turned while on the wing, in tlic inniin«>r of their more ai|uati(' eutiHiiiR of the seu-
sliiiie. The same writer afterward speaks f- Am. Nat." III. ji. 1".W) of lindiiig this
I'loveron the plains of the I'pper Missouri, in the driest s|iots and among the villages
of the prairie-dog. In Montana I >r. Cooper found it rare along the eastern base of
tile IJoeky .Mountains. There also they were ii.sually met with about the j»rairie-dog
villages; hut they iipjiareiitly did not eru.sH the luuuntiiius in us large iiuinlH.'i'S ji» they
do farther south.

J)r. Cooper also states that tluH speeies helongs jihiiost exclusively to the va.st
deserts and jilains of the central jiarts of North America, only visiting the vicinity
of the sea-ooast in the wet season. They are found in the extensive jilains near Los
.Vugcles after the middle of October, hut are not kiujwn to he there in the summer.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

{./

.*>i

1.0 :^i^ 1^

Hi Ui |2.2

ii
m iu 11.6

1.1

^ ^.

^.^"

174

PILECOCIAL riUALLATOUES — LIMICOLJ:.

1 :|;- „

V-:'

They frequont the dry fp-assy pastures exclusively, and although but a few rods from
the sea-beaoh, never .visit it. They were in large ttochs scattered over the plains,
and Avere rather diftiodt to slioot. except as they chanced to fly near, being very
shy if approached when on tlie ground.

At Fort Mohave Dr. Cooper found a few piiirs in March which seemed to have
nests on the dry gravelly hlntfs. lie describes them as being less noisy than the
Kildcer, althongli their cries much resend)l(' those of that bird. In the autumn,
when started from the ground, tliey uttered a low whistle, and flew around in large
circles ; then, after being joined by stragglers, they re-alighted, but not until they
had flrst carefidly examined the vicinity.

Mr. Dresser met with this J'lover, during the winter only, in Southwestern Texas.
In Decend)er, 18(!.'{, as lie was riding in the open jjrairie country near San Antonio,
he noticed a few individuals ; these were generally near the high-roads. In their
habits tliey reminded iiim very much of the King Plover of Europe {^Egiid'itis hiutk-
nl(i) — running verj' swiftly, with the head drawn in close to the body. As the
winter advanced they l)ecame more plentiful, but disapi)eared in the early spring,
none showing themselves later than the beginning of April. They fed on cattle-
ticks and beetles of all sorts, and seemed to prefer the I'arren sand-plains to the
grassy parts in the neighlxnhood of water.

Mr. C. E. Aiken mentions meeting with this species ii; pairs on the high table-
lands of Colorado. Mr. .1. A. Allen found the 3Iountain I'lover present, though not
abundant, from Eastern Kansa.s westward. In the vicinity of Fort Hays he noticed
it occurring Avith considerable frequency. During the breeding-season he saAV it in
isolated pairs, nsuallj' in the driest situations, and characterizes it as silent and
unsuspicious. Later in the sea.son Mr. Allen nu^ntions meeting with it in small
parties composed of one or two broods of young accompanied by their parents ; tliese
were observed at intervals throughout the month of July, This species was also
often met with in South i'ark, as well as on the high table-lands which occur at
intervals thence to the plains.

Dr. Coues noticed this si)ecies on various occasions, and his accounts are generally
confirmatory of those previously' given by Dr. Cooper. He first mentions meeting
with it in his journey from Arizona to the Pacific, and there speaks of it as an im-
suspicious and familiar Ijird, admitting of a very near approach where it was not too
often disturbed, running gra<--efully with the head lowered, often sto2)ping suddenly
and drawing itself up to its full height, and watching the intruder with curious
eye. Its voice is descril>ed as Ijeing soft and low, and of a very peculiar tone. More
recently, he mentions its occurrence in Dakota, along the parallel of 49° N., where it
was breeding in considerable numljers. It was first seen July 1, and was traced
thence across the coimtry nearly to the Sweetgrass Hills. Its centre of abundance
was about Frenchman's Kiver, where a set of three eggs, with many specimens, both
adult and young, were secured. At no time did the birds seem to him wary or sus-
picious, and when their nests or young were threatened they would hardly retreat
even if themselves in danger. < >n such occasions they utter a low chattering cry very
unlike their usual soft mellow whistle, fly low over the ground to a short distance, or
run swiftly for a few paces, and then stand motionless, as described by Mr. Nuttall.
The chicks are said to Ix; white lieneath and curiously variegated in color above, with
naked livid spaces about the neck. From the first the young were very difficult to
capture alive. The nesting-season is protracted, well-feathered young and fresh eggs
occurring at the same period.

In the desert regions of Xew Mexico west of the Rio Grande, this bird was also

yrTT" r ■■'

PARRIDiE — THE JACANAS — PARRA.

175

found abundant late in June. It was seen in Arizona at various seasons, but not in
great numbers. Its food consists princiitally. if not Avliolly, of insects, grasshoppers
seeming to be its main reliance, witli crickets and beetles. In the fall, when food is
plenty, the birds are excellent eating.

AVhen forced to fiy, this I'lover is said to rise rapidly with quick wing-beats, and
then to proceed with alternate sailing and flapping. It generally flies low over the
Lfrounil, and as it alights takes a few mincing steps.

The eggs of this species (S. I. No. 'JH~)S) obtained by Dr. Suckley on the North
Forks of the Platte, nortliwest of Fort Ivearney, ihily 15, 1857, do not resend)le in
their general appearance the eggs of tlie si)ecies of the genus yEijinHfis. They are a
rounded oval in shape, one end being but slightly more pointed tluin other. The
ground-color is a deep biownish drab, nearly uniformly marked witli rounded spots
of varying size, of deep bistre ; these are a little more numerous, and larger about
the obtuse end. The eggs measure 1.4U inches in length, and 1.10 in breadth. Sjjeci-
mens of eggs of tins species in tlie Smithsonian Collection from Frencliman's lUver
(No. 17016) have a ground-color of a dee[) reddish buff, Avith spots of different shades
of brown and black, cliiefly tlie latter. There were three eggs found in the nest, and
this seemed to be the com] dement; they were nearly fresh. The nest was a mere
depression on tlie bare prairie, lined only with a few grass-blades. The eggs measured
respectively 1.50 by 1.15, 1.55 by 1.10, and 1.60 by 1,05. Mr. Stevenson describes
their nests as being mere depressions in the ground ; in one four eggs were found.
Mr, J. A. Allen saw newly hatched young, and others full grown, July 'J7 and 28, in
South Park, Colorado.

Family PAPiPJD-^. — The Jacanas.

Char. Small-sized Wading-birds, combining the general appearance of Rails and
Plovers, but differing from both in the remarkable and excessive elongation of the
toes and claws, the latter nearly straight and much compressed, that of the hallux
much longer than its digit, and slightly recurved.

The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish the Jacanas from all other
Wading-birds. Their nearest allies appear to be the Plovers, from which they differ
chiefly in the character of the feet, as pointed out above. The single American genus
I'dt'm, Lath., is further characterized by the presence of leaf-like lobes vt the base
of tlie bill, and a sharp conical spur projecting from the inside of the bend of tlie
wing, in the possession of which features they present a striking analogy to certain
Plovers, as the genera LobivanellHs, Stkickl., and Hoijlojderus, Bonap. The genus
Parm, of which there are several species, all American,^ is characterized as follows : —

Genus PARRA, Linn.t^us.

FiiUca, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, I. n.lS, 152 (F. xpinosn = I'arra jaenna, \.. ed. 1766 2).

Jaccmii, Bkiss. Orn. V. 1760, 121 (typi', Parmjacaitu, Aucr.). (Iiicluiles also Hi/d alector, Wagl.,

awd. Melopodius, Waot,.)
Parra, Linn. S. N. \. 1766, 259 (type, P.jaaina, L.).

1 For a synopsis of the species of this genus, see Sclater " On tlie American Genus Parra," in Proc.
Zool. Soc. Lond, 1856, j). 282.

* Allowing si)ecitic names given in the 10th edition of "Systema Naturoe," against wliich tliere appearj
to be no valid olijcction, we eiin see no reason why the common South American Jacaiia sliould not be
called P. spinosa, L., instead of P. jacana.

176

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOLiE.

Char. Remiges normal ; rectrices much abbreviated, very soft, entirely concealed by the tail-
coverts; forehead witli large leal-like lube, 'ree laterally and posteriorly, atllieriny centrally and
anteriorly ; rictus (irnamented by a smaller lobe (rudimentary in P. (jijiiuiosIoiiki).

The above characters are chielly those which distinj,niish the American genus Farm from its
Old World allies IIijdivphuKUiiiits,^ AMitapwIiiiH,'^ i\\u\ lliidndivlnr.^ I am unable to state in just
what essential particulars the two latter dill'er I'rom I'arra, never having seen specimens of any
species of either form. The ftret, however, diftei-s very widely in the great deveiojanent of lliu
rectrices, of which the intermedia' are excessively elongated ; in the curious attenuation of the jni-
maries, which are, moreover, of very unequal length, and in the entire aljsence of lobes about tlie
base of the bill. These characters I have drawn from figures of the single species, //. chirnnjitg,
Scoi'UM, not having seen the bird itself.

In addition to the generic characters given above, the following also may be mentioned : —

Bill somewhat Flover-like in form, the liasal half with the upper and lower outlines nearly
parallel and decidedly approximated, the terminal half of the culiuen strongly convex, the gonys
nearly straight, antl decidedly ascending terminally ; nostrils small, horizontal, elliptical, situated
about half-way lietween the anterior angle of the eye and the tip of the bill. Primaries ten,
reaching to the tijis of the tertials, the three outer tpiills longest and nearly e<jual, their inner webs
slightly narrowed near the end. Tarsus and bare portion of the tibia covered by a continuous
frontal and posterior series (if transverse scutelhe, these sometimes fused into continuous sheaths ;
middle toe (exclusive of its claw) about c(pud to the tarsus (sometimes a little shorter) ; outer toe
etjual to the middle toe, but its claw a little shorter ; inner toe a little shorter than the outer, but
its claw considerably longer ; hallux about e(iual to the liasal phalanx of tla; middle toe, but its
claw reaching nearly, if not liuite, to the end of the middle toe.

Farra gymnostoma.

THE MEXICAN JACANA.

Parra gymnostoma, Wagl. Isis, 1831, CAT. — Sci,. & Sai.v. Xoni. Nootr. 1873, 142. — Meurill, liall.
Nutt. Oni. Club, I. Nov. ]87t), 88 (Fort Brown, Texas) ; I'roc. U. S. Nal. JIus. I. 1878, 107
(Fort Brown). — Hinow. ib. (synonymy; descriptions); Noiu. N. Am. B. 1881, no. .lOS. —
CouES, Cheek List, Sd cd. 1882, no. ()72.

Parra cordifcra, Less. Kov. Zool. 1842, l.'if) (Aoapnlco). — Des Muils, Icon. Orn. pi. 42.

Hab. The whole of Central America, from Panama to Noi thern Mexico ; lower Rio Grande
Valley of Texas, at Fort Brown (Meuuim., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. 1878, 1G7) ; Cuba.

Sp. Char. Adult: Wing, 4.50-5.40 ; culmen, 1.15-1.40 ; tarsus, 1.90-2.35 ; middle toe, 1.85-

2.25.* Head, neck, jugulum, and extreme anterior portion of the back uniform black, with a hunt
silky green gloss below. Rest of the plumage nuiinly uniform rich purplish chestnut, with a

1 " Hydroplumanus, Wagl. 1832" (type, //. chirurgus, Scopoi.i).

" " Metopodius, Wagl. 1832" (type, Parra africana, Lath., /rfc Gray).

8 " Hydralcdor, Wagi,. 1832" (type, Parra crislala, Yikill., fiilc Gray).

* Extremes of thiiteeu examples.

■ TT ':

PARRIDiE - THE JACANAS — PARRA.

177

faint purple gloss, brightest or most rufescent on tlie wings, moiu pnri)lish on the back, rump,
ami upper tail-ooverts, and of a rich ilark purplisli-niaroon sliadu on the Invast and sides ; anal
re!,'ion, tibia', and crissuni duller and more grayi.sh. Reini;,'es (except the terliuls) ])ale yelliiwisb
p(M-gieen, bordered terminally with dull dusky, this border very narr(j\v, and stiictly terminal on
tlie secondaries, but broader, and involving more or less of both edges of iheiiuills on the jirimaries,
where it increases in extent to the outer (piill, which has the entire outer wei) bhickisli ; alulie and
primary coverts dull blackish. Tail-feathers uniform rich chestnut. " Iris dark brown ; bill, ahir
spurs, and frontal leaf, bright yellow ; upper base of bill bluish white, the space between it and
till' nasal leaf bright carmine ; feet greenish." *

YuuiKj: Frontal leaf rudimentary. Pileum grayish brown, bordered on each side by a wide
and conspicuous superciliary stripe of bufl'y white, extending to the occiput ; below this stripe,
another narrower one of black or dusky, i)eginning at the posterior angle of the eye and extending
along the upper edge of the uiiriculars to the nape, which is also of this color ; remainder of the
head, witli the entire lower parts, except the sides, continuous buffy white, more strongly tinged
with butf across the jugulum. Upper parts in general (except the remiges) light grayish brown,
the feathers bordered terminally with rusty butf in the younger stage, but uniform in older indi-
viduals ; rump more or less tinged with chestnut. Sides and lining of the wing dusky bhick, but
in older examples more or less tinged with chestnut. Remiges as in the adult ; rectrices grayish
brown.

The downy young is unknown, oi' at least I have been unable to find any description.

In the considerable series of spuciniens of this species contained in the collection of the National
JIuseum, notable variations in size and jiropoitions occur among specimens of the same age and
sex, but apparently without regard to locality. Cuban specimens do not dift'er in the least, so lar
as 1 can see, from Mexican and Central American examples.

The present species of Jaoaua was met with by Dr. James C. Merrill near Fort
Brown, in Southeastern Texas, early in August, 187(3. He saw it on two occa-
sions, on the lirst of which he had not the means of procuring a specimen, and on the
second was unable to obtain the bird lie had shot. Very little is known as to the
manners and habits of this peculiar family. In its characteristics it seems to com-
bine very many of the characteristics of the Rails and the Plovers ; and it may be
that its manner of life also partakes of the habits of the two forms so distinct from
catdi other. This species is a common bird of Mexico, probably of a small portion of
Xorthern South America, Central America to Panama, and Cuba, and perhaps other
West India Islands.

This species was taken by Sumichrast in Southwestern Mexico, at Santa Efigenia
and Zonatepec, in March and April. A set of four eggs of this species, from Cuba,
measure 1.22 by .08; 1.20 by 1.00; 1.24 by 1.00; 1.15 by .94. They are of a
rounded oval shape, have a ground color of bright drab, and are strikingly marbled
over the entire surface with an intersecting net-work of black or very dark-brown
waving stripes, blotches, and lines. These markings curve and wind in various ways,
always in rounded, never in angular, turns, and the eggs present a very peculiar, un-
mistakable, and characteristic appearance.

' Smnichrast, US., fide Lawr., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 4, 1876, p. 50.

vol.. r.

•23

! I

178

PILECOCIAL GHALLATOUES — LIMlCULvE.

Family SCOLOPACIDyE.— The Snipe Family.

•is ' >'

a I

The characters of the family Scdbpdchhr havinji; been given in suflicient detail
on p. 108, in the analysis of the families of Limicohe, it is unnecessary to repeat
them here. The Sccjlopacida' are among the most widely dispersed of l)irds, a large
proportion of the genera l)eing nearly cosmopolitan. They ondn'ace a very great
variety of forms, from the diminutive "Peeps" (Arlodrouins and JCrcuiu'tcs), smaller
than a Sparrow, to the large (."urlews, of Ihis-like stature and a]>pearance. The hill
may be either straight, bent upward, as in the Avocets (r. ij. Hihosk and Tfvvhia),
or strongly decurved, like a sickle ; narrowed at the end, or widely ex])anded into
a paddle-sha})ed form (EHripwrhi/Hckun). The legs may be short and stout (as in
Arqnafcllc, ('(didris, etc.), or of almost Stilt-like length, as in Micropahona, Tvtiinv^,
etc. Ijetweeu these wide extremes of form, however, there are genera possessing
characters intermediate in almost every conceivable degree — .so much so as to ren-
der it extremely difficult to tabulate the characters of the numerous genera. The
following is an attempt at a diagnostic table of the American genera, omitting
Phcyornis, Gkav,^ of Chili, which we have not been able to examine.

American Genera of Scolopacidee.

A. Bill ]oii<,'er than tliu tiirsus ami iniddli; tou, .straiylit.

B. Bill sLoitur than thu tar.siis and middle toe, stionj,dy decurved at the end ; wing short,

rounded.

C. Bill shoilLi ihan the tarsus and middle toe, stiaif,dit or slightly curved up or down ; wing

lengthened, jiointed.

D. Bill widely expanded laterally at the end.

E. Bill longer than the tarsus and middle toe, strongly decurved.

A. (Scolopaceai.)
a. Tibia complitelij feathered.

1. Scolopax. Outer <[uill longest, broad, like the others.

2. Pbilobela. Outer cjuill shorter than the si.vth, the three outer primaries abruptly nuich

narrower than the rest.
6. Tibia: fmrflij naked.

3. Oallinago. Toes all cleft to the base.

4. MacrorbamphuB. A well-developed web between anterior toes, at base.

€.-
a. Feathers of the forehead not roaehing to the nostril ; anterior toes all webbed at the base.

5. Micropalama. Bill and legs much elongated, the former much compressed, except at

end ; tarsus twice as long as middle toe ; size medium.

6. Ereunetes. Bill and legs moderately elong.ated, or rather short, tlie former scarcely, if

at all, compressed ; tarsus much less than twice tli(! middle toe ; size small.
h. Feathers of the forehead not reaching to the nostril ; anterior toes all cleft to the base.
1.' A well-developed hind toe.

7. Tringa. Tarsus one third its length longer than the middle toe and claw ; toes stout,

the middle about half as long as the bill ; bill stout, straight. Middle tail-feathers not
longer than the rest. Size rather large (wing more than (i.OO).

^ Type, LcptnjJHS Mitrhrh i, Fraser.

2 Section " B " iiicliules only the singular genus Rhynchcca, which ha.s representatives in various parts
of the Soutliern Hemisphere, but none in North America.

iSfii

SCOLOPACID.'E — THE SNIPE FAMILY.

179

21. EurynorhynchuB. Size small (auiong the smallest of the family) ; bill widely expanded

laterally at. the end ; otherwise, much as in Adodromas.

22. Numenius. Size lai-ge to very large (wing 8 inches or more) ; bill long (much longer

than tarsus), decidedly decurved or arched.

10.

Arquatella. Tarsus shorter tliuii iIk; middle toe and claw ; toua slender, the middle two
thiids to three fourths as long as the bill ; bill slender, much compressed, straight, or
very slightly decurved at tlie end ; si/.e medium (wing less than (!.()()).
Actodromaa. Tarsus ahdul e(iuul to tlu' bill ; IjIII straight, moderately slender ; toes

slender, tlii^ middle one decidedly .shorter than tlie tarsus ; size medium to very small.
Pelidna. Hill very long (nearly as hmg as the tarsus and middle toe), <lecidedly decurved
teriuinally ; toes slender, the middUt inu: deeidedly shorter than the tarsus.
1." No hind toe.
11. Calidris. .Size rather small ; liill short, straight, expanded at end.
c. Feathers of foreheiid not leaching to nostril ; a w.-ii between outer and middle toes at base
(between all in Siimphrmid).
■2.' (!iipe not extending bi'hinil the base of the culmen.
\-2. Limosa. Size large (wing H.OO or more) ; bill nnich longer than tarsus, tapering toward
the end, where slightly but decidedly upturned, the lateral groove e.xtending nearly to
the til).
2." Gapi^ extending decidedly behind the base of the culmen.
3.' Lateral groove of the maxilla e.xtending scarcely more than half way to end of bill.
4.' Hack of tarsus covered with transverse .scutella-, as in front.

13. Totanua. No web between imier and niiildle toes ; middle toe not mon; than

half as long as tarsus ; size medium to large (but wing always less than 8 inches).

14. Rbyacopbilua. Similar to Tolniiiin, hnt miildlc toe nearly as long as tarsu.s.

15. Symphemia. A well-(level()peil web between base of inner and middle toes; a

lai'gi^ white p.atch on base of primaries ; size large (wing more than 8 inches).
4." P)ack of tarsus covered with small roundi.sli scales.

Hi. Heteroacelua. No web between base of inner and middle toes ; size medium (wing
less than 8 inches).
3." Lateral groove of maxilla extending nearly to tip of bill.

17. Machetes. Size large (wing 7 inches or more) ; tail ."^hort (less than half the

wing), rounded. Ailiilt $ with the neck ruffed, and anterior portion of head
bari'.

18. Bartramia. Size large (wing nearly 7 inches) ; tail lengthened (more than half

the wing), graduated. Adult $ witiiout rufl", the anterior part of the head nor-
mally feathered.

19. Tringoidea. Size small (wing less than 4.5(1) ; tail rather lengthened (more than

half th(! wing), graduated.
(/. Feathers of the forehead reaching to and partly enclosing the nostril ; anterior toes all cleft at
the base.
20. Tryngitea. Size small (a little larger than Tringoides) ; bill small and slender (shorter
than the head, id^out equal to the middle toe), the lateral groove reaching nearly to the
tip ; gape reaching back of the base of the culmen ; middle toe more than half as long
as the tarsus ; inner webs of ipiills and under primary-coverts beautifully speckled.

■i

4^Mf'

180

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LBriCOL.E.

Genus SCOLOFAZ, Linnjeus.

ScolojHu; Linn. S. X. cd. 10, 1758, 145 ; cd. 12, 1766, 242 (typo, S. rustkola, Linn.).
niMticola, MoKiiii, Av. (icii. 1752, 77 (same type).

Char. Body very robust ; tarsii.-i loss tliiiii half as loiif; as the bill, and scarcely longer than
tin; middle toe ; tiliiic eomiiletcly leathered ; prinmri s iioriual, the outeriuost longest, and broad,
like the rest.

The above diaf,'nosi.t is suHlcient to (lisliii<,'uish this j;enu8, which embraces the European Wood-
cock (.S'. niMicHl(i) and two allied Old World species (jr races,* from the genus Philohda, of which
the American Woodcock (/••. minor) is the sole representative.

'i: ill
it;:'*!:

Scolopax rusticula.

THE EVKOPEAN WOODCOCK.

Scolopnx ruMknfa, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 146; ed. 12, 1706, 243. — N.wm. Vdf;. Dcutsdil.

VIII. 1836, 301, pi. 211. — Kkvs. & Bi.as. Wirb. Kur. 1840, 78. — S( hi.ko. liev. ciit. 1844,

85. — (litAV, Ofii. B. III. 1849, 584. — Baiiu), Am. Jour. Arts & Sci. XLl. 1866, 25 (Now-

foumlland).
Scolopnx fUHlicHhi, WiiART. Ibis, 1870, 454. — Ridgw. Nom. N.Am. B. 1881, no. 524. — CouES,

Chock List, 2il cd. 1SS2, no. 60ti.
Scolnpav vuijni; Lr.AclI, Syst. <.'iit. 1816, 31.

Scolopax pinctorum, Hiir.uM, Viij,'. Dcutschl. 1831, 613, pi. 32, f. 2.
Scolnpax Killvcstrii, BitKllM, t. o. 614.
Rmiicnla sylvcslrin, Maccii.i,. Man. II. 1840, 105.
Rtistkola vulgaris, Vii:ii.i.. N. D. III. 1816, 348.
Woo(kock, Yauu. Brit. B. cd. 2, III. 1845, 1, fig. cd. 3, III. 1, fig. ct AucT.

Had. Palojarctic Region ; occasional in Eastern North America (several records : Loutloun Co.,
Virginia, Covv:?,, Forest <& Stream, April 27, 1876, p. 180; New Jersey, CouES ; Newfoundland,
Baird, Am. Jour. Sci. & Arts, XLL 1866, 25).

Sp. Char. Adidt : Above rusty brown, everywhere variegated by lighter transverse spots and
dusky lines ; the middle of the back (longitudinally) and the scapulars marked with irregular
large black spots or blotches ; 8cai>ular3 much mixed with light grayish posteriorly, and sides of
the interscapular region almost continuously light grayish, forming a pair of well-defined V-shaped

* S. saturata, Horsfield, of Java, and S. Rochuascni, Sciilerel, of Africa (Greater Obi).

SCULOPACID.E — TIIK SNIl'K FAMILY — SCOLol'AX,

181

mark.s, on eiuli nuh of tliu ru.sty l)latk-.i|MitttMl uix'ii. Um\\\) lij^'littT cinimiiioii-nisty, imrrowly
buried with dusky ; upimr tail-coVLTlH lnr;,',.ly tijiiicd with li;,'ht gmy. 'I'liii-lciitiiiTs l>lm:k, ncr-
ratfd almi^,' llu- (nitcr i'll'^f with lUsty, iiiid widrly ti|i|icd witli lij,'ht ^'iiiy. I'"()niicii<l iiini imliiinr
|iarl 111' till' rmwii, ludwni.sh ;,'iiiy ; pu.-lfiior [lait (it the truwii and « hulo (MTJimt, l>huk, cio.s.sod
l.y lour traiiMVfi'Ho iiurrow liamln of lij^'lit rusty, or ocliraccous — iwo tlirou;;!! tiie lilack, tliu other
two lininidiii^' it anteriorly ami posti linrly. A wide loral stri|pc of Mackish lirown, riinnin;,' from
tlic riiliis to the eye. ( iiin wliitc Lower parts iu ^,'i'urral palf fuivipus ),'rayisli (nearly wliite
medially), marked with irre;,'nlar transverse l.ars of dark Lrown. (,)iiills dusky, liu'ir outer welis
marked willi trian^^ulai' spots of lij,dit cinnamon, arraiij^ed so as to form transveisi; Lands; outer
web of exterior cpiil! widely eil^'ed with pure wliiie. Hill and feet li^jlit liorn-color, tlie former
blaekish at the end. Uninui Vouini: (leueial line delicate rusty ocliraceous, the upper surface
marked with larj,'e blotchdike areas of deep rusty, these Leiii;,' arran;,'ed as follows ; an isolated,
somewhat wedi,'e-shaped, spot oecupyini,' the ndddle of the forehead ; a loii;^iludiual stripe down
the middle of the rump ; a lonyitudinal patch coverin;,' the occiput ami nape, and sending' out two
lateral branches, the lirsl from the upper part to the eye, the second from the lower part across the
neck, where continued, more or less interrupteiUy, acu'oss the juj,'ulum ; a dark chestnut (nearly
black) stripe from the bill to the eye. 'I'lie other blotches eoveriii;,' the back, part of the wings,
and the aiuU re^'ion.

Wing, nearly 8.tK) ; cuhnen, about ;3.('l)-;3.:i."); tarsus, 1. 50 ; middle toe, 1.30.

The Eui'opeait Woodcock is of occiisioiuil iiiid iK^cidciital occurrpnco iu North
America, and its iii»i)oaraiice (jiiitc possibly is more frccjiiciit than we arc; aware of.
It is referred to, in one instance, in the •• Ihis." as having' lieeii included in the New-
ioundlaud c(dlection of mounted birds in tlie Kxiiositioii of ISC)".

In Lewis's "American Sportsman" (p. lilS), under tiie lu'adiii}; "'Woodcock," refer-
ence is made in a footnote to a specimen of a \Vood(!Ock sent, iibout 18()(), to Mr. G,
1). Wetlieriil, wiiich wei^du'd fotu'teeii ounces. When received, however, it was too
far gone to 'le preserved; but it Wiis, without much (huibt, ii bird of tliis species.
Mr. George X. Lawrence cites another similar instance, where a I'rieinl of his shot,
near Newport, J{. L, a large Woodccadc, which weighed fourteen ounces; nnfortu-
natel}' it was not ])reserved. The fact that our Woodcock rarely rciiidies and never
exceeds nine ounces, while the usual weight of the European is fourteen, naturally
suggests that in both instances the specimens were examples of the riistlruln.

We are not, however, restricted to i)robal)ilities nuMfdy for our evidence of the
actual occurrence of this species within our limits. Mr. Lawrence has in his collec-
tion the skin of a European Woodcock purchased in the Washington Market of New
York, Dec. (>, LS,')!). It had been brought there with a lot of Quail, on board the boat
from Shrewsl)ury, N. J.

This species appears to be widely distributed over Europe and the western portions
of Asia. It resorts in summer to northern regions for purposes of reproduction, and
in its migrations visits a wide extent of territory.

A few breed in Great liritain, in various jiarts of the islands, but a large proportion
seen there are migrants from more northern regions. They breed througluiut Den-
mark, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and Northern Russia, arriving in Scandinavia at
tlie latter end of March or the begiiunng of April, when they are found on the coast
in considerable iunul)ers, but usually dei)art for the interior on the prevalence of
westerly winds. They are common in Western Lapland l)eyond the Arctic Circle,
and are generally and widely dispersed ; but are nowhere numerous. The pine-forests
are their places of resort in summer. They are not foiuid in Southern Germany iu
the summer, and breed no farther south than Silesia, and thence northward.

This is a celebrated game-bird in Europe, and especially in Great Britain and Ire-
land, where, in their fall migrations, the Woodcock arrive in great numbers, and are

182

riLKCUCIAL GKA1-LAT(U:KS — LIMICOL.E.

11 ^

if' i

(i.

much Hoiight uftt'i' by H])()itsiii('ii. Tlicir liir>,'t' si/.i', thfir Hno flavor, .and the interest
<att('U(linf^ tlicir |tursuit cmiiliiiic to render tlicni attnictivc olijccts to tlic sportsniiin.
Tlic winter visitors u tlie Hritisli Islands iisiially upjicar early in Octolicr, and ro-
main there until March. Jt is said that they always arrive in the greatest muubers
in hazy weather. They pcrt'oriu their journeys at nij^'ht; and it is supim.sed that
those which appear in the northern counties of England have nuule their |)assago
from Norway between sunset and sunrise. If the weather has been calm, the birds
exhibit no signs of fatigiu- on their arrival, and generally come in excellent condition.
They fly at a considerable altitude, and usually alight just at dawn of day. The first
flight which arrives usually consists cxchisivcl}' of females; the subse(|ucnt and
latest one of males. In evidence of tiu' abundance of Woodcock in the eastern conn-
tics of England. VarrcU uu-ntious that no less than one huiulre<l and sixty of these
birds were shot on the estate of Lord Hastings, in Norfolk, in three days; and
instances are on record where two hundred of them have been killed in a single day
by one ])erson.

The Woo(h'ock is of nocturnal habits, and rei)oses in the daytime, renuiining hid in
dry grassy bottoms, in woods, or among brakes, never moving exi'cpt when disturbiMl.
Toward night tlu' bird goes by well-known tracks to its feeding-ground. These trac^ks,
or open glades in the woods, are known as "cock-shoots" and "cock-roads ;" and in
them nets were formerly suspended for the capture of the bird. The common earth-
worm is the food they most eagerly seek; and in confinement they have been known
to consume them in almost incredible ([uantities. Their mode of feeding, as observed
in an aviary in Spain, is thus described byDanitd; "There was a fountain to keeji
the ground moist, and frt'sh sod was brought to them, the richest in worms that could
be found. The Woodcock stuck its beak into the ground, but never higher than the
nostrils, drew the worms out singly, and, raising its bill in the air, it extended upon
it the Avhole length of the worm, and in this way swallowed it smoothly, without any
action of the jaws. The whole was performed in an instant, and the bird never once
missed its aim."

A small proportion of these birds remain in England through the sunvmer, and are
verj' early breeders. Varrell states that the young are usually hatched by the end
of ManOi or the beginning of Ajjril. On the 2Ud of April, 1838, Mr. Gould exhibited
to the Zoological Society two young Woodcocks ai)parently three weeks old. The
nests of this species, so far as known, consist wholly of dead leaves, chiefly of the
common fern, loosely laid together, and without any lining. The young run almost
from the shell.

It appears to be a well-attested fact that the parent birds of this species, when
their yemng — if not old enough to take care of themselves — are in danger, will take
them in their claws and carry them to a place of safety. Yarrell cites several in-
stances in which this curious perfornmnce Avas witnessed. White, in his " Natural
History of Helborne," discredits this statement ; but it appears to be so well attested
by so many trustworthy witnesses that it is unreasonable to doubt its correctness.

The eggs of the Woodcock are said to be usually four in number. Their ground-
color is a pale yellowish white, blotched and spotted with ashy gray and two shades
of reddish yellow-brown ; these markings are most numerous around the larger end.
The eggs measure 1.75 inches in length by 1.33 inches in breadth.

8COLOPACID.K — THE SNU'K I'A.MILV — rillLOilELA.

183

Gkms PHILOHELA, (iKAv.

Riisticolii, (JiiAV, (iciu'lii H. ISlOdicc Mdiiiiiiisii, 17;')'.').
P/ii/iilirlil, (JitAY, List liuliriii, ISll (typo, Sodojinx iiiiiini; (iMKI-,),
Min-niili-ni, NriT. Mum. II. 1S:!I, l!ij {uir (iiiAVlAlKiiisr, ISO'2).

Char. Hody very lull, ami lioail, Mil, aiiil oycs very hum: Tiliia nliort, fcathtTtMl to tlio joint.
Toes cli't't to liasc. Wiiij,'M Hhort, rdiiiulcil, tlic lUivv. outiT iniiiiarioH wry iiairow ami iniu'li attcim-
alcil ; thu loiirth ami lil'lli iMjnal ami loii^'fst. Taisi stout, slioitcr tliaii tlic iiiiilillu toe. Iliml
ihuv very short, conical, not e.\leu(liii,i,' lieyoiul tiut toe. Tail of twelve leathers.

P minor.

The present genus, embraein^' a siuL<le specie,^, the Anierioan Woodcock, is much like Scnlopax,
with the European Wootlcock as type, iu color ami external appearance. The most strikiiiij; diU'er-
ence is seen in the winj,'s, which are short, rounded ; tlie fourth and fifth in'imaries lonj,'est, and the
outer three ahruptly attenuated : wliile in Sailnpnx the \vinf,'s are lonj,', the tir.st primary lonj,'est,
and none attenuated.

Fhilohela minor.

THE AHEBICAN WOODCOCK.

Scolopax minor, Gmei,. S. N. I. 1783, 661. — Wils. Am. Orn. VI. 1812, 40, pi. 18, lig. 2. — Aui).
Orn. Biof;. III. 1835, 474, pi. 208.

Itiislio)la{Microj)ti'ru) Minor, Xurr. Man. II. 1834, 104.

Phih>hcla minor, GiiAY, Genera B. 1849. — Cassis, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 709. — Baikd, Cot.
N. Am. 15. 1859, no. 522. — Coi-r.s, Kty. 1S72, 251, fig. 162; Check List, 1873, no. 412; 2d
oJ. 1882, no. 605 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 472. — liimiw. Xoin. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 525.

Microptcra avicricana, Avu. Symtp. 1839, 250; B. Am. VI. 1843, 1."), pi. 352.

Hab. Ea.stern Province of Nortii America, north to the British Provinces and west to Dakota,
Nebraska, and Kansas ; breedinj^ throuj,diout its known rant,'e ; no extra-Iimital record, except the
Bermudas.

Downy young, '

Sp. Char. Bill long, compressed, punctulated and (in dried skins) corrugated near the end ;
upper mundible longer than the under, and fitted to it at the tip ; wings moderate, three outer

184

l'H.K('< CIAI, (lUALLATOHKS — l,IMI((»I„i:.

i|iiillM vprv Tinrrow ; tuil ^<lu)^( ; Ic^'" iiniiIiTiitc ; i-vf* iiiHcrtfcl imiisuully distutit from the Mil. Aihtll :
()cci|int with llirci' ti'iiiisvcrsc IiuihI- nt' Mack, altiTiinliiij,' wiili tliii'c nuiili nariowcr inics ul' pule
yullfjwisli iiil'mm ; npiHT |>artn ol' ImhI y vuricKuti'il with pale anliy, riit'oii!<, or yellowiith ri'il <.f varioiii
Hliaiit'4, and l)lack ; lur^c Kpuccou trout and throat rt'ddi^li a^liy ; litu' IVoiii the cyi: to tlitt hill, ami

nnotlipr on the ni'ck liclow tlip eye, ))rnwiii-<h Mack ; entire under parts ]ialo f,Tnyisli riii'ous,
lirij;iilcr on the nides and under wini,'-covert>*. Quills ashy hrowii ; tail leathers lirownish Maik,
tipped witli n«hy, darker on the upper suiiacu, paler and I'reiiuently white on the under ; Mil li^dit
lirown, jialer and yellowish at liase ; Iv^n ])ale reddish.

Ihiiriiij ijiitiuii : (leneral color li^^dit riMldish Imll'or isuhellu-color, unil'orni on the lower RUiiace.
Line IroMi Mil to eye, a lar;,'e, somewhat elli|itical patch coverin;,' forehead and lore part of the
crown, a patch on the oc ipul (connected with that on the crown by a narrow isthmus), and a
narrow mark ludiiiid the eye with an (jt)Iii[ue one below it, very dark chestnut ; broad utripe down
the rump, also dark chestnut ; stripe down the nape, ami various larj,'e blotches on the* back, wings,
etc., rather li^dit siuill'-brown.

Total len},'th abmit II inches; wing, 4.80-5.70; tail, ■l.io; bill, I'.nd to nearly 3.00 ; tarsus,
1.'2") ; middle toe, 1.H7.

Tiic Aiucricaii Woodpook — one of the best known and most ])opnlar of our panip-
birtls — i.s found tlirotiKhont the eastern portion of the eontinent, from Florida to the
Gulf of St. Lawrenei" on the northea.st, and from the Atlantic to >.'ebraska. It is.
however, rare Avest of the Mississipiti. It is abundant at Hamilton, and ])robably
occurs tlirouj^hoiit Canada, New Hrimswick, and Xova Scotia. jMr. lioardman in-
forms ns that it is very common in the vicinity of Calais, Avhere it breeds abund-
antly, and that it has been known to nest as far north as the river and the banks of
the (ridf of St. Lawrence. It breeds in these jdaees in April, even when the ground
is still covered with snow. A single specinuMi has been taken in I>ermiula.

On Long Island, according to (Jiraiid, the Woodcock arrives early in March, and
begins to build its nest, about the begininng of April, of withered leaves and dry
grasses in a very inartistic manner. The eggs are usually four, occasionally five,
in number. It is, however, probable that the AVoodcock, in favorable seasons, arrives
and breeds somewhat earlier on Long Island, as this bird occasionally occurs in Massa-
chusetts in February, and breeds in March. It remains in sheltered localities until
quite late in the autumn ; and, near Jamaica, L. I., in wet and springy places, a few
have been seen in the months of Dccend)er and January.

In its habits the Woodcock is nocturnal. It never flies voluntarily by day, but
only when forced from its retreats, usually keeping in close and sheltered thickets, and
resorting at twilight to its favorite feeding-places. It feeds almost exclusively dur-
ing the night, as its sight is very imperfect by day. Its eye is remarkably large and
handsome, but unfit to bear the glare of the sun, its full and almost amaurotic appear-

BCOLOI'ACID.K — TIIK SNII'M FAMILY - ril.'.DlIKLA.

186

Miict' plainly sui,'Kt'Mtinj,' tin- crt'iinscular liuliits ol tln' Kinl. Diiiiii',' tlu' KivattT iiortiim
111 till' iluy till' W'diiili'iuU rriiiaiiiH cloHt'ly coiUTiili'il in iiiiirsiiy tliicki'ts or in imiU
gi'iiHs; in the t'urly iiiniiiin\' nr rvi'iiin'j;. and also nn iiin(iiilii;iit nij^lits. it st'i'ks its
rmiil in iijicn plai't's, lint ilnriny tin- day-tiini' in dark and di'iisr covt'its.

Till' t'avuriti' placi's of resort ol' this s|i('cit's are low marshy j^ronnds. swamiis. anil
mi'iulows with suit liottonis. Diirin.y; vny wi't srasoiis it soi'ks hiji,'lii'i' land — most
1,'i'nt'ially corn-rn'lds — and srairhi's lor loud in tlir suit |ilon,L,dit'd f,'i'iinnil. wlirrc its
jircsi-ni't' is indii'atcd hy tin- holes made liy its liili. in sei'sons of exeessive dionjiht
the Woodi'oek lesorts in larj,'i' nnmliers to tide-walei' ereeks and the hanks id' fresh-
water rivers; lint so averse is it to an exeess of water, that after eontinned or very
hea\y rains it has been known snddeidy to disajiiiear over widely extended tracts of
conntry.

In Oetnlu and Novomber this iiird fcu'sakes its usual feedinj,'-Krounds, ami resorts
to tall swampy woods, small streams (iveri,'rown with Imshes, and newly eleared lands.
Its favorite food eonsists of laiva', insects, and. more es|ieeially. worms. As the
aiipvoaeh of eold weather drives the latter deeper into the t,n'ounil. the Woodcock
resorts to woods and lirushdands. where it ^jleaiis a snlisisteiiee on insects concealed
under the leaves. That is considered liy sportsnu'U as the most favoralile season in
which to shoot this bird, as it is then lar^jer, fatter, and more free from vermin than
at any other tinm. The best sportsmen contend that the Woodcock shouhl iu)t be
shot until the last of Se]iteudier or the first of October, and re,!j;ard its destruction,
when of imperfect tli.yht, as both barbarous in itself, and certain to render the race
extinct — at least over ]iorti(ins of the country.

The food of this sjiecies consists chietiy of worms, and iilso of several kinds of
larva", which it tinds under leaves and the ilvhrlo of swampy woods and open lio^'s.
The extreme portion of its bill is well supplied with lu'rves. and is so extrenudy sen-
sitive to the touch, that by it the presence of worms in the soft oavth at a deiith of
tlnee iuches is rca<lily detected. This is a very voracious bird, and when kept in
coi'.tinement reipiires constant attention and a larj^e supply of food. It soon
discovers and draws out every worm in the ground; and such as are provided for it
arc consumed in incredible ipiantitics. It can in time be induced to feed on bread
and milk, of which it will al.so consume an enormous (piantity in twenty-four
hours. The voracity of tins species is evidently one of the occasions of its unsocial
character.

For the table the Woodcock is highly (>steenied by epicures, and always commands
a high price in the markets of (nir large cities. It is ]iarticularly sought for during
the early part of the season, although birds taken at that time are much inferior in
many respects to those jirocured later in autumn.

The Hight of this species is very peculiar. When Hushed in its retreats it rises
to the height of the bushes or undergrowth, and (juickly drops behind them again ;
usually running a short distance as soon as it touches the ground. Very little force
is required to kill it, but as it presents itself as a mark only for a moment, no other
than a practised sportsman will be successful. As it rises, the action of its wings
causes a whistling sound. When found in open m(>adow-hind, hoAvever, it is com-
paratively easily shot, as it always gives warning by this whistling sound of its
wings, and seldom rises higher than a man's head, skimming over the ground, with
a slow and steady flight, to a short distance, when it settles again in the grass,
lint among bushes and thickets its course is at first indirect and unsteady, and unlike
the flight of any other game. Springing rapidly from the ground, it rises perpen-
dicularly until it clears the tops of the trees or bushes : its flight then becomes

vox.. I. — 24

■t;k'^ a

186

I'lJ.KCoCIAl, (JIIAM.ATOKKS — I.IMICOLJ';.

morp stoady; but the \nn\ is l)y tliiil time usuiilly (uit of vcacli, or only to be hit by
s|i()rtsni('n of cxpcriciicc iiiul coo! jiKlifinciit.

'I'hc ciill-iiolc of tiic Woodcock is ii short ijiinck ; imt this is not often inward execjit
ill tiie s|iriuL;'. when dupin;;' tlie love-seasou the niah^ is said to liave wlial may be con-
siih'red as its soni;-. Towavd dusk it mounts in the air, utterin,^' peculiar wliistlint;'
notes, which are continued until a late hour in the eveniu^t;'; and the sauu' are sonic-
times heard in the early nioruing. This peculiarity is mentioned by .several writers;
imt tlie son;^' is liy some s]iokcii of as a siioccssion of cries, by otliers as a series ol'
wliistiin,!;' notes. I,ewis lueiitions it as occurriii!;' in the morniuL;', and only occasion-
ally at nii^iit. 'I'iie Woodcock rises in tlie air by a kind of spiral motion to a con-
siderable heip;ht, uttering its notes from time to tinu', until, having gained a certain
elevation, it circles aroiuid, in a wild and irregular manner, at the same time making
confused and murmuring sounds. It tiieii descends as rapidly as it rose. AVheii it
attempts to utter these notes on the ground, it seems to do .so with ditticulty, throw-
ing its liead toward the earth and erecting its tail. These nianauivres and this
song are only noticed in sjaing, and uiKiuestumably are the love-song of the male
to his mate.

The Woodcock breeds throughout the ^liddle and Northern States and the lii'itish
Trovinces. In tlu> winter it geiii'rally migrates to the Southern States; but some
reuuiin in the more favorable hicalitios in rennsylvania, Mew .Fersey, and J)elaware,
and even occasionally as far north as JMassachusetts. Their migrations northward
begin in F(!bruary ; ami some of them pass the summer in the highlands of Georgia,
Ncu'tli Carolina, and Tennessi'e, where they are resident tliro\ighout tlie year, as they
are also in the slielt(>red eetlar-swamps of New dersoy, where the springy grt)und is
never coni|)letely i'rozen.

A few A\'oodcock breed in I'ebruary iiud Afarch, but generally this bird begins to
lay early in April. The nest is idaced on th<' ground in a ivtired ])art of the woods,
frc([uently at the foot of an old stump, and is made of a few withered leaves and dry
grasses, thrown together without arrangement or care. The number of eggs is four,
or sometimes five. The young \\'oodcock, when a week or ten days old, is covered
with (h)\vn of a brownish white cidor. When taken it utters a long, (di'ar, but i'eeblc
jH'fj), not louder than the cry of a mouse. Its period of incubation is three weeks.
The young liird wlieii first hatched is not capable of active movement, and may be
very easily caught. Tliis s])ecies is said to have fre([Ut'ntly two broods in a season.
Tlie female exhiliits great ingenuity in her endeavors to conceal her ytmng and to
draw away intruders, fluttering over the ground, dragging her body heavily along,
as if wounded and incapable of flight, and then flying to a. short distance, repeat-
ing tiiese maiKeuvres until she has enticed her pursuers sufficiently far, when she
suddenly takes wing, and returns to her offspring by a circuitous route.

During the winter months Woodcock are saiil to resort in incredible nund)ors to
the narrow strip of low land which borders tlie Mississippi IMver lor a distance of
several hundred miles from its mouth. There it is im])ossil)le to hunt it in the usual
manner, and resort is had to what is called '• flrc-huntiug." The sportsman, armed
with a double-barrelled gun, and wearing a broad-brimmed ]ialmctta hat, proceeds on
a foggy night to the marshes which are the resort of the "Woodcock. A stout negro
carries on his head an ojien ves,s(d supplied with burning i)ine-knots. The hunter
follows the torch-bearer, his eyes being jjrotected from the glare of the light by the
hat. The birds are seen sitting about on the ground, staring in da/ed bewilderment,
and are often killed in great numbers in this illegitiiuiite manner.

The Woodcock is said by Lewis to be known to hunters by various local names in

SCOLOPACID.K — TllH .SNU'E FAMILY — GALLIXAGO.

187

different parts of the country, «ucli as •• .Mii(l-Sni[ie," •• IJlind Sniiu'," " IJi^'-hcaded
Snipe," anil " Marsli-l'lover." Its weight is never nuirc than nine and a hall' ounces,
usually not more than seven, and very rarely as much as i-iglit. The i'enuile is the
larger bird. The usual weight oi tlie iMiropcan "Woodcock is lourteen ouiu'es.

T'he egg of the Woodcock is of a rounded oval shape, oiu' end being more tai)ering
than the other; it measures l..")() inches in length liy 1.11 in breadth. The grouiul is
a light buffy eream-color, marketl over the entire surface with line dottings and
i»lotches of sepia-brown, internunglcd with shadings of a neutral tint and brown,
washed with the buff of the grounil, causing these spots to assumo an opaque ashy
hue.

Gkxus GALLINAGO, LicAcii.

Oallinago, " Lkacii, Ciital. liritisli liinls, 1810," (li;.\v (type Soilniuix mrtjnr, L.).

CiiAK. Lower jxirtioii nf tlie lil)i:i havu nf fuiitlicrs, siiUcUiUc bcfiiri! luid Ijeliiud, rcticulati'tl
liilcruliy liko the tarsi. Xiiil of liiiul tnu .slciidi'i', uxtcudiiig licyoiid the toe. Jiill dejiressed at
the tip. Middle toe longer tliaii tarsus. Tail with twelve to twenty-six feathers, l^lmniige the
same in winter and s\niiiner ; young like tlic adult in colors and markings. The more slender
lioily, longer legs, jiarily naked lil>ia, and other features, cliatinguish this geiuis from Hculcpux and
Philohda, and the cleft toes from Macrorhamphua.

The species of (Inllinaiji) are ([uite numerous, about liftoen being recognized, this number
nearly c(pially divided between America and various jiortions of tlie Old World. Of the seven
American species, North America claims but two, tli(! connnon Wilson's Snipe, or, as it is pcrliaps
more popularly known, the " Englisli Snipe," from its very close resendijance to llie Connnon
Snii)e of Europe, and the latter .species, whicJi has lieen taken in Greenland. With ii few e.\-

G. Wilsoni.

ception.s, the various species resemble one another very closely in colors and markings — so much
»n in some cases, that it is necessary to resort to tlie rectrices in order to discover points of positive
dilference.

The single species pe<'uliar to Xorth America has usually sixteen rectrices, of wiiich the outer
is not notably narrower than the rest ; its nearest relative, the European Q. cnkntin, has usually
but fourteen tail-feathers, of winch the outer pair are <linerontly marked from those of G. Wilsoni;
the several South American sjiecies possess fif)ni foiuleen to eighteen rectrices, of which the outer
pair are very narrow. The two North .\nierican species may be distinguislied as follows : — ■

Com. Char. Tail with a sub-terminal band of rufous, succeeded hy a black bar. Pileum black,
dividetl longitudinally by a line of pale buff. Dorsal feathers Idack, broadly edged exteriorly

188

PH-ECOCIAL GHALLATOKLS - LIMICOLiE.

[,■ ij

:M'

'J- 1

'■' ' i'

with pule buff ; lining of the wing ami sidei' of tliu body bunuatli, sharjily br/ired with slate-color
on a \)i\\v white ground.

1. O. coelestis. Tail-ftathei> ur-ually 14. Wing, 5.00-5.30; culnien, 2.80-3.00 ; tarsus

1.25-1.-15 ; middle t<x-, 1.1. 5-1. -10. Hah. I'akearctic Region, oceatiipnal in Greenland,
ncciduiilal in the Ik-rniuda*.

2. O. WilBoni. Tail-feather- u>ually 10. Wing, 4.!)0-5.30 ; cuhnen, 2.50-2.70 ; tunsus,

1.20-1.30; niidiUe t-ii-, I.Hi-1.35. //nh. Xoilli America, South to Middle America in
winter.

Gallinago Wilsoni.

THE AKEBICAK, OR WILSON'S, SNIPE.

Sco!opa.v Oiilliiiii'jo, \Vii,».N, .Vin. lUu. VI. IMl', If, ]i\. 17, I'. 1 (iiec Lixx.).

Scolojxu inis„„i, 'ri:M.M. I'l. <;ol. v. \>H, Ww. Iwlil. (in text). — Sw. & liicH. F. B. A. 11. 1831,

401. — Xirr. .Man. II. 1S.34, ISD. - Ai n. Oni. IJiog. III. 1835, 322 ; V. 1830, 583, pi. 243;

Synop. l.>*3!t, 24f^, I!. Am. V. 1842, 33it, pi. 350.
Oaltiiiiiijii in/mni, lii.N.M-. < omp. List, l!<38, 52. - Casmn, in niiinl's B. X. Am. 1858, 710. —

Baikh, Cat. X. Am. I!. l*>.'.:i, no. 523. — Cori>, Key, 1872, 2(12 ; Check List, 1873, no. 414 ;

2d ed. 1882, mi. tjii'» ; I5ird» X. W. 1*74, J75.
Gallimtijo (fidlimiriii, var. Wilnuni, Ilinow. Ann. Lye. X. Y. .\. 1874, 383.
Gnlliiifi'ji) ((Kilin U'i/.vmi, IiIli'JW. Xom. X. .\m. li. 1{>81, no. 52l)((.
Scohipnx (liUaitithi,in:u,i>\. Wil-. l.\. 1825, 21s.
Scoloprix T>i-Hmiii;,iili, .sw. i l!i. n. I". B. A. II. 1831. 4oO. — XriT. Man. II. 1834, 190. —AvD.

Orn. Biog. V. 1830, 310; .'<ynop. 1830, 240; 15. Am. VI. 184:!, 0.
Scolopa.!- Douijla/iii, Hw. & Ri< ii. F. B. A. II. 1831, 400. — Xrrr. Man. II. 1834, 101.
f Scolopax Ici'riin'.n, Sw. & Ukh. t. c. 50]. — XriT. t. c 017.

Had. The whole of North and Miildle Ann ilea, breeding from X'orthern United States north-
ward, migrating south in winter a.-- far u< New Granada ; throughout the West Indies ; Bermuda ;
accidental in England.

Sp. Char. Bill long, eom]fres-<-d. flatt<'ned and slightly expande<l toward the tip, punctulated
in its terminal half ; wings rather long ; legs moderate ; tail short. Entire ujijier parts brownish

black ; every feather spfrtted and widely edged with light rufous, yellowish brown, or ashy white ;
back and rump transversely Ijarre<l and spotted with the same ; a line from the ba.se of the liill
over the top of the head, l lirojit and neck belbie, dull reddish ashy; wing-feather marked witli
dull brownish black ; other under parts white, with transverse bars of brownisl; black on the sides,
axillary feathers, under wing-eoverts, and under tail-coverts; quills brownish black; outer edge
of first primary white ; tail glo.sfv brownish black, widely tipped with briglit rufous, paler at the
tip, and with a sub-terminal namnv Imnrl of black ; outer feathers of tail paler, frequently nearly

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY - GALLINAGO,

189

white, and barred with black throughout their length. Bill brown (gieenis<h gray in lil'ej, paler at
base ami darker toward the entl ; logs dark brown (liglit greenish gray in life).

Total length, about U).')0 to 11.50 inches ; e.\tent, Ki.uO to 17..")() ; wing, 5.00 to 5.60; tail,
•2.-2'> ; bill, 2.50 to 2.(j(» ; tarsus, 1.25.

In a very large series of siieciniens from all jiarts of the continent north of Panama, no varia-
tions are noticeable other than what ajqiear of a jiurely individual character, and these are seldom
very pronounced.

Hiirdly second cvcii to the famed Woodcock u.s a ganie-bivil, the eonnuou Ameri-
can Snipe has u nuicli more extended range than that species. It is fomul from
the Atlantic to the l'a<'itic, in the winter extending its migrations to Jfexico and
Central and Northern Soutii America, and in the summer breeding as far north as
Whale Cove, on Hudson's I>ay, on the east, and Sitka, Kadiak. Fort Yukon, and
Fort Anderson on the north and west. It l)reeds from latitude 42^ northward;
and a few are occasionally known to nest south of that line, and even in Maryland.

Major Wedderburn states that this bird is more or less common in Bermuda
during the autumnal migration, coming in ()etober, and a few remaining until the
month of January. In October, ISl'J, an immensi' number ai)peared, and remained
a few days. Some are killed from year to j'car in the nu)nl«hs of JIar(di, April, and
-May, in their vernal migrations. Mr. Ilurdis states that it was occasionally met
with as early as the 13th of Sei>tenibcr. Mr. Leyland fouiul it conmuui in winter
near Omoa. Mr. G. (J. Taylor observed it near Comayagua. and has no doubt that it
is very common there in the rainy season ; and Mr. Salvin nu't with it in Guate-
mala. Professor Xewton mentions its occurrence in St. Croix in the fall, but not
in numbers. It is included by Leotaud among the connnon birds of the Island of
Trinidad, where by nuiny it is regarded as a resident sjiecies. The last-named author
speaks of it as having the .sanu' apiK'arance, the sanus cry, and the sanu- habits as the
common Snipe of Euroju". Its flesh is deservedly lndd in high esteem. It prefers
low, moist, and partially inundated meadows, where it is ipiite comnum. Ilearne,
in his '•.Journey to the Xorthcrn Ocean" (p. 4U5), nu'ntions this Sni])e as visiting
Hudson's r>ay in considerable nuudjers, but as only very rarely seen north of "Whale
Cove. Bischotf obtained specimens at Sitka and Kadiak, and Ball found it rare on
the Yukon.

Mr. Kennicott saw it breeding at Fort Yukon, May L'O. He noticed the male on
two occasions perched on the top of a snuill S])riu^o near its nest, and when startled
it Hew to other trees, instead of alighting on the ground. It uttered at slight inter-
vals a series of notes a little in the style of the small Virginia Kail, but on a higher
key, like l;tik-h-ak-kiik, and not so rapidly as the Kail. The nest was on a snuill, nearly
naked tussock, surrounded, by water, on the edge of a narrow marsh, in the woods,
thickly intersjjersed with largt' willows. Gn the land, Avithin a few yards of the
nest, was a large thick growth of sjjruce. The nest was a simple depression, rather
deeper than that of Totunus Jlaciprs, lined with a little dry grass, and containing
three eggs ; a fourth was taken from the ovaries of the female.

Captain Bendire mentions the Sni]te as present and breeding in Southeastern
< )rcgon, but as not being common there. He met with one on the loth of February,
and also noticed a pair in June, 187(>, which were undoubtedly nesting in the marsh
from which he started them. Mr. Aiken speaks of it as common in Colorado during
the migrations, a few remaining during the winter. In Xortheastern Illinois, near
Lake Michigan, jNIr. Xclson found it a not very rare summer resident, arriving about
the 1st of April, nearly all having passed on by the 1st of May. He has found
several pairs evidently breeding in the marshes near Waukegan.

iii

I; '•

•: 1

r:l

it?: f

I): *

ii:l:

Si I

If; t

190

PlLEaK'lAL (iUALLATdUKS — LlMlCoLJ).

Mr. l^atty writes lis tliut, wliilc tlic Siiipt* returns to Loug Island from the north
in Si'iitcmbtT, it is most niimt'ious in Octoher, iind tliat it sometimes remains until
very late in the season. He killed seven on the I'^ith ol' Oetoliei', 1.S7L*, the gionnd
beinf,' frozen hard at tlie time, and having' been ,so for several days. The birds were
in hif,'h yrass, in an elevated pait of the meadows. He also states that a few nm.st
breed in (Jonneetieiit and Massaehiisetts, as he has .seen the yoiinj,' when only a few
days oh 1, early in June, near Sprin.i^tield and New lla\en. ^Mr. Hoanhnan also in-
forms us that he has found tiie Snipe near St. Steplu'ii's on the 14th of Xovember,
when the thermometer stood at 14" above zero.

Mr. .J. A. Allen found liiis species exeeedin,i,dy abundant in September in the Valley
of (ireat Salt Lake: and Mr. Uidgway speaks ul it as a eomiaon spring and autumnal
bird over all tlie wet, {,'rassy jiortions of the interior, both in river valleys and in
mountain parks. Aecordin.y,- to Dr. Coojier, it is abundant in the middle and northern
parts of California during winter; but few go to the southern p;irt of the Statt', on
account of its greater dryness. He met with it along the ilojave and Colorado
rivers as late as April, and thinks that tliis bird leaves the lower country about the
1st of !May. lie saw it about liaki' Tahoe in September, and was informed that it
breeds there. 1 le also saw this species at Cama, on I'rairie Creek, on the eastern
border of the Columbia Plains, about the end of September ; and .Mr. It. Browne also
iueludes this species in his list of the birds found on Vancouver Island.

According to Giraud, this species is known on Long Island as the Knglish Snipe.
It arrives on that island early in March, and after si)ending a short time in the
marshy groves in recruiting, it passes on to the north to breed. It returns in Se]i-
tember with its young, and during the autumn gets into excellent condition, and is
highly ])rized as game. It is usually found on low, Avct meadows and boggy grounds.
When Hushed it moves off in an irregular manner; but having goiie a short dis-
tance, it.s Hight becomes more steady. This is a somewhat difficult bird to shoot.
It remains in the autumn until the ground becomes frozen, when it passes on to the
south. In its migrations it Hies high, and at intervals it is said to utter a peculiar
cry, which is described as bleating.

A writer in " Doughty 's Cabinet" (Vol. I. [>. 87) states that near Philadelphia the
Snipe season commences in March and continues until the middle of April. The
birds are poor on their first arrival, but soon become fat on the rich feeding-grounds
in that vicinity, in all the low lands that border the Delaware and the Schuylkill
rivers. To shoot Snipe dexterously is a difficult art to accpiire, ;iud demands both
cool judgment and some deliberation. The sudden and silent manner in which this
bird rises from the ground, and the zigzag character of its Hight, seem to make cal-
culation almost impossible ; and an inexperienced sportsman is apt to hw too soon.
In rising, the Snipe usually attains the height of about six feet, and then darts
off in this uncertain manner, uttering a peculiar cry ; after continuing in this way
about twenty yards, it follows a straight course, ascending until it reaches a certain
height, when it gradually descends, when near the earth dro})piug sudilenly into the
grass.

The true way to hunt the Snipe is said to be with the Avind, as they lie closer
to the sportsman, and will immediately after rising head the wind, and present a
convenient cross-shot. It is also recommended that the shot be reserved until the
irregularity of the bird's Hight is over, this rarely continuing for more than twenty
yards. At times the Snijie is shy, and difficult to ai)proach, si)ringing up beyond the
reach of shot; and at other times it is so unsuspicious as not to Hy until almost
trodden upon. The reasons for this great difference are not satisfactorily explained.

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — GALLINAGO.

191

Hy some it is suyj^'csti'd that tho tanieness of the birds miiy be acobunted for by snp-
j)()sin}^ that tliuir fatigued and liuiigry condition renders them tenacious of their good
I'ccdini^-grouiid, and reluctant to leave it.

The Snipe is occasionally found in swaiupy thickets, but more geiun'ally in open
meadows with a soft bottom. Jt leaves the .Middle States by the end of April, and
reaches its breeding-place early in .May, where it renudns until October. In the fall
it is nuu'h tatter and more tender than in the spring. Although thus concentrating
ill rich feeding-grounds, ytit the Sniiu' is by nature a .solitary bird, and in its nu)vc-
mcnts to and from its breeding-phico it always proceeds singly. It spends its win-
ter in the Southern States, as well as in regions farther south, and congregat(>s in
tiie Carolina rice-lields in immense nunil)ers, and is much more contiding and tanu'
than at the North. It conunenees its northern migrations in Feiiruary, reaching
Delaware in .March, and liecoming abundant in Pennsylvania in A]tril. Its stay in any
pla<'e during its s|)ring migrations varies both in date and length, being controlled
liy tlu! season and the abundance of its food. This consists largely of worms, larva>,
small insects, and the tender roots of acpuitio plants. In conlinenu'nt this bird will
feed greedily ujjou corn-meal and worms, and can soon be accustomed to a diet of
bread and nulk.

Lewis (••' Anu'rican Sportsman," p. 184) describes some very singular niano:,-uvres
of the Snipe which he witiu'ssed in the spring. At early dawn ho saw a jiair nunint
high in the air, beating their wings and sailing arcmnd in rajiid circles, until they
jiad gained an elevation of a humlred yards or nu)re ; then, ap])roaching closely to
each other, they whirled arouiul. Happing their wings with gi'eat rapidity, and sud-
denly drojjped in mid-air, giving utterance at the sanu' tinu' to a low twittering, or
rather a rolling sound, said to be produced 1 y the action of their wings upon the air
in their rapid descent. Toward the close of April all these birds that are mated
move northward to their brei'ding-i)laces ; but a lew remain in the low marshy ])laces
of Pennsylvania all sununer. and even rear their Ijro.ils. in May. 1.S4(), as Mr. Lewis
was crossing an estate in ^Maryland, he started up one of this species from the nudst
(if an oat-tield ; and being attracted by its singular nVina'uvres, made search for its
nest, whicli M-as found to contain four eggs. It was placed on a rising piece of
ground not far from a marshy nu'adow.

The Snipe leaves its more northern breeding-i)laces late in Sejitendier with its
young, stoi)])ing at favorable localities on the way. It remains several weeks in
Pennsylvania and Delaware, and becomes very fat during its stay. In their migra-
tions these birds nu)ve with great rai)idity, and s])read themselves over a wide extent
of country in a very short s])ace of time. They are voracious feeders, and obliged
to shift their ground with great frecpiency. From situations where there is a plenti-
ful sup[)ly of food, it is hardly possilde to drive them entirely away. The Snipe is
said to be better eating in the autumn than in the spring.

On Hudson's I>ay — according to Ileiirne — the Sni])e does not arrive until the
ii'c of tiie rivers is broken uj), and it retires to the south early in the fall. Diu'ing
its stay it always frecpu'nts the nmrshes lU'ar the sea-coast, as well as the shores of
the great rivers. In its manner and flight it seemed to him exactly to resemble the
European vSnij)e ; but its Hesh la^ considered to b(> by no means so delicate.

Captain lUakiston noted the arrival of the Snipe in the lunghborhood of Fort
Carlton as never earlier than jMiiy. whihi the last weri> seen in the autumn on the
bower Saskatchewan on the 1st of October. At the lied Kiver settlement he found
it on the UOth of Ajiril, where it arrives even earlier. He noticed that it performed
the same aerial evolutions as the European bird, this usually occurring about sun-

192

PU.KCOCIAL GRALLATUKES — LIMICOL.E.

set, but at times continuiiij; an hour and a liall' latrr. Tlu' noise made on these occa-
sions lie c()m|iai'('s tu rapidly vi'pt'ated switdies of a cane in the air; and this wus
repeated every liall'-nnnate. with in'casional him^cr intervals. The sound histed ahoiit
three seconds, and was made as the liird (U'scended riii)idly in a vertical direction,
lieinj;' caused apimrently liy the ([uill-feathers of tlie wiuLjs. This sometimes took
place in the middle of the day, hut only durinji; the love-season.

According? to Dresser, the Sniiie is very common aluait San Antcmio, Texas, duriu;;
the winter, and was last noticed on the 2(>th of A[iril, none haviny lieen seen durinj^'
the previous week; accovdini; to Mv. .Moore, it passes the winter in Florichi.

Attention has been called by different writers to the occasional jx'rchinj^- of tho
Snipe on trees, as if souu'thini,' lUiu .ual ; lait it is by no means an nnconnaon occur-
rence durin,t;; the breedinij;-season, and the bird is said to do this ciueHy or wholly
when its nest or youn.t,' are distui'bcil.

The nest of the Snipe is always on tlu^ i;r()und, iind is constructed in the niost
simple maniu'r, it beinj^ nothinij; mu.^' than a ladlow made in the grass or moss, and
lined with a little dry i,n'ass or a tVfW feathers. The usual nundu'r of the eggs is four,
and the young run about as soon as they are luitched. At hrst tiiey feed on hirva-,
snudl insects, and snails ; but at the end of a few weeks their bills have suflu'icutly
hardened to enable them to jienetrate into the moist ground and obtain tlie worms
they prefer.

Mr. MacFarlane found the Sin[)e breeding near Fort Aiuh'rson, dune \(>. The lu'st
was on the ground, and was composed of a few decayed leaves placed in a small
hole made in the earth. Another nest was obtained in the same neighborhood, June
L'!), near a snudl lake, and was a men' hole in the ground, lined with a suudl (juau-
tity of hay and a few decayed leaves. I have an egg ni' this species taken from
a nest on the Delaware, near I'liilndelphia, iind others Irom Niiigara Falls, Xorthcru
Xew York, Lake Koskonoug. A\'isconsiu, I'ictou, Nova Scotia, and Dakota Territory.

T'ho eggs of this sjiccics are always f'oivr in nund)cr, and of a pyriform shape, with
one end l)roadly obtuse and the other ra])idly tapering. The ground-color is usually
of a light olivaceous brown ; in sonu' it is of a light grayish drab, aiul occasionally a
rufous drab. The s])ots are uniforudy of a bright scpiii. snudl and scattered at the
smaller a])ex, but larger, and often continent, about the other eiul. The eggs nu'asure
l.nit iuchcs in leugth and LIS in breadth, and are less variable in size than those of
most of the Wading-birds.

;•■ «■

Gallinago ccelestis.

THE EUROFEAN SNIPE.

Scolopaie gallinago, Link. S. X. cd. 10, ITHS, 147 ; cil. 10, 17(J(i, 244. — Xacm. Vog. Deutsclil. VII.

1836, 310, 111. 209. — ScilMic. liev. Ciit. 80. — jrAcfai.L. Man. IL 103.
Ascdhqmj: gallitwrjo, Kkv.s. & Bl.As. Wiib. Kur. 77.
ScoIujmj: coelestis, FliKNZEl., licsdi. Viig. Eicr (leg. Wittuiili. 18iil, TiS (cf. Stejxeger, Proc. U. S.

Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1882, p. 3.".).
GalUniKjo malm, Lkacu. Syst. (.'at. 1816, 31. — Stepii. Gen. Zool. XIL 54. — Or.AV, Oon. B. III.

583 ; Cat. liiit. T5. 1863, 173. — R I now. Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 526. — CouKs, Clieuk List,

2d ed. 1882, no. 607.
Ocdlinngi) scohijMixiiins, Bonai'. Conip. List, 1838, 52.
Tehnalins sc/ilenlriumilis, stftgnnfilin, and fwrceniis, BiiEHM, Vug. Deutsclil.
1 Scolopa.r Drhnuol/I, JIatth. in Zoologist, 1852, 3720.
Cmamon Snipe, Yauu. Brit. B. cd. 2, III. 25, fig. ; ed. 3, III. 31, fig. ; et AucT.

Hab. Patearetic Region ; fiequeut iu Greenland (cf. Reinhardt, "Ibis," 1861, p. 11), and
accidental iu the Benuudus.

SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE TAMILV — GALLINAGO.

l'J3

Sr. Chau. Exceeiliiigly Hiiuiliir to G. IJ'ihoni, tliu iliHuruni't'. in coloriitidii sciirct'ly iluiiimUL-.
Tail-t't'iitliurs usimlly 14 iiisleml of 10, the outer pair witli tin: Imsul halt nl llio inncT web dusky,
lliu terminal half pale civaniy-iufous, tipped with white, and eiossed hy two liars of Maekish ;
llie outer web wliiti>h, with about four dusky liais. Liniiiy of the winj^' mostly white. Win;.;
avcragiuj^ shorter (").(K)-5.3()), and bill longer (culmeii :J.8ti-3.iHi), than in '/. It'iUniii ; tarsi and
lues also longer (tarsus, 1.25-1.4.') ; middle toe, l.l.')-1.4(i;.

Hy colors alc^ne it is hardly possible to distinguish this species with cerlaintv from (I. Wihoni;
the ditl'eruuee in proportions, however, appears (piite constant, L'. cukslis ha\iiig the bill decidedly
Linger, as are also the tarsi and toes, while the wings are shorter.

The differeiMc in the number of tail-feathers appears to be by no means constant (cf. Hartixu,
"lIand-boi>k Brit. Birds," 1872, pp. 143, 144, footnote).

This species, the Common Snipe of Europe, occurs not unfrcquently in Greenland,
and occasionally in Bermuda. It has not been, so far as known, detected in Jsorth
Amerieu, though its accidental (((•curreuco may lie looked for as (piite prohidile.
Its rare appearance in IW'rmuda, thotigli unchiiUeiiged, can only he regarded as
an accident. One was said to have bt'cn taken by Major Wedderburn, iJce. 21.
1847, and a second on the L'Dth of the same month. In Greeidand, on the other
luiud, it was so common that Keiidiardt has no doubt that it bri'cds there. This,
however, is simi)ly conjectural — no eggs of this species having been obtained in that
country.

This species has a pretty general distribution over Europe, appearing in the south-
ern portions during the wintry months, aiul going to the more northern countries
during the season of reproduction.

In the British Islands it is found more or less abundant throughout the year. A
limited number contiime during the summer, and breed in all parts, from the southern
counties of England to the mountains of Scotland, being more luimerous in the
northern districts. In the fall the numbers are greatly increased by migrants
coming from more northern breeding-plaei's.

It is a common species throughout Scandinavia, where it is migratory, only appear-
ing in March, and leaving soon after the close of the breeding-season. Mr. Lloyd, in
his "Field-Sports of the North of Europe," states that he found it very numerous in
the marshes in the viciiuty of Gotlieid)itrg. Liniueus, in his '• Tour in Lajdaiul," states
that on the lith of May. when near Geflc, he heard the note of the Snipe in the
marshes continually. It breeds in extensive morasses and swamps in the numntain-
ous districts of Xorway and Sweden, as well as in the smaller bogs of the cultivated
districts. From the northern parts of Scaiulinavia it migrates south in the middle
of August ; but in the south of Sweden it lingers until October.

In the summer this bird exteiuls its migrations to the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and
Greenland, and is also found at the same season in all the northern portions of Eussia
and Siberia, breeding as far to the south as France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, and
lUyria.

In the winter it extends its migrations to Spain, Italy. Sicily, and IMalta. This
bird is said to be abundant in the marshes about Smyrna, and to be also found in
Low^er Egypt. It is mentioned by Messrs. Blakiston ami Pryer ('■ Ibis," 1878, p. 222)
as common throughout Japan. The birds referred to by ]Mr. Swinhoe as G. Wilson i
(•• ibis," 1875, p. 454) were ])robably of this species, in their autumiud plumage. They
had been received from Hakodadi.

In England, the native Snipes are reinforced by the great flights that take place
from Xorway and other northern parts of Europe, arriving in the greatest numbers
in the beginning of November. They do not remain long in any one situation, but
VOL. 1. — 25

IS I"

1U4

PH.ECOt'IAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLvE.

move from jtlaoo to place; so that it is (luito common for the spdrtsman to tind them
abundant one diiy, and that the sam.- ])laee is entirely (h'serted tiie next.

Tiieir summer or nuptial idiimaj,'!' is iiuton alidut the last of Marcli or the first of
Ajiril, and the mali' hcj,'ins his calls of invitation to his mate. Tli;se are always
uttered when the i)ird is on the will},', and are said l>y \'arrell to consist of pipiii}? or
(dickiufj; notes, often ri'iie.'ited, and accompanied at intervals b}' a hiimiiiiny; or l)leat-
inj,' noise. Tliis latter sound is supiiosed to lie produced by a peculiar action of the
winy;s, and is said to be not unlike the cry of a j,'oat, for which reason this bird is
known in Fr.inee by the nann^jf r/^t'/v' roA'/^)'. Whenever this sound is heard, the
bird is observed ab.a.;, > to deseeiul with j^reat vtdocity and with a tremulous motion
of the wings. At this season it is also said to soar to an immense height, renuiining
long upon the wing, its notes being frcfiueiitly heard when the bird itstdf is out of
sight. These flights are performed at intervals throughout the day, but are more
common toward the evening, and are continued as long as the fenuile is engaged in
incubation. Sir Humphry Davy .states that the old birds are greatly attached to
their offspring, and that if any one apiiroaches the nest, they nuike a loud and drum-
ming noise over the head of the iiitru(h'r. as if to divert his attention.

The feeding-ground of this Snipe is in the vicinity of springs and in freshwater
meadows. It feeds by thrusting its bill into the thin mud or soft earth up to the
base, and drawing it back with great (piickness. Varrell states that the end of the
bill of a Snijie, when the bird is living, is smooth, soft, and pulpy, indicating great
sensibility. When dry it becomes dimpled like the end of a thind)le. If the upjier
mandible be macerated and the cuticle taken off. the bone laid bare will be found
presenting on its external surface numerous elongated hexagonal cells, which furnisli
space for the expansion, and at the same time protection for minute jiortions of nerves
sujjplied to them from the fifth pair. In consecpiencc^ of this provision, the end of
the bill becomes a delicate organ of touch, enabling the bird to perceive the pres-
ence of its food, even when this lies so deep in the grmmd as to b(> entirely out of
sight. The food of this Snipe consists of Avorms, insects, small shells with their
inhabitants, etc. 3Iiimte seeds are sometimes found in its stomach ; but these are
supposed to be swallowed accidentally, ami when adhering to the glutinous surface
of its usu.al food. A Snipe kept in continement by Mr. Blyth would eat nothing
but earth-W(n'ms.

The nests of this Snipe are placed on the ground, and are very inartificial. They
are usually among the long grass, by the side of small ponds, or amidst the long
heather which grows upon the sides of the hills. Mr. Ilewitson nu^t with several of
its nests on the Shetland Islands, in the dry heath on the side of a steep hill, at
an elevation of a thousand feet above the marshy plain. The nest is always very
slight, consisting only of a few bits of dry grass or herbage collected in a depression
on the ground, and sometimes upon or under the side of a tuft of grass or bunch of
rushes.

The eggs are said to be four in number — occasionally less — having a ])ale yellow-
ish-white ground, and being marked with elongated blotches of several shades of
reddish and yellowish brown ; these markings are chiefly about the more obtuse end.
The eggs are pyriform in shape, and quite pointed at one end. They measure l.oO
inches in length by 1.08 in breadth.

The young birds are carefully tended, and grow with great rapidity ; and before
they can fly are larger than their parents.

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPK FAMILY — MACROPwIIAMPUrs,

195

Oknum MACRORHAMPHUS, Lkacii.

Maerm'hamphus, "Leach, Cut. liiit. liinl.s, iMti," (iuAV (type, Scohpax gri»ea, Om.).

Chab. (kiii'i il iiiiiMiiiMiu'c oF (lalHiKiiin. Tiii>i loii^jcr tlinn iiiiiltUn toe ; a uliort web lu'fweon
tin M\ of (niter anil miililic toe. I'luinaHi; vciv iliUciciit in wiiilcr and Himinicr ; youiij,' (liU'civnt
from ilk' a<1ult.

'riu' nicniLiMiic ill tlio Im of (lie Iocs will ill unci .li.4linj,'iiisli this* ^L>nm from Oalluuigo,
tlioiiyh thui'L' aiv ntluT cliaiactuw iiivulvtil.

Af, yrinfiis.

But a sinfi;li' spucios of this },'eiius is known ; tlii.s iiiliiilnts the; whole of North America, breeding
ill the northern re),'ion:<, and occurrinj,' more or less freiineutly iu Europe.

The single species of this genus, w-ith its two well-marked geogra])hical races, is characterized
as follows : —

1. M. griseus. About the size of (lallinaiji) U'ilxoni, or larger. Bill long, compres.sed, flattened
and expanded toward the end, where (in dried specimens) jmnctulated and corrugated. Shaft of
lirst primal y strong, pure white. Axillais, tail-coverts, and lower part of rump, white, barred, or
transversely spotted, with shite-color ; upper i)art of rump while, usually immaculiite. Tail slaty
or dusky, barred with white (or, in summer adult, with pale cinnaniou on the middle feathers).
Atlidt in summer: Head, neck, and lower parts light cinnamon (tlu' abdomen sometimes whitish),
the foreiieck and sides of l)reast speckled, the siiles and crissum barred (U' s[)eckled with dusky.
Upper parts mixed black, light cinnamon, and white, the former prevailing. Adult in wiiiter :
lielly and anal region white, usually unspotted ; rest of the jdumage nearly uniform ash-gray,
somewhat intermixed with white on the breast and sides ; wing-coverts bordered with whitish ; a
whitish su])erciliarv .stripe. Youwj, first plumutji' : Back, s(a]iulars, and tertials, variegated black
and light clay-color, the latter chiefly on the edges of the feathers; lower parts dirty white, soiled
with dull buif or pale clay color, especially across the breast ; jugulum and sides usually indis-
tinctly speckled with dusky. Total length, about 10.00 to 1^.50 inches , extent, 17.50 to H).iT) ;
wing, u.aiMUM) (r).:;}) ; culmcn, 2.0(1-3.00; tar.sus, l.:^.")-!.;') (l.M) ; middle toe, .90-1.10 (1.00).
a. griseus. Wing, o. 25-5.90 (5.05); culinen, 2.00-2.55 (2.30); tar.su.s, 1.20-1.55 (1.35);
middle toe, .90-1.05 (.95).i Adult in summer: Abdomen whitish; breast and sides speckled
with dusky. Hab. Atlantic coast of Xt>rth America.
/3. scolopaceus. Wing, 5.40-6.00 (5.74); ciilmen, 2.10-,3.00 (2.72); tarsus, 1.35-1.75 (1.58);
middle toe, ,95-1.15 (1.01)."^ Adult in summer: Abdomen uniform cinnamon, without
markings ; breast speckled (usually scantily), and sides barred with dusky. Hab, Mississippi
Valley and Western Province of North America, from Mexico to Alaska.

1 Extremes and average of eigliteen fully adult specimens.

2 Extremes and average of forty fully adult specimens.

i'K.KCoCIAI, (IHAI-I-ATURES— LIMICuL.'E.

!i >

Macrorhamphus griseus.

.(. OrUeuB THE QBAY BRIPE; OBAT-BACK; DOWITCHEB.

Sroln/Mij- ijrisi-ti, (iMKi.. f*. N. I. 178M, (158 (lnwiul on the Broini Snipe of PKNN.VNr aiul Latham).
Macroi-hiimiihun;/rinrii.H, l,i;.\i ii. I'at. Iliit. Muh. 1810, !J1. — Cahsin in lliiiiil's II. N. Am. 18oK, 712.

— lUiiii., Cat. N. Am. II. l.^.V.", no. .I-JI. — CofK.s, Key, IS7"J, •.'')3 ; (lurk l,iM, 187;), no. Ji:,;

2il cil. ISH-J, no. tio!" ; IlihU N. W. l.>«7t, 47ti. - Kiixiw. Noni. N. Am. H. 1S8I, no. .'■.•J7.
Scn/npiif iifivihiinin ii.Hi.i, (I.mii.. S. X. 1. 17HM, li.'i.S (liasnl on tiic li(tl-lirtiinti:d Si.hx' of I'KSSANr am!

Latham). - Wii>. Am. Oin. Vil. 18i;i, Jj, pi. 58, tig. 1. --.Sw. .'i IIk h. !•. Ii. A. II. 1831,

308. — Ain. nrn. llio;.'. IV. 1838, 288, 1>1. 31)1) ; Synoji. 183!t, 24li ; Ii. 'in. VI. 1843, 10,

pi. nr.i.

Si'dfiii'ii.!' (Miicmi-liinniiliiis) jri/fn, Honai'. Synop. 1828, 330. — Ni'TT. Man. II. 1831, l8l.
ticii/o/iii.i' Piiiikiillii, NiLsN. Orn. Sufc. 11. lutf.

J\)lit iiiis /(ri-uijiiiiii'iillin, Vii;ii,i.. Imk'. Mt'tli. III. 1823, lomi (Imscd on tlio llal-brmstal Snipe of
Pr.NXAXT anil Latham).

Hah. Atliiiitic coast of XortJi Ainciii'ii (hifcdln;,' in the region nlmut IliidsonV ]ky ?).

Sp. Ciiau. Aliout the si/.i' of (inUindijo ll'ihinii. Sliiil't of lirst primary Hlronj;, pure wiiite ;
ttxillars, tail-eovorts, ami lowi'r jiart of rump wiiite, Larred, or transversely spotted, witli slate-
C(dnr ; upper part of rump wiiite, usually inimaiulatc ; tail slato-colored or dusky, liarred uitli
wiiite (or, in snniiner adult, witli pal(^ (iiinainim on middle fiMtliers), Aihdt in .<ummcr: Head,
neck, and more or less of lower parts, li^dit cinnamon, tliu abdomen whitish, l)rea.it and sides
speckled with dusky, tlie head and neck streaked with the same ; upper parts mi.xed lilack, lij,'lit
cinnamon, and white, the first prevailing. Winter plumaye: Belly and anal refjion white, usually

M. gnaevs, summer plitmnr/e.

unmarked ; rest of plumage nearly uniform ash-gray, somewhat mixed with white on breast and
sides ; a whitish superciliary stripe, and wing-coverts bordered with white. Young: Back, scapu-
lars, and tertials, varied with black and light clay-brown, the latter chiefly on edges of the feathers ;
lower parts dull whitish, soiled with dull buff or clay-color, especially acro.ss breast, the jugulum
and sides usually indistinctly speckled with dusky. " Bill dark olive ; iris reddish hazel ; feet
light yellowish olive ; claws black" (Auduiion).

Wing, rj.^S-S.DO (5.C.5) ; culmen, 2.00-2.55 (2.30) ; tarsus, 1.20-1.55 (1.35) ; middle toe, .90-
1.05 (.9.5).

h. ScolopaceuB. THE RED-BELLIED SNIPE; OBEATEB LONO-BEAK.

Limnsa .icolnprurn, Say, Long's Expo(l. II. 1823, 170.

Macrorhnmphin ncolopaccus, LAWit. Ann. Lye. N. Y. V. 1852, 4, pi. 1 (Long Island). — Cass, in

Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 712. — Baiud, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 525.
Maerorhnmphiis griscm, var. scolopnccus, Coites, Cheek List, 1873, no. 415(i.
Scolopax longironlris, Bv.u., Ann. Lye. X. Y. V. 1852, 3.
Maerorhumphus griseus (part), CouES, Key, 1872, 253 ; B. N. W. 1874, 476.

5:S

SCOLOPACID.K — TIIR SN'll'K I'AMII-V - MAClHtUIIAMl'lIUS,

197

IIaii. XdI'IIi Aiiniiiii ill i^i'IicimI, Init iliiclly tin' wi'^lcrii iMiriimi^ ipIiIic (•(intiiii.'iit ; ca-'t to tlii'
Mi!<Mi)<>*ip))i Viillcy, north to Alitsku, and noiitli to South Anua'ica ami tin' Went IiuUoh. OcciiNioiuil
aliinj,' the Atlantic ina'*! of tln' rnitcd Stnti'M.

C'tiAit, AUult in mintiur : Siniilai' lo M, (jrUeun, lint alMlonii'n \»i\ii vinnuniun, liku rust of

iV. (jrisfiin uroliipaceiis, sidiimfr pliimajc.

lower partx, and without marking'", tin! Iireoxt suiintily Hpucklcd and thu sidi/« liarrcd with dusky.
If'inter plurtuigc antl ijoniig: DiMtinf^uishalilu from tho corresponding stiigea of M. tjrigi'im only (i)
hy lari,'i'r ni/.o.

Winti, r).4(M).0U (5,71) ; cuhuon, 2.1()-3.()() (:i.72) ; tarsu.s, 1.35-1. To (l.os) ; middle toe, .95-
1.15 (1.01).

The Ked-brciisted Siiiix! apiioiirs to be, coinnioii, at (lift'creiit sfasoiis of the year, in
ni'ui'ly all parts of North America, from tlic I'acitic to tht^ Atlautii^ shores. During
the winter it is i'ouml in our (iulf States, in Mexico, in Central and South America,
and the West Indies. It breeds, in favorable localities, from hit. 44^ N. to the Arc-
tic Ocean. Occasional s[)ecimens have been taken in Mernuida.

Mr. Salvin mentions the cai»tnri' of a single specimen of this bird at San (leronimo,
(ruatemala; and afterward speaks of finding it common on the I 'acilie coast of that
region, where it frequented the sand-banks. Fie used always to see it feeding on the
open flats, where there was no cover whatever, its habits strongly contrasting in tins
respect with those of the common Snipe. This bird and the Srolnpitx riistirola of
Europe seemed to him to rei)resent two extremes as regards choice of feeding-grounds,
the true Snipe oecujjying an intermediate place in their preference for grass and
seeds. It is found along the whole I'acitic coast; and tlnmgh it has not been noticed
in the more southern portions of California, it has been taken in (Jhili. and, on the
eastern side, in Brazil. Mr. Dall met with it at Vastolik and at the mouth of the
^'ukon, where, however, it was not common. Mr. M. Hrowne mentions it in his list
of the birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper, whih> he had not met with it in
Southern California, found it (iommon in the middle of that State froni September to
April, frequenting the borders of marshes, ponds, and sand-bars in large flocks, but
not so common near the sea-coast. He also found it in the interior among the Cor-
dilleras. Great numbers are brought to the San Francisco market, where they are
regarded as am,ong the best of the smaller game-birds.

This Snii)e is given by Leotaud as a regular visitant in the Island of Trinidad,
coming from Jidy to October. It is usually in flocks, and unmixed with other
Waders, but is occasionally acconii)anied by the Yellowshanks. It is spoken of as
keeping principally about the borders of the sea, and also as being frequently found
in the marshy grounds not distant from the shore. Its flight is not very rapid, and
in taking to wing it does not make any very decided turnings. Its habits, he remarks,
are very similar to those of Micropalama himantoptis.

TTTT

i »

108

PIJ.Ki'MCIAI, (iKAI,l,ATnI(KS I,[MII01,.K.

ThJH HpooicH Ih t'oiiud in Hiiitahl** pluci's tlu'dUKlinut tlit* intrrior of the ciititiiuMit,
both ill the s|iriM}{ and tall ini^^rations. It is niori' or Irss roniiuon at Lake Knsku-
iion^, Wiscdiisiii, wiicif, almut Auj;. \'k l.S7;t, it wax tnMiul in iinnsiiallv lar^'c nun>-
bci-H liy Mr. Kiiniliin. It in inclmli'il liy .Mr. II. \V. I'aiki'i in liis li.st (•! tin- liirds
(H'cui'rin^' nt-ar (irimit'll, la. Mr. •!. \. WU'ii Innml it i|iiili' cuiuiuiin in (jrt-iit Salt
Laki' Valley al'ti-r tlic iTttli of Si'iitfinlifi'.

l{i('lianl.stni Mpraks id' it as a s|)crii'.s udl kimun tlirnii;;liiiut, the Fur Ciiimtry.
having an cxti-nsivc lirt't'dinn-ranni' from tlic linnU is ol Lake Siipi'vior to tlio Arctic
Hca. Individuals killed on tlic Saskatciicwan |ilaiiis had their crop.s tilled with
l«'e('hp.s and lia,u;nieiits ul ('uleoiiteia. IJcinliardt imdnde.s it aniiiii;,r the birds ol
(ii'eeiilaiid, a siii^h' siieeinieii having been taken at Fiskernae.s in I.H.'il,

Mr. Dresser noted the arrival (d' this Sni|>e from the north at a hiKooii near Mata-
nioras, as early as .liiiie '_".». lS(i;i. rroiu that time onward it continued to arrive.
Nome lui^ratin,^' i'arthcr south, iiul a consideralilc numlicr remaining' in the iici>;idior-
hood. He obtained them in both the red and the ^ray iilnma^'e. and they were very
numerous Ixith in duly and .Vii^'ust. They moved in Hocks id' t'rom ten to thirty, and
seemed to be more nearly related to the Sandiii|ier than to the Sni|ie in their habits.
He Mivariably toiind them on the siiores ot the lajj;oons. and ol'teii in eonipany with
the Saiidi>ii)ers, espeeially the Stilt Siiiidpipers ; but never in the same localities with
Wilson's Snipe.

\Ve are inl'ormcd by .Mr. l5oardman tli;it this species probably breeds in the iieij,di-
borhood of Calais, where it is occasionally seen t!irouj,dioiit the sumnier. In the
winter he has b)Und it very numerous in Khuida. where it goes in largf Hocks, and
where he once killed thirty at a sin;;le shot.

According to Mr. .Moore's observations, .some of these birds are found in Florida
nisi), throughout the summer, though none of these breed there. Scattered individ-
uals of this sjjccies were seen by him on the Sarasota I5ay during every month of the
year; but those that an- thus resident do not assume the summer plumage. Others
were noticed there, both when leaving in the spring and arriving in autumn, ten of
tlie hitter being seen as early as duly It* in very tine summer pbiniage. Those that
remain throughout the year do not appear at all like these in beauty of coloring.
only exhil)iting ou the wing-coverts and ujiper ])arts, here and there, a slight touch of
rut'ous.

This bird has, in a number of instances, been taken in Kuro])e, esjjecially in (iroat
Britain, where six or more specimens liave been singly secured. One captured in
Sweden Avas described and figured by Nilssoii as a new species. On I.oiig Ishvnd
Giraud states tliat tliis Snipe is known to the hunters by the idil i)rovincial name of
Dowitcher. It reaidies the shores of that island about the close of April, and there
resorts to the nnid-Hats and slioals. At high-tide it retires to the boggy meadows,
where it probes the soft groiind for worms. The stay of this bird in the spring is
short ; but about the middle of July it returns with its young, and remains until the
end of Sei»tember. It has a very peculiar whistling note, and one that is easily imi-
tated by hunters, so as to deceive and attract the bird, which is noted for its unsus-
picious character. This Snipe is fond of resorting to the freshwater ponds which
stand on the low parts of the nu-adows during the wet season, and such situations
are favorable for its capture. Concealed in the rank grass which grows on the salt
meadows, the hunter, when he hears the notes of a passing flock, utters a shrill
whistle in imitation of their peculiar cry, this being pretty sure to attract the
birds. Flying close together and hovering over the flock of decoys, they are easily
shot ; and it not unfrequently happens that those which escape the first fire return

8COLOPACID>: - TF[K SVM'K FAMILY - MACHOHIIAMPIirs.

199

1111(1 iiliKl't iiiiuiii;' tli«' (h'iul hoilifs of their romimiiiDiiM, mily tn Mliiiit' tlit'ii- f'ati'. In
ili'V st'iiHoiiM tlif ,s"iitti'ri'(l HiH'k.s Ifcil aloii,' tln' iiiiicldy Hats, wiulinj,' in tlic slii»al-
u liter. altliiiuKli selilnin tn any .!,'i'eat ilejitii. Kven in tliese exposed situations l)iit
little aildi'ess is rei|iiired to appiiMrii tlie liird witliin shooting' distance.

This Snipe is capalile nt a rapid and protracted IliKld. wliieli at tinicH is p(>rfurnii'il
at a j,'reat elevation. l>Mrin.i,' tlie ilry season, wiicii in search of feedinf,'-;.'i'o(inds. it
tlies hij,'li,iind will not he easily ilecoyed. It is very aimndant at \\^<^ llarhor, N. .1.,
wlii're it is known as the Itrown Sidpe, aiul also as the (^nail Snijie. from its peculiar
(^uail-like whistle.

In the .\tlatitie .States, aecordini,' to Lewis (•'American Sportsman," ji. 'JIH. tins
.•^nipe seems to conline itself to the salt-marshes, and there eonj,'rei;ates in ininiense
tliicks. That author f,'ives the time of its arrival in New .Ter.sey uh tiie first week in
May, and that of its return as the miildle of duly, when it remains until the coni-
lueiiceineiit of cold weather. These liirds Hy in lar^'c thtcks, collect in thick nu\sscs
upon tlie points to feed, ami will suffer a hoat to approach near enou^,di to ^dve them
a raking,' tire. They are less wary than most (d the shorc-hirds, and wlieii feedint,' in
I onipany with other species are always the last to take the alarm.

hy ditfereiit explorers this species has lieeii found hreediiif,' at various points in
the Arctic Uegion ; as. for instance, i-'ort N'ukon, lV\n Island, Kort Uae, I'astolik, etc.
.Mr. 10. Adams met with it near .Miid'aelaski. Alaska (" Ihis," IST^S), where it arrived
(111 the L'Otli of .May, and soon spread over the marshes, siii;,'ly or in pairs ; hut the
fii'cater numhcr of them freipieiited the salt-marsh, where they fed ahout the mud in
(■(Hiipauy with flocks of AihulrdiiKis inlniiflf/n and /'r/ii/nn umi-n'rinin, tlie only birds
with whi(di they were seen to associate.

Mr. .Macl''arlane found Ihis species hreediuj,' in the vVrctie IJegioii, in the vicinity
(if iMiit Anderson. The nests were taken lietween the I'lst <d' .Inne and the 1st of
July, the usual uumlier (d' e.Lt^s in a nest appearing,' to he four. The nests were
placed on the marshy honh rs cd' small lakes, and were compo.sed of a few decayed
leaves ]daced in a depression in the mossy i^round. In one instance the female was
sittini,' on the nest, and when ajiiu'oached, a.scenth'd in the air, iitteriuj,' shrill and
IdiiLj-coiitiinied notes of alarm and annoyance. She was then, after a few niiiiute.s,
seen to descend in a. iicrpeiidiciilar manner to her nest.

The e,i^.i,'s of this species arc (d' a decidedly i»yriform shape, and vary considerably
in size — naimdy. from l.oo to 1.7.") inches in leuf,'tl , and from l.(».S to I.l'O in breadth.
Ill .some exainiiles the j,'roun(l is drab, with blended shadinj,'s of rufous and oliva-
ceous ; in others, the {{round is a fawn-colored drab, more slightly olivaceous. The
markings are uniformly .sepia in color, somewhat intensified about the larger end,
and of less size and more scatti'red at the smaller t>nd.

It is not |)ossible to give an exact account of the distinctive habits of the form
called ^' srofopiiri'iis" if it really possesses any that are peculiar to it or distinguish-
able from those of the i)recediiig. N'or can it lie stated with certainty how far, if
at all, its distribution differs from that of the more common Ked-breasted Snipe.
In the dress of the srolojuireits this form has been met with both on the Atlantic and
on the racitic coast. It is found in the interior; and, in the winter, has also
been met with in Central America. Wiirdemann secured examples in Florida, and
Professor Kumlien has imicnre 1 birds of this form both in the spring and in the fall,
near Lake Koskonong. Lieutenant Warren obtained a single individual on the Mis-
souri River, near Omaha, Nebraska. It has been fonnd very common among the
lagoons on the Pacific coast, near San Pedro, in California (" Ibis," 180(5, j). 27). It was
described as not apparently ever going down to the salt-flats, its habits being given

200

PRiEUOCIAL GRALLATORES — LLM1C0LA\

I fii.

as somewhat similar to those of Micropulama himantopus, and therefore int'erentially
dilt'ert'nt from those of M. i/n'sn/a.

yiv. Uall mentions the J/, svolopacvus as common abont the month of the IMvcr
Yukon, where the M. grlseus is si)oken of as Ijeiiii; very rare up that river. At;
Nuhito this same form iii mentioned by Jlr. IJannister as being ([uite eomnioii,
tliongh not extremely abundant; he found the nest of this .Snipe on the od of tJuue,
and on the (ith secured the parent with the eggs. The nest was a simjde hollow
in the ground in a grassy hiuiunoek, in the centre of a marshy spot, with scarcely
any lining whatever; there was nothing in the shape of a nest substantial enough to
bo removed. The eggs were four in nundjer. and Mr. ISannister describes them as of
a brownish color, mottled with a still deeper tint. The female when startled from
t' " nest shuffled off witli , .i-at rapidity among the grassy hummocks, presenting a
ve y difficult mark to hit. Only one parent l)ird was seen.

Dr. Cooper states that on the extensive level plains south of Los Angeles he found
this species quite abundant during the middle of ( >ctober, 18G5. He also observed that
bunches of them, inimixed with any other s])i'cies, were sold in the town under tlie
name of "Jack Snipe; '' while the species connuonly known by this name, Artutfromos
macvlata, has not, to his knowledge, been met with south of San Francis(!0. The
present species was found iTe([uenting the brackish lagoons and river-banks exclu-
sively, never appearing about the salt-miirshes, which are the favorite places of resort
of the more northern and eastern form, the M. ijrlseus. The birds kept in small
flocks, and alighted so close together, that several coulil be killed at a single shot.
They usually fed in water as deep as their long legs and bill would allow them to
wade in, probing the bottom.

Mr. George X. Lawrence, in his paper first describing this form, read Jan. 7, 184!),
mentions that this bird is found abundantly on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in
winter, that its principal migration is up tlu^ Mississip[)i Valley and farther west,
but that it is rare on the Atlantic coast. It is given by the same writer (" IJirds of
Southern Mexico") as having been taken at San Mateo, Tehuantepec, in August and
February. Mr. liawrence, in his Notes on Cuban lUrds (iNIay L'l, 1800) also refers to
a specimen sent to him by Dr. Gundlach from C\d)a. lie regards its rarity on our
coast, where the gt'iseus is so very common, as furnishing further evidence of its
distinctness as a species. It makes its appearance (]uite early in the si)ring, and is
found in the New York market in April, fully three weeks before any of the more
common varieties are to be seen. And in this connection 1 may state that I have
received a fine specinuMi of a female shot on ('ai)e Cod, Mass., as late as November
3, or long after all of the other variety had gone.

Dr. Kennerly, in his Notes on the lUrds observed along the Mexican Boundary,
speaks of this species as very rare, and as having been only observed occasionally in
the valley of the Conalitos Eiver, and once in the Valley of tlie Veletado. A pair
were seen together, and both secured ; but no others were obtained.

Eggs in the Smithsonian Collection, marked as having been obtxaned by Mr. Ban-
nister on the Island of St. Michael's, May 23, 18G6, are larger than any eggs of the
griseus we have ever seen, measuring 1.80 inches in length, by l.lo inches in breadth.
They have a ground of a well-pronounced rufous di'ab, blotched with much darker
markings of a deep shade of sepia brown.

■^_ KW*' '\

SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MICRO? ALAMA. 201

Genus MICROPALAMA, J^aiud.

Uemipalama, Hdnai'. Syiiop. 1828, 310 (type, Tringu liimantojius, Bonap. ; nee Bonap. Obs.

Wilson, 182;'), no. 212, wliifh includes only Trimju semipalnucta, WiLs. ).
Micropalmiw, Baiuu, Hinls X. Am. 1858, 720 (typu, Triiujahmantopus, Bonap.).

Char. Form sleiidor, the lei,'a very Ion;;, the bill loii^' uiul much compressed, the anterior toes
uU webbed iit the biise. Tarsus nearly twice iw long us the midiUe toe, which is a little shorter
than the bare portion of the tibite, this scutellate Ijefore and behind, like the tarsus. Bill slender,
strai^'ht, about ecpial to the tarsus, greatly compressed, e.xcept at the end, which is decidedly ex-
panded laterally. Tail nearly even, but the central and exterior feathers usually perceptibly
longer than the rest. Wings long and pointed.

The present genus, with a basal meniT)rane to all the anterior toes, as in Ereunetes, has this a
little more deeply emarginate ; the bill and legs much longer ; the former more curved. The bare
portion of tibia is covered before and behind by transveiwe scutello!, like the tarsus. The tail
is nearly even, with a double emargination. The middle toe is not two thirds the length of the
tarsus, but about e(|ual to the bare portion of the tibia. The bill is much pitted at the end in the
dry skin.

In many respects this species approaches the Snipes, and its true place is probably very near
Mucrorhapiphiis. The legs, however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of being
much shorter.

Micropalama himantopus.

THE STILT SANDPIPER.

Tringa hinuintopus, Bonap. Ann. Lye. N, Y. It. 1820, 157. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 380.

— Alio. Oni. l$iog. IV. 1838, 332, pi. 334 ; Synop. 1830. 235 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 271, pi. 334.
Trimja (Hcmpnlamn) /ilinantopus, Bonap. Spcoe. Comp. 1827, 01. — Nvtt. Man. II. 1834, 138.
Micropalama himantopus, Cass, in Build's B. N. Am. 1858, 720. — Bairo, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no.

530. — CouKs, Key, 1872, 253 ; Check List, 1873, no. 410 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. Oil ; Birds N. W.

1874, 480. — KimiW. Nom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 528.
Hemipalamn muUislrifjala, OiiAV, f!en. 15. III. 1849, 578, pi. 156.
Tringa Doiujlasii, Sw. & liicii. I". B. A. IT. 1831, 370, jil. CO.
Tringa (^Uemipalama) Douglasii, Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 141.
Tringa (Ilemipalanw) Auduhoni, Nurr. t. c. 141.

Hab. Eastern Province of North Americui, Middle America, and greater part of South
America ; breeding north of the United States, and visiting the southern localities in winter ;
15ernuidas ; West Indies, in genertJ ; Brazil ; Peru. Not recorded from west of the Rocky
Mountains.

Sp. Char. Adult, mmmer pluvuige : Above, variegated with black, whitish gray, and pale buff,
the first prevailing on the 'jack and scapulars ; wings rather dark gray, the feathers edged with

paler ; primaries dusky slate ; rump grayish, the feathers with darker centres ; upper tail-coverts
white, the longer ones barred, the anterior cues longitudinally marked with dusky. Middle tail-
voi. I. — 26

il'i

I! i

ii'i

III !'

202

PRiECCX'IAL (;RALLAT0HES — LIMICOL.*;.

feathers lij,'bt yray, the othetn vuriwl loii<,'itU(liimlly with white ami pale gray. Pileuiu dusky,
streaked witli wiiiti.-<h ; a i|ark-l»r"*wii loral stripe, liom base of iiiaxilhi to tlie eyi's ; uuriciilars and
patch on eacli side the occiput, li;;ht rimiaiuoii-nifous. Lower parts dirty white, the throat and
juj,'uliuu streaked, other jKmiuiis transversely barred with dusky. Liuinj,' of the win^', and uxiilars,
white, the latter sli^ditly uiarkeil with ;,'ray. Adult in winter: Above, uniform ash-yriiy, the ujiper
tail-coverts, tail, anil wings, only, as in the sunnuer plunia!,'e. Superciliary stripe and lower pails
wliite, the Juj,'uliiin, side:> of the neck, and crissuni, streaked witli f,'ray. Young: liack and scap-
ulars blackish, all the feathers widely iMiideitd with buffy wliite, the middle of the baik tin!,'('d
with rusty ; winf(-co verts U^nleivil witii pale buff and white ; ui)per tail-coverts nearly inmiaculutc
white. Pileuni siieaktf<l with ilusky, jiale bufl", and ii;rayish ; nape nearly uniform ash-yray.
Lower parts soiled wliite, the bivast and sides more or less stronf,dy suffused with l)Utf, the ju^'ii-
luni, sides of the neck, and flank-, indistinctly streaked with grayish. "Bill black ; iiis brown ;
feet dull yellowi.sh gri-x-n, claws l»Iiu-k " (AuuuBox).

Wing, about .").<)( »-5.i'»: culmeii, 1-5(1-1. 7") ; tarsus, 1.50-1.75 ; middle loe, .SO-.S."),

The Stilt Siin(l|)ip«T, oim-i' regarded as a very rare species, lias witliin a few years
been foiiiul to 1j«' far from uncommMU in different paits of the country. It has not
been met with, thai I am aware, on any portioii of the Pacific coast north of Central
America; a siiif,'h' iiiilividual only was observed by Mr. Salvin in Guatenuila. This
was taken in the interior, near Dueiias. from amonjj a flock of Actodroinus macuhitu,
in April. According to Major Wedderburn. it occasionally occurs in Bernnida ; and
Mr. X. i\. Moore mentions pr<x'urin},' four siiecimens of this species on one of the
Bahamas as early as Anjfiist '>. It visits in winter the West Indies and a hirge 2)art
of South America to Brazil and I 'era.

In New Enf,danil — where it has not been recognized as occurring at all till within
a few years — it is (»f irregular ajijiearance in the summer and fall, but is not known
to occur in its spring migratiuns. It has been seen along the coast of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, and Maine, west of Portland ; ' but not in the interior. A single
specimen has Ijeen taken on Nantucket, and one rejjorted from Cape Cod. It is only
oc(;asionally met with, usually singly, or in pairs, and generally in company with
Totiunis Jfiii'ijifx- It is an <M'casional straggler rather than a regular migrant, and
only very rarely known to api>ear in flocks, or even in family groups, but usually has
the air of having wandered oft' in company with non-kindred species. They evidently
move in a due south ecurse. leaving our shores at lUizzard's Bay over the o])en sea,
and some of them reaching the West India Islands early in August. Two instances
are recorded of the captur*- of this bird in Massachusetts as early as July 24 ; others
were taken as late a.s !S«-i)teniljer 21).

Mr. Lawrence records the rdttaining of a single specimen at San Mateo, Mexico, in
February, 1869. Profe.s.sor Snow mentions it as a rare migrant in Kansas, his only
record of its occurrence there Ijeing three specimens taken near Lawrence in Septem-
ber, 1874, by Mr. William Osburn. Dr. Merrill records it as occurring in the Bio
Grande region, on ih:t. L'i, 1877. Mr. J. Dwight, Jr., mentions meeting with it on the
Jersey coast at Squani Beach. Out of ten examples all were single birds exce])t three,
showing the straggling character of its movements. Mr. N. T. Lawrence speaks of
this species as l)eing not uncommon on the south side of Long Island, where it was
seen in parties of from three to five. Two in adult breeding-plumage were taken in
July ; all the others, in the fall plumage, in September. Mr. Geoige N. Lawrence
informs us that on one wca-sion, at Rockaway, there was a large flight of this sjiccies
and of Totanus flaciiteg, the latter lieing the more abundant. Six Stilt Sandpipers
were killed at a single shot; he never saw so many together at any other time.

1 Mr. M. ChamberLiiii ha* rwently recorded its capture in New Brunswick. — J. A. A.

SCOLOPACID.K — TIIK SNIPE FAMILY— MICROPALAMA.

203

The Stilt Siiii(l])i|HM' occiir.s iis a niif,M'!Uit in tlic iiitcvior, eHiH'ciully in the spring.
I'rofessor Kunilicn has procured it in Soutlii'rn AViscoiisin, and tiic Natural History
Society of IJustou have received from him several tine specimens in the breeding-
l)lumaf,'e. Professor l\ II. Snow, of Lawrence, Kansas, informs us that some six or
eight specimens were taken in that neighl)orhoo(l in Septcmher, 1.S74.

Kichardson refers to this species as the Doughis Sandpiper, and mentions that it
is not uncommon in the Fur ('ountry up to, and ])rol)al)ly beyond, the (iOth parallel.
It frcfiuents the interior in the breeding-season, and resorts to the flat shores of IIiul-
SDu's Hay in the autumn, previous to taking its departure south. It was found by Mi:
MacFarlane bre»Hling on the Arctic coast. This species is said by Leotaud to be a
u'.'ver-failing visitant of Trinidad, where it arrives early in August, and, like nearly
all the other migratory Waders, leaves in October. It keeps apart from other
species, or only associattis with the Totnniis ffan'ipes, which it is said to resemble in
its habits and movements. It is als(j given, in the list ])ublished by Mr. Lawrence,
as one of the birds observed by Mr. A. A. .lulien, on the Island of Sombrero, West
Indies.

According to (lirand, tliis species, known on Long Island as the Long-legged Saud-
jiijier, is not common there. In all his excursions he only obtained two individuals,
both of which i»rovcd to be nudes. These were shot in a large meadow lying on tlie_
South Bay, and known as Cedar Island. The flrst he procured in the latter part of
August, 1840; the other in the early part of Septend)er in the following year. In
both instances the birds were in company with a single Pectoral Sandpiper. The
first he shot before it alighted, and h;ul no oi>portunity to observe its habits. The
second alighted among his decoys while he was lying at a salt-pond in the meadow.
It walked about with an erect and graceful gait, occasionally stooping to probe the
soft mud for worms and minute shellHsh, i)articles of which, on dissection, he found
in its stomach. After spending a few minutes within reach of his gun, it became sud-
licnly alarmed, uttered a shrill note, and took wing ; as it passed from him he brought
it down. An experienceil Hay-num. who was on the meadow at the time, informed
Mr. Giraud that, in the course of many years" shooting, he had met with only a few
stragglers, and had always looked upon them as hybrids. Although somewhat
resembling in j)lumage the Red-breasted Snipe, the two are so unlike in size, that
Mr. Giraud regiirds it as hardly possible that they ('ould ever be mistaken for each
other. As he several times found these birds in the New York market — from six to
eight on a string — it is very evident that wandering flocks occasionally visit the
hIku'cs of Long Island.

Mr. Dresser states that shortly after his arrival at Matamoras, while out shooting
at the lagoon, he procured a specimen of this Sandpiper, which was then quite new
to liim. During his st<ay at Matamoras he shot several more Stilt Sandpipers, meeting
with them far oftener as the different kinds of birds of this family began to arrive
from the uortli, and generally fluding them in company with the Macrorhamphus
ijr'iseus. When out hunting Snipe, on the 2()th of November, 1863, near San Antonio,
lie shot another of these birds.

Mr. Audubon states that on the 4th of A]iril, 1847, on the Island of Barataria, forty
miles from the southwest pass of tlie Jlississippi, he saw a flock of about thirty
Long-legged Sandpijiers alight, within ten stejjs of him, near the water. They soon
scattered, following the margin of the advancing and retiring waves in search of food,
which they procured by probing the wet sand in the manner of the Curlews. They
inserted the full length of their bills in the sand, holding it there for some little time,
as if engaged in sucking up what they had found. In this way they contir'-^d feed-

I '■ &

i I.

K, \'f

204

PR.ECOCIAL GllALLATORES — LI^flCOL.E.

ing along an extended line (it the shore for thirty yards, alternately and simultane-
ously advancing and retreating with tlie niovt'nient of the water. In about three
(quarters of an hour they removed a few yanls beyond the highest wash of tlie waves,
huddled close together, and lu'gau to pluiue themselves. Suddenly they ceased their
occupation, stood still, and several of them uttered a sharp firrrf-tu-cct, somewhat
like the notes of the Solitary Sandj)i|ier. Soon after this st'ven other birds of the
same species alighted near those he was watching, and began to feed. Fearing that
the first flock might join them, and he might lose the opportuinty of procuring speci-
mens, he lired into the flock and killed eleven. lie afterward saw them on almost
every island and bay on his way to Texas, and also jirocured some on Cialveston
Island. He describes its flight as being rajiid and regular. This Sandpiper moves
in compact flocks, and often when about to alight, or after being disturbed, inclines
the body to either side, showing alti-rnately the upper and thi' lower parts. On foot
it moves more like a Curlew than a Triiuja, and is nun'c sc(hite in its motions than
the true Sandpiper. At times, on being apitroachcd, it will s(puit on tlu! ground after
the manner of the Escpiinuiux Curlew. Its flesh is said to be extrcnudy delicate. In
the stomachs of those he killed he found small worms, miiuite shellfish, and vegetable
substances, among which were hard seeds of sonu' unknown plant. He found great
differences in the color of the plumage of those he killed. He adds that its jiassagc
through the United States is very rapid, both in spring and in autnnni. A few of
these birds are said to spend the winter in Lower Louisiana, but nearly ixll pass on
southward beyond Texas.

Mr. Moore twice met with this species in Florida — once Aug. 4, and tagain Sept.
17, 1869. Part were in an oozy jiool near the I>ay of Sarasota; the rest were in a
fresh pond. He had an opportunity t)f witnessing its manner of feeding from a hid-
ing-jdace near the j)ond. It was feeding in water that nearly covered its tarsi. It
slowly stepped ahmg, carrying its bill innnersed nearly up to the base, and sweeping
it slowly from side to side, nmch in the manner of the Koseate Sjioonbills, which
were at the same moment feeding nearby. He noticed no action like that of swal-
lowing at any time, its motions being contiuut)Us. This accounts for the black mud
found in the stomachs of several kinds of Sandjiipers : it is taken in by suction, and
with it probably vari(nis kinds of animalcuhe.

Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding at Rendezvous Lake, in the Arctic
Region, June 27. In situation and composition they are said to be similar to others
previously met with. The nest contained four eggs, the female liaving been shot on
leaving it. The contents of the eggs were very slightly develojx'd. This bird was
everywhere very rare, except on the Arctic coast at Franklin I5ay, where it was found
tolerably abundant. At Island Point, .Tidy H, he obtained two young birds in the
down, with the female parent. Both parents disi)layed mu(di courage and ingeinuty
in defence of their young, two of which were thus enabled to escape. He afterwards,
in the same neighborhood, procured other young in the down, with both parents.
Another nest, obtained at Langston Harbor in July, 1805, contained four eggs (]inte
fresh. The nest was a mere deju-essiim in the ground, lined with a few withered
leaves and grasses. Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution
by Mr. Kennicott, at Fort Simpson by Mr. R. R. Ross, and at Big Island by ISh.
J. Reid.

A set of eggs (S. I. No. 9389) obtained on the Arctic coast by Mr. MacFarlane,
June 22, 1863, was in a nest composed of decayed leaves and placed in a hollow partly
concealed by tufts of grass. The eggs are three in number, of an oblong pyriform
shape, and have a ground-color of a light and bright drab or grayish white, with large

mumw

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES,

205

nmnded and sciittcrcd iimrkiugs of histri'; tlioso markings are larger and more
numerous at the ol)tuse end. The eggs range from 1.47 to 1.50 inehes in length, and
have a breadth of one inch. Anotlu-r set (No. 11.'331), obtained in 18(50, have spots
that are larger and more couHueiit about tlu' greater end, and are nu)re rounded in
.shai)e. varying betweeji 1.4r> and 1.4() inclu'S in length, and iu breadth between 1.05
and 1.10 inches.

Gents EREUNETES, Illkjkk.

Ercunctcs, Ii.i.kikk, riodromus, 1811, HS'l (lyiic, J-J. pclrijictitiis, Ii.mc;., = Triurjn pusilla, LiXN.)
JJiiiiijui/niiKi, lloNAI'. ()1)S, Wils. 182"), no. 212 (•saiiio type).
Jlderojmla, Xutt. Mini. II. lS;il, 135 (nre L.vii!i:il,i.i;, 1S04).

Char. Size snuill ; anterior toes wel)))C(l at tlie biise ; a well-developed hind toe. Bill about
as long as or a Utile lunger tliau tlie head, straiglit, somewhat ex[)an(Ied at the end, about as long
as the tarsus ; niiildle toe more than hall' as long as tlie tarsus ; bare portion of tibia nearly C(pial
to tlie niitblle toe.

The bill of J'Jreunctm hi ipiite stout and considerably ex[ian(led, by which it is readily distin-
1,'iiished from Actodrnmun minutilla independently of the semipalmated feet. The tarsus and mid-
dle toe are about ci[ual ; the tibia denuded antei'ioily for about two thirds the length of tarsus.
Tile basal membrane of toes is more scolloped out interiorly than exteriorly ; the notch externally
not (piite as deep as to the fir.st joint, although the membrane cxtend.s beyond the second. There
is a tcMuleney to hexagonal subdivision in the bare portion of tiliia anteriorly. The tail is doubly
eniarginate.

But one species is known, the common Semipalmated Sandpiper or " Peep."

Ereunetes pusillus.

THE SEHIPALKATED SANDPIFEB.

a. pusillus.

Tringa imsillri, Linn. S. X. I. 1766, 252.

Ercunctcs }uisilliis,i\i<!i. Pr. Ac. Nat. .Sci. Philad. XIII. 1860, 19.5. — - Couks, Key, 1872, 254;

Check List, 1873, no. 417; 2d ed. 1880, no. 612; Birds X. W. 1874, 481 (part). — Ridgw.

Xom. X. Am. H. 1881, no. 541.
Ercunctcs pclrifcattis, Ii.i.m. Prndr. 1811, 262 (Bahin). — Cass, in Baird'.s B. X. Am. 1858, 724

(part). — Baikd, Cut. N. Am. B. 185i>, no. 535.
Triwja xcmipalmata, WiLs. Am. Oin. VII. 1813, 131, pi. 63, fig. 3. — Sw. & I.'icH. F. B. A. II.

1831, 381. —AUD. Orn. Biog. V. 183S>, HI, pL 408 ; Synop. 1839, 236 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 277,

pi. 336.
Trinija (Hctcropoila) scmipalmnld, XuTT. Man. II. 1834, 136.
Tringa brcvimstris, Srix, Av. Bras. II. 1825, 76, pi. 93.
Tringa nrissoni, I.l'.ss. Man. II. 1828, 277.
Ilctcrnpoda Mauri, Bonap. Comp. List, 1838, 49.
Hcmipalania minor, Lemb. Av. Cuba, 1850, 97.

h. occidentalis.

Ercunctcs occidcntnlis, Lawr. Pr. Philad. Acad. 1804, 107.
Ercunctcs pusil! an, var. occidentalis, Coues, Chock List, 1873, no. 417 «.

Ercunctcs pusillus occidentalis, RiDOW. Xom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 541 a, — CouES, Check List, 2d
ed. 1882, no. 613.

Ercuiutcs pusillus, > ^^^^ (citations of western localities).
Ercunctcs pctrifcatus, )

Had. The whole of North and Middle, and a considerable portion of South, America ; through-
out the West Indies ; Bermuda ; south to New Granada and Brazil ; breeding chiefly, if not

b«

206

PU.KCUCIAL GUALLAT(JUES — LLMICOL.E.

rl I

exclusively, north of the Uiiitud States. The race occidcntalis is chietly restricted to the Western
I'roviiii'o of Xuith Anieriiii ; the tyitkid fiwiUus entirely contined to the Eastern I'rovinee.

Si'. CiiAii, Total h'nj,'th, iihout 5.7") to (i-OO ; e.vteiit, Il.Od to 12.()(» ; win^', 3 otM.tM); cnhneii,
.H8-1.1") ; tiiisns, .80-.!)') ; middle toe, .55-.65.' Bill l)luck, heconiinj,' greenish olive on Imsal part
oi'tiie iiiandilije ; ills dark hrown ; let,'s an<l feet {greenish (dive. Runi[) .slate-color; upper tail-
eoverts and middle tail-feathers lUisky, otiier rectriees cinereous ; wiiij,'-coverts and tertials hrown-
isli gray with dusky shaft-.streaks, the j,'reater coverts tipped with white. Superciliary stripe and
lower parts white, the f'ornu'r finely streaked with grayish dusky. Upjier jiarts (except as
described) varjegated brown, l)lack and rusty in siiminer adults and young, plain ashy with dusky
shaft-streaks in winter plumage. .

Siimvur whtlt (iiid ijoiinj: Above lirownish, varied with black, rusty, and white (the latter on
the tenninal l)(>rdors of tiie feathers — sometimes almo.st wanting) ; beneath white, the jugulum
streaked or spotted witli dusky in the adult, shaded with grayish buff in young. Winter 'plmmije :
Above, uniform ashy, Unely streaked with dusky ; lielow, pure white.

". pusillus.

Adult breeding -plumofie : Upper surface light grayish brown, the sides of the pileum and edges
of some of the scapulars and interscapulars tinged with pale bufly cinnamon, but this sometimes
almost wholly absent ; pileum heavily streaked, and dorsal region heavily sjiotted, with black, tlie
latter color occupyi:>g the central portion of each feather. A streaked white superciliary stripe,
and dusky loral space, the latter usually very distinctly defined along its upper edge, the lower
part broken into streaks, which extend backward over the cheeks ; auriculars streaked grayish

llli^'l

E. pusillus.

brown. Lower parts pure white, the jugulum and breast tinged with ashy and streaked witli
dusky. Winter jjlumnye : Above Itrownish gray or cinereous, relieved by dusky shaft-streaks ;
superciliary stripe and lower parts ])ure white, the jugulum faintlv streaked. Young : Similar to
the summer adult, but jugulum tinged with pale grayish buff, and without well-defined streaks or
spots, the scapulars and interscapulars bordered terminally with white, and the brown usually less
rusty. Downy young: Forehead dingy white, divided by a mesial line of black; crown light
chestnut, marbled posteriorly with black and white ; occiput mottled whitish. A distinct loral
line of Idack, forking just before the eye, the upper branch running toward the anterior corner of
the eye, the other inclining downward. Throat fulvous-whito ; other lower parts whitish, nearly
pure on the alxlomen. Upper parts pale fulvous-brown laterally, black centrally, the whole surface
thickly bespangled with fine downy tufts, terminating the down-filainents.

Wing, .3..5()-4.0() (.-J.TS) ; culmen, .08-.92 (.77) ; tarsus, .80-.95 (.86) ; middle toe, .55-.fi5
(.61). [Eighteen summer adults measured.]

b. occidentalis.

Adnlt hreeding-plwmage : Upper surface bright rusty cinnamon, the feathers spotted centrally
with black, the cinnamon sometimes nearly uniform along the sides of the crown ; a white super-
ciliary stripe streaked with dusky grayish, this bordered below by a stripe of light rufous or rusty

1 Forty-two aduU specimens measured ; the average of this series is as follows : wings, 3.75 ; culmen,
.87 ; tarsus, .88 ; middle toe, .60.

'mmmm

SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — EREUNETES.

207

(111 the side of the head, from the bill across the lores, uiid beneath the eyen over the auriculars ;
it'maiudur of tliu head white, streaked, except on the throat (uliere also sometimes finely Hecked)
with grayish dusky. Lower juirts pure white, the jugulum and Itreast thickly marked with broad
^'tl^•aks of dusky, these broadest and of tiiuiij,'ular form on llic sides of tlic lueast ; sides marked
with sagittate dusky spots. Adult, winter plumuje : Not distinj,'uishable from typical pusilluk in

E. piisllltts occkleiitalis.

the same stage, except by greater average length of bill and tarsus. Young: similar to young of
E. jiusillus, but with rusty ochraceous prevailing on the dorsal region and pileum. Downy youwj :
Similar to the same stage of i?. jntsillus, but the rusty areas of the upper parts more extended and
more castaneous.

Wing, 3.(J0-3.9(» (3.74); culnien, .85-1.15 (.95) ; tarsus, .85-.95 (.89); middle toe, .55-.C5
(.60). [Eighteen summer adults measured.]

The range of individual variation, as regards proportions, is probably greater in this species
than in any other liniicoline bird of its size. The length of the bill, in forty-two adult examples
measured, varies from .68 of an inch to 1.15 inches, and the wing IVom 3.50 to 4.0<), the other
/iiwisurements varying in proportion. The variations are of exactly the .same character as in
MiicrorhcDiiphiis grisnun, the sculujjitceus type of the latter corresponding to the occidentalis form of
Ercunetes, both being distinguished by a gi'eater average length of bill and tarsus, and an excess
of the ferruginous coloring.

The common Semipalmatecl Sandpiper i,s found nearly or quite tlu'oughout North
America. Accepting the form which occurs on the Vacatic coast — called by some
writers the occidentalis — as identical with this, we have for the species a very gen-
eral distribution. It breeds in the extreme northern portions of the Fur Country ;
is abundant, both in the spring and fall migrations, along the sea-coasts, and also tlie
banks of rivers and inland lakes. In the winter it is found in the extreme South-
western States, in Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, and some of the West India
Islands, and a considerable portion of South America.

Mr. Salvin mentions that a single bird of this species was shot near Duenas in
the month of April, in a flock of Actodromas mamduta, and that afterward he again
found this species very common on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. According to
Wt'dderburn, it occurs in Iiornuida during its fall migrations; and from the 1st of
August to the beginning of Novend)er small flocks are to be seen on most of the
sandy bays along the coast. Professor Newton mentions this species as occurring in
autumn in St. Croix, frequenting t\\e i)astures in flocks of from ten to twenty. Its
first arrival was observed by 3Ir. E. Newton. Leotaud also si)eaks of ib as occurring
on the Island of Trinidad, arriving tiu're in July, and leaving in October. It is
always seen in flocks, and tliase are sometimes very numerous, not only frequenting
the marshy edges of the sea, but quite as commoidy the low damp meadoAvs. Some
are said to remain in Trinidad all the year round, and these may be found on the
swamp edges of pools from October until July. At this season of the year the

208

PRiECOCIAL GUALLATOUES— LIMICOL^E.

heavy rains and the overHowing of tlio pools compel tlin binlH to seek the borders
of the sea, where at other times it is not nsual to find tiicm. This speeies is given by
Dr. (iiindhieh as oeeurring in Cuba, but only as a visitant.

In Massaeluisetts tliis sjieeies ajipears, on its way nortli, about the last of May,
and makes but a very short stay, returnini,' in August, later than the ArfodninidH
iii'iiiiitillii, all having left l)y tiie middh' of Septendier. They are in greatly reducecl
numbers as eomjiared with former years, when all the l)eaehes and mud-Hats apjieared
alive with the numerous tloeks of " Peeps," as they are called — a name also given
ti) the A. mbmtUIn and ./. /inii(i/i<irf!!.

Mr. Dresser met with none of this speeies near San Antonio, but found it not
uncommon near Matannmis, though not so conunon as the mluiittlld. A.ulubori, how-
ever, mentions it as found in Texas in great numbers in A])ril, and as moving north-
ward with celerity, both along the sea-shore and the larger streams.

Audubon states that he found it dispersed in pairs tliroughout Labrador, and
having nests there in .fune, though he was not able to find any, the birds s(piatting
on the moss as if they had a nest, and thus efl'ectually misleading his ])arty. lie
also states that he often saw this spe(;ies in considerable nund)ers along the shores of
the Ohio and the Mississippi during autumn. At this season they fed on fresh-water
insects, worms, and small coleojjtera, became very fat, and afforded exe(dlent eating;
this, he adds, is rtindy the case when they are found along the sea-shore. Their
Hight is swift and wtdl sustained; and when alarmed, or just before alighting, their
evolutions are very graceful.

Mr. lioardman informs ns that this spctcies is very abundant in the vicinity of
Calais, but d(X's not breed there. It nsually arrives early in August, or, in some
years, alxnit the last of duly. In its season it occurs in nearly every part of Mortli
America, congregating in large Hocks on the beaches, sand-bars, and low lands along
the sea-<'oast. as well as on the shores of the interitn- lakes nnd streams. When feed-
ing, these birds scatter about in small parties; and when surprised, collect together,
with a rapid and peculiar movement, in such (dose bodies that sonu'times twenty
or thirty may bt^ killed at a single shot. When pursutul, they move otf in a mass,
uttering a pecndiar chirping nijte as they go, by imitating which they may be readily
decoyed. On dissection, their stomachs are found filled with minute fragments of
animal and vegetable origin.

Individuals and small parties of this species are occasionally met with earl}' in
the summer in parts of the country where they are not known to breed. JVfr. Allen
found a number at Ipswicdi in June, 18G8. They were all in innnatnre jdumage,
being evidently mere straggh-rs, and not breeding. Afr. Ilenshaw nu-ntions seeing
a small flock on the sea-shore near Santa Harbara in July. These were all found
to be barren birds.

According to the observations of Mr. Moore, this species may be found during
the entire simimtn- in Florida, in small groups of not more than fifteen or twenty.
They all retain their winter colors, or at best exhil)it but slight touches of brown or
rufous. It is' not easy to account for tliis continuance of a winter garb throughout
the summer in such birds as would assume a different dress were they to resort to
their northern habitat to breed. It may be caused by old age, by barrenness, or
by disease. It can hardly be becaust) they are unmated, as birds in that condition
assume the spring plumage before they migrate. It would be interesting to ascer-
tain if it is inability to propagate which thus arrests the develo[)ment of the vernal
plumage. There were no indications that any of these resident individuals ever
breed in Florida.

?7iffP"

SCOLOPAriD.I-: — THK SNII'K FAMILY — ERRfNKTKS.

200

Ciiptiiin nciuliro mentiona this Hpccics as iibiiiidant, (hiriiij,' (lifir iiiiKiatioiiH, in
Soutiu'iisti'rn Ori'goii. A IVw liii^^crcd tiin)ii,i,'ii the iiioiitli of May, but did not
I'cinain to i rt'cd. Mr. ('. Hart MciTiaiii i'<%'ards this spcrics as an occasional sum-
mer ivsiiU'nl in Connecticut, and in one instance it has iiecn iinown to breed within
llie limits of that Statu. Its nest, with ej,'gs — one of which is in my cabinet — was
found .Fuly L'O, 1H77, at Uradfoid, ity .Mr. Walter U. Nichols. The bird was not
taken, but the ej,'^,' is not distinguishaiile from other eggs ^A' this species.

The Western form, occurring on the I'acilie coast, docs not essentially vary,
in hal)its and peculiarities of nesting, from the other. Dr. Cooper states that it is
i|iiite common along the entire Tacitic coast, scarcely leaving thnt region, even in
midsummer, l)Ut fre(pienting the shores of muddy bays in large Hocks, fet'ding on tho
worms, Crustacea, and insects left along the edge of the water anil on the flats at low
tide. Dr. Cooper has obtained it in May and in August as far south as San I'edro,
so that possiiily it may breed witldn the State of (-'alifornia. It is biunil also toward
the north in duly, visiting the iidand fresh-water marshes near the Kocky Mountains.
Tins species associates with otiier small Sandpipers, and has hai)its, notes, ai I
llight similar to tho.se of the Kastcrn bird, from which it cannot be distinguished.
'I'his is said to l)e a rather noisy liird, uttering, when startled, a widstling cry that
sniuids like to-irhrrt. It is much hunted for the San l"'ranci.S(ro market. This was
jpcrhaps the species which Mr. Salvin found .so common on thcs racitio coa.st of
(iuatemala.

Tills bird is mentioned by .Mr. Dall as being very common at Sitka and Kadiak,
where I>ischoff obtained many specimens. It is also abundant at N'ulato, and along
the sea-shore, an<l on the Yukon River. Mr. liannister also mentions it as iieing
very common throughout the spring and summer, and as nesting all over the Island
of St. Michael's. All the nests he observed were mere hollows in the ground, with
nothing more than a few blades of grass for lining, aiul wore generally placed in
sonu' dry tuft of grass, at some distance from the water. Tlu; bird, when startled
from the nest, would generally Hy a little distance and then alight, showing but
slight timidity. In the month of May, when in pursuit of Ducks and (Jeesc near St.
Michael's, Mr. Bannister saw these little birds all around him, within a distance of a
few feet, apparently unmindful of his presence, even when he was shooting at Ducks
and (Jeese as tlmy flew overhead.

Kii^hardson refers to a nuinuscri[)t left by Hutehins, written about 1770, in which
he gives an accurate descrii)tion of this species, stating also that it arrives on Severn
River alunit the miihlle of May in large Hocks, building early in June a nest of with-
ered grass, and laying four or ttve black-and-white spotted eggs. Toward autumn
it has a chirruping note; in September it retires soiith.

Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding very abundantly on the Arctic coast
and on the islands in the bays and along the shores of the Arctic Sea. Some were
also foinul nesting in tlie Harren (.J rounds west of Franklin l>ay. The nests were in
most instances nu're dejn'cssions in the ground, lined with a few grasses and leaves,
dry and partially decayed, and w^'re almost always near small j)ools of salt or brack-
ish water, or inland, near the edge of small jwnds. Sometimes the female would
glide from her nest, and, i)retending to be disabled, would seek to entice away the
intruder. If suddenly startled, she woidd f'recpunitly utter disturbed cries. The
eggs were usually four in number, and were found from the ^20th of Jun(( to the
loth of July. At times the nests were hiddtni in tufts of grass, but not always.
When driven from her nest, the female, if unmolested, would almost imnu'diately
return. In reference to one nest, procured June 30 on the coast of Franklin Bay,
VOL. I. — 27

I :

; J

i::

210

?Ri*:COCIAL (IKALLATdUKS - I.IMICOLJ-:.

Mr. MaeFarlane writes: "The nt'st from wliicli thfso t'^^gs wore taken was situated
iM'twccn two small lirackish lakes near tin- sea-short'. One of our i)arty saw the
female get off; ami when the iiest was approacheil by liim she littered a shrill note
of alarm. After searching about for a few minutes, ho faih'd to tind the eggs; and
he then determined to hide himself, and from his concealment ascertain whert^ the
female would alight on her return. In a short time she was seen to return, accom-
panied by three comi»anions, all of whom looked and moved alxiut; but not discover-
ing anything, seemed to hold a brief consultation, after which they separated, tlir
female to her nest. Another search failed to discover the eggs; and the female again
retui'ned with the same birds, who appeared to be in a state of great excitenuMit.
judging from the chattering they kept up. After a while they again .separated; when
the nest was found, and the parent secured. The report of the gun brought the
others once nuire to the spot; but they beat a hasty retreat. The nest was a mere
depression in the midst of some hay. and lined with the same and a few withered
leaves."

The eggs of this s]»eeies exhibit great variations in their appearance, in eonstt-
(pienee of the ditt'erinees in the size, the manner of distribution, and the nund)er of
the s2)ots. The ground is a light drab, and the markings are of a pure bright sejjia.
In one set (S. I. No. llL'7-) of four eggs, the nest — a mere depression in the gnmnd.
on the border of a small lake in the midst of nuirshy ground — was lined with with-
ered grasses. In this set the markings are large, iironounced, and distinct, sparsely
distributed around the smaller end, and nu>re nunu'rous and occasionally confluent
about the obtuse end. They are ])yriform in shape, and the suuiUer end is very
sharply defined. They average l.L'i") inches in length, by ..S() in breadth. Aiuither set
(No. 11271) of four eggs in a nest fo\iiid placed between two small lakes, and lined
with witlau'ed grasses and leaves, was obtained in the Barren ({rounds, near Fort
Aiulerson. Tn these eggs the sjiots are much finer. nu)re numerous about the smaller
end, and there very tine, a little larger and inmv confluent about the larger extrendty.
and nearly concealing the grayish white or light drab-colored ground. These meas-
ure l.lo iiu'hes by .80. Four eggs (Xo. 11273) foiiiul on an island in Franklin Bay,
July 4, have nuvrkings still more nunute and numerous, universally ditt'used, and
more or less confluent over the entire egg, concealing the ground, and having ajjpar-
ently very little resemblance to Xo. 11272. Four eggs (Xo. 17041) were found by
Mr. L. M. Turner, May 28, 1874. at St. Michael's. Their ground-color is a light
grayish buff, thickly spotted with reddish sepia and darker sepia, chiefly on the
larger end. Their measurements are as follows: 1.2(» by .80 inches; 1.25 by .85;
1.25 by .90 ; 1.25 by .85.

Genus TRINGA, Linn^us.

Tririga, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 148 ; t;(l. 12, 1766, 247 (type T. canutus, Linn.).

Char. Body robust ; bill and legs short, the fonncr straigiit, widened terminally, and scarcely
longer than the head ; tarsus about e([ual to the liill, or a little shorter ; middle toe about two
thirds the tarsus. Wings long and pointed, reaching beyond the end of the tail.

The above characters separate at once this genus from Arquatdla, the one most nearly related,
but which 1ms the bill much more compressed, slightly but decidedly dijcurved towai-d the end,
and much longer than the tarsus ; the latter scarcely, if any, longer than the middle toe ; the
wings shorter, etc. The single species T. canutus is the largest of American Sandpipers, and among
the largest known species of this group ; only one, the Arqutttella crassirostris (Temm. & Schleg.)
of Eastern Asia exceeding it in size.

ill

I iffii

^mw

SCOLOPACID.E-TIIK f^.N'Il'K l"AMII-Y - THINOA. 211

Tringa canutus.

THE KNOT lANDPIPEIl.

Tringit canuliu, Linn. S. N. nl. lo, 17:.8, Hi); d IJ, 17tl«, 261. — Cahh. in Biiinl'K U. N. Am.

IS-OS, 71.'). — U.viitn, lilt. N. Am. l\. IH.V.i, hd. Oiitl. — CofKs, Kry, 1872, S-'jO ; (.'luck l.iM, l«7:t,

no. 120 ; I'll. 2, 1^82, no. ti2ti ; Ilii.U N. W. Is7», JliO. — IliDuw. .N'om. N. Am. II. 1881, 620.
fW/ij/d ciiinvo, niiiJN.N. Oiii. Bor. 17tl», 53. — (ijiKl,. H. N. 1. 1788, (173. — Wilno.v, Am. Kin. VII.

18i;i, mi, pi. :,7, li«. 2. — Sw. & lli< ii. v. n. a. II. ISHl, ;I8;. — Nnr. .Man. II. 1834, 125.
TniKjii hhiiutioi, (iMi:i„ .H. N. I. 178H, 082. — Auu. Oni. Uiog. IV. 1838, 130, |il. 315 j Synoi., 1830.

2:12 ; H. .\m. V. 1812, 25», j.!. 1128.
Triiiija Hirviii, (i.Mi.i,. S. N. I. 1788, 081.
Tringa grmn, (iMKI,. I. c.
? Triiigu iiun/ni/h, (i.\iKi,. t. i'. 070.
? Tiiiiga firriKjittiii, Iliti'NN. Orii. Ilnr. 1704, 63.
Tringit rnfn, Wir.so.v, Am. Oni. VU. 1813, 43, pi. 57, fig. 6.
Tringa calidri.i, l,is\. 8. N. I. 1700, 253.
" Tringa. u/opiinsin, Ml'i.l.KU."
" Tringa lornalina, I.iciir."

Hah. Cliu'ljy nortliuni iiortion (it'tli« novlliiTu lifniisiilicic, Imt (iciu^ioniilly visitiu},' the soiith-
iiii lieini.spherc during' winlcr luiyriilinns ; chiully litlunil, Ijiit occmiiii^,' also on the liiigur inland
waters. Urazil ; Australia ; Nuw Zcnlaml.

Sp. C'hah. Lari,'L'8t of Airifriciin San(l[)ipiMs (Tringir). Bill wtrai(,'ht, rather longer than the
head, widened terminally, sliglitly compressed ha-sally ; tartniH about eiiuul to the bill, or a little

Summer plumage.

longer ; middle toe about two thirds the tarsus ; toes flattened beneath, with a rather wide lateral
margin ; lower third of the tibia bare, but the tips of the feathers reaching to the joint. Wings
long and pointed, extending beyond the tail, which is short, and slightly graduated. Adult in

Winter plumage.

summer: Above, mixed black, light gray, and pale nisty, these colors varying in relative extent
with the individual, but the grayish usually prevailing ; rump and upper tail-coverts white, with

art Im

iMt.Krfri.vr, orallatouks - LiMTroT,.K.

narrow Ihu'm anil HpntM nt' liliicki")!. Iii>wi>r ixtrt**, uml u ilittiiicl Hii|i<'ri'iliiiry utripc, uiiilnMii
viiiiii'i'iiiH-riit'iiii-<, or jiiiiki-'li riiiiiniiioii, jiiiIit on the niiiMli' of the ulMlonicn ; I'riw.snin, Hank",
axillai!*, unil lining' of tin' win^' wliilc, iitnally xsitli ooN anil liar^ of iln^ky. I'riinarii"* iliiNky,
with white HimftH; tail-fcatlnrx |ilain ^raviHh, i-iI^imI with whiti^li, an<l NonutiincN with u xiil).
eilj^in^ of iliixky. Yuiiini: Aliovc, li^^ht a^h-Kray, ilarkcr on the hark, carli Irathrr honli'ml with
whitiHJi anil inarkcil with a Mnl)-nl','in^,' of ihnky ; n|>|H'r tail-rovirts wiiitf, inarkril willi iln»ky
cnwcnti*. liowcr partM wiiiti^h {nearly lairc whitt^ on the alxlonien), the in'ik ami lirea-<l inarkeil
with Htrcaku ami llerk* of iln-ky, the hiile-i with ilini eiVM'entie ami irre;;nlar H|iiitH of the Haine.
All imliitlni't wiiili->h su|ieri'iiiary hti'i|>e, " Itill atiil feet lilaek ; irix ilark lia/.el " (Ai'DI'IIon).

Total len^;lh, alioul 10 inriies ; win;.', fl.'iU ; tail, J. .'id; hill, fmin ^'aiie, \.W ; tarsus, \,-lT>.

Ailiilt N|iei'inn'n.s vary inili\ iilnally in the relative extent of the lilack, K<'<'yi "»<' reililish eolur.s
on tho ii|i|ier partrt ; ({ray iiHUally |ire(loininateH in the Hprinjf, the hlaek in iniilHiiiuiner. Some-
tiinex (as in No |(»H.">, 9,<'aiM' May, New Jersey) tiieie is no rnloiiH whatt'ViT on thi' npiier
surface. The rinnainon ciilor of the lower parts also \aries in intensity.

Two European fxainples in summer ])lunia({e ilill'er frmn any Aineriian ones wu have seen, in
the (,'reat cxiess of lilaik on the liack, where tliiil rolor nearly uniformly prevails. An immatuie
»|)ei'inn'n from Norway, however (No. TitilMM!, V'aranger Fioril), is iiol tlill'eront from Aniericaii
skins in rorresponilin}{ pluina^^e.

Tho Knot JH a rosmopolitan spccios, t'oimd tlirouglinut the iiortlicrii licmisphort'
and appavi'iitly iiioio yt'iit'iall.v (listriljiitcd over tlie ca.sterii coiitiiieiit than in the
Xi'W Worhl. It (Iocs not appear to Inive been (h'teeted on the raeilic coast. It
visits South America to r>ra/.il, ami is also credited to Australia and New Zcaliind.

Mr. ('. A. Wri^^ht (•• Ibis," 1804) mentions thi! oeciiiTence of this spoeies at Malta,
as attested by a specimen in the University Museum, and also on the .authority of
Kchonibvi. It is also given by Mr. 11. .Saunders (•• Ibis,'' llSTl) as occurring in .Sotitiiern
Spain, both in autumn and in sjjring. He has obtained it there in the rufous-plum-
age in .May. Mf. .1. II. (Jurnoy (" Ibis," I.SfW) .states that tlu! most southerly examples
of this species which h.ave come umh-r his notice were two th.at were obtained in
Wi'.lvisch r>ay, Africa, Oct. L'O and Nov. 4, ISOO. The first of these 8i)ccimens
retained some remains of the breeding-pliim.age, the seeond mine.

Yarrell speiiks of this species as by no me;ins tincommon in (.Jreat Uritain from
autumn, through winter to sjiring, and says that it remains sometimes as late as
the beginning of May, .and assumes its breeding-plumage before leaving for tho more
northern regi(ms in which it breeds. Although (me had been shot in Saiida as Lite
as the 1.5th of .June, there is no rec(U'd of its having been known to breed in the
British Islands, .and its eggs remained, up to IHoO, unknown to IJritish collectors.
Mr. Thomi)son states that it is a regular autumnal visitant of Ireland. At that sea-
son it is also found in flocks on the shores of most of the southern and eastern coun-
ties of England, the greater portion being young birds of the year. Mr. .J. 11. (Jurney,
in a communication to the " Zoloogist," in lSo3, states that specimens in tho lui^jtial
dress frecjuently occur on the Norfolk coast of England in the sjiring, .and that in
May they were for a few days unusually inimerous ; also that on the l.'ith of that
month a single hunter of Yarmouth procured seventy-thr.-e, nearly all in full sum-
mer dress.

Mr. G. D. Rowley ("Ibis," 1864) records the capture of six birds of this species
at Brighton, England, in a net, at a single pull ; this was on the lOtli of September.
They were presumed to be all of one family, and it was supposed that they were
taken on the day of th(>ir arrival from their breeding-grounds.

Nilsson states that this species inhabits the Arctic jwrtions of Sweden and Norw.ay,
but makes no mention of its eggs. Mr. Dunn did not meet with this bird in spring
and autumn, except on the coast of Scona and in the southern part of Scandinavia.

-»— f»

•OOLOPAciIi.K

TIIK SMI'K lAMII.V TltrNGA.

213

i{(< vt'iitiirrN the i)|iiiiiiiii licit it (nciirs in Finlaiiil aii<l in tlic iiiirtlii'iistcni |iiirts, iih

it woins to nmk«' its HrHt apiit'iiiiin n the ciiHlt'i'ii ciMist of Sciiniliniiviii. Wlicrl.

wri^'lit HtnU'H tliiit it wiiH only sfcii liy liii.i in tlu' Nimtii of Scamlinuviii timing tiM>

lii'riiiils lit' its niiK'ratiniiM, ami lir roiilil learn nuthin^,' in ii'l't'ii'iH't' to its in' lin^j. IIi'

iTCfivcd its I'K^s Ironi (iiffnland, and dcscrlics tlicni as less in si/.f than lluist'td'
iiii//!niiij» mi'iliii, and uh rcmMnldiiiK tlicni in tlu'ir markings, aUlionKli imt f^o dark.

Tills s| ifs is ^,dvi'n liy Iicinlianlt as iiin; id' llii' liirds id' Orci'iiland ; and ('a|itain

Saliiuf, in Ins .Mi'inoir (in tlir Uirds (it tliat coinitry, states tliat cxamiiles were killed
at Ilaro'H Island in dnne. It is kndwn also to visit I('(dun(l ; and that it ^meN to niueli
lii'^dier ndrthirn latitudes is attested iiy the records of most of the Aretie e.\|ie(liti(ins.
Dr. Middendcrll' includes it in his list of the liirds of Silieria, and anion;; those that
penetrate to the farthest north. I'rolessor Newton, in his " Notes on the Itirds of Ice-
land," mentions its arrival thcrit late in May ; and the opiidon of Talier, to whi(di he
refers, that it i>ree(|s in the nplands (d' that island, seems to him very prolialily widl
founded. i$iit .Mr. Towler, whose attention was [lartieularly ealle(l to this liird, eoidd
not discover it, and does not Ixdieve that it is present on the island (hiring tin; hreed-
in,i,'-sea8on. On the southwest part of the island it is known to be a liird of passage.
At tho end of .May Professor Newton encountered a larp' Hock, whi(di remained aliout
a week, when nearly all of them hdt; he thinks it (|uite possihle, however, that

a few remain liehind and lir 1. I have in my ealiinet an ('kk Kiven me by (Nation

Tristram as of this s|ieeies, and taken on islands north of Iceland. It (dosely rescm-
hics the e;,';,'s descriiied by Wheidwri^ht, but has a suspicious rescndilance to the CKh's
of (liiUiiiiiijn iiiiil'tii. In his " Notes on the Hirds of (ireenland," published in iHTo,
I'rofcHsor Newton seems to have (dian),'ed his views in regard to this bird's breeding in
lc(dand, expressing; tin? opinion that all pass on farther north. Me speaks of it as
rare in Southern (ireenland, but as often met with in the north, as not breeding; liidow
latitu(h' (W X., remarking that it is tlumyht to nest in tho bays of CJrepidand. Pro-
fessor Newton adds, that after the breed in;,'-season this bird resorts to the outer
islands, and that it was reported as having' been found breeding; on Melville I'enin-
sida and in f,'reat almmhinee on the I'arry Islands. The large flocks of tlicso birds
that, in autumn and again in spring, throng the western coa.sts of Europe and the
eastern shores of America, nmke it more than probable that in its (duef breeding-
ipiartors, wherever thest! may be, it must be very numerous. It has not been met
with on the east coast of (ireenland, nor in Spitzbergen. It is presumed to breed in
countries west and north of (ireenland.

Mr. Nelson states that the Knot is another of the maritime species which regularly
visits its breeding-grounds by way of the Great Lakes. It is a regular migrant, pass-
ing north in ^lay, and returning to tlie shores of Lake Michigan early in September,
where it remains until October.

Mr. L. Kundien mentions that a small flock of these birds alighted on the schoon-
er's deck in November, after the harbor had been frozen over. He saw none in the
spring or summer, but was told that it is quite common in North Greenland, but
tliat it does not nest south of latitude 70° N. There are no accounts of its eggs which
can be accepted as authentic.

.Mr. Henry \V. Feihh'U, of the Arctic Exiiedition of 187r)-1876, though not so fortu-
nate as to obtain the eggs of this species during his stay in the I'cdar Kcgions, found
it breeding in some numbers .along the sliores of Smith's Sound and the north coast of
(irinnell Land. It is common throughout the Parry Islands during summer, as
Sabine found it in 1820 nesting in great nund)ers on Midville Island. It was pro-
cured by Dr. Anderson, of the " Enterprise," at Cambridge Hay (lat. 69° 10' N.), in July,

;?l

214

PR.lTOCIAI, (iltAI.LATOllES — LIMICOL.E.

lS5.'i. On the L'Stli of .Inly. 1M7.">. Dr. Copijingi-r riiiiu' acrcss a party of six birds,
si'vonil mill's inland from F(nt Fonlkc Tlicy wcrt' ffcdin.n- near a rill, and Avoro very
wild; Imt hi' si'cured a male in the fnll lirci'din^'-iiliimat,'!'. An^Mist iT). lH~i>, Mr.
I"'eildi'n observod si'vcral of tlu'sc birds near tin' water's I'dp' in Discovery Hay (lat.
HV 44' N.). The rills and marshes wort' frozen, and the birds were feeding' alonj? the
shore on small ernstaceans; in pnrsnit of their prey tiu'y ran breast hi,y:h into tlu^
water. They had h>st their lireedin,i,f-plnniai;('. On -lane ."». 1S7(). while camped near
Knot Harbor. (Jrinnell Land (lat. Ml!° ;>;{' >,'.), he noted the tirst arrival of this species.
A tloek of fonrteen or more were circling;' over a hillside, ali.uhtini,' on bare patches,
and feeding' eaj:;erly on the buds of the .s7m// ''",'/". Snlisecpiently he nu't with it in
considerable nnnd»ers. but always wild and dithenit of approach. Their cry was wihl,
and like that of the Curlew. Inuuediately after their arrival they befj;an to mate, at
this season soarin.u; liijih in the air like the Common Snijie. When descendiiifi; from a
height they beat their wint;s liehind the back witli a rapiil motion, prodncinj,' a loud
whirring noise. On the odth of .Inly, iSTli, three of the .seamen, walking by the bor-
der of a small lake, came upon an old bird accompanied by three nestlings. The old
bird })roved to be a male. Its stomach and those of the yimng ones were tilled witli
insects. ])r. Coii])inger informed Mr. I'eilden that the bird was not luicommon at
Thank-(iod Harboi. and in the first week in An jn.st the latter .saw family ])arties at
Shift-Kudder I'.ay (lat. Si" oL'' X.) in the grty autumn ])lumage. It also bred in the
vicinity of Discovery I>ay ; but no eggs were found there, although the young were
obtained in all stages of plumage.

On the Anu'ricau coast this bird occurs, in its migrations, in nu)st of the Atlantic
States, and in the winter in the West Indies, and jiroljably on the (iulf coast of Mex-
ico. It breeds in the high Arctic Regions, in the northeastern portions. Sir Edward
Parry, in his tirst voyage, found it breeding in great abundance on the North Georgian
Islands; and on his second voyage a single sjiecinien — a young male of the season —
was shot on the 17th of August in the Duke of York's May. Sir .lohn Kichardson
also mentions that this species w;vs observed breeding on Mtdville Peninsula by Ca]i-
tain Lyon.y. w'>o stated that this l)ird lays four eggs on a tuft of withered grass,
without being fit the pains of forming any nest. In the '• I'auna I'loreali-Anu'ricana"
the sanu' writer adds that this bird breeds in Hudson's i>ay, and down to the tifty-
lifth ])arallel. He describes the eggs as having a light yellowish ground, marked at
the larger end with spots of gr;iy and reddish, which form, in a. greater or less
degree, a zone; but the smaller end is nearly uns])otted.

Specimens of this Wader were procured at Nuhvto. in ^lay. by Mr. Pease, at Sitka
by Mr. Bischoff, and at St. Michael's by ^Ir. Hannister. and also at LTnalaklik by Mr.
Potter.

Mr. Roardman informs us that it occurs in small Hocks in the neighborhood of
Calais, M' ., but is never very abundant there, being seen only in the spring and
fall migrations, and none remaining to breed. It is known there as the Kobin Snipe,
In Massachusetts this bird is regarded by sonu» hunters as h;iving become less abun-
dant than it was formerly known to 1k'. Mr. A\'illiam Brewster has met with it in
the spring in small flocks of five or six ; this was late in ^lay. and it was then rather
abundant. It comes regularly in the fall about the middle of August, and thence to
the 1st of Sejitember.

Mr. Frank H. Tileston, however, informs me that these birds arrive in Parnstable
County, Mass., in their ndgrations northward, with great jtunctuality, about the L'Oth
of May. They still come in large flocks every year, but rarely stay more than a day
or two, passing immediately northward. At Eastham, May 20. 187.'>. he noted their

'■yTTJlfST"

SCULOPACID.E-TIIE SN'IPK FAMILY — TRINOA.

215

tirst arrival that season, in large miiiilM-rs ; by tlu' 21.M all had passed on. A line
siieeimen [)rocured at that time is now in the CoUeetion of the I'xistun Natural History
Soeiety. The hirds when in fair {'ondition are regarded as good eating.

The Knot is said to teed inineipally on aiinatii' insects and the soft animals in-
lialiiting small Itivalve shells. It is also said to he al)le to swim with great ease.
Wilson, who has oltserved thicks of these liirds on tiu' sandy shores (d' New Jer-
sey, states that their favorite and alnu)st exclnsive food seenu'd to lie small, thin,
(ival bivalve shelltisli of a |iearly-white color, which lie at a short distance iielow
!lie surfaei', and in some places at low-water occnr in heaps. These are swallowed
whole, and, when loosened by the motion of the wavi's, are collected by this bird with
great ease and dexterity. While doing this the bird follows the Howing and the re-
cession of the waves with great nindileness, and Wil.son adds that it is highly amusing
to observe with what adroitness it eludes the tunddihg surf while seendng wholly
intent on collecting its food. Audubon has .seen this sjiecics probe the wet .sand on
the borders of oozy salt-ma I'shes, thrusting in its bill with the same (h'xterity
shown by other s[)tH!ies. Its flight is swift, elevated, and well sustained. The aerial
evolutions of these birds, on their first arrival in fall, are said to be very beautiful,
antl they follow each other in their course with incredible celerity.

Dr. IJachman informed Mr. Audubon that the Knot is (pnte abundant in South
Carolina in both of its nngrations, liut that it is not known there in its breeding-
plumage. It is there called the •• May-bird," and in the michlle districts the '"(iray-
back.'' Audubon found it in winter in East Florida; and while in the J]ay of
(ialveston, 'I'exas, in thi^ spring of IS.'iT. he ol)served groujis of Ivnuts arriving there
in Api'il, and proceeding eastward.

On liong Island, according to (.Jiraud, it is familiarly known to the luinters both
as the " Jxobin-SnijK' " and the •• Ikcd-breasted." In the (Jreat South Hay of that
island, where thert^ are innuensu salt-marshes separated by creeks and channi'ls. these
liinls abound during tlieir spring migrations. They fre(]nent the shoal ponds, which
furnish the small shelltisli on which they chiclly subsist. There they are easily
hunted by sportsmen lying in wait near their favorite haunts, and imitating their
|icculiar notes so as to bring them within gunshot. At this |)eriod of their migra-
tion these birds assemble in flocks and pass northward to their lirceding-jjlaces,
n'tuniing with their young about the middle of .Vugust, and then having a very dif-
b'rciit plumage from that of spring. They move southward hite in Se|)tember. In
its then ashy-gray uiijicr pbiniage it is the White Ivobin-Sniiie of the liOng Island
hunters. In the fall it fre(iueiits the inner beaches, and is sometimi's observed along
the surf, collecting the minute marine animals east on the shore by the waves. It is
said to be more timid in the fall than in the spring, frecpiently passing within hear-
ing of the fowler's whistle without apiu'oaching his decoy. This statement of Giraud,
ill reference to its wariness in the fall, is in reniarkalile contrast with its almost
stupid tameness at the sann- season, on its first arrival in autumn, us noted by Yar-
rcll. Sir William .lardine also mentions that he (nice met, in the month of September,
on the east sich' of Holy Island, with a large flock which was so tanm as to suffer him
to kill as many as he wanted with stones from the beach. Mr. Moore states that
this species occurs in Florida during the winter, and that .some remain there during
the season.

This s])ecies. according to Leotaud, visits Trinidad, where, like all the other migra-
tory Waders whi(!h visit that island, it arrives in August and leaves in October. It
is almost always alone, or very rarely in Hocks of three or tour, and frefpients the
borders of the sea. As soon as it alights it immediately begins running with re-

T^r

■ M^ i'W ▼»»'«'*"'W»^» '

If .^'

I*
If ■.

II -
t ii

I-::
.'1'

'li i;'

216

PR.ECOCIAL OnALLATOUES— LIMICOL.E.

niarkiible rapidity. WlifU it stops it croufhes for a moiiu'Ut; aiul this luovemi'iit
occasions its Iwal uaiiu- oi ••Cioucliing-chickcii." Tlu' miuibcr visiting Trinidad is
not large.

Till' Knot is regarded as an exculli-nt bird for the table, and its good (pialitics
have long lieen known; the name — as is said by Pennant — having been derived
from King Canute, or Knut. l>y whoiii its excellence was particularly appreciated.

Gems ARQUATELLA, I^aikd.

ArqiuiUlhn, D.viai*, 15. X. Am. Isuti, 717 ^typu Tringa marilima, BituxN.).

Chau. Fonii Vfcrj- coniinact or roljust, the legs especially. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe
with claw, the latter two iliinl- to ihn-e fdurtlis as long as the Mil, which is slender, much com-
pressed, straight, or ver>- !>li;.'litly decurved at the end. Size nieiliuni (wing less than (i inches).

By the characters given aUjve, this sjiecies may be very readily distinguished from Trhiija, the
nearest ally. The si>».i;ies "f Ari/iKitilla aie subject to seasonal changes of jilumage which have
been very iH!q)lexing to ondtholo^^ists, the summer and winter dress of the .same birtl being totally
unlike, while that of the youii^ is different still.

Three s|iecies of thi^ genu,- lielon;.' to North .Vnierica. Auotlier species, the Tringa crassirostiLi,
Temm. & ScHLEG., of .):i{>an and o(iu-r parts of Eastern Asia, may belong to this genus, but we
have seen no specimen.*.

The three si>ecic-s Wloiiging to our fauna may be distinguished as follows : —

Com. Char. Summer ifof*: Iia<k and scapulars variegated black, rusty-ochraceous, or bull',
and buffy white, the fir-t in the fona of sliarply deliiied siiots occupying the central porti(;n of
each feather, the ni-ity or bulf foriiiing a wide external border, the whitish tla; tips of the feathers,
the latter colcjr sometimi.-' *can;ely present or altogether wanting. l{ump and upper tail-coverts
nearly uniform dusky ; Hiiig» dusky, the coverts bordeicd with whitish, the j^reater coverts tippcil
with the .same, and the iinier M-conilaries chiilly white. Lower parts chielly white, the breast
variegated with ilusky, llii» Mimetimes fonuing more or less of an irre^^-ular patch. ll'inkr
iduvuuje : .\bove nearly uidf<>iiii plinnljeous, the feathers of the back and scapulare darker cen-
trally, and showing faint piirplidi i-ellections in certain lights. Jugulum chiefly light plumbeous
or grayish, the feathers with whitish Ixuilers.

1. A. maritima. Bm-.diinj ilasji: Pileum streaked with yellowish gray, or grayish white;
scapidars and interscapulars irrtgularly spotted and indented with dull but!', or whitish, and Ixir-
dered terminally with white ; foreiieck and jugulum distinctly streaked with dusky, the biea>t
dull grayish, every wliert *>|»otte«l with darker, irinter dress: Back and scapuLu's eooty black
strongly glossed with puqdish, the feathers bordered terminally with dark phunljeous gray; Jugu-
lum uniform mouse-gr.iy, or l»M>wiii>h plumbeous. YuitiKjfJirat iiltimiifju : Scapulars, interscapidars,
nnd wing-covert.s l<onlen,->l nith jale grayish buff, with little or none of ru.sty. Chick: Above
hair-brown, lighter and gniyer on the nape, the brown irregularly marbh'd with black, the wiiij,'s,
back, and rump thick!)- l)c~i<aM;;led with white downy ilecks ; head grayish white, tinged willi
fulvous, variously iuarke<l with black, the lores having two distinct longitudinal, nearly parallel
streaks; lower jKirt.s grayi.-li white, without fulvous tinge. Average measurements of 13 adults:
Wing, 5.00 ; culmcn, 1.2<» ; tarsus, .!><> ; middle toe, .90. Hah. Northeastern North America,
Europe, etc.

2. A. CoaesL Breediwj <)rt*s : Pileum streaked with deep rusty ; scapulars nnd interscajjulars
broadly bordered with bright femiginous ; i'oreneck and jugulum irregidarly clouded with dull
pale buffer .soiled white and sooty jilumlteou.s, the breast more coarsely clouded, with more or les.s
of a black patch on each ."ide. Winter dress: Similar to A. maritima, but with the jdumbeous
borders to dors-il feathetn hniader and lighter, or more bluish, in tint ; jugulum streaketl or other-
wise varied with white. Young, firit plumwje : Scapulars and interscapulai's consi>icHously bonlercd
with bright nrsty, ochrati-<iU.«, and whitish ; wing-coverts broadly bordered with buffy white oi-
pale buff; hmsmt and sides Imffy white, distinctly streaked with dusky. Chiik: Above bright

SCOLOPACID.K — TIIK SNIPE FAMILY — ARQFATELLA.

217

rusty fulvous, inegulmly inuiblud with black, tliu oiiiaiueutal velvety flocks or papilla) coarser uiul
Ifss pure wliite than in A. iiutritima ; lioad li^'ht fulvous, with markings as in A. nmritima ; lower
parts lUslinctly fulvous laterally. Acifinji; nudisHMihiits of 14 itdu/t.i : Win;,', 4.80 ; culnien, 1.13 ;
liusus, .1)5 ; middle toe, .Wi. Ilith. Aleutian Islands and conti^'uous coast of Alaska.

3. A. ptilocnemiB. llnaliiKj-ilnxii: I'ileuni broadly streaked with ocliraceous-lnilf ; scapulars
and interscapulars broadly bordered with briyhl ocliraceons-rufous ; foreneck and junuluni pure
white, sjiarsely streaked with bruwnish yray ; breast white, streaked anteriorly, and cloudiul pos-
teriorly, with dusky, lh(! latter forniin^' nmre or less of a patch on each side. U'intir (ln:in; In
),'eiieral character similar to the correspondin;; staj,'e of ^1. maritima and A. Cumiti, but very much
]ialer, the whole dorsal aspect bein;{ linl'l cinereous, the scapulars and interscapulars with small,
nearly concealed, central spots, the winj,'-coverts very broadly ed^'ed with pure white ; ju^jidum
with white largely predominating. Youiiy, Jirst jiliitiuKjc : Similar to A. t'oid.st, but colors throiij^h-
out much paler, the lij,dit boixlew to the feathers of the dorsal surface broader, the dark centres
correspondingly decreased. Chick: Sinnlar to that (jf .1. Coiifiii, but i)aler, the dark streaks on the
lores not reaching to the eye. Acriiije ttMinunmcnls nf IS adults: Wing, S.lti ; culmen, 1.33;
taraus, .98 ; middle toe, .9(). Hub. I'rybilof Islaiuls, Alaska.

Arquatella maritima.

THE PUBFLE 8ANDPIFEB.

Tringa marilima, Br.UNN. Oni. Bor. 17G4, .'54. — (1mi;i,. S. N. I. 1788, 678. — Sw. & Kicn. F. 15. A.

II. 1831, 382. — Nirr. -Man. II. 1834, llf). — Am. Orn. liiof;. 111. 1835, 558, jil. 284 ; .Synop.

1839, 233; B. Am. V. 1812, 201, pi. 330. — ( assi.v, in jiaird's 15. N. Am. 1858, 717. — Baiuo,

Cat. N. Am. B. 185U, no. 528. — Coin;s, Key, 1872, 255 ; t'licck List, 1873, no. 423 ; Birds N. W.

1874, 488.
Annmldla mitritima, Ridow. Bull. Nntt. Oni. t'lub, V. July, 1880, 162; Norn. N. Am. B. 1881,

no. 530. — CouEs, Check List, 2d v<\. 1882, no. 620.
? Tringa striitta, LiNX. S. N. I. 1760, 218.

Tringa nmlala, Burxx. Orn. Bor. 1764, 55. — (iMKL. S. N. I. 1788, 678.
Tringa nigricans, Slosr. Limi. Tr. IV. 1796, 40.
Tringa canadensis, L.vni. Ind. Orn. Sup)il. ISol, Ixv.
? Tringa lincolnirnsis, L.vni. Ind. Oni. II. 1790, 734.
Tringa arquaklla. Fall. Zong. l{o»so-As. II. 1831, 190.
Tringa litlorulis, BllKIIM, Viig. Deuts.ld. 1831, 652.

Hab. Northeastern portions of Xorth America, breeding in the high north, and migrating
southward in winttu' to the Middle States, the Great Lakes, and the shores of the larger streams
in the Mississippi Valley. HermudiLs ] Also, the northern portions of the Paltcarctic Region.

WMer plumage.

Sp. Char. Adult, breeding-plumage : Above, dusky slate, the scapulars and intei-scapH'ars
nearly black, and faintly glossed, the e<lge of each feather notched or indented with ochrace ms
or dull buff, the terminal jxtrtion bonlered with dull wlute or pale butf ; rump, upper tail-coverts,
and middle tail-feathers glos.sy rlnsky black, the feathers of the rump sometimes faintly bordcreil
with grayish ; remaining rectriees uniform grayish, with white shafts, the shade of gray becoming

VOL. I. — 28

218

PRiECOCIAL GRALLAVORKS — LIMICOL^.

; J

gradually lighter to the exterior feather. Lesser and middle wiiin-coverts bordered terniiimlly with
grayish white or jmle anh ; greater covert;s ti])])ed with ])ure white, forming a distinct har across
the wing ; secondaries narrowly tipjiud with while and liiintly edged with light ashy, the threi' or
four feathers adjoining the teitials mostly white ; pri)uaries with white shafts, the inner ([uills
edged, especially toward the liase, with white. Pilciuu dusky, streaked with pale grayish linll'
(these streaks sometimes nearly olisok'te) ; a conspicuous su|)erciliary slrijie of grayisii white,
streaked with dusky ; a broad grayish-<lusky streaked stripe across the lores, from the bill to
and beneath the eye, and contimu'd rather indistinctly over the auriculars ; cheeks, lower part of
throat, and foreneck grayish white, streaked with grayish dusky; chin, and sometimes upper )iart
of throat, unstreaked white; juguluni similarly but more broadly streaked ; breast grayisii white
or pale ashy, irregularly spotted with dusky, these spots occupying cliielly the central portion of
each feather ; remaining lower parts white, the sides irregularly streaked and sj)otted with gray-
ish ; crissum narrowly stieakeil with dusky ; axillars and lining of the wing pure white, the latter
bordered externally with grayish. " Bill brown, yellow at base ; tarsi and toes dusky yellow; iris
brown." (Kumijex, MS.) [liilland legs dusky in dried skins. i] Winter dress: Above, uniform
smoky plumbeous, the scapulars, interscapulars, rump-feathers, and ui)per tail-coverts, darker cen-
trally, where glossed with jnirple ; wings and tail as in the sunnner plumage. Head and neck
rmiforni smoky plumbeous, darker immediately before the eye, and, to a less extent, on the crown ;
the chin and upj)er jiart of throat, lower eyelid, and sujmdoral space, white; ; jugulum and breast
light smoky pluml)eous, scpuunated with white ; remaining lower i>arts white, the sides broadly
streaked with light brownish gray ; crissum with narrow mesial streaks of dusky. Youmj, first
pbtnutije : Above, (piite similar to the breeding adult, but the dorsal feathers Licking the lateral
ochraceous indentations, and the light borders to the feathers lather more regular, and more
creamy in tint, the light bordei-s to the wing-coverts also broader, and pale grayish butf instead of
white or ))ale ashy ; najie and cheeks uniform smoky pUunbeous ; lower parts much as in the
summer adult. Iknnuj ijoiukj : Above, hair-brown, lighter and more grayish on the nape ; the
brown irregularly marbled with black ; the wings, back, and rum)) thickly bespangled with whitish
downy ilecks on the ti])s of the down-tufts. Head pale fulvous, variously marked with black, the
crown deep hair-brown, variegated with black, lieiieath, entirely grayish-white.

Total length, about !) inches ; wing, 4.80-5.40 (o.OC) ; culnien, l.l()-1.4r) (l.-2()) ; tarsus, .90-
1.00 (.9!)) ; middle toe, .83-.95 (.90). [Extreme and average dimensions of 13 adults.]

The Purple Sandpiper Ixdongs to both continents, and is a bird of somewhat
irregular distribution. It i.--' found in high Arctie regions, botli in America and on
the eastern continent, and yet has been met with in the summer, and apparently
breeding, on the Azores. Its occivrenee, however, except in high northern regions,
is com]iarativeIy rare. In Xortli America it appears to be very rare near New
York, and entirely unknown on the Atlantic coast south of there. I am informed
by Mr. Batty, that although quite uncommon on Long Island, occasional stragglers
are found tlu're late in Avinter or early in spring. A single specimen Avas procured
on Cape Cod, Mass., in full plumage, by Mr. William A. Jeffries, as early as Sept.
6, 1877. Though rare in the interior, its presence on our Great Lakes is not Avholly
unknoAvn. A line adult male Avas obtained near Chicago, on the lake shore, Noa%
7, 1871. It Avas in company Avith Sanderlings. Tliis bird Avas not taken by the
British Arctic Expedition of 187<'>-1870 ; but, according to Dr. Bessels, s])ecimens
Avere procured at I'olaris Bay by Captain Hall's party.

It is not given by Dr. Cooper as found on the Pacific coast. Farther north than
California, hoAA'ever, it has been met Avith. It AA'as taken on the Island of St. Michael's
by Mr. Bannister, Avho states that, in October, 1865, he obtained a number of speci-
mens of this species at the Kedoubt, Avhere it then appeared to be quite common. In

• Audubon says ; " Hill Jeep orange, toward the end dusky ; edges of eyelids gray ; iris orange ; feet
light orange, claws dusky."

"""mw

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — ARQUATELLA.

219

the succeeding year lie had not observed any up to the 1st of October, wlien he left
the country. Mr. Dull procured a .singh? bird of thia specie,s a mile or tw(j below
N'ldato, on the Yukon, and another at Tastolik, but did not find the nest or eggs.
Ik' also itroeured a specinien on St. CJeorge's Island, in Jiehring's Sea, M'here it was
conunou on the dry uplands and on the hills. liisehoff found this species plentiful
at Sitka, and also at Plover ]>ay, on the Asiatics side of Behring's Straits. Mr, Dall
I'onnd it a resident of the Aleutian Islands, where it was abundant ah)ng the shore
throughout the year, in all tlif islands from Unalashka to the Shuniagins. Its nest
and eggs he was n<jt able to discover.

This bird visits the Faroe Islands, Iceland, (Jreenland, Si)itzbergen, and Xova
Zembla. Von iJaer, in his description of the animal life of the last-named place,
mentions the Purple Sandpiper as one of the eight species of birds found there. ]Mr.
Cr. (rillett (" Il)is,"' 1870) also mentions finding this species on Nova Zemlila, Avliere it
was very common both in ^Matthew's Strait and on the eastern coast. One came on
hoard during a storm, and was caught in the hand. AVhen released, it did not ofl'er
to fly away, but remained on board two days. Herr von Ileuglin also mentions (''Ibis,"
bS72) that he found this species ver}- common, and generally in pairs, in this same
region. In the autumn it occurred in smaller or larger flocks, and often mingled with
tlie PelidiKt rhivhtft and the Trhir/a mlihutu. On the 8th of August he found nest-
liugs still very small, and covered with down. The Messrs. Evans and Sturge found
the Purple Sand[)iper very abundant at Coal Bay in Si)itzbergen, and secured four
of its nests. These were on the surface of the high field, and they are said to
have been beautiful little structures, built deej) in the ground, and lined with stalks
of grass and leaves of the dwarf birch {lictuhi nana). They each contained four
eggs of an olive-gretui, handsomely mottled with a purplish-brown, chiefly at the
larger end. The writers state that they watched with much interest this elegant
little bird as it waded into small pools of snow-water, or ran along the shingle, every
now and then raising its wings ovt-r its back and exhil)iting the delicate tint of the
luuler side, at the same time uttering its loud shrill whistle. Professor Alfred New-
ton also met with this species on Spitzbergen, where he found it abundant along the
coast as far north as Brandywine Bay. Dr. ^^lalmgren informed Professor Newton
that on a former voyage he liad observed a flock of this bird on the shores of Kobbe
l>ay as early as ^lay 28. He afterward saw it in the interior of Stor Fiord, and on
Bear Island. According to I'rofessor Newton, it is common everywhere in Iceland
in the neighborhood of the coast, and is occasionally to be seen inland, where it also
breeds. According to Faber, it is a resident of Iceland throughout the year, and is
said to hatch its eggs about the middle of June. It is given by Dr. Middendorff as
one of the birds of Siberia, and is included in the list of those that go to the Far
North.

They are also mentioned by Dr. Eeinhardt as occurring in Greenland, and appear
to have been observed on all the voyages of Sir Edward Parry. On the first of these
tliey were seen abundant in Davis's Straits and Baffin's Bay ; during the second they
were noticed on the rocks, at low-water mark, on Winter Island, in June ; on the
third they were observed at Port Bo^ven, and on the fourtli were found abundant
along the shores of Hecla Cove, Sir James C. Boss adding tliat they Avere seen in
considerable numbers near Fury Point. Ilichardson states that this species breeds
abundantly on Melville Peninsida and on the shores of Hudson's Bay. He describes
its eggs as pyriform, IG.uO lines long, and an inch across in its greatest breadth.
The ground-color is said to be of a yellowish gray, interspersed with small irregular
spots of pale hair-brown, crowded at the obtuse end, and rare at the other.

220

PR.ECOCIAL GKALLATOHES — LIMICOLyE.

Mr. Godiuah nu't with this spi-cics on th(^ Azores. A small tlock was usually to
bo socn in company with some Turnstones about the roeks near Santa Cruz, in Klores.
Ho was told that in sun)UU'r they were l're(]ueutly noti(a'(l upon tiio rough [)asture-
land, and high up in the juountains. It was the common opinion that thoy go there
only to food. ^[r. Godman had no doubt that they also breed there, as he procured
in Juno a male in full summer or breeding i»lumage ; but his o])inions uuist bo
regarded as problematical.

In (Jroat ISritain, according to Yarrell, the; I'urple Sandpiper, though well known,
is not very numerous. It is i'oinid on various i)arts yf tiie coast, preCerring the
rocky portions, where it is seen from Sejitember, thioughout the winter, until April
or May. That some which leave do not go far, and that a few remain and breed, is
regarded as certain. Some are absent a very short time, young ones returning with
them ; and on one occasion, on the Fame Islands, Mr. Selby met with a family of this
species, the young of which were scarcely able to fly. It is commonly only a winter
visitant, and may 1)0 seen busily turning over the stones, or searching among the
seaweed for the smaller shrimjis and sand-liopjiers. It also feeds on small crabs,
marine insects, and the soft IkhUos of the smaller shelltish. Mr. Dunn states that
it is very numerous in Shetland and the Orkneys in the early spring, collecting there
in large flocks. It may be foun;l on the rocks at I'bb-tide, watching each retiring
wave, running down as the water falls luick, picking small shelltish off the stones,
and displaying great activity in escaping from the advancing sea. None remain
there to breed.

It is said by Wheelwright to breed only in tlie far north, and never to be seen in
Scandinavia except in the autumn, or occasionally in tlu' winter. Sommerfeldt states
that it is very common dni'ing the summer on the north coast of West Finland. Mr,
AVheelwright had received specimens from Iceland and Greenland, but never from
Lapland. The ^Messrs. Godman found it on the isUunls near liodiie, in Norway,
throughout the summer. The first speeiuu-n was obtained May 4. It is occasional
in Switzerland and in Italy; and ^Ir. H. Saunders found it abundant during the
winter in Southern Spain.

Mr. lioardman iid'orms me that it is (juite (tonimon near Galais, Me., in the winter,
where it is known as the " Winter Snipe." It is also very abundant about the rocky
shores of Grand jNIenan. It is very irregular in its ap])earance on the eastern coast
of Massachusetts, where in some winters it appears in great numbers, and then again
is rarely seen for several years. j\lr. Giraiul never nu^t with this species, and regarded
it as an exceedingly rare bird on the shores of Long Island ; occasionally, however,
specimens are seen in the New York nuirket which have been taken on the eastern
end of that island.

Mr. Kumlien mentions this Wader as the flrst to arrive at Cumberland, and the
last to leave in autumn, coming by the 1st of June, the earliest moment at whicli
thoy could have found any rocks l)are at low-tide. Their arrival took place during
a severe snow-storm, and the birds huddled together under the ledges like a flock of
Quails in wintei*. Thoy remained until November, as late as they could And any
exposed shore, and were very connnon. Sonui are said to remain in the flords of
South Greenland all winter.

They are devoid of fear, and can almost be caught with the hand. They nest on
the borders of fresh-water lakes, and at this time nearly desert the sea-shore. When
in large flocks they keep up a lively and very pleasant twJtter. During the breeding-
season the males have a peculiar cry, somewhat resembling that of Bartram's Tattler,
but lower, and not so prolonged. When the male utters this note it assumes a digni-

SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPK FAMILY — ARQUATELLA.

221

fiofl stmt, raises its wings over its l)ack, and then slowly folds thorn. The bird is
crepuscular in its habits, wliicli in sonic rcspocts appear to be different from those of
iiKist of its family. It is found almost exclusively on rocky shores of the sea, and
sliuiis sandy beaches. It is seldom known to occur far inland. It is a very unsus-
picious bird, and wlien intent on its food seems to ha almost entirely regardless
of the near presence of man. Its flight is rapid, and can be long sustained in its
iingrations. This bird is known to lauiters as tlu; "Hock Snipe." An egg of this
siit>cies from Greenland has a ground of a drab color tinged with olivaceous. Tlie
e,i,'g is pyriform in shape, but is more oval than that of Arf/iiate/fa ptUomemis, which
ill some respects it closely resembles. The egg is marked with blotches of s(>pia-
brown, and these are more or less diffused over the entire surface. Tlie eggs in
my cabinet — one from Greenland, and others from different localities — average 1.4G
inches in length, by l.lO in tlieir greatest breadth. In some the olivaceous tinge of
the ground is much deeper than in others. The s|)ots vary in their number, size,
and distribution, in some the smaller end being nearly unspotted.

Arquatella Couesi.

THE ALEUTIAN SANDPirEB.

? Tringa ai-qnalrlla, (part) Pali.. Zooj;. ]!o.sso-As. II. 1821, 100 (spec, ox Ins Cuiilinn).

Tnii<rt mnritimn," Buunn." Dam, & IJaxn. Tr. Chicago Acad. 1. 18G9, 291 (.St. ilichnel's, Alaska). —

Fix.scii, Al>h. Nat. III. 1872, 6r> (Alaska).
Ti-iiKjii (Pilidiui) (nncrianin, Dai. I.. I'r. t'al. Acad. .Sci. Feb. 1873 (Aleutians).
At-qiMlrUn Cditcsi, HiDcw. Bull. Xutt. Oiii. Club, V. July, 1880, l(iO (Aleutian Islands) ; Nora. N.

Am. B. 1881, no. 531. — Coue-s Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 621.

Sp. Char. Similar to A. mnrifhiia, I'ni'XX., but uvoraging ,'*liglitly sniallcr, and the plumage
appreciably ilifTcrent at all agc.'t and sea.sons. Adult hreediiuj-dresx; Above, fuliginous-slate, the
leathers of the pileuni broadly edged, those of the doi-sal region (including the sciMiulai's) widely
bordered, with rusty ochraceous or bright ciniiamon (a few of the scupulars and interscapuhirs
tipped with white in some sjieciinens), the central area ol each feather nearly black, or imich darker
tliaii the wings and rinnp ; les.ser wing-coverts slightly, and middle coverts broadly, bordered
tcniiinally with white ; greater coverts widely tipped with white, forming a conspicuous bar across
the wing ; three or four of the inner secondaries chiefly wiiite, the otliers, also the inner primaries,
iiariuwly skirted and tipped with white. Rump, upper tail-coverts, and middle tail-feathers,
uiiit'orm fuliginous-dusky, the remaining rectrices paler, or dull cinereous. A conspicuous whitish
superciliary stripe, extending b.ack to the nape, and confluent with the dull whitisii of the uiiiler
siile of the head, thus posteriorly bounding a large sooty-brown auricular area ; anterior portion of
the lores, with the forehead, dull smoky grayish ; neck, juguluni, and breast, dirty whitish (some-
times soiled witli dingy buff), and clouded or spotted with dull slate, sooty plumbeous, or diLsky
black, this sometimes forming a large patch on each side of the breast ; remaining lower parts pure
wliite, the sides with chain-like eries of brownish f-laty spots mixed with streaks, the crissum
streaked with dusky ; lining of .be wing pure white, the border brownish gray Bill, legs, and
feet brownish black in the dried skin ; iris brown. In fresh specimens, " feet, legs, and l)ase of liill
diuk greenish yellow; terniiiual two thirds of bill black, or very dark brown" (Nklson, MS.).
Il'intiir plumafie : Above, soft smoky plumbeous, the scapulars and interscapulars glossy purplish
dusky centrally, the plumbeous bonlers to the feathers causing a S(iuamate appearance ; head and
neck unifovm plumbeous, except the throat an<l a supraloral patch, which are streaked whitish ;
juj,'uluin squamate<l with white, the breast similarly but more broadly marked. Wings, etc., as in
summer. Yoiiwj, first plmruKje: Scapulars and interscapulars Idack, broadly bordered with bright
rusty and bulTy white, the latter chiefly on the longer and outer scapulars and posterior part of the
back ; wing-coverts broadly bordered with buffy white ; pileuin streaked black and ochraceous ;
jugulum and breast pale l)uff, or buffy white, streaked with dusky. Dovmy young : Above, bright

iiii

■

' ii-'l

222

PFl.KroCIAIi (ilULLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

rusty lulvmis, irri'j,'uliirly iiiottlid witli bliuk, the back, wiiif,'i<, iiiid ramp ornninpiitcd l)y ycUnwish-
wlillc downy decks or i)ii|iilln' ; lii'iid al)')ve dec^p I'lilviius lirowii, with ii h)iij,'itudiiial strijii' (if
vi'lvety l)huk liniii Ihi' rurclii'iid (n ihi' (Mi'i| "1 ..lu'ii' coiiMiioiit willi a cross luiiid of the same, tliu
Inrt's with two nearly iiaralld loii^iitudiiial streaks of Mack ; there are also i)ther, rallitir iiidcliiiitc,
bhick markiii^js, cliicfly on tiic siipcniliiiry md ociipital rcjjioiis. Lowui juut.s white, becotuiiij,'
distinctly fulvous laterally.

Win;,', 4.r)()-5.1-) (t.HO) inches; culnie-,, .!)8-l.:i.") (1.1:0 ; tarsus, .88-l.(X) (.!).'))• middle toe,
.7H-.!»() (.8(!). (K.xtrcmc; and avernj,'e nuasurcnients of 14 adults.)

Had. Aleutian Islundti and coat of Alaska, north to St. Michael's; west to Commander
Islands.

TIio prospiit ,s])pci('.s i.s clo.soly allit'd to AniiutteUa maritime, Bifl'xN., and can
with (litticulty lu' distiiij^'uislii'd in its wintor i<lumag<'. A ehisc comparison, however,
shows that in this livery A. CokchI has decidedly less of the purjde gloss to the (h)rsal
region, where the plumbeous borders to the featiiers are both broader and jjaler; tiu'
t'oreneek is also invariably scpiamated or streaked with white^ and not uniforndy
mouse-gray, as in vinrittiixi. It is still more nearly related to A. j'tilonwinis, Coii;s,
of the I'rybilof Islan<ls, but averages much smaller, and is always very much darker-
colored in every stage of plumage. The three are not only strictly congeneric, but
are very probal)ly the descendants of one original stock ; but, since no intermediate
specimens have been observed in a large series of each kind, they may l)e considered
as having passed the " varietal stage," so that we may treat them as distinct species.
Both Mr. Hurting and Dr. Goues were wrong in referring A. pfilonicDiin to the sauu'
group as l'f/!(lii(i (i/fiina, which bears oidy a superficial resemblance in coloration, the
details of form being quite different.

While I have been unable to Hud any name which can be applied to this species,
it ap))ears that Pallas refers to it in his description of 2'rbiga ar<iuiiteU<i, in " Zoiig,
Rosso-Asiat." II. p. 19l>, since \w says that specimens of his species from the Kurile
Islands are marked with ru.sty yellow, as in the bird under consideration : "Corpus
supra plumis fuscis, margine pallidis {in CurUira ore fvi'nigineo-hdois) . . . pectorc
cinerescens (m vurUlcn v(tr. Itifi'sreus)." All Alaskan references to Tringa maritima
of course apply to the present species.

Arquatella ptilocnemis.

THE FBTBILOF SANDFIFEB.

Tringa crassirnstri.i, "Temm. &Sciii.eo." Dall, Am. Nat. VIII. 1873, 635 (St. Paul's I. Alaska). —
CoUES, in Elliott's Alaska, 1873 (not paged) ; cd. 1875, 18? ; Check List, 1873, no. 426 bis.

Triiign, plilnenciiiis, Coues, in Elliott's Alaska, 1873 (not paged) ; ed. 1875, 182, footnote ; Birds N.
W. 1874, 491.

ArqiMtella plilociirinis, RindW. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, V. .July, 1880, 163; Nom. N. Am. B. 1882,
no. 532. — CoiTEs, Check List, 2d cd. 1882, no. 622.

Tringa gradUs, Hap^tino, P. Z. S. Apr. 1874, 242 (Prybilof Islands).

Black-breasted Sandpiper, CouEs, 1. c.

Hab. Prybilof Islands, Alaska.

Sp. Char. Similar to A. maritima, but larger, and much ligliter colored. Adult, brccding-
plwnmge : Back and scainilai-s light clay-color, or ochracoous, the centre of each feather black, the
tips of many of them narrowly whitish ; rump and upper tail-coverts dark slate, the feathers in-
distinctly tipped with plumbeous-gray. Vfings plumbeous-gray, the coverts bordered with grayish
white, the greater coverts widely tipped with pure white ; several (three or four) of the inner
secondaries (not tertials) wholly pure white ; primaries slate color, with white shafts, the inner
ones distinctly edged vrith white toward the base. Pileum light fulvous, widely streaked with

«^'

SCOLOPAC'ID.E — TIIL SNIPK FA^rII,Y — AUQI'ATKLLA.

223

lilackisli ; nuiMs li^ht fulvoiiH, mixed with piilf ^jntyisli, iiuirowly ami iiuliHtiiictly Htreiiked. An
indistinct lorul Htrijii; (tliis HoiiiutiniuH olisoletc), and aiii'iculiii's, palu j,'riiyinli lulvoiw, fiiioly and
imlistiiK'tly stivakt-d ; wal of tiiu head, iiu liidiii;,' a siipciriliary sliipc, and fUtire lower jMirts,
wliite, the juj,'iiluiii Usually (in lii],'lic;st iiluina^'c) wusIumI with (icliruceoiis, and (always?) streaked
witii dusky ; liruast blutclied witli dusky, the blotches usually coalesced into an inet,'ular laijjn
]iiitch, i-.()Uietinies coverin;,' the whole lueast ; flanks and under tail-coverts marked sparsely with
very narrow shali-streaks of dusky. Inner border of tiie win;,' spotted with li},'ht },'rayish, and
Milder primary coverts very pale ash-i,'ray. Ailitll, irliitir plitiitmjf : Winj,'s, rump, tail-coverts, tail,
,iiid jiosterior lower parts as in the summer pliima),'e. Reuminiuj,' upper parts continuous li^dit ashy
plunilieous (many shades lif,'hter than in .1. inuiitimit), the leathers of the hack and the scapuliiw
darker centrally, and with a very faint purplish j,doss in certain lij,'hts, Head li;,'ht f,'rayish, darker
and almost uidjrokeu on the iiileum, lij,diter ami streaked with white elsewhere, the throat white,
and but sparsely streaked. Ju^'ulum and breast white, irre^'ularly marked with ]iale ash-i,'ray.

Yinuiij, jivst plumtujc : Above, very similar to the summerdress of the adult, but the win;,'-coverts
widely bordered with pah; buff; head and neck also very similarly colored. Juyulum pale buff,
distinctly marked with short streaks and su^^ittate murks of dusky gray. Downy Yoiinij: Above,
lirij,'ht tawny fulvous, irre^'ujarly marbled with black, the back and rump bespauHhvd with downy,
dot-likcMlei'ks of yellowish wliit(! ; the nape nearly uniform li;,'ht fulvous f,'rayish ; forehead pide
biilf, with a vi'ry narrow medial streak of black, reaching,' nearly to the bill, and e.\teudinj,' pos-
teriorly into the fulvous of the crown and occiput, which is irre;,'ulaily marbh-d, loiiyitudiually,
with black ; a narrow black loral streak reachin;,' about half way to the eye, with a still narrower
riitid streak.

Total lenyth, about 9.50 inches ; winj,', .').(Ht-5.4() ; culnien, 1.15-1.4,') ; tarsus, .9.5-1.00 ; middle
toe, .S5-.9S.

Althoii^'h, at first sij,'ht, this Sandpiper seems very distinct from ,1. maritima and A. Coiiesi,
especially the latter, the apparent dilferences become j,'really reduced iiiion the careful e.\amination
of a lar^'e series of sj)ecimens. The dimen.sions, while averaj,'inj,' considerably greater (e.\cept as
ret;inils the feet), ai'e yt found to inosculate with those of that s|)ecies, while the dilference in
plumage, as compiled with .1, Coucsi, proves to be solely one of intensity of cidors— the liyhter
lints prevailing hi ptilociicmis, the darker ones in Coin:<i. The exact correspondence of pattern of
cciloratioii between the two extends to every stage of jdumage, even including the downy chick.
We therefore, all things considered, hiok upon the present liird as being merely a local insular race
of a species of which A. Couesi represents the resident form of the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian
t'liain, and from which .1. vuintima is perhaps not .specifically distinct.

For what little we know of the habits of this newly discovered species we are
indebted to Mr. Henry AV. Elliott, who found a few breeding on the I'rybilof Islands.
Ill liis brief aecouiit of its nniiiuer of life he states that it was tlie only Wader that
ill' found breeding on these islands, with the marked exeeption, now and then, of
a stray pair of Lobt'pcs hj/pcrbovcus. It is said to make its ajipearance early in
.May, and to repair to the dry uiilaiuls aiul mossy luimniocks, wheri' it breeds. Its
nest is simply a cavity in a bunch of nuws, in which the hird deposits its four darkly
lildtched pyriform eggs, hatidiing them out within twenty diiys.

The young come from the .shell clothed in a thick yellowish down, with dark-brown
markings on the head and back, but taking on the plumage of their parents, and
being able to fly as early as the lOth of August; ami at that season old and y(mng
tiock together for the iirst time, and conliiu' themselves to the sand-beaches and surf-
margins about the islands for a few wi'cks, when they take flight, leaving the islands
from about the 1st to the oth of September, aiul disappearing until the opening of
the new season.

Mr. Elliott describes this bird as a most devoted and fearless parent, and states
that he has known it to flutter in feigned distress around by the hour, uttering a low
piping note when its nest was too nearly approached. It also makes a sound exactly

224

l'Il.K("()('IAI, (iUALI.ATOllKS — LIMICOL.K.

liko our trt'c-frogs ; and iM't'oro Mr. Elliott liatl traccl tlio noiso to thin source, he
liad scarehcil sovurul weeks, uuavailinyly, tor tliese reptiles, misled by the tail ol
this bird.

The eggs have the following measurements: 1.00 by l.lO; I.flU l)y 1.10; 1.50 liv
1.11, and 1.55 by l.OD iuehes. They are decidedly pyrilorm in shape, one end bein^'
much more obtuse than the other, tiic acute ends retreating in a very jtntnounci'il
nuiuner. The ground-ctihir in all the spei'imens is ol' a juire and clear dral), ami i;.
very boldly marked with large blotches ol' sejiia brown, intermingled with other
markings which are sutt'used with a w;ish of a purplish ash. In some instances tiic
sejiia markings are dilute, and in others they are intensilied almost to l)lackncss.
The eggs wi-re taken J une lU, 1)S7.j, and weri' then (juite liesh.

Genus ACTODROMAS, Kaui>.

Admlrowan, Kai'I', Hk. Kiit. Kur. Tliierw. 18'.2'.i, ;!7 (tyiw, TriHija miauttt, I.r.isi,.).

llcUntfiijijiit, Couivs, I'r. I'liihul. Acail. 1801, lUO (type, Trimja Uun'ipartii, Sciilku. = T. fuscicollis,

Viiai.i..).
Lcimiiiiilcn, Kaui', t. c. (typi', Tringn Tiiiiiuuicl,!, Lkisi,. ).
DdopyijiK, CoCEs, Pr. I'liihid. Aciul. 1801, llto (= Iklcrupijijia).

Chau. Size incdiuni to very sumll (snmlk'st of the family) ; form graceful, legs and bill sslcii-
der, tlie latter straight, and little, if any, longer tlian tlie tai'sus. Tarsus decidedly longer tliuii tlic
middle toe with its claws ; toes slender, completely cleft. Wings long and pointed, their ends
when closed reaching beyond the tip of the tail.

\ li

■^'V

5 I

A, maculata.

Although the species of this genus vary greatly in size, they all agree very closely in the details
of structure. Besides the American species include<l in the following synoptical table, there are
several Old World Actodromi, uuiong which may be nameil Triwja minitta, Lkisl., and T. albescuus,
Temm., both nearly allied to, though fpiiti' distinct from, our A minutilla. The American species
may be distinguished as follows : —

A« Size large (wings more than 5.50).

1. A. Cooperi. Tail even, the middle feathers scarcely narrowed at the end, and not pro-
jecting notably W-yond the rest. L(>wer parts white, the jugulum, breast, and sides longi-
tudinally flecked with dusky. Above (in adult), brownish gray, the feathers marked
centrally with black, producing conspicuous »])ots on the back and scapulars, streaks
elsewhere. U]jper tail-coverts white, with irregular sagittate marks of dusky. AVing,
6.80 ; cuhnen, 1.25 ; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .80. Hub. Long Island.

SrOLOl'ACin.E — TIIK SNIPK FAMILY — ACTODROMAS.

220

B. Si/n niciliinii (wiii^ Ich^ tlian r>.5() uihI iiioic tliiiii Kki).

2. A. fuaolooUls. 'I'liil iis in .l.t'iiDpni, l)iit miclillc liatlii'i't Nli^'litly nairowt'r itt cixl iiml

inure iii'DJi'clin^'. ('nlurs of mliilt us in .1. I'lmjuri, luit niuri' lini^cil \vi(ii li^'iit rnl'iUH
on I TDWU, liiu'ii, iihil sni[inlMrs. Ycioiij ; lltu'k uikI Hciiiiuliirn niixcil liliicii unil rnsty, tlie
fi'Ullicrs ccinsiiicnipii^ly liuriliTnl ti'iiniii.iUy willi while ; npiier tail-i<pverl-t white, in
niarkiMl oonlraMt witii the dnsky iuni|i ; lnvast li;,'iii j;iayiMh-hrown, ■'tivakeil with ihisky,
Win^', ahont 4. IX) ; cnlnien, .!)(>-I.(Ki ; laisn.^ .Do-l.dO ; inithllo too, .70-.7.V /Jab. Kast-
ei'ii N'oi'lh Ainei'il'it ; Sunlh Anieiii'a in nii^'iatinie^,

3. A. Bairdi. Tail as in ,I.//'.<iiV»//m. l'|pi)er tail-cnverts liiixky, only tin; httcral oni'H wliitlHli.

Adiill III iiniimer: IJiiek ami Muiaihir.i lihick, irregularly varit'^'utcil (Kjiotted and edfjod)
withdull laiir. .luLjnhini white, streaked with dusky. AilitU in irinhr: Aliove, nearly
uniform ;;rayish lunwn, tin;,'ed with eiay-colur ; jut,'uluin and sides deeply snfl'nsed with
clay-c(rlor or dirty Imll', the former very indistinctly streaked. Ymititf : Aliove, lij,dit
bully linwn, streaked with dusky, the feathers of the back and the scapulars Mackish,
Cfuisiiiciiously l)orderi'd ti iiuiiially with dull while ; win;,'-coverts dark ;,'rayisli, also Imr-
dered terminally with wliili' or li;;lit hull'. •Iu;^>ulum snifused with liulfand indistinctly
streaked. Winj,'s, alM)nt -I.".")-.').!!!! ; cnlnien, ahont .!)(• ; tarsus, .!)(• ; middle toe, .70. //uh.
We.Hteru America, fioni the Arctic Ue^jions to l*ataj,'onia; -ilraKuler in Kastern North
America.

4. A. maoulata. Miildle tail-feathers wed^^e-shaped at the end and projectin;{ a (quarter of

un inch or . lore l)e>ond the rest. Ujiper tail-coverts dusky, like the rninp, the outer
feathers whitish, marked with dusky, .rni^nlnm and hreast lij^ht day-color, streaked
with dusky. A dull : Ahove, without whitt! inarkinj,'s. Ynniiij: Scapulars hordereil ternii-
nnlly with whit(!. Wii% ahout .'i.iHt ; culnien, 1.10; tar.sns, l.oo-l.lO; nddille toe, .!K).
Hith. America in ;,'eneral, hreedin;,' in the Arctic llej^ions.
6. A. acumiuata. Similar to .1. maculdtn, hut with the middle tnil-featherH Htill mirrower
and more jiointed, the hill smaller, thoJuLiidum and hreast fcnrcely streaked ; lower tail-
covert.s marked with shaft-streaks of <lnsky (entiiely absent in mitrulata) ; jiilenm deep
rusty, in strong' contrast, Ailiilf : I'pper parts brownish ^;ray, the feathers marked
centrally with blackish ; ju^'ulum and iireasi pale j^rayish bull', very spars(dy streaked ;
pilouni cinmunoii-hiown, streakecl with blackish. Ynunij : Above, rusty fulvous, the
feathers of tln^ bai^k and the scapulars blai:k centrally, the lar;,'er feathers edj,'ed termi-
nally with white ; pilenm brij,dit rusty ruf(Uis, in very shar]t contrast with a whitish
superciliary strijie, and streaked with black ; throat immaculate white ; Jut;ulum an<l
bren.st dcej) rusty ochraetfous, the former narrowly streaked anteriorly. Winj;, about
5.(K) ; culmen, scarcely 1.00 ; tarsus, l.:JO ; middle toe, .85. Hub. Australia, etc. ; abun-
dant in autumn on coast of Alaska.
Ct Size very small (winj,' less than 4.00).

6. A. minutilla. Middle tail-feathers slij,ditly projecting, narrow and somewhat pointed at
end in summer, broader and rounded in winter pluma>^e. Upper tail-coverts black-
ish, the lateral ones white, marked with du.sky. Adult in summer: Back and scapu-
lars black, the feathers bor(lere(l and irre;,'ularly barred with rusty ochraceous ; tertials
bordered with the same. Juf,'ulum ilull white, streaked with dusky. Adult in muter:
Above, uniform browni.sh t^ray, the feathers with indi.stinct dusky nie.eial streaks, most
distinct on the back. .luj,'ulum pale jjrayish, indistinctly .streaked. Youmj: .Similar to
the adult in summer, but the scapulars and exterior feathers of the back bordered termi-
nally on outer webs with white, aiul lackinr; the concealed ochraceous bars. Ju};uluni
very indistinctly streaked, as in the winter plumage. Ilab. North America, migrating
into South America in winter.

VOL. I. — 29

•;»;

IMMX'tHlAI, (IKAI.I.ATOltKS l,lMI(Ol,.K.

Actodromas CooperL

COOFEB'S SANDPIPEB.

Triitgit (',>«t»ri, nArnn, IMnU X. Am. If.^H, "Ml ; >>l. IstKi, |il. bl), tij{. I. — C'iileu, Clifck Lint, 187a.

IK). IJ'J ; llinln N. W. 1H71, I'.il.
Trimjii (AclmlriiiiKii) I'lm/Hi-i, C'liiiK'*, Ki'>, l'<7!i, '.'.15.

Aclmlnmum {//ilirnpi/yiii) CiHi/xri, ii>Vi:», I'r. Ac. Nut. Sri. I'liil;hi. IHtll. i»(C2.
Aclotlrumaa CoKixri, Uiimw. Nmii, N. Am. H. IMHl. no. .111.'). Cm i>, < lui k l.isi, iM nl. iHS'-'.iio. ills.

IIaii. Liii;^' IhIiiiiiI ; unly nnc N|ii'('iiiii'ii known.

Si'. CiiAK. Xciirly 111 liirj,'!' a-t Trimin iiuntluA, Imt u lyi>it'iil Ailixlrniniin in loi'iii ami ((ilnriilion.
Atliill, Hiimuur plii mniji' : Aliim.-l c.xailly like A.J'nniir(iUiii, Imt with u Ii'mk aninunt of ii'dilifh tiiij,'i'
Ik the uiipiT iiai't-<, ami liit' ii|i|M'r laii-i'(ivcrli iniiri' ilistinrtly iiiurkcii willi diixky. Almvc, limwii-
isii 1,'ray, llii' Icatiu'r* inarknl (ciilriiily willi lilark, ihikIui in;,' ratiicr liir;,'c, invj,'nlaily ruinate h|iiiis
on tliu buck ami Hca|inlai><, ami liiii|,'itmlimil siivakn t'Ncwlii'iv, the laltcr InuailcHt mi tlic cruwii,
wlicre tlii^ o|uuiiil-nil(ir imlinos to ^iiayiMJi Imll'; a lew nl' the HcaiPuluiH hli;;liily liii;;c(l witli li;;ij|
iiisty (iclirut'ci)UH ; iiiinii |,'iayisli tliHky, llu' t'catlu'is IpuiiIitimI with ^,'rayi^<li wliiti-, ami inaikfil willi
lilackUh bhart-Htri'ako ; ^^\>[n:i• lail-( tpviris white, witli iiivj^ulur winittatt^ maikinK'< of tlunky. Wiii),'-

1 '
i i;

1-1

V ■

coverts hrowni.sli fjray, the sinalh-r witli diiikiT rentres ami lihukisi, .-hafts, the ^renter ilistin<'tlv
tipped with white ; reniij,'e.s dusky, the inner piiinarii'.s edj,'ed toward bases, the secoiidanes towanl
aiul around ends, with white ; shafts of tiiu jiiiniaries white, liecoininj,' brown basally and termi
iially. Tail li^ht brownish -^ray, the middle fealiiers darker terminally, the others indistinctly
elided with whitish, liower i)arts white, the sides of the head and neck and the jnj,'uluni tingiil
with light rusty bull', and thickly streaked with dusky ; breast, sides, and Hanks marked with
coarser, irrej,'ular, mostly loiij,'itudinal specks of dusky, becominj,' saj,'ittate in form on the Hanks;
lower tail-coverts with narrow streaks of dusky. Lininj,' of the wiiii,' white, s])otted e.Kterioiiy and
anteriorly with dusky ; under primary coverts pale ^ray, ed;,'ed and tii)iied with white.

Total len;,'th, about 9.5(1 inches ; wiiij,', .').8(> ; eulnien, 1.2.5 ; tarsus, 1.20 ; iniihllo toe, .8(1.

The relationships of this bird, the type specimen of which still remains nniiiue, are umiuestion-
ably with Actoilromas fiiscicollis, from which it could hardly be distinf,'uished, were it not for its
much greater size. The plumage is entirely the same, e.vcept that there is le.ss of n reddish tinge
above, and the upper tail-coverts nre more distinctly relieved by V-.shapcd markings of dusky. It
is totally distinct from 7'. canutus, with which it scarci-ly needs comparison at all, the very dilferent
proportions, aside from the differences in coloration, distinguishing it at once.

The history of the niiinners, liabits, and distribution of this rare species continiios
to remain unknown, and its existence as a veritable species to rest on the eviih^ice of
a single specimen. The type, which has thus far remained uniipie, was taken on
the 24th of May, 1833, on liaynor South, Long Island, by William Cooper, and named
by I'rofessor Baird in honor of its discoverer. We know nothing as to any indi-
vidual peculiarities exhibited at the time of its capture, but we may venture the
suggestion that its habits probably do not essentially differ from those of the Bouor
parte Sandpiper.

SCOLOI'ACID.K TIIK SNIIM-; KAMII.V -ACToDlloMAH.

227

ActodromsB fiiscieollls.

BONAPABTI'B IAN DPI PER.

7 /It fii^ciritlth, ViKii.i.. N'lmv. hilt. .\.\.\IV. IHlli, |i!l (IuimiI mi Chni'l iln ftrnlitrrjo }tardo, Al.\\\.\,

.\|iiinl. III. \M\:<, Wi'l, I'liniKimy). r..ii>, HinlH N. \V. In7(, \>il.
Tfiiiijii Schiir.ii, U..NAI'. .Syiio].. l.sjs, •J41» ; Am. Oni. IV. 1SU3, ♦ll>, pi. 2», I'lK. '2. - Ni'TT. Mftii.

il. 1«:U, Mit. .Sw. & Itidi. K. H. A. II. ISill, :)84. — Aii>. Orn. Ilhi^. ill. Isa.J, C'.'O. |il.

278 ; ."^yimi.. IMlll*, SM ; H. Am. V. 1812, •J7.'>, pi. :W.'».
ri/».7'( lti,iiii,Hii'lri, .S. iii.r.ii. II.'V. ('lit. Oii. Vmv. ink, «it. Cass, in Mniid's It. N, Aim. IH.IS, 722

(imrt). -U.viiii), t'lit. N. Am. H. IH.I'.i. im. .MU. — CmiiN, Key, 1872, 25.1; (lurk List, 187!l,

no. 421.
AdiiihitmiiH noiiii]xirti-i, CniKs, Clicik List, 2cl imI. 18S2, im. tllT.
'J'liiiijii iiltln mil 11.1, Hl,.\s. List H, Lllf. iMi-J, 11' (liw ViKII.I..),
Triiii/ii ilcrmilin, Lniii'. Xi.iiiiiirl. IH.'il, !i-.' (liiii' IMsi.s.hkii).
ActiKlrumas jHHCii-oll is, Uiikiw. Nom. N. Am. II. 1SS2, no, S.'W.

IIah. KiiHttTii Priivitici! of North AiiitTicn, lirwdiiii^ in \\w lii^-li north ; in winttr, the wholu
(>r Miilillt! Aini'rica, South Aniurica, iiml tlu; WcMt IiidicH ; Falklmul Islunils ; orciiHional in

lUlllllH'.

.Si>. Char. Adult in Hummrr: ALovf, lij^lit Lrownisii ^,'riiy, niiirli tiiit,'i'(l, iiaiticuhiriy on the
I'i'nwii, liuuk, niiil iniiur HcupulaiN, witli li^'lit nisty Imll' or ochnKu-ouH, all tliu fi'atht-rM Lhu'k ccn-
Irnlly, tln'sc niaikiiij,'^ lar^'i'st ami somcwiiai V-slia]M'il, or siij,'itiiiti", on tlic seaimlars, stivak-likc
clsi'wlii'ii', tile strraki lifoaiicst on the cidwn ami Irick ; iiim|i tliisky lilackiMli, the iVatlii'is Imr-
(liVfcl with li^iht ^^v^^y ; n\>\»'v tail-i ovitIs |pimi' wliili', in niarkcil coiitriiHt, Hniiic of tiiu I'l-atiicrH
liaviii;,' irri'Ljular sai^'ittali', lllo^•liy iMimcalcil, spots nl' liiisky. Tail Lrownish ^,'ray. tin' niidillc
ri'ullu'i's iilacki-*h, ami ail sli;,'litly ciI^imI with whitish. \Vin(,'-iovurts ami tortial.s brownish gray,

«V V»

lit,'hter on edges nnd dusky centrally, the slinfta nearly black. Superciliary stripe iirul entire lower
parts pure white; auriculars li^jht l)utr, iiidistiuctly streaked ; sides of head and lu'ck, foreneck,
.jii,i,'Mluni, and upi)er jmrt of breast, streaked or ilashed with dusky; sides and Hanks with larj,'er
irre;,'ular marking's of the same. Adult in winter : Wiii^js, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail as in
summer pluuu.j,'e ; rest of ii](per jiarts continuous browuish j,'ray, relieved iiy rather indistinct
mesial streaks of black ; streaks on juj^uluni, etc., less sharply detined than in the suininer plu-
m;i;,'e. Young, Jirst plnnuirii' : Hack aiul scapulars black, the feathers liordered terminally with pure
white, and laterally with ferruj,'iiuius, those of the middle of the back also tipped with this color ;
feathers of the luleuiu and rump, as well as the tertials, also bordered with rusty ; win<,'-covert8
bordered with pale grayish bufl'. Otherwise as in the winter plumage, but breast, juguluni, etc.,
sufl'used with ])ale fulvous.

Total length, about 7 inches; wing, 4.90; ciilmeii, .0()-l.(M) ; tarsus, ,05-l.(X) ; middle toe,
.7()-.75.

Specimens from South Americit are exactly like northern ones, among which there is the usual
anioimt of individual variation. In niidsuinmer the black of the back and scapulars increases in
relative extent, ]>artly by the wearing away of the rusty borders to the feathers, until, in some
examples, the dorsal asjiect is chiefly black.

228

Pll.ECOCIAL GHALLATOKES — LIMICOL.E.

I a I

The history of tlu' luibits aiul iiianner of life of the Bonaparte Sandpiper is still
Init inipt'rfc'ctly known, and tlic entire ranj,'e of its distribntion is, without donhi.
very far from liav'Mg been fully ascertained. On tlie Atlantie eoast and, to a eertain
extent, in tiie interior, it is a migratory visitant, botii in the sjiring and in the i'lill.
During the season of reproduetion it visits liigh Arctic regions, is known to breed in
the vicinity of the Arctic coast, and is given by Heinhardt as one of the birds of
(Jreenland. It is stated by llolbiiU to breed near .Juliauehaab, where small Hocks
of old and young were observed by him in August. A very young bird was obtained
at Nenortalik in If^.'Jo, another in 1840. and three others in l!S41.

It is also said to occur and to Itreed in the extreme southern ])ortions of Sontli
America, and to visit tiie Falkland Islands. During its autumnal nngrations it is
found in Bermuda, where Major Wedderburn nu't with it in the fall, and where it
was in company with A. iiKiriihitn.

In .Massachusetts it also occurs, but is not a very common bird. ftfr. "William ]>rews-
ter informs me that in this State, according to his observations, it is not abundant,
although its visits are constant, uniform, and regular. It i)asses north in May, and
reap])ears in its southern migr.ition as early as tiie L'Oth of -hily. It has a very
peculiar note, unlike tliat of any other Sandpiper, which is not in any sense a whist-
ling, but is a low lisiiing stmnd, and almost the only cry of a shore-bird which is
neither mellow nor whistling. When disturbed, it moves (piickly off, repeating tiiis
rather low note, which, however, is always distinctly audible above that of the small
Truujir with which it associates.

According to ('ai)tain C ('. Abbott, this little Sandpiper makes its appearance in
the summer on the Falkland Islands, and is known tt) breed on J'^ast Falkland, lie
met with the y(niiig birds. l)ut was not al)le to find their nests. Mr. H. Durnford
also, in his Notes on the Birds of Central Patagonia, speaks of this s])ecies as resident.
lie found it very common in the valleys of both the Sengtd and the Sengelen, and
always in flocks.

This species, once confounded with distinct European species, was supposed to
have a more cosmopolitan distribution than it is now credited with. At present it
is thought to be coiiKiied to the .Vmerican continent, occurring along the entire
Atlantic sea-coast, and to be met with more sparingly on the banks of interior rivers
and lakes.

On Long Island, according to (Jirand. it is not a very plentiful species, having
never been observed by him in large Hocks, although during his excursions he fre-
quently met with small parties distributed along the margins of creeks and pools,
feeding in company with tiie Semi])almated Sandi)iper, from which it can always lie
distinguished by its superior size. It is described as being more watchful than that
species, seeming to be more alarmed at the report of a gun, and usually flying to a
greater distance. It seldom revisits the place from which it has been driven, althougli
its less timid companion always returns immediately to its feeding-grounds, seemingly
as unconcerned as Ixsfore its flight. jMr. Criraud also states that he has met with this
species along the banks of the Hudson River near Toughkeepsie, and on the margins
of ponds in the interior counties of Xew V'ork.

Itichardson states that he found this species not unfrequent on the shores of the
small lakes which skirt the Saskatchewan I'lains. Air. Audubon met with it at differ-
ent times in Kentucky, and along the Atlantic shores from Florida to Maine. In the
United States he observed it only in the latter part of autumn and in the winter.
He procured examides in Labrador at the beginning of August, which were all young
birds about to take their departure. He secured also specimeua at St. Augustiiu'.

i Si

SCOLOPACID.-E ~ THE SNIPE FAiflLY — ACTODIIOMAS.

229

ill Florida, on the 2(1 of December, lie has always foiiiul this species less shy than
iinv other of the same genus; in this respect his observations not according with
tliose of Giraud.

Tiie author of the " Key to Nortli Auu-rican Itirds " met with birds of this species
in Labrador, for tlie first tiuu", .hily .'}(). On the 1st of September, when lie left that
rcijion, it was his belief that they wen- still as numerous as ever. They were found
in i,'n'at abundanc^e on the rocky shores t)f that region, where covered with seaweeds
and interspersed with muddy Hats and shallow pools, in which these l)irds wade cpiite
up to cheir breasts, and also in situations where he never found any other kind of
Sam'piper — on large masses of rock slofjing down abruptly to the water, green and
slippery from the continued dashing of the spray. The bird seemed to be very fond
of these localities.

Of all the Sandpipers, this is spoken of as the most gentle and unsuspecting, and
as being utterly regardless of the near iii»proach of man, not even intermitting its
ui'cupation of scare) '.ng for food, though the observer may be standing within a few
tci't of it. When startled, it Hies oft' in a very compact flock, uttering a low, soft
turef, very different from that of any other Sandi>iper. If a part of a flock be killed,
the hunter may make ecpr.il hiivijc with his second barrel, as, after a few cirdings,
those left fly past or aliglit again on the same spot. This bird flies rapidly, in a rather
unsteady manner, alternately showing the under and the upper i)arts, and may
always be recognized, when on the wing, by the eonsjticuously white ujjper tail-
coverts. It was found associating with the Semiitalnuited Sandpipers and the King
1 'lovers. Those procured were not cons])icuously fat.

Mr. N. ]{. Moore informs us that he met with this s])ecies in Fhn-ida during the
winter months, but that the greater j)ortion seemed to move farther south. The
same ge: tleman in IiSTO again observed this si)ecies on Fortune Island, one of the
liahamas, where he ])rocured an examine as early as the oth of Augvist.

Mr. Xelson found this bird a r.ither common migrant on the shores of Lake
.Micliig.in, in Illinois. He met with it as late as tlh- Dth of .lune. Dr. Hoy writes
of it as a bird formerly abundant near Uacine during its migration.s, but as now (juite
rare; and Mr. R. V. (Jlarke is (piott.'d as having taken this species late in autumn
upon the lake shore near Chicago. Dr. James ('. Mt'rrill mentions it as common in
Southeastern Texas during the winter.

Mr. L. Kumlien states that this species breeds in Kinguah and Kinguite fiords,
anil in other suitable localities on both shoriss of Cumberland Sound. Considerable
nund)ers 'vere observed along the beach near Xuboyant, on the west shore, in July,
wliere they were in all probability breeding.

ilr. MacFarlane was so fortunate as to meet with several nests, with the eggs, of
tills species on m- near the Arctic coast. One of those, takej* .fuly 3 on the shore of
till' Ar(!tic Sea, contained four eggs with very large embr, os. Another, found on
till' following day, contained three eggs. A third, found June 2d on the IJarren
(Jround.^, was -.: mere dejjressiou in the ground, lined with a few decayed leaves, con-
taining four eggs with very large end)ryos. A fourth, obtained on the banks of a
small river, was comj)osed of a few decayed leaves, and held four eggs.

Eggs of this species found on the Barren Grounds, near the Arctic coast, by Mr.
MacFarlane (S. I. Xo. 11329), are pyriform in shai)e, and have a ground-color of a
lufous drab mark(Hl with bold i)atches of dark sepia brown, intersjjei'sed with spots
in which this shade is deejiened almost into blackness, and which aie collected in
continent grouiiings aroiuid t\n'. larger end. These eggs measure 1.35 inches in length
by Ai') in breadth.

! "■:

230 PR.ErOCTAL GUALLATOUES — LLMICOL J).

Actodromas BairdL

BAIBD'S SAKDFIPEB.

(?) Tringn melannlm, VlEItl- Xouv. Diet. XXXIV. 181i», 402 (bused on ChorUlo lomo negro, AZAlu).
Triuija liimninirta, ".Siiliu;." Tans, in itaiid's li. X. Am. 18J8, 7-'2 (luirt ; nee .Sciileo.),
T.imja nXHCuhttii, S< IILK/;. Mus. I'.-I5. Scolopaccs, 18(i4, aH (l>iut).
Aclinlromdn Uninlii, CorEs I'r. A<'. Nat, Sci. riiilud. 18(51, I'.H ; <'iicek List, 2(1 ed. 1882, no, 615.

— KiDfjw. Noin. X. Am. 15. Ibsl, no. u'il.
Ti'itif/ft Italnlii, .S i_ I*. Z. S. 1S67, 332 (fiiili). — Coueh, Key, 1872, 255; Check List, 1873, no.

41!> ; Bird.H N. \\. 1*74, 4»4.

Hab. America in <.'<?neral, but cliieliy tlic inti^ior of tlio imrfhern, and the western portion nf
tlie southern, continent, tanyfinj.' from tlie Antic const to Chili and IJueno.s Ayre.s ; rare in the Eust-
eni Province, anil not jx-t ret-onlwl from the Pacilic coast of the United States ; accidental in South
Africa ?

Sp. Char. Adult in mmmtr: Alnjve, varie^'ated with black and grayish buff, the former pre-
vailin;;, in the form of irTt-.nilar. s<»me\vliat diamond-shaped ."ipots on the back and scapulars, the
buff occupyinf,' most of Uk- Uinler «f the feathers, and sending,' indentations toward the shaft ; else-
where, the Idack fomi.'t «lij>tiiict stn'a1-«, widest on the crown and anterior part of the back ; rump
and upper tail-covtrl.' <ltt'ky-brownisli black, feathers bordered with dull clay-color, the e.xterim-
ones of the latter cliii-flv whit«-, with irre|,'ular U-shaped markings of dusky. Tail light brownish
gray, the middle fL-ather nearly black, all narrowly edged with whitish. Wing-coverts and ter-
tials grayish brown, with lighter eilges and darker centres ; reniiges dull slate. Lower parts white,
the sides of the head ami iit«-k- the jugulum, and anterior portion of the sides, streaked with dusky.
Adult in winkr : AUnx-, continuoui* grayish clay-color, the feathers with darker mesial streaks;
rump and midille u]>|N.-r tail-coverts dusky, the feathers bordered terminally with dull clay-color ;
lateral uppi-r tail-covt.-rt-* brownish white. Beneath, brownish white, the jugulum, breast, sides
(anteriorly), and side* of the neck, deeply sulfused with day-color or dull huff. Yoawj, first ■phi-

mage: Above, grayi.<h rlay-<rolor. the sc^tpulars and interscapulars blackish centrally, and conspicu-
ously bordered with wbiti-h tenninally ; the feathers of the crown and nape .streake<l with dusky.
Wing-coverts, ramp, cti%, uiucli as in the winter ]»lumage ; sides of the head and neck, the jugulum,
and breast, i>ale clay-color, nitlier indistinctly streaked with dusky. Other lower j)arts white.

Total length, al>oul 7.«"0 to 7.5«t inches; e.xtent, about L5.()() ; wing, about 4.75 ; culmen, usually
less than l.(M> inch; larynx, nearly l.tKI; middle toe, about .70. Bill black; iris dark blown;
legs and feet slate black.

Baird's Sandpifier has hifn so rorpiitly rcPOfi;nize(l as a spoeips wholly rtistiiirt
from tlie IJonajiarte Hanil|(i)K'r. that inucli remains to be learned in regard to its
distribution and other sfM-i-iH*- iK'etdiarities. Its early history has been more or less
blended with that of other sjM'cies to which it has certain proximate resemblances.
It is probable that when suftieient ('xjtlorations shall have been made to develop a
knowledge of it.s migrations and habits, it will be found to have a much wider

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SXIl'K KA^riLY — ACTODROMAS.

231

distribution than was at first supposed; indeed it is already known to be j^enerally
distributed throughout the interior of North Anu'riea and to the western portions of
South Anu'rica, and it has quite recently l)een ascertained to be of occasional occur-
rence on the Atlantic coast. .Mr. II. W. llensliaw procured a single specimen, Aug.
1'", 1870, on one of the islands in IJoston Harbor; and since then Mr. jMaynard has
obtained some of this species near Ipswicli, Mas.s., and examples have been taken on
the same coast by others.

In his " Notes on the liirds of Colorado," Mr. .1. A. Allen mentions meeting with
tliis species in that State, not far from Colorado City; and Dr. Woodhouse speak.- of
set'iug birds of this species at different tiuu's in various i)arts of the Indian Territory,
as well as in New Mexico, calling them Tnii'j<( Sfhlnx!!. 'I'lie sjKicimens jirocured
liy Dr. Woodliouse near the I'ueldo of Zuni are in the National Aluseuni, and are now
known to belong to this species, thus extending its range to the region Avest of the
IJocky IMountains.

It has also been a.scertained that three examples, referred to by Mr. Cassin as
Trliii/a lionajxirtei, really l>elonged to tliis species. These wer(! from Onudia, Fort
Kearney, ami the Yellowstone JJegion ; and it is now known tluit (huing the fall
migration in the nu)nth of August this sjjecies is one of the nu)st abundant Sandpi-
pers in Dakota, Ichdio, and Montana. It occurs in small Hocks ah)ng the rivers and
small lakes, and also in all otlier suitable places anu)ng the liocky 3I(mntains. It is
not only found among the small saliiu- ])ools of the prairies, generally near water-
courses, but also at tinu-s at a distance from any permanent stream. It is described
;is a very quiet and gentle species, and one that may be app>roached and secured with
ease.

]\Ir. Ilenshaw, in his Report on tlie IJirds of Ttab and Colorado, states that during
its sjjring and fall migrations, IJaird's Sandpiper occurs over most of the interior of
North America. Througlumt Colorado, New ^lexico, and Arizona he found it (piite
evenly distributed, making its appearance from the nortli about the latter part of
August,, and becoming toleraltly common in Se[)tember. He never met with it in
large Hocks, not more than five or six being generally found together, the number
i)eiiig often sw(dled by the addition of a few of other species oi AVaders. These birds
are so unsuspicious that he has often walked uj) to within a dozen feet of a little flock,
as they scattered about with liasty steps in search of food. They are not so )»artial to
the vicinity of water as most of the other members of the Wading family, although in
general sharing their habits. He not unfrequently met with them about the stock
corrabs, and even in yards (dose to the houses.

In the sunnner of 1872, late in August, Mr. Tri])i)e saw large flocks of this species
near the summit of Mount Evans in Colorado, at an elevation of nearly fourteen
thoiisand feet above the sea ; they were fV-eding on grasshojjpers.

Mr. Kidgway has also met with this 8])eeies in Nevada, where he found it rather
eonnnon during the period of its migrations, associating with various other Sandpi-
pers, particularly with Artodromus niiiiKfilln and I'Jirinirtrs /Htnlllitn. It hits also been
noticed on the I'acific coa.st, a.s ^Ir. Dall states that one specimen was obtained
l»y Bischoff at Sitka, and several at Kadiak; and it is not rare on the Yukon. A
single specimen was procured on Amak Island, north of the peninsula of Alaska, by
Captain Everett Smith.

Mr. J. Edmund Ilarting, in the " Ibis " (1870, ]). 151), states that a single specimen
of this species was taken at Walvisch Hay, Africa, Oct. L'4, 18G3. The finding of this
species in Southwestern Africa a])pears to be not a little remarkiible, as it has thus
far not been recognized as occurring in Europe. The specimen from Walvisch Bay

■ J«P^WWI W »I» l>> » ■ ■ '^ w » v .

232

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOllES — LIMICOL.E.

wiis I'omul ill the collpotion inadc thore by Mr. C. J. Anderson, and carefully
idontilied.

Mr. Nelson regarded tiiis species as, in his experience, a rather \ineonunon migrant
in Northeastern Illinois, diirinj; the middle of May, and .again in the last of August
and the first of Septenilier. It was generally found in small parties or singly, in
company with otiier species of Sandpipers ; hut it was occasionally seen in large
flocks. The same writer, in his Notes on tiu' IJirds observed by him on the Jhnnboldt
River, near Elko, Nevada, states that several flocks of ]?iiird's Sandpij)er were noticed
on the small sandbars along the river, and that a single exanii)le was obtained.

Dr. tJames ('. Merrill nu'utions tiiat two specimens, both fenudes, were taken by
him on the Lower Rio CJraude, Marcii .'50, l.S7(i, on a sandbar in the river.

This species was found breeding on the Barren (Jrounds, .June 24, by Mr. Mac-
F.arl.ane. The nest h.ad been made on the ground in a swampy district, between two
sm.all Lakes, and was composed of a few decayed leaves laid loosely in a small hole
or depression, shaded by a tuft of grass. The fem.ale bird glided from the nest on
being a])proached, passing closely to him, and then fluttered along, drooping her
wings .as if woiuuled, endeavoring thus to lead him away from the nest. This was ;i
r.are bird in that quarter. The eggs of this species .are usually four in number.
One set (S. I. No. 14()Sr>) exhibit the following measvu'ements : 1.40 by .U9, 1..'}") by
1.02, 1.32 by .98, .and l.;U by .08. Their ground-c(dor is, a light dr.ab, generally and
very uniformly sprinkled with dottings, spots, aiul a few Larger confluent blotches of
a bright sepia brown. These are occasionallj" larger, and a little more numerous .at
the obtuse end, but gener.ally ai'c distributed with very little difference over the
whole surface of the egg.

Actodromas maculata.

THE FECTOBAL SANDPIPER.

TringamatuMa, Vir.ii.i,. Nouv. Diet. X.XXIV. 1819, 46.'>. — (.'ass. in Bnird's B. N. Am. l.S.'iS,

720. — Baiui), Cat. X. Am. B. 18.ii), no. .''.31. — Couivs, Key, 1872, 255 ; Chock List, 187.3, no.

420; Birds N. W. 1874, 486.
Actodromas maculata, CoiEs, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1861, 197, 230; Cheek List, 2d cd. 1882,

no. 616. — RiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 534.
Pclidna pedoralis, Boxap. Comp. List, 1838, 50.
Tringa pectoralis, Say, Long'.s Exp. I. 1823, 171. — Nutt. Man. IL 1834, 111. — Aun. Orn. Biog.

IIL 1835, 601 ; V. 1839, .'582, j.l. 294 ; .'^ynop. 1839, 232 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 259, pi. 329.
Tringa dominiccnsis, Deol. Orn. Eur. IL 1849, 232.

\ vu?

HAn. The whole of North, nud the greater part of South, America, ranging south in winter
to Southern Brazil and Chili ; West Indies in general ; Bernmd.^ ; frequent in Europe ; North
China ? (Swinh. " Ibis," 18fi3, 97). Breeds in Arctic regions.

Sp. Char. Adult in summer: Above, light clay-color, the crown, back, scapulars, and tertials

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIFL; FAMILY — ACTODKOMAS.

233

wushccl with lijjht rufous ur rusty ochracetius ; tlie twitliers black ceiitrully, proiluciuj,' uonHpicuous
streaks, which widen into spots on the suapului's and back; rump and middle upper tail-eoverta
brownish black ; lateral upper tail-coverts white, with dusky shalt-streaks. Middle tail-i'eathera
dusky, edj,'<Ml with lighter ; other rectrices pale iirownish j,'ray, l)orderi'd with white. Wiiif,'-covcrta
liu'ht 1,'rayish brown, with paler lionlers avd darker centres ; a lit,dit superciliary Htri|ie, and a
darker loral one. Cheeks, sides of the neck, whole juguluni, and breast, pale day-color or li^jlit
u'Viiyish 1; ■•!', streaked with dusky ; sides sparsely stri'ukeil. Heiiiainin;^' lower parts ininiaiiilate
uliite. " IJasal half of bill dull j^reenish yellow" (Nici.sox, MS.). Adult in u-iiilir: Sindlar to
.-.uininer pluiuaj^e, but the rusty tint al)ovc almost or wholly absent, anil the black markini,'s les.4
sharply delined. Yomuj, Jird plutiuujc : Quite similar to the summer adult, but the scapulars and
outer interscapulars conspicuously tipped externally with white, the breast, etc., more distinctly
bull', and rather more narrowly streaked.

Total length, about !).(X) inches; wing, about 5.(H) ; culmen, 1.10; tarsus, l.(»()-l.l(); middle
toe, .!»().

Tlic history of this bird is very iinport'cctly known. Duviiif,' its seasons of
migration it is i\\\\t(> iilmiKhuit, both on tlu' soa-coast and in tlic intt'rior, about the
honlers of ponds and the shores of lakes and rivers. As to its distribution during
the breeding-season, we liavi- no jiositive information. Solitary individuals have been
ol)served by Mr. Kumlien about i^ake Koskoiunig during tlie summer, and at first he
supposed they were breeding ; but as no nests were found, it is supposed that these
individuals wt're only uiunated birds. This speeies has also been observed in the
viciinty of Boston late in .Inly, in eonipaiiy with the; nilniitilln ; but it is impossible
to dcteriuine whether tiu! birds thus seen were immature, or sueh as had thus early
completed the (hities of incubation. It is eonii)aratively ran; on the Pacific^ coast. A
single specimen was collected at Sitka by Jiischoff, and Dall speaks of it as iu)t uncom-
nioii at I'lover Hay, Siberia ; but it was iu)t noticed by him on the Aleutian Islands.
Dr. Cooper has met with iioiu' on the California coast, but states that they have been
taken at I'uget Sound; ami as they visit South America, he thinks that they must
oecusioiially i)e found on the southern coast of (lalifornia: but this is purely eonjec-
tural. It was taken at Fort Simi)Son by Mr. 15. H. Koss, at Fort Anderson by Mi".
MacFarlane, and at Fort Hesolutiou by 'S\y. Kennicott.

In the winter this bird visits the West Indies, Central Anu'rica, where it is very
abundant, as well as various portions of South America. Mr. Salvin states that
aliout the beginning of April, and toward tiie end of the dry season, a great portion
of the stream is diverted from the River (xuacalate aiul thrown on the open pasture-
bind lu'ar Dueiias, in Guatcmahi. During this period large numbers of Srolo/mcldce
frequent the iiuiudati'd region ; of these the present si)ecies of Wader is by far the
most abundant. At this season, as it thus takes its food from fresh water, it is excel-
lent eating. .Mr. Edward Newton ,,i<eaks of having occasioiudly met with this bird,
alter Septend)er 14, at St. Ci'oix, where he oittained several examples. He did not
at any time set> more than two of " "m together. Leotaud gives this species as one
of the migratory visitants of Trinidad, whither it goes in August, remaining into
(•(•tober. It is always found in Hocks, and frequents the low meadows rather than
the sea-shore. It is often seen to crouch on tlu; ground, and is known on the island
as tins " crouching shore-bird." Not unfrequently, it is seen accompanying a number
of the raimtns, the latter seeming to act as its guides.

Mr. N. B. ^loore procured several examples of this species in the Bahamas as
early as August 5. In South Americ;i its occurrence has been noted even as far
south as Patagonia. Mr. H. Durnford ("Ibis," 1877) found it abundant in the Chupat
Galley, where he saw large Hocks of this bird about the salt lagoon to the north of
the village, and also on the sandy fiats at the mouth of the river. In their movement

VOL. I. — 30

234

PR^COCIAL ORALLATORES — LIMICOL.'K.

and lialtits they closely reseinhk'd the European Dunlin, Hying in a body, suddenly
wheeling round, disiilayinj.'- alti'rnati'ly their lij,'lit undt'r-i)arts and dark backs, and
usually raisint,' their wings over their l)acks before alighting, whicli they all do at tiie
same moment.

Mr. lioardman informs me that this speeics i.-. ,uito common, both in the .spring and
in the tall, near Calais, where it is seen in eomi)any with the Common Snii)e, and where
it feeds exclusively on the fre.sh-water nuirshes and in the uplands. It is distin-
gui.shed from the Common Snipe by the name of the Jack Snipe. In Massachusetts
this is one of the earliest of the migratory Waders, ai>j)earing about the middle ol
July. It is also one of the last to leave, as its migrations continue longer than those
of any other bird, or unt'l the middle or the end of October. If it appears at all in
its s])ring migrations, it passes north rapidly, or goes through in the night, and its
passage has not been noted. Major Wedderburn speaks of it as nujre numerous
in Hermuda than Ilonaparte's Sandj)i|)er. U was not noticed prior to Sept. L'O, 1.SI7,
on which day two of them were taken. Alter this the birds becanu' common in nil
the swampy ponds and bays. On tin- 'Jth of October, 1841), they a])peared all at once
in thousands, particularly at St. tleorge, after a heavy gale of wind. The parade-
ground at that place was swarming with them, and one of the otlicers killed between
four and five hundred before breakfast. With the exception of a few stragglers, all
were gone by the following day.

According to Mr. Moore, this bird occurs in Florida, but only in the early winter.

Mr. Dresser noted the aj)pearance of the Pectoral Sandi)iper near Matamoras in
July, I8(t;5. It was not frequi-nting the salt-water lagoons, but was oftener found on
the banks of the liio (Jrande, or near small pools after a rain. In April, l.S(J4, lie
observed several snuUl flocks of four or five about the water-holes near San Antonio,
and in May he shot three at Howard's Kanch on the Medina River,

In sonu' sea.sons, according to (iiraud, this sjjecies is (juite plentiful on the shores
of Long Island. It appears generally to have been overlooked by the hunters. In
the sju'ing it is not seen there in large miml)er.s, but it apparently hastens on to its
breeding-places with but little pause. Returning to Long Island in August, it aj)-
pears in increased nundiers on the necks of land in the immediate vicinity of tide-
water, and is also found among the islands in the bay. Although large niuubers are
sometimes seen occupying the same feeding-grounds, it does not seem to be a social
bird, but each one appears to be intent only on pntviding for its own comfort, and to
be tntirely regardless of its companions. In feeding, the Hock scatters over the bine
places which occur on the moist ground frequented by them, and when thus employeil.
they renuiin silent. They are by no means wary, and regard the ai»proach of the
hunter with indifl'erence. On oiu' occasion, when Mr. (iiraud fell in with a large
flock, he walked up to within a close shooting distance of the nearest one, appearing
to be entirely unnoticed. Although there were upward of fifty in view, yet they
were so widely di.stributi (I tliat it was impossible to get two of them in range ; nor
eould he effect this during a hunt, in the course of which he obtained twenty-one
birds at as many different shots. At the report of the gun the survivors flew on ;i
short distance, and resunu'd their previous occupation. During this repeated iirim;
lie did not observe a single individual |)ass beyond the limits of the nuiadow, whicli
was oidy a few acres in extent. As this bird flies up when suri)rised, it presents
a fair mark, and if allowed to proceed, flies steadily at a short distance above
the grouiul. It feeds on various kinds of minute insects, and also on the smidl
she^. 'sh which lie near the surface, but at times may be seen boring with its bill u<
a greater depth. On dissection, particles of plants have been found iu its stomach.

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNII'K FAMILY — ACTODI{0^rAS.

236

Its note is a low whist k', which is not often ropeatcd, except when tlic bird apprc-
licntls danger. This is known as the "Meadow Snipe" on Long Ishmd, and is also
(•;ilh'd the " Sliort-nct'k." It is (piitc coninion at Egg IIari)or. X. J., in the autumn,
and sonietitues remains tliere until Noveniljor; toward the latter part of the season
it is in excellent condition, (hi the sea-coast of .New Jersey it is known as the
•■ Kat-hird." it is found in its migrations in the interior of I'ennsylvania, and is there
also known as the "Jack Snipe." Stragglers also occur on Long Islaiul in the month
(li Jidy; but there is no rea.son to suppose that any breed there. In the a\itumn its
llish becomes very juicy and finely flavored, and when procured late in the .season it
is said to be superior to that of any of our shore-birds, and fully equal to any upland
game.

This species has been taken several times in Great ISritain, wlu-re they occur as
stragglers only; they were shot in the months of May, Septend)er, and October,
According to Prince Charles IJonaparte, the Pectoral Sandpiper is found in lirazil
and at Montevideo,

Xuttall states that in his day many lurds of this species were killed on the shores
of Cohas.sct and other parts of Massachusetts l>ay, where they arrived in flocks about
the end of August, and remained into Scpteud)er. While there they fed on small
coleoptera, larva-, and the common green f/lva Inflssimu, as well as on several species
of sea-weed. When startled, they uttered a low plaintive whistle. Like the Snipe,
it seems foiul of damj) meadows and marshes.

IJeiidiardt includes this bird among those of Greenland on the authority of a
s|iecimeu taken in 1S.")1, and two in IS.")'.), at Nenortalik. Mr. B. Ross reports this
species c()mnu)n on the Mackenzii^ IJiver.

It is not known to l)reed so far to the south as Labrador, Init makes its first ap-
]icaranco there al)out tlu^ middle of August, in the course of its migrations southward.
Wherever founil, the "Grass Snipe," as it is called in Massachusetts, is seldom seen
on open sandy l)eaches, preferring low, wet inland meadows. When found near the
shore it fre(pients the uunhly Hats left bare i)y the re(!eding tide and the higher salt-
marshes. It has more of the habits of the Common Snipe than of the Tv'iiifjiv. As
it starts up suddenly fnun the ground in alarm, its zigzag flight is very Snipe-like,
and it is then ([uite as ditticult to shoot as is that bird.

Nothing whatever is known about its breeding, either as to locality or manner.
It has been thought that this nuiy take place somewhere along the forty-ninth paral-
lel ; this is but a conjecture, not amounting to a probability.

Actodromas acuminata.

THE SHABP TAILED 8ANDPIFEB.

Totanus acuminatus, HonsF. Linn. Trans. ,\'IIL 1821, 192.

Trinrjancumimttn, ^wisw. P. Z. S. lSii3, :!1.^. ; Ibis, 18tW, 412. - Sciii.Eo. Mns. P.-P. Tringm, 38.

Limnocinclit.1 acumiiialitu, Gr.AV, Ilnml-I. IIL l.s71, 40.

Actodromas aciimiiicUa, liiniiw. Proc. V. H. X.it. Mus. 1881, 199, 222; Noin. N. Am. B. 1881, no.

533. — focEs, fhpck List, 2(1 eil. 1882, no. 619.
Tritujaaustralis, Jaud. Illnstr. Orn. 11. pi. 91.
Schmiklna austral is, fi(iri.i), Hinls .\ustf. VL jil. 30.
Tringa ^•iifeswiis, Vox MinuENi). .Siliir. IJoisc, 221 (ncc Vieii.i,.).

Had. Eastern Asia, migrating south to Australia, and iiortheastwanl to coast of Alaska (St.
Micliael's ; E. W. Xef-sox).

Sp. Char. Adult: Above, brownish gi'ay, the feathers black centrally ; pileum cinnamon, in
marked contrast, and broadly streaked with black ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts brownish

236

PR.KCOCIAL GRALLATOHKS — LIMK'OL.fl.

black ; lateral upper tnil-covertx wliilu, uticiikL-d with dusky. Midillf tiul-lpatlicrs dusky, ed^ed
with whiti.ih ; other reetrices deep browuifih mny, distinctly hoider.'d wiiii widte. A whitish
superciliary stripe, sharply delining the ciiiiiaiuon oi' liie crown ; ju^'uhiui very palu brownish j^ray
sparsely streaketl laterally and anteriorly only ; reniainin;^' lower parts white, the sides witii sparse
V-shaped niarkinj,'s, and the lower tail-coverls with streaks of dusky j,'rayish. YouiKj.Jirst plum-
age : Above, cliietiy brij,dit rusty ociiraceous, liie leathers black centrally, the outer scapulars ami
interscapulars edj,'ed terminally with whiti' ; whole pileum brii,'ht t'errUj,'inous, broadly streaked
with bhick, bounded sharply on each side liy a white, tin dy streaked superciliary stripe; rump
and middle u|)per tail-coverts brownish black, the feathers bordered terniinally with lusty ; outir
upper tail-coverls white, with medial streaks of black ; i nddle tail-feathers black, ed;,'ed laterally
with rufous; other rectrices dusky, bordeied with rusty whitish. Cheeks whitish, tinely streaked
with dusky ; jujiuluni, breast, and sides, anteriorly, deep rusty bud', linely streaked anteriorly aiul
laterally with dusky ; remaiinu},' lower parts, includin<,' the throat, white, the lower tail-coverts
streaked with dusky. "Iris hazel ; bill black at ti|i, changing' to (liii^y ;,'reenish yellow on
bo-sal third of lower mandible and base of upper ; feet and tarsi dull greenish yellow" (Xklsox,
MS.).i

Wing, 4.90-."). oO ; culnien, .Do-l.tMt ; tarsus, 1.10-1. :25 ; naddle toe, .88-.!)5.

This species resembles very closely the common A, mitculata, but diH'ers constantly in several
respects. As to jiroportions, the bill is decidedly shorter and more slender, and the tarsus slij,dUly
lon^'er, while the win".; is about the sanu? lenj^th. The nuddle tail-feathers ore narrower and more
acuminate. The colors are nearly the same, but the rectrices are darker, the breast olmost or quite
unspotted centrally and posteriorly, and the crown decidedly rufous.

A specimen from New South Wales, which apjiears to be this species (\o. 15313, U. S. Expl.
E.\p.), but labelled '' Triwja aurita (f), Lath.," dill'ers notably from an adult from Australia, re-
ceived from Mr. J. E. Ilartin^', in the following; particulars : The jxjsterior and lateral parts of
the l)rea.st have coarse, irre;,'ular markin;,'s of tiark brown, many of these markinj,'s bein^' Y-shaped,
others irrcgukrly sai,'ittate or even transver.se ; the.se markiuj^'s are continued, but increased in size
aloii^' the sides to the crissum, and even the abdomen has a few small markings; the crown is not
conspicuously rusty, neither is this color there bounded sharply by the light superciliary .stripe.
Whether this specimen rejiresents the same species, we are not quite prepared to say, not having
sufficient material at band.

Actodromas minutilla.

THE LEAST SANDPIFEB.

Trinrja, minutilla, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 181l», 452. — CoUF.s, Key, 1872, 254 ; Check List,

1873, no. 418 ; Birds X. W. 1874, 482.
Actodromas miiiHtil/(i, Yiosw. Comiii. Rend. 1856. — RiDOW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 538.—

CoUES, Check List, 2 J ed. 1882, no. 614.
Tringapusilla, AVii.s. Am. Orn. V. 1813, 32, pi. 37, f. 4 (ncc LiN.v.). — Sw. & Ririi. F. B. ,\. II.

1831, 386. — AtTD. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 180, pi. 320 ; Synop. 1839, 237 ; B.Am. V. 1842, 280,

pi. 337.
Tringa Wilsonii, Nrrr. Man. 11. 1834, 121. —Cash, in Baird's B. X. Am. 1858, 721. — Baiuu,

Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 532.
Trinr/a nana, LlCHT. Xoniend. 1854, 92.
" Triiiga gcoi-gica, LiruT." (Gray).

Hab. The whole of America, but breeding (so far as known) only north of the United States ;
accidental in Europe.

Sp. Char. Adult, gummer pluriutge : Back and scapulars black, the feathers bordered and
somewhat barred (not continuously, and mostly beneath the surface) with rusty ochraceous, the
tips of some of the feathers often whitish ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts browidsh black ;
lateral upper tail-coverts white, with wedge-shaped markings of grayish ; middle tail-feathers

1 SwiNHOE ("Ibis," 1863, p. 412) says: "Apical half of bill purplish black, basal half olive.-brown,
with tinge of flesh-color ; legs yellowish olive, with black claws."

ifiij

SCOLOPAriD.E — TflE SXIPE FAMILY - AUTODROMAS.

231

(liifky, with pnler edgeH ; other rectricps li>,'ht browiii.Hh K'"yi with white Hhiifts. Crown light
^(rin'i^h I'ulvous or ochraceous, heavily streaked with liiai'k ; wiiij,'-coverts brownish uray, with
darker centres and paler eilyes, the Mhafts lihakish ; tertials eii),'ecl with ochraceous ; juininries
iliisky. A liuht Muperciliary stripe, and a darker one on siile oi' liie head ; neek and juguluni very
I'ale i,'rayisli liilvous or fulvans-ashy streaked with dn-ky ; sides and erissnm narrowly streaked ;
iillier lower parts immaculate white. Ailiill in iviutir: Ahove, rather dark brownish >,'rny, the
IValliers with indistiiutly darker eeutres ; rump, ete., as in summer plumage. Superciliary stripe
mid lower parts white, the jngulum light ashy, indistinctly streaked. Yimiiij, Jlrnt plumnfjc : Very
similar to the summer plumage of the adult, but many of the scapulars and interscapulars tipped
with white, these feathers without any bars ; wing-coverts bordered with ochraceous. Juguluiu
sull'used with pale fulvous, and obsoletely streaked.*

Total length, about 5.50 to G.6(> inches; e.xtent, 11.00 to 12.50; wing, about 3.5U to nearly
l.uo ; eulmen, about .75 to .92 ; tarsus, .75 ; ndddle toe, .(iO. Bill tluU black ; iris dark brown;
iigs and toes dusky.

This abundant and extensively diffused species resenildes very closely, both in its small size
and in its colore, at all seasons, the ecpially foniinon and widely distributed Semipalmated Sand-
]iiper, Ereumtcs pusiUus. It may be immediately distinguisiied, however, by the completely cleft
toes, the other species having all the anterior toes webbed at the base.

This coniiuoii and familiar Saiidpiitcr has an almost iinivoisal distrilmtiun through-
out North Amt'ri(ui, and in tlio winter wanders in greater or less nund)er.s into Mex-
ico, Central America, and over a large portion of South America. It breeds as far
south as Sable Island, and also in Newfonndland, in Labrador, in Alaska, and in the
higher Arctic regions generally. A limited nnnd)er winter in the Gnlf States ; but
iu all the rest of North America this bird appears only in its migrations, passing
slowly north in the spring, pausing on its way at every suitable feeding-place, and
liiially passing out of the United States about the last of Jlay. Within four or five
weeks of tlie final departure of the last stragglers of the movement northward, the
advance of the returning host begins to reappear, moving southward. It can hardly
be that those which thus early show themselves in Xew England — some of them
early in July — and even in regions much farther south, can have attended to the
duties of incubation. Their reappearance thus early can only be satisfactorily ex-
pla'ued by the supposition that both the southern and the northern movements are
attended by a certain, but probably not a very large, proportion of unmated, imma-
ture, or barren Inrds. These accompany their kindred in their journey north in the
spring, linger behind in the rich feeding-places on their way, and being undetained

' Some young specimens, apparently of the some age and almost certainly the same species, in the
collection differ very strikingly from the above description in the less amount or total absence of rufous
above, the feathera having merely narrow ochraceous borders, and scarcely any white on the ends of the
feathers; the wliole plumage being thus very much duller.

iii

288

IMl.KC'Ol'I.VL (H!AI,LAToUE8 — LIMlCoL.K.

by any (loiiu'stic can's or ivspoiisiltilitit's, hcj^in their southprn Hinht somo time bet'oir
tlic otiitTS, will) laiiMt: wait i'or tiif maturity of tlicir iirnod.s. Kc tlit'.sf coiijiM'turcH as
tiicy may, we tiiid. all over tin- couiitiy. in the interior, on Imtli coasts, even at places
suriirisin^,'ly tar I'roni any of their known l)rce(lin;,'-i)laees. tiiat tiiis bird is sure
to reappear in small numbers in July — this early reappearance renuiiniiif,' as yet
unexplained.

Mr. li .Vdams (•• ibi.s," 1H7.S), in his Notes on IJirds observed by him on the Sea-
coast of Alaskii, nientiims nieetinj,' with this species at Norton Sound as early as the
14th of April, while! the snow still covered the j^reater part of the j^round ; they were
not, however, seen in <^Yv:\l nnndters until the niiddh- of the following; month. They
confined themselves almost solely to the salt-marsh and the nniddy banks of the
river, where it was reached by the tide ; at such points they were always to be found,
in Hocks of from tifty to a hnndreil, accompanied by a fewDuidins and IJrown Snipes.
Mr. Adams often sat on a lo;,' while they v, ere feedinj; all around within ii foot of
him ; but on his making the slij,'htest movement, they were gone in an instant, witii
a whisk and a twitter. Their nests were placed on the higher ground surrounding
the marsh ; the eggs are described as spotted with shades of olive-green, principally
about the large end, and upon a i)ale brownish ground.

It is quite probable that here and there, in favorable situations, pairs of these
birds stoj) to breed in excei)tionally smithern latitudes. Mr. Nelson states that on
the oth of .lune, lH7n, he found one of them building its nest near the Calunu't
liiver, in Northeastern Illinois; and several of this species were observed by Mr.
Kic,e near Waukegan on the 1st of July, they having, as he telt assured, nested in
th.at vicinity. We are not aware, however, that the eggs or young (d' this bird have
ever been actually taken within the limits of the United States.

Mr. Dall obtained a s])ecimen of this bird at Xidato, May 14, where it is not com-
mon. It was more plentiful at the month of the Yukon, where its eggs were procured.
lie met with it also at I'opoff rslund, (Uie of the Aleutians, June 20, 187U, where it
was rather abundant. Mr. IMstdioft" also obtained it at Sitka.

It is given by Mr. \l. IJrowiu' as one of the common birds of Vanccmver Island.
In California, according to Dr. Cooper, it is nearly resident, being ai)sent from the
coast only during a part of June and July ; it is frequently seen about inland ponds
and marshes in the interior. It occurs in inuuense flocks, during the winter, on tlu'
shores of the Pacific in Southern (.!aliforuia ; and on the same coast, much farther
south, about the month of the Nagualate Hiver, in (fuatemala, Mr. Salvin found it
occurring in considerable mimbers in the month of !March.

Mr. J. A. Allen met with an occasional specimen of this s]iecies in the Valley of
Salt Lake, in Utah, in the month of Se])tend)er; and ^Ir. Ividgway also mentions
finding it in Utah and Colorado dining its migrations.

On the Atlantic coast it is, if anything, even more common and abundant. Along
the si ores of Hudson's IJay and Davis Straits, throughout Labrador, and on the
isl.andL larther south, it is a summer resident from June to the close of its short
season. It is abundant, both in the spring and in the fall, along the entire Atlantic
coast, a certain proportion remaining all the winter, or from October to April, on the
coast of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and all the Gulf States, to Mexico, and
thence to South America. It is .also abundant in the West India Islands, occurring
in Cuba, Jamaica, as well as in various other islands, from Scjitember to the follow-
ing May. It visits the Bermudas in its southern migrations, arriv ing there from the
last of July to the first part of November, and being present, at times, in flocks of
many hundreds.

SCOLOPACID.E — THR SXIPK FAMILY — ArTODROMAS.

239

Afi'(inliii),' to tilt' ohst'i'vations of Mr. Aloorc, lliis sitccics is seen in Floridii
tliioiighoiit tlio year, always in its winter livery, witli no indications that it ever breeds
iheie. It is found in eonipiiiiy witli tiie /:'rriiiii'fi;i piixl/Ziis.

I'rofessor Newton met witli it in St. Croix in the iintmiin, where it was observed
t(i fre([uent the pastures as well as tlu' sea-shore ; but rarely were more than two
seen to^t'ther. Mr. K. Newton notes its first apiiearance, Au.ifust l!>. Acciordin^ to
(lusse, it does not l)ecome numeions in .lamaiea before the end of the year, and is
ihi'ii found in the morasses in flocks of about a do/en, runninj,' swiftly over tht^ wet
soil like other Sandjjipers. In the stomachs of these birds were found fra>,'ments of
shells and comminuted animal matter. Mr. .Marsh, however, claims that this bird
is resident in -lamaiea throuj^diout the year, and that it brueils on the Salinas and on
the sandy beaidies. This, however, is (piestioned by Mr. Salvin, and we think on
;,'(iod (,'rounds. The e^'t,'s described i)y Mr. Marsh do not re.senjblo those of this
species, either in ^ground-color or maikinj;s ; and tin; eliaraeter of the nestiuf^, a,s
indicated by him, is not that of this Sandpiper.

Mr. Salvia, as (pioted by ^Ir. Dresser, states that he possesses a specimen of this
bird from Costa, liica. and that an example was found near Tanama by MacLeannan.
.Ml. \V. S. Woitd a.scertained it to be very common at Cartaj^'ena in Nuvendjer, l.S,"»7,
and Dr. Ilalicl procured two specinuMis (m one of the (iahqia^'os Island.s. Mr. Wal-
lace met with this bird at the month of the .\mazon, and Natterer secured two si)eei-
nicus in Iha/il, one in .Viu-il at Cuyalia. and the other at Matto (Jrosso in Se|)tend)er.
in the dei»artuu'nt oi Vera Cruz it has been taken in the interior, near Orizaba, and
also near the (!ity of Mexico. In Guatemala, besides meetin;,' Avith it on the Pacific
coast, Mr. Salvin found it to be a rej,'ular winter visitant, arriving,' in autumn and
dcjiartinj,' in sj)rinj^. In the winter it is found only on the sliore. and its visits to
iulaud lakes appear to be limited to its passaj,'es. In \ovendier, ISOI, Mv. Salvin
found it in the gras.sy swamps whiidi surround the small Lake of Duenas, in the
lii,^hlauds of (Juatemala, nearly ilve thousand feet above the sea.

It is mentioned by ficotand as occurring in Trinidad in the months of August,
September, and Uetober, at times in Hocks by themselves, but more fre([uently
mingled with flocks of the /'Jiriinetes punU/its. In the French West India Islands it
is known as the I'i'fit Mnltir.

Mr. J)resser found this species nmking its appearance at Matamoras as early as
the latter part of July, — this affin'ding remarkable evidence of the rapidity of its
flight, and confirniing the hyiiothesis that smdi visitants nuist be birds that have not
raised a brood that seastni. Jn the early spring Rlr. Dresser met with it near Sau
Antonio.

Dr. Walker nu't with this species on the coast of Greenland ; and in the first part
<jf June following he found it breeding in the marshy valleys near Bellot's Strait.

Mr. Audubon, whilst in Labrador, found this species plentiful, breeding on the
moss-dad rocks within a short distancie of the sea. When startled from its nest, it
wdidd rise cm the wing and move off low over the ground with incurved wings and
with a slow whirring motion ; or, if on the ground, it moves off slowly and limping
as if crippleil. On the 20th of July, after some search, he found the nest and eggs of
this species. The bird flew from the nest more in the manner of the Partridge than
of the Tr'ingu: The nest had been formed apjjarently by the patting of the bird's
feet on the crisp moss; and in the slight hollow thus produced were laid a few blades
of slender dry grass, bent in a circular manner, the internal diameter being 2.50
inches and depth 1.25. The eggs, he states, measured .9,3 by .75 of an inch.
Their groui, olor was a rich cream-yellow, blotched with very dark umber, the

1 1

240

PR.fiCOCIAI, OKAM.ATOKKS— LIMICOLE.

markiuh's larger mid mure imiiit*ruuH towurd tliu ubtuHueiid; tlicy were quite frfsli.
TIh' iM'st was iiudi'i' tilt' Iff oC ii small mik. fxiiosfd to alt tlif lu'at tin- sun can uffitrd
ill that lii^h latitude. This pair iiiust liavf lifcii latf in dc positing,' their f^^'s, as a
t'nrtni},'ht later AiidiilMHi's jiaity saw yminj; liirds aliimst as lai'Ke as their paifiits;
and soon af'tfr Ixith parents and joiiiij,' weri- preparing tor their departure south.

This speeies, so very p;enerallv distrilmted. so eomiiioii everywhere — it heiii^
iiardly less niinif rolls than the h'miiirtis /msi/liis — collects in the tall in ininieiise
ttoeks, and resorts to ttie j,'reat masses of driftiiiK sea-weed on our coasts, t'reipieiitiii;,'
also ttie shores and sed^'y l)orilers (d' salt ponds, ^deai.i >i minute sh(dltisli aint niariiii'
insects. Althoii^,di most alnindant on the borders of tiie sea, it is not entirely con-
lined to the shore, liiit is also found alon^ ttie margins of the interior lakes and rivers.
On tlie sliores of l.oiiK Island (iiraiid siieaks (d' it as very pleiitifnt, and as lieiiij,',
diiriiij,' the month of Septemlier. in excellent condition for the taltle. Hy some it is
considered far superior, liotli in flavor and in juiciness, to many of our lart,'cr shoic-
liirds. Its note is low and tispini;; hut when tilarnied, it moves otY in a confused ami
irregular manner, uttering,' a shrill twitter soumlint,' like the syltahles j)f<-j>-pcet. Dur-
ing,' Octoher it mif,'rates farther south, reappearing,' early in ttie spring on the stiores
of New .lerscy ami Long Island, where it is seen in numliers during each one of the
summer months, although it is not known to hreed within the limits id' the I'liitcil
States.

Kichardson, who deserihed this hird under two speiiitie apindlations, speaks id
tinding it ahundant in tlie iiiitumn, feeding during the recesses of tlie tide on the ex-
tensive iiiud-tlats at the mouths of Nelson and Hayes rivers. He adds tliat it lirecds
within the Arctic Circle, arriving there as soon ;is the snow melts. As I'arly as the
iMst (d' .Mav it was observed on ttie swampy t)orders of small lakes in latitude (J(J'.
Its lu'op was tiUed witti a soft blackish earth uiid small white worms.

This sjiecies was found breeding abundantly at iMirt Anderson, on tlit* l?arreii
(Jrounds, at Lake Kende/.vous, and near tlie .Arctic coast, l>y .Mr. MacFarlane. Of
the twenty iie.sts, the notes of which we have examined, all but six were taken
between the 1,'lst and .'{ttth id' .Iiine, none being recorded as later than the lid of fluty.
The number of eggs is generally given as four — in no instance more. Tlie nests
were always on the ground, and geiiorally a mere dejiression, with a lining of a few
dry leaves and grasses, and usually near small lakes. Ttie female, as she tlutteri'd
off her ne.st, (d'ten imitated the Hight of a wounded bird, and if hd't undisturbed,
almost immediately returned to her iie.st. If persistently interrupted, she kept aboiii
the nest, and endeavored tiy simulated lameness to draw off the intruders, soon
becoming (luite wary, if shot at.

(Jne set of the eggs of this sjieeies, eollect(>d near the Arctic coast tiy Mr. MaeFar-
lane (S. L No. JWr"), measure 1.1') inches by .S"). Tlie ground is a light drab, thinly
marked with .sepia-brown spots, patches of which are suffused with the ground-color,
giving them an ashy effect. The markings are more mimerous, and of greater size
about the larger end. The eggs are decidedly ])yriform in sliape. Another set (S. 1.
No. 3324), collected on Sabk Island, Nova Scotia, by P. S. Dodd, have a light-drab
ground-color ; but this is aliuost entirely coueealeil by the numerous markings of dark
umber brown.

SC'OLOPACID.K — Till'; SNIPK KAMIIT — PKMDN'A.

241

Gkni'm PELIDNA, Ci viKit.

rfliilun,Cv\. Wvg. An. 1H17, 41to ; «■ I. '.», ItfJU. .VJtl (ty|H., riiugn tdpiun, Linn.).
AHCfilm'hiiluH, Kait, .Sk. Kilt. Kiir. Tlii'TW. ISiilt, W [\.s\f, Triinja MilHU-'iiiiitii, Ti;mm.).

rH.Ml. Hill Mlt'lliliT. |iili;,'(T tllllll till' llrilil, ilii|i lllliillj^ll tile Im-i', nillllilcs-cl, ^iMIii'ly nr Hot

lit mII i'X|>aiiil<'il at till- tip, ami iIim iiliilly <i(i'iii'\X'il tcnninall). Tui>ii» hlniitcr tlmii llii' liiil, Imi;^! r
than till' iniilillf liif. \Vint{.s ruiu'liiiij,' lii^yond tml nl' tail.

•d

)Ut
UOll

ar-
1.V

Of,

i/f

/'. id/iiiKt.

The K''">i'^ Pf'liifiift inclmli'!' two wcll-kiiciwii Siiiiilpiiici'H, lioth of wliirli arc pnitinmn to Nnrtli
Anic'iica and Kiimiif, altli(iii;,'li one nf tlicni, tin- Curlew Sancl]ii|icr (/'. Kuliiiriiintld) can scaiii'ly
111' iiiMHi(l('ri'(l as nioiv than a siia;,';,'li'r licic. The ntlu'i' is ri'|iirsi'iit<'il in Ihf two I'untinent.s liy
ilistin^'iiishaMo niccM. The rharaitcr of the specii's and races oi' I'llidmt are as IoIIown . —

I. P. alpina. Uiumt tail-coverts dusky. Aihill in nininm r : lieily lilack, other lower jiaits whitish.

irinltr plniuitije: No l)lack beiiuath ; above, uuil'uria biuwiiish gray. Yuuikj : IJelly and

hrunst spotted with Mack.
a. AljiliKt. Wing, -I.UIM.".") ; culnien, 1.1")-1. 10 ; tarsus, .S.'i-l.tM); middle too, .70-.""). link

Europe.
j3. Amiricmia. Wing, 4.(10-4.!).') ; culnien, 1.40-1.".') ; tarsus, l.(Kt-l.l.') ; middle toe, ."O-.HO.

//((/). North America.
•2. P. Bubarquata. Upper tail-coverts white. Adult in, mmnur : lienenth, ineluding lielly, deej)

einnumon-ruroiis. irititer jilummji': I'eiieath, white, olisoletely streaked on thejiigiiliim ;

ahove, hrowiiish gray. Ymni;! : I'dly and hreast unspotted. Hub. Pala'arctic Region ;

occusiuuul in Eusteru and Northern North .Vinerica.

Pelidna alpina.

a. Alpina. THE BED-BACKED 8ANDFIPEB; DUNLIN.

Triiiga alpinn, T.isn. S. N. cd. 10, 17.')8, 1 lit ; ed. 12, 17<>t), 210 (haseil on C'inr/iis torqwitus, IJui.ss.

Oin. V. 1760, 210, 1)1. 1!», tig. 2). — Nkwt. Mnii. N. H. (iiccnl. 187">, 103 (nreciilaiid).
IMiihm nlpinn, Hinc.w. I'roi'. 1'. .S. Nat. Mas. 1881, 200 ; Noni. N. Am. II. 1882, no. .5:10. — Coits,

Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. (i2;l.
Trtiuja cinrlus, LiNN. S. N. I. 17t)(!, 2'.! (liascd on lluiss. Orn. V. 17(iO, 211, pi. 19, lig. 1).
" Tringa jnuriUit, Omki,. .S. N. I. 1788, (103 " (GiiAY).
Tringa ruficnilis, P.u.l.. Reise, III. 1776, 700.
jyumenius variabilis, Hi'.ciisr. Naturg. Dcutsclil. IV. 111.
Pelidna Schinzii, BiiRiiM. (var. ?) Not of Aiiicrieau writers.
VOL. I. — 31

li i

242

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LlMICOLvE.

/3. Americana. THE AMERICAN RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.

Tringa alpina, WiLs. Am. Oni. VII. 181;!, 'i:,, pi. .')0, fij,'. 2 (ik'c Lisn.) — Sw. & H'^H. F. B. A. II.

1831, 383. — NriT. Miiii. II. 1834, 100. — Aid. Orn. liiog. III. 1835, 680, i>l. 2U0 ; Syii(.|..

1839, 234 ; B. Am. V. 1842, -Jtiti.
2'riinja a/jiina, viir. (imtrioiiia, (.'ass. in liiiiril's 15. N. Am. 18'i8, 711». — Haikd, Cut. N. Am. IS.

1859, 110. 53(1. — l'.irK.s, Koy, 1^72, 2.-.ti : I'lick List, 187:!, 424 ; lUid.s N. W. 1874, 489.
Tringa vttriithilis, Saiiink, .Suiijil. I'lirry's First Voy. p. cc.
" Tringa cincliis," \Vii,.s. Am. din. VII. 1813, 39, \>\. 57, li>,'. 3 (iicc Linn.).
J'r/iilmi jmeifca, (.'ofKs, I'l. Ac Nut. Sii. I'liilail. ISOl, 189 (in text).
Pdidna ulpimi nmn-icuna, liiiuav. I'lo.'. V. .S. Nat. Mhs. 1881, 201); Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no.

639rt.— Cocks, Clurk List, 2il id. 1882, no. t)24.

IIab. Of true alpina, the Pula'urctic Itefjioii, lucideiitiil in North America (Hudson's Bay :
Blaklston, " lliis," 18(53, 132). Of amcriama, North America in general, breeding fur northwaiil,
and straggling to eastern coast of Asia.

Sp. Char. {P. americana). Adult in sumvur: Crown, back, scapulars, runip, and upper tail-
coverts, light rufou.'*, the crown streaked, other parts spotted, with Itlack ; wing-coverts brownisli
gray, the greater broadly tipi)ed witli white. Head (excejit crown), neck, jugulum, and breast,
grayish white, streaked with dusky ; abdomui black ; sides, Hanks, anal region, crissum, and linin,'

of the wing, pure white, the sides, flanks, and crissum sparsely stn-aked. Aibdt and young in %cin-
ler: Above, entirely plain ash-gray, sometimes with very imlistinct dusky shaft-.streaks ; indistinct
superciliary stripe and lower parts white, the neck and jugulum indistinctly streaked with grayish,
the sides. Hanks, and crissum sometimes sparsely streaked. Yininij : Hack and .scapulars black, the
feathers broadly bordered with rusty ochraceous, this becoming paler, or even white, on the ends
of .some of the feathers ; lesser and middh- wing-coverts liordeivd with bulf ; rum]> jdain brownisli
slate ; upper tail-coverts darker, tip|ieil willi rusty ; crown light rusty, streaked with black. Head
and neck (except crown and throat) dull dingy bufl', indistinctly streaked with dusky ; remainin.;
lower parts, including throat, white, the breast and belly with nuiiKnxis irreguhirly cordate sjinis
of black, the flanks, crissum, and lining of the wing immaculate. " Bill anil feet black; iris daik
brown" (Audubox).

Total length, about 8.50 inches ; wing, 4.(10-4.0.') ; culmen, 1.4(»-1.75; tarsus, 1,00-1.15; mid-
dle toe, .70-.8().

There is a considerable amount of individual variation in this species, especially noticeable in
the extent and continuity of the black alidominal aiva, the distinctness of the black markings
above, and the depth of the rufous tint ; not inlVe(|uently tlie latter is mixed with grayish. In
the winter plumage, some examples have the sides and crissum narrowly stmiked, while in others
these parts are immaculate.

American specimens differ constantly, though slightly, from European tmes in their larger si/c
and, in the summer plumage, lighter colors. In three adults of the European bird in summer plu
mnge, the black largely predominates on the dorsal surface, while the ochraceous is much less rusty
than in American e.xamples ; the breast is also much more heavily streaked. In the winter pin-

SCOLOPACID.R — THE SNIPK FAMILY — PELIDNA.

243

mage, till! tbrt'i' speciiiiPiis bifipic us IVom Kitioiiu an- dcciilfclly loiter iwli, and «|uite (listinclly
siiviikL'il almvu. A ,yi>uiin I'inl tVom llmij^aiy is iniioh li-st* distinctly spotted iK-ncath than one
I'luni Alaska (the only iinu'rican cxainiilc in this pltinia;,'i! wi; art; abh; to conipare it with), hut is
(■lluTwise very similar. Tlic (lilh'ii'iiffs Iwlwccn the true P. ti/pina and the American race appear
t(i he (piite constant, hein;,' vurilied hy all wiilcis who have made actual coniparison of specimens.
Mr. J. K. Hartin;,', who has made the Liiniwln' a special study, and who is therefore the best
iiiitlicirily on this j^Touit of biixls, f,'ives his views rej,'anlin^' these representative forms as follows
(r(. V. Z. S. IHTI.p. 11.-.):--

"On comparing' a specimen finm Ni^w Jersey, in lull summer iilnmaj,'e, with one which was
shot off the nest in iJenbecuhi (Hebrides), not oidy are the dilferences pointed out liy Prof. IJaird
ii|i|iarent, but it is also oliservabh- that the upper portions of the ]iliima;{e in the American bird
are considerably pervaile.l by brij^ht rufous-brown, whereas in the wime parts of the .Scottish
liinl black is the prevailing,' color. Further, the black of the under parts, which in the Scottish
liiril e.vtends (as in Sqmttiirnlii hilvcliin) from the vent almost to the chin, is confined in the Anieri-
( an biril (as in Eudrominn Mnrinilhis) to the belly oidy. Whether this hir;,'e race of Dunlin, known
as Triiiija iimericana, is sjiecitically distiiu't or not, it is not conlined to Anu-rica, as is generally
siijiposed. I have specimens in winter jdumage now before nie jirociu'ecl by ^[r. Swinhw; at Anioy,
and (ilhers in autumnal pluniaj,'e shot by myself in this country, which, as rcfjaitls me.isureme'.its
(if bill, win>,', ami tarsus, correspond in every way with examples from New Jersey. They differ
(inly in color, having; been obtaine(l at different seasons of the year. As far as I can jud(,'e by the
(lata before me, the smaller liird ap])ears to have a more restricted ranj,'e, and remains to nest in
tliis c(nintry ; while the laiv'er bird does not lireeil with us, but is found on our coasts in spriu},'
and autumn, during; the mif,'ration."

This form, so closely alliod to tlif (Joiiniioii Dunlin or Purrp of Enroix', lias a wide
(listrilnition over the coiitiiioiit of \ortli Amorica. It is found in high Arctic regions,
and on the shores of the Atlantic, i'acilic, ami Arctic oceans. ^Ir. Dall states that it
was seen frequently at St. .Miidiael's by Mr. Uaiiiiister. and in IJritish Colnnibia by ^Ir.
Klliott. .\ number of specimens were ol tained at Sitka by Hischoff. ^Ir. Dall also
met witli it at Nulato, where it was not iincomnion ; and it was also abiuulant at
tlie UKMitli of the Yukon, wlicre an exaiujile of its egg was obtained. Its nest is .said
to lie like that of the Lofn'jir^t /ii/pi'r/iorriis. .Mr. \l. Mrowiie also includes it among
till' birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper is of opinion that it never goes farther
(111 the Californian coast than San Francisco, as he has iu)t met with it on the coast
to the south of that place. This bird is, however, very common toward the north from
October to May, freipienting (diiefly the sandy bars about bay.s. but not going far into
the interior. It is .seen in very large Hocks, .sometimes associating with the other
small Sandpipers, from which it is not usually distiiigiiished by hunters.

The American Dunlin — the C/u'v-oo-me-nok of the Escpiimaux — is cited by Mr. E.
.\dams (" Ibi.s," 1.S7H) as one of the birds (diserved by him on the shores of Norton
Sound, where a few of this species fre(pieiitcd the salt-marsh together with Hocks of
AitmlroiiviH mbnitUln. They built their ne.sts — which consisti'd merely of a few dry
leaves scraped into a slight hollow — on the liigher ground surrounding the marsh,
and were very olten hovering over thein and singing a low twittering song. The
eygs — f(mr in numlH'r — are described as marked with large spots of three sluides of
Inown upon a light olive-green grt)nnd. principally about the larger end. The small
ciids were always placed together in the nest, as is the case with all the Waders.

The Dunlin is iiududed by Kcinhardt amcmg the birds of (Jreenland, where the
luirojiean species is known to have been taken ; and it may be to this that the Green-
land examples belong. I'rofessor Xewton states that Dr. Tanlsen more than once
received this species from (ireenland, both in the imnuitnre and in the autumnal plu-
mage. It probably breeds there, as it is also known to do on Melville Peninsula

i !

244

PR.1X"(X.'IAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOL^.

aiul oil the coast of Davis Strait. Kiolianlson states tliat ifc is abtindr.nt, and that
it breeds on tin- An-ti«- coast of America. Jle also met with it on the Saskatchewan
I'hiin in its iKt-ssaj^i' north, and in autumn on the shores of Hudson's J5ay. He
descri\»es its ejj}?» as liaving a ground of an oil-greeu marked with irreguhir spots of
liver-brown, of difftTcnt aiws and shades, confluent at the obtuse end. The eggs are
saiil to Ix; 1.1^8 inches long, and to measure .UG of an inch where broadest, the ends
differing greatly in si»'.

Mr. J. A. Allen niention.s finding this sjn'cies in the eastern portion of Kansas in
the earlier jKirt of 3Iay. It wa.s cpiite abundant in the neigldxirluiod of lag- ')ns.
Later — (hiring the .s4-eond week of August — lie again met witii others of this spe-
cies at Lake I'a.<w in CoKirado. In the following September he again found it ipiite
common in tlie Valley i.f (Jreat Salt Lake. JNIr. IJiclgway states that an individiud
of tliis sja'cies was shut by one of his party in ilay on an alkaline imjiuI near Tyramid
Lake.

iMr. Iioardman informs its that this sjiecies occurs, in spring and fall, in the neigh-
borhood of Calais, but lie do<'s not think tliat it is ever abundant. Jt eoines to Massa-
chusetts from the north in ih-UAn'V, ami remains into November, and is then (juitt;
common on the ccxi.st. lu its spring migrations it jtasses north late in May. Un Long
Island this s|>«'eie!* is known Itoth iis tiie IJed-liacked Sandi)iiier and as the iShuk-
breast. According to Ijiraud, it arrives on the shores of Long Island in the month
of April, but so«»ii Ii-:ives and pa.sses north, returning in Sejitember, at which time it
is cpiite abundant there, and still more so on the coast of >»ew Jersey.

This siK'cies a.-4.s<j«i-iates in HiK-ks, fre(|ueiitiiig the sliores, sandbars, and muddy
Hats, feeding on worms an<I such minute shellfish as abound in localities of this
kind. In the month of <A-t<»lM'r it is usually very fat, and is considered excellent
cjting. The autumnal plunuige is so entirely dift'erent from thi^ vernal that by hun-
ters this bird is generally regarded at those seasons as re|)resentiiig two different
species. The same thing was once true of the Kuroi)(>an form, the i»limiage of those
two seasons Ijeing mt unlike as not only to deceive siiortsnii'ii, but even ornitholo-
gists; hence the common names of Dunlin and Purre. and the two scientific terms
alpiita and ilnrlu*. ISy Ininters generally — both in New England and along the
shores of Long Island and New Jersey — the autumnal form is known as the
'•Winter Sniix-." In this plumage it closely resemldes the winter dress of the Cur-
lew Sandpii)er. During the autumn the Ked-backi-d Samlpii»er may Ix; found, both
on sandy and on muddy shores, along the whole of our central Atlantic coast. It
is said to lie a restl«-s«, active bird, gleaning its food with great (U-xterity, and .seeming
to Ih! ever desirous of clianging its position. Soon after alighting, the Hock collects
together, making short excursions over the water, and again settling down at but a
short distance from the sjiot from which they had only just Hown. These birds usually
crowd so closely t«»gether when whirling about in these excursions, that many may
be killed at a .singh- -shot. Mr. (iiraud mentions that on one occasion no less than
Hfty-two were kiU«*«l by the discharge of lK)th barrels of a gun into a Hock. This
is an unusual numlier; but the killing of ten or twelve at a time is said to be not an
uncommon thing.

On the slior(>s of the Atlantic, south of Chesapeake Bay, this species is very abun-
dant in its s|>ring migrations, comipg late in April and noi leaving until nearly
the end of May. In ^<<•pt4•ml»er it reappears, a ])ortion remaining throughout the
winter. Many of tlies<" binls as^ume their spring plumage before they leave ; proba-
bly the greater numiier of them do so. In their habits they are more like the
maculnta than the other Tringa; and are ranked as Snipe by the hunters, from their

SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE FAMILY — PELIDNA.

245

jiieferences as to their feeding-grounrls. Mr. Audubon speaks of them as particularly
abundant during the winter in Florida; and ^Messrs. Allen, Maynard, and JJoardnian
have sinee confirmed this 8tat«;nient. They take their departure from the south alxjut
tlif 1st of April,

The J{ed-ba(;ked Sandpiper passes through the interior, as well as along the coast,
in its migrations, pausing on its way to fet'd on the shores of inland lakes, ponds,
and rivers. It has been procured at both seasons by Mr. Kundien near Luke Kos-
konong, where, at times, it is (piite alnmdant.

Sal)ine states that tiiis sjiecies was observed in Sir Edward Tarry's f st voyage;
liiit that it was rare on the coast of Davis Strait and Uathn's l>ay and among the
ishuulK of tiie INdar Sea. In the second voyage it was found breeding on Melville
i'cuin.sula. And J. C. IJoss, in the '• Xatiiral History of the Last Arctic Voyage,"
speaks of this l)ird as very abundant during tlu.' breeding-season, near Felix Harbor,
where it builds its nest in the marshes and by tlu^ siiU-s of lakes.

Tiu'ee eggs of this species from Soiitli Cireenland, taken in June, 1855, measure
MO by .98, 1..'55 by .•.)8, L.'W by 1.03. They are pyrii'orm in shape — extremely so —
liaviiig a giound-color varying from a dirty clayey-wliite, with a washing of rufous, t(j
a deep clay -color. The eggs are all si>otted with large blottdies of dark sienna-brown,
wliich occasionally have a purplish tinge, and an^ irregularly confluent, and more
numerous alH»ut the larger end than on the other one, where they are lew iu uundjcr,
small, and scattered.

The liluroiH'au form of this siieeies, known as the Dunlin or I'urre, is entitled to a
place in a list of the birds belonging to the fauna of North America, since it is of
occasional occurrence in (.Jreenland, where the two forms appear to nu'ct on common
ground. It is not j»rolial)lt^ that tlie hal)its of the two forms are otherwise than
nearly, if not (piite, identical; and as somewhat illustrative of both varieties, we
copy, with slight changes, the following grai)lii(! summary of their peculiarities,
from the pen of Sir William Janiine: ''On the coasts of Great Dritain the I'nrre
is tlu! nu)st common of the whole race, and nuiy generally i»e mot with, no matter
wiiat is the character of the shore. IJefore they have been much driven about
and annoyed, they an^ also one of the most familiar. During winter the Hocks are
sdiuetimes immense, and will allow a jterson to aiiproaih very near, looking, and run-
ning a few steps, or stretching their wings in preparation for Higiit, listlessly an<l in
a manner indicative of little alarm ; a few shots, however, render them as timorous
and wary as they were before careless. In spring they sei)arate into iiai'^', when
some perform a migration to a consideral»le extent northward, wiiile others retire to
till' nearer marshes, a few to the shores of inland lakes, and still fewer to the higher
inland nmirs. Having there performed tlie duties of incubation, they return again
in autumn to the shore, where they nuiy be found in small parties, the amoinit of the
broods; and these gi-atliuilly congregate as the season advances, and more travellers
arrive, until many hundreds are tlius joined. Their nests are fornu'd beneath or at
tlie side of any small ImisIi or tuft of grass, very neatly scraped, and with a few
st raws of grass around the sides. The nuih^ is generally in attendaui^e, perched on
some near elevation ; and on any danger ajiproaching, runs round, uttering at (puck
intervals his shrill, monotonous whistle. The ft'uuile, when raised from the nest,
flutters off for a few yards, and then assumes the same manner with the male. The
young sit and squat amcmg the grass or reeds, and at that time the parents will come
within two yards of the jwrson in search of them."

Mr. Macgillivray, as <|Uoted by Audubon, represents the Purre as l)eing seen feo
constantly in company with the (Jcjlden Plover when breeding, that it has obtained

246

rR.ECOCIAL ORALLATORES — LTMICOL.E.

i e

the naiiK^ of " I'lovor's J'.-igc." During the hropding-soason it is not sepn ahing tlu-
shores. The young h'ave the nest iuiniediately after exchision, run about, and when
ahirmed, conceal themselves l)y sitting dose to the ground and remaining motionless.
If, during incubation, a person approaches their retreat, the nuiie — and frecpiently
tho female also — flies to meet the intruder, and employs the same artifices for deeoy-
ing him from tiu' nest or young as tiie Plover does. When the young are fledgcii,
the birds gather into flock.s, often joining tho.so of the (lolden I'lover, resting at
night on the ground in the smoother jjurts of the heath. When an intruder ap-
proaches such a Hock, the birds stretch tlu>ir wings up as if preparing for flight, ntttr
a few low notes, and either stand on the alert or run a few steps. Toward the end
of August they betake themselves to tlu^ sandy shores. On a large sand ford in
IIarri.s, JMr. ]\[acgillivray lias, at this season, seen many thousands at once run-
ning about with extrenm activity in search of food, the place seeming to be a general
rendezvous. Mr. Newton states that Dr. Paulsen has more than once received
this species from Greenland, i)oth young and in the autumnal pliiiiuige. It brei
there, and also on the Melville Veninsula, as well as elsewhere in the coast of Davi
Strait.

I have eggs in my eollection taken in North Greenland ; but whether belonging to
this form or to the americdmi, I am not sure. There is no perceptible difference in
the eggs of the two species, so far as is known. Greenland specimens, perhaps of
the American form, are slightly larger than the average European.

(IS

Felidna subarquata

THE CUBIEW SANDPIPER.

Scolo}mx subarqita/a, Gvut. Nov. C'oiiiin. Petrop. XIX. 17/5, 471, pi. 18. — O.meu S. N. I. 1788, G'jS.
Tringa subarqiiata, Te.mm. Man. I. 181,''., 393; II. 1&20, 609. — XrTT. Mnn. II. 1834, 1C4. — Ai ii.

Om. IJiog. 1835, 444 ; Syiiop. 1839, 234 ; II. Am. V. 1842, 2<i9, pi. 333 ; Ca.ss. in niur.r.s W. N.

Am. 1858, 718. — Uviui), Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 529. — Coues, Check List, 1873, no. 425 ;

Birds N. W. 1874, 491.
Pdidiia stiiarquala, KiDow. Proc. U. S. Nat. Miw. vol. 3, 1881, 200; Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no.

540.
Triiuja (Ancylochrihts) mlmrqttnla, Bonap. Cat. Mi'l. 1842, 60. — CouES, Key, 1872, 256.
Annjlochihis subarquni lis, Coi'es, Check List, 2d I'd. 1882, no. 625.
Scolopax africamts, (i.MEL. S. X. I. 1788, 655.
Numcnius pijgm(tus, Bei'ii.st. Xaturg. IVutschl. IV. 148.
? Tringn Ulandica, Beiz. Fn. Suoo. 1800, 192.
? Tringa fcrruginca, Hhcnn. Orii. Bor. 1764, no. 180.
Trgiign falcinelh, Pali.. Zoog. l!o.sso-As. II. 1811, 188.
Piliihia vuicrnrhijHcha, Hkeiim, Viig. Doutsdil. 1831, 658.
Ern/iii varicgatit, ViEILI,. Analyso, 1816, 55.
^rolin varid, ViEll.I,. Gal. Ois. II. 1831, 89, pi. 231.
"Scolopnx Dftlmrdingii, ."<iem,ss!-.s." ((iuAY.)
" Frtlcmcllus ciirsorius, Te.mm." (Coue.s.)

Had. The Old World in general ; O(xasionnl in Ea.stern North America.

Sp. Char. Adult, summer j^liimage: Back and .'<capnlar.s variegated with black and rusty;
crown rusty, streaked with black. Head, neck, breast, ."ides, and belly, deep cliestnut-rulbiis ;
anal region, also upper and lower tail-coverts, white, spotted with black and tinged with rusty ;
wing-coverts and tertials brownish gray, the greater coverts tijtped with white ; primaries and
middle tail-featliers dark slate-' olor ; rest of the tail ash-gray, the feathers slightly bonlered
with whitish; axillars innnarulate pure white. Winter •plumage: Above, brownish gray, in-
distinctly streakefl with darker ; tail-coverts (above and below) inue white, spotted with black ;
superciliary stripe and lower parts white, the juguluni indistinctly streaked with grayish.

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — PELIDNA.

247

Young: Buck and scupularH dusky black, the feathers bonleretl latertilly with dull light ochra-
cLMiUH, with white tenuiiialiy ; lesser and middle win^j-coverts bordered with dull bull"; upi)er
tail-coverts white, unspotted. Lores brownish ; indistinct superciliary stripe and lower jiarls
white, the juj,'uluni and sides of the breast washed with buff and narrowly streaked with

dusky. " Bill dark olive-green, darker toward point ; iris hazel ; feet light olive, claws dusky "

(AlDUBON).

Total length, about 8.50 to 9.(H) inches; wing, -1.80-5.20; culmen, 1.38-1.60; tarsus, 1.10-
l.L>() ; middh' toe, .70.

In the winter plumage this species is very similar t(j /'. alphm, but may be immediately distin-
guished by the white upi)er tail-coverts. American sjiecimens are quite identical with European.

The Curlew Siiiidpipcr i.s of rare oecurrence in North America, and has been actu-
ally known to have been taken in Imt few localities and in only a small number of
instanees. We can therefort' only regard it as a straggler. It is one of the rarest of
the Sandpipers which visit us. It has been taken in several instances near New
Vork and on Long Island. Three specimens were procured by !Mr. George A. Board-
man, of St. Steithen. from near St. Andrews, on the St. Croix Kiver. <Jne of these
was in the vernal plumage, and two were in the autumnal. So far as I am aware,
oidy two or three instances are on record of its occurrence in New England, — one
given by Mr. Maynard, near Ipswich, Mass., one at East Boston, and one near Port-
land, -Me.

It is mentioned by Giraud, in his ''Birds of Long Island," as of infrequent occur-
rence witiiin the limits of the Tinted States, but as having been more frequently
observed in the neighborhood of New Vork than on any other portion of our sea-
coast. But even he oidy knew of two or three having been se«'n in Fulton Market,
New York; and Mr. J. (L Bell, the taxidermist, in the course of many years, lias
jmrchased seven or eight. Three or four others are known to have been taken on the
shores of Long Island.

Autlubon states that in the course of his extensive rambles along our coasts he
saw only three of this species, which he regards as one of the rarest of its genus.
One of Mr. Audubon's specimens was shot on Long Island, near Sandy Hook ; the
oilier two at Great Egg Harbor, in New Jersey, in the spring of 1829. No other
birds were near, and he a])proachcd them without difficulty. They were waging
along the shores up to the knees, picking up floating garbage and sand-worms,
ill their stomachs were fragments of miinite shells, slender red-worms, and bits of
marine plants. He adds that he has seen several sp. -:>imens in New York collections,
two in Boston, and that Dr. Bachnian had also two of this species.

In the ejustern hemisjdiere this bird appears to be very widely diffu.sed, occurring in
Europe, Africa, and Asia at different seasons of the year, and according to its luigra-

248

PILKCUCIAL (HIALLATORKS — LIMICOL.E.

tions. It nowhero spoms to occur in gn'iit mimbors, iiltliouRli in some regions it is
now known to be less nirc tium it was t'ornH'ily suijjioscd to he.

])r. Ilcugliu met with it on the Red Sea from July to September, and in its
summer dress; this waj between Suakin and l>ab-el-Mandel). Those seen Avere
either solitary individuals, or were in small Hocks. In October and November he
again met with them on the Sonuili coast ; tlii'se were in their winter dress. Sir. T.
Ayres (" Ibis," 1878) also mentions procuring an example in the Transvaal; it was in
its winter plumage, and was in company with others of the species.

]\Ir. C. A. Wright si)eaks of this bird as being connuon in spring and autumn at
Malta. He has also met with it there in June, July, August, and September. Sir. H.
Saunders met with it in Southern Spain in May, it being then in its fullest breeding-
plumage. Professor Newton states, on the authority of Mr. I'roctor, that specimens
of this bird have been received from Iceland. Dr. Von Sliddendorff gives it .is one
of the birds of Siberia, where it is found on the tuiiilvas or barrens. Wheelwright
speaks of it as rare in Scandinavia, and as only seen on the southern coast during the
jieriods of migration. He shot si)ecimens in their full summer dress on the shores
of Scania. This species is supposed to breed on the west coast of Finland, not far
from the sea.

According to Yarrell, the (!urlew Saiuli)i])er, which was formerly regarded as a
very rare visitor to England, is much more common than was su])])osed, it having
probably been confounded with the Dunlin. A few pairs of the species are Ijtdieved
occasionally to breed in that country. Specimens have been shot in the last of Slay,
in the perfection of their summer ]ilumage, in Sandwich ; one — also in the breeding-
plumage — was shot in Norfolk, and young of this species were taken in the same
h)cality in July.

According to Thomj)son it is a regular summer visitor to Ireland, and also to
certain parts of England; and in Septend)er, 1S,'{7, more than twenty of this sjjecies
were exposed for sale on a single day in Lea<lenhall Slarket, London.

Nilsson states that this bird visits Sweden, remaining there from spring to autumn ;
but that it is found only in the eastern jjart of Scandinavia, and is not known on the
western shore. According to Tennant, it visits the shores of the Caspian Sea, Lake
Haikal, and the mouth of the Don.

According to Temminck, this species breeds in Holland; and he describes its
eggs as being yellowish white, sj)otted with (hirk brown. It is said to feed cm insects,
small Crustacea, and worms, which it obtains by laobing in the soft sand at the edge
of the water.

Messrs. Alston and Harvie-Iirown (" Ibis," January, 1873) mention finding full
sumnier-i)lumaged specimens of this species in the market of Archangel, in Kussi.a,
June 18.

It is said to be found in abundance in both its miu itions on the coast of Belgium
and France, but very rarely straggles inland. Mr. Dresser mentions .seeing two large
baskets of beautiful specimens of this l)ird, in full breeding-plumage, in Barcelona,
Spain, in May. In winter it visits Africa, ranging southward even as far as the Cape
of Good Hoi)e, a few barren birds remaining in North Africa through the summer.

It is also found along all the coasts of Asia, from Asia Minor to China; but
writers differ in regard to its abundance in the interior. It is common in Siberia,
where it undoid)tedly breeds, as Drs. Finsch and lirehm found it breeding in great
numbers on the isthnnis of the Yalmal Peninsula, near the margins of the lakes on
the tundra, in latitude G7° 'H)'. As this was in August, they were too late for eggs,
but met with the young in the down — which, however, they failed to secure.

SCOT.OPACID.E- THK SXIPE FAMILY — CALIDRIS.

249

Mr. Kiiiiilit'ii s^ii ,1, of this spt'cics us mit uiutoiuiuon in North GrciMiland. Kggs
wen' procmt'd ;it ('hiistiiuishiuil), (iicciiluiul, tlirou^'li tlu' kiiidiu'ss of Govonior
I'ciickcr. It Wiis not ol)st'rvf(l on any piirt of Cninbfiliinil visiti'tl liy Mr. Kunilim.
(t| tlicsc two ('},'|,'s takt'n in NortU (iri'cnlaml, one nicasnrril I.Ali inches in h'nj,'tii iiy
l.ii.'t in breadth. Its ground-<'olor is drai>, witii a distinc^t shade of olive, and it is
I liiikly marked with Idotelies »d' two siiades of uinlter-lu-own, one quite light, tho
(iili( r nnich darker; tlu'se are most numerous on and around tho larger end, and are
ill a somewhat longitudinal direction, with a tendency also to a spiral (toursc. There
;iie also a few spots of a very dark, almost black, color on the larger end.

The other egg measured 1.47 liy I.dl inches, being of a much more pyriform
sli.ipe. Its ground-color is a very light greenish drab, with rather sparse markings
(il a deep und)er. These are larger and more conHiu'nt altout the greater end of the
eg;,'. wlicr(! they are ehicHy disposed in a circular ring; but are si)arsely distributed
over tlie rest of tlu; surface. About the larger end ire a lew very dark markings.

Gkms CALIDRIS, (.'I'viKu.

Ca/idris, Cuvikis, Aimt. (.'cmi. V. (in chart), ISOo (typf, Tringu arcnaria, Linn.).

riiAR. fiL'iicriil I'linriictcrj* nf Triiujn ami Artutlritninii, hut liiiid toe entii'cly iihscnt. Rill
slriii^'lil, ratiicr longer than the iiuad, ^iliglllly OLimiidctl or .simon-sliaiicd ut end. Toes nliort,
tlic iiiiililli.' one scarci'ly two-tliirils tin' tai>ins.

Tliu only known .spoiius of this gcnu.s is uuurly cosmopolitan in its range.

C. arcnaria.

Calidris arenaria.

THE SANDERLINO.

Trliiga urenrirw, Linn. S. N. 1. 1"C(5, 2,')1.— Arn. Urn. liiog. III. 1S35, 231 ; Synop. 1839, 237;

n. Am. V. 1842, 287, pi. 338.
Calidrh arcHtiria, Ii.i.Ki. I'lmh'. 1811, 249. — Sw. & Iticii. F. 15. A. IL 1831, 360. — Ni'tt. Man.

IL 1834, 4. — C.vss. in liaiid's 15. N. Am. 1858, 723. — I5aiI!Ii, Cat. N. Am. 15. 18.';9, no. ,')34. —

Col i;s. Key, 1872, 257, lig. 1(17 ; < hnk List, 1873, no. 427 ; 2.1 ed. 1882, no. 627 ; IliiJs N. W.

1874, 492. — KiixiW. Norn. N. Am. 15. ISSl, no. 542.
ClMrudrnts valiilris, Linn. S. N. I. 176<>, 2.'.5. — Wilson, Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 68, pi. 59, fig. 4.
Cluiradrius riihiiliis, Omki.. S. X. 1. 1788, 688. — WiLs. Am. Oin. Vll. 1813, 129, pi. 58, lig. 3.
Armaria vulijuris, Hkciist. Tascii. Dcutsclil. II. 462.
Arcnaria griscn, Bulilm, V(ig. Dcutbchl. 674.
VOL. I. — 32

250

PR.WOCFAi- GUALLATORKS — LIMICOL.t:,

Tnjnqn tridnctiih, Pail. Zoo>{. Hohso-Ah. II. l«s!a, 108.
Citliilih fi-iiiij>ii,l,n, ViKir.l,. (lal. Oil. II. l.s;)|, !'.'., iil. •234.
Caliilris uiiifrkiniii, IIiikiim, Vmj^. pi'iitNchl. 1&31, tilt5.
"Culidria jiiijil/iis, ViKii.r."

Hah. Ni'iirly cosiiKiiKjlitim, Imt bicfilinj,' mily in tlu' An-tic mitl Subarctic districts, in Aiia-ric n
iiiigriitini^' Muutli to rala^'nnia and Chili. Cliii'lly litttintl, )>ut hviiut'iitiii^ also tlu- lar^'ur iidaii<l
wati'rs.

Si*. Chau. X(i hind toe ; front toes niodcrati- or ratlu-r lon^', llatti'UtMl undi'rni'ath, distimtiv
inar^^iiK'il with a nicinliraiic. Hill Htrai;^dit, ratiicr tiiick ; rid;{c of u]i|M'r niandiliii' llattiMied ; iia~:d
^Toovf diTj) and nearly as lonj,' as tiic iipiicr niandilijc, not so distinct in tlic lower ; Itoth niamli
hli's widciicil anil tlattcncd at the li|> ; api'itnit' of liif nostril laij^u and covered with a nienihrain'.
Winj,' loii),' ; tail short, with the niidclie feathers longest ; under coverts long as the tail ; legs nioil
crate ; lower third of the tiliiii naked. Lower parts wliite, immaculate on tlie helly, sides, (lank-.

a !

a.villars, nnal region, and crissum ; groafev wing-coverts lnoadly tipped with white, and inm i
Jirimaries wiiite at base of outer webs. Aihilt in sioinmr: Above, liglit rufous, broken by laiy.'
spots of black, the feathers mostly tipjied witii whitish. Head, lu'ck, throat, and jugulum, i>ali-
cinuamon-ruious, sjieckied below and streaked aliove with blackish. Atliilt in winUr: Above,
Very pale pearl-gray (the lesser wing-covi'its darker anteriorly), relieved oidy by faint daikii'
shatt-streaks of the feathers. Thiont and jiiguluin inimuculati! pure wiiite. Adult in uprimi:
Above, liglit grayish, with large l>liick spots (streaks on the crown), here and there mi.xed wiili
rufous; jugulum speckled witii dusky on a white ground. Youmj: Aliove, jiale gray, spollnl
with black ami whitish, tli<' latter on tips of tlie feathers ; jugulum inmuiculate white, faintly
tinged with dull luilf. " Hill and feet black ; iris brown" (Aldiiion).

Total length, about 7.7r)-8.(M) inches; wing, 4,7<)-6.00 ; culinen, .95-l.(X) ; tamis, .90-1.(1") .
middle toe, ..").'>-.«iO.

In tlie universality of its distribution tlie Sanderlinji; is probably not surpassed
by any known sitccies. It is fotind on both tlie Atlantie and I'acitic eoast of North
America and in the interior. It wanders in fall and winter to the West Indies.
Mexico, Central, and over the greater i)ortion of South, America. It is in like nuni-
ner found in the breed inj,'-season scattered over Northern Eurojie and Asia, and from
Auf,'ust to June it occurs at various ])criods in ('eiitral and Southern Asia and
Europe, Africa to Xatal, flajian, tiiid on .several of the islands lying to the south
and southeast of Asia.

This is a bird of the highest Arctic distribution, having been taken by Captain
Hall's i)arty, in the "Polaris" Expedition, on the west coast of (Jreenland. It w;is
also observed by Mr. Feilden, of the Expedition of 1H7.V187(>, in Grinnell Land on
the 5th of June, 187G, flying in coin[)any with Knots and Turnstones; at tliis date it
was feeding, like the other Waders, on the buds of Sn.riffaga ofipositifolia. It was iiv
no means abundant along the coast of that region, but Mi: Feilden observed several

SCOLUl'ACID.K — TIIK SN li'K FAMILY — L'ALIDUIS.

251

|i;iirs in the uggrogatc, and I'ouiul oiu- oi tlu-ir lu-Mts, containing two t'Kps, in lutitiulp
s:*' '^V N., on till' LMtli of .luno, 187(5. Tin- lu'st — from which lie kiUcd tho mah^
liinl — was placed on a gravel ridge, at an altitude of sifveral hmidred feet above the
sea. The eggs were (h'posited in a slight depression in the centre of a reciiiuhont
plant of Arctic willow, the lining of the nest consisting of a few withered leaves and
sdiiie of the hv»t year's catkins, (hi the Sth of .\iigwst, lH7(j, along the shores of
jjidieson Channel, Mr. Feilden saw several jiaities of young ones — three to four in
iiuiiilier — following their parents, and, led by the ohl i)ird.s, .searching most dili-
1,'ently for insects. At this date they were in a very interesting stage of i)luniage,
liriiig just able to Hy, imt retaining some of their down.

The migrations of the SaniU-rling appear to be made indifferently along the coast
iir tiirough the interior, both in the (►Id and in the New World. Wherever there are
large bodies of inland water, to the banks of these it is attra<'ted alike in its sjiring
and in its autumnal migrations. It is an abundant visitant along the shores of our
own (Jrcat Lakes, arriving in full breeding-plumage about the L'Otli of May, and is
seen, according to Mr. Ntdson, in flocks of from Hve to seventy-tive along the shore
(if Lake .Michigan until the l(»th of .fniie. It returns aluiut the 1st of Augu.st, still
wearing its breeding-dress which is changed about the last of the month for the
more sober colors of winter. It ilejiarts about the I'Oth of October. It is found
almost exclusively ahtng the bare .sandy beach.

Mr. K. Swinhoe mentions the passage of flocks along the coast of Formosa early
in the fall, and their return late in the spring, very few appearing to remain on the
sliorcs through the winter, lie afterward met with this species at Hungpe Creek,
ill the Island of Hainan. March .'!(>. ( tn the |{ed Sea it was met with by Dr. Ileuglin,
hut was not seen there from .luiie to September. It was first noticed, about the end
el September, near Has IJtdiil, on the marshy coast, in small flocks, .some being still
partly in their snmnier dress ; and in ( Jctober and November it was very fretiuent
ill winter plumage near Zeila. I>erbera, l>eude. (Jain, etc. Specimens have also been
luiM'ured from India; and ^Ir. Temininck received them from .lapan. from the Sunda
Islands, and from \ew (ruinea. Dr. A. Smith obtained s])ecimens in Simth Africa;
and .Mr. .1. II. (iiirney ("Ibis." lS(i."») mentions the occurrence of this species in the
('iildiiy of Natal, also in South .\frica, where he found it gregarious on the .sea-beach,
niiiiiing about with great activity while feeding, following the waves as they retired,
tibtaining its food on the very edge of the water, and very rai)id in its flight. This
liiid was observed in the Ionian Islands by ^Ir. T. L. I'owys ; and ^Ir. C. A.Wright
("lliis," 1<S(J4) mentions the capture of a single specimen in Malta. Sept. -'4, ISGli.
It was found by Mr. Saunders abundant in Southern Sjiain during the autumn and
]iai t of the winter, but was not seen by him after the early spring, nor in its breeding-
pluniage.

The Sanderling, according to Yarrell, is well known <m most of the sandy shores
of (ireat Britain and Ireland, where it is found at the water's edge, usually in com-
pany with the Trliiffd ti/ji!na. It also associates with the smaller Plovers, resembling
tliciu in its habits, frtMpienting the harder part of the sandy shore, and apparently
running or flying with equal ease and rapidity. It has been seen as late as June,
and as early in the fall as August ; but is not known to breed in that country, and its
engs were unknown to Yarrell. Several in full summer livery — says Air. lleysham —
were killed on the coast in the vicinity of IJrow-Houses as late as June -1. Others
were observed by Mr. Bullock at the northern extremity of Scotland as late as the end
ef June; but they were bidieved to go farther north to breed. This species visits
the shores of Sweden and Iceland, but breeds — so far as known — still farther north.

252

rR.ECOCIAI, ORAT.LATOnKS - uMiror„E.

Tcimninck Htnton that tlic Saiuli>rlin(; iH nliumlniit in spriii;; an<l aiitiiiini on ilx'
coftHt of IloUaiiil, and that it is fmiiiil nn tht- shuri's of Fiunci' and Italy, occuiTin^
occanionuily at Nice ami (it-noa in fvcrv Hta^ji' <il' plMniaj,'!' ; anil also in tlir inti'
I'ior, on tin- shon's of the lUark Sea, ftr. Dr. Middcnilortf iiiclndt's it in Ids Li^i
of till! Kirds of Sihi'iia, anioii}^ tiios** that pt to the t-xtn'mc north, and Ilfrr von
Il('u;,'lin met witli flocks of tins siicrics in St'jiti'ndKT on \Vai},'at Island, Nova Zrndila,
ininj,'i('d witli tlocks of '/'rliii/n nf/ilmi.

Hfinliardt inclndcs the Sandcrlin^' anxni^' thr liirds of (Srcoidand, wIiim-c he fouml
it rare, and hrcodinw "H Disco Island. Colonel Sahini', in the Appendix to I'arry's
" l'"ii'st Voyaj,'c," nicntidiis its iin-cdin;,' in considcr.ilili' nnndxTson (lie North (icor^,'iiiu
Islands, where several pairs were killed at dilferent periods of the l)reedinj,'-sea.soii.
Richardson Htatos that it breeds on the eoast of Hudson's 15ay as far south as the
ooth parallel, llutchins is (pioted as statinj; that it makes nests of dry grasses in
the marshes, and as <lescriliin|,' the v^^ as liavinj,' a dnsky-eolored t,'r(tnnd s|iotted with
black, incubation eouimeneiiiii; in the middle of .June, i'rofessor Newton speaks ol
this species us raru in (Sreenland, and as saifl not to breed farther south than latitmlc
(W X. ; but its younj; have Im'cu taken at (Jodthaab. It was fouml on the east coa.sl
by (Iraah, and by the (iernum K.xpedition on Sabine Island. It is also said to have
been found breeding in considerable nundH-rs on the I'arry Islands.

^fr. Salvin found the Sanderlintj; in consi(h'rable nundiers on the Vaoific eoast
of Guatemala, and occasionally veiy abundant; he als(} met with a few amon^ the
bays on the coast of Honduras Lite in .\pril. Mr. Kdward Newtoi- procured a sin^ilc
individual at St. Croix, Sept. Hi, liSoM. Leotaud includes the Sanderling among the
binls of Trinidad, but states that it is only a rare migratory visitant, occurring in
small nund)er.s, and only found from .Vugust to October. It always stays about thr
borders of the sea, running over and carefully searching the wet saiul and mud fm-
small worm.s. Mr. (Jould states that it is plentiful in Brazil, from wheni'i' he has
received specinu'iis; and Mr. 11. Durnlord mentions procuring two out of a Hock at
Tombo I'oint, on the eoast of Central I'atagonia.

The Sanderling passes south along the ('oa.st of Massachusetts from the ndddle ol
August to the latter i)art of September, and n'turns northward in the latter part
of May. It readies Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin, about August lo, and in .some
seasons is very abundant there. I'rofessor Snow obtained specinu'ns in Kansas in
September. It is very common in the s])ring and f:dl near (!alais. Me. (liraud has
never oUserved it in very large nundiers in the sjiriiig im the shores of Long Island ;
but, on its return, it arrives in flocks about the midille of August, and by the 1st
of Septem1)er has become very ainindant. It generally prefers the more immetliate
borders of the ocean, but is often seen occujtying. with other small Sandiiipers, tlic
shoals and mud-flats in the shallow j>arts (if estuaries. It .seems to be eminently
sociable, searching for food in c<mipany, probing the sand for small bivalve shells ami
marine worms, or attending the retiring waves in search of shrimjis. It is very inter-
esting to watch its active movements as it feeds along the shore, alternately advancing
or retreating with the flow of the water. It is naturally very unwary, and is even
less suspicious than the rest of the family of Trinyrv. When a flock is fired into,
the survivors rise with a low whistling note, jterform a few evolutions, and ])resently
resume their feeding with undiminished confidenic. If wounded, it takes to th>'
water, ami swims well. Later in the season it beconu'S very fat, and is excellent
eating.

It is very abundant on the shores of the Southern Atlantic States, excejit duriuLf
three or four summer mouths. The greater number of these birds pass north early

srOLOPACID.K - TIIK SMIM': FAMILY — MXfOSA.

253

ill M.'xy, liiit II I'i'w an- srcn in.lmii'. Soinc iiriivi' Lite in Au;,'iisf, Imt nmst of tliciii iti
Si'|ttciiilii'r. A I U'l' October tin- V liccdiiif (•(iiis|ii('U"U.s l»y their li^l't eulor. Ip to ii
-iKirt time Iwlori' tlieir <le|iiirtiir'' tliey eoiitiiuietl in e(iiii|iaet llciiks, Imt iii .Mii\ tliey
liicanie iiion' dispersed, iiiid were seen in paiis cliasiuj,' eaeli otiier over the sand.

Specimens of this hird were taken in jternnidii liy Major Wedderliuru from the
nil of Septendier to the 7th of Novendier. Aci'ordin'^ to Mr. Ilnrdis. it is not known
t(i have oecnrred there later tlian tlie lllth of Novendier. Several indiviilnals cd' this
spcries were uhtaiiied liy .Mr. .1. \. .Mien at Ipswich, .Mass., in .Inne, l.StJS; they wert^
ill immature pluniii>,'e, and were mere stra>,'^;lin);, unmated birds.

(»n till! Pacific coast the Sanderlinj; was not observed by Dr. ('nuper aloii;,' the
sipiithern jtart of the coast of California, Imt from San Kranci.sco north it was fonnd
numerous in winter; mid thim^di a few reiiiuin throii^dioiit tiie summer, none are
supposed to breed there. Its food on the I'acilic coast, and indeed wherever tlie coii-
tiiits of its stomach hiive been observed, appears to be slender sea-worms, minute
sliiUlisli, Crustacea, and Hue Ki'avel. {''arther north — as .Mr. I>all states — it was
piiiiiired it Sitka by ISisidioff, is very common at Nnlato, and on the Viikoii to the
M'a, where it arrives "arly, from .May loth to the l."itli. and is one of the last birds
to h'avo in the fall, havin;,' been seen by him in October on the ed^re of the ice. Ken-
nicott found them in the interior, alonj,' the beach at Lake Winnipej,' in .lime, where
tlicy were iu small Hocks and numerous. Mr. Macl-'arlane discovered a nest id' this
species — the only one at that time known to naturalists — on the Harren (irounds,
.lime lil), l.S(J.'t. The female was seciireil, and the nest found to contain four e^^^'s
which wore (piite fresh. The nest is said to have been composed cd' hay and decayed
leaves. It was obtained not far from the ,\rctie coast, a little east id' Anderson
iiivcr. The two e,i,';,'s in the Smithsonian Collection (No. IKtS,')) measure, one 1.14
inches in length by .•».■» in breadth; the other, l.t.'l by .J)!). Their ground-color is a
brownish olive, marked with faint spots and small blotches of bistre. These mark-
iiiLfs are very t,'eiierally dilfiised. but are a little more numerous about the larger end.
fiiey art! of an oblong pyriform shape.

Gkm's LIMOSA, ISimsson.
Limosa, Bkissun, Orn. il^W (xyy, Si-olnjui.r liniiisn, li., = .S'. niiiHVjilmhi, L.),

Ch.vr. Bill li'iijitlicni'il, (■.xcccdiii^; the tarsus, slcmlcr, iiiul curving gently ujiwards, grooved to
WM tilt' tiji, tlif tip not attenuated. Tiii>us with tnuisvcrsc sciitcllie licl'oiv and licliiiid, rcticulatetl
iatciJilly. A short Imsal iiu'iiiliriiiii' lictwccii the middle and cmtcr toes. Tail .short, even.

liill nnuli longer than head, ncarlv iMpiiilling tni-si and toes together, curving gently upwards
I'liiiii the base, where it is elevated and eoiii|iresse(l, depressed, however, at the end. The grooves
on sides of hill and beneiilli extend iiearlv to the lip ; the tip of llie upper luaiidilde is thiekeiied,
and extends a little beyond the lower. The gape is slij^lit, not extending lieyoiid the Imse of the
ciihiieii ; the fi-athers on the side of the hill reneli imwiiid to about the same point, tlios.' on the
iliiii ft little farther. Tarsus more than one and one half times the toes, twice the bare jiart of the
tiliia ; hind toe rather lengthened ; outer toe webbed as fur as end of lirst joint, inner toe with only
a short ha.sal weh. Tail short, even, two-tifths the wings.

In some resports, the liill of this genus resembles that of Mii(rnrli(nn)>hita, the chief apparent
dill'erence being the upwanl curve of the one and its straighlness iu the other.

A. Wings without any well-detined white patch,
a. Tail distinctly barred.
1. Ij. fedoa. Prevailing eolor oeliraceous, the head and neck streaked, the remaining upper

^Miim

254

rU.ECOriAT. OKALLATOIIKS- F.IMirOL.K.

|Mirti4 bttmil, with lirnwiiixh (liiHk.v; itxillarH mul liiiiti); of the win^ iloop riniiiiiiinn-ocliii'.
\Vill){, M,A(>-U.(N) ; (lllliicll, a.r)(M>.*NI ; turMUN, :<.7r)-:).(M) ; liiiilillc I'M', I. ID. Iliih. Noitii
Aiiiciiiii.
2. L. Uppouloa. I'l'iKT tiiil-covvrti* uliiif, Hpnttoil with iliinky ; uxilliirM luul liiiiii>{ uf win^'
wiiitc, ii'ifKuliiily luitritt'il with tliixky. In tummn; hi-iul and lower |HtrtH ciniiuiiioiMiilm

■ --'^-'v-

L, fetlua.

In winter, hcail mid lower purtM wliilisli, the liead mid n.-rk streaked, tlie hreiist and wido
irregularly liarnnl wiili jirayish lirown. Yoninj, like winter adull, but ])hinia^'o j,'eu-
erully washed with dull li;,dit clnyecdor, the tiiroat alul Juj,'uluni unstreaked.
a. Lapponiui. Rump white, marked with (lli|iti(al, aiumiuate streaks of dusky. Wiiij;,
8.25-8.50 ; culmun, 2.f)5-3.Wi ; tarsus, 2.(KI-2.i") ; middle toe, 1.10-1.20. llali. ruhumeti.
Uetjion.

Outer tail-fi'.itlier nf '.. Injtponlca
nova-ztalandUr.

Outer ttll-fcatbcr of L. fidoa. ^"^^^^^ ^_^*'

Outer tail-feather of L hmuutlca.

.4,. I

/3. Nova:-zealan(fi(r. Rump dusky, the feathers bordered with whitish. Win},', 8.25-0.15;
culmen, 3.15-3..55 ; tai-sus, 2.00-2.20; middle toe, 1.10-1.20. Uab. Pacific Islands and
roasts, from Austiidia to Alo-ska.
h. Tail black, with white base and tip, but without bars.

HCOLOPACID.E — TMK HSIVK FAMILY - UMOSA.

265

3. L. haniaatlOH. rpixr lail-ioviTtH i^rowtvil liy ii wiiUt luuiil <>r |iiirt> wliiii- ; llm^^^^T \\\t\tvt

tiiil-covertN, I'litiiv niiiip, iiiul axilliirx, uiiilnnn iliiitky ; liiiiii;; of wiii^ tlimky, H|Hitiiil
uith wliili' i>u(\«iii'tlly. Siintmir iiliinniiji : llt'iiratli, i'lu"<tiiiit luiiii'il with iliisky ; uIhivi-,
l>liii'ki'«li. ll'indi- iiliiiiiini' : lii'inaili, wliiti'.li, witliniit niiirkiii^^, llu' IiichkI ami Jti^'ii-
liiiit ({iityisli ; uliovc, iiiiirciriii lirnwui'ili ({''"yi •''(I't'pl rump, iippt-r lail-i'iivt-rtH, ami tail.
Vniiiiii: ili'iH'alli, li;,'lit ;;iavi^li I lav-riijor. ilarkff on Intact ; iilmvc, lirnwiiihli «''">', ffalli-
vT* liniili'icil with (p( hrart'DH;*, ami fiiiiii-what Kimttcd with ilii^ky. Win;,', H. |(I-h,(;(> ; riil-
iiiiii, J..s:i-;i !.•) ; taisuH, 2.2.'>-:!.:.(» ; iiiitlilli! Uw, l.l"»-l ;«<». l/<ili. Aimrica.
Il< Wiii^' with tw'i) white patclit'it, tmc ut hanu of intu'i' priiiiarii''<, tliu dthcr Dcciipyiii)^ tliu ^ivaliT
]iart III' the Nfi'iiiiilai'ii'K.

4. L. CBgooephiila. I'pprr t lil-niM'tli, iiinip, ami tail mui h as in //iiilKiniini ; axillarx ami

lining' nl win^; pun- white. U'inj{, h.iT); tuluiLii, U.Tu ; tursuH, li.h.'j ; iniddlu tia-, l.:;5.
lliti), ralu'ui'ctiu iti'^ioii ; (irutiilainl.

LimMa fedoa.

THE MARBLED OOOWIT.

•

Sciilojiaxftdoii, Linn. S. N. I. I'litl, "Jll (liii.Hnl on Fulna amrrictinu, Knw. 1:17, nnd Limoia amtri-
riiiiii ni/ii, lliir.ss. V. •2><7). - \Vii,.s. Am. Oia. VII. l.siil, :1(), pi. .Iti, (. I.

/,iHmwf/((/(«», nun. id. Wu.min, VII. l.sj,'.. ^Sw. d linn. K. It. A. II. \m\, aii5.-- Ni'ir. Man. II.
1834, 173. — All). Orn. Uion. 111. 18:i:., 287 ; V. filtO, pi. X\» ; Syiiop. 1»31», 2I<! ; H. Am. V.
1812, :131, pi. 34H. - Casn. in Hiiird's It. N. Am. 1h58, 710. — UmiiP, (at. N. Am. It. 18.10,
no. ,•.(-. — I 'iiiti>, Kry, is7i, '.•."u ; < link Li-t, 1873, no. J2.S ; Itiiils N. W. 1871, 4!t2.

Limmiifinlti, liiixiw. Nom. N. Am. II. l.sM, no. :,V.\. —( 'oiriu*, Check Lint, 2d td. 1882, no. 028.

Sciilnjiitj: iiKiniiiirii/ii, L.vrii. Ind. Orn. II. 17!Mi, 7'-'<'.

" Linwiui iiinn'iciniii, Snil'IIEN.s, Shaw's lien. /i«)l."

" I.illKnul ll(/.1/klSll, LlCIIT."

II.vu. Ndith Aini'iira ; liici-dinj,' in the infi-iiiir of the cnntiiiPiit (MiMsoiiri Roijion niid north-
waid), wintfiin^' Hoiithward to Viii:ataii and (iuatcniala ; Culia.

Sp. Chau. IjIII Iimi;. ciirvid iiiiwaids ; Imth inamlililis ;.'riiovcd ; win>,'» long ; tail short ; legs
loiit; ; tibia with its hiwer hall' naked ; tms rather short, mai),'iiied and llatteiied iinilern"ath ; the

outer and niiddh' toes united liy a rather lari,'e meinbmno. Entire upper pnrt.^ variegated with
liiiiwnisii hhiek and pale reildish, the fonuer disposed in irregular and eoiilluent liand.s, and the
latter in sputsand iinperl'ect hands ; in many si>eeiinens the lilack i-olor predominating on the hack,
iiiid the pale red on the runi]i and up]ier tail-coverts. Under ]iart.s ])ale rufouw, with tninsverse
lines of brownish black mi the breast and sides ; under wing-coverts and a.villaries darker rufous ;
imtir webs of primaries dark lirown, inner webs light rufous; secondaries light rufous ; tiiil light
iiirous, with tnuisverse baiM of brownish black. "Hill dull flesh-color in its basal half, the rest
blackish brown ; iris brown ; feet bluish gray " (Af ulijon.)

266

PK.KC<)("IA1, (ii:AJ,I,AT(H!KS— LIMICOL.K.

Total Ifiijjlli about I8.(K) iiiL-lm-* : wiiif,', !).(K> ; tail, :J.")() ; l>ill, l.(H> to n.tMl ; tarsim, a(K» iiuliis.'
Tlir |iliiiiia^'i' (if this liiiil in soiiii' .-la;.'('s is wiiiidfi riiily similar to tliat of SiniuitiiiK lunijininlrii ;
in i'arl the ri'sciiililanri' is so ^^'ival lliat \w\v it hhI I'm' the rons[iii'Uoiis ^^cnt'cic (liU'i'rcni'cx il
would III- ratliiT ililliriilt to distiii^uisli tliciii s|i(ritii'alK. Itotli have in'ccist'ly the Huiiif tints nl
color, anil also a nearly idfutiral di-^liilmtion oi' ihr markings, Tlu' main diU'i'it'iici's a|i|ii'ar to lir
till' rollowin'^ ; In XfiitnuKs ihi' Mink liais nl'llu- npiirr paits air lonni'ilcil liyliroad stri|u's aloii;,'
the niiddlu III' liii' ri'athri's, whili' in Limii.*n jhesc liars are all isolati'd and nanowri', a.-< well as iiI'm
less deep lilai'k. The lon;;iludinal .streaks on the head and neck are utucli lesx eons|iicuoiis in
Limtmii ; in the latter there is also ol'lener a tendency to Iransvcrse burs on the crissuni, and le«-
ol'ten to streaks on the lorent'ck.

Till' (Sn'iit Marlilcil (Jculwit has lit'cii rouiitl throughout North Amorica from llir
I'acitic to the Atlaiitie loast. hut is not known to orcur north oi' the Selkirk Settle
luciit-, Manitiiha. ami Ilinlson's l>ay ; nor has it yet heeii traeeil any nearer than this
to the Aretie (.'iride. ami it is not known to oecnr in any jiart ol' Alaska. I!y our
earlier writers it was supiioseil to lie only a hint <d' transit in the rnited States; Iml
this is a mistake. It is now kmiwn * i lireed in Northern Ohio, in W'iseonsiii, Iowa.
Minm'sota, Kansas, ami Nebraska, ami also not improbalily in 'i'e.Nas ami the intei-
venin^,' re},Mon. It iia.s.ses the winte ehietly in the Wt-st India Islands, Ale.xieo, Cen-
tral ami South America.

y\Y. Leyluml louml this s|ieeies eomnion at the Ueli/e ; .Mr. Salvin nu't with it on
tlio I'ai'itie eoast of tiuatemala. ami .Mr. Ilenshaw mentions its a|i|iearini^ in lari;i'
tioeks on the Califoriiian eoast both in s|irin,i;' ami fall. It is also j,MVi'n by ^Ir. If.
IJrowi e in his List of the Hinls of ^'am•onver Island ; but it does not appear to have
been traeed farther north on the Taeilie coast than that island, ami it is not men-
tioned by .Mr. Dall.

According to Li'otaud it visits the Island of Trinidad, aiTivinj; there in the nmnth
of Anj,nist and remainiii.u until October. It is always found on the bonh'is of the
.sea, and is never present in threat numbers. It is ineluded by i)r. (iumllach ainon;,'
the birds of Cuba.

Ivichardson speaks of this species as abounding,' in the Fur Country, esjiccially in
the interior, and mentions it as particularly abumlant on the Tlainsof the Saskatche-
wan, where it freipieiits marshy places, walkiii;; on the surface of the s/i/ini/iin, and
thrusting its bill amonj,' them up to the nostrils. The stomachs of Uiohc that lie
kilh'd when so en^ao;cil were found to be lilled with fraj,'ments of leeches. The same
author states that in the I'nited ."states it is a nu're bird of tiassaj,'e. winteriiij,' beyond
our southern limit; but this is ai' "ir.r, as this species — to some extent — b.illi
breeds and winters within our limit. -lah's of this species killed in the I'ur |{e;,'iiiii
on the I'lst of .June had already be!,'un to moult. The iiliimaf^e of the females at the
samt> jieriod appeared mm h worn, but showed no m-w feathers. Cajilain Jllakiston
also met with this species on the .Saskatchewan, and iifterward received spocimeiis
of it from II\id;on's I'ay. in wliieh re<,'ion .Mr. Murray also noticed it occasionally.

Mr. Dresf 'r nu'iitioii' that in .Inne he noticed a lew of tlu'se birds m-ar Mrownville
and Matanioras, but was able to procure only one specinu'ii. Their occurrence in tha;
locality at that jieriod rcii'cr.s it not imi»o.ssible that a few may breed even in thai

' A sorics of ten s)ii'iiini'ns, niclinlinjf iiii i'i|in(l niaalie;- of Mmles iiiid females, shot tiy Mr. Franklin
lli'liner, in Milllli'Sdt.l, lietweell .Illlle .Mil aiel 20lh, was e.ni'fillly nieiislllrd. wila the liillowili),' lesalls :
Miilm: Tiiliil li'ii^'tli. lti.,'lo-i7.H'J, aviTiiK"', 17. "H' ; extent, ;Ui..'i(l-:n,.''i0, iivehij;i', :tl.lO; l.ill, :!.(;•!-(. no,
ni.Tnge, ;{.S4. J-Vmalis: Tntal linntli. is. l'J-l!i,(|-.>, :ivirafj!e, llt.lo ; extent, :f.'.(io-;i;).87, iiveliine, .'l-',8'-' :
bi>:, 4.54-5.00, a-.riiKe, 4.77. (See "Hull. .V'utl. Om. Cluh,' V. ,1 in. IbSn, y. 18.)

•'hV!

SCOLOFACID.K ~ TIIK SNIPK FAMIIA' - LIMOSA.

257

soiithiTii I'l'^iim. in AUj "st tli«'v liml lit'coim' iinirc iniiiit'nms ; and alMHit thf time
ipf liis li-aving he saw tlu'iii daily in tiut laj,'()un.

Dr. ("ooptT statfs tlial, tliis s|M'(it's is (•(iniiiioii tlintiij,di iit-aily all tlw^ year aloiij;
till' siiiitlicrii halt' ol the (.'alitnrnian coast ■ and it scrnii'il to liini |iri)l>alil(' that it
liii'i'ds within or nt-ar th*> limits id' that State as the y«un^' makt* their apiicaraiMf,
lully tl(dj,'rd. near San I'fdro in .Inly, and n-maiii nniil die L'ttth (d' May, it' not later.

A< eordiiin til (Jiiand it arrives in the month ol May on the sea-eoast of Long
l>l;ind. where it is well kiHiwn to the sportsmen iioth as the .Marliii and as the <ireat
Marbled (iodwit. It visits that locality ret;ularly every sprin-,' and aiitnnin, liut nev.-r
in alinntlanee, It. associates in Hocks, and iisnally passes its time on the shoals and
salt-marshes, iH'ing exceedingly watchtnl, and not permitting a near approach; yet
wiieiiever any <nie id' its inindier is wonnded, its associates hover around it and ntter
liiud and shrill cries, (hi sntdi un occasion they crowd together and oti'er an excidlent
opportunity for the hunter to secure others. I'elican l>ar is said to lie a favoraide
place lor prociu'ing this species, (liraud adds that its tiesh is teiah-r and juicy, and
that it is highly prized as a gamedtird Ity »'i)icurcs.

This Curlew is not common in Massachusetts, it lieing much less frecpu-ntly met
with than the smaller species. .V few are seen hoth in their spring migrations and in
the fall, in the laore easterly portions id" Itarnstaltle County. .Mr. iSoarilman informs
us that it is found at (irand .Meiian late in the sumnu-r ami during its migrations
siPiuhward.

Wilson, who only oliserved this Imd on the shore of New Jersey, regarded it
as exclusively migratory, ciuuing in May and returning in Octohcr and Novenil)(>r.
a fi'W lingering into dune, 'i'hey were known to huidiMs as the Ited Curlew and
the Sti.iightd)illed Curlew, lie (diarai'terizes it as shy. cautious, ami watchfid. yet
so strongly iitta(died to its companions, that when oin- in a tlock i^: wounded, the rest
are imiuediately arrested in theii- flight, making .so many circuits over the sjiot where
il lies Huttering and screaming, that the sportsman idtcn makes great desrruction
among tliem. 'I'his liird may lie enticed within shot \>\ imitating its whistle, hut
can seldom he otherwise approacdied. It is found usually among die siilt-marshes,
anil in the fall is very fat.

N\ittall ventured the conjecture — since verilied — that some of this siiecii's may yet
lie innnd to hreed in more temperate regions to the West, as wtdl as at the North. In
Ins day this species is .said to have appeared ahont the middle of .\ugust in the .salt-
marshes of Massaidnisctts. particularly towards the eastern extri'mity.aronml Chatham
and the N'incyard, tlicir stay heing very siiiirl. It may he that he mistook for this
till' NiiilsDiilini, which in some seasons is very almndant on this coast. .\t present,

at least, it is only an •asimial visitant, though said in Nutlairs time to assemhle in

tliiiks of many hundreds. \'errill speaks of it as rare on th.- coast of Maim-, and it
is Mot given l>y Itoardmau in his List (d' the Itirds of Calais, although he has sincL>
1)1 en informed that it prolialily lueeds in I'riuce Kdward's Island.

Mr. Andnhou met with this species in l-Moriila, during winter, on all the large
mndily Hats of the coast. It was generally M'cn in Hocks of live or six, in company
with several other kinds of Waders, Few hirds are fouml more shy or vigilant;
Imt when in large Hocks they nni,\ occasionally he apiiroached and kilh-d in large
innnbers. On the last of .May. \M'J, he saw, on an extei^sive mnddtar alKUit six miles
south uf C!ape Sahle, an immense Hock (d' the.se birds, amounting to sonn* thonsuinls
in nund)er. Kotir ov live shots enabled him to obtain all he (h'sirei'. Those killed
Were |)lump and excellent eatim;. The next morning the whole Hock had moved north.
This liird has a regular and ipdck Hight, and when migrating usually moves in

Vol.. I. — ;i;t

_iLjl a-

258

PK.E(X)CIAL (}KALLAT()I{KS — LIMICUL.K.

I '>

I 5

extended lines, present iii); an iirf'<,Milar fmiit. wliieli miduliites and breaks as tin
Hoi'k advani'i'*. tUi muJi «»(rasi(.iis it rarely utters any cries.

Aeeordin;; to .Mr. Munre. a lew ot this species remain aliout Sarasota liny, Florida,
during the siiiiiiuer iimnths. alth()U<^rli the lar,i;er portion leave for their northern
lireediie.{-<;roiiiid». Tli«»«' which remain do not exhibit any symptoms of in-inj,' matiil
Mr. M<M>re diw.s ii<»t erv«l!t the statement that this species ever lireeds neai' Charles-
ton : the faet is a.<MUiii«'<I. rather than provi'il. The pliimaye ot tlnj.se that remain in
Florifia is \tnii*-rvfl iiiielianjf«'d.

Three i-<;^ uf tlii)( s|x'C'ies. lM-lont,'in).j to the Smithsonian Iiistitntion. and obtained
in Minnenotu. r.tH'^' in lenf^h Irom 'J.'SJ to 'J.'.V.i inches, and trom l.oO to l.fiO inches
in breailth. Their jfround-^cdor is a pah' f,'reenish dral». O-er the eg},' are scattered
markings in the form of small blotches ol' olivaceous-umber. These JM-eonie lar<;ci
at the tjreater end of tlie ej;^'. ami intermi.xid with them are also a few washes of a
dilute purplish •♦lat*'. Three eggs in my own collection — one from C'levidand, Ohio.
and twr) from Nirrthwestern Iowa — do not materially vary, in regard to the nest of
this bird we haw no ilir«'<-t information.

Limosa lapponica novee-zealandias.

THE PACIFIC OODWIT.

Limom Hcrtf-vol'imJiir. *iiiA\, Vnv. Knlnis A; 'IVrior, Hinls, 1845, 13. — Cass. Om. U. S. E.x|i|.

K.X|>. \9li, 311 «Uow 1., .'^aiiiimii <i|(iii|i),
Limuta laf/fimtiea, rar. m/vayuii/tim/iii; (Ils.w, 1. c.
Li'HiKUi IfiffffMioi ^vvac-zealaM'fi'i, Itiniiw. Pr<H: V, S. Xiit. Mils. Vol. III. 1880, 200 ; Noln. N.

Am. I{. H*l, If). :,H.
Liif-mm Hnp/iftfuili*, <:«i i.i», P. '/.. S. 1S4S, :1S ; liinis .Aiistriilia, VI. 1848, pi. .xxix. — Finw ii 4

Hakti. ISHlr. Kauiu«Viiii. Pdyn. 1807, 177. Baikh, Triuis, Clijcaj!" Aiml. 1. IsOU, :W(i, |j1.

:«•» (AU'tlu). - I».»Li. k l5.%x\i.sT. II). — CoiKs, (hck List, 2il wl. 188'_', no. «31.
LiiioMi F'urii, I'lULf, I'. S. Kxpl. KxIkmI. 1848, -J:!!, \<\. Ixv.

Hab. Shor*-* oikI i*li»ii<U of the I'licilic- Oiciiii, from Austiidiu to Alaska. Not ruconlwl from
the Piititk- ciiik*t of Ameri'Mi -(Utli i-f Alaska, e.vi'i'pt Lower California (L. IJKi.ui.Nti).

Sp. Char. Admit im tumiitff: IJurk and saipuliu-s dusky, irivgularly spotted with whitish iiinl
light nifoiM ; win}:-«3>^verl» light gI•ayi^ll, with dusky shaft-streaks and whitish iMmlers, the unteriiir

Bnialler <i)v».'Tt» 'Urker cikI uiort unifonu gniyish ; priniuries and primary-coverts ilii»ky, the linn i
■pulls lx)rdtrtil with »hit»-. Hmup dusky gruvish, the ffuthurs liordund with whitt? ; uppi i
tail-rovt-rt' while, liiit^.'ol witli li;.'lit ciinianioii, and irregularly spotted with dusky ; tail grayisii.
inegularly Imrrvtl, sikI lumiH-ly ti]i)NHi with white. Mead, iieek, and lower parts, light cinnanion,

SCOLOPACID.K — THK SXIPK FAMILY - LIMOSA.

259

ilii' crown, iiaiK', and lore* sln-uk*-"! wiili ilii^ky. Axilliirsaml lining' of the wing white, irn-gularly
liarwl anil s|M>ti<<l with iln*ky ^nivish. U'iufir pliiinuije : Aliovc, jiliiin l»ri>wni^h j^ray, iH-neath,
iiliiin whitish ; runip, ii|>|N'r lail-i'iivcrl-, tail, axillars, t'tc., as in suninu'r. Yniniij: Alxive, iiirlmU
iii^' win>,'-c''iviTt-, li'^ht ;,'iayi-h I'Ull', nr [pali- tlny-iolni-, coarsely aiiil ii'rcj,'ularly s|)i)itcil willi liiiskv,
till" latti-r chiclly aloiij,' lli<' cri'tii-> nl' the Iraliu'is, ami showing,' as cniispiciious slial't-stri'.'iks nn the
»iiiL;-c">vrrts ; lower |Kiris hntry whiti>li, >liailt'il across the jii;;uliiin ami hreast with "h-eiier ;,'rayi!*h
l>iifr: in iitlit-r n-s|K-cts liki- the aiiujt.

Total icnu'th. aliont hi inches ; win;.'. K.L'."i-!(.|."> ; culniL'n,;}.l.")-;j.5"» ; tai-suw, 2.<Ht-:i 20 ; niiilille

I..,. 1. 1(1-1. JO.

Tlieii' is ciiiisiih-i-nhh- variation auiono imiiviiliials in tiie ileptli and continuity of the cinnamon-
color on the lower snil'ace

Tile relationship of this form is un<|ue>tioMalily very close to /,, liijijiniiitii, of which it cannot
111' coMsi(li'ii'<l more than a ;ieoo|-i|,||i,-j|l race or -iili-siiecies, the iliffereiu'es lieinj; vory slioht,
:ililinii;ili M|ipari-nlly lonstanl. These lonsi-l in the ratliei paler shade of cinnamon on the lowc-r
y.al^ in the sunnner plumage, and in the ^.'ravish itistead of distinctly white rump, in all stiigt-M of
plumn^'c.

.\ustralian examph-x ap|H-ar to Ih- i|uite identical with those from Alaska.

'I'liis .spccjis i.s inili i|<-il in tin- fiiiiiiii nf Nurtli .Viiit'iicii ii.s n suiiinior resident of
.Mii.skii Tt-rritHry. whcit- it, wa.s incf with by .Mr. I>all wiiilc ciij^aK'''! oii the Tclf^iiipli
i;x|ieilitif>ii. Itsilisnivfrv iis a hiid of .\laska was tint' of tin- mo.st iiitt'rt'.stiii;,' aiiioiij^
tlir re.siilts (if that siirvi'v. as its cxisti'iiit' in North .Vmcriea had not Ix-t'ii fvcii sus-
peelcd In'I'oi')' it had Im-ih thus taken.

So far as had Ihmmi prfviniisly ascertained, its raiij;e. dtiriiij; the winter months,
li:id heeti (ivi-r I'lilynesia. .Viistralia. Kastern and Sutitliern .\sia. and •lapan. In
summer it was kin>wn tt> f^o imltli to Siheiia. where .Middeiidorff found it Ineedinj^
on the Taimyr K'iver. in latitude 7.*" N. Speeiniens from Polynesia were lirou^ht
lionie liy the I'liit'-d ."states Kxplorino l*]xpedition.

Mr. Switiiioe nuMitions that a pair of this speeies was (d)served fecdiiij^ in eoinpany
with a lar:.,'e fhiek <d' (iudwits in the shallows of tiie ereek at lIuiiKpe. on the Island of
liiiiiaii. oti the ."lOili (d .Mareli. 'I'JM'y were seemed, and proved to lie very nearly in
rull summer plunia;;e. I'liree days lattM'iinotlter example, in the full winter |iliimage,
was olil. lined dii tin' sandy slmres df litiehow ilarlior.

Captain F. W. Mutton (••lliis." 1.S71) states that this liird was seen .several time„
on the Chatham Islands, althoiij^di he did not sm-eeed in (ilitainiiiK' iiiiy speeimeiiH.
These examph's were apparently mdy iniKnitoiy. leavinj^ the Islands in winter.

Iti the PriieeedinoH iif the Philadelphia .Xeadiiny. lS."i,S, Mr. Cassin refers to a
species of Limos.i friini daiiaii. which .Mr. Swinhoe states to lie prdlialily this due.
lioth Mr. .Swinhoe (•• litis." l.S7."i) and .Messrs. Illakiston and I'lyer mention its
occurretwe in dilTeie-it parts nl .lapati. especially \'es(i and ^'okohalua. The .Messrs.
l-ayard (•• Iliis,"" IH7N. p. L'til,') cite this species as a bird of New Caledonia.

.Mr. Dall states that this species was very eoinmon at the mouth of the Yukon
Itiver, and al.so on the Piistolik marshes to t ho tiortli of it. It is the laip'st Snipe
found in the country. iM-in;,' ipiite as lar'^e in Imdy as a Teal, ami very excidleiit ealiii;,'.
lie adds that it lays two lioht-<ilivaceous atnl spotted e}j;Ks in a rounded depressitm
ill a sedp> tusstM-k. and that the nest consists of a lining of dry Ki'iisses.

.Mr. II. \Y. Klliott met with this s|ieeies from time to time dnriii:,' his stay on the
I'lyliilof Islands, and s]N-aks of it as only mioratoiy there, and never lireedin^. It
I'omes in a straj,'Klin>; manner early in May, passino; mirthward with Imt little dtday.
and re-appeariiifj towani the end of Au!,'ust in Hocks of from a do/en to fifty.

.\ set of the.se e),'f,'s. two in numlier. are in the Smithsonian Colle<ti<in. One of
these ineaHtiit's 'J.'J't incln's in length by 1, (•'> in breadth. The giuund-eolor of one is

260

rU-KroriAL (iHALLATollES— IJMICOL.E.

a (lei'p greenish drab; tlie iiiarkin^js are scattt-red in the form of irregnhir lih»telips
of a dilute iMiiiter. Tlic other measures L'.l,'.") li_v l.L' inelies, and the ground-color is
of a pah' drai), the markings iieing miudi more pronounced than in the other si)ecimen,
and more aggregated toward the larger end, as well as mon; irregular in form, and
are of a niueh deejwr sluuh' of nndx-r.

Limosa haemastica

THE HUDSONIAN OODWIT.

.Si-oliijm.i- hirmiiHlkn, I, INN. S. N. nl. In, |, 17.'(S, 1 17 (luisfd on Kihvards, pi. 1:18).

Limosa hitmaslifa, CuCK.'*, linll. XiUt. Oni. riuli, 1880, Km ; Clipck List, -Jil cd. 1882, no. ti2fi. -

HiDcw. Ndiii. N. Am. \\. issl, iki. '<\'>.
Scnlopiij' Ill/ill, I, INN. S. N. I. ITtiti, --17 O'iisf'il nil I'riliui oiiiadixsii. Kdw. ]i1. l.^[l ; JAwn/tn condiil'i,

lllll». V, 2Uii ; TiiliinH.1 n mlcii.ii.s, KhW. |i|. l;!!i, f. 1; 7'iil(iiiiis nnn/iiliis, Bl!Is>. V. 207).
.s'iii/o/»ij' oitiilitlii, Linn. 1. v.
AWo/wij- liiji/iuiiii'ii, Viir. fi. t;.\ii;i,. .S N. 1. 1788,
Sfo/n/mx Hiiihniiini, \,.\\\\. hid. Hin. II. I7'.HI, 720.
Liiiioxii Jfiiilsniiir,,, Sw.Si |!i( II. I'". It. .\. II. isai, ;!!•«. — Xt'TT. Mall. II. lS;il, 17r). — Alip. (tin.

Hi.«. III. 1S;!.\ I2il ; V. .'.!t2. |>l. 2.'iS ; .Syiio|i. 18:l!», 247; I! .\lii. V. 1,S42, m',, ).]. :i|!i.

('As.-iiN, ill haiiii's H. N. Am. Is.'.s, 711.— Jl.MiiK, (at. N. Am. 15. 185!>, no. r.48. — ('nils.

Key, 1872, 2.")S ; (link List, 1>7:!. no, 42it ; liiids N. \V. 1874, 4lt4.
Limosa iiirliiinini, linNxr. S|n'ci'. t'()iii|i. 1S27, no. 2ii4 (iioc Lkisi..).
Limusti ir(jiicr]ili'ilii, l!o\AI'. .s»yiio|i. 1S2S, ;S27 (me I, INN.).
Limnsn E,/ir„rilsi, Sw. & liK ii. I". |i. A. II. 1831, 3!I8.
Limosa (iiistnilis, (Jis.w, Cat. Hrit. Mils. 1844, iK>.

Hah, Hustcrii Xnitli .Vnu'rifu mikI tiu' whole ol Middle mid .Soutli America. No West Indian
loculitie.s recorded except Ciilia. Breeds only in liie high iioitli.

Siv ("HAU. Smaller tiian L. fnliui. Sinnnii'r aihilt : Aliove, 1 lackisii lirowii, irregularly s]>otted
and kiireil with pale ncliraceims, the niiiip plain lirowiiish Idack ; upper tail-coveils iiuiiiaciilati
white ; wing-coverts and shorter tpiills plain dark lirownish gray ; juiniaries Imiwiiish Idack, lluii

shafts white. Lower ]. arts ■•hestimt-nilou.% iinrrowly Laned with hiowiiish Muck, the feathers of
the helly, etc., olieii tij.ped with white. Tail Idack, with the Lase and lip (narrowly) while.
Lining of wings and axillai-s ]dain snioky Idack H'i,it,r phiturui, : Al.ove, |>lain dull lnowniMi
gray ; U-neatli, while, the lnvast shadeil with luowni.sli gray, (tthercharncters as in summer divss.
YoiiiKj: Soinevlml like the winter ]>huna!.'e. lail each feather of dor.s.il region marked with a .onl'
terminal dusky crescent niid a narrower terminal one of <hiil oc liin< .-ous ; heneatli. very jiale dial',
or dull light hun", the nlMhnneii wliilisli, and the jngnliim more gniyish. "Hill grayish yellow,
dark lirowii along the rid;.'e of the Mpjier niandihle, ami Mackish towards the lips . f hoth ; iri-
hniwn; feet light grayitth hlue " (Aidlbon).

proLOPAnn.E — the rxipk KA^f m,y — limosa.

2G1

This opecies roseinl)^^ Romowhiit tliu Europpnn L. mjncrphnla, hnving the tnil marki'd imicli tlic
>,iiiit' as ill thai «iit'ci«'K. Tht- hittir, however, ha** two while ]iatches on the wiu^' (whicii in the
incseiit hinl lias no wiiite at all, excejil ilie shal'ls ol'ihe i>riiiiaiie-). the iixillai-s jime wliiti' iiislead
,.| liidwiii^li iihuk. 'I'lieru ail' ali-o other iliircii'nres of coloiatioii, while the proportions aru i|uite
(hHeivnt, //. iiiji.ci fili'ihi liaviiij,' ihi' hill and lej,'s niiich !oii;,'i'r.

Soiiih Anii'riiau speiiineiis are (|iiite identical witji northern ones.

Much leiniiins to lie iisccrtaiiii'd litdorc tli<' liistorv of tlie liiiliits and distrilmtion
ol tliis (iddwit can lie ^dvcii witii tidcraldc accuracy or coniplctcnt'ss. It appt'iirs to
have a soincwliat irrcj^iiiar distrilmtioii over tin- I'nited States, occiirriii(j; in soino
seasons in jjrcat ahiindaiicc in ri'j,'ions w here it was not known before, or where, in
.-.iircpcdinj,' years, it has heeii of only irrei,'uhir and occasional appearance. In the
I lilted States it is only known as niif,'ratory. hrccdinj,' north of the limits of the
Iniou, and in rejjions farther north than those in which the /(■</'«/ has heeii found.
li> presence in rata,u-oiiia. as also in the Falkland Islands, is eipially siij,'fjestivc of a
wide, and perhaps irre}{iilar. disti'lljiitioii.

It is not ^,'iven liy Dr. (inndlacli as occurring,' in Cuba; Init is mentioned by I/'o-
taiid as one (d' the birils of the Island of Trinidad, where it is spoken of as ninch more
romiiioii than \\\v fnlim, coming' in Aiij,'iist. and leaving' in Octolier. It is always
Iniiiid in either the imniatnre or the winter ]>liima^e. and is only to i)e met with on
ilic iiorders (d' the sea.

.Mr. (r. (". Taylor mentions lindin;.; this siiecies abundant on the shores of Fonspoa
I lay. where it is in the habit of sittinj,' on the braindies of the manKi'ove-trces wliieh
ovcrhani,' the water, lie considered it excellent eating'.

Mr. 11. Diirnford ("Ibis." 1S77. p. I.">). in his Observations relative to the Hirds
observed by him in the Valley of the Cluiiiat. in l*ata,i,'onia. states that diiritij,' his
visit there in November, 1S7<>. a small partv of this (iodwit was always to be found
ill tiie shallow water at the west end of a larf,'e lagoon to the north of the village.
Tliey weri' feeding,' in company with 7V///'/'( Hiintiliifii and a species — nnidentitied —
of .KiiiiiHtls. ( )n the l.'ith (d' Novcndier he procured two examples.

Mr, ('. ('. .Miboft (■ Ibis," |S(»1) mentions tindinjj; Hocks of tliis species at Mare
Harbor, l''alkland Islands, in the month of Ma\, iSCdi, He shot two of them at I'ort
bonis on the L'Oth of that month. Uoth had the red-barred breast, and were therefore
ill the winter plnmaoe. |I,. djd not notice the presciuM- (d' this bird in those islands
during,' the winter nninths; and even when found there in the ^'UlnuleI•, he lia.s never
lirard of its ei,".is liavinj,' been detected. It was veiy wary, and 'iHicult to )irocnre,

Ilearin'. in his book < f .Vrctic tr,iv(ds. jniblished more than a century since, rcd'er-
riii},' to this species as the •• |{ed (iodwaite." states that it was then j,'enerally known
at the more northern M'ttlenuMits on Hudson's 15ay as a I'lovcr. He mentions that
it visited the shores of that portion of the bay in very larj,'e Hocks, and usually fre-
i|uented the marshes and the mar.uins of ponds. It also frequently atteinled the tide,
ill the manner of the •• Ks<|uimaux Curlew" (Siinienliis J/iit/sonii'iis), Hying down to
the water's edge and feeding on a small tish iiot inueh unlike a sliviiup; but as the
tiih" advaiu'es, retiring to the marshes. The birds were said to Hy in siudi large
Hocks, and so elo.sidy together, that he was often able to kill as many as twelve at
one shot. And he further states that a ^Ir. Anderson, long a resiih'iit at Fort Vork,
actually killed seventy-two of this species at one discharge; but this was after they
liiid alighted on the shore. Near t'hurchill Kiver they were stddom very fat, though
ill tolerable eimdition. and they were said to 1m> generally very good eating. They
usually weighed from ten to thirteen ouiu'es. The two sexes differ Intth in color and
size, the female \mng always larger and of a much lighter brown than the male.

202

I'U.KCiMlAI, liKAM.AToKKS ~ MMFCkL.E.

Thi.-. l)ii(l rctiiTs to tlir soiitli Iniij,' iM't'ort' tlu' fmsts lM'<,'in; still, it lias lK>t>n met
with as tar iinrtli as latitmlc "I ."ill'.

This (iodwit — .Mr. i'loanliiiaii tells me — is t'oiind in the lu'ijjlihnihood of Calais.
Me., hut is there (piite rare, lie was iutdrmed that a lew oeeur in the siiinnier on
I'rinee Kdward's Island, where the spoeies is sii|i|insed to breed, and where it has hecn
olitaini'd in its lirfi'din,t,'-i)lnina,Lre.

.Mr. Knss nieiititiiis this liii'd as occurriiit,' — althnu^li rarely — on the Muekeazie ;
and .Mr. .Murray and Captain ISlakiston both proenred it on Hudson's Itay.

< >n lliei'oast oi' .Massaelnisetts it is (d' very irre<.;ular appesiranee — at least as to
nundicrs — brin^' in some seasons very eommon. It is stated ity .Mr. II. \. I'nrdie to
have been (piite abundant on the New Knt,'land coast in the fall t>[ IS?.'!. A sIukI''
specimen was obtained at Kastham, Nov. .■>, ISTS. by Mr. Frank II. Tileston.

This species, in its nuLrrations in sprini; and fall, also visits the interior lakes and
rivers. It is a re^iular visitant at Lake Koskonon^'. Wisconsin, where, as .Mr. Knui-
lieii iid'orms nn-. it a])peared as early as August l."». in IS7.">. Mr. .Nel.son cites it as a
not rare nii;;rant in Northern Illinois, where it comes in .\pril and reajiiiears in
October.

According,' to IJichiird.sou, this species breeds abundantly on the Barren (!round
near the Arctic Sea, where it feeds on insects and shelly molbisca, whiidi it obtains in
the small sphafrnons lakes. In all its manners and habits it is similar to the (iroiit
.Marbled Cod wit.

Aceordinj; to Ciiruud. this bird is nn-t with on the .sliores of Lon^' Island, where,
however, it is not so |>lentifnl as the Marbled Codwit. It is known to the hunters
of that island as the •• i;inj,'-tailed .Marlin," and is so called from the white band
crossinfi the tail-feathers. .V few are shot every .seasiHi on those shores, and some
arc also procured on the more eastern .sean-oast. (liraiid adds that it is by no means
a rare bird in the Middle States, thon^di not abundant. In its liabits he regards it as
nearly allied with x\u' jh/on, with which it .sonuMinu's associates.

This species apjiears to have e.scaped the notice of Wilson, and to have been bin
very imperfectly known either to .\ndubon or ti> Nnttall. The latter considered it an
inlreipu'iit visitor to the Kastern and Mi(Ulh' States, and conjectured that it mii,dit
be more conunon on our northwestern coast; but this is (piite problematical. Two
specimens only are recorded by .Mr. Dall as having been taken near the mouth ol
the Yukon liiver. With this exception, none of our own exjilorers nnuition its occur-
rence (ui the I 'acilic shores. .Mr. Dall regarde<l it as cpiite rare on the Yukon. Mr.
E. Adams, however, met with it in Alaska, on the coast of Norton Sound, where, as
he states (•• Ibis," 187S), a b'W of these birds fretpiented the marshes on the river-
banks, to which they exclusividy contined them.selves. living u]ion the worms fomid
there in abundance. The first seen were feeding in sonn- shallow pools, on the L'lst
of May. He afterward met with the sanu' species at I'ort Clarence.

Nuttall did not see more than two or three )>airs in the course of a season. These
were found on the neighboring coast, near ISoston, and were called the "(loose Mini."
One pair, obtained about September S, were very fat and wtdl-tiavored, and had been
feeding ufi. ■ f'fru and other vegetable matter. He noticed this species in the
Boston market from the (ilh to the .'iOth of Septendier.

Audubon regarded this as a very rare species antl unknown along the coast south
of Maryland. He first met with it in Septeudter, IS.'JH, in the Hoston market, lb
afterward received specimens from I'icton, N. S. ; and on his way to Labra<lor, was
informed by the inhabitants of the Magdalen Islands that this species breeds in the
marshes at the extremity of the principal island. He met with none in Labrador or

SCOLOPAUIU.li — THE SNirE FAMILY — LI.MOSA.

203

ill Newt'ouiulhuul, but wiis iiii'dniu'd by Mr. MiifCiilliick tliut it Invt-ils on I'lincf
Kilwiird's Island, t'roiu wliicli the pairs s|»ri'tid almi;,' the timst ol .Nova .Scotia, uiul
ilnn' iciiiaiii until Vfry scvfic wi-atiit'r drives tliciii away.

.Mr. .Maihiilani' tuund this sjurifs bn-fdin^' in tiic vicinity dl' Fort Anderson. ^>\^
the •.(til of .hiiic. The nest was on the j,'round. was eonipo.si'd of a few decayed leaves
Ivin^' in a small hole scooped in the earth, and containeil fmir e^'^'s. Other nests
were found and birds olitaiiied on the liower Anderson b'ivcr, 'I'iiey were mere
(Icpiessioiis in the ^jroiind. lined with withered h-aves.

Kxaniples of this species were also taken at Fort Kae, on Great Slave Lake. I>y
Mr. Keiinieott; at Moose Fort by .Mr. I. .NbKenzie; on the Anderson K'iver liy .Mr.
11. ];. IJoss; (III Mi^' Island by .Mr. Ueiil ; and at Fort Keiizie liy Iiischotf.

Three of the e;,'M;s collected liy .Mr. .MacFarlane arc in the .Siuithsonian ('oUection.
ill two of these the };rountl is of a deep raw-uiiilier color, or an olivaceous drab.
I'licicare no well-delincd spots, l)Ul the apex of the larirer end is dei'ply staineil with
a dark Iniint-iinibcr color. .V few very indistinct spots of a paler shade of this tint
are visible over tiie !,'eiieial surface of the i'Htis. The other ^'^^^^ has a ^jround-color of
a paler uniber-dral). and tiie niarkiiii,'s are ipiile distinct. Tiicse are small irrej^iilar
lilolclies, loii<;itiidinal in tiieir direction, and of a dei'[i bnriit-umber tint. The apex,
of the lart,'er end is covered by a broad patch, in which all the marking's, of a very
dark umber, almost black, run into each other. These cj,'^,':, are pyriform in shape,
and measure L'.Io by l.U. 'J.VJ by l.;!<l. and LM'l.' by I.Kt inches.

Limosa tiegocephala.

BLACK-TAILED OOOWIT.

Scoh/MX limoiin, LiXN. S. X. im1. Id, 17.">8. 147 ; <il. 1-j, 1700, 245.

Scdiiiiiii.i- wij(K'i/ih'i/ii, I.INN. .S. N. I. Kilti, •J4tl, no. lii.

I.iiiiusii ii,nio/ili<(/if, l.i'.Ac II, .*<\Ht, <'at. ISltl, :t4. — Ki'.vs. & Iti.As. Wirl). K.iir. 18l(i, 7t. Bonai-.

('oiii|i. List, l«:i.-i, .■.'.'. — (iUAV. tirii. U. III. 1S41', r.7'> ; < ai. liiii. It. l6ti;i, li")«. -- |{einii.

IliU, 1801, 11 (tiifi'iiliiinh. — ItiiMiw. Num. N. Am. II. ISM, im. ,'.40. — C'ofEs, Check last,

2tl til. 18S'.', ii.i. aw.
Tiitiiiiiis ni/iis, IlKi'iisr. NatiiiK. IV. 2.53.
I.iMi'nn iiifhiiiiinm, I.kim . Na.iil. /ii llnlist. Natuig. isil-isl.^., l.Mt, l.'i7. — Nacm. Viig. Peutsclil.

VIII. lt>:W, 4(10, y\s. 212. 213. - .Mai .:ii,i.. .Man. 11. «1.
Noilo/mu- Mgicti, (iMia.. .*<. N. I. U.-iS, OtW.
I.iniusti jiidivi-ii, Ia;Aiil, .Sv.st. Cat. 1810, ;12.
/.iiiiomi in/iiiitlirii, Itlil.M.M, \ •■•;. I»c'llt.sr|i|. I,S31, ti20.

Ilhick-tiiiliit G'xlwit, VAiaa.i.i., iJiit. II. cl. 2, II. 034, 11^. ; ed. 3, II. 081, I'ik. ; ct AlTT.

IIaii. Tile I'alieurctir |{c^'ii<ii ; iit'ciik-ntiil in < > ivciiliiiid.

Si'. Chau. AiIiiU, ill 1111111111' I- : Ileail. iicik, and jiiuiihiiii, chmaiiKin, streaked on the first and
liaircil on tlic last witii diiskv ; ii'iiiaiiiiii;^ lower parl» wiiite, liie lucjist and >idfs barred with
dusky. IJiifk and .sra|iiil;irs iiii.\i'd Maik, rimianKHi, and ;,'rayisii ; wiiiK-i'overls, liniwaish ;;ray ;
^'icater I'overls widely lipped with while, fdriiiiiiL; a rdiispicniius patrh ; sociiiidarics partly white ;
|>iiiiiarii's dusky, llie fil'tli l>: tiie seventh white al tiie base, furiiiiii!.; a seiuiid white patch on tiie
wiii^; Hiniip, IciiiLjer upper tail-inverts, uinl must nf the tail dusky ; ii|i|ier tail-cuverls (except
tei'iiiiiial half nf the loiij^'er leather^) and Imim' nf the tail, imsiiaciilate white, tliis on iipyiii^' the
^.'ivater part of the outer reetrii'cs. .\\illars and liiiiii;,' of the wiii^' iiiimariilate while. U'inUr
liliniiiiiji : \Viii;,'s, tail, lump, eti'., as ill -uiiiiiier ; head, neck, back, and scapulars dark lu'owiiisii
^lay, the lieail and neck li^'liter : ju^'uhiiii pale avny, without bars; other lower jiiu'ts while.
yiin)irj,firitl pliinuKjc : " lleail dull blown, the fwithers el(,'ed with rufous-liiilf ; an iiulisliiat lij,'lit-
l>Mlf line passiii^r from the base of the bill above ainl beyond the eye ; neck dark buff ; baik earthy
lirown, with here and there a dark blackish brown leather, all beinj,' edited with dull riifoutt . . .

I )

{

264

I'U.Kt'ociAi. <;KAi,i-A'i"om;s — limkoL/K.

Lloiinatwl iiiiitT Hi'coiiiliiiii'H ilark lnuwii, ednfJ wiili niroiiN-lniH, iiiiil initihfil with nifoun ; greater
wiii;;-tiiviil-' ilull fiirtliy },'iuy, lnuailly lipipcil wiili wliiic ; iiuiliitii mul siiiallii- ^•l)Vt•I■t^<(lull linnvn,
t-dj^i'd ami (iiipiil with >;iayi>«h imH' ; rliiii dirty wiiitr ; siiK's nl' hcail, mck, ami luiant dark Imll ;
fluiikM wuahtii witii laiH " (Shaiu'K iV Dkkmnkh). /'dk/ii/ ynumi: •' HiiMy jollow, luurkttl will.

black, e«]H'i'ially oii crown ami nmi|p ; a iiaiinw *trt'ak thiinij,'h tlic i-yr, winx-jttiiitH, fbuuku, and
belly. li),'ht ydlDwisli " (Sh.vki-k »& 1)iu;.s.hi;u).

WiiiK, M.tMi-!).s(i ; ciiiuiL-ii, :5.7(i-».!».">; tarsus J hi»-;»mO; middlu toe, :i.(t(»-:!.l2.

The Hliick-tailfd ijodwit claims a jilarc in tlif t'aiiiia of Noitii Aiiicrifa only as an
ut'cidciital visitant ol' (irrfiilainl. It is an inlialiitant ol tlic Old World, lii-ci'din.:
only in tlic more nortlicrn portions, but not within hi;,'li Arctic rcf,'ions. It is almovi
exclusively ini'^ratory in <ircat Kritain and Ireland, thoin^di a few remain there eacji
year ami lirecd.

In Kn',dand. ac( ordini,' to Varrcll. it is most lie(|uently seen in tin' spring; and fall,
the tirst-t'omcrs licini,' adult liirds on their way to their l>reedinj,'-i,'roumls in hii;li
northern latitudes. In the autumn it is more ahundant than in the sprin;^. on account
uf the lar|,'e numlier of yoim^' liirds of tin' year ,i,'oin^' south, for the lirst time, to theii
winter-<|iiiirters. A few were still known to resort to ^he marshes of Norfolk and t"
the fens of Lincolnshire; hut these are very rarely permitted to lirecd unmolested. ii>
the large size, as well as the peculiar action, of this hird when it is lireedin;,'. are sure
to uttraet the notice hoth id' the sportsman and the e<,'!,'er. Varrell was informed in
1S."». liy the l!ev. IJicliard Luliliock. that this (iodwit still lireeds oci-asionally in some
of the Norfolk marshes, returnin.; to the same locality year after year, ami lieiu'^
I'ouml in only two or three situ.itions.

In its tli>;ht duriiif,' the lireeding-sea.soii it is said to rescmhle the Tntiimis ruHtlri.':
of Kurope; ami like that hird it Hies, when lirecdini;. arouinl the hcail td' any intruder
in the marsh, imt in more distant circles, and at a min-h ;;'reater heigl.t in the air. li
is known .in the rural districts of Kn^land l»y the Uu-al name cd' ••Shricker;" hut in
Varrell's opinion it does mit deserve the name, for its note, thouj^li loud, is veiy iai
from heing iidiarinonions. It is said to he hei-omiiii; more and more rare each year in
the hreedin;,'-scason. Its food consists id' insects ami their larva', worms, snails, ami
various other soft-lMidied animals. If disturhed when lireediuj,', it is said to 1"
very clamorous, tlyini,' roiimi ami utterint,' a cry wlddi is tlnMij,'ht to resemhle tin
syllahles ijriiffii-i/riiffii-i/nitfii ; ami liy tins name it is known hy the country hilk ol
Holland, .\cciiriling to Thomiison. this hint is seen occasionally in [reland.and oidy
ill the autumn. Kxamplesof it have heen olitained in Devonshire, and others at Car
liiiXtoii in Bedfordshire; and Varrell was informed hy Mr. Hond that severid si>eci
mens have been known to make their appeararee in the vicinity of Kinj,'shui\
l{eservoir, a hii'K<' sheet of water a few miles north of homlon. Hpeeimens are also

RCOLOPACID.K — THE SNIPE FAMILY - LIMO.SA.

205

iviiiriU'il from Ciimliriilj,'t'sliin', N'oitliiiiiilMTlaiKl, aiul Irinn the vicinity of Solway
i'lrtii. liiviiiK HptM'imi'ii.s ar«' occasionally hroii^lit, from Holland to Kn^'land; and
tlic l)ird, in a scmi-<lomc.stic state, is not infi'ci|iicntly contincd in wailed ^aDlcns,
wlicic it makes a very interesting and amnsin^,' pet. ( (fliers are fatt'd for tlie market
with iiread and milk, as is also done with the Kiitf ; l.-ut the (.iodwit is not e(|uul in
liivor to the latter when thus treated.

The (Iodwit is fonnd dnrin^' the summer in Denmark; and it also visits, in con-
siiliiidile ninnlMTs, various jiarts ot Si-andinavia, and especially liapland, K'"'"k' '"^ fm'
iioitli as Iceland, and mHuisiunally to (ireeiilaml. In the more southern coinitries of
till' Kuropcan continent it is exclusively seen in spring,' and autumn. It is (piite com-
iiion in Spain ; and livinj,' specimens were .sent to the Zoological (iarden from Tangier,
where it was said to he not uncommon, U-sides others from Tunis and ditferent local-
ities in North Africa. According to Scliin/ (••Fauna Hidvetica"), this liird is occa-
Niniially seen, as a mi^'rant. in Switzerland; and not infreipiently a pair is supposed
t(i remain and nest, as hirds are from tinn- to time taken in llcir summer plumuK*'.
Ill May it passes north through Italy and iJenoa, and returns, reinforced in n>iml»er.s,
ill the month id' .Xu^nist. It is said to lie rare in Sicily, iiut is more common at Malta,
ihiriiii,' its migrations. Specimens have lieen taken in Tripoli; and the Zoiilo^'ical
Sdiicty received a yuuM^; liird of the year from Trehi/ond. !l<dienacker, a Russian
iiaturali.st, nientions this species amoni,' the birds <d»tained by him in the vicinity of
till' Caucasus ; Mr. ifod^'son includes it amon^' tho.se found in Nepal, and Mr. IMyth
ill tiie list of those occurring' at Calcutta. .Mr. Temmiiick also states that it may by
tniind in •lapan and on the Isles (if Sunda.

.VicordiuLj to .M. (ierbe. this species h;is been observed at diH'erent seasons in
iiciirly every portion of Kurope, .\sia, and .\frica. In France it is a re^'ular bird of
|i:issap' in autumn, and a^ain in spriu);, passing north in .March and .\pril, and niov-
iic.,' .siaith in SepttMuU-r and OctnlM-r. Many of these birds are snared in the sprint;,
lietween Doii.ii and Cand)rai, and kept within <;ardens enclosed by walls; but tht;
j.Mvater numiier of them perish during,' the winter for want of suitalde biod. The
same author adds that this species m>st8 in damp meadows, in the {rrass, or among
the reeds. Its eggs are four in numlM-r. rouiMh'd at one end, pyriform in shape, and
(jiiite variable in regard to shades of color, (ienerally thev have a deep olive ground,
willi jMiints and blotches of a russet, or a jiale brown color. Some of these are of a
vri y deep shatle, others iire very faint. These markings are more numen)ns, larger,
ami more conHuent ;diont the larger end. .M. (Jerbe possessed varieties id' this egg,
siMiie of which had a reddish-white and some a y<dlowish-wliite ground; while in
others it was of a very pale green color. Some are itrofusely s]»rinkled with siwts of
an inten.sely deep coloring, and again others are cd' a uniforndy ashy gray, and
ail' entirely unspotted. He gives their greater diameter as varying from u.'{ to (Jl
miliinietres, and the suuiller from .'>7 to 4<i.

Acconiing to llewitson, the lUack-tailed (bidwit begins to lay its eggs early
ii' May. Its nest is comjiimed of dry grass and other vegetables, and is cimcealed
aiming the co;irse herliage of the swamps and low meadows. The eggs, four in num-
1» r. he descrilM's as of a light olive brown, blotched and spotted with darker brown.
tliiir length L'.l7 inches and their brciidth l.."»<» inches, and in form they are decidedly
lii'iir-shaped.

Ill addition, we learn from the olhservations of Dr. L. Taczanowski, of Warsaw, as

limited by Dresser, that large nundHMs of this bird breed in marshy localities on the

c:istern side of the N'istula. In the spring, as soon as the snow disapjiears, this bird

ai lives in the marshes, and frenuents their eilges. It begins to breeil early in May,

vdi,. I. — :i4

; i

i'i

lii-l

lljlP::

2G0

l'R.t:C()CIAI, aRALLATORKS— I.IMICOL.E.

iiiiil yuiiiig art' found fully fli'tlK«'<l alMHit tl»' niiiMlt' of .luni'. It hrt-cdH in large Hoci-
ctit'H, in (lamp |ilac»'8 covfri'd wiili a thin liiTlKi^f, where therr arc tusMOfks, or small
dry jilai'fs; and also in scattcrt'd pairs in tlir (iclds, and in suiall mar.sln's cnvcnil
with t,'raMs or Imshfs. In a dry spot the liird makrs a dcprrssinn aliont thric inchi ^
dt'fp, linin^ it m-atly and randiilly witii dry grassi-s. an<l dt-pnsitinK four <'j,'j,'s, on whirli
both niah- and ffmalc sit. It' an intrndt-r apprnacht-s this cdlnny, thi' liirds meet him
whfn at some distain'f I'ntm it. ulti-rin;; Iniid cries; and when he is anmnKst the nesl>
all the birils tly overhead, nttcrinj,' continual lamentations. Itelore they iiavu ej,'i,M
they are very Hliy, rar»dy approaching within gunshot; hut when the yiaing an
hatched they arc very coiirageons, .md will come within n few feet of the intruder.

Mr. A. Hcn/.on — also (juotcd l>y .Mr. I>rcs.scr — met with this hird nesting in Den-
murk, <ni the wost coast of •lutland. lie olitaim-d its eggs as early as April VJ ami
as lute us July 4. They were usually deptjsited early in May.

Gknis TOTANT7S, Hk« iistkin.

ToUuiHn, UKcnsr. Oiii. TusiIumI). Idiitsilil. isici. aS'J (tyjio, ticolopax lolitnim, LiSN.). — Nai'M.

VoK. Dtutsrtil. VIII. r.:t. liii.w. (mm. li. III. .ir.'.
Glottis, Kiicn, HiiiiT. /(ii)l. iHltl, ;to4 (iv|M', Tnliiiiin iilnttin, liKciiHr., = iiiliulariuH, Ul'NS.).—

N11..SH, oni, .Sii.v. II. I SI 7, :>:>.

Gambdtii, KaI'I". .*<k. Kiit. K.ur. TliiiTw. ls2!i. 'ti {\\\n\ SVn/o/H'r caliilris, Linn.).

Chau. Hill u.'<iiiillv MJciiilii, luiii <li;.'litlv iiptnriuil t( liniiiiiliv, tin' Intcnil ^'ronvt- nl'tlic inii\.
illii f.xlt-n<lin<; ulioat Imll' wny Id ilic tip, Ni> wcli iH'twccii tin- iniiliili' ami iiiiii'r tnc.i. Tiu>ii-
alidiU twice i(H liiug UK tliu laiildli! tiH-.

Iluviii;,' I'urct'ally cxumincd and rinnpurccl the (ivc siiecicK imually ri'lVrriMl to the sn-rallcij
gtMii-ra tliuiiliillii, TiitdiiuK, ami <!liiltls, wiili tlicir nearest allies, wilii llic view ol' iletiiiin^,' the hcv-
erul ;.;eiieric grouprt uhuuIIv recnjjni/ed, we find that no twn species a),'ii'e exactly iii the detail 1 cl

T. melani'leiieuf.

titructure, and that, thurefore, iid characters exist which warrant a siiljdivision of the geims ToIhum
(with T. MwjnatilU as type), Iteyoml tlie reiMi;;iiitit>n nf Ithijiu-ajihilnn and /•h-jilhrDHcilu.i. Tliu milv
blieuies agiwing closely with the type ol' tiitf j^eiias Tolmnm is the Anierican '■^ ttoinlicfla'' Jltiri]"^
((•Mkl), which dill'ers in huvin;,' the t)ill thicker and not at all iiptmneil terniinally, and in tli'
much longer jaimuries, with sluatt r ami lirouder teitials ; the latter it; T. Mtiiiiuatilin reuchin.:
nearly to the end of the longest ipiills. " fimnbittu " iiuUiiioltin-d (( }mI''.I-.) is like Jfarijun in iv'.miI

8C0L0PACir).K - TMK SNIPK FAMILY — TOTANU8.

In tlif wiiiK ; l»it tlx' I'ill >" iiiiK li tlii< ki'i, iiikI iliriiltMlly rL>rurv(!<l tvmuimlly, whih' it \n aU„
liiiiuiT ill |H(ii)<iiliiiii I" •!••' liii>n-. " illntliii" KiiifMii iiM i« very iiiui'li like /rti/d/Ki/udu, l>iit ilic
siiiii' clmnu'ti'iv wliicli ^•t'|llll'utl• tin- lalliT h<im,/''(i'i'/«(i nn- in tliin iimrL' rxu^jii'iiiiiil ; thf icm'Iii-

I'liillir, IliiWi'Vi'l', )>rili^' limrli rli)»c|' Im'Iwi'CII riliiiwi'i im ami iiltliHiiililifil lliail lit'tWi't'll the liltltT llllii

II iriiifK, 7'. '•<(/"''■"< (!• ) I' ■•XMrliy iiiliiiiii'ilialf in rniia uml |irii|i<ii'tii>nM liflwccii " '>'i(m'» "</ *
iic/<f;i(>/' I'l'd iinil ./'iii'iyiij*. lihiiiifdfilitliiH iHliiiifiiis lia.-< till' liili iihlv a'* li>li>; ai tiic talxilH, iii^trail iil'
\i ry nnu'li Ioiikit. iw in nil 1 1"' I'lUfn'iiiin' "iK-cicx ; Inil A*, milituriu* unci A' ijlnrenla have it Khortfr,

till' latttT j>|irrii- (the ty]ic 1)1' li'liiinritjilnliiM, ilillVl ili^' Irniu till- tyiiiral ^|inif. Ill' Tiliitlim (iitiiiiiiilliliA
ituA Jltiriii''i() ill tllr Imiyi'l till-, till' MiiiMli' till' Miy i.caily i'i|ilallili;,' tilt' liill ill li'li^lli. r|Mi|i tlif
v.'IidU* the WihmI Siilii||>i|irrM ( It'll fitiiiiitli II iim) mill tlu' KrilKliank (/•^rilllirnmrlilii fiiArmi) xi'i'lii Mlllll-
I'ii'Mtlv illH'rii'iit riiitii till' -|irrii'-i ill Tniiiiiiin tn wairaiit llu'ir generic Hc-|HU'iitioii, tlu' rullnwiiiK

III in;,' till' rllii'l illMlilirliM- ilialarli'l>i : —

Totanua. Miiiilli' Im' nut iiinii' than li.ill' a- Imi;,' n^ llir tai'Miis ; liill ili'riili-illy Hlmrlcr than
tar-ii» : I. T, Kiiiiiiiiililii : •!. T. ihiriih.i ; :i. T. iiiUiIri^ ; 4. T. mrUtmikucM ; ft. T. gliitlit,

Rbyaoophilu*. MiiMh' tor iiraily m ijiiili' a- lun^' as tlii' tai'>n- : I. It. ijlurinhi; 2. li. noli-
lining ; ;J. li. iirAc'i/K'-i.

ErytbroBcelus. Miililh' tm' aliout liiiil thi' taixiiM ; bill hinder tliiui taimui. Lower partf>
ilu^ky ill lulull : I. I\. /kaiiiii.

Synopsis of the American Species.

Thr thri'i' Aiiiorii'.in ijii'iii's iil' Tii'niniii may !«• ilir'iii;{iiiH|ifi| iw I'nllow!!, one of them Wing n
nii'ii' Hlra):}{ler rroiii KuriijM' : -

4t''' Xizi' liir^ii- (wiiin initfi' than 7 itnhi'") ; ti'iniiiml liiilt' of lull Hli^htiy rci'uivwl.

i. T. iiebulariuB. Knliii' niniii. ii|p|ii'i' tail-rnviTtx, ainl lowiT i>aits, |mre white, without
MiMikiiiiis 1)11 till' iris.-iinii ; win^^'-riivi'its nn^iiDltcil. Win;;, 7.'x>-7.M(i ; I'lilini'ii, •2.\!'t-i.iO ;
liii-ns, •2.-2't--2M'>\ niiililli' till'. I. l:i-l .:i(», Idili. H;iiii)|)i' ; aniili'iital in Kluriila f
■2. T. melanoleuoua. Itnni|i niDttli'il iliisky ; n|)|ii'r lail-ruvi'its wliiu-, Imri'ril with iliisky ;
uiii;,'-ri)verti "iiiitti'il with white ; -liili's, Hanks, ami lnwi'i' tail-rovi'its iriej/iilaily luivreil
with iliisky. Willi;. 7.Ji>->^.<Ki ; culnu'ii. I'.u.Vj. »() ; tarsus, :J.:j"i-i.7<» ; niiihlle toi', l.J."i-
l.rm. Hull. N'lii'lh AniiTira ; Ci'iitial ami Smiili Anii'iiia ami \Vi'>t Imlies in winter.
B. Sl/i! snrill (\viii}{ K'ss than 7 imln'^) ; hill sK-mli'i', nnl rcrurved teniiiiially.

'.). T. flavipea. Colors of 7'. miiiinolciiniA, Win;;, (i.l(MI.(!.') ; I'uliiii'ii. I.IO-l.ftfl ; far*ii»,
:i.(K>-i.|,") ; niiililli- toe, l(Mi-l.l">. Il'ili. N'mtli Ainericii, bree<liii>,' iioithwanl ; Central
uiid iSouth Aim-riia ami West iiiilies in winter.

TotanuB nabularlus.

THE 0BEEN8HANK.

SmIopnrnelnilnriHK, r,t'vxRnrs, in Li-i'in, I,a|i|i. Hi'silir. 1707, 251.

ftctlnjinr ijtollit, LaTII. Symi|i. Sll|i|il. 17S7, 2i>'_' (lirr I. INN.).

Tol<inii.s ijlotth, lU-.riisr. NatiiiK. IMitsrlil. IV. 178!i-17i>.'i. •24P. — Kf.ys. & Ri.as. Wirb. Kiir. 1S31,

72. — .Snii.Ko. Iti'v. Crit. Hi. — Oiiav, (im. B. II' i'<4n, 5/3 ; Cat. Brit. H. 18«3, ItW. — Atn.

Orn. nif'K- HI. "^:i''', ■i'^'l I'l- 20^ •■ Syiioii. IS.lii, _ B. Am. V. 1842, 321, pi. 346. — Rinow.

Noiii. N. .\in. It. 1S81, 111). .'■i47. - ri.iKs, (■lici;k List, 2il oil. 188'2, no. 635.
SoilD/mj" aiiiisii iin, (iMK.l.. S. N. I. 178S, titlS.
" iHliitli.H canfscen.s, .SrnicKi.." ((lii.w).

Smiopnx folanun, LiNN. S N. nl. I'i, I. Kttfl, 245 (ncc eil. 10, 1758).
LimiMi Mail IIS, PaM. Zoiijfr. Hosmi-As. II. 1831, 183.
TotiniHn fiHhiliiiiH, Bi-.riisT. Niitinjr. IV. isnii, -241.
Tiittuiiis ijrisiiiH, Bkimst. t.-'. 231.
OluUin chhii-o/iii.'i, XiL.sN. Oni. .Suei'. II. lS17-18'iI, 57. — BoSAi'. Coinp. List, 1838, 51. — Macoill.

Man. II. 01.
Tntnnii.i clilnrnii::t, Mkyeu & Woi.K, Tuschb. Vug. Deutsclil. II. 1810, 371. — CoUES, Key, 1872,

250 ; Cheek hint, 1873, no. 434.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

1.0

I.I

121 125

2.2
2.0

1.25 lllll 1.4

1.6

'V>'

n>^ v^

268

PRyECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^.

Ololtis nutans, Kocn, Baicr. Zool. I. 1816, 305 (nee Otto, 1797).

Glottis floridanus, Bonap. C'omp. List, 1838, 51. — Cass, in Biiird's B. N. Am. 1858, 730. — Baird,

Cut. N. Am. B. 18.'.!t, no. 538.
Totanus (j/olhidcs, Vio. P. Z. 8. 1831, 173.
• Glottis niviiji'h, Hddos. in Gray Zool. Miso. II. 1831, 36.

Glottis Fiijorsii, Oiiay. — O. Horsjiddi, CiiiAY. — O. Liiinci, Malm.
Grccnslmnk, Yauu. Brit. B. ed. 2, II. 618, lig. ; ed.3, II. 665, tig. ; et AucT.
Cinereous Oodwit, Pex.n. Brit. Zool. II. 1813, 50, pi. 11.

Hab. The Pulseurctic Region, south to Australia ; accidental in Eastern North America ?
(Florida, Audubon).

Sp. Char. Adult in summer: Head and neck above, grayish white, widely streaked witli
dusky ; remainder of head and neck, with entire lower parts, pure white ; the lores, cheeks, malar
re},'ion, auriculars, sides of neck and foreneck, finely streaked with dusky ; sides of the breast and
anterior part of the sides, coarsely and irron;ularly streaked with dusky, the markings assuming an
irregularly sagittate or V-shaped form on the sides. Eyelids, a distinct and rather broad supra-
loral stripe, chin, throat, abdomen, crissum, and flanks, innnacnlate white ; axillars white, irregu-
larly marked toward ends with grayish; lining of wing white, with irregular sagittate markings of
grayish dusky. Back and scapulars dusky blacki-sh, the feathers edged with light ash-gray ; wing-
coverts nearly uniform brownish slate, the tertials similar, but edged with paler ; primaries uniform
dark slate ; entire rump and upper tail-coverts immaculate pure white, the longer leathers of the
latter, however, narrowly zigzagged with dusky. Tail white, narrowly and incompletely barred
with grayish dusky. 1 Winter 2)lumage : Similar, but nearly uniforn.' grayish above, the feathers bor-
dered with grayish white ; foreneck unstreaked. Yonnrj : ' Above, light brownish gray, the feathers
margined with paler, and with a sub-edging of dusky, in the form of an irregular dusky line near
the edge and parallel with the border ; these markings changed on the tertials into short zigzag,
oblique bars along the edge of both webs. Crown, nape, and lores streaked as in the adult : fore-
neck, jugulum, and sides immaculate white. " Bill dusky green, black at end ; iris brown ; feet
dull greenish gray" (Audubon).

Wing, 7.00-7.80 ; culnien, 2.15-2.20 ; tarsus, 2.25-2.65 ; middle toe, 1.12-1.30.

The only known instance of the occurrence of this species in North America is
recorded by Mr. Audubon, by whom three specimens were taken, May 28, 1832, on
Sand Key, Florida, near Cape Sable. They were mistaken for Tell-tale Tattlers as
they walked about on the bars or in the shallow water, and upon examination were
presumed by Audubon to be the Common Greenshank of Europe. They were all
males, and probably stragglers. In the "Pacific Eailroad Eeport," Vol. IX., owing
to their inferiority in size, these individuals are given as a distinct species ; but it is
not probable that this claim can be nuiintained, and we presume that the specimens
noted must have been examples of the common European bird, especially as this bird
is known to be a great wanderer, having been taken at Trebizond, in Mauritius, and
in various parts of Asia, Java, Sunda, the Moluccas, etc. Montagu, in his " Ornitho-
logical Dictionary," mentions this species as occurring in North America, stating that
one had been seen in the State of New York.

The Greenshank is said not to be anywhere found in large numbers. It is a sum-
mer visitant to the British Islands, and more frequent about the time of its spring
and fall migrations ; a few remaining during the breeding-season, but the greater
portion going farther north. These birds are found in the London market, most
frequently about the last of April and in May. In Ireland they occur in autumn in
small parties or singly. Mr. Selby detected this species breeding in Sutherlandshirc,
in June, 1834, in various parts of that county — generally in some swampy marsh,
or by the margins of the small lakes common in that region. It was very wild and
wary, except when it had tender young, at which time, when first disturbed, it would

1 Described from Audubon's specimen, supposed to have been obtained in Florida.

SC0L0PACIDJ5 — THE SXIPE FAiflLY — TOTANUS.

269

approach quite near, making a rapid swoop at the head of the intruch'r. If tired at
and missed, it rarely ventures again within range. Mr. Selby obtained one of the
young, about a fortnight ohl, by the aid of a water-dog.

This bird was observed by Hewitson in Norway, where, to his surprise, it was
more than once seen seated liigh above his head, on the top of a tall tree. It
breeds as far north as the Arctic (Jircle, in Lapland. Its note is said to sound like
rhin-chio. Mr. John Wolley obtained several nests and eggs of this bird in Finland.
It feeds on small fish, worms, insects, Crustacea, and molluscous animals. It visits
Itussia and breeds in the more northern regions of that country, has been found on
the banks of the lihiue, and is a bird of passage in France, Germany, Switzerland,
Italy, the islands in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, etc.

Mr. Macgillivray states that the Greenshank is seen in the Outer Hebrides early
ill spring, and that it generally departs in October, a few individuals remaining into
November. Previous to the breeding-season, and after the young are fledged, it
resorts to the shores of the sea, and frequents [lools of brackish water and the shal-
low margins of bays and creeks. It is said to be extremely shy and vigilant, so much
so that it can seldom be shot, until after it has deposited its eggs. Many remain
in the Hebrides in the summer, and at that season are very easily discovered, as, at
the approach of an intruder, even when he is more than a quarter of a mile distant,
they rise into the air with chimcn'ous cries, alarming all the birds in their neighbor-
linod, fly round the place of their nests, now wheeling off to a distance, again advancing
toward the intruder; then, at intervals, they alight by the edge of the lake, continuing
the noise and vibrating their bodies without cessation. Mr. Macgillivray found a nest
ill one of the Hebritles at a considerable distance from the water ; this consisted of
a few fragments of heath and some blades of grass placed in a hollow cavity scraped
in the turf in an exposed place, and resembled the nest of the Golden Plover, the
Common Curlew, and the Lapwing. The eggs, which were placed with their nar-
row ends together, were four in number, pyriform, larger than those of the Lapwing
and smaller than those of the Golden Plover, equally pointed with the latter, but
projiortionally broader and more rounded at the larger end tliau either. The dimen-
sion of one was 2.00 inches in length by 1.38 in breadth. The ground-color was a pale
yellowish green, sprinkled all over with irregular spots of dark l)rown, intermixed
with blotches of light purplish gray, the spots and blotches more numerous on the
larger end. Mr. Macgillivray adds, that although these birds may be seen in summer
in many parts of the islands, they are yet very rare, pairs being to be met with only at
a distance of several miles from each other. This bird is of very rare occurrence in
Scotland, except in the Hebrides, making its appearance chiefly in autumn.

Totanus melanoleucus.

TELL-TALE; STONE SNIPE.

Scolopax mdanoleuca, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 659.

Totamis melanoleucus, Vteill. Nouv. Diet. VI, 1816, 398. — AuD. Oin. Biog. IV. 1838, 68, pi. 308.

— CoUEs, Key, ISJ-J, 258; Cheek List, 1873, no. 432 ; 2(1 ed. 1882, no. 633 ; Birds N. W. 1874,

496. — RiDOW. Kom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 548.
OambeUa melanoleuca, Boxap. Conipt. Rend. 1856, 597. —Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 731. —

Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. no. 539.
Scolopnx voci/erus, Wils. Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 57, pi. 58, fig. 5.
Totanus vociferm, ViEiu.. Nouv. Diet. VI. 1816, 401. —Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 389.—

AuD. Synop. 1839, 244; B. Am. V. 1842, 316, pi. 345.
Totanus sasnshew, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. VI. 1816, 412.
Totanus chilensis, Philippi, Wiegm. Archiv, 1851, 264.

■,^ I

:.:!

270

PR/ECOCIAL GRALLATC )UE8 — LlMICOLiE.

Had. Auiuricu in j,'l'Ultu1, Imt breeding only in colil-tcniiu'ratiMind subarctii; climates of the
northern continent ; in winter, south to Chili and Buenos Ayres.

Sp. Chah. Adult, summer 'plumuiji' : Aliove, variejj;iited with shite-black, pale gray, and white,
the former predominating, the latter in the form of spots along the edge of the feathers, including
the wing-coverts and tertials ; crown and najjc grayish white, widely streaked with dusky ; upper
tail-coverts white, irregularly barred with the same ; primaries plain blackish slate; tail wliite, all
the feathers barred with dusky, the middle feathers grayish, barred with dusky, the hitter some-

times obsolete. Head, neck, and lower parts white, only the alidomen and throat immaculate ;
lores, cheeks, malar region, auriculars, and neck (all round), streaked with dusky ; breast, side^.
and flanks, barred or transversely si)ottt'd with dusky, the bars more sagittate on the crissuiu.
IVinter pluviarjc: Above, rather liglit ash-gray, without the black, but with the white spotting of
the summer dress ; foreneck and jugulum more narrowly streaked ; breast nearly or quite immacu-
late ; and sides and flanks faintly and irregularly marked with grayish. Ynuwj, first j)lumage :
Similar to the winter dress, but darker ami more brownish above, the white spotting tinged witli
light brownish buff; lower parts similar. Bill black; iris brown; legs and feet deep yellow
(tinged with olive in young).

Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7.50-7. ".'3 ; culnien, 2.20-2.30 ; tarsus, 2.50-2.75 ; midille
toe, 1.35-1.50.

In nearly or quite all parts of the United States the " Tell-tale Tattler," as thi.s
bird is sometimes called by s])ortsinen, is known only as a migratory visitant. Wilson
speaks of its arriving in the JMiddle States in April, and of its remaining there until
September, and breeding in the marshes. He describes the nest and eggs only from
report. In all this he was ttndoubtedly misinfonned ; at least it is not now knowu
to remain on any portion of our sea-eoast iluring the summer, and its nest and eggs
are still unknown. Mr. lloardiuan informs me that this bird is found about Calais
early in summer, and it is possible that ii few may remain and breed ; but this is at
best very doubtful. It is much the most abuiulant in the spring and fall.

In Southern Wisconsin, as \vc are informed by ilr. Kumlien, the Winter Yellow-
leg, known there as the " Tell-tale," arrives on the borders of Lake Koskonong in
April, and is one of the last birds to leave in the fall. Stragglers are found along tlic
shore throughout the summer. Dr. Hoy, in his " Li,st of the Birds of Wisconsin,''
states that it nests in all the large marshes of that State. There being very large
ones on the borders of Lake Koskonong, this bird may i)ossibly breed among
them ; but Mr. Kumlien does not think so, as he has not only never noticed it doing
so, but has never even found any birds young enough to justify the belief that they

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TOTANUS.

271

weve raised near the place. Late in August this bird begins to gather in Hocks along
tlie shores of Lake Koskoiiong, generally in company with the Totanus Jluvipes.

(»u Long Island, according to Giraud, this species is not so numerous as iXwfluvi-
1,1 s. It is tlicre known to tlic Imnturs as the •' Greater Yellowshanka," arriving in
A|)ril, about two weeks earlier than the Common Yellowshanks, and, as is the case
with the latter, making at tliat season but a very short visit. It appears to prefer
tlic shores of muddy j)onds and creeks, where it collects its food, having ai)parently,
like many otlier shore-birds, u sjiecial fondness for the spawn of the horse-foot
crab. It returns from the nortli in the latter part of August, and renuiins until cold
weather. On the meadows in the vicinity of Oyster Pond Mr. (Jiraud has met with
this bird in November. In the autunni it is in line condition, and its Hesh is then
very finely flavored. It does not generally associati; in large flocks, but roves about
in parties of from five to twelve. Its voice is nuich stronger than that of the ffuvipes,
and consists of fewer notes, imitations of which it will Idindly follow. Though more
sus])icious than the Common Yellowshanks, it can be decoyed if tlie sportsnum is
skilful and lies close. This bird is (U'scribedas having a graceful carriage as it walks
over the ground, collecting its food in an elegant iind easy manner. It is capable of
very rapid flight, and at times mounts high in the air, from wliich elevation its loutl,
clear, and familiar notes may often be recognized. In its general habits, as well as
in its appearance, it bears a strong resenddance to the ,//af//;t'.s. It is more common
(in tlic shores of New Jersey tiian on Long Island, and is said occasionally to breed
tlicre; but no good evidence of this has been obtained, and Giraud was unable to find
any proof that it ever breeds on Long Island. He never met with it there either in
.huic or in .Inly.

This bird passes north along the coast of Massachusetts about the nuddle of April,
the flight lasting until the middle of .May. It returns from the north early in Au-
gust, and is two or three weeks in passing south.

It is found on the Pacific coast as far north as Vancouver Island, where Jlr. H.
Browne notes its pn-sence. Dr. Cooiier states that it is common throughout Cali-
fcuiiia, being usually found, singly or in small families, about marshes — both fresh
and salt — during nearly all the year ; he did not, however, observe any as far to the
south, in tluly, as San Pedi'o. One, which he shot at Fort Mojave in January, was
of a remarkaldy small size, though a female; and Dr. Cooper thinks it probable that
this sniallness is peculiar to all those inhabiting the interior desert regions, and that
they may for this reason have been mistaken for the smaller Yellow-legs of the East.
Dr. Cooper thinks that this l)ird breeds, without doubt, in Californita, although he did
not meet with any of its nests along the coast. In the autumn it is found in smal)
families about still waters, feeding on small shells, insects, (U'ustacea, etc.

Mr. Salvin, who observed this s^iecies in Guatemala, states that, so far as noticed
by him, it seemed to be more solitary in its haliits tluin many of the other Waders.
Karcly was more than a single individual seen at a time ; and it also appeared to pre-
fer the borders of tlie lak(! to the marshy resorts of the other species of Waders.

It is said by Major Wedderbuvn to visit Hermixda in its southward migrations in
the fall. It usually arrives in August, and is more or less common in some seasons.
In 1S4S quite a number came as early as the 4th of August, in company with the
Jl<a-lp;'x and the smaller Sandpipers. On the 20th of September a large flock was seen
moving iu a southeasterly direction. It occasionally remains until the 10th of No-
vcnd)er. In only one instance has it been seen there in the sj)ring ; this is said by Mr.
Hurdis to have been on the oth of June, 1852, when a single specimen was taken in
full spring plumage.

jiili'

272

PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLiE.

According to Mr. N. B. Moore, this species, as well as T.Jiavipes, was observed by
him during every month of the year on the waters of Sarasota Bay, in Florida. It
exliibited no evidence of nesting, nor did its relative. t\n\tf(tiilj)es — which hitter is tlir
more numerous, both in the summer and in the winter. On one occasion a tlo(;k ol
tweiity-tive of tlie f/arijjcs was seen in an oozy lagoon. When the ponds are (piite
low, in June and July, both sjiecies feed in a very curious manner. A mass of black
ooze lies just below the surface of the water, on the hard sandy bed. As many as six
or eight birds, of one species alone, or of both together, may be seen ruiuiing at full
speed, one behind the other, and swee])ing rapidly from side to side, so as to descrilje
a half-circle, with tiu'ir bills immersed in the water. This is contiinied for a certain
distane;', and then tlu^ birds all turn round and go back over the same ground, repeat-
ing this advance and retreat a second time even. No one can doubt that they aic
procuring food of some kind, in what the observer mentioned describes as an " impet-
uous and giddy race ;" yet no halt is made either to snatch or swallow anything,
neither can they be assisted by their eyes in finding their food. Mr. Moore believes
this to consist of the aninuilcuhe which abound in the oozy matter, and that it is
taken in by mere suction.

Si)ecimens were collected in August at Moose Factory and at Rupert House by
Mr. J. M'Kenzie, and at Sitka and near Fort Kenai by Mr. Bischoff. A single speci-
men is reported by Mr. Kunilien as having been seen by him on Arctic Island.
Cumberland Sound, Sept. 14, 1877.

This species occurs generally in the West Indies. Gundlach includes it in his
List of the Birds of Cuba. Gosse mentions obtaining a single individual at Spanisli-
town on the 21st of March, and was informed by Mr. Hill that in the succeeding
month it bcTane exceedingly abundant, so that it was obtained by the market sports-
men in quite extraordinary numbers. According to Leotaud, it visits Trinidad at about
the same period, and remains there about the same length of time, as the_j^«t-v}*c,s'.
to which bird it has a very marked resemblance, and which — when not solitary — it
usually accompanies. A few remain during the winter and keep about the pools.
It has a very emphatic cry, that sounds like chin-chin, by which name it is known in
Trinidad. Its flesh is not considered as very good.

Mr. C. W. Wyatt met with it near La Cruz, in Colombia, and it has been found in
other portions of South America, as far south as Chili.

Mr. Dresser mentions this bird as being common near San Antonio during the
winter season, until the month of April, after which he did not notice it, although it
was seen on Galveston Island in June.

This species is supposed to breed in Labrador, where it is said to have been found
in great numbers along the shore all through the summer and in the early fall.
Though seen in all situations near the water, the favorite localities of this bird seem
to be muddy fiats laid bare by the tide, and the pools in the adjoining salt-marshes.
Eichardson found this bird very abundant on the Saskatchewan Plains, but did not
discover its nest. He quotes Hutchins as having written that it has four eggs, which
are of a dark ground-color, spotted with black, and large for the size of the bird.

It was found on the Amoor River by Schenck, in Siberia by Middendorff, and in
the La Plata region by Burmeister — the latter stating that it is everywhere abundant
throughout that country on the banks of lakes and rivers.

Audubon says that this species spends the winter along the shores of the estuaries,
rivers, ponds, and ricj-fields from Maryland to Mexico ; and that it is abundant in
South Carolina and Florida and on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, as far as Texas.
where he noticed it in considerable numbers, and where it paired in the months ot

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE !• AMILY — TOTANUS.

273

A]iril and May. It lias also l)cpn I'ouiid in tin' spring and autumn ovtT tlif wliolo
iutt'iior of tlio eountiy, and (iuitc almndiint at those seasons along the entire length
1)1 the -Mississippi, Ohio, and .Missouri rivers, as well as on the Arkansas. This hinl
(•iiiiy;n'gates in great numbers during the winter in the inland marshes of Florida and
iilong the rivers. Audulxm saw them at Hastport as early as tlie 1 Ith of .May, and on
the eoast of Labrador on the iSth of . I line. In Newfoundland, on the 11th of August,
tiie yomig were nearly ecpial in size tt) their parents.

Though found at all seasons in the vicinity of salt water, this species seems to
pre-fer fresh-water ponds where the sliores are muddy and the water shallow ; and in
these places it freqiUMitly wades to such a deiith us to j)re.sent the apjjearance of
swimming. Wlien just alighted it always hohls u}) its wings, as if (hiubtful of its
hidting. It feeds on small lishcs, snails, in.sects, and worms, which it catches and
devours with great rapidity. It alights on floating logs on the iMississippi, where it
jirorures shrimjis and the fry of fishes.

Audubon fountl it breeding in Lalirador. A fenude, having been kilhtd, was found
to contain a full-formed egg; this was pyriform, 2.2o inches in length, 1.0(5 inches in
breadth, of a pale greenish yellow, and marked with blotches of umber and i)ale pur-
plisli gray. We have had no other knowledge of its eggs than this mention and that
ol' llutchins, until the Notes of .Mr. K. W. Nelson on the Hirds of Southeastern Illinois.
Tliis writer mentions this bird as not only being a regular migrant to the southern
shores of Lake .Aliehigan. but also as breeding in that locality, when' it is said to arrive
about tlie middle of .Vpril, the grcati-r luimber going north early in 31ay, returning
on the first of September, and then renuiining until the last of ( )ctober. He also met
with pairs of this bird in the t'ahnuet marshes ; and on obscM'viiig their actions, be-
came convinced that they were breeding. Mr. lUee, of Evunston, received a set of
eggs, which were not identified, but which were attributed to this species. The nest
was in a slight depression on the edge of a slough, and was composed of grass-stems
and lilades. The eggs varied from 1.70 to l.SO inches in length, and from l..'JO to 1.38
in breadth. The ground-color is described as being a deep grayish white, marked on
tlu'ce eggs with spots of dark brown, aiul on the other egg with spots and well-
(Ictined blotches of a considerably lighter shade of the same color. In addition there
were shell-nmrkings and obscure spots of lilac. The nuirkings were abundant over
the whole surface, but more numerous about the larger end. This description varies
materially from that of Mr. Audubon in regard to the size of the egg.

■^

■ I

'< I

k'hich

Totanus flavipes.

TELL0W-LE6S.

Scolopax flavipes, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 059. — Wii-s. Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 55, pi. 58, tig. 4.
Tot'inus flavipes, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. VI. 1810, 410. — Sw. & Ricir. F. B. A. II. 1831, 390. —

NUTT. Man. II. 1834, 152. — Am. Oni. Biog. III. 1835, 573 ; V. 586, pi. 228 ; Synop. 1839, 243 ;

B. Am. V. 1842, 313, pi. 344. — CorF.s, Key, 1872, 259; Check List, 1873, no. 433, 2(1 ed.

18S2, no. 034 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 497. — Einow. Xoni. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 549.
Gumbiifa flavipes, Bonap. Compt. IJoiid. 1850, 597. — Ca.ss. in Baird's B.N.Am. 1858, 732.—

Baiud, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 540.
Toianvs natator, Vieii.l. Nouv. Diet. VI. 1816, 409.
Totanus fuscocapilhts, Vieill. I.e.
" Totaniia leiicopygn, Ii.ligeu., in Mtis. Berol."

IIab. The whole of America, breeding in the cold-temperate and subarctic districts of the
northern continent ; migrating south in winter to Buenos .Ayres and Chili. Much rarer hi the
Western than in the Eastern Province of North America. Accidental in Europe.

VOL. I. — .'i.'j

274

PR.ECOCIAL GUALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

Sr. Chah. Very Hiiuiliir to 7'. rnelaiwleucua, but snialk'r uiiil uioru Hlender. Bill nitLcr ioiigci
tliim tile heail, strai^^lit, slemler, rather cimiiire.ised ; wing Idiik, pointed ; tail nliort ; Ivit^t loiij,',
lower half of the tibia nuked ; toe^^ moderate, ulender, niarj,'ineil, the outer and ndddle uiiitnl
nt base.

Adiilty summer }duina(ji' : Above, ashy, mixed with ragjieil blotidien of black, this bavin;,' a ten-
dency to I'orm re^jidar transverse bars on the secondaries and scaimlars. Crown unci nupe wiih
lonj,'itiidinul streaks of l)lack on a j,'rayish-white t,'rounil ; upper tail-i',overt« pure white, widi
trauHVurse bars of dusky j tail white, the middle feathers ushy, and uU with transverse, rather n;j-

rower, bars of ash. Primaries and their coverts plain dusky black. Lower parts white, the jugii-
lum and breast densely streaked with blackish, and the sides marked with more transverse
markings of the same color.

Winter plnvmge : Above, ashy, sometimes nearly unbroken, but generally slightly variegateti,
especially on the scapulars and wing-coverts, witii transverse spots of dusky, and whitish edgings
and dots along the margin of the feather.s. Streaks almost absent from the iiead, neck, and jui!ii-
lum, which are nearly uniform light ashy ; the chin, throat, and supraloial stripe white. In otln r
respects like the summer plumage. Youmj: Like the winter adult, but the light markings alu vu
more or less tingetl with pale brown or dull ochraceous.

Total length about 10.50-1 l.(H» inches ; extent, 20.00-21.00; wing, 5.50-0.50 ; culmen, 1.30-
1.55 ; tarsus, 2.00. Bill black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet bright yellow.

This species is e.xceedingly similar to T. melanolcucus in jdumage, but diU'ei-s in tlie following
particulars : in the summer adult the upper parts are more transversely spotted, with a less amount
of black, while the lower parts are without well-defined transverse .sjiota or bars of black ; in tiiu
winter jilumage, the head, neck, and jugulum are nearly uniform ashy, instead of distinctly
streaked.

The European analogue of T. fluvijics is tlie T. stagnatiliK (Bechst.), the type of the genus, it
resenddes the American species very closely, but may be immeiliately distinguished by the rump
being wholly pure white, instead of heavily spotted with grayish and dusky. Thi:; peculiarity,
being shared by several other Palaiarctic species, compared with their American allie.s, presents a
very interesting problem bearing upon the nuestion of geograjducid variation. This curious panil-
lelism was first called attention to by one of the authors of this work in the " .A merican Naturalist ''
for February, 1874 (p. 108), and the following list of species presented in which it had been
noted : —

American {rump dusky spotted).
Rhyacophilus solitarius,
Totanus flavipes,
Numenius Hudsonicus,
Ha;matopus palliatus.

European {nimp immaculate ivhite).
R. ochropus,
T. stagnatilis,
N. phoeopus,
H. ostralegus.

The well-known " Yellow-legs " of Eastern sportsmen has a very abundant distri-
bution throughout all the United States, not excepting the immediate neighborlujod
of the Pacific ; for even there individual examples have been recently reported. It

SCOLOPACID.K - THK SNIPE KAN[ILY — TOTANUS.

27r3

is ([iiite cninmon, in its inigvations, hoyond tiic Ixocky MountaiiiH. How cominon it
iiiav lit' ill Ciiliroruia ut any tiiiu' icniaiiis to !»<' ascfi'tainctl. It in found during the
winter in suitable localities tlironj,'l'oMt Mexieo. ('entral and South America, ami the
West Indies. Dr. liurmeister mentions tindinj,' this s[ieeies lioth at Mendoza and at
i'liraua, on tht! banks ol' rivers and the slunvs of lakes, Salvin speaks of meeting
with a small Hock near Duenas. in (Juateniahi, during the early part of the month of
April, in company with Aitnth uinis ninrii/iifii. It is included by (iundlach among
tlie birds of Cuba, and by Marsh among those of .lamaica. In the latter island (io.sse
siicak.s of tiuding it always solitary, and wading in shallow water. The stonniclis of
specimens he procured contained a mass oi pulverulent nuxtter which, on l)eing sepa-
rated in water, was found to contain fragments of in.sects. According to Professor
Newton, this bird occurs, but not plcntifidly. in St. Croix in the sjiriug and autumn ;
bat it probably does not remain in the island through the winter. lie obtained a
single specimen, .Inly !.'(>. IS"»7; and Mr. Kdward Newton first met with it Aug, 3,
]M.'i.S. It is a regular visitant of the Island of Trini(hul, coming each year in the
month of August, and withdrawing in October. Always in flocks, sometimes of great
size, it keeps about the borders of the sea. only leaving them for moist meadows or
newly |)lougl'.ed fields. It re([uires a soft soil, into which its beak can easily pene-
trate in quest of worms. In its movements it is said to resemble the Solitary Tattler.
After the general departure of this species, a few renuiin along the edges of pools in
swampy tracts. It is much sought after by sportsnu'u. but its Hesh is not of good
(piality. It feeds largely upon ants and the hirva' of (li])terous insects.

It occurs as far, at least, to the south as I'atagonia, where Mr. H. Durnford ('' Ibis,"
1^77) mentions timling it common along the banks of the rivers and in the adjacent
swamps and jiools in the ('hupat N'alley. He does not indicate it as breeding there ;
and as his visit only continued from the 1st to the Ui)th of >«ovember, it is probable
tliat it does not do so.

It visits the liahamas in its migrations ; and i)rol)al)Iy passes through nearly the
whole of the interior regions of both North and South America. Captain Bendire
notes its abundaiu'e in Oregon during its migrations: and Air. Nelson found it quite
luuiierous in Northeastern Illinois, arriving late in April and returning in September.
He has no doubt that a few breed, as he obtained the young, barely able to fly, on the
l.st of July, 1874, ne.ar (Jhicago; and since then he has noticed several i)airs, during
the breeding-season, al)out the CaUunet marshes.

In the summer this species extends its migrations to the extreme Arctic regions,
Reinhardt includes it among the birds of (Jreenland, a single .specimen having been
received from that region by I'astor Jliischler in 1854. Captain Ulakiston met with
it on the Sa,skatchewan, obtaining a single si)ecimen near Fort Carlton, ilr. Murray
records it as from Hudson's IJay, and Mr. Koss found it abundant on the Mackenzie.
Iiichardsou speaks of it as very common in the Fur Countries, where it is seen, either
solitary or in pairs, on the banks of every river, lake, or marsh, up to the most north-
ern extremities of tht> continent. While breeding, it is very impatient of any intru-
sions, betrays the approach of the sportsman to less vigilant birds by flying round
his head, its legs hanging down and wings drooping, uttering its incessant and jilaiu-
tive cries. Trevious to its departure south it collects in small flocks, and stops for
a time on the shores of Hiulson's luay. In this locality it was observed by Hearne
in 1772, and its habits noted. He speaks of it as the " Spotted Godwait," ami states
that it visits the Hudson's l^ay in considerable numbers, and is even more abundant
in the interior, usually frequenting the flat, muddy banks of rivers. In the summer
it was generally very poor, but in the autumn it became one mass of fat. Hearne

276

PR.lilCOCIAL OIIALI.ATORES — LIMICOL/E.

uwl witli this bird in eonsidcraljle numbers as tar north as latitude 71' o4'; and at
Fort Vorit he has known it to In' shot as late as the hitter part of ()etol)er. At tlii>
time it is in its K''«'iiti'st jterfection, and is said to he delicious eatinij;.

It is not noted in the nintli volume of the '• I'aeitic Hailroad Iveport" as occurring
west of the Missouri, yet Mr. d. A. Allfu found it in considerabh- numbers aliouttlu-
laijoons of Kastern Kansas in tlic earlier jiart of May. and afterward in An,i,'ust; hf
also saw it at Lake I 'ass, in Colorado, ami a few were found in Sejitendier in the
Valley of (ireat Salt Lake. It was not notieed by ^Mr. Hid^way in I'tah or Nevada;
but it has been found very alunidant in Au,L;ust and Sei)tend)er throuf,'hout Dakota
and Montana, where it was invariably seen associating with the iiivlininlriira. Botli
species are there the most unsuspecting of the WatU'rs, so that they may be approaclnil
without the .slightest ditlieulty. Mr. L. Helding, in the winter of 1878-1879, procured
a specinu'U on the coast of faliforiua.

In the Valley of the Mississippi this species is a regular ndgrant both in the
spring and in the fall. It is much more abundant in its autumnal movement, and
much more c()mnu)n, than the niifniiofriirit, coming later and departing earlier than that
species. None remain to brei'd near Ijake Koskonong, where, in the fall, they again
become very abundant.

It was met with at Fort Kesohition from Jlay Tith to the 14th, in 1860, by Mr. U.
Kennicott; on the Vukon liiver, in Juiu', by Mr. Loekhart ; at Fort Simpson, from
May ir»th to the L"Jth, by ,Mr. M. H. Ross; at lUg Island by Mr. Reid ; and was found
in great abundance by Nr. Ma(!l''arlane at Fort Anderson, on Anderson Itiver, at
Horton H-.er, Rendezvous Lake, etc.

On the Atlantic coast it begins to a])pear, in its nngratinns soutlnvard, in July,
and its movements continue through August. It returns in the spring, but comes as
late as May 15. In Massaidiusetts Mr. William Hrewster has taken it from July 15
to Septendier 1, and has noted its passing north occasionally as early as the first jiai t
of May. A large flock was observed by Mr. Frank 15. Tileston near Boston, May
.3, 1875. It is (juite common near Calais in both these migrati(Uis.

On Long Island, according to (iiraud, and also on the coast of New Jersey, this
species arrives in the early part of ^lay. It is said to associate in flocks, and to fre-
quent the muddy flats which are left bare at the recess of the tide. At high water it
resorts, to the ponds on the beaches and meadows, where it collects its food, which
consists of snuiU shellfish, worms, and insects. Occasionally it nuiy be seen wadim,'
into the shallow Avater in pursiut of small flshes. It is conspicuously gregarious in
habit, and is constantly calling upon others to unite with it, its shrill cry betraying
its presence to the hunter. It is readily attracted by decoys, answering the fowler's
Avhistle, and, if the sportsman is well concealed, gliding directly up to the decoys,
gradually lowering its long legs, which, when it flies, ])roject beyond its tail-feathers.
It is much more tinud than the Red-breasted Snipe, yet, like that species, when
invited by the hunter's whistle, will not infrecpiently return and receive his second
Are. The cry of this species is very shrill, consisting of three or more notes. AVheii
woimded in the wing it will run very fast, and will often conceal itself so successfidly
in the long grass as to escape detection. It is often seen on streams in the interior.
Its flesh is not particularly good, yet it meets with a ready sale in the New Yoik
market, and large numbers are shot to supply the demand. Giraud mentions one
instance in which one hundred and six were killed by the single discharge of a
double-barrelled gun into a flock that was sitting along the beach. In the latter part
of August the Yellowshank begins to move southward, and in September all have
usually retired from the shores of Long Island.

SrOLOPAriD.'E — THE SNIPE FAlflLY — TOTANFS.

277

In Bonaudii, according to .Mii jor Woddcilmrn, it arrives regularly about the Ist of
August in each year, being une ui tlie earliest visitors from the north, and there
iciuains until the end of Se|(tenil)er, On the l.'ith of thily. 1847, one of this species
was caught, in an exhausted state, on the north shore of one of the islands, during a
gale from the northwest. On the L'fSth of July, IS-JS, a large flock was seen, and
ii week later the birds had beeoiue very nunu-rous.

It is more or less abundant (hiring the winter from South Carolina to ^fexico. ^Ir.
iMesscr met with it near ^Matamoras, liut it was not eoninu)n. in tlie spring of ISdl,
at San Antonio, he noti(.'ed it n'uch oi'temu' than he did at Matanioras, and in
April and early in ISfay shot seveial. He also saw this l)inl on (Jalveaton Island
(■ally in dune.

In the oi)inion of Audubon the Yellow.shank is nuu-h more abundant in the inte-
rior than along the coast. In the early autumn, when the sandbars of the Ohio arc
luicovered, it may be seen upon them in small fl(jcks. em|iloyed in searching for food,
wading in the water up to the feathered part of their legs. In the Carolinas they
resort to the riceticlds, and in Florida to the wet savannahs. He met with a few on
tlie coast of Labrador, but did not find their nests, lie was informed by Thomas
.MacCullock that it breeds in considerable mindiers about I'ictou; but when in that
])lace, in 1850, I could ol)tain no corroboration of this statement. Mr. ^lacCuUock
dcscril)ed the nest as jjlaced among the grass on the edges of streams and jjonds of
tlic interior.

Although this bird has been but once reported on the Southern I'acific shore, yet
Mr. Dall states that it was obtained both at Sitka and at Kadiak by ^Ir. Hischoff. It
was not rare at Fort Vukon, where it was found breeding liy Lockhart. It was also
seen in small nund);'rs at Xulato and near the mouth of tiu' Yukon. Mv. Keunicott,
who found it breeding near Fort Uesolution, states that it arrives there in the spring
among the first birds. He describes its nest as of th(> simj)lest kind, it being merely
a dcin-ession without any lining, at the foot of a small bush, in ratlier open ground, a
rod from the edge of a marsh. Another nest was in an open jdace among s])arse, low
hushes — a simple depressicm, but lined with a few leaves and small sticks. Mr.
-MacFarlane found the nests of this species, lined with decayed leaves, on the Tiower
Anderson Kiver; and in some instances they were near the edge of a small lake.
( tthers were taken at Fort Anderson, some as early as June 2. The nests were all
mere deju'cssions, with a very scanty lining. The usual luuuber of the eggs was four.
In several instances the male bird was seen to jierch on trees near the nest, in the
manner of the Oommon Snipe. Some were already hatched by the 19th of June.
W'lien the pair had young, they were very noisy, going constantly before the intruder
from tree to tree for several hundred yards beyond their nest. The yt)ung, even
Avhen just hatched, run aiul hide in the short grass, so as to nuike it difficult to find
them, the parents, in the meanwhile, flying and screaming in the air above.

The eggs of this species obtained by Mr. MacFarlane exhibit some variations in
the shading of the ground and in tlu'ir markings. Mo. 113!>7, Nat. Mus., average in
measurement 1.08 inches in length and 1.12 in breadth. Their ground-color is a
light drab, verging in some into a darker hue, marked with separate rounded blotches
of bistre, of a light tint, and washed in a few instances with the ground-color, giving
the effect of a light ashy slate. No. 11388, S. I., the ground-color a dull, deep rufous
drab ; the spots more numerous and confluent, giving to the eggs a very different
effect from that usually presented.

E ?

278

rR.tlCOCIAL OllALLATOllKS — I.IMU'OL.K.

Gem H RHYACOPHILUS, Kaup.

Rhyicnphilm, Kait, Sk. Kiitw. Kiirop. Tli. 1829, 140 (typo, Tfiiiga glarrnin, LiNN.).

Char, Mimilar to Totamm, Imt .siuuUur, and with miildlo Uw muirly nn loiij,' iw tui«u».

TluTo is Imf niio Anioricnn »iH'ries of this fjcnits, iiml the Old World niciiilx'is nrc liy no mcanf*
numtTuiis — only two, the li. ochrdiiun (Linn.) and li, ijlunolu (LiNX.) licing R'Ci)j,'ni/.ud \>y nnlliori-

R. aolUarius.

ties. Tiie latter is the typp of the ^'enus, but it resembles the American R, solitariun much less
than does the former. The tliree may lie distinyuisiieil as luUows : —

A» Lininj^ of the wing dusky, barred with wliite.

1. R. BolitariuB. Upper tail-coverts dusky, ban-ed with white ; middle tail-feathers dusky,

spotted with white aionj,' the edt,'e. Win;,', 5.;3(» ; culmen, 1.1") ; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe,
1.00. Hah. North America, mi^'ratinj; southward in winter.

2. R, oobropua. Upper tail-coverts pure white, nearly or quite immaculate ; middle tail-

leathers widely barred with white. Wing, 5.40-5.70 ; culmen, 1,30-1.40 ; tarsus, l.:25-
1.40; middle toe, .95-1.00. Hith. Europe ; accidental in Eastern North America (Nova
Scotia).
LiniufT of the wing white, spotted e.\teriorly with dusky.

3. R. glareola. U])per tail-coverts white, more or less marked with dusky ; middle tail-

feathers banded with white. Wing, 4.75-4.90; culmen, 1.10-1.15; tarsus, 1.40-1.45;
middle toe, 1.00-1,05, Hah. Puliearctic Region.

Rhyacophilus solitarius.

THE SOLITABY SANDPIFEB.

Tringa ochrnpus, var. j3. Lath. Ind. Oin. II. 1790, 730.

Tringa solUnrin, WiLs. Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 53, pi. 58, fig. 3.

Tolanun soUtnrius, Avn. Synop. 1839, 24'J ; K Am. V. 1842, 309, pi. 343, — Coue-s Key, 1872, 2,59 ;

Check List, 1873, no. 435 ; Birds X. W. 1874, 498.
Rhyacophilus snlitarius, Cass, in Bninl's B, N. Am, 1858, 733. — BAian, Cat. N, Am. B. 1859, no.

541.— KiDow. Norn. N. Am. R. 1881, no. 5,50, — Couks, Check Li.st, 2d od. 1882, no. 637.
Tolamis chhropyghts, Vieill. Xouv. Diet. VI , 1816, 401. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 393. —

NuTT. Man. II. 1834, 1.59. — Auu. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 576 ; V. 1839, 583, pi. 289.
Tolamis macroptera, Spix, Av. Bras, II. 1825, 76, 92.
(?) " Totanm caligalus, Light."
" Totanus guttatus, Illio."

Ht:oLorAciD.E — THE snii'p: family - rhyacoimiilus.

279

IIau. The wliolt" of North imtl Midille Aiuericu anil thf KrcuttT imrl of South Ainurictt, ruiij,'iii({
soiitli to Ura/.il and iVni ; lncLMliii^' thruu^hout tcmperatu Nortli Aiuuiica, hut chiitly noithwunl ;
acciih'iital in Kuiopu.

Hp. Chak. AiIuU in guinimr: Ahovo, olivaceous >iatt', lallaT K]iarMt'ly nptTklcd with wliilc,
tliu iTowii and iui|if indi^lindly >ln'aki'd witli llii' Hanic ; outiT uii|i('r tail-covcrfH haired with
wliili' ; i>iiniariu.i and iiriniaiy-eoveits plain slati'-l)laLk. 'I'ail wliile (iliv middle featheis iliiMk\ ),
all the featheiM widtdy huirud with duftky, these liars niool luiineious on outer wubt*, where extend-

in;; to the hase of the feathers. Eyelids, supraloial stri|ie, and lower parts white ; the sides of
the head, neck (all round), and ju;,'uluiu streaked with lirownish slate ; remaining lower parts
innuaculute. Linin;,'of wimj and axillars slate-color, re;,'ularly harred with white. Winhr iilumMje :
Similar to the summer dress, hut dark ashy above, less distinctly sjieckled, and foreneck very
indistinctly streaked, or simply washed with ashy. Yohikj : Above, j,'rayis)i blown (li;,diter and more
olivaceous tliaii the adult), thi<kly speckled with buff ; crown and na]ie plain brownish t,'ray; cheeks
and sides of neck nearly uniform ;;ray ; foreneck streaked, as in the adult.

Total leiiKtli, about 8.(M)-8.5(i inches ; extent, Ifl.rMl-Ki.SO ; winj;. 5.(1(1-5.-10 ; eulmeii, 1.15-1.3(1 ;
tarsus, l.:J")-l.3(l ; middle toe, 1.(10. Kill ;;reenish brown (in life), dusky terminally; iris brown ;
l(",'s and feet olive-green in adult, more grayish in young.

It is ditlicult to reeoiieile all the variou.s stati'iiuMits in regard to the habits of
this species, either with our own observations or with the experience of more recent
observers. Audubon sjieaks of finding it nesting in Louisiana, Wilson of its breed-
ing in tiie liighlaiuls of I'ennsylvania. aiul (Jiraud considered it a suuinier resident
uf Long Island from May to Scpteinbev. How far these statements are reconcilable
with fact, or how far they may be erroneous or exceptional, it is not easy to deter-
luiiic. It may be that, like tlie Comniiui Snijje, this bird occasionally breeds in
unusually southern localities. Mr. .J. A. Allen met with it at Ipswich, Mass., in
duiic. under circumstances which led him to feel confident that the bird was breed-
ing there. The general rule, however, is that throughout the United States this
sjiccies is as decidedly migratory as the Winter Y'cllowleg, and that if it ever nests
south of latitude 4.'i°, the instances ave rare, exceptional, or caused by peculiar cir-
cumstances. It is common, though not abundant, in Massachusetts in spring and
fidl, although not known to breed in that State. It comes in the spring in the latter
part of May, its stay being short, as it almost immediately passes on to its northern
breeding-places. It begins to re-ajipear in midsummer, or about the 15th of July,
and is more or less common from that time up to the last of (October. Maynard
obtained an example at Erroll, X. li., as late as October 31, when the jionds Avere
frozen over ; and Mr. William Brewster met with partially grown young in Frau-
conia, N. H., in August.

Major Wedderburn states that this Sandpiper — which reminded him so much,
both in aijpearance and in habits, of Ehyaco2Jh!lus ylareola of Europe — is found every

•jso

ril.KCOCIAI. Cli.M.I.ATOUKS - I.IMU'OL.K.

yt'iif ill MiTiimd;!. I'roiii tin- -(Mil of .\iii,Mist tii the last oi' Scpli'iiiltfr. wiicrc it I'lv
(|m>iits till' Nwaiiiits tiilnl with stmitt'd tn-i's mul IhisIics. A iVw stra)4;Kl''i'x ii'iiiain
into Nnvi'inlicr. Oiif s|H'i'iiiii'ii was seen as cailv as .Inly 'J.'i ; ami in iS.'iU several
were met willi. in llieir s|>rin.i;' iiii.m'atinns. as early as tlie Ttli ni' April. Tliev were
i^enerally very sliy. Mr. Iluniis lueiitiniis tliat utlier examples were sImiI on tlie lOili
ami Idtli of April ol' llie same \ear. Mr. I>ali iioled llie presence of this species al
Niilato I'rom May JlMli to the iSlli. Mr. IJoss I'uiiml it near l''ort Simpson in liie

lalt.

rt oT Mav. it was also taken at l''ort ^'nlvon 1>\ Mr. .1. ,Mel>oii''al, al I'orl

Iv'ae liy Mr. Clark, ami at Uii;- Islaml liy Mr. Ueid.

Mr. Ileiisliaw prel'ers tlie name ol' Wood 'rattler lor this species, as he does nut
rej^'ard it as a solitary liird. lie mentions haviiifj; Ireipieiitly met with it at the WesI,
in mountainous lin'alities, on the liorders ol' such small ponds as are wholly sin-
rounded liy dense I'orests j^M'owiiii;' almost to the water's edp'. l>iirin,!L; the mii^ratoiy
season it ocenrs alniiidaiitly on the shores ol' all the ii\ers, and in tact Ireipieiils
every locality which is suited to the wants and tastes of W'adiii^-liirds. .\t I hese
seasons he I'onnd it very I'ar t'roni lieiny; siditary. and rarely to he seen alone ; littli'
eompaiiies of six or seven liein^ ipiite usual, and not inl'rei|iiently more may he seen

tiiLrel 111

lie did not sneeeed in lindinu' it hrtM'dint;. I>nt he has little ur no d

that it. actnallv d<

's so 111 part

I'lali. ( 'olorado. and evi

mill

it her south. Il<

states that Mr. .\iken took adult hirds near I'lieMo, Colorado, lale in .Inly, wliirli
had iindoiihtedly spent the siimii"r and were hreedinn' there. Mr. Ileiishaw proeiircil
specimens at difl'erent points in .\ri/.ona from .Inly L".l to Aiii;nsl I'l.

This liird winters in Central .\merica, where it is evidently ipiilc eomiiKai. jiidf^ini;
rrimi the nnmlxM' of its skins in all lar^c ccdleclions from (inatemala. Mr. Skinner
(ihtained specimens near Cohan. It is also found in most of the West India Islamls,
(iiindlach niviiii; it as a \ isitant of Ciiha. and (Josse ineluiliu'4 it aimuiL;' the hirds of
.lamaiea, wher<' Im loiiiid it — not sceminn' parlieiilarly solitary - ahout piuids in pas-
tures and near fresh-water morasses, lis j;i//ard was tilled with Irat^nieiils id' miniilc
water-iusects. It is called hy him tli • •• I'.artailed Sainlpiper." ( hie id' these liinls,
whose wiiii;' had heeii hrokcn, was kept alive. It had most ol' the manners of I lie
Kildeer, hut. freipienlly ludd up the win,i;s when rnnnini;'. .\nollier, whiidi had hecn
wounded at Mount. I'ld,i;cnnilie I'ond. plniii;ed into the water and swam vis^orously.

Professor Newton met with this species on the Island id' SI. Croix. In its ;;('ii
eral appeaianee it reminded him id' the Wood Sandpiper of I'lnrope (lili iiiii'iijiliihis
i//iirr(i/<i), while it has iiumc of the liahils and notes of the (ireen Sandpiper (li. nrhvu-
/Ills). It. was tpiite common on that island, and arrived alioiil the same time as llic
7'o/iniiis //firl/iis. lie olitaiiii'd one specimen as early as. Inly I'd. and .Mr. I'l. New
ton one on .\ni;'nsl T), In Trinidad, accordiiii;- to l.i'otaiid, it is only a hird of pas

sa<'e. arriviim- there in .\imusl and leaving' iiiOcti

It is almost always alone

somt'times aeeompanied hy its mate, and occasionally mingled with a tlock of oilier
AVaders. It. is always seen near water, eitliiv on the hordevs of the sea. interior
ponds, or where water has softened llie soil, thus favoriiiL; a search for woians and
other food. Its movements are marked hy lightness and }^raee ; when it slops ii
freipienlly vilirates its head hai kwani and forward, movin.t,' its tail at the same lime
it Hies rajiidly. and in tlyin;; utters a low cr\ . as if callint; to a eiuiipanion.

On the I'aeilif coast it occurs as far north as Alaska, where Mr. hall met with il
at Nnlato, s|)ariii,i,dy, in the month of May, and where it arrives as early as May o.
In ('alifornia. I>r. Cooper has not met. with this species south id' Santa Kiirhara. Kml
Tejon heiii;^ the most southern locality in whivdi its ocenrrenee has lieeii n-cordi'd.
It is more eommoii inland and toward the north, freipientiufj; idiietly the hanks ami

liHIJ

Sl'OI,()I'A(MI),1'; — TlllO SMl'K KAMII.V -- UllYACttl'llll.rs.

lis I

lii'ils.

Ilir
lu'i'll

hlv.

.'.I'M
i/lllllS
til'lll'"
IS 111''

Nrw-
|i;is
llliMir,
u'.lu'r

(ti'Vinr

IS mill
lops il

tiuir.

will) it
Miiy .'•■
1. i'oH
•onli'tl-
ks anil

.;i;ivi'll,\ liiirs iiltMij,' niiiiiin^; lirouks, ami rarely a|>|ii'ariii,i,' iii'ar llii' sca-cdiisl. 'IMic
si'aii'ity of I'U'ar rivulets in Sunt hern ('iilildiiiia niav lie the icasmi wliy these liinls
iiie lint ruiiiiil there, lis they pi imieh tariher south in the interior in winter. I>r.
('oo|ier has seen I hem in May on mountiiin slre;ims in Simla Clara \'alley, wlu'ie
tiiey are supposed liy liini to have liatl lu'.sls.

This speeies prolialily does not winter in any portion ol' the Inited Stales, ami
iieiie are recorded alter Oelolier. It was found in Aui;iisl liy Mr. I >resser (Ui a sand-
hank in the h'io (Irande, near Matanioi'as. and none wi're seen there at any other
lime. Duriii;^ .\pril he ol'ten t'ound them at the small pools and on the hanks id' the
small streams near San AiitoiMo. \ single speeimen is recorded as haviui;- lieen taken
in Au,i,Mist in .\ri/.oiia.. Mr. .1. .V. .Mien noticed this species in Kaslern Kansas in the
early part ol' May, ami found it there (|uite common, lie a.^aiu met with it diirini;
the second week in .Vui^usl at Lake I'ass in Culorado, and in Septemlier in the \'al-
Icy of Salt, l-ake. Mr. I\idi;\va\ also met with it (iccasionall\ in I'tah and Nevada.
It arrived in the Ti'iickee N'alley May I.'!, and was noticed in Parley's I'ark in the
Walisalch Mountains in .\ui;nsl. It was much less niimerous than '/'rliii/niilrs iimrii-
lurius.

In liOiiv; Island. accordiuL;- to Oiraud, it is not very almndant. yef hy no means
rare. It is distriliuted sinijiy or in pairs alony; such creeks as are reached \>\ the
till'; and is also oliservcd aliont pools and rivulets im>re remote from the sea. It
seldom visits the lieaeh, and is very rarely met with in the salt-marshes on the hays.
It ••'.ten takes up its ahode near the hahitations of man. prcl'errin!;' his society to that.
nl the numerous species of shore-liirds freipu'ut in^' the seaside. It is not considered
i;ainc. and is not hunted, and thus heeonies ipnle familiar. When neai'ly approached
il Hies hut a short distance hefore i|. ie-ali,u;hts. to lesume its oecupat ion of prohin.y;
llic soft, anni for worms and minute shelllish, which ahoiind in its favorite haunts.
Il also results to decayed loj,'s fiU' the purpose of pi'ocuring j^ruhs. and from this
|icciiliarily of hahit il is liy some known as the ••Wood Tattler." When siii'pri.'^ed if
iiHcrs a sharp whistliny; note, raises its win,i;s. and runs iiimhly over the miry ijronnd.
II closely pursued, if retreats to t,h(> opposite side of the pond, arranges its feathers,
and soon resuun-s its usual };entle manm'rs. This liird is very active on llu> win^;-.
and may sometimes lu" seen darting; after win>fed insects, which it is very ex|>erl in
calcliinjj;; and when Hyinj,', its loni; and ^'raccfidly curved winj^s add (,'reatly to the
elTcct. (d' its neat plnmas^e. It arrives lui l,on,y; Island in May. and is not Si'cii there
alter Septemher.

It passes its Itrief period of reproduction in the extended re^jion north of latitude
II', liul to what extent mirth is uncertain, l^iehardsou met with a sin,y:le individual
at (Ircal iiear Lake, in lalilude (M" ;t()'. May II. IS1.'(>; and Mr. hall noticed it at
Nulalo oil ahout the same parallel. Mr. IJoss found it common on the .Macken/ie
Itivcr. ami Captain lUakiston oh.served it on the Saskatchewan I'lains. it is found
tliioii!;lioiit the summer — or Ironi May to Septemher — in the iieif,dil)orhooi! of Calais,
Mc., and Mr. r>oardman has no douht that it hreeds there. N'et in the summer (d'
l'*^7.'l, from May throu^jh .liine — as Mr. Mrewster informs ns — none of these hirds
were to he seen in the vicinity id' Lake riubafjo};; hut in the latter part, of duly,
wlicii the mii^rations southward hegan. they a|)pearcd there in larp> nnmlx'rs, appa-
I'ciilly havin,u; come from a distance. He naturally inferred that lew lU' none lireed
ill that neij,dil)(U'luio(l.

Wil.son states tliat this .sjiccies is found in the summer in diiinp meadows lunoiig
•Mir liif^hest mountains, from Kentucky to New \'ork, on the mossy niarj^ins of nioiin-
laiii springs. He found it unsuspicious, niul permitting a near uiiproiieii without

vol,. 1. — ;!(!

?W"

mmmcmw:

:™-^?WSS?W

; ^ ■■:■

# '■Is
1 ' il

■1 " ■'«

282

PRJiCOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^,

appearing to be in the least alarmed; he had no doubt that, these birds regularly
bred on Tocano Mountain, near Easton, altlu)Ugh he could never find their nests.
He notes their reseniblanca'. botli in manners and markings, to li. orhrojms, or the
Green Sanilpiper of Eurojie.

Nuttall states that a pair frequented, very familiarly, the small fish-pond in the
Botaiii(! (Jardcii in (Jambridge, attracted by larviu tliat fed on tlie water-lily. Tlicy
would trip over the sinking leaves with all tlie lightness and agility of the Kail.

Mr. Nelson, in his " Notes on the Birds of Northeastern Illinois," speaks of tliis
species as a common migrant, arriving the 1st of May, and renuiining until about the
2oth, when the majority go farther north. He lias several times taken yoimg birds
near a prairie slough, winch were just able to Hv, and has noted the presence of adults
throughout the breeding-season, and does m)t think there can be the sliglitest doulit
that this species breeds in tliat vicinity, taking its departure southward in August
and September. The same writer noticeil this Tattler as being common on the banks
of the Humboldt, near Elko, Nevada, the young being half-grown. It frequented tlie
sloughs in the meadows, but only a single pair was seen in eacli.

Early in August, 187S, L noticed a pair of this species with a brood of four young
hardly able to fly, near an open reservoir of rain-water, on Appledore, Isles of Shoals.
These were too young to have come to that island over the water, the distance being
nine nules ; and tliat tliis brood could liave been Iiatched on that rocky and treeless
island seemed very imi)robable. They were in company with, yet liolding aloof from,
several pairs of TriiKjohles macuhtrlus. My near presence at first appeared greatly
to alarm tlii> parents ; but they were soon rpiieted, as I did nothing to disturb them,
and they then resumed their search for worms in the black mud on the edge of the
Avater.

Eggs of T, mactiluvhis, as a general rule, are made to do duty for those of this
species. The only egg which I have seen, and have reason to accejjt as authcntii',
was one taken in May, 187.S, by Mr. Jenness liichardson, near Lake Bombazine, \'cr-
mont. The nest was on the ground, and tlie female parent was shot as she left it.
The egg measured 1.37 by .9") inches, the ground-color being a light drab, similar
to that of yEi/!((litis vwlothi ; over this were scattered small rounded markings of
brown, some of these quite dark, nowhere confluent, and not large enough to be
called blotches. At the larger end there were a few faint purplish or lilac discoloi-
ations or shell-marks. The egg was elongated pyriform in shape.

Rhyacophilus ochropus.

THE GREEN SANDPIPER.

Tringa ochrophiis, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, 1758, 149 ; ed. 12, 1766, 250.

Totamis uchropus, Tkm.m. Man. 1815, 420. — Naum. Vijg. Deutsclil. VIII. 1836, 59, pi. 197. — Ki:ys.

& lii.As. Wiilj. Eur. 73. — IJonap. Comp. List, 1838, 51. — JIacgill. Man. II. 94. — GiiAV, Ooii.

B. III. 573 ; Cnt. Brit. B. 1863, 1.58.
Rhyacophihia ocliropus, Hidow. I'loi'. V. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, 1880, 200 ; Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, nu.

551. — CouEs, Cheek List, 2cl ed. 1882, no. 636.
Totanim rivalis and T. /eucourus, Bkkum, Viig. Deutsclil.
Oreen Sandpiper, "" 'jr. Brit. B. ed. 2, 11. 595, fig.; ed. 3, II. 642, fig.; et Auct.

Hab. The PiiliEurctic Region, straying to Eastern North America (Nova Scotia, Harting)
Sp. Char. Adult in summer : Similar to R. solitarins, but upper tail-coverts pure white, wiili-
out markings ; tail white, the middle feathers widely barred, clear across, with dusky, the lateral
feathers with only one bar, or iiniuaculate, the others barred only toward ends. Lining of winy

. l^fT^

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SIHPE FAMILY — RHYACOrillLUS.

283

!iii(l axilliirs more nurrowly barred with white. Jyinter plumage: Similar to K.solitarim, except
as pointed out above.

'I'lie introduction of thi.s well-known Euioiiean f^pecics into the list of American bird.s rests
\iliou tlif circunistanue of a single situlfed specinu'n, said to have been killed in Nova Scotia, having
(iiMic into the iiossessiou of J. Edmund Martin^, Es((., the well-known authority on the Limicol(v.
Tlio collection of which it formed a part was received from a responsible dealer direct from Xova
.'icoti.i. '['he skin bail evidently Ijeen jirejiared by the same hand as the others of the coll lion,
wliich were all American species, so that there can be no reason to doubt the authenticity of the
ascril)ed locality, (("f. Brewer, " Bull. Xutt. Orn. ('lul>," III. Jan. 1878, p. 40.)

IN-O).
te, with-
lateral
I of wing

Till' (Jrccii Siiiidpipor, (jr White-tailtMl Tattler of Kurope, was inclmled by Nuttall
as among the liird.s of North Anu'rica. It i.s also given by Ikicbard.son in his " Fauna
lioreali-Americana," Imt was not iiudiuled by Mr. Lawri-nce in the 'Taeilic Railroad
ivt'port," Vol. IX. Nuttall states that two specimens had been obtained at Hudson's
Hiiy. but he does not mention the name of his informant. It is now restored to the
list of North Ameriean birds on the authority of .1. Edmund Hurting, Esq., who in
.Miueh, 187t{, wrote to J'rofessor Baii'd from London that he had reeently received
fiom Mr. H. Whitely. a respectable detiler at Woolwich, a small parcel of North
American skins which had been sent to him from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and that
iimoiig them was an example of this bird. Ujion inquiry, he was assured l)y Mr.
Wliitely that the skin came to him from Halifax, and that it had been prepared
there. Mr. Hurting regards this as the first authentic instance of the occurrence of
tiie Green Sandpii)er in North America.

According to Varrell, the habits of this bird are as yet only imperfectly under-
.stood. In England it appears to be most plentiful in spring and autumn, a few
remaining there to breed, but the greater i)art going farther north, and i)robably
returning with their young. An occasional si)ecimen of this bird is not infrequently
met during the winter months. In some of its habits it resembles our Solitary Tattler,
irpquentiiig the sides of shallow streams and the banks of rivers and iidand lakes and
ponds, not being usmUly i'ouiul so near the sea as are the other Sandpipers. When
running it spreads and flirts up its tail like the European Redshanks (1\ rolidri's).
Its food consists of worms and insects. By some it is known as the Whistling Sand-
piper, its note — which is a shrill whistle — being thought to sound like cheet-cheet-
c/u'L't.

Mr. Lubbock informed Yarrell that a pair of this species .built its nest in a hol-
low on the side of a claypit in Norfolk, in the autumn of 1839, and that the bird was
common during summer and autumn, upon a small stream near Attleburgh. The
siiiuo gentleman also stated that he had killed a specimen on the 4th of January, 1837,
when there was a deep snow on the ground, and all the Snipes had been driven out
of the country by the severity of the weather. He was nearly certain that it remains
in England all the year, with the exception of that period in spring and early sum-
inor during which it withdraws to rear its young. The 11th of April is the latest
tiiiii' in spring at which he has observed any. A nephew of JNIr. Lubbock informed
iiiiu that on the 23d of July he saw six of this species together, and that they appeared
to bo tAvo old birds with their four young. This bird is also said to be not uncommon
along the whole line of the southern marine counties of England, from Romney Marsh,
in Kent, to Sussex, Hampshire, and thence to the Land's End. Mr. Edward Double-
day saw several pairs about small streams in the vicinity of Snowdon in summer ; and
two pairs were observed near Capel Curig. It is also a summer visitor in Ireland. Mr.
Henry Doubleday informed Yarrell that in November, 1840, he shot a Green Sand-
piper in the vicinity of Epping. The bird was only slightly wounded, and was kept

f ,?

284

PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LLMICOL.E.

alive. It was not at all shy, and ted readily on small v inns, first dipping them in
a pan of water. It wcmld run about the room rapidly, eon.stantly moving its tail up
and down like a ^Vlleatear. When flushed it utters a shrill whistle, and generally
flies low, skinnning over the surface of the water, and foUoAving with precision all
the bends and angles of the stream.

The Green Sandpiper is said to visit Scandinavia in the S2)ring, and to remain
there until August. It is not included among the birds of the Fariie Islands or nt
Iceland. In tlie spring and autunni it is very generally distrilmted over Euro])e. in
France it is esteemed a great delicacy, and is ca\ight by means of limed twigs. It is
found in all the countries liordering on the ^Icditcrranean, Avas taken by jMr. Strick-
land in Smyrna, and, as Vieillot states, has been seen in Egypt. It is said to be a
characteristic summer resident near sheets of Avater in the Avooded districts of North-
eastern Germany, but it is ncA'er found in open marshes in the breeding-season. It
has been known also to breed among tin Lower Alps of Southeastern France and
throughout the French Pyrenees. It has been found in nund)ers in winter anions,'
tlie mountains of Abyssinia, and has also bt-en met Avith even as far south as the
Cape Colony. In Asia it appears to be conuuon in I'ersia, In<lia, Turkestan, Bur-
mah, China, and Japan, and to breed in all the northern piu'tions of that conti-
nent. It is said to be very shy and difficult of approach. Its flight is graceful and
swift, and it traverses a considerable distance Avith but few strokes of its Avings. It
hovers a little just before it alights, and then its Avings are more extended than in
its flight. It is A'ery peculiar in its mode of nesting, depositing its eggs in old
nests situated in trees, and is not known ever to nest on the ground. The details
of its breeding-habits Avere flrst published in "Cabanis's .biurnal "' (l.SGl'. \). 4()0) by
Mr. Hintz, avIio found its nest for the flrst time April I'O, IS.'U, in an old one of a
Tiirdiis muslcus. He afterAvard saAv their eggs in old nests of I'igeons, Jays, Shrikes,
and other birds, but most commonly in those of tlie Thrush. Writing in 1862, 'Mr.
Hintz states that none of the nests he had found up to that date Avere more than
three paces from Avater, some being as Ioav as a foot above the ground, although
usually at an eleA'ation of from three to six feet, and in some instances as nuich as
thirty-flve. It not infrecjuently nses the .same nest tAvo years in succession. The
young, as soon as they are hatched, jump to the ground. It breeds as early as April.
In one instance seven eggs of this bird Avere found in an old nest of a Thrush, most
probably laid by tAA'o females of this species.

The eggs of the Green Sandpiper are pear-shaped. In some the groiuid is of a
delicate grayish sea-green, over Avhich are sparingly distributed pale purplish-gray
shell-markings and dark-broAvn blotches, the latter being chiefly collected round the
larger end. In otlier examples the sjjots are smaller, more numerous, and more gen-
erally distributed. Six eggs in my cabinet from Eastern Prussia exhibit the follow-
ing measurements: 1.50x1.12; 1.49x1.10; 1.51x1.11; 1.52x1.10; 1.53x1.10;
1.51 X 1.08 : average, 1.51 x 1.10.

Genus SYMPHEMIA, Rafinesque.

Sijmphemia, Rafinesque, .Tour, de Phys. 1819 (type, Scolopax semipalviata, G.mei..).
Catoptrophorus, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 323 (same typo).

Char. Bill compressed, A'ery thick, the culmen rounded. The loAver mandible scarcely grooved
che upper grooved to about the middle. Culmen sl'ghtly conA'ex ; gonys ascending. Bill cleft hut
little beyond base of culmen. Feathers of sides of both mandibles falling short of the nostrils, the

SCOLOPACID.E — THK SNIl'K KAMILV — SYMrillvMlA.

285

WfW

liiwer rnther farther forward. Chin-feathers reachiiij,' to middle of nostril". Bill longer than liead ;
atmut ecjual to tarsus, whicli i.s more than one and one half times the middle toe. lioth toe.s webhed ;
the emargination of inner web as liir forward as the middle of basal joint of middle toe, the outer

<S'. semipalmata.

rcacliin;i nearly to the end. Bare portion of tibia rather less than middle toe without claw. Tail
nearly even, or little rounded, not half the wings.

::;

Symphemia semipalmata.

THE WILLET.

Sc'^hpax semipalmata, Gmkl. S. X. 1. 17t>8, Ori'J. — Wii.s. Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 27, pi. 56, fig. 3.
Tolanus scmipalmotus, Tk.mm. JIan. Orn. II. 1S2S, 037. — Sw. & Rich. V. ]). A. II. 1S31, 3S8, jil.

07. — Am. Oni. Hiog. III. 1835, 510 ; V. 1831), 5S5, pi. 274 ; Syiiop. 1831), 215 ; B. Ani.V. 1842,

324, pi. 347. — CoUKs, Koy, 1872, 258 ; fhocl< List, 1873, no. 431 ; Birds X. W. 1874, 494.
Totatitis (Catoptrophorus) scmipalmafttn, I.onai'. Syiinp. 1S28, 328. — Nurr. JIan. II. 1834, 144.
Siimp/icmia semipalmata, Hm'.ti,. liiv. Zool. 1S45, 342. — Cass, in Bainl's 15. X. Am. 1858, 729. —

Baiup, Cat. X. Am. !>. 1859, no. 037. — Itmow. X'om. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 552. — Coues, Check

List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 032.
Toliintis crassirostrin, A'ikili.. Xouv. Diet. 1810, 400.
Sijmphtmia athiniica, Kafixkscji'i:, .Tom-. Phy.s. Ixxxviii. 1S19, 417.
Totanus specidifcrus, CrviEi:, Ri'g. An. I. 1817, 351.

Hah. Temperate North America, south to Brazil ; We.st Indies. Accidental in Europe.

Sr. Chak. Largest of American Scolopacidiv, except genera Nunicmus and Limnsa. Primarie.s
black, with nearly the basal half white, producing a very conspicuous jialch on the spread wing.
Summir adult : Above, liglit brownish gray, streaked on head and neck, and spotted and barred
till tlie back, etc., witli blackisli ; beneath, white, tinged with ashy on foreneck and with buff along
sides, the former, with jugulum, spotted witli du.sky, and the latter barred with the same ; upper
tail-coverts white ; tail ashy, more or less distinctly mottled transversely with a deeper shade of
the same ; wing-coverts plain ash-gray ; axillars and lining of wing plain sooty black. If'inter
plumage : Above, plain ash-gray ; beneath, imnuiculate dull white, the foreneck shaded with
grayish. Young : Above, brownish gray, the feathers margined with pale ochraceous ; sides much
tinged with the same, and finely mottled transvereely with grayish. Bill black ; legs and feet

286

PRiECOriAL PiRALLATORKS — LIMICOL.E.

I:
;:

■

) 9

grayish. In life, "bill light blue, dusky toward end ; iris brown ; I'pft light blue, claws black"
(Audubon).

Totid length, about 1,5.0()-17.(H> inches ; extent. :.'■).( M)-;}().(J(i ; wing, >^.(MM>.(H» ; cnlmen. 2.30-
2.60; tarsus, 2.4()-2.8.j ; middle toe. 1.35-1.40.

The Willet is one of the most extensively ilistrilmted of all our American l)ir(ls.
It is not only found along the entire Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida, and
along the entire Gulf coast, but is ccjually almudant on the I'aciiic and through nearly
all the marshy regions of the interior; it also occurs throughout Central and South
America as far south as the Pampas, where it breeds iij large numbers. Burmeister
could find no difference between South American examples of this bird and those
from farther north.

Mr. Nelson refers to this species as being a larc summer resident in the marshes
and on the wet prairies of Northeastern Illinois, where it arrives the last of April,
leaving l)v the first of October. The same writer afterward found it abundant on tlic
shores of Salt Lake, in comj)any with Avocets, where its clamor made it a perfect
nuisance to the sportsman. Captain Bendire also noticed it as an abundant summer
resident in Southeastern Oregon, where he procured several .sets of its eggs, wliicli
began to be laid about the lOth of May. These birds were (piite as abundant in tiie
higher mountain valleys, at an altitude of six thousand feet, as they were in the lower
regions, apparently frecpienting all marshy localities. Dr. Bryant found this to be
an abundant species in the Bahamas, where it was also resident, breeding in all suit-
able localities, and being known as the '• Duck Snii)e."

On the Pacific coast, according to Dr. Cooper, it is one of the most common of the
shore-birds, especially in the southern portions of California and about San Fran-
cisco, in the market of M'hich it is plentiful all the year round. Although no nests
had been found, there could be no doubt that it breeds abundantly in that State, as
Dr. Cooper had met with fledged young at San Pedro early in July. It frequents
the marshy ground, both on the coast and in the interior toward the north, but none
were seen on the Colorado. According to Dr. Heermann, they are found along Hum-
boldt River. Mr. Ridgway found the Willet in June breeding alniiulantly on tiic
grassy flats on the southern shores of Great Salt Lake, in company with the Long-
billed Curlew. It was found in considerable numbers on the shores of small saline
lakes near the Saskatchewan by Richardson, but is not known to range in the sum-
mer any farther north than the 56th parallel, occurring only in the interior.

Mr. Salvin speaks of this species as occurring in Guatemala, where it was quite
common at Chiapam, as well as on all the lagoons along the entire Pacific coast.

"'W'

SCOLOPACID^: — THK SNIPE FAMILY — SYMPHEMIA.

287

According to Dresser, it was not rare near San Antonio, Texas. He procured exam-
ples at the Uoea Grande in July and August, and at King's Hancho, between Mata-
iiioMis and Victoria, in September. He saw st^veral in .lune on (ialveston Island, and
an example was sent to liini from Fort Stockton.

The Willet is also found in all, or nearly all, the larger West India Islands. It
is given by (Jundlach as a bird of (,'idm. .March speaks of it as of irregular occur-
rence in Jamaica, where it is known as the -Spanisli I'lovr," it being not uncommon
tliere, in some years, during and after tlie autumnal rains. lie never met with this
bird in th'' summer, although he was told that it breeds in Saint Elizabeth. It is
referred to by Mr. (xosse. on the authority of .Mr. Hill, as almudant on the island in
winter. In 'i"rini(hid, according to L('otaud, it is known as tlie *• White-wing," and it
is said to arrive in that island in August, and to leave in October or before. It is
always seen in flocks, and these are sometimes of (•onsider;d)le size. It is not known
to leave the borders of the sea. The movements and manners of this species are simi-
lar to those of the Tntanus fdvipi's, with which it usually associates. Its tiesh is
not regarded as generally excellent. A single specimen was shot in Bermuda, .July
[>,, 1,S4.S.

On the New England coast this bird occurs sparingly from Long Island to Calais,
.Me., and along the coast of Nova Scotia at least as far as Halifax. I met with it
breeding on the small Island of .Muskeget, near Nantucket, Mass. ; and Mr. Board-
man informs me that it occurs in the neighborhood of Calais, Me., and that it
undoubtedly breeds there, but that it is not very abundant. Dr. Bi'yant noticed
it breeding on the coast of Nova Scotia near Yarmouth ; and I have received its
eggs from Mr. Andrew Downes, ol)tained near Halifax. It is more common on Long
Island, on whose shores, according to Mr. Girauil, it arrives about the 1st of ilay.
It is ('(puiUy common along the coast of New Jer.sey, Maryland, and Virginia at
aixtut the same ])erio(l. On J.,ong Island it is said to be common, rather than abun-
dant, and it is also far from ixdng so j)lentiful as it is at F]gg Harbor, where it is
known to breed. Mr. (iiraud was not aware that it had ever been positively ascer-
tained to breed on Long Island ; yet as it is known to nest in suitable places along
the entire coast from Florida to Halifax, it is hardly ])robal)le that this island, with
its favoring extent of sea-coast, is an exception. It builds its nest in New Jersey in
tlie latter part of May, in the salt-marshes, among the grass, using for that purjjose
rushes and coarse herbage.

In Florida, according to Mr. ]Moore, the full set of four eggs is laid as early as
April L'5. He never found their smaller ends placed towtrd one another. These birds
have, as he states, the singular habit of alighting on trees during the breeding-season,
evidently for the purpose of viewing their nests and eggs. They perch on dead trees
or branches which are near the objects of their solicitude, fifteen or twenty feet from
tile earth, and continuously pour out their notes of apprehension, many joining in
the clamor, so that the noise may be heard a half mile or more.

If any one approaches the nest of the Willet during the season of incubation, it
is said to rise suddenly from the marsh, to fly wildly around, and to fill the air with
its shrill cries, which consist of three notes, repeated with so much force as to be
audible for a distance of half a mile ; if not disturbed, however, the breeding-season
is passed in silence, Avithout any such manifestations of uneasiness. On Muskeget
Lake the parent birds withdrew to a distance, and were not seen again, their nest
having been discovered and the eggs taken ; and on another occasion, where eight
or ten nests were found by me on an island near Cape Charles, Va., the birds were
silent, and were only noticed as they withdrew from the nests.

:^i

iii

288

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LIMICOLiE.

i il.

itfii

Tho flight of the Willct is swift, and perfonued with griuio and east". While in
general this bird is found in the salt-marshes, it will also at times alight upon have
shoals left exposed Ity tiie tide, and may 1»' seen wading hreast-deej) in the water. It
is extremely watelit'ul, and when in an exposed situation very seldom allows a hunter
to arrive within shooting distance. Nor is it iiy any means easily allured hy decoys,
even thougii the sportsman lie well hidden; and even if the bird ajiproaches and
answers the decoy-note, its keen eye will soon enable it to detect the deception, when,
quickly changing its course, it (hirts olT like an arrow, and ascends beyond the reacii
of the fowler. Wiiile it rarely associates with others of its kind, it may (d'teii be seen
feeding in company with (iulls. Sanderliugs, and other birds. When Hying it is made
very consi)icuous by the white markings of its wings. It feeds chiefly on worms,
aquatic insects, small crabs, and minute shelltisli. When in good condition, the flesh
of this bird is (pute palatable, although not considered a great delicacy; its eggs,
howi'Ver, are very superior food. Audubon was mistaken l)oth as to the absence of
this bird from the coast north of Jioston and its non-existence in the interior. It is
probably rare north of Long Island, but it is often (juite abundant at some distance
from the coast.

Wilson characterizes it as oue of the most noisy of the birds inhabiting the salt-
marshes in summer, arriving about the L'Oth of April, and from that time to tlie
last of July making the vicinity resound almost incessantly with its loud and shrill
reiterations of ^>(7/ ;i•///-//•/7/^'^ It begins to lay usually about the L'Oth of May. At
Capi' Charles all the eggs I found on the oth of June were quite fresh. The nests
are always on the ground, among the grass of the salt-nuirshes, and (iomposed of
rushes and coarse grass, with only a slight hollow. Wilson states that the nest is
gradiuilly increased in size, during the period of laying and sitting, to the height of
six inches. The young — which are covered with a gray-colored down — run off soon
after they leave the shell, being assisted in their search for food by their mother.
while the male bird keeps a continual watch for their safety. The anxiety and afl'i'o
tion which the Willets nuinifest for their ycmng is often quite touching. An intruder
into the marshes where they are breeding is at once beset by the birds, who fly around
and hover over his head, vociferating with great violence, and uttering a loud click-
ing note whenever their nest is apjiroached. At times they give out a mournful note
expressive of great grief. During the breeding-season the Willet is said to be often
nuich annoyed by the predatory excursions of the Crow, whose visits always create
alarm, and are rei)elled by the united force, who attack and i)ursue it with great
clamor.

According to the observations of Dr. Heermann, the Willet wades in Avater to a
depth equal to the length of its legs, and if wounded swims with great rapidity. Its
food he found to consist of the small shells, crabs, etc., with the insects to be found
about the marshes. As it is a large bird, and generally well flavored, it is among
those shot by the purveyor for market, the first which appear being for sale in
August. The young keep in separate flocks, and are easily distinguishable by their
pale gray color. They are much better eating than the old birds, and may be founJ
in the market of San Francisco throughout the winter.

The eggs are ahvays four in lumdier. (Tiraml describes them as being rather more
than two inches in length and one and a half in breadth, and very thick at the larger
end. In color they are dark olive, blotched with blackish brown, these markings
being usually more numerous at the larger end. According to my own observations,
the egg.'! of this s])ecies are, without exception, pyriform in shape, quite broad at the
larger end, and strongly tapering toward the other extremity, and are very nearly

scoLurAcin.!-: — TiiK sxipk family- IIKTKHOSCEI.US.

289

lit (.'qiiul size, Init dittVr in the muHt marked niiiiiiier as to tlieir f^iouml-colur, and also
ill the size and distiil)iitit)n of tlieir spots. The K''"i""l-eoloi' is usually a deep dnih,
witli a slij^ht rufous tinge ; oecasionally. instead of rufous, the shading is deeidedly
(iliva'HMMis; in a few instances, however, tin- ground is very light and liright grayish
wlii ith a slight tinge of green. The markings are usually of Instre; intermi.xed
with till' Itlotehes ol a purr shade are others washed over with the shadings of the
M;riiunil-eolor. giving them i; neutral or slate-enlored appearance. One egg (No. (mI),
collected at Cape Charle.H, Va., dune '», IS'Ki. lueasures li.OO inches by l.')l. It has
a dark rufous-drali ground, iiiaiked with hlotehes of liistre. These are .scattered
and few ahout the smaller end, i)iit unite in a c(uiHuent ring around the larger por-
tion. Another (No. IIT)) was sent me hy Mr. Andrew Dowiies. from Halifax, Nova
Scotia. It measures L'.K) imdies l)y l.ijO. Its ground is dral>, with a slight olivaeeou.s
tinge, and the Idotches urn more scattered, and nowhere conlluent, except on one sido
near the widest portion of the egg is a remarkahle comhiiiatioii of dark Idotches,

l.OO inch by O.til. A third (No. 97(0 Uected at Cape Charles liy the Kcv. .1. N.

.loiies, measures 2.10 inches by !.")(>. Its ground is a light gray — almost white —
with a deci(h'il bluish tinge. Its spots are small tine dottings of dark bistre. Except
ill shape, it has no resemblance to the usual egg t>i the Willet.

•I

Genvs HETEROSCELUS, Haikd.

Ueteroscdua, Baiud, lUrds N. Am. IS.IS, 734 (tjiif, TvUinua bnvljun, Vikii.i,., =&'o/yj»«u! incuiiu,

O.MF.I..).

Char. Bill longer than liuad or tursus, stout, iiairli compressed ; conmiissure strnight to near
end, where gently dei'iirved ; culineu sliglitly concave in iiiiildle portion ; nasal groove extending
over liasal two-tliirds of hill. Tarsi short (alioiii eipial to middle toe), covered laterally aiicl hebind
by bexagonul scales, tbe naked part of tibia covered with siniilur scales ; (juter and middle toe con-

■r to a
Its
I found
limong
lale in
their
I fouuu

more
llarger
|'king.s
itions,
|at the

learly

H. incaniis.

nected by a basiil web as far us first joint nf tbe latter, and a rudimentary web between middle and
inner toes ; bind toe long (nearly one third tbe tarsus). Tail half as long as wings, nearly even.
Plnmage j)erfectly uniform above, without .spots or bands of any kind.

Tins very remarkable Sandpiper differs, in the hexagonal scutellation of the tibia and on the
posterior face of tbe tarsus, from any other of tbe Totanece. The bill is stronger than in any Ameri-
can :,'enus, except Symphemia, differing mainly from this in the straightness of the bill and greater
amonnt of inflection of the edges. Tbe nasal groove extends farther forwanl, and the upper jaw
is a little more decurved at the end. The gape is a little more deeply cleft. The legs, espe-

V(JL. I. — 37

•'iHlli ^

290

PUvECUCIAL OUALLATOHEH - LlMICOL.t;.

ciuUy the tnrNJ, ure luuch Hhortur ; the iiinur tou only slightly wclibcd. The cluws are »hort, btout,
and unuMiiiilly curved, Tliu U'gM have a much ruu^hvncd aiipcurancv.

The Hinnlt' Noitli Auiciicuu Mpfcics dI' thin i^cnu.s i. onu ol' wide diHtriliution, occiinint,' '"i tln'
caMturii cuustH of Asia, and the- UliuidH thruughuut the PuuiUc Ucuun, iw well um ulung the wcsti in
Hhuro« uf Nurth ^Viueiiuu.

HeteroBceluB incantia.

THE WAMDERINO TATTLEB.

Senhptix incana, {\m:i.. .S. N. 1. 17b8, 068.

Tiilanun inmiiu.1, ViKii.i.. Uict. Dctfiv. VI. 1810, 400.

/h/iTiiscihin iiiciinits, Col r.s, Key, 18*2, -'01 ; I'liuck Lint, 1873, no. 440 ; I'll. 2, 1882, no. 642 ; in

Klliott's Alaska, fii. is;.';, 187. — Uimiw. Noni. N. Aiu. H. 1881, no. 653.
Triiiija glareola, Pai.l. Zooj;. Hus.so-As. II. 1811, 104, pi. 00.
Tulaiius brcvipc.i, Vikili.. Diet. Dctoiv. VI. 1810, 400.
Jlttcniiicc/iis hrevl/ies, C.vss. in ll.iicd's 11. N. Am. 1858, 734; cd. 1800, pi. 88. — Baiud, Cot. N. Am.

B. 18')!i, n(i. 5I'2.
Tutitiuis fulijinoHu.i, tidri.i), Voy. Bcag. Birds, 1841, 130.
Seo/uiiax unduluta, Foiisr. iX'scr. An. cd. Licht. 1844, 173.
Tutanus jni/viritlciihis, Mi'i.L. Vcrli. 1844, 153.
Totanan iKcnnicus, I,i;ns. Conipl. Bull'. 1817, '244.
ToldHun puli/inniu; I'KAi.K, Voy. Vino. & I'cac Birds, 1848, 237.
Totunua ijriseuiiiiijias, (iofi.u, B. Austr. VI. pi. 38.
"Oambelta birvipea, oceanica, puliTnilenta, occanka, (jnseupijgia, Bonap."

Had. The islands and shores of tlie Pacific Ocean. Of frecjuent occurrence, during migra-
tions, along the coast uf Aluaku, and also southward tu the Uulapagos.

t#'

Sp. Char. Rather larger than Totanus flavipes. Summer aditit: Entire upper parts uniform
dark i)lumbeous ; lower ])art9 white, shaded with phunbeous laterally, the foreneck with lon^'i-
tudiiial streaks, and other portions with transverse liars, of dusky plumbeous. Lining of wing
white, spotted and barred with dark plumbeous ; primaries blackish dusky, the shafts brown mi
the outer and white on the inner surface, that of the first quill, however, white on both sidus.
Jf'inter pluvmgc : Above, ])lain plumbeous ; lower parts white washed with plumbeous along sides
and across juguluni. Young: Somewhat like the winter plumage, but secondarie-s, scapulars, and
upper tail-coverts indistinctly si)otted with white along edges, and the plumbeous of sides, etc.,
faintly mottled with white.

Wing, 6.50-7.30 ; culmen, 1.50-1.60 ; tarsus, 1.25-1.35 ; middle toe, 1.00-1.05.

The history of the jjresent species is imperfectly known. We have no account
of the manner or the locality of its breeding. In North America it seems to be con-
fined to the Pacific' shore and islands, and to inhabit by preference the rocky portion.s

SCOLOPACin.K — THE HXrPK l'AMII,V - HKTRItoSCKLUS.

291

(if the coast, riitlnr ili;iii lliosc tliat arc Iciw, luarsliv. nr samlv. Dr. ('(poiht writes in

rct'crtMiPt' to this l)ir(l, that it mcoiuh to (litter iiiiieli in ImititH tiom tl tin r inemhers

(il tills rainily, in Miat it prefers tiie roekv siicires (if tlie oeeim. ami in pnilialilN never
rn'i|uentiiiK niarslies or inland Idealities. He has fimnd il only siiarin};ly almif,' tlic
wlmle sontherii enast of Calildrnia. but not im the islaiids, though the speeies is so
widely (listrilmted throuj,'hi)iit the I'aeitie aicliipelaj,'oes. lie olitained a single spec)-
men at Santa Itarliara as late as .\pril L'", and .saw another pair — apparently of this
species — at San I'edro on the 2.'!d of .May; so that proiiahly a few lireed aloii^,' the
cnast. He also met with it in .Monterey in SejitemlMM-. This naturalist adds that he
lias always fdiiml it feedin,!.,' on surf-lieaten nicks, aindii,!L; the seaweed, and ^'cnerally
nut shy, lint when fri,i,dit('iic(i tlyinj,' off a slidrt distance, with a harsh rattling' cry,
like the alarm iidte df the Tui'iistdues. It has also a prdjiensity to hide itself anioiif^
llic rocks, instead of Hying, lieing often ditticiilt to find, even when ehise at hand.
Ill an account snlise(piently written, Di'. ('(io|ier mentions, in descriliing a visit to
Mdiiterey, Scjit. It>, iHiVJ (•• Anu-rican Naturalist," IV. T.'iiS), having oh.served a i'ow
(if the Wandering Tattler, and that they were, as usual, among the rocks along the
sliiire in that neighliorhood.

This species is included liy .Mr. 1{. Browne among the liirds oliserved by him on
\aiicdiiver Island. Mr. Dall states that he procured three specimens of it at Niihito,
anil .Mr. lii.scholf two at .Sitka; but it is said to be rare on the ^'ukon Kiver, where,
however, one was fcmnd by Mr. McDougal. Three were obtained by J)r. Cooper in
Shoal Water IJay, W. T., and two by .Mr. Klliott on the I'rybilof Islands, where it is
said by him to be of regular migratory ajipearance, but not to breed. He adds that
it comes regularly every year early in June, and siibserpn'ntly re-ai)]iears toward the
end of .Fuly. when it may be obtained on the rocky beaches, never visiting the up-
laiiils. and being a very shy and ([iiiet bird. A single specimen was ;ilso taken at
ridvcr r>ay. in Kastcrn Siberia, Septendier, l.sr>7. I)y Mr. ISischoff.

Mr. II. W. ilenshaw thinks that this bird is well niinied the " Wimdering T.ittler,''
and states that it has a very wide range, being found on the i.slands of the I'aeifin
generally, and from Alaska to Australia. .Santa Cruz Island is the oidy place where
he has enjoyed an oiiiiortunity of meeting with it. though, as he is informed, it
(iiiurs on other islands also. (Japtain Forney, of the Coast Surv(\v, secured (piite
a number on the Island of San Miguel, where this bird occurs in considerable mini-
hcrs. It is not .it all a bird of the siuidy shores, but resorts exclusively to rocks
covered with seaweed, following the tide as it ebbs and flows, running back and
I'dith, iiicking up the worms .and marine anini.als, which are found in such localities in
almndanee. In its motions it is said to simulate exactly the little Spotted Sand-
piper, and to have the .s.aine curious '"tijMii)" motion of its body in moments of
rest from feeding. It tlies with a similar deliber.ate wing-beat, with jiinions slightly
(lc( urved, the tips being ])ointed downward. The voices of the two birds are said to
be very different ; the notes of this s| iccies being very loud and harsh as comp,ared
with the smooth whistle of T. mficuhd'ius. Mr. Henshaw found them usually soli-
tary, quite watchful, and full of distrust, though occasionally he found himself within
a few feet of one of them, and was able to watch its motions. This was in June ;
and though the birds were unquestionably paired and breeding, he was not able to
obtain even a hint as to their method of niditicatiou.

292 PIl.KrOCIAL OUALLAT()RKS-I,IMICOL.t:.

Qkmm machetes, Ci vikr.

PinoncdUi, l,KA( II, Cut. M. U. Ilrit. Miih. IXltl (Xyyiv, Ti-iinjn jnnjiiuj; 1,. ; rf. .Stejnkiikii, Vrur.

I'. S. Nut. Milv h". r>, \HH-2, :i(«».
Atnchrlet, Cvvir.U, H. Aiiiin. Isl7 (nuiic i\|n).

CiiAK. Hill lu'urly HtriiiKlit, uh Idiik uh tlit- lii-ml or tliu imfiT toe. Oronvc cxtfiiiliiiK iii'iiilv to
till' ti|i hill i1c|piv^i(m1, liinml til till- ti|i, whii'h ih nairrcly fxiiainlcil, (Jaiic cxtfiiiliii^' a liiili
lartliiT liiiiW lliiiii till- I'lilmcii ; tlic ri'iitlH'r." of Idwcr iimiiililili''< ixtcinling iuiIht liiitlu r Inrwiinl
thiiii tlii»f 1)1' u)i|iLT ; tliuso III thill Mtill tiirtlici. Li>){h vlumler ; tursmt one uiul one fouitli tiiiu'ii if

if. ftiKjnax.

lon){ as luitlillo toe, ono and one third tiiuu.-i tlic lifiipjth nl Imic tibia. A luf^al wi'li rininriiiii;,' tlir
outer mid middle toes to the fiwt joint of the I'oiiner ; inner toe cleft to Inwe, Tail rather lon^' ;
distiiatly barred.

This jjenus, URimlly placed anion;,' Triiujcce, apiiears to have most allinity with the presini

section, and in a measure t miu'ct TrijiirfitiR and llartrcimin. The liill is mure de)ire»sed, and

rather liroader toward the end than usual ; hut it appears hard ami linn, anil with little or none nt'
the spnon-shttped expansion at the end. The i,'reater cleft of the mouth, the half webbinj^ of tin'
toes, the bars on the tail, the len;,'thened tarsi, eti'., all sfein to indicate the ])ropriety of placing' it
witli Tntunecr,

Machetes pugnax.

THE HUFF.

Tfiiiga pugmje, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 247.

Miichrlis jHigniix, Ci'v. Keg. An. I. 1817, 400. — BoNAP. Comp. List, 1838, 50. — Nai'm. Vii^.

Ueutsuhl. VII. 1834, .'■.02, pis. Iit(i-lit3. - MAcruM,. Man. II. 7.''>. — CouEs, Bull. Nutt. Orn.

Chib, Apr. 18S0, 100; Ciieck List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 039. — Kinow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881,

no. 554.
Tringa {Machrtrs) pugnau; Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 131.
Philomachus pugnaj; Oiiay, List (!en. 1841, 89; Cat. Biit. H. 18(i3, 164. — Lawk. Ann. Lyo. N.

Y. V. .Iuno,'l852, 220 (Lon^' Island). — Cassin, in Bainrs B. N. Am. 1858, 7:!7. - Baikp.

Cat. X. Am. H. 185it, no. 644. — CofEs, Key, 1872, 200; Cheek List, 1873, no. 437.
Pavoncella pugnax, Stk.ix. Proc. U. .S. Nat. Mu.s. Vol. 5, 1882, p. 38.
Tringa Utlorca, LiXN. S. X. I. 1766, 2ril.
Tringa ru/escens, Bechst. Xaturg. IV. 332.

5»rnLopArrn.K - THK mxii'k family — MACIIKTKS.

293

Tfingn tq\uiilr\», I, aim. hid. nni. II. i;imi, 7;io.

Triiiijii ijrfnirvit-fii.ii.i, I.aiii. l.f. 7;il.

friiiijn viirifijiitii, lliii'ss. Orn. Ilor. 64,

yndi/'i /)/(i»i>c/M mill T. iillici/i.H, IliiKHM, Vijn, DeiiUchl.

liiif, YAiiit. Ilril. H. I'l. -J, II. tlj.'., ll«. ; eil. 3, II. tlU'J, llg. ; I'l Aitt.

ll.vii. 'I'lii' i'lilii'iinli'' Uc^'inii, .•-iriiyiiiK' til Ka><li'iii Nuitli Aiimriiii (iiiiniiTims ri'ciinli*).

Si'. (_'H.\u. Aliiivf, vuiii'il Willi Murk, imil', uml kihv, iliu rtiuimlurs luul intialH fxliiliitiiiK lln-^o
coloi-ii in (>l>lii|im IhukIh. liiiu'iith, wliito, vuriutl on tliu ju({uluni iind tlirr>at. i'rinmricM iliiik
lii'dwn, witli ;,'rc('ni-iii rt'tlt'ctiou alinvr ; tiic iiincr wcIh liiu'ly iiiotllcil lowiiril thi' Ihihi.' OuIit
ilinc tiiil-IV-Klherit {>laiii, llu- reuiuiiider ti'unsveiHL-ly Imiruil, liill Ijhiwii ; niilcit of runii> wliitr ;

^'11

ifaU.

ii'j^s yellow. Miilo in sprint; (lros>( witli tlio fcathorM of flic iicck preatly ilovolopcd into a riifF; tlio
fiicc coviTi'd with riMlili.-*!! jiajiillir, Aihill mni : Colnr.-i iiiilftciiiiinatc, innlialily no two Hjicuiiiirns
liiin^,' I'.xactly alike. As a ruk-, the "ia]>t'" and "nill"' an diU'crcntly foloied ; thus, of the llvo
I'.vamiilfs liL't'oie us, the cnpc and riilF are colored in the followiii),' manner: — ( "ape flossy Mack,
lailfy white, yellowish ochraceons. itulf, cliestimt-rufous, j^lossy Idack streaked with nifous, mot-
tled fernij;inous, ochraceons laiir, streaked lintly white, and pied with Idack and pure white.
Adiill female : No ruff; head comj)letely feathered. I'luniaj,'u transversely handed with Mack, and

Female

hulT, white, or ferrnp;inou9 ; the abdomen and crissuin usually immaculate white. Young: Back
and scapulars browinsh black, feathers l)ordered with bulf or ochraceons ; crown ochraceous,
streaked with black. Lower parts entirely immaculate, white posteriorly, butty anteriorly.

Leii;,'th, about lO.(K) inches: wing, (!.4() ; tail, 2.(i() ; bill, 1.25; tarsus, 1.75; middle toe and
claw, 1.40.

The Ruff has been so fre([uently killed in the Eastern United States as to entitle it to a place
anioiif; North American birds, although it caimot be said really to belong to our fauna. It is a
vtiy curious species, conspicuous for the combats among the males during the breeding-season.

■■•? i

I i:::|

294

PR.liCOCIAl- (iUAM-ATOHKS— LIMICOL.E.

At tliis time till' reatlicrs of tlic lu'ck mv k''"*''*!'}' i'l«>ii^'i»ti'<l, ronning a kind of ciipe or ruff, nn<l tlir
face is ln'si't witli |)ii|iillii'.

Tiu! Rail' is iiliout the size ol' the l>iirtram's Tnttlcr i>r Field Plover, which it othcrwiso rc-icin
blcs somewhat in color. It has the same mottlin<^' nl' the inner webs of primarioH n« in Trijiigilii
riiftnir»t>, t!i(iuf,'h not to so j^reat an extent, this feature not lieinj^ found in any other North
American Toluuea; tluaijjh seen in I/imuM, Jatua.

Tilt' wt'll-kiiowii Ikiilf (if Eiiroiu; cliiinis ii pluci' in tlio North Ainorican fauna as ;i
not iiifn'(jii('iit stra,sj;^'lt'r witiiiii our limits. Several spccinicns have been from time
to time killed on Koii,i,' i.slaml. .More reeeiitly other examples have boon taken at
(iraml Menan, iill of wbieh were in their winter i)lumaf,'e. Two have boon taken in
■"^iHsaelmsetts, and other, i various i>ortions of New Kiij,'lainl. in one instance .Mr.
A\ '.lliam Hrewster jiroi^iired a tine siieeimen near Newbiiryport, May L'O, IHTI ; it was
a feinalo, witli her ovaries so far developed as to romler it evident that she would
have been ready to deposit her oj;<^s within at least two or thi'o(? weeks.

The nnist marked poeuliarity of this sjii'eies is tho annual appeariuiet^ of a ruff-like
growth of feathers about the neck of the malo, from which the bird derives its trivia!
name. The males, too, ditfer remarkaldy in their color — an uiuisual eiretinistancc
among wild birds — ami are polygamous. They are also much larger than tlic
females.

This species has an extemh'd distrilmtion, being fotunl at certain seasons througii-
out Kurope, Northern Africa, aiul in Western Asia. It is only a migrant in (ircat
'Britain, making its appearance in .Vpril and leaving in the autumn. In Scandinavia
the Jviitt' a])poars in great nundiers on the eoa.st of Scoita :it the end of April or the
beginning of May. It is not knnwn to brood in tho southorn parts of Scandinavia,
althougli it does abtimlantly in Denmark. It reaches La|)laiul the last week in
May, whert^ it fretpieiits, on its first <'oming, tho margins of the lakes and rivers. .\s
soon as the grass has grown uj), it hides in tho extensive and gras.sy morasses, wliere
it can rarely be forced to show itself on tho wing. Tho old birds migrate south in
July, the young lingering until .August; by the loth they have all disapi)oarod.

This species goes as far north as Iceland, visits !{ussia, and Siberia in the summer,
and the eountrios south in their migrations, at which times only are they seen in
Franco, Switzorlaml, Italy, etc. In a few oxceptional cases a ])air has occasionally
boon kiu)wn to breed in Switzerland. Individuals have also been taken at Malta, at
Tunis, Trebizond, in tho country about thi' (!aucasus, in Northwestern India, in Nepal,
near Cahaittti, ami throughout Lower Ilengal.

Until within comparatively ft!w years tho ca])turo of tho living l)irds of this sjiocics
in England, and the fattening of them f(U" the London market, has been systomaticall\
practised by certain persons. iMontagu mentions a m)te(l feeder at Spalding whose
family had been in this trade more than a century, and who, at tho time that iiuthor
visited him, had eiglity-bmr males and a dozen fenudos in contiiicment. Of the
fornnn- there wore not two alike. Those birds will feed greedil}'., tho moment thev
.are taken, on bread and milk or boiled wheat. The males are very pugnacious, and
conteiul for their food with so nuich obstinacy that they will not oat uidess tliero are
several dishes before them. Their actions in fighting are said to bo something like
those of a gcame cock. Although they present a very ferocious appearance when
fighting, yet they rarely injure one another.

In the spring the Ruffs assemble on a rising spot of ground, where they contend
for the females. Advantage is taken of this by the fowler to capture them alive by
means of what is known as a clap-net.

-m

ni i^iii

SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE FAMILY — BAIITIIAMIA.

205

Moiitiigu kept sovoral of these birds in coniineiiieut a ihhuIkt ol' years. In this
coiidition tlie luah's tooii no other iiotiee ol' the females than to drive them from the
Idiiil; invariahly (luarrtdlinj; with eaeh otlior, Itut takinj,' no notice of otht'r species,
anil feeding,' in perfect amity out of the same disli with Laud-Uails and other birds
(■(intiued witii tiiem.

When the llheeves, as the females are called, hv^'m to lay, both they and the IJulfs
;nv least shy, and are easily eau},dit. The females lay their egi,'s dnrinL,' the tirst
(ir second week in May, and their younj,' are sometimes hatched out as early as .Inne
;i. The nest is usually placed on a slight elevation in moist, swami)y places, sur-
rounded by coarse grass, of which material it is chietly nuide. The eggs are four in
iiundier, have an olive ground-color, and are nuirked with spots and blotches of und)er
and liver-brown. They are of an oblong jiyriform shape, and measure l.GO inches in
length by 1. 00 inches in their greatest breadth. The young, which are i)rettily
siiettcd when covered with down, soon leave the nest, and are dilUcult to tiud without
a good dog.

Gknits BARTRAMIA, Lesson.

Bartramia, Lessos, Triiitu d'Orii. 1831, 553 (type, li. latkaiulu, Less., = Tringa longicauda,

HwllST. ),

Acltibinis, Itox.vi". Sii^'j,'io, etc., 1831,143 (type, Trimja Bartramia, AVii.s.,= Tringa lunijicauUa

Bechst.).
Euliga, NuTT. Jlan. IL 1831 (same tyi>c).

C'hah. l'|)per mandible grooved liiterally to within the tcniiinal fourth, the lower not (piitu
.solar. Cuhnen concave to near the ti[i, where it is slightly decurved ; ;,'onys straii;ht. Mouth
ilccply del't, almost as far back as the anterior canthus. The eulnieii oidy about two thirds the
cuinniis.sure, shorter than the head or tarsus, and about uipial to middle toe withoiU claw, i'eath-

ti, hinijicauda.

ers extending much farther forward on the upper Jaw than on the lower, although those of chin
ri.'aih nearly to end of nostrils. Tarsus one and one half times nnddlu toe and claw ; the bare
part of tibia not (juite e(iual to the nnddle toe above ; outer toe united at base as far tis lii-st joint ;
Web of inner toe very basal. Tail long, graduated, more than half the wings.

296

PR/ECUCIAL GHALLATUKES — LLMICUL.E.

Bartramia longicauda.

BABTBAH'S TATTLEB; FIELD FLOVEB.

Tringa longicauda, Hechst. Vijg. Nachtr. tibers. Liith. Iiul. Orii. 1812, 453.

Tringii Baiiramia, Wii.s. Am. Oni. VII. liiia, 63, pi. 59, tig. 2. — AuD. Syiiop. 1839, 231 ; B. Am.

V. 1842, 248, 111. 327.
Tringa (Euliga) Bartramia, XuiT. Man. 11. 1834, 168.
Totanus Barlramim, Tk.mm. .Man. II. 1820, 650. — S\v. & Kicii. F. B. A. II. 1831, 391. — Ai'D. Orii-

liiog. IV. 1838, 24, 1.1. 3(13.
Actitttrus Bartramius, Hoxai-., Cassin, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 737. — lUiiip, Cat. N. Am. I!.

IS,'-.!), no. 545. - C'oUKs, Koy, 1872, 260 : Chock List, 1873, no. 438 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 502.
Adit urns loiujiraiuliin, Diir.ssKij, H. Kiir. |.t. 59 and 60.
Barlraiiiiiin limgiramlus, \Sv. liev. I't .Mag. Zool. .K.\. 1857, 59.
Bartramia longicaud", Ci.i'r.s, Bull. N. O. C. Apr. 1880,100 ; Check List, 2d td. 1882, no. 640.—

RiDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 555.
Totanus mdamipiigius, Vieill. Xouv. Diet. VI. 1816, 401.
Totanus eainpfstris, ViKll,!,. t. c. 400.
Totanus varicgatus, ViEii.i.. t. c. 317.
Bartramia lalicauda, Lkhs. Traite, 1831, 553.

Hah. Eastern North America, nii;,M'iitiiig to Brazil unil Peru, and extending north to Alaska
and Xovu '^ootia. Brwds nearly throughout its Ni.rth American range. Occasional in Europe.

Sp. Char. Bill about as long as the heatl, rather wide and flatteneil at base, slightly curved
at the tip : nostril with a large membrane ; nasal gr<iove long ; wing long ; tail long for this grou[i ;
leg8 moderate or r.ather long ; lower halt' of the tibia naked ; toes moderate, the outer and middle
nniteil by a membrane, inner and middle free to the base ; liind toe small. Adult : Above, grayi^li
brown, the leathers paler and more ochraceous toward their edges, spotted and barred with black :
head and neck (except throat) streaked with blackish ; crown blackish, divided by a mesial line ol
bulf ; throat, belly, and crissum plain buflfy white ; axillars jiure white and clear dusky slate in
regnlar bars (.f nearly ('(jual width ; tail-feathers (except middle pair) creamy butf, broadly tipped
with white, cro.ssed by a broail subterminal bhick spot, and with a few irregular narrow bars ante-
rior to this : outer webs of prinnnies plain dusky slate, the inner webs with wide transverse bars
of white on the outer tiuill, on the others broken into a confused mottling. Hump and upper
tail-coverts nearly nniforni blackish, the (.uter feathers of the latter with their exterior webs partly
white. Young : Similar to the adult, but the buff of the head, jugulum, wings, etc., much deeper,
the streaks on the i'oreneck and jugulum much less distinct, and the back plain black, the feath-
ers bordered with buff. " Bill yellowish green, the tip dusky, the edges toward the base yellow ;
iris dark hazel ; legs and tarsi light yellowish gray, toes rather darker, claws brownish black."
Donmy young: Above, coar.sely and irregularly mottled with black on a grayish-wiiite ground,
tinged with light rusty. Lower parts bnffy white, with about three blackish spots on the flanks,
one beneath the eye, a smaller one on the lores, about half-way between the bill ami the eye, and
a large, nearly vertical, one liehind the ears.

Total length, about 12 inches; wing, 6.50-7.(K) ; culnien, 1.10-1.15; tarsus, 1.90-2.05; luid-
tlle toe, .90-1.05.

iDUi) ;
liiMU-
viiyi>li
lack :
line III'
iitu ill
tilijicil

aiili-

,f I'ilis

paitl.v-
deejii'i;
; feiitli-

elluw ;

black."

SCOLOPACIDiE ~ THE SNIPE FAMILY — BARTRAMIA.

297

Bui'tram'a Tcattler — or, as it is more generally culled by gunners and sportsmen,
tin* Upland or the Field I'lover — is more or less abundant in all parts of the United
States and in tlui interior as far north as the Saskatelu'wan I'lains. It breeds from
Pennsylvania north, and is nu)re eomnum in tlu! interior than in the higher grounds
near the coast. It is also found in Mexico, in Central America, and in South Amer-
ica as far south as the Pampas.

^Ir. Salvia, during his stay at Duenas, in Guatemala, noticed quite a flock of this
siiccies, consisting of about eighteen or twenty mend)ers, which arrived about the
licginuing of April at that i)laee. Since they .seek dry, open savannas, rather than
maisliy jkhiIs, they fully justify the api)ellation of Field I'lover, their actions and
lialiits closely assimilating theui to the Chanult'Uihr. Mr. Sulvin afterward nu't with
tliis bird in Ai)ril on the coast of Honduras, among the bays. Dr. Uurnu'ister found
it coiamon in South Anu'riea south of Mendoza, on the banks of the Kiver Tunuyan,
anil could detect lu) difference between South Anu^rican and Northern specimens.

Ivichardsou nu't with this bird on the Saskatchewan Plains, where it was feeding
(111 coleoiiterous insects. Cuptain Plakiston also found it common in the same local-
ity, where it breeds during the suuuuer. Mr. A. Lockhart foiuid this I'lover breeding
iis far north as Fort Yukon, June 15, 1802, and snared t\u\ female on her nest. Mr.
.1. Ibbiston also procured speciuu'ns in the same neighborhood. Mr. Donald Gunn
iimiid it breeding at Selkirk SettlenuMit. Mr. R. McDonald noticed it Itreeding
aniiiiig the mountains west of the Lower Mackenzie, and ^Ir. J. M'Dougal met with
it in the (Jens de Large Mountains, two hundred miles northeast of t\u'. Yukon.

Till! Upland Plover is a great wanderer. In at least three instances stragglers
have liecn taken in England, (hu' of these was obtained near Candu'idge in Decem-
ber, 1<S~)4, another was afterward procured in Warwickshire, and Mr. John Gould
received a siiecimen of this bird shot near Sydney in Australia. Mr. ^Villiam (Jrant
iccnrds (" Ibis,'' 18(57) the capture of a single specimen in Malta, and Mr. 0. A. Wright
(•• Ibis," 18()9) also makes mention of another taken in the same island, Nov. 17, 18()5.
Mr. Wright adds that ahuost sinudtaneously with this occurrence a third example of
tliis species was taken in ICnglaud near Falmouth, Nov. 14, 1865. Two other instances
air named by Teniminck of its having been noticed in other parts of Euro])e.

This species is said by Leotaud to visit Trinidad during the months of August,
September, and October, after which it departs for the south. But few visit the
island, and these are found in the interior meadows, generally singly.

Jlr. Dresser met with this species on his jouriu>y from Brownsville to San Antonio,
Texas, in September, 180.'), and states that on quitting the sandy regions and entering
into the grass country he found this s])ecies — known there as the Grass Plover —
qniti' abundant. It did not go in flocks, but was scattered singly all over the coun-
try. He found it shy and ditticult to aiqiroach, especially when on foot ; but by
rilling or driving near it, he could always get within .shot before it took to flight.
Wlien undisturbed it ran about very swiftly, catching insects among the grass, often
reniiuiling him of the Stone Curlew of Europe ((Edimemus crej)!tans). AVhen dis-
turlieil it would squat close for a tinus and then, if api>roached, it ^-juld rise srul-
ilenly and fly oft', uttering a clear whistle. In New Orleans — where it is known
nuilcr the name of " Papabot" — it is much sought after by epicures ; and Mr. Dresser
tliinks with good reason, as he never tasted a better bird. In some instances it
was so fat as to burst open on falling to the ground. He observed none during the
winter; but in April and May, however, he noticed a few near San Antonio, but
those were very shy. Dr. J. C. Merrill, who has carefully studied the habits of this
Plover in the Rio Grande region of Southwestern Texas, mentions its arrival u. t
VOL I. — 38

298

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOIIES — LIMICOL.E.

about tlie second oi' third woek in ilaivli, when it beeomt's very abundant on tlu'
grassy prairii'S. It is in iioor condition when it arrives in spring, and soon goes far-
ther ncu'th; a lew liii.m'r, liowever, until May Id. Some reappear in July, and liv
the Hrst of Septend)er have iieeonie aliundant. but begin to leave about the niiddlf ol
that month, few being seen after the first week in October. Their stomaehs wimv
usually found HUed with snails. In Northern Illinois, where this bird is a very cdiii-
nion summer resident, ]Mr. Xelson states that it arrives early in April and dejiarts in
.Sei)tember, frecpienting the borders of marshes and uncultivated prairies. At first
it is dithctdt of approach, but it beeonu's entirely reckless during the breeding-season,
when it hovers over the heads of intruders. Not being ap]ireeiated as game, it is
said to be but little hunted in that part of the country. Dr. trooper mentions having
met with this bird at the western base of .MuUan's Pass in Montana, but adds that
it is not known to occur west of the nioiuitains. He also saw the young of this spe-
cies on the ])lains of the Tpper Missouri in June. Mr. J. A. Allen noticed it in
Colorado in August. Mr. Ki<lgway informs me that it is quite abundant on all the
prairies of Southern Illinois. He also met witli it in July on Kamas Prairie in Ttah.
where a few were seen in the grassy fields. In Southern Wisconsin, IMr. Kumliin
informed me, in IHoi this liird, then very eiunmon there, was known as the •• I'rairic
Plover " and also as the '• Prairie Sni])e," and was nuich more common on the prairies
than in the ojienings, arriving early in April.

(liraud, in his "Pirds of Long island," mentions finding this sjjeeies very ))lentiful
on the Shinnecock Hills and on Montauk Point — esjiecially at the latter place, in
these hilly districts the ea])tui'e of this bird by the nnmoiuiti'd sjiortsman is easier
than it woidd hv in a level region, as advantage can be taken of the inequalities of
the. ground to aiijiroaeh within shooting distance. Tln^ customary mode of pursuing
it, however, is in a vehicle. In this manner it is more readily a]»i)roaehed; and liy
most hunters its pursuit in any other way than by riding is regarded as hopeless.
On the Shinnecock Hills and on Hempstead I'lains (iiraud found this s]iecies (|uite
common, and it is there variously known as the '• Ui)land," the ••Piehl.'' and tiie
"Grass Plover." It was everywhere very wary and difficult of a])pr()ach. On the
ground it has an erect and gi'aceful gait. AVhen alarmed it runs rajjidly for a
short distance before taking wing, uttering a whistling note as it rises. Its Higlit
is very rajiid, and it frequently goes entirely out of sight before it re-alights. It
usually keei)S on the dry open ground, feeding on grasshojjpers, u])on other insects.
and on seeds. In the month of August it is generally in very fine condition, and is
highly prized as ganu". When feeding, these birds scatter about, all moving off the
instant an alarm is given. They migrate southward in the latter part of August.
and perform the journey by night. Some stragglers, however, remain behind until
late in Septeud)er.

The Upland Plover is found in favoring hx^alities in various parts of New Eng-
land, usually in hilly and uninhabited tracts not far from the coast. Occasionally
it is met with in more inland regions, as in elevated and Ijarren districits in New
Hampshire, and jn'obably also in Maine. I have foiuul it breeding in Khode Island
near Narragansett Bay, and on high groiuids near Carlisle, Pa. In the latter place
the nest was a mere de])ression in a ploughed field, with only a few pieces of decayed
grass-stems to keejt the eggs from the damp soil.

This species seems to have been only imperfectly known to our earlier ornitho-
logical writers. Wilson and Nuttall were luiacquainted with its eggs, and Audubnu
saw them for the fii'st time in my cabinet in 1S3(). Wilson, who was the first to
describe it, met with it near the botanical garden of his friend liartram, on the banks

SCOLOPACID.E - THE SNIPE FAMILY -BARTRAMIA.

299

ot tlio Sfluiylkill. ITo. mentions that, unlike most of its tribe, it seems to prefer
iiiniiinf^ about in the j,'rass, feeding,' on Ix'etles and other winged inseets, there being
usually tliree or four in eoiupany. The liinl was extrenudy watchful, silent, and
sliy. so that it eould only with great ditliculty be a|)|in)a('lied. It was oceasitmally
si'cn during the months of August and September, and is described as running with
threat rajudity, sometinu's spreading its tail and dropping 'its wings, in the manner
(il a bird seeking to attract the intruder away from its nest. It remains as if lixed
wlirn it alights, stamls very erect, and as it mounts to fly utters two or three
sharp whistling notes. It was always remarkably plumi). It is proitable that much
ot Wilson's information in regard to the habits and breeding of the Field Plover,
attriliuted by him to the Ulack-ljcllied I'lover, really belonged to the fornuM-, and not
to the latter, which is a species not known to breed in any portion of the United
States.

Audubon characterizes this bird as the most terrestrial of the Wading tribe, hardly
lii'liniging to that family in its habits, but always keeping away from water, and
never venturing to wade. In the dry upland plains of Djjelousas and Attaka]>as, in
Liiiiisiana, he found it abundant in early spring as well as in autumn, passing through
there in the beginning of March, and returning again in the fall. It was e(pudly
al)un(lant on idl the western prairies, on both sides of the Missom'i, arriving there
a month later than in Louisiana. The general impression that these birds never
associate together ir considerable numbers he observed to be not wholly correct, and
Mr. Salvin also nu't with them in quite large flocks in the winter. Audubon also
observed them arriving in large bands in the spring in the neighborhood of New
Orleans, where they generally remained two weeks, a few continuing until the loth
of May. lie noticed that, whether they alighted on fences, trees, and out-houses, or
on the ground, they always raised both wings ui)riglit to their full extent, and uttered
a loud, prolonged, and not unjileasant note. When jmrsued, they will at times lower
tiicir heads and run off rapidly, or, ])artially extending tlieir wings, run a few ste]is,
and then take to flight, or, moving off sideway, conceal themselves in the grass. When
winged they escape by running off rapidly and hiding themselves so that they can
rarely be found. In Louisiana they feed (diiefly on coleoi)terous inseets, and among
tlii'se often eat cantharides, and are thus rendered uniit for food. In Xew England
they live chiefly on grasshoi)i)ers, crickets, and other insects. In the spring mi-
grations they eat wild strawberries, and their fle.sh thus acrpiires a delicious flavor.
The flight of this bird is swift and well sustained ; its migrations are mostly at
night.

In South Carolina, according to I)i'. Baehman, this I'lover appears, moving south,
aliout the 15th of .Inly — the hottest season of the year — resorts to high grass-lands,
vcniaining there id)out a month. It is seldom met with there in flocks of more than
fom' or Ave. It is hunted by riding over the fields in a gig, from which the sports-
man can shoot the birds as they rise out of the grass ; and this can hardly bo done
in any other way.

The usual call-note of the Upland Vlover, when nndisturl)ed, especially during the
breeding-season, is a prolonged and peculiarly soft whistle. This is clear and reso-
nant, and to those familiar with it is readily distinguished from any other. The call-
notes vary somewhat in their character, and change as the season progresses, and
may be heard during the night when the young brood has appeared. These notes
change yet more, and become intensified signals of alarm, Avhen the young are threat-
ened by danger. ]?ut under any and all circumstances these cries are peculiar to
the species, and are unlike those of any of its tribe.

800

I'R.ECOCIAL GRALLATUUE8 — LIMICuLi*;.

In IVnnsylvaiiia tin- t'gj,'s arc luitclicd out early in .hmc; ami there, as elsewhere,
only a sinj^'le brood is raised in one season. The nest is always placed in an ()]irn
sitiiation ; Init, notwitlistanding this eirciinistanee, it is not easily I'onnd witliout the
aid of a good dog trained for tlio puriMtse. In 1S4.'J, in company with my friend liiiiid,
I searched in vain in an open plougiied field for the nest of a pair we knew must Ih"
near. Its site was not found until after the young had gone — only a few days
after (mr first search — the empty egg-shells showing where iu the open ti(dd it was.
The female must have kept closely to the nest, even when we were near her, wiiilc
her mate was doing his best to delude us. The young are singularly l)eautifid little
balls of .soft down, a mottling of white, brown, and lilack. They are eared for liv
tluur parents until nearly grown, and from the shell instinctively hide themselves at
the approach of danger.

The eggs of this species — always four in nund)er — vary in length from 1.7".l
to l.S(i inches, and in breadth from l.oo to 1.4-1 inches. Their groiuul-color is
usually a deej) pinkish drab, and over this are distriljiited small roundish sjxjttings
of a burnt-sienna tint. These arc rather sjjarsely scattered over the smaller end of
the egg, but become more densely aggregated about the larger portion. In otlicis
the ground-eolor is mon^ of a cream-colored dnib, without any ])erceptible shading
of pink. In a few the ground is a i)alo pearly-white (^dor, with a faint shading
of cream-color. In these the markings are usually blotches of various shades of
a purplish slate, much scattered, and overlain by spottings of a deep sepia, which
become confluent at the greater end. The shape of the eggs is a slightly roiindcd
oval, strongly tapering at one end and rounded at the other; their number is uni-
formly t'oui".

Genus TRINGOIDES, I^onaparte.

Tringoidts, Bonap, Snggio di una (list. etc. 1831, fiS (tyiip, Tringa hijpolcucos, Linn.).
Actitis, BoiE, Isis, 1822, 560. Not of Illigkii, Prodromus, 1811.

Chau. Upper mandible grooved to tlie terminal fourth ; the bill tapering and rather ariitc.
Cleft of mouth only motlerate ; the culmeu about five sixths the commissure. Feathei's exttiul-

T. macularitis.

ing rather farther on side of lower jaw than upper, the former reaching as far as the beginning,' of
the nostrils ; those of the cliin to about their middle. Hill shorter than the liead, straight, eiiual
to the tarsus, which is of the length of middle toe and claw. Bare part of tibia half the tarsus.
Outer toe webbed to first joint ; inner cleft nearly or quite to the base. Tail much rounded, nioii.
than half the wing.

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — TRINGOIDES.

301

Tbe Common Sumlpipcr of Europe (T. hijpoleucns),^ the only otlicr known species of the genus,
greatly resembles the Aiuuriciui Spotted Sandpiper (T. maculariiu), but is entirely unsjiotted
lioiieath, and otherwise different.

Tringoides macularius.

THE SPOTTED SANDFIFEB.

Trmjit mncidnrin, Linn. S. N. 1, 17C0, 249 (bnse<l on Tr'n\fja mnculata, Edw. II. 130, pi. 277, fig. 2;

Timliis uquaticKs, Buih.s. V. 255). — Wii,.son, Am. Oni. VII. 1813, (JO, pi. 5!t, lig. 1.
TolaniiH macult.riu.i, Tkmm. Man. ISLI, 422. — Ninr. Man. II. 1834, 102. — Aun. Orn. Diog. IV.

1838, 81, pi. 310 ; Syixpp. 183!), 242 ; li. Am. V. 1842, 303, pi. 342.
TrvKjokhs mucuhtriim, (JiiAV, (Icii. 15. III. 184!>, 574. —Cass, in Baird's IJ. X. Am. 1H58, 735. —

Baikd, Cat. N. Am. 15. 1859, no. 543. — Couks, Key, 1872, 200; Ciictk List, 1873, no. 43« ; 2d

I'd. 1882, no. 638 ; Hirds N. W. 1874, 501. — Uiuaw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 557.
" Ti-iiKja notala, Ii.i.ic.r.u" ((1i!Ay).
Adilis U'kdi, BoNAi'. (Jhlc tiUAY).

IIab. The whole of North and Middle America, and South America as far as Brazil ; occa-
sional in Europe ; no Greenland record. Breeds throughout temperate North America.

Si'. Char. Small ; bill rather lonj^er than the head, strai^dit, slender ; long grooves in botli
mandibles ; wing rather long, pointed ; tail medium, rounded ; legs rather long, Igwer third of
thi' tibia naked ; toes long, margined, and llattened underneath, outer connected with the nuddle
tne liy a large membrane, inner very .slightly connected to the niitldle toe. Adult: Upper parts
i;n'enisli ashy, with a somewhat metallic or bronzed lustre, and with numerous sagittate, lanceolate,
and irregular, mostly transverse, spots of browni.sh black, having the same lustre. Line over the
eye and entire luider parts white, with numerous circular and oval spots of lirownish black over
the whole lower surface, smaller on the throat, largest on the abdomen. Primaries plain dusky ;
tail dark ashy, tlie outer feathers w-ith dusky and white transverse sjiots on their terminal portion ;
axillars immaculate white. Young : Above, greenish ashy, the wings with narrow transverse bars
i>f black and ochraceous, most numerous on the coverts. Beneath, white, without any spots, and
with an ashy suffusion across the jugulum. Downy chick : Above, yellowish gray, with a narrow

' Trixgoidhs HYPOiiEUCUS. The Connnon Samlpipcr of Europe.

Tringn hypoleiico.i, Linn. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 140 ; od. 12, I. 1766, 250.

Adids hypoleitois, Boik, Isis, 1822, 649. — Naum. Vog. DeutschL VIII. 1836, 7, pi. 194. — Keys.

& Bi.As. Wirb. Eur. p. 73.
Tringoides hypohucn, GuAV, List Gon. 1841, 88.
Tringa Icucnptcra, Tm.!.. Zoogr. II. 1831, 190.
To/anas guviefta, Lkach, Syst. Cat. Br. Mus. 30.
Aclifis cincliis, BolE, Isis, 1826, 327.
■ Ai'i/is stagnalis, Buf.hm, Viig. ncntschl. 649.
Co moil SandpijKr, Most. Om. Diet. ; Bewick, Yaerell, et AucT.

iiil

302

PU.KCOl'lAL (JKAl.LATdlJKS LIMICOL.K.

liliuk dorsal stripe from tlic liill t" ilir tail ; a ii.imtw bliu'k liiu! throii},'li tlio pyc. Ik-ni'iitli, dull
white.

Total li'ii;,'tli, iiboiit 7.75 im■ll(■^< ; I'Xii'iil, lU.dd-l-J.OO ; wiii^;, I.O.Vt.IJO ; riiliiu'ii, .!)()-l.(K> ; t,„-
siis, .!)()-l.(>5 ; midille lot', .7t)-.Ml. Muiulililc iiiul eil;.;i' of tlii^ iimxillii imle wiix-yullow (in lilii ;
rent of l)ill l)lm'ii ; iiin dii'^k ludwii ; larsi and toes pain ^'layisii olive.

Tlic rt'ct-weot, or Spotted S;iiiil|>i|M'r. is one of our most common as well jih most
witlcly ilistributt'd .s|K'cit's. It is found tliroiij,'liout iiciirly all North Amcricii, in
the interior and on tho shores of both the l*afili(^ and the Atlantic Oceans, hrecdim,'
wherever found, from Texas to Alaska, and from Florida to Fort Ainlcrson. Tliat
it is irrej,ndar in its occurrence would appear from the fact that IJitdiardson nowliciv
met with it in the Fur lic^don, neither in the interior nor on the sea-coast. It is
found in IJernuida and in nearly all the West India Islands, breeding in sonic nl
them, and is met with in winter in Mexico, Central America, different parts of Souili
America, iind is also of accidental occurrence in Furope.

Major Wedderburn writes that he first nn't with it in the Mermudas, in immatiiiv
pluniaf,a', .July UO, 1H47, and that he afterward found it common on all the shores of
these islands, where some remain all winter, having' been met with rather fre(|uei)tly
in Aprd, l!SH), few of them havinj;- their mature plumaf,'e; but they are not known to
breed there. In (hiatemala, aceordiujj; to Salvin. it is to be met with in the winter
months about most of the riv<'rs of that re^don. It is found principally in the imni:i-
ture pluma}.re. Its range is wide, including both the table-lands and the coast coun-
try. Jlr. C. W. Wyiitt ("Ibis," 1.S71) mentions meeting with this si)eeies on the
borders of a stream near Ocafia, in Coiiuubia, S. A. It is given by Dr. (Jundlach as a
bird of Cuba, and is mentioned by (losse as a common species in .Jamaica, where it
haunts the margins and shallows of rocky streams. It arrives there about the end ot
August, and remains until after the nuddle of April. J'rofessor Newton mentions it
as tolerably comuKm in St. Croix, where it i)nd)ably remains all the winter. Accord-
ing to the observations of Mr. ICdward Newton, it is absent from that island from
April 27 to July 27. Mr. E. C. Taylor speaks of it as abundant in Trinidad, in suit-
able localities, where Leotaud also met with it, but confounded it with the Common
Sandj)iper (7'. hi/jjoleucus) of luirope. lie states that it is lioth a migrant and a r<'si-
dent in that island, feeding ahnig the sea-shore and near inland po(ds, keeping gen-
erally by itself, but assend)ling at night to roost in the branches of the mangroves
over the water. It is lively and graceful in manners, and when stopping vibrates
its head and tail almost continually. Its flight is described as rajtid, and it uttcis
a cry as it moves which gives to it the local name of "Ticwit." In August the num-
ber of these birds is greatly increased by the arrival of new-comers, which again
dejiart in October.

On Long Island (iiraud observed it to be the first of its family to arrive in the
spring, appearing there the middle of April, and remaining until quite late in autumn,
staying until nearly all the other Trlnr/fr had de])arted. It is a very common spe-
cies, and from its habit of constantly raising and lowering its tail has in that region
the local name of "Teeter." It is not known to associate in large flocks, but is (putc
solitary in its habits, preferring moist grounds in the vicinity of streams and ponds.
and often resorting to the jiloughed fields to gl(;an the worms which lie exposed in
the furrows. This bird begins to build it.s nest early in May, using for that purjjose
straw and dry grasses, placing it on the ground, where it is often found, along the
banks of small streams and on the margins of ponds, and not infrequently in exposed
parts of pastures, among the stubble. The young run about as soon cas hatched.
and at first utter low whispering notes, which soon increase in strength, and become

SCOLOPACID.K — THli SNIPE FAMILY - TKINOOIDKS.

803

liartUy ili«tinj,Miisli;il)l(' From tlic tiill v( ice ol' tlic iiiiiciits; uiid tlicy iilso at a very
early period ^Iw tlic iicculi.ir iiiDvcmciits of llifir tiiil-tVatlicrs tor whidi tlif siu'cica
i> iiiiti'd. 'j'lif tli,i;lit of tliis liird is vi-ry uiifvcn, lu'iiif,' sridoiii for any coiisidcralilo
dislaiici' ill a sti'ai|,dit line. In tin- love si-ason it oltcn pcrlorins arrial ^'andiols just
aliovc tlu' siL'l'iicf oi tht' ground. WIhmi wounded it will take to tlic water and swim
liciieatli tlie siirl'aee with eoiisidenilde swiftness. In tlic spiiiij,' it takes pos.session, in
pairs, of the muddy margins of wateieoiirscs. niakiiii,' excursions from tlience into the
udjoiniiig iields. It is exclusive in haliit. never scekin,!,' the society of other species.

Mr. J. A. Allen found this species ipiitc common in Eastern Ivaiisas in the early
part of May. He afterward noticeil it more or less frequently aloii.i,' the streams of
Western Kansas, near Fort Hays, and in Colorado he traced it uii to tiie very souico
of the South riatte, on Aloiiiit Lincoln. He also met with it occasionally in tlio
\'allcy of (Ireat Salt Lake. J )resser obtained in Auj^ust a single immature specimen
near Matamoras. and in Septemher and Octolicr found the sjiccies ahiindant near San
Antonio. Mr. IJidgway states that, next to the Kildeer. he found this liird the most
aliundant and generally distrilmted Wader in the (Ireat liasin. He saw it hreediiijj
Ironi an altitude of four thousand feet or less to ahove seven thousand. At (Jarson
City it arrives alioiit the L'Kth of April.

Althougli not met with i)y Sir .lohii Hichanlson. this l)ird has a high nortliern
range, reiicliiiig almost to the holders of the Arctic (ti'can. liermird Ko.ss found it
aiiundant along the lianks of the .Mackenzie ; Kennicott mentions it as hreeding near
i"nrt Kesolution; and in eaidi instance the nests are described as having i)een mero
depressions in the ground, with a few bits of grass or a few dry leaves phuM'd there-
in. Mr. Dall obtained a b'W specimens at Nidato from the KJtli to the otttli of .May;
Mr. Iiannister found it common on the Island of St. .Michacd's in the fall ; uiid it wa.s
taken by Misehoff at Sitka. Mr. ^MacFarhuK? found it breeding and cpiite e.oiinnon in
tlic neighborhood of Fort .Vmh-rson. It is abundant along the Anderscm Jiiver, and
al>ii on the Mai'ken/ie from l"'ort (lood Hope to l'"ort Simpson. The nests are all
spoken of as being mere depressions, scantily lineil with leaves and grass; they con-
tained eggs ill the latter part of .June. .Mr. Audubon b>uiid it breeding in Labrador
on tile 17th of .rune, and iiy the l.".(tli of duly the young were fully tiedged.

in favorable seasons the I'eet-W'eet appears in .Massatdiusetts during the last week
in April, and in some seasons nearly a fortnight later. It conies at first in small
niving flocks, and b)r a wdiile moves about in a britd'aiid even sportive manner, flying
hack and ibrtli along and across the smaller streams. |performing strange aerial evolu-
tions, seemingly more for its own enjoyment than in (jucst of food. As these birds
move about — and iinu'e e.s])eeially when they meet other small flocks of their own
species — they give utt<'rance to their cheerful and lively whistle, which is loud and
shrill, and not unlike the .syllables jicrt-arct several times repeated. Toward the.
close of the nd'rain the notes are lower and the soniul more plaintive. A little later
ill the season they separate into ])aii's along the banks of smaller streams, and usually
nest in fresh-water meadows or in low u))laiids not far from water ; occasionally
tliijy nest on uplands not far from the sea. Sometimes this bird is so familiar as to
make its nest within a garden, and not far from the house. In one instance Mr.
Xuttall found its eggs in the strawberry beds of a resident of Belmont, Mass., while
young and old familiarly fed on the margin of an adjoining duek-pond.

This species has a very characteristic habit of vibrating its tail and moving its
head and body, as if balancing itself, the head and tail being alternat(dy depressed
and elevated. When excited, and anxious for the safety of its young, this vibratory
inotion is especially noticeable, and is joined with plaintive cries oi peet^weet-tveet.

304

I'R.liCOCIAL ORAM.ATOKKS— MMK'OL.E.

!l ]

The nestH of this bird vary in their poHitioii an«l constnictioii. So far a8 I luivo
iiotnl tliciii, they have lifcii in soiiic Hiiiiill (Icpri'SHion in the ^'loiiml. oMimi shcltrnil
Ity Ix'iii^; i)lat't'(l ni'ar a HniaH Imsli or in a tiilt olf^rasH. 'I'licy aif, tor tin- niont ]tait,
liiiilt in thi! dry open tit-Id, mvcr very far from water. Unually tln-y arc of very siniplo
Htrui'tnrc, bfiii^,' inatlc of dry IxMit, and answering,' tiu' purpose of proteetinf,' tlie v^'^h
from tlie damp j,'ronnd, but rarely so well interwoven as to bear removal. >rr. Audu-
bon states that the nests of this bird found by him on an island in the <iulf (d' St.
Lawrence were mueh more bulky, and more neatly constructed, than any seen by him
farther south, yet not to be compared with those he had setfli in Labrador, where they
were concealed under lodges of rocks, and wi're made of dry moss, raised to the
hei},'ht of several inches, and wtdl finished within with slender grasses and feathers
of the Kider Duck. The tinu' of nesting varies three months from Tc.xas to Labra-
dor. On Hutfalo Hayon in Texas Audidion foun<l full-grown broods on the otli of
May. In Newfoundland they were only just Hedged on the 1 1th of August.

The yonng run about with renuirkublo ease and swiftness almost as soon as they
are out of their shell. When danger a])])r()aches they immediately, upon an alarm-
signal from theii' parents, riui and hide themselves, scpiatting close to the ground, and
there remaining perfectly immovable, resendding a snuiU dralwolored stone with a
single streak of black down the middle. If the young bird finds itself discovereil,
and an attempt is nuule to take it, it runs with great celerity, uttering the most
plaintive cries, and at the .sanui tinm the parents exhibit .synii)toms of distress and
counterfeit lamene.ss with great skill.

Mr. IJartrani infornu'd ^^'ilson that he saw one of these birds defend her y(mng for
a considerable tinu' from the attacks of a ground-squirrel. The mother threw her-
self, with her two young behind her, iM'tween them and the land, and at every atteni] it
of the s([uirrel to seize them raised both her wings in an ahnost iierpeudicidar jjosi-
tion. assuming the nu)st formidable a]ii)earanc.e she could, and rushing forward on the
squirrel endeavored to drive it back. The young crowded together close behinil her,
sensible of their jjcrilous situation, moving backward or forward as she advan(!ed or
retreated. This lasted sonu' ten minutes, and would have terminated disastrously
for the young birds, had not Jlr. IJaitram interi»osed for their rescue.

Mr. MacCuUoek, of I'ictou, informed Audubon that liaving once found the nest <d'
this Sandpii)er, and proposing to take; it <in his return, he marked the jdaee by putting
a number of stones in a slanting position over the nest, and so close that it was im-
possible for the bird to g(it into it. On his return in the evening, he observed the
bird rise from beside the stones in great tre])idati(m, and more than ever anxious to
draw him away. On examining the spot, he ascertained that the bird had not only
hollowed out a new nest, but had succeeded in abstracting two eggs from the other
nest. How slie had contrived to remove the eggs lie could not conceive, as the stones
remained undisturbed.

Audubon states that he has observed this species alight on the branches of trees
hanging oyer watercourses, walking on them deliberately, with their usual elegance
of gait and balancing of body:ind tail. They are also wont to alight on the rails and
stakes of fences or walls, and on the tops of haystacks.

The eggs are always four in number, and are of a rounded ])yriforni shape, varying
in length from 1.21 inches to 1.35, and in breadth from .95 to 1.00 inch. Their
ground-color varies from a light drab to a dark cream, sometimes tinged with rufous,
and occasionally with a muddy (day-color. The markings in some are fine dottings,
and in others large and confluent blotches about the larger end. The color of the
markings is a rich sepia-broAvu, with a slight purplish tinge.

SCOLoPACID.K -TIIK SMPK FAMILY — THVNaiTEa.

305

Oknuh TRYNGITES, ("aiiamm.

Tfinijitci, I'AU. .Iciiuii. Iirldii. iN.'iti, IIn (ty|ii', Trimjn niji.nrit.s, ViKIl.t..).

CiiAii. r|i|u'r luiiiiilililc K>""Vi'il til iiliiiiii till' ti'i'iniiial I'lmrlli ; tlic lnwcr not (|iiitf mi far.
Ciiliiirii aiiil giiiiys liliiiiil stntij^lit. Muutli i|i'i'|i|y rlil't iiimt' llmii liall' way In tlic cVf ; the i'IiIiik'U
Hlmut two tliii'ilrt till.' ('oiiiiiiixKiirc. ( 'iiliiii'ii iiiiii'h Hliot'ti'i- tliaii the \wm\, ami ulioiit i>(|ual to iiiiilillu
till' williiml claw. Taixiis ulioiit oin' ainl cmc -ixtli a.-> loii},' an miiMli' toe ami claw. Hare part of

T, rii/eacenn.

tiliia (Icciileilly slidrter tlmu niiiMIc tou without claw. Toes cleft to the base, with only a very
niiliiiientary weli. Upper Jaw feathered to the nostrils ; the side of the lower and beneath feath-
iMiil iniidi farther, or t<i the end of the nostrils ; the interspace of the rami entirely filled. Tail
somewhat j,'raihiated, not half the wini,'.

trt't'S

iH'llllCC

IS and

Tryngites rufescens.

THE BUFF-BBEASTED SANDFIFEB.

Ti inga rufescens, Yir.iu.. Xouv. Diet. XXXI V. 181!", l"o ( Loiii-xiaun). — Xi'tt. Man. II. 1834,

113.— Ai'D. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, i:A, jil. 265 ; Synop. 183U. 235 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 264, pi.

331.
Trijwjili-s nifewcns, Caiian. .1. f. O. 1856, 418 (Cuba). — Cassin, in Biiird's B. N. Am. 1858, 739.

— Baikii, Cat. X. Am. R 18.")!i, no. 546. — Coi'ks, Key, 1872, 2<iO ; Check List, 1873, no.

430 ; 2a cd. 1882, no. 641 ; liinls N. W. 1874, 506. — liiiic:w. Nom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 556.
" Trinija subriijicol/is, Vir.ii.i.." ((iUAY and .Sciii.i'.o.).
"Triiiijn hrcvi rosin's, LicinKNSTIClN " (OliAY iuid Sciii.KO.).
Act ill ants navi us, 1If.i:ii.m. Pr. Ac. Xat. Sci. Pidlad. VII. 1854, 179 ; Pacific R. R. Rep. X. pt. VI.

1859, 20, pi. 6 (Texas).

ILvn. North America in general, especially the interior; breeding chiefly in the interior of
British America and the Yukon district ; niijjratinj,' south to Peru and Uruguay. Frequent in
Eiiiope. No West Indian record, except Cuba.

Sp. Chab. Bill shorter than the head, straif;ht, compressed, nniTow at the point ; nasal
!,'r(i(ive long ; wings very long, the first quill longest ; tertiaries rather shorter ; tail moderate or
lunger than usual in this group ; legs rather long, lower third of the tibia naked ; toes free at base,
tiatteiu'd underneath, and slightly margined ; hind toe small. Upper parts pale and dull ocbra-
eeous, with an ashy tinge ; every feather with a large central, lanceolate, crescent-shaped, or oblong
spot of black, frequently with a glossy green tinge, especially on the back and shorter tertiaries.

vol.. I. — 39

;{i)0

ricKcociAi, <;u.\i,i,AT()iti;s i.imkol.k.

Uiiilt'r purtN li^lit oclirucuouM nr {Nilf t'uwii-ciili)i', iiiaiiy IVutlicix tipin'il with wliid', ami piiliToit t!i.
lliiiikMitiiil alHlciiiii'ii, 1)11 tilt' lir('a'<t ^titll |i.ii'tiallv luiiiialril xiiiall "itniH ni Murk ; axillary tVutlui'i
wliitc. (^iiilN witli llii'ii iiiitri' \M'li'< li^lit liiii»ii, iiiiD'i wi'li.i a<liv white luaihltil with Mark niiil
iiiiiTiiNvly ti|i|i<'il with white; iiiiihlle tail-l'eatliei>4 lnnwiii^i Mai k ; miter I'eatheiH iij^htcr, with
li'uiiiNeiMe \va\ei| liiiei nf Mack nil the teiiiiiiial hall, ami lipin'il with w liite ; iiiiilei' |iiiiiiai'y-i'i)\eiu
bi'uuliiiillv iiiarhktl with hLick. Hill ^{leeiii^li Maek ; le;;< j;rfiiii,Hh yellow, i'uunij: (iciiciully

Hiiiiilar, luif the ii|>|iei' parts with the Mack ami lawii-enlor less sharply cmitrastecj, ami eaih I'tutiier
with a ciiiispicuniis terminal Imriler nl' white. Marliliii;; mi inner welis nl' priniaries ami nn uiiihr
primary-coverts imuli more minute ami ilelicate than in the ailiilt. " ('ill dull oliv(,'-;,'reeii, du.-^ky
tiiwaiil the piiiiil ; iris ha/el ; feel dull yellow ish ^jreeii, claws dusky " (Aluiikix),

Total h'li^th, uhoul T.-'iO to H.iH) inches ; win^', T). K »-r) ">( t ; eulineii. .75-.H(> ; tarsus, l.l.')-l.;!ii;
niidiile toe, .7.")-.S,").

Tills is a little Mid ol' r ither peculiar loi'iii ami ol' handsome pluma^'e. Its rehitii>nship appears
to he to I5artram':i Tattler. Uoth species more liahltually IVwiueiit plains and othur dry localities
than any of the true Sandpipers.

Dr. lleerniann'.'- type specimen of his Arfiiliint^ nirriitK represt'iit.s the UHiial adult ]iluniiiKi!.

Till! l>itll'-lii('iisti'(l SamlpiiiiT is foiiiul nearly or (ptitt' tliroiiHlioiit North Aiiicrien,
and its occiirrctu'f is imt iiiicoiiiiiKUi in tlic iiurtliciii ami iiiidtlli' portions of Soiitli
America. It is found both on tiie I'aeitic and the .\thintie eoasts. is niigrtitofy in ;dl
parts of tiie rnited States, hreetls in lii,i,'h Arctic latitudes, and is of occasional ap-
liearance in Kiiroiie. Its presence on the Atlantic coast, however, is regarded as an
int'feinient event ; Imt ^If. I>oaf(linati mentions it as having been found nciir ('ahii.s,
both in the spring and in the fall It has tilso been taken at b'ye Ueaidi by Mr.
JJfcwstef, ami iti Hoston Harbor by Mr. Ileiisliaw; and about the I'Oth of August ii
tow ari' usnally to be seen in the J'.oston market.

Mr. (Jiraud did not consider that it was a common bird on Long Island, although
(hiring almost every season a few are noticed along its southern shore. In Septciidicr
this bird is occasionally seen exposed for sale in the markets of Mew York, togcilii r
with the Pectoral Sandpiper, from which, however, the JUitt'-bivasted is easily distin-
giiishcd by the eomiiarative shortness of its bill.

Mr. (iiraud also states that in August, Ihi-U, his friend iMr. Brasher observed five
of this species together on the shore of (Jowanus Uay — a number much larger tluiu
is usually seen in one groni). They appeared to be very gentle, allowing him to ad-
vance within shooting distance without seeming tc notice his presence, and three
were killed at the first discharge of his gun. The surviving two made a short Higlit
over the water, returning in a few minutes to the shore at a short distance from tiic
lioint at which they had previously taken wing, thus giving him an opportunity to
secure the whole number. When flying from the observer, this bird appears not
unlike the I'ectoral Sandpi])er, on account of the resemblance of the ujjper plumage
of the two species.

SCOLOPACID.K TIIK SNIPK KAMII.V - TUYNOITFX

307

Mr. Hri'Mscr ini't with tliis |)ir(l lu'iii' MataiimraK luti- in AiiKiiHt. VisitinK tiic
Im^'iiiiii cut'l.v niii' moniiiiKi Ix' luitio'il ;i tlmk nt' Siiiiii|ii|)crs iii'iii' liim. nn ^ littlit
>{iiiHsy i>I;i'''' H sliurt ilistiinrc f'nmi tlir walr ■. mid mi slidofiii;,' soim' of llinn, fniiiul
flifiii t" III' "it this s|H'cifs ; the next ihiy, on .isitiiij,' ihf Haiiif |ihtit', he was alih' to
|M>M'iii't> otht'i'H. Ill travTlliiiK thfiicf tu San Aiitunio, ii, Sc|iti'iiiliri', Iii> t'lnuiii thrsu
liiiils rathiT I'Kiiimuii thrniiKhniit thf wlmh- juiirncy ; and hf «)Hfu hIkiI thcin, tiiidiiij;
tlii'iii I'Xi'rlh'iit t'atiiiH;. Thcv wcif not sli.v, and wmt in tlock-i ol' fiom tivf to lwrlvi>
ill iiuiiiIkt. 'IMh'v dill not ii'.sort to thi- jiooIm. luit lived on the siiiall insrrtH lonnd

;iiiiiiiih'st th larsi' hi-riia;,'!' whiidi otti-n ki'«"W'h Honn- dlHtaiicr lioiii the water. Near

\ ntiiria tiiev were very aliuiidaiit, init alter h'aviiii,' tliat town he noticed only a few.
At .Sin Antonio In- .saw none, imt was inlorined liy Dr. Ueerinann that they are often
loiiiid there in the spriiiK and aiitniun. l>r. Merrill also found this speeies on tin;
i;i<i (Iranile, and mentions its fi'ei|iientinK the wiiuc Inealities and oliserviiiK' the saiiio
sfiisoiis as the rplaiul IMover, which it closely resenililes in haliits. tlioiij,'h il is niiieh
less shy and siis|iicious.

This species has not lieen detected in California. Imt jir. Cooper is eontident that
it (icciirs then-, at least as far south as .Sjiii Francisco. It is found spariiij,'ly north
(if the Cohiialiia. .Vceordin;,' to J)r. lleeriiiann. on the interior ]irairies this species
feeds on insects, and utters merely a low fici't't, two or three times repeated. It runs
swiftly and. if ahirmctl, Hies rapidly, lnakin^' eireiiitoiis sweeps before ali^htiiiK' aKaiii.
This author idaiins to have found its nest in Texas, made of (grasses, placed in a
hnliiiw ill the uroniid, and eniitainin^,' four v^'^s. Ihit as this liird lueeds in high
iiiiiliiirn regions, up to liie very liorders of the .Vretic (tcean, he may have licou
iiii>liiken in his iileiililicatiou.

It occurs in Culia, according to (iiindlaeh, as a winter visitant, and pmlialily in
dlher West India islands, it visit.s Trinidad, where, as Leotaud states, it is known
astlie Little Vellowleg, and where it makes its appearance in August, departing iii
(titiiher. It comes regularly, liut never in great numhers, and it is almost always in
ciiiiliniuy with the 7'ofiiiiiis jfiii'l/irs.

During the winter months it aii[)eais to lie resident in South America as far south
;is the Plata, where it was procured liy Dr. Darwin, Mr. Salviii received an example
tnnu liogota, and Natterer olitaiiied t'.xamples in vari<ius parts of Urazil lietwecn No-
vcinlier and .Nfandi. ft is also reported from Peru liy Messrs. Salvia and Ctodman.

ll is not of infreipuMit, although of inegiilar and aeeidental, oecurveiu'e in Kurope.
Professor IMasius includes it in his List of tlu' Uirds of Heligoland; and Mr. Varrell

r ii'ds ipiite a iiumlier of instances in which it has lieen taken in Kngland and Ire-

laiiil. where it was noticed among flocks of J)unlins and King Tlovers. VieiUot
includes it among the liirds of l^'anee, on account of one having lieen taken in Pie-
anly. It was first maile known as a s]iecies liy Vieillot, from a s|iecinu'n taken in
Louisiana, where it had not lieen noticed liy Audulion. It Avas unknown lioth to Wil-
son and to l?onaiiarte ; and the first specimen .seen hy Audulion was one in jio.ssession
III' tlie Arctic exjihirer. Captain James Clark Hoss, who had received it from a sailor,
liv whom it had lieen procured in the course of one of the numerous inland excursions
in the desolate regions from which the jiarty had recently returned, rrom this Mr.
Audubon rightly conjecttu'ed that this bird bred within the Arctic Circle. Mr. I'.ernard
Kdss mentions having found it on the Mackenzie River, where it was (]nite rare. A
single s]ieeimen was noticed by !Mr. Frank L. Tileston in Triiice Edward's Island,
where it Avas regarded as very uncommon.

Mr. Nelson, in his "Notes on the Uirds of Northeastern Illinois," mentions it as a
very rare migrant in that regi(jn, only one specimen, so far as known, having been

■I" ii'

i, ^' fl

;

308

PR.FCOCIAL GRALLATOHKS — LIMICOL.E.

taken ; this was near Chicago, Sfpt. 4, lcS73. Dr, Hoy spcakH of it as coinmon near
Kaeine from Seittember 1"» to October 10; Init this statement Mr. Nelson seeuis
disposed to question.

Mr. Dall mentions tliat two s)»eeimens of this Sandpiper were obtained on the
Yukon, l)eh)w Nulato, where it was not common. One was obtained at Sitka Ity
Bisclioff.

It breeds .abiuuhmtly in tiie An(h'rs()n Iviver region, where a number of its nests
and eggs were fomid by ^Mr. MacFarlane ; and from Ills memoranda in reference to
tlie nests and eggs of this si)eeies in ujiward of twenty instant^es, we gather tliat tlic
nest is always on the ground, .lud hardly distinguishable from that of the (ioldcn
I'lover, being a mere depression in the soil, scantily lined with a few withered leaves
and dried grasses. These nests were all obtaint-d on the Uarren Grounds between
Horton's River and the coast, l)etween the li()th of .luiu' and the *.>th of .Tidy. Tlic
eggs in every instance were four in number. Even in .July the endtryos were not far
advanced. When the nest was apjiroaclied, the female usually made a short low
flight to a distance of about twelve yards.

The eggs of this species are conspicuously pyriform in shape, and measure 1.")!
inches 'n length by 1.10 in the greatest breadth. So far as 1 have noticed them,
however much the; nuiy vary in certain minor respects, they all i)resent a renmrkalile
uniformity in their general characteristics and appearance. Their ground-color is
unifonnly an ashy drab, over which are prcdiisely sjjread rounded markings, splasln^s,
and confluent blotches of deej) sepia. The markings are smaller and more rounded
in shaj)e around the smaller end, and larger and more confluent about tlic other. The
sepia tint is (piite luiiform, and the deeper markings i-re mingled with washes dl
dilute iiurplish slate. These nmrkings vary in tin ir shape, size, and character, being
in some large splashes, and in others longitudinal, as if nmde by strokes of a i)aint-
brush. The eggs described are in my own cabinet, and were taken by MacFarlaue
on the Arctic coast east of Anderson lUver (No. 180.'5).

Genis EURYNORHYNCHUS, Nilsson.

Euryiun-htjnchus,^ XiLss. Oni. Siiuc. 11. 1821, 29 (type, Plataka pygmcea, Linn.).

EurynorhjmchuB pygmseus.

THE SFOON-BILLED SANDPIPER.

Platalea pygmcea, Uss. S. N. ed. 10, I. 17.'>8, 140; oil. 12, I. 1766,231 (" Surinnin "). — Gmf.i,. S.

N I. 1788, 615 (.[uotes "Mus. Ad. Fr. 26. BainT. Guj. 171. Dwarf Spoonbill, Lath. Syii. IV.

i. \ 17,11. 3").
Euryhorhynchiispii(j.i\a:us,Vv.\\\i^uy.,io\\\: As. Soo. Bciig. V. 1836, 127. — Hakting, Ibis, ISOii,

427, 111. 12 (critical, with full syiionyiiiy ; Clioiis PiMiiiisnla, Alaska) ; P. Z. S. 1879, 111, 111

(same loi'.). — CorKs, Clicck List, 2(1 cd. 1882, 136, no. 884.
Eurinwhynchus piigmmcs, Ouav, lIaiid-1. III. 1871, 51. — Ridc.w. Xoiii. N. Am. B. 1881, 85, no.

642 (Point Bnriow, Alaska). — Bean, Proci, U. S. Nat. Mus. V. 1882, 165 (i'lover Bay,

Siberia).
Eurynorhynchvs griseua, "Nn.ss." Tejim. Man. cd. 2, 11. 1820, 594.
Eurynorhynchus oriciitalis, Bi.yth, Ann. Mag. N. 11. Xlll. 1844, 178, 179.

1 This name has lieen variously spelled Eurinorhynchus, Enrinoryncm, Eurinorinchus, Eurhinorhiin-
chtis, Eurinorincus, etc., but the forni given above is the trao orthography. Seo " The Ibis," 1869, p. 427
(footnote).

SCOLOPACIDvE — THE f^NIPE FAMILY — EURYNORIIYNCIIUS.

309

Hah. Ill Hiiniiiu'i-, KustPiii Sibi-riii, especially iilonj^ Arctic coast ; accidciitul on shores of Alaska
iiortii of Ik'lirin^'V Straits ; in winii^r, " nnmtlis of the Uuiiges and east coast of Bay of licnfjtal," and
diiici' |i(utioiis of Soutiii'aslcrn Asia (IIautixc;).

Sr. Char. ^' Jh-^criptian (jididt in vintir): Hill black, lonjjer than tlic lii-ad, flat, clilated con-
-idi'raUly at the extremity in a rlionilioidal shajie. '["(tii^'ne broad and smooth. Forehead, cheeks,
lliruat, and nnder i)arts pure wlnle ; crown, nape and sidi's of neck, back, wings, and npper tail-
cdverts ilusky brown, eacli featlier margined more or less with jiale gray. Wings long and
pujiilcd ; shafts of the primaries white ; liist (luill-featlier tlie h)ngest. Tail short, rounded, cnn-
,~i-tiiig of twidve feathers, the two nuddie featliers tile h>ngest and darkest in color. Legs and toes
lil;ii ii, nioih'ralely long, slender, tliree toes in front, one behind, margined ah)ng the sides; a sliglit
iiiiiiibrane connecting liie base of tlie middle and out(r toe on each foot. Total length (i.Od inches ;
liijl, l.(Hi ; wing, from carpus, ;5.7(>: tarsus, .!)(). (E.xempl. typ. in Alus. Upsal.yiWe itiictt. n'lt.).

'■■Ailulf ill f'lninitrr (iiillierto undescribed) : Hill as above. Head, neck, breast, nnd back ferru-
ginous ; tlie feathers of the head, nape, and iiai k with dark-brown centres ; those of the throat and
liiiiist slightly margined with white. I'nder parts, from the breast downward, becoming grad-
ually whiter toward the tail. Primaries somewhat darker than in winter. Legs and toes black.
(I'Aciiipl. in Mus. Acad. O.xon.)." — Hahtin(1, "Ibis," I8()0, p. 428.

Yduiiil (So. 81 t;U, U. S. Nat. Mu.s. Port Providence, Plover Bay, Silieria ; August; Dr.s.
|).\M, iV- 1>i;a.n') : Scapulars and interscapulars black centrally, brownish gray beneath the sur-
face, and broiiiUy bordered temiin'dly with soiled whitish, the anterior feathers, however, both of
scapulars nnd interscapulars margined with rusty ; wing l)rowni.sh gray, the feathers darker cen-
trally, with shafts ([uite dusky ; greater coverts tipped with white, I'orming a distinct bar across
till' wing ; reiniges dusky, the ba.siil portion of secondaries and inner primaries white ; pileum dull
li>;lit grayish, spotted with dull black, the feathers edged with dull rusty ; remainder of head,
neck, and lower parts soiled wliite, clouded anteriorly with liglit grayish lirowii, but nearly jiure
white and ijuite immaculate po.steriorly. 15111 black ; legs and feel bhickish brown. Wing, U.35 ;
culnien, .8(» ; greatest breadth of maxilla, .45 ; tarsus, .80 ; middle toe, .(iO.

Tlie habits and g:(M)grai)lii('iil distrilmtionof this very roiiiiirkable form iirc very far
fidiii bi'inijr ■well understood, though the regions it visits during tlie breeding-season
iiiid in its migrations are a little better known. It was first referred to liy Liniifcus
as having some supposed resemblanee to the Sjioonbill, and for nearly a century was
only known t'nnn a unique example in the Museum of Uitsahi, whieh was said to
luive been ]n'oeured fnuu Surinam; but this was evidently an error. It has since
been referred to by Hanend't as ;i bird of (iuiana; but he either followed Linnanis or
mistook for it some other species. Lesson gave as its liabitat the Arctic. IJeglon of
botii continents, but also stated that an examiile, shot near Paris, was in one of the
nuiseums of that city ; and l>onaparte giive it, in his '' Geograjihical List," ;is a Euro-
pean species. Neither of tliese statements is now credited, inasmucli ;is there is no
eviik'uce that any example of this species has been taken in J'hirope.

Professor A. Newton, in an exlianstive paper ("Ibis," 1801), jip. 4l^(S— 434), assigns
to it a place among tlu; Waders, lietween J'Jreintcfc.sjx'frijiriifun an;l Tringa siifidrquofit,
and he has with great jiaius pre]>ared a list of all the examples of the Si)oon-billed
Sandpiper known to have been taken. The locality of the type-exam])le remains
undiscovered. The known localities are Edmondstone's Island, Saugur Sand, 1836;
Arracan, in the same year; Ciileutta, 1840; mouth of the Ganges, 1840; Amher.st in
Tcnasserim, 1846; three taken in ISot! and twelve in 18o9, in Cliittagong; and one,
tlie only exaiu])le known to have been secured in summer plumage, from Ikdiring's
Straits. The last-named was taken by the expedition nnder Cajitain Jlooro. and
is now in the new Museum of Oxford. Its sujiposed ])resence on both shores of
behring's Straits in the breeding-season is the occasion of its being placed in the
Ninth American fauiui, though Captain Moore's exam]»le is given as having come
from the northeast corner of Asia (Proc. Zool. Hoc. 1859, !>. 201).

310

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOUES — LLMICOL.K.

Tho Spooii-l)ill(>(l .Siin(l])i]H'r is said to frequent tlie mud-Hats at the mouths of
rivers and tiie sands of tlie sea-shore, wliere, in company with various species ol
Trhigcr, it procures from tlie surface of the water an :d)undant harvest of such food
as is always h'ft by a receding tide. Of its niditicatiou nothing is as yet known.

Gkms NUMENIUS, IJmssoN.

Numrnixm, Bniss. Orn. V. 1700, 311 (typo, Scohpax arquata, LiNS.).

Char. Lrf,'s cnvorod anlcriorly with Iraiisvursi.' stutulliu, liiteraliy iiiul bi'liiml with f^iiiall Iic.\ii'4-
onnl scales. 15111 Vfry loii^s uxceiMliiij,' the tihia, and curved downward for tlie terminal hall ;
the culnieu rounded. Tip of bill expanded laterally and clul)-shai)ed. Grooves of bill not reaching,'
beyond the iniiMle. Tertials as lonj,' as primaries.

Bill variable in lenj^th, always lon;,'er than tarsus, sometimes exceeding tarsus and toes. It is
nearly straight iit the ba.se, then decurving quite rapidly to the tip, where the upper manilil)le is
thickened downward beyond and over the lower. Lateral grooves occupying only the basal h.ill'
or third of the bill ; under mandible not grooved beneath. Cleft of mouth extending but little

N. longirostria,

beyond the base of oulmen. Feathers of head extending about the same distance on both man-
dibles ; those of chin to opposite the anterior extrennty of the nostrils. Tarsi nearly twice as long
as middle toe, rather more than twice the bare part of tibia ; covered behind by hexagonal scales
larger than the lateral ones. Outer toe webbed for its basal Joint ; iniier for half this distance
Tail short, nearly even, not quite half the wings. Tertials as long as the primaries.

Of the genus A'innoinw several spei'ies are found in North America, none of them occurring
regularly in the Old World, as is the case with so many of the Tringcm.

American Species.
At Thighs not bristled.

a. Rump tint white.

1. N. longirostria. Wing, 10.00-12.00 ; culmen, 3.80-8.50 ; tarsus, 2.2.5-3.60 ; ndddle toe,

1.30-1.5.5. Lower parts pale cinnamon ; axillars deep cinnamon, without distinct bars ;

crown uniforndy streaked, without median stripe. Hab. Temperate North America,

south to Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica, and Brazil (?).

SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — NUMENIU.S.

811

■I. N HudBoniouft. Wiiij,', 9.00-10.25 ; cuhuen, 3.1K)-4.U) ; taisuH, 2.25-2.30; middk' too,
1.35-1.40. Lower parts jKilf IjuII', llie l)ri;a.st iiiinkwl with linear streaks ; inner webs of
primaries spotted with hull' toward ed^es ; axillars dceiier hull', <listinctly barred with
dusky ; erown unite inn dusky, divided liy a median stripe of pale Imlf. llah. The whole
of America, including West Indies, but breeding; oidy in the colder rej,'ions ; (ireenlaiul.

3. N. borealiB. Winu:, H.(Ml-(s.u(t ; culinen, 2.25-2.50 ; tarsus, l.TO-l.HO ; middle toe, 1.00.

Very similar to Ilmlsonicus, but brea.st with \'-sliaped dusky markinj,'s, a.\illars pule cin-
namon, barred with dusky, inner webs of primaries uniform dusky, the whole crown
streaked, and without ilistinct median strijie. /lab. Northern and Ea.stern North
America, and Southern South America ; no West Indian record ; (Jreenluiul ; occasional
in Europe.
b. Rump immaculate whiti\

4. N. phaeopuB. Win^', n.30-10..50 ; culmen, 3.(K)-3.60 ; tarsus, 2.30-2.50; middle toe,

1.40. Similar to Iladsnnicioi, liul wlnde rump innnaculate wliite, and axillars white,
barred with j,'rayish brown. J/nh. I'ahearctic. African, and Indu-Malayan regions;
Greenland.
Bi Tlii;,'hs with elon^'ated bristles, projecting' far beyond the feathei-s.

5. N. tahitiensis. Wiuj,'. !).50-10.40 ; culmen, 2.70-3.70; tarsus, 2.00-2.40 ; middle toe,

1.35-1.50. Upper tail-coverts ami tail ochiaceous, the latter regularly barred with dusky
brown ; crown dark lirown, divided lon;,'itndinally by a wide medial striiie of buff;
axillars pale cinnamon or pinkish bull", widely barred with dark brown. JIab. Pacific
Islands and coast of Alaska.

»j

Numenius longirostria

THE LONG-BILLEO CURLEW.

Scolopax arqitafn, var. /3, Omki,. S. N. I. 1788, 656.

yaiii'iiinsarqitatd, var. B. L,\rn. Ind. Urn. II. 1790, 710.

M(„wiiu.i loiiiiiroslfh, Wii.s. Am. Urn. Vlii. 1814, 24, pi. 64, 11^. 4. — Sw. k V<wn. F. B. A. II.

1831, 376. — Nltt. Man. II. 1834, 04. -Auu. Urn. Bioj;. III. 183;-., 240; V. 1830, .'.87, pi.

231 ; Synop. 1839, 2r»4 ; I). Am. VI. 1843,35, pi. 3.55. — C'.vss. in liaird's B. N. Am. 1858, 713.

— r.-Mun, Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 549. — CouKs, Key, 1872, 262 ; Check List, 1873, no. 441 ;

2(1 vd. 1882, no. 613 : Birds X. W. 1874, 508. — llioGW. Xom. X. Aiu. B. 1881, no. 558.
Xumaiius riifiis, VlKllx. (ial. Ois. II. 1825, 113, pi. 245 (part).
Kumcnius occidcnUdis, Woouii. Pr. Ac. Xat. Sci. Piiilad. VI. 1852, 194 ; Sitgreaves' Rep. 1853, 98,

pi. 6 (=youii<,' ; AUimpicniue, X. M. ).
"? Xumcnius )iielaHoj)UK, ViKIl.i,."
"I A'umcnius brasilicmis, Max."

yvuiig.

ILvB. Temperate North America, migrating south to Guatemala. Cuba ; Jamaica ; Brazil (?),
Sp. Char. The largest American species of this genus. Bill very long, much curved, upper

nuuidible longer than the under, somowhat knobbed at the tip, wing rather long ; legs moderate ;

toes united at base. Entire upper parts pale rufous, tinged with ashy, every feather with trans-

iir

312

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOKES — LLMICOL^E.

verse and confluent Itnntls of browuisb bliick, most numerous and preiloniinatin}{ on the back ami
scapulars ; secondary (iuills, under wing-coverts, and axillaries, lirij,'lit rufous ; primaries witli tjioir
outer \vel)s lirownisii Mack and llicir inner wehs rnfous, uitli transverse liands of lilack. Undii
jiarts pale rufous, with l(inj,'itudinal lines of lilack on the neck and sides ; tail rufoUs, tiu^'ed wiili
ashy, transversely liarred with lirownisii lilack. Specimens vary to some extent in the sha<le of
the rufous color of the plumage, and very nnich in the length of the bill. The rufous color i-:
probably more distinct in the young. Total length about :2").(K) inches; extent, about 40.(mi ;
wing, KMHt-l !.(«) ; tail, 4.(«) ; bill, -'.HO (immature individual) to H.nu ; tarsus, i.-^'t. liill lilack,
beconung dull light lilac-brown on basal half of the mamlible ; iris brown; legs and feet gray.

Downy young: Very pale ocliraceous, with a tinge of sulphur-yellow, rather deejier below than
above. Upper parts marbled coarsely and rather irregidarly with Idack. Hill straight, about l.Ki
inches long.

The Loiig-billod ('iirlcw luis ti geiioral hut irrogtilar distrihiition over North Ann-rica.
from the (.hilf of Mexico to Ciiiuulu, jukI from the I'ucitit^ to the Atlantic. In the
I'usteni States, though occasionally .seen in considerable nuiulx!r,s, it is of uncertain
aiul irregular apiiearanee. It is coiiinion on tlie prairies of the Western States, uud
is more almiulant on the Paciiic than on the Atlantic coast. It is not known witli
certainty ever to visit the Fur Uegion, nor has it been met with in Alaska, or
on tlu; Pacific coast north of N'ancoiiver Island, in which latter place its presence is
recorded by Mr. H. Browne.

Dr. CJooper mentions tiiuling the young of this species, coinnion on the Tlains of
the L'pper ilissouri, in .lune. The same writer states that it abouinls in California
during the cooler months ; and as it is to be found in that State in small numbers
during May ami .fune, while the young niaki^ their appearance in July at San I'eih'o,
he considers it probable that some breetl about the lakes in the interior, especially in
the northeastern portions of California, where, indeed, this species was noticed by
Dr. Newberry in summer. It seems, however, probable that it migrates directly
south from its summer resorts to San Pedro, as it is randy seen at San Krain'is<(i
before Seiitembcr; after whitdi, however, it remains throughout the winter. Colundiia
Iliver is about the limit of its northern range along the coast, and it is not common
there. In California, as also elsewhere, it freciueuts dry jdains ami i)asture.s (juite as
much as it does the marshes, and Hocks nuiy be foiuid throughout the valleys during
th(( winter. It feeds (p'.ite as much on grassho])i)ers and other iiLsects as on worms
and small crabs, it is very shy ami watclif\il, es])ecially on the dry and open ]dains.
where artifice is usually necessary to obtain it, ami it can often be allured within
gunshot by an imitation of its cries, which are usually whistling notes, loud ami
variable in character. In California this bird is regarded as excellent eating.

Dr. I'ickering mention.s fimling it in (h'cgou in Juiu'. 1841. where large numbers
had taken u\) their residence in the grassy Hats ami jdains. ami were undoubtedly
breeding. He describes its note as being a sort of whistle, m)t unlike the word nir-
lew, with the last syllable nuadi jjrolonged, ami uttered more (piickly, and in a more
complaining tone when the bird is Hying overhead. In one instance he noticed this
bird alighting in the top of a tree during a rain, and frequently repeating its note.
Once he saw it attacdv ami (dnise a Hawk, which retreated quite precipitately. In its
habits ami general apjiearaiu'c it reminded him of the (Cayenne Lapwing as seen in
South America; subsecpiently. in the month of October, Dr. Pickering also met with
it in large lumdjers in California.

Cai)tain Uemlire, in his "Notes on the I5irds of Eastern Oregon," mentions this
species as a common summer resident, breeding abuiulantly. It often iiests in wet
and partly flooded meadows. In the spring of 187G he found three sets partly cov-

SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNTPE FAMILY — NUMENIUP.

313

noil with water. Noar Fort Lapwai tliis bird breeds on hi,i,di and (by i)rairii\s several
miles from lake or river. It also breeds in Southern Arizona near Snlpimr S])rinj,'s,
tliirty miles west (d' Camp Howie. Tlie e,i,',!;s are saiil to vary i^reatly in sliape, size,
and coloration, even in tiie sanii' nest. averaj,dn.L,' L'.dO l>y 1.7-1 inelies. These birds
congregate in large flocks before migrating, and liave all left b_v the 1st of August.
They feed chiefly on crickets.

Lieutenant M'Cauley refers to this speeies as being generally distributed over
Kiiiisas. the Indian Territory, and the Ued IJiver liegion of Texas. He found it
breeding in June, and very (damorous when the nests were approached.

Mr. Ividgway also met with Curlews whi;di he had no (hiui)t were of this species,
during the s])ring and suunner, along the Truckee Uiver. In the neighborhood of
Great Salt Lake they were also nuu'e or less abundant during the summer, in all the
wet and grassy places. Several young j\ist hatched were caught mar the camp on
Anteloiic Islaml. Mr. J. A. Allen nu't with a single small c(dony of these birds in
tlir western jKU'tion of Kansas, near Fort Hays. This was late in May, and the birds
were evidently breeding.

.Mr. Salvin nu't with ()ceasi<uial s])ecimens about tlu^ lagoons of Chiapam, on the
I'aeitic coast. It was usually inciuupany with, but not so nunu'rous as. the Xitmenlus
Hii</.io>urHs. He also obtained a single specinu'U at Ducnas, in the interior. f)n the
Atlantic coast it is of coni])aratively rare occurrence. iMr. lloardman informs me
tiiat occasional examples have been taken on the St. Croix Itiver, as far uj) as Calais;
luid. as it is not uncommon on I'rince Edward's Island, it (piite possibly may 1m^ met
wiili on the sea-eoast of Nova Scotia. It is seen about Calais, but only near the
close of suunner. in the month of August. At the sauu' season examples liave ln'cii
tidicn on the ^lassaiduisetts coast ; and — so far as L am aware — at no other tiuw.

Mr. IJoardman has been infornu'd, on good authority, that this bird breeds regu-
larly in considerable numbers on I'rince J'Mward's Island; and this fact accounts for
ils (Mcasioual appearance on the New I'higland coast.

(iiraud in(dudes the Long-billed Curlew anuuig the birds of Long Island, "where it
is (iccasionally found frecjuentiug the uualdy shores of the beaches and nuxrshes, eol-
Icctiug minute sludltish. which, with worms and vari(ms insects, constitute its food.
When moving about in iloidvs it is said to fly nuudi after the nuinner of the Wild
(Idiise, its leader uttering a jjcculiarly hoarse dull note, whiidi maybe easily and
(■n'cctively imitated, as tlus bird is ])roverbial for answering the fowler's call when
at a greater distance from his decoy than any other shore-bird. AVhen a])])roa(diing,
and near to the decoys, it spreads its wings and sails slowly u]). i)resenting a fail'
mark. Its flesh is said to be rank, and the young partake of the same flavor; but
this is probably true only of those which feed on the salt-nuirshes. The birds which
:\\v found in the interior, feeding on grassli()])])ers and berries, are regarded as a
i;rcat (hdicacy. This Curlew is noted for its great sym])athy with those of its
(iwn kind, flocks being often kept Avithin gunshot by the cries of their wounded
coniiianions.

Kichai'dsou su])posed he had good reason for believing that this species frequents
the Saskat(dicwan I'lains and the banks of the ('(dumbia. There is said to be a speci-
men (d' this Curlew in the Museum of the Hud.sou's Hay Company; but the locality
from whi(di it was ])roeurcd is not known.

The Limg-billed (!urlew in its general ap])earauce, and lU'obably also in nearly all
its specific habits, bears a very close resemblance to the Common Curlew, X. arquata,
of i']uro])e ; and before Wilson ])ointed out the difference between them, the two were
confounded together. According to Wilson, this Curlew appears in the salt-marshes

vol. I. — 40

«■ "n ■ ^.

814

PILECOCIAL fiUALLATOKKS — LIMICOLyE.

of New Jersey about the luiddle of .May, iiiid a,y;iiin in Seiiti'inbcr. He inferred —
prohaldy incorrectly — that tlicsc Idrds necessarily went nnith to lireed. Their ioml
seemed to cnnsist ciiicHy id' small <'ral)S. for which they very dexterously [jrohe, jmlj.
iiij,' them out of the holes with their lon^,' l)ills. They also feed on the small sea-
snails, so common in tlie salt-marshes, and on various worms and insects. In the fall
they are said to lie very foml of the licrries of tlie wild iirand)lcs. on whi(di they fenl
with eafjferness, hecomin;,' very fat, and are then excellent eatin;^', not haviu},' the rank
sed^'y flavor ac([uired hy those birds which feed exclusively in the marshes, ^\■ils(lll
states that in some cases one or two pairs have l)een known to remain iu the sail-
marshes at Cape May all throu,i,di the summer.

In Major lion.n's expedition some id' this species wei'c observed iu the northeiii
part of Illinois (hit. 4l'° N.). dune \n. from which it was naturally inferred that
they were brccdin.y; there. It is now known that they ])rol)ably l)reed iu all, or neailv
all, the Western States north of the Ohio and west cd' Lake Krie.

Xuttall observed them on the muddy shores of the Santci', near Charleston, S. ('..
in Jamuiry. Audulion alterward ascertained that this Curlew is a constant resident
in the Southern States, that it is well known both iu sumnu'r and winter abnut
Cliarleston, and that it breeds on the islands ou the coast of Scnith Carolina; but lie
met with none oi this species iu Labraihjror in any jdace from Eastjjort to the most
northern piu'tiou visited by him. and he satistied himsidf, IVom his inquiries amoni;'
well-informed I'csidcnts. that none are ever found there.

The Ivev. Dr. ISacdimau found it lireedin,t;iu Scmth Candiua, where it nested on the
grcmnd, formiui,' a very scanty reccptaide for its e.ufis, and placini-' the nests so closely
t()j,'ether that it was almost im|)ossil)le for a nuiu to walk iu'tween them vitlmur
injurin|4' the ej;'i;s.

In South Caridina Anilubon oliserved that this sjieoies spent the day in the sea-
marshes and returned at the ajiproach of ui,i;lit to the sandy Ijcachcs cd' the sea-shore,
where it rested until the mornin;^. lie states that the nund)er (d' these birds tiiat
■would thus collect for the night souu'tinu's anumuted to several thousands, lie vis-
ited Cole's Island, near Charleston, in order to witness its movements. Just after
siuisct the birds began to make their ai)]iearance, iu ])arties of from three to live, and
were by no nu'ans sliy. As it became darker the nund)er of Curlews increased and
the Hocks approaidied in more rapid snccessi(Ui, until they seemed to form a contin-
luius ])rocession, moving in an extended mass at the height of not more than tlnrt y
yards, not a sound being heard exci'iit the I'cgulai' tla])pings of their wings. Tlicy
flew directly toward their resting place — known as the lUrd lianks — and aliglited
without perfornung any evolutions. Hut when the party f(dlowcd them to tiiese
banks — which wvw small sandy islands — the congregated Hocks, amounting to
several thousand individuals, all standing (dose together, rose at once, performed iu
silence a few ev(dutioi>s, and re-alighted, as if with one accord, on the extreme margin
of the sandbank, idose to the bi'cakers. The next morning a little before daylight
the party again visited the banks; i)nt as soon as they landed the birds all rose a few
yards in the air, and flew off in various directions to their feeding-groimds.

i\lr. Moore has nu't this s])ecies in Florida during the summer nu)nths, Imt was
not able to obtain any evidence that it breeds there, althougli regarding it as (piitc
probable that this is the ease on the more distant islands along the coast of that
State.

The eggs of this species, — whiidi vary considerably in their grouud-c(dor and in
the distribution of their nuirkings — are jiyriform, or a rounded oval pointed at one
end. In one (S. I. No. 2910) the ground-c(dor is a pale (dive-drab, the markings licing

SCOLOPACID.E — THE HNIl'E FAMILY — NUMENIUS.

316

vciy uiiit'ormly distributed ovor the wliole surface, and consistiuK of ratlier snuill
hlotclu's, longitudinal in direction, and of a l)urnt-und)er tint. In others (S. I. No.
,"ill7) the ground-eolor is a pearly white, with a sliadingof cream, covered with large
lildtehes of an ashy lilac, these; being overlain by siaallcr ami deeper spots of burnt-
liiiilier. These eggs vary from L'.TU to 'J.W inches in length, and from 1.78 to l.Dli
imlies in breadth.

Numenius Hudsonicua.

THE HUDBONIAN CURLEW.

Scolojtax homilin, (I.\m-.l. S. N. I. 1788, 054 (nee Fdiistku, 1772). — Wils. Am, Orn. VII. 1813, 22,

1.1. 5(5, lig. 1.
y II mi- II i lis l« lira /is, OiMi, ctl. \Vn..siiN, 1.H25. — l!i!i.wi:i:, id. Wii.sos, \siu, 173 (excl. syn.).
Xiniidiiiis Jliii/.soiiiriis, Laiu. Iml. Oiii. II. 17!'l), 71"i (iiiiscil oii KsijiiiiiKiii.i- Ciirlnr, Arct. Zciol. II.

ItJl, no. :ii!l, pi. I'.i. and lliidsiiiiinn Ciir/iir, Lath. Syn. Siii)i)l. VII. 'J43). — Sw. & Kicii.

F. H. A. II. ISiil, y77. — .NiTT. iMiin. II. 1834, St7.— AuD. Oiu. Iliog. III. I.'t3.'., 283; V.

183!t, 5Si», 111. 237 ; Syiio].. 1831), 254 ; 15, Am. VI. 1843, 42, i>l. 350. — (.'ass. in Buird's 11. N.

Am. 1858, 744. — l5Aiiii>, Cat. N. Am. 15. I85i», no. 550. — Cocks, Koy, 1872, 2(J2 ; Clicrk

List, 1S73, no. 442 ; 2(1 cd. 1882, no. (145 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 509. — Itmow. Norn. N. Am.

B. 1881, no. 55U.
Xiimaiius iiilcrmcdius, Ni'TT. linn. II. 1834, 100.
Kiiiiirnins ntfivcntris, Vki. Zool. .lour. IV. 182',», 356.
" XumcniitH hriifiiUcnsis, Maxim, ct l5cr..M." (.Si.aiku).

IIah. The wliole ol' Anierini, incliuling the West Imlies; breeds in the high north, and
winters tliietly soutli of the United States. Cireenland.

.•^i'. CuAR. Adult : Crown d.irk sooty brown, divided longitudinally by a mesial stripe of Ixiff ;
a narrow diisky stripe on side of head, fioiu bill to aiUerior angle ol' the eye, eontinued back beneath
the eye and along upper edge of auriculars, sepamted I'roni the dusky of the crown by a wide, well-

hnt w;is
lis (piite
lof that

dciinod superciliary stripe of ligh^ aiff. Rest of head and neck, and entire lower parts, light buff,
till' tliin, throat, and abdomen innnaciilate, other portions, ineluding cheeks, entire neck, jnguluni,
and lireast, marked with linear streaks of dark brown ; axillars pinkish buff or dilute cinnamon,
baned with dark brown. Upper parts spotted with dark sijoty brown and light bnif, the latter
p!v\-ailing on the wing-coverts, the former on the back ; rump and upper tail-coverts similarly
siMitteil ; primaries dusky, the inner rpiills spotted with buff.

Wing, 9.00-10.25 ; culnien, 3.(HV4.0() ; tarsus, 2. 2.5-2.30 ; middle toe, 1.35-1.40.

This species, generally known to s])ortsnieii as the Jack Curlew or Short-billed
Curlew, and to ornithologists as the Hudsoniau Curlew, is very generally distributed
throughout Xorth America, being found both on the Pacific and the Atlantic coast,

316

PU.ECOCIAL flllALLATOHKS — LIMIPOL.K.

ami riiiiii Cfiitral Aiin'rica, wlicn- it passes the wiiitt-r iiKuitlis. tn tlic Arctii' Ocean, mi
tlie litirders of wliicli il lireeds. In Alaska Mr. iiannister saw it on the Island nl ,"<(.
Mieliatd's. where. ImweviT. it was nut v.tv ""innidn. It was iditained at Sitka li\ .Mr.
l>is(dintT; and .Mr. Dal! states tliat il wa,> not. rare at tiie inoutli of llie \'nkiin K'ivi i.
wiu're its favorite attitiaii' seemed to He sittinj,' on a lii,!,di stump or piece of drill-
wood, or even an alder-l)nsli when this Aas kir^'e enon^j;ii. witii one (tf its le^js di.iwn
up. Mr. licrnard Ifoss met with thi. Cnrh'W in the neitrhhorhood of (Jreat Sla\i
liake. i'rofessor Keiniiarilt iiadmh". it amonj^ tiie iiirds of (Ireeidand on the stienulli
of a sin.i,de spi'cimen — a. femah- — ^eiit from (lodtliaah liy llollioll. The latter uhh-
tions liavin,',' obtained il twice — at .Inlianeliaal) and Fiskernaes — and also cnic
specinnai from .lakolishavii. It oecnrs as a mi;.,'ratory visitant in the I'all in jiernnida.
where it ari'ives early in .\iii,'nst. Init is so shy of approaidi that i)ne can hanlly
ever },'et within t,Minshot of it. It is J'oinid only in Au^nisi, and September. l>r.
Kjaerliiillinj,' mentions (•• Nauniniinia." \'l. .'iOS) that he received a s]iecinM'n (d this
Curlew from le»daud. Mr. I{. J'l'owne speaks of havin;,' seen it on Vanconver Island.
Dr. Cooper noticed hut few of this species on the soutlieiai coast of Califorida. ami
tliese only in the spring, sonw remainint; in Hocks at Santa liarhara as late as .May
I'O, and a few f,'o as far sontli as San |)iej,'o. Thoiio;h not known to breed sontli of
Ihidson's l)ay. Dr. (^)oper thinks i hat some may nest aniojij,' the mountain laki-s nl
(!alifornia. He ailds that, like the lion.LC-liilled Curlew, they fly with sonu' approach
to a re}j;ular order, generally i'l the I'orm of a \, and in company with most of the
other shore-birds, cindiiis;; high in the air A\ith hmd cries when the falling tide begins
to lay their feeding-grounds bare. They are also common on the Pacific const as far
.south as (Juatemala, and JNIr. Salvin found them very abundant about the lagoojis lif
Chia|>ani.

Mr. Moore mentions tliat on the 22d of .Mar(di. 1872, a single si)eeiiuen of liiis
Curlew M'as brought to him which had been killed on the shore of Sarasota Uay.
where it was feeding in the water in comjiany with Alarlded Codwits, Itcd-brcastcd
Snipes, and AVillets, as well as with a few others of its own species. It was the oidy
bird of its kind ever seen by him in the flesh in Florichi.

It is not mentioned by Dr. (iundlach as occurring in Cuba; hut L(''otaud states
that it is a regular visitant of Trinidad, and that, although known there as the llml-
sonian Curlew, it always seems to conn' from Soidh America. If this were not tin'
case, it would arrive in Novemhi r. whereas, in fact, it always makes its a|ipearanci'
on that island in August, as if avoiding the colder regions of South America ; it
departs in October. It is always found along the borders of the sea and in ovei-
Howed meadows, where it searches for worms in the nuiddy bottoms. Its Hesh is not
hehl in high esteem in Trinidad, and, as Leotaud think.s, with go<id n-a.son.

]\[r. lUnrdman informs me that this species is found in the fall in the ueighborhond
of Calais, hut that it is never vei'v common in that neighborhood. In Massaehusetts
it is (|uite abundant every year in the fall, coming from the north in irregular, pro-
longed migrations, from th" 25th of August initil October. It is not known to occur
in the sjiring in that State, although it may pass through in a ])ndonged nocturnal
flight, since this bird is found on the shores of New Jersey and Tjong Island late in
the month of May. A single si)ecinu'n was jn'ocured hy me at the Isles of Shoals
on the loth of August, 1870.

According to Girjiud, this Curlew arrives in May on Long Island, Avhere it fre-
quents the marshes and muddy flats, feeiling on worms and juinute shellfish, but nm
being so abinulant there as are the Long-billed Curlews, with which it sometimes
associates. It leaves and passes on to the north early in June, again making its

acr)T/)PACID.K - THE SXIl'K FAMILY - Nl'MENIUS.

317

I'.il.V.

;istcil

(llllv
Stlltt'S

lliid-
(it till'

I'ii; it
over-
is not

iisctts
r, [Pl'i:-

(ICCIll'

tiiniai
iitf in
Slioiils

it I'n'-

)llt 11"!

ctinii'S
iug its

aiilioaranot' in tiu' sult-marslics of that inland in Au^fiist. It is said sonu'tinics to
|'ii'i|U('iit tin' uplands, wlicrc it iccds on insects and licnics oi' vai'ions kinds, lu'cominj^
vi'i-y fat, altlionf,di even then its flesh is not well-tlavoied. 'riie llii^dit of the llndson-
ian Curlew is descrilied as liein^' easy and steady; and it readily olieys the fowler's
wiiistlf, goiierally prescMitiuj,' an exetdleut mark, 'i'his sjieeies is reniarkalile for tlio
niiinner in whieli it syni|iatlii/es with its wonnded eoni|iaiiions — a trait also eons|iie-
u>'iislv dis|dayed l»y the Lon^'-hilled Curlew. StrajiKliuj,' individuals id' this s|ieeie.s

lire ( asionally ohscrvi'd to linj,'ei' i)ehind until the early pait id' Novendtei', hut in

i,niiiral all have hd't liy the middle of Oetoher. 'I'hey ale known to the i^'unners of
l.oii^,' Island hotli as the •• Sliort-i)illed " and as the ".hudx " Curlew.

Aeeoi'din^' to |)resser, this s|ieeies is of oee.isional oeeurrenee in Southei'n 'I'exas
IikiIi in s|)ring and fall; and he proi'ured two specimens wiueh had been shot niMir
San .\ntonio. It is the least eommon there of the Curlews.

lieirne, in his " .lonrney to the Aretie Ocean " — a work puhlished nnne than a
century aj,'o — (p. 421), desij,'nates tliis species as the '■ Escpiiniaux Curlew "' — a name
niiw ,i,dven ex(dusiv(dy to the smaller liirtl. A'. /ii>rrii/!.». He states that at tlu! time of
his writing,' l)oth species wei-e founil in ^'reat inindiers on the coasts of Hudson's Hay
durin;.,' the summei'. an<l that they l)oth lireed in all parts of it. as far north as lati-
tude 72". This hird always keeps near the sea-coast, awaitiui,' the elihiiij,' of the tide.s,
and lieiui,' frequently found in Ljreat nnndiei's at, low-water mark, where it feeds on
the marine insects which are. found in j^i'eat ahundanee liy the sides ()f the stones. At
liii,di-wator it retires to the dry ridj,'es, and awaits thts rceedin.i,' of the ti(h'. This hird
will answer to a whistltMinitatinj,' its note. It flies as steadily as a Woodt'oek. and
as it rests hint,' on the win.i,', presents itstdf as a mark whi(di can he easily hit. llearno
.adds that, at times, this Curlew is rci^fanled as delicious eatinj,'.

Auiluhon did not ol)serve this s| ies in Lahrador, and altliou.tfh he made dilij^ent

inquiries amonit int<dli'.^ent residents, could find no one who knew of its oceurreiiee
there. XevertheU'ss others havu met with and seeuri'd specimens of a low individ-
uals (d' this sjiecios in that rejj;ion. This liird is nsnally very shy, and it is .seen in
the greatest numbers at the time of the deiiarture of the /mmi/ls, which specii'S it
greatly vesenihles in its general ajipearance, haiiits, and manner of leeding, although
having a nnich louder and harsher voice.

Wilson, although h(> rcd'ers to this species in his description of Scolojxi.r fmmtlis,
was not aware of the existence of two species of Short-iiilled Cnrh'ws, an<l it is ini-
possihle to determine, whicdi one he had in view in his aceonnts of its hahits. Jt is
inoliahle. however, that whih^ Ills description of the phuuage beh)ng3 to the larger
s|iecies, it is the smaller cmo to which his account of the habits of the Cnvlew is to bo
referred. The same is also true (d' Xuttall's statements, we btdieving that this sjie-
eies is more exclusively ,a feeder in the salt-marshes, and that it rarely, if ever, feeds
• III the u])lands in the manner of the /mrm/is. Xuttall states that, previous to its
clepartnr(> .south in the tall, this species will assemble in large Hocks near the sea-
hcach ; and he Avas informed by a friend that it luul been seen in an island in the
I'iscata(iua River in a (lens(> Hock of many thousands, thickly covering several acres
(if gronnd. Barren birds of this species are found on the Atlantic coast from May
to .August, bnt are nsnally of solitary habit. Andubon states that he has found this
liird abundant on the .shores of Xew Jersey in May, where it remains a few we(<ks,
and that he has seen a large flock of these Cnrlews near Charleston, S. (J., iu
December.

Mr. MacFarlane met with this species breeding on the TJarren Gronnds, on what
is known as the Eskimo Barrens, on the Lower Anderson River. The nests were on

■«i

|Tf

;]18

•U.KCncIAI. (il(.\l,I,AT()|{KS — I.IMIC(1|,.K.

tlu! fjnniud, and witi' iisiiall} iin'ic (lc[in!SsL(iiis lined witli ;i, lew witlicicd Icavrs. Tlit)
t'Kj^H, lour in nuniliiT, weru lounil Ix'twrcn tlic I'dtli ul'.hini'iind tln' l(»tli<)t't)uly. Tlii'so
ni'sts wiTc found in aliont 7U north liilitndf, hut wciv conqnirativcly rare; tht-y wciv
nsnallv phu'cd near small lakes or streams: this, however, was not always the ease.

ICy.'-JM "' this species in the Suiithsoiuan Institution, I'roui Mv. MaeFurUino (No.
",tH.'.*<). liave a Ltround-i'olor ot a ereauiy drah. The inarkinj,'s are irrei,'nlar spots oT a
dark ninlier tint, with lari,'er si)ottin,^'s (d' a slaty hrown around the j,'reater end.
These nieiisure. one. L'.IO liy I.."*? ineiies; the other. l,'.;i.S hy l.nW inches. Another
•set (No. I U<M ) iiave a sindiar ground, hut the marking's are larger, h'ss nuniemus,
and id' a |)aler shade id' brown; these measure 2.L'1 hy 1.(m iiudies.

Numenius borealis.

THE ESKIMO CURLEW.

Scnloimj' linmi/h, KiilisT. I'lill. Tiiiiis. I„\il. 1771.', Ill, 4;il (Albany I"i>it).

Nitmeniiiit huri-nli.i, Lath. Iml. (Mn. II. 171mi, 71i.'. — Sw. & linn. F. li. A. II. 1S31, 37S, jil, i!,V

- Nrrr. .Mun, 11. ls:J4, lul. — Ain. Oni. Ilio.i;. III. 183.^., (I'.i ; V. 18y!>, :,W>, jil. idS ; Syii..|..

183ii, -irKi; II. Ai]i. VI. 1843, 45, iil. !1.17. — ('As.s. in WnUA'^ II. N. Am. IS.IS, 744. — BAUii.,

Ciit. N. Am. It. lsr.li, nil. :,J1. — Turivs Kr_v, 1S72, I'li'J ; Clirck List, 187:1, no. 443; lM id.

18S-A nil. (ilii; liinls N. \V. 1874, 510. — liininv. Num. N. Am. 11. 1881, no. 000.
^'uMfniuH hirrirontrin, Lirni. \'irz. l»onlil. 1823, 75.
Xiuiiiiiins micror/iiiiiiliiis, 1'mii.. vt Lamhi. 'Wii'i^m. Anliiv, iMiii, 12t» (Chili).

Hah. Kii.stcrn I'roviiuc of Nnrtli .Vnii'rica ; Invidinj,' in Arctic districts, where {'xtftidiiij,' I'loni
till' Pryliilnl' Islanil.s (not lirccdinj,') tn (irccidaml ; nii,L;riiliii^' snutli to tlic cvtrcinity nt ,'-!iiinli
America (l^'alklimd I.diind.'*, Patii,i;iiiiiM. Chili, luid S. i!rii/il); no West Imlian record, hut nulcil
fnau Bcrnuida and Trinidad (LtifiTAun). Occiisional in Knrii]K'. Nut recorded I'roni We.stirn
North America.

.Sp. CiiAU. Adidt: Crown dusky, streaki'd with Imir, hut without distinct mesial .stripe; a
(hisky stripe of nj,'i,'re^'ate(l streaks on side of head, from hill to and heldnd the eye ; rest of Inail.
neck, and entire lower parts light hull", the cheeks and neck streakeih the hreiLst, side.s, Hunks, ami

cri.^sum with V-shaped markiiifjs of dusky brown; axillavs and hinn;^ of the winy jiale cinnamon,
the former narrowly Laned with dusky. Upper parts spotted dusky and hiifl", tlie winf,'-coverts
more grayish brown, with dusky shaft-streaks ; primaries, includinj,' their inner webs, phun brown-
ish (hisky. Hump aiul upper tail-coverts spotted dusky and hfjht buff. Tail brownish gray, barred
witli dusky.

Wing, 8.()0-S..5O inches; culmen, 2.-2i}-2.r)0; tarsus, 1.70-1.80; middle too, 1.00.

In plumage, this little Curlew closely resembles X. Hmhnnicm, but has the iinier wehs of the
primaries fnieh' and confu.sedly mottled, instead of being marked with very distinct and regul.ir
ochrnceous spots ; the breast with transverse V-shaped markings instead of linear, longitudinal
streaks, while there are other differences, besides the important one of size, which readily dis-
tinguish them.

SC()M)PA('[I).K - THK SNIPK KANfll-V - NI'NfKXrrS.

319

Tlic Smaller KskiiiKi Ciiricw, or '• Doii^'li-liiid," as it is called in New Hn.^laml —
ill (listiiiftioii tidiii llif lari,'!'!' //iii/son!iiin — lias a widely exti'iided (listiiliiitimi over
iicaily tiie wlinle (il Noitli aiid Smitli Aiiieriea. It is iiifliided iiy Ueiidiaidt aiiiuin,'
ihr iiirds III' (ireeidaiid, ami iPiolpalply (■oii't'ctly. tliniii^li liis cvideiirc was iiilei'eidial
iitlier than positive. It lias iiccn (liitaiiifd at Koit \ iiUoii l),\ Mi >si.s. .MePmij^al,
Liit'kliart, and Jones, hut was loiind nowlieic in Alaska west or sontli of that point.
Il lias liecM detected oil no |iiirt ol' the I'acitic coast, so tar as I am awaic. althoii;,'h

|>r. Ilecrmatin speaks of it as common in the San {''lancisco maikcl. It has not 1 ii

(ililaiiied theie liy any ol' the cdliectors, and Dr. ('()o|ier has no doiilil tlial l>i'. Ilccr-
iiiaiin must iiave had nd'erence to the IIiiiIsihi'iiks. It hrceds liiiou,v;hoiil all the
nnrthci'ii poitions ot North America, to the very holders and islands (d' the .Vict ie
Sea. Several siiecimeiis have hein taken in (iieat iSritain. Where it passes its
uintei'H, or the extent of its wand, liiij^s Ironi Noveiiiher to April, is only ini|)ert'ectly
known. It is not j^iveii as oceiirriiif,' in St. I'roix. Cuha. .lamaica, or St. l)omin,!,'o.
I.i'iitaud mentions the capture ol' only a siiij,de specimen (d' this species in 'I'rinidad;
this was taken in a dry meadow in the month (d' Septemher, It ap|iears to he e(pially
rare in Central .\merica, where only a siic^le specimen (d' it is recorded as having
heeii taken — hy Mr. '-'. ( )weii, at .San (leronimo. in (iuatemala. It occurs in its nii},'ra-
lidiis on the (Jult'-coa; t (d' Mexico, hut in what nuniher. and tor how lon.i,' a period it
is lound, is not known with accuracy. Mr. Uresser met with it in sprinj; at San
Antonio, where it was more common than the Jlitilsniiiiiis, hut not so ahundant as
the /(i>i(/!riififr!s. J)r. Merrill also speaks of this species as heinj; ahundant. diiriiii^
its mif4i"itions. in the same rej^ioiis, and he is eonlidcnt that some s|)cnd the winter
ill the valley ot the hower Hio (Iraiide.

Accordiii.Lj to the ohservations id" Mr. Ntdson, this Curlew passes in eoiisiderahlo
iiiimiiers thron^h the interior in its mi,t,'rations. He speaks of it as rather common
ill Northern Illinois during; these movements. It is said to arrive a little later than
the //iiflsiiiiicits, ]iasses north with short delay, and returns ahoiit the last ot Se|)-
triiil)er and in Uetoher, fretiueiitiii}; the wet jirairies in comiiany with the tJoldeii
Plover.

The tacts that tliLs species is of such rare occurrence in the West Indies and in
Central America; that it is I'onnd with so much a[iparent uncevtaiidy on the .\tlan-
tic roast; that its aiipearauce may almost always he explaiueil hy the interruiition
(d' its Hight hy storms; and that it is nowhere to he I'ound within our limits duriiifj
the winter — all this jxiints to South America as its residence durinjf that .season.
\\ V inter also that its nii,i,'ratioiis, hoth in the tall and in the spriiij,', are made in loii}^
ciiiitinuoiis Hi^dits, without any stoppage on the way. except when .such is caii.seil hy
stress of weather, unfavorahle winds, foi^s. and the like. In this opinion -we are
strenjftlicned h}- the fact that this hird may he h)Uiul on the Ania/ou and in various
ether portions cd' Urazil as early as Septemhi-r, where Natterer procured .specimens in
I'tnisiderahle nunihers. Darwin met with it at lUienos Ayres, and Liehteu.stein found
it at Jlontevideo.

We also have the eontirmation given hy ]\Ir. H. Durnford, in his "Notes on
the liirds of Central Patagonia" (" This,'' 1S7S. ji. 404), where he states that he wit-
nessed the jiassage of large migratory flocks of this sjieeies, from the 8th to the lOtli
of t (ctoher, through the valley of the C'hupat, in latitude 4.")° S. They made hut a
sluut stay in that valley — two specimens only having heen procured — and were
not scon again.

In this connection the fact, noted hy Dr. Lincecum, is not without interest — that
this species, known there as the " Curlew Sandpiper," occurred in his neighhorhood

-i

•M,

320

I'lt.KfOCIAI- (ilSAl.I.ATOKKS MMICdLvK.

ill tlirii' spring niiKnitidiiH in A|>ril. Tlicy ranir in ifiiiipaiiy witli tlif ('i)iiini(in Onlili m
IMiivrr, anil NtTiih'il to Irnl ill lilt' saiiii' iiiaiini'i' ami (III tlii> Hiinii' riiiiil. 'I'ln-y wiic
t'miiul tliinl,\ sratti'it'il aimni;,' tin' i'lovci'.s. ami wnr wilil ami lianl to hIidhI. Tlir\
wt'i'j' j,'i'm'iall,\ very lean. 'I'luy a|i|it'ait'il tlu'ic alioiit tlir Itli nf April.

Mr. .1. A. Alli'ii imt with u Minnie «tray n-prcHfiitativi' nl tliiH spccit's in WcMtiin
l\an..;is. nrar l''nri Mays, in May. Dr. Cimpfr nii'iitiiniH timlin^ tliis Curlew appar-
ently lui'i'iliiiK in tlie \ ieinity III Knit itenlun. W llele its ynlin^ ones Wele lakrll liy
liiiii w liilr llicy wiTe still ill llie iliiw II ; iiiit lie saw mnie nil tlie ( 'uliiiiiliia I'lains,

.Mr. iMiai'iliiiaii iiiluriiis lae llial tliis speeics is I'laiiiil in tlie vicinity (if ('alain,
where it is iiiiire aliiimlaiit than the lliiilsiiiiiitis, altlioii;^'li imt ii.siially very niinienms.
It is (leeasiiiiially loiiml in lloeks alioiit the hist of Aii},'iiHt. At this time it is vei\
t'oiiiniiiii ill the Itcriiimlas. It is iLsiuilly iiiiieh imire almmlaiit on the const of Maine
when there iiave lieeii easterly storms alioiit tlie L'dtli ol' .\iij,'iist. ami is then sem
ill remarkalile lli,u;lils; hut, exeept in sturmy weather, it is never iintieeil inlaml. In
sola • seasons this liird is rare in .Massaehiisetts; in others it is very almmlaiit. It
is ol' very irre;,'iil,ir oeiiirreiiee, .iml prolialily is more coiiiiiioii when easterly winds
prevail diiriii].;' the last third ot .\ii^Mist.

A sin^'le speeinieii ol' this Curlew was taken hy Mr. II. W. Klliott on the I'ryhilnt
Islands in .hiiie. Is?-.

Kieliardson states that he round this Curlew trequentiiiK the I'arreii Lands, within

the .\rctie ('in le, in siimmi'r. where it I' Is on j^rnlis, tiesh-water insects, and the

tniit of the Em jnl I'll III iii'iriiiii. I le descrilics its ej;<rs as lieinif ol' a pyrit'orm shape
and ot a SiHkiii-.i,'recn color clouded with a h'W lar^^c, irref,Milar sjiots ol' liri^ht iiiiihei-
brown. The Copper Indians lielieve that this liiid and some others lietray the
npproiieh of straii,i,'eis to the Kskinio. (In the 1,'itli of .lune. 18L% !!i(diarilsoii dis-
covered one of these Curlews .sitting;' on three cj^^^s. on the shore of I'oint Lake;
when he ap|)roaidied the nest, the female hird ran a sln' istance, crouching close
to the 1,'rouiid. and then stopped to oliserve the fate of her treasures, ilearm'. in liis
'•.loiirney to the Arctic ( tcean," rei'ers to this species as lieiiij; exai'tly like the lai;;er
one in color, shajie, and nearly everything: else except si/e. lie adds that- these two
species also ilil'fer from others in their manner id' life, as they never I'reijuent the
water's e(lu;e, hut always keep anioiii;' the rocks and dry ridj^es. feeding on berries ami
small insects. The Hesh of this bird is generally miieh more hi<,dily esteemed by tin'
dwtdlers on Hudson's Uay than that of the lar^'cr species, but it is by no means so
numerous in that ipiarter. llearne did not nu'ct with this species I'arther north than
Ej,'f,' I fiver.

Audubon, in his account of this Curlew, confirms the statoiueuts made more than
aeeiitHiry ajj[o by llearne, relative to its habits and the way in which they differ froiu
those of the Ifuihuniiiis. He was told by Mr. ( ).'ikes, of l]iswieli, ^lass., that durin,!,' its
short stay in that .section, in the early autumn, this bird may be met with on the hi^li
sandy hills near the sea-shore, where it feeds on e;rasslio]ipers and on .several kinds ot
berries. (.)n this food it becomes very fat, is excellent eating,', and acipiires the name
of "l)ou<i;li-liir(l ■' in conseipu'iice. He never met with it after leaving iMassachusotts,
exeept on one occasion; this was on one of the islands on the coast of South Caro-
lina, at the dawn of a fine day, when a dense flock of this Curlew ])assed to the
southward, near enough to enable him to ascertain the species. On the 29th of July.
18.1.'{, these birds made their first ajipearance in Labrador, near the Harbor of liras
d'Or. They came from the ufirtli, ami arrived in immense numbers. Flock after flock
passed close to his ves.sel, and directed their course to the sterile mountaimms tracts
in the neighborhood. Their stay on the cjast seemed to be occasioned solely by the

SCol.oI'ACID.K -rilK SMl'l'; I'AMII.Y NIMKNII'S.

821

ili'ii.sity ••* Hu' t'oK. mill us hoou us tin- wfutlitT cli-uri'd, tlicy stt dtl in u Htiaih'lit
,nUtH«' ut'ioss tlif (iiiir of St. I.iiwniicc. W lidi'Vcr tlicif was u s|Mit. iitloidiiiK' ii
>u|(|ily t)l' luod, lliin' tin- Cmli'ws uIkhiikIimI, ;iiiiI wi-if I'usily ii|i|in)a(liiMl, My tlio

r.'lli i>l nust all liail It'tt tlif ('(miitry. In Laluailor ('urli'ws f I clui-Hy ou what is

ilnTi' k.nwn as tin- "C'urlcw-lM'rry " — a Niiiall lilark iiuil (,'rowinj,' i»n a crcfping
slinili not more tliaii an imli or twii IiIkIi- WIh'Ii in scarcli <>!' rcrtliMK-K''*'""'^ t'"'y
tlv in I'liisi' niassi's witli ii'inarkalili' s|i>'i'il. pi'i Im niin^ licautilnl ('vulnlii)ns in tiii!
iiir. W iiili' i>n till' wiii^' tlii-y riuit a sutt. wliistlin^ ntito, liiit ui'i* sili-iit when uliKlitcil.
Tlii'y ran swiftly mi thr ^,'nlnnll, picking,' n|i llif ln-rrii's in flu-ir w;iy ; ami wlu'ii pur.
Hiiril, will sipiat in tin- inannrr nf a Snipi-, laying' ni-i'k ami In-ail tiat un tlir gruuml,
mill whi'U appniai'lii-il, at a siii;;lr wliisllr of lam of tin- tlork, all iinnn-iliatcly srn-ani
mil riy itIT, not infii'ipirMtly iraii^'litiiiK mi tin* sanii' spot. Tht'sc birds contiiint'd
til aii'is'i' in Hr.is d't Ir fnr si'Vi'ral days in lincks of inrn-asin^ sizi'. 'I'liis sprrii's
iJM's fruai till' j,'rmind liy a siii^,'li' ipiick spring, cuts liarkwanl iiml lnrward and all
ai'iiiuiil in a vi-ry riirimis maiini'r, and urcasimially paiisi's in tin' air in tin; uiun-
iKi' uf a Hawk, ri'iiiiiinin;,' statimiiiiy, with its lii'ad toward thr wind, just hcfori' it
ali;,'lits. It is nimi' shy in ralm and ipiii't wratln-r than at any otln-r tinn-. In its
passa^'i' across tho (Inlf it llii's liij^li. in i losr liodics and at ^,'rt'at spi-cd, Itut not in
I'c^^alar linrs, Aiidnhon was informi'd hy old sitth-rs at Uras d'(h' that this (hirhnv
liMssi's northward ovi-r thf saiar trart ahoiit tin' middh' of May.

'I'lii' Kskimo Ciirlrws arc known to iiii.i,'rat(' thrmii,di the interior in inuucnse
niiiiibi'rs in May. Duriiij,; the second week of that month liirj,'e flocks of several hnn-
ilivd nnike their appearance, even while the snow, many feet in depth, still fills the
ravines. .\t this season this Curlew may he I'ouiid .scattered everywhere, dotting the
piaiiic in large, loose flocks.

According to (Jirand. this <'iirlew is fmind every sea.son on the coast of New .Jer-
sey. Long Island, iind Uliode Island. It freipients the ojicn ground in the vicinity of
till' sea-coast, feeding on grasshojipers and other insects, seeds, worms, and berries.
It ai lives on the shores of Long Island in the latter part of .Viigust. and remains until
tlir 1st of Novi'inlicr, when it assembles in large flocks and moves oif to its winter-
([iiaiteis. lie has shot a few straggleis as late as the L'tttli of Novcmiier. It occa-
siuiially associates with the (loldeii I'lovei'. is generally in line condition in the
autumn, and. unlike both the other Curlews, its flesh is hnely flavored. In the
viiiiiiry of New Vmk it is known liy the name of /■'iifrs. \\\ .Smithern sportsmen it
is known as the ".lack Curlew" and the •• Shmt-billed Curlew." It is said to reach
the .Middle States from the South early in the spiiiig, leiiiaining only a short time,
fi'iiliiig in the salt-marshes and on the mud-Hats. It moves in large Hocks, and keeps
ii|i a roiistant whistling during the journey. It has been stated by those who shoot
fur the Philadelphia nuirket. that a few remain and bi'eed in the marshes about Cape
May; but it is more jirobable that these are only barren stragglers.

On the New .lei'sey coast it is saiil to be a very shy bird, and reipiires great cau-
tiiiii to approach. When friglitiMied it Hies with grei't rapidity, and is not easily
hriiiight down ; but may be much more readily shot as it Hies to and from its feeding-
grnunds, or it may be taken unawares when, unsuspicious id' danger, it is feeding
with other Waders on b.ars and points ahmg the creeks. To approach it under such
ciivuiiistaiKH's reipiires many inecautions, as it is easily alarmed. If one is wounded,
its companions evince great solicitude for it, .and will fly around it for some time ;
ami advantage is often taken of this by the si)ortsnian to obtain others.

Mr. MaeFarlane met with this species breeding in great abundance throughout the
Karri'ii Grounds up to the Arctic coast, but it was not met with before entering these

VOL. I. — 41

■I!

I !!'

'^ ' 5^(.

I:.

322

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

grounds. TIk; nests — wliicli were fountl i'roni about June 20 to July 10 — weir ii.
every instance mere holes in the ground, lined witli a few decayed leaves and haviii.r
a thin sprinkling of hay in the centre. It was very diHitndt to detect the nest of this
species, as the parent bird glides off long before a near approach, and the eggs dosclv
resend)le the grass in their colors. This species was very numerous in the IJarrcns.
The female, soon after leaving her nest, usually ascends into the air in a straiglit
line. The young birds leave the nest as soon as hatched, and when ai)pr(iached, liidi'
tliemselvi's in the grass, and can be found only with the greatest dithculty. iSoiuc
Avere already hatched by July 12.

The eggs of tins species exhibit very great variations in size, colors, and distrilmtidii
of markings. In No. Ob'ii (S. I.) tlie ground is a pale greenish-ash, with large olili(|uc
blotches of ditferent shades of sepia, the lighter inclining to a i)urplish-slaty tint. In
No. 14009 (S. I.) the ground is of a deep muddy or clay-colored drab. The markings
are chiefly toward the larger end, where they are confluent on the apex, are of ;ni
umber tint varying in the dejitii of the shade. In Xo. 9432 (S. I.) the ground is a
deep olivaceous drab, and the markings, of a very dark sepia-color, are in the form of
irregular small blotches, more nunu-rous toward tlui larger end. In No. 11401 the
ground is a light ashy-green color, and the markings are smaller, more riumer(i\is.
more longitudinal, and of a much lighter shade of sepia. These eggs are of an oblong
oval shape, slightly pyriform, one end more rouiuled than the other, and have an
average length of about 2.10 inches, and a breadtli at the largest portion of l.'.K)
inches.

NumeniuB phaeopus.

THE WHIMBREL.

Scolopax phccopus, Linn. S. X. cd. 10, I. 1758, 140 ; cd. 12, I. ]76(i, 243.

Nitmniius phaopKs, Lath. Iiid. Oiii. II. U'.'O, 711. — Xaum. Viig. Deutsclil. VTII. 183t>, 50ti. -

Kkvs. & Hi.As. Will). Kur. 78.— r.oNAi'. Comp. List, 1838, 49. — Macoim.. Man. II. 7S. —

GriAV, tleii. B. III. 560; Cat. Hrit. IJ. 1863, 1,')4. — Duksskii, Birds Eur. XVII. Apl. 1873, pi.

— RiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. .5(51. -Coue.s, Check Lis.t, 2d ed. 1882, no. 644.
Numaiiiis minor, LKAcn, .Syst. (^at. 1816, 32.
Nwncniits islandiciis, Biiehm, Viij;. Doutsclil. 610.
ScoloiMX bomiUs, (Imki,. S. X. I. 1788, 6")4 (not of Forster, 1772 !).
Phixopus arquatus, SxKi'n. Gen. Zool. .\1I. 36.
Whimlrcl, Pknx. Brit. Zool. II. 1812, 36, pi. 9. — Yahk. Brit. B. ed. 2, II. 583, fig. ; ed. 3, II. tilii,

fig. ; et Aucr.

Hab. Palaearctic Re'jion, occasionally visiting Greenland (of. Reinhardt, *' Ibis," 1861, p. 10).

Sp. Char. Adult : Crown siuiflf-browu or sooty-brown, divided longitudinally by a medial

stripe of pale buff ; a dark stripe on side of head, from bill to luid behind eye, wiili n distinct liglit

SCOLOPACID^: — THE SNIPK FA\riLY — NUXIENIU9.

323

suporciliiiry stripe above it ; reiiminder of the head, neck, and lower parts generally, bully w'uite,
llic iliin and throat, abdomen, thij;h.s, and anal region, more nearly white and innnaeulate ; cheeks,
link (all round), ju},'uliun, and breiust, distimtly streaked with brown; sides irregularly marked
wiih the same; axillars white, barred with brown. Back an<l wings grayish brown, in egularly
>|Mitted with ligliter ; primaries dusky, the inner (juills slightly sjiotted. Entire rump immaculate
white ; ui)per tail-coverts while, barred with brown. Tail Ijiownish gray, barred with dusky, and
tipped with white.

Wing, J).;3(»-l().r)() ; culmen, 3.(tO-;}.f;o ; tarsus, ^.ao-i'.oO ; middle toe, 1.4n.

Tliis spjcies bears a strong superficial resemblance lu X. Uudsunicus, but may be inimcdiutcly
ilistiiiguis'ied by the jmre white, unspotted, rump.

Tlie " Whinibrel," •• Wliiiubrel Curlew," " HiilRkirU'w," or •• Jack Curlew " — as it
is variously callod in diiTcrcut parts of Great Jiritaiii — is of occasional occurrence in
(Irci'iiland, and claims a jdace in our fauna exclusively on that ground. It is found
tlmntgliout Xortheru Europe and Asia in its breeding-season, ami during the re-
iiiainder of the year is i.i tuicertain appearaiu-e in vari(ms portions of the Old World,
including Ja])an and other islands. In ali respects, of jdumage, haunts, habits, and
iiidd. the Wliiiid)rel very closely resembles the Common European Curlew, but is
iiiuch smaller in size, aiul nowhen^ occurs in such numbers. It is met with occasion-
ally on the shores of (ireat liritain during the winter, but is much more plentifid
tliere in May, and again in September. The larger portion of these i)irds are nngra-
tdiy, either on their way to mort^ northern regions, where they breed, or returning
til nil the north with their yoiing brood. Only a few breed within the limits of Great
liritain, aiul these almost exclusively in the islands north of Scotland.

According to Thom])son this bird is only seen in Ireland in the spring and in the
autumn, ami at these periods it is also common on the Grampians and in other ele-
vated districts of Scotland. Mr. Selby mentions meeting with this species in the
summer of IH'M on the margin of Loch Shin, in Sutherland.shire. Mr. Salmon found
it breeding among the Orkney Islands, ami states that it nests very early, all its
eggs having been hatched by the 'M of .Iuiu\ Yarrell states, on the authority of
Dr. Fleming, that this bird also breeds in Shetland, where it is known as the '■ Tang-
uliaep,'' and that the lu'sts are placed on exj)osed ])arts of the he.ath. Mr. Ilewitson
also found it breeding on two of the Shetlaiul Islands, Veil and Hascosea — where,
however, it is rapidly decreasing in luimbers. Mr. Dinni, who has several times
visited both the Orkney and the Shetland Islands, informed Mr. Yarrell that while
tlie Curlew and the Whimbrel do not associate* together, he has found their nests
within a gunshot of each other, tmd that the latter leave those islands as soon as the
i)reeding-season is over.

The Whimbrel is said to feed on insects and worms, and their note to resemble the
syHables tellii-telhj-ti't, rapidly enunciated. On the continent of /Europe, :ind during
the breeding-season, this bird is found throughout Deiimark, Scandinavia, and Russia.
Mr. Ilewitson met with it occasionally in the western \t\xvt of Norway, ami Mr.
Dunti informed Mr. Yarrell that a few breed in Lajdand as high as latitude Gu°. It
is also a regidar summer visitor to the Fariie Islands and Iceland.

It is not known to breed on the southern coasts of England, yet small lit)cks have
been recorded by ^Ir. Knox as occurring in Sussex in the months of May and June.

During the winter the Whimbrel is known to extend its migrations as live scuth as
Madeira, and in its journeyings it occurs in Holland, Geruiany, France, Sjuin, Italy,
and in all the various islands of the Mediterranean. It is more common in Holland
than in any other country. It Avas found by Menefries, a Russian naturalist, on the
borders of streams in the region of the Caucasus. It has been met with in various

321

PILECOCIAL GHALL.ATOItES — LIMICOL.K.

Ill

parts of India, and Tenuuinck believes that the specimens from Japan are identical
with European birds.

Mr. Dresser regards this bird as one of the most widely distributed of the Waders,
inasmuch as it is not only f(mndover the entire I'aliearctie IJegion, but also thriiuj,'li-
ont the Indo-Malayan division, and in Africa as far down as the Cape. In Norway
it breeds north of the Fell-ranye, and in some ref,'ions, especially within the Arctic
Cin Ic, it is very numerous. It occurs in the extrenu' northern jiortions of Scandi-
navia, but has not been found in Spitzbergen. in Central Uussia it is extremely
common. It only breeds in the diy stejjpes in Eastern Euro])e.

Mr. Dresser states that its extra-limital range includes Siberia, India, China. Aus-
tralia, and Africa. It has been seen in Kamtschatka and in Eastern Siberia, in
Africa it has been taken on the Nile, at Mozambicpie, in Zanziitar. Madagascar, Mau-
ritius, etc. In South Africa it is rare, but s])ecimens have been obtained even as t':ir
south as Capetown.

The preseiu-e of this sjiecies in Greenland, and its conscfpuMit claim to a place in
the North American fauna, rests on the authority of Iieinhardt, who states (•■ Ilns,"
18G1, p. 10) that he has seen, during recent years, five or six specimens from various
parts of Greenland, and that he knows of six others that had previously been sent to
his father in the years IH.'U-KS.'io ; and he expresses the belief that it will yet ho
ascertained that tliis Curlew breeds in Greenland. He is strengthened in this by his
conviction that the Xinneniiis meltnioi'hijnrlnis of IJonaparte — attributed to Greenland
and Iceland (Compt. Kend. XLIII. 1021) — is no other than this species.

The fiesli of this l)ird is said to be excellent eating. The eggs are stated by Yar-
rell to be four in number. The ground-color is a dark olive-brown, blotched with a
still darker brown. They are pyriform in shape, and are very much like those of tlic
Kumenlus (iniuittu, but smaller. They measure 2.o4 inches in length by 1.(57 inches
in breadth.

Mr. Gerbe states tluit this species passes through France, in its autumnal migra-
tions, in the months of Septendjcr, October, and Novend)er, and returns north again
in the months of April and May. In its spring movements it appears either solitary
or in small parties of two or three.

Captain Feilden, as (]uoted by Mr. Dresser, states that it breeds in considerable
abundance on the Faroe Islands, from the 26th of May to the 17th of June. The
nest is simply a de])ression in the soil, on the top of some slight elevation in any
comparatively dry spot in the nuirshes, and is usually lined with a few grass l)ents.
or leaves of wild branddes.

According to ^Ir. Dresser the eggs vary from 2.25 to 2.57 i" ches in length, and
from 1.57 to 1.(51 inches in breadth. They are pear-shai)ed, and vary in color from
light olive-brown to dark greenish brown. ISIost of them are clouded and blotched
with dark umber-brown, the sjiots l)eing more numerous toward the larger end.

NumeniuB tahitiensia.

THE BRISTLT-THIOHED CURLEW.

Scolopax lahilfv.sis, Omel. S. N. I. 1788, 656.

Nwnusnuis tahiticnsis, Ridow. Xom. N. Am. \\. ]881, no. .562.

NttmenUts taitemis, CrjiEs, Check List, 2(1 ed. 1882, iio. 647.

Numcnim femoral is, Peale, Zool. V. S. Expl. Exp. 1848, 283. — Cass. Orn. T*. .S. Expl. Exji.

1858, 316, pi. xxxviii. — Rn)Gw. Am. Nnt. July, 1874, 435 (Fort Kenai, Alaska).
Otahf.Ue Curlew, Lath. Synoj). III. 1781, 122.
OtnhUe Ourkw, f'oi'Es, 1. c.

PHALAROPODID.E — THE PHALAROPES.

325

Had. Islands throughout the Pticitic Ocenn. Occtisionivl or accidental on the coast of Alaska.

Sp. Char. Adult: Tibial and femoral iilumes with their shafts lengthened into long, hair-like
loi-itles ; crown dark sooty brown, divided longitudinally by a nie<lial stripe of buff; a stripe of
(lii-iky aggregated streaks from bill to and behind the eye ; rest of the head, neck, and lower parts,
buff, the cheeks, neck, and juguluni streaked with brown, the sides irregularly barred with the
same ; axillars reddish bulf, or dilute cinnamon, widely barred with dark brown. Upper parts
■iiioty brown, coarsely spottetl with buff. Rump nearly uniform dark brown ; upper tail-coverts
1111(1 tail ochraceous-buff", the latter regularly barred with brown (the brown bars narrower than the
iiilt-rspaces), the coverts sometimes nearly immaculate, but usually irregularly marked with brown.
" Legs and fei't dull livid blue ; iris hazel ; basal half of lower mandible dull dark flesh-color, lost
nf bill horn-black" (Nelson, MS.).

Total length, about 17.2.') ; extent, 32.50 ; i wing, about 10.60 ; tail, 4.60 ; culnien, 3.65 ; tar-
sus, 2.20 ; middle toe, 1.50.

The single Alaskan sjiecimen before us agrees with examples from the Sandwich Islands and
Paumotu Group, but, being in more perfect feather, is somewhat deeper colored.

This species Avas first described by Mr. Peale in 1848 from specimens obtained by
the Wilkes Exploring Expedition at Vincennes Island, one of the Paumotu Group, in
latitude 16° H., longitude, 144° W. A single male specimen was taken by Mr.
Bis(dioff at Fort Kenai, Alaska, May 18, 1869, and is in the Collection of the Smith-
sonian Institution. The occurrence of a bird, the habitat of which is presumed to
lie in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, and distant some five thousand miles from
Alaska, and in a tropical region — a locality so remote and so unlike its natural
haunt — can only be regarded as being something jnirely accidental. The bird is
said to bear a general resemblance to the N. Hudsonicus, but to be conspicuously dis-
tinguishable by the rigid bristles that form the termination of the feathers of the
upper portion of the tibiae. Except a slightly stronger ferruginous tint in the males,
the two sexes were not distinguishable. They were abundant on an island of the
Paumotu Group named Vincennes by the Expedition, were found in the month of
September, and had become exceedingly fat by feeding on the berries of a species of
Canthium, then very abundant. The birds were rather tame, and when flushed uttered
a clear plaintive whistle. Beyond this we have no history of their habits, their
manner of breeding not being known.

Family PHALAROPODID^. — The Phalakopes.

Ohar, Small birds of Sandpiper-like appearance, but with very full, compact
jilumage like that of the Coots, Gulls, and Petrels ; the tarsus greatly compressed,
and the toes partly webbed, as w^ell as fringed by a lateral, sometimes scalloped,

The Phalaropes are small northern birds combining the habits, as well as to a cer-
tain extent the appearance, of the Waders and Swimmers. The three known species
belong to as many different genera, whose characters are as follows : —

A. Bill flattened, broad, the nostrils sub-basal.

1. PhalaropuB. Web between outer and middle toes extending to beyond second joint of
the latter ; lateral membrane of all the toes broad and deeply scalloped.

1 Fresh measurements of No. 58471, f ad. Fort Kenai, Alaska, May, 18, 1869 (F. Bischoff).

'Wtmm^^-

326

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LISIICOLJ:.

^«

l< a '(

B. Bill subulutL', the nostrils strictly basal.

2. Lobipes. Fed as in J'linlaivjiiis.

3. Stegauopus. ^^\■b between oulur und middle toes not reaching to second joint ; lateral

membrane to all the toes narrow and scarcely scallopeil.

Gknus PHALAROPUS, Brisson.

Phalaropus, Biiiss. Orn. VI. 17U0, 12 (type, Tiiiiga futiairia, Vikill.).
" Crymnphilus, Vieill. 1816 " (Cassin).

• ^^' /;

I"
i

I', fulkarius.

Char. Bill flattened, broad, the Jiostrils .sub-basal ; web between outer and middle toofi
extending to beyond second joint tif the latter ; marginal membrane of the toes broad and deeply
scalloped.

Phalaropus fulicarius.

THE BED PHALAROFE.

Tringafulicaria, hi^^f. S. N. I. 1766, 249 (based on Phalaropus rufisccns, Buiss. Orn. VI. 20;

Edw.irds, i>I. 142)
PImhtropiis fulkariim, Bonai-. .lour. Tliilad. Aead. IV. 1825, 232. — Sw. & KicH. F. B. A. II. ISm,

407. — Ninr. Man. II. 1834, 23(i. - Am. Orn. Bio<;. III. mn,, 404, pi. 255; Synop. ]8:i'.i,

239 ; n. Am. V. 1842, 291, pi. 339. — Cass, in Baird's B. X. Am. 1858, 707. — Baiku, Cat. X.

Am. H. 1859, no. 521. — Couks, Key, 1872, 248 ; Clierk List, 1873, no. 411 ; 2d ed. 1882, no.

604 ; H. X. \V. 1874, 471. — liiixiw. Xom. X. Am. B. 1882, no. 503.
Phalaropim riifiis, Vxhh. Zooj,'. l!osso-As. II. 1831, 205, pi. 63.
Phdiavopus plahjrhijncluts, Tkmm. M.m. 1815,4.59.
Phalaropus rufcsccns, Hr.iss. Orn. VI. 1760, 20.
Phalaropus griscus, Leach, Cat. Brit. Miis. 1816, 34.

Had. Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, breeding in very high latitudes, and
migrating southward in winter ; chiefly maritime ; in America, recorded from as far south iis
Ohio, IllinoLa, .ind Cape St. Lucas,

Sp. Char. Adult, summer plumngfi : Entire lower parts <leep purplish cinnamon ; sides of
head white. Back and .scapulars light ochraceous or bufl', strijied with black ; wing-coverts deep
bluish plumbeous, the greater widely tippeil with ptire white ; remiges plumbeous-dusky. Lining
of the wing white, bordered exteriorly with dusky grayish. Male, with the crown and na])e

PHALAROPODID^E — THE PHALAKOPES — PIIALAROPUS.

327

stiiiiked, like the back ; white on side of hend not well defini'd. Female, with the crown uniform
liliiiiilieous-ljlack or dark i>liunlx:ou9, the white on wide of the head surroiindinj,' the eyes, and
alii'iiiitly delined, the nape unstreakod cinnamon and idiiniheou:'. Ailult and youiirj in u-inttr:
Iliad, neck, and lower jiurts jmre white, tlie ucciimt and a space [lartly or completely Rurroiniding
ilic eyes ilark pUimlieous. Ui)i)er parts uniform line pearl-^'ray or lij,dit bluish plumbeous, the
niiiij,'es slate-color. Yoiuuj, Jimt jjlummje : ("rown, najie, back, and scapulars dull black, the
I'liiihci's e(l;-''d with ochraceous ; winj,'-coverts, rumj>, and upper lail-coverts plumbeous, the middle
idvi'its bordered with pale buff, tlie tail-coverts with ochraceous. Head (e.xcept crown) and lower
]urts ^'enerally, white ; the throat and .JM,i,'ulum sullused with brownish buff. Downy youwj:
Aliuve, )irif,'ht tawny buff, marked with broad irregular stripe.^ of black ; superciliary stripes bright
lawny bull", separated oidy by a narrow and sometimes interrupted dusky streak ; pileum bright
raw-uniber brown, bonlei-ed e.xteriorly with black ; chin iind tiiroat light fulvous-buff, changing
til smoky buff on jugnlum ; rest of htwer parts dull whiti.sh.

Total length, about 7.50 inches ; wing, about r).25 to 5.50 ; culmen, .80 to .95 ; tarsus, .80 to
.85 ; middle toe, .75 to .80.

111 very many respects the habits, movements, and distribution of the Red Phal-
arope appear to be very nearly identical with those of Loh'qies hjiperboreus. Like that
sju'cies, it breeds in hifjjh Arctic ret^'ioiis, and is even much more decidedly Arctic in
its residence during the season of reproduction. It wanders, during the long period
that intervenes between these short seasons, irregularly over a large portion of the
iKirthern hemisphere, having been traced to Calcutta, where a single specimen Avas
jirocured, and to Xorthern Africa, where also one was obtained in January by Mr.
Tyrwhitt lUake (-'Ibis," 18C7). This species is also included by Middendorff among
the birds of Siberia, and is given as among those ■which penetrate to the extreme
north. It arrives with the Red-necked Thalarope on the Taimyr Kiver, and the
two were equally common there and on the Bogauida. In latitude ITf X. the last
was .seen on the loth of August, and its fresh eggs were obtained June 17th, and
half-fledged young ones July L'oth (O. 8.). The note of this bird resembles that of
the Northern I'halarope (Lo/)i/>rs lolxitus), but is even more Finch-like.

In the English Arctic Expedition of 1 .S7r)-187() this species was found breeding near
the "Alert's " winter-ipiarters (lat '<'J° .'57' \.), and Mr. Feilden obtained a specimen
there — a female — on the oOtli of , uue, 1S7(). During the month of July he also
ol)served a pair on a small fresh-water pond in latitude 8li° 30' N., where they were
apitarently breeding. The female was larger and brighter-colored than the male.
Several other examples were seen in the same neighborhood by various members of
the Expedition.

According to Mr. Kumlien, this is the "Whale-bird" and "Bow-head Bird" of
wlialemen. He met with large flocks of this species at great distances from land;
ill one instance, on Augtist 4tli, in latitude 41°, longitude 68° W. Their numbers in-
creased as he proceeded north, and at a distance of two hundred miles from the Lab-
rador coast he noticed them in a gale in very large flocks. He states that this bird

328

PR.KCOCIAL GRALLATOREB — LIMICOL.E.

follows the whales, imnu'diiitely aiiproiiehing. wlipii one is seen to blow, in quest of
the marine animals tliiis In'uiight to the surface. Wlialemen always watch the motidiis
of this Itiril, as it is well known that it can discern a wliale at a mucii greater distauci'
than they can. A spe'-imen wliicli had been killed on the back of an Oreu gltidlntDr
was brought to Mr. Kumlien l)y an Kskimo, and i I'sophagus was found to becramnuil
with small crustaceans, which were still alive, thuugh the bird had been killed .sev(i;d
hours. This species arrives in Cumberland with the breaking-uj) of the ice, and is
said to have greater powers of flight than either the L. tobntits or the »V. If'ilsoui, and
to fly much more swiftly.

I'rof. Alfred Newton found these birds breeding on Spitzbergen, though he was iml
able to discover any of their nests. The exjdoring expedition of the i)rcvious ycur
met with one, however, in the beginning of .Inly up the North Fjord of the Sound.
Later in the month Professor Duner found a nest with tliret' fresh eggs in l!ill
Sound. They lay on the ground, without aiiv bedding, among small splinters of stone
Dr. Malmgren met with this species as far imrth as latitude iSO° 10', and states tliat
it feeds chiefly on a sjieeies of nostoc ; but the stomachs of those I'rofessor Newtmi
dissected on Kossii contained gnats and their larva*. Professor Newttui also rclVis
to this species as one of the birds of Iceland, where it is well known to the natives.
Faber met with three pairs, June 21, IHL'l, ami iigain, on the Oth of July, with a
family party of this species. In 18uS I'rofessor Newton discovered two i)airs on a
lake in the same district where Faber had found his, but they did not reniiun {»
breed. In ISGU he received four eggs, well identified, which had been sent to him
from Iceland by a friend.

Wheelwright found this species very rare in Scandinavia ; but although he nc\ ci'
obtained its eggs, he had no doubt that it breeds on the coast of North Norway and
in East and West Finland.

The IJed I'halarope is a distinguished swimmer. Sabine, in his menu)ir on the
Birds of (ireenland having met with a flock of four, in latitude OiS°, mentions tlicir
swimming in the sei tiong icebergs, several miles from the shore ; and Kichardson.
in his Appendix to ''I'arry's Second Voyage,"' states that it was observed in the ojicu
sea, out of sight of land, preferring to escape danger by swimming rather than hy
flying. This bird feeds on the smaller thin-shelleil crustacea and on aqiuitic «;cts,
which it i»ursues in the water and picks u|i as they are swimming: and its ar
has been compared to that of a Teal with the head drawn l)ackwards.

This bird is common in the early summer in (xreenland. In I'arry's Aret^voy-
ages it was also observeil to be abundant on the North Georgian Islands, and l^^t.^^
found breeding at Igloolik and on Melville Island. It is included in the list of birds
given in the zoology of r>»'echey's voyage, but the locality is not given.

Dr. Walker met with a single specimen in ilelville Hay, near Cajjc York. Rein-
hardt also tnuimerates it among the liirds of Greenland, where it is evidently very
abundant during the breeding-season. (■ai)t!un lilakiston reeeived si)ecimens from
Hudson's Bay which were in their summer plumage.

In the summer of 18G(> a very remarkable visitation of this bird took place in
Great Britain. It ajjpeared in unusually large numbers, and a great many were shot.
Mr. J. H. (Jurney, in a ])am])hlet recording this unusual occurrence, states that tii(!
flrst-comers made their appearance on the 20th of August, none being seen after the
8th of October. The greater number of those taken were shot between the 15th and
the 25th of Se])teraber, inclusive. Adult specimens and the young of the year were
obtained to the number of not less than two Juutdred and fifty ; they were chiefly
take, in the south of England.

IP''

jilll

I'UALAHOFODID.K - TlIK IMIALAHOI'KS — PIIALAROPUS.

329

on tlic

tlii'ii'

iinlsiiii.

le opt'ii

iiin by

■fts.

Uk'hiirdsiin states that he t'omul this spt'cics iihmulaiit in lii^'ii northern hititudes,
liircding on the Nortli (Jeorgian Ishinds and on the .MelviUe Peninsula. It was fro-
i|iiciitly seen hy the uiendiers of the northern ex|ieditions swimming at a great dis-
tjiuce Irom land. Its eggs — generally four in nnndter — are described as iiaving an
(lil-green ground, varied by crowded, irregular s[)ots of dark nnd)er-brown, whieli
iMCiinie eonHiient toward the o!)tnse end.

Mr. Hatty writes that lie has observed this species keejiing in its migrations well
(lilt to sea, and thinks tiiat it is rarely seen inland. He met with it about the middle
lit May in the Hay of Fundy, whence it departed for the iu)rth shortly after its arrival,
rrtiutiing again in .\ugust iti coiintlchs inimbers, keeping, al)ont twelve miles from
the land, in the tide-streaks, where it fed (Ui the surface of the water, Hoating or
swimming aixmt in it as small Ducks do.

(iiraud considered this I'halarope as of rare occurrence on Long Island, mention-
ing one specimen known to have been shot at (^uxiue, and others said to have been
taken in that vicinity. It is probably not so rare there as has l)een sui)j)()sed, A
tiiic pair in their winter plumage was .shot in that neig!d)orhood in October, 1S7.">, by
Dr. .Fames C. Merrill, and are now in tlie collection of the I'xiston Natural History
Sdcicty. It is said also to be rari' on the coast of New .Icrsey and on the Atlanti(!
>liiires generally, although probably more common a short distance out at sea. It
occurs as a migrant, in the fall, in the interior, on the Western lakes and rivers ; but
its iippearance is only occasional, and the iiistory of its distribution is but ini))erfectly
known. Audul)on met with it on the Ohio, near Louisville, in LSOcS. It was then
late in October, and the l)irds were in their winter ]ilumage. They seem to have been
singularly abundant at that time — so nuudi so, tluit he shot seventeen at a single
discharge. The same author nu-ntions that in September, 1831, — being about si.xty
iiiih's outside of Nantucket — he passed through an extensive bank of sea-weed, on
wliieli Inuidreds of this sjtecies were walking about as unconcernedly as if on land.
Their flight he deseril)es as rapid, and not unlike that of the Red-backed Sandpiper
{I'vl ill 11(1 iinwricfUKi).

Mr. H. W. Elliott noticed tins species as being iit certain times rather more abun-
diuit than L. /oixitiis anunig the Prybilof Islands; yet he had no reason to believe
tliat it l)red there. Like that bird, it was seen by the marshy margins of the lakelets,
solitary or paired, but never in Hocks. The earliest arrivals oecur in June, and it
reappears in the greate.st number about the loth of August; by the oth of October
all liave left.

Mr. IJoardman is (piite positive that a few of this species breed on the St. Croix
Kiver every season. On one occasion, in company with Mr. Kisder, near Princeton,
ill tile last of June, he canu' upon sonu' y<mng birds already hatched out and running
about, and one of them was killed with a tishing-pole. This was in the neighborhood
of (irand Lake, about sixty miles north of Calais, Me.

Tliis bird has not — so far as known — been found abundant on the Pacific coa.st.
l>r. CoojH'r mentions only a single si)eeimen, which was shot near San Francisco by
.Mr. Hepburn ; but he did not meet with any south of that place.

y\r. Dresser sjieaks of having received twenty eggs of this bird taken at Egedes-
niiiidc and Upernavik. (Treenland. Sonic had a ])ale greenish gray, or sea-green
gnnuid color, and Avere covered with purplish-lirown underlying shell-markings and
very clearly defined blackish-brown surface spots, which at the larger end were
almost confluent. They varied in size from .8") l)y 1.07 inches to .88 by 1.27 inches.

This species was found breeding on the Arctic coast of North America by ilr.
ilacFarlane. It was nu't with in Franklin Bay, on the 4th and 5th of July, and five

VOL. I. — 42

■:i

;

i .1

5 i

330

PR.KCOCIAL OUALLATOUES — LIMICOL.Ii.

individiiuls and two nests wore oljtuinctl. Tho nests are said to have boon ])reci,silv
similar to tliost? of A. Inlmtiis — nicro depressions in tlie j,'ronnd, witli hardly any
linin}< exeejit a few dry leavt-s. One nest — found on tiie Itii — contained three e;,';,'>.
whieh were perfectly fresh. The other — taken on the oth — contained fouregj,'s, in
which were l»nt slij^htly develoiied endiiyos.

The egt,'s of this Hpecies found liy Mr. .MacFarlane on an island in Franklin I'.ay.
on the Anrtie coast, measure l..'i(l inches in leni,'th hy .87 of an inch in Im-adlli.
Their gro\ind-eolor is greenish drab, marked with lilotches of a varying intensity dl
sepia-brown, larger, more conHuent, and deeper in tint on the obtuse end. The small-
est spe(umens of this egg measure .iS,** by l.l."i, and one «'gg is .*.<() in breadth.

Geni's LOBIPES, C'lrviER.

Lobipes, "Cvv, Rt-g. Aiiiin. 1817" (typi', Trinija lininrbunii, Linn., = T. lobata, LitJN.).
Chak. Siniilur to Pkularopug, but bill Hubulato, and the nostrils strictly basal.

L. hbatits.

ii^i

Lobipes lobatus.

TEE NOHTHEBN PHALABOFE.

Tringa lobata, LiVN. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 148 ; wl. 12, I. 1706, 249 (based on Edw. pi. 308).
Tringa hupcvborca, LiNN. S. N. ed. 12, 17()ii, 241) (Imscd on Faun. Siiec. 17!) ; Emv. 143 ; AVii.i,. 27i' ;

Hay, \^1. ~ Phahmijim ciii'irux, I5i;iss. Oni. VI. 15).
Phalaropua hyperboirus (male), L.\tii. Ind. Oiii. II. 17W, 775 (oxcl. syn. supposed female = /'.

/((/ifrtWit.v). — Nirrr. Man. II. 1834, 239. —Arn. Oni. liiog. III. 183,5, 118 ; V. 1839, .WS, il.

215. — Cash, in Hainl's li. X. Am. 1858, 70G. — lUiitD, Cat. N. Am. H. 1859, no. 520.
Lobipes hypcrbotrus, Cuv. liej,'. .\nim. I. cd. 1829, 532. — AliD. Synop. 1839, 240 ; B. Am. V. 1!<1J.

295, pi. 340. — Coi-Ks. Key, 1872. 248; Check List, 1873, no. 410; 2d ed. 1882, no. Cu3 :

B. N. W. 1874, 409. — ItiiKiW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 564.
Tringa fusca, Omel. S. X. L ii. 1788, 675.
Phahiropus rnficoUis, Pai.I,. Zoog. IJosso-As. 1 1. 1826, 203.
Phalitropus cinevasccus, I'At.l,. t. e. 204.
Phalaropiis cinmus, Mkyi'.I! & Woi.k, Taseli. II. 1810, 417.
Phalaropus angnslirostriK, Xatm. Vlig. Dentseld. VIII. 1836, 240, pi. 205.
" Phalaropus aiuttralis, Tf.mm. & Bi-." (Sciilwiki,).
Plialaropim Willinwitii, Sim.m. Linn. Trans. VIII. 264.

Had. Northern portions of the northern hemisphere ; breeding very far north, and not pene-
trating far within the tropics in winter ; chiefly, but not .strictly, maritime. In America, reconlcil
from the following southern localities: Bennudas ; Dueiiaa, Guatemala; Isthmus of Tebuan-
tepec.

Sp. Char. Adult : Above, dark plumbeous, the back striped with ochraceous ; wings dusky,
the greater coverts widely tipped with white ; lower parts chiefly white, the neck with more or

niALAROPOniD.E — TIIK IMIALAUOrKS LOIIIPKS.

331

|. >i nilouH. Fimali; witli tliu xitU's ul tlit- lut^k ami JiikuIuiii niiiroMii riniiiiiiutii-nit'otiH, t)iu |iluiu-
licKiis iiliDVc |im'i' anil ciiiitiimiiuM. Mali; willi llic rnrinis iciiiliiicil iliiclly to tlif HiiU'.i at the iicck,
ilu' jti;,Miluiii lii'iiif,' mixfil wliite and j,'rayi.-<li, linked willi MilonH ; iilnnilicons aliovi; iliiUcr and less
I'.iiilinuouH tlian in tlie IVnialc. Vdiiini, jifn' jilinnuiji : < 'iitwn ]iliinilii'<ms-diiHky, witlioi' wiiliont
-livakfi; liaik and ,ica|(nlais Maik, di>liniily slivakcd with linll' nr inliiacciius ; win},'s as in adnll,
ImiI middle lovui'ts liordfrcd willi Imll' nv \vliili.->li. l-'uicla'ad, sniira-aiiiicular siri|n'. Imvs, ami
l.iwiT paitu wliito, the Ju},'uluni and sidi'.-* <d' lin^axt KoinctiiiU's ruiH'iiMfd with dull biowniwli ; atiririi-
lai>dii!<ky. IhWHij youiKj : Above, l)i'i>,'lit tawny, llic iiinip with lliivu jianillel Hlriiius ol lilatk,

(•mjosin;; two of li^ditcr fiilvouH than llm f,'ro\ind-tolor ; crown coveivd by a tvian^^jular patch of
niiitlli'd darkiT l)i'own, bounded iircgnlaily with blackish ; a black linu over cars, not rcachinf,' to
tlic eye ; throat and rest of heud lif^lit tiiwny fiilvoiw ; rest of lower parts white, bccoiuinj,' },'rayi.ih
pdstcriorly.

Ttital Icnjitli, about 7.(K> iucliesi ; winj,', 4.(H)-4.4.") ; culnien, .H()-.!)() ; tar.sus, .75-. 85 ; middle

tllC, .li.')-."").

'I'lu'ie is no .specimen in the Smithsonian Collection repicsciitin;,' the winter ])luma^'e of tliis
.species; but this stage is thus described by Naumann, in "Die Vo;,'el Deut.schlands " (Vol. V'lII.
pp. :i4l. -dl't) : " The winter plumage, whiidi they take after the young plumage, seldom aiijiears in
lull, and such young birds are yet inoidting when another, the spring moulting, sets in. Ev(!n old
liirds are scldoni found in full winter plumage, because the autumnal moulting goes on very slowly,
Tlif few new featlier.s which are often found in tho.si' killed in late autumn .seem to have been over-
liMikecl, since a de.scrijjtion of them can nowhere be found, although they appear ([uite dilferent from
those of the young, luid even of the sunnner ]dumage. I have a specimen in which almost the whole
liliiniage has been renewed, and which, therefore, has almost (;omi)letely taken its winter jjlumage.
It i~ strikingly dilferent from the other plumages. The forelie;id, a stripe over the eye extending
tliMUgh the temjdes, bridles, chin, throat, clie(.-ks (mostly), foreneck, breast, and belly to tbe tail
piuc white ; the crown gray, with bluish-white .scales with black .stri])es on shafts ; a little spot
before the eye black ; a slri|( under the eye, somewhat more extendeil over the auricular region,
blaiki.sh and whitish gray mingled ; the hind neck light Idni.sh gray, with a few somewhat darker
spots ; the sides of the juguluni clouded with )>alc gray, with a yellowisli-brown wash ; upper back,
slioulders, and hinder wing- feathers gray, toward the roots of the feathei-s darkest, approaching
M.ukish brown, with black shafts and broad bluish-white borders, by which the wlude gains the
(i|ipc,irance of being deep gray, with grayish-white .scales. The middle tail-feathers also have dull
white borders, and are, besides, like the U])per tail-covert.s, rump, or lower back, blackish brown-
gray; the latter, however, with only a few light borders to the feathers. All the rest is like tlio
vdiiiig ]>lumage, but with the wing-coverts .somewhat lighter, in old birds intermixed with feathera
tile color of the shoulder-feathei's (.scapulars)."

I'^xamples vary considerably in the clearness and sharp definition of the colors, even those in
the down dilfering much in this respect, some being pale yellowi.sh, and others deep rusty fulvous ;
the latter e.xtreme being represented by a .s[)ecimen from the region of Hudson's Bay, the former
by examples from the Prybilof Islands, Alaska. As, however, several from the latter locality vary
among themselves, the diflerence is perhaps jutrely individual.

;i| 'rf ; ■ m j

332

PR.KCOClAr. (il(AI,L.\T()KKS — LIMU'dL.t:.

:i .

■

1 '^ "*■

1 • '■

' >

1 ' '

,; '

ifli

Tlii.s sjH'cifH, kiiDWii iiiiiiiiiK writers liotli ;i.s llic (jniv iiutl us tli«' Ut'il-ncckcd I'liiila
rope — tlic (iiif iiiiiuf liiiviii^,' Im'ch siiKKi'^^tt'il I))' its wiiitta- pliiiiuim', th(! otliiT liy flir
l)ri>,'lit coloi's wliicli iiilniii its suiiiiiifr dn-ss — is foiiiiunii tu iMitlicuutimMits, liri-fiiin,'
in the liij^li .Victic ir'^idiis nl Asiii, Hiiin|ic. mnl Aiiicricii in ijir cuily siiimmT, iiml
from Au^rust to tlic latter pint ul .May wiiiidfriii;,' irrt-Kuliirly ovit h laiKc jtortiori ul
the iKirtlifni licinisplit'ii'.

Mr. It. .Swiiilidi' iiii'iitiinis luiviiii,' prdcnrcd H])fciiiicns of (Ids Itird in Novi'iidior
lu'ur Apf's Hill, in Knrninsa. It was sitting' and tloatini,', uashin;4 ilsdl' in a iittlr
stream, and its niovenients ai'c s)ioken ol' as lieinj,' Itntli pleasing and ^'raeelul. Ai
Tanisay. .March 11. he pmenred three others I'roni a tioek which was teedin;.f on tin'
shoals of the livr; niid he afterward met with this species on the island of iiainaii.
A,s he was leavin;^ lliini,'-pe, fonr of liiese birds tlew toward tlie .sliip and .sat Hoatin.;
on the water close to Iiim'. Ife alterward. .\piil I, on the shore of the liUncliou
I'eidnsnla, saw another, which he seeniccl. \ single s)ieeimcn is said (" Ibis." I,S(i7.
J). IG!)) to have iieen taken liy Mr. Wallace in one of tiie Arm Islands. The natuml-
ists of I'erry's I''..\|)edition to .lapaii prociirc<l specimens ol' this hii'd from the Islinii!
of Ni|ihon.

Althoni,'h a northern hiiil in its Itreedin;,', thi.-' species makes its appe.'tr.mce ni
warmer rcji^ions immediately upon the (dose of its season of reproihietion Mr. Sahiii
met with fonr of this species at Dnefias, in (inutemala. in Aujj;nst. '..S.'t',). They had
apparently hnt just ai'rived. and were swimmin,!^ slowly aliont {)„ the lake. |)ickin',f at
the weeds, and showint; the usnal alisence of timidity peculiar to these birds.

Middendorff speaks of this species as iiein^' abundant iu Siberia, and iiadudes it in
liis list of those birds widcii penetrate to the exti'cnu' north. \'on lleuj,din found it
at the bei,dnidnj; of September on Nova Zendda, already dressed in its autumnal plu-
mage ; also on Wayj^atz Island, w here it w as leathered iu family parties of six or moic
on shallow fresh-water poids. Mr. ('. \V. Shepherd found it breeding in great inunbcrs
on the small islands in the Lake (d My-vatu, in the north (d' lc(daud. The young
birds — "tiny little pieces of aninuited wool" — were very beautiful ; and the old
birds were so tame that they were caught in the landing-net like butterflies, as tlicy
tiew anmnd, while the hens .sat still, l)rooding their litth' ones within a few feet
of him.

I'rofessor Ts'ewton also mentions finding this bii'd very common all over Iccdand.
on all the ponds and lakes, arriving Lite in May, and at once iteginning the duties (d
niditication. On one occasion, in the nnnith of dune, he saw a Hock of at least a
hnndred sitting on the surf, between the breaking waves and the shore.

Although ^Ir. Wheelwright found this species far more common in Seandinavia
than the fii/!riir!iis, he does not think that they breed anywhere excepting in the
Lapland fell-valleys. They breed commonly at (^)ui(dviok. The egg.s. four in mindier.
he describes as being of a i)ale (dive-green ecdor, and covered with large and small
blaci ''"own sjiots. He found imt little difference between the eggs of this specio
and tiiosc of t\n' fidirariiin, except that the latter are slightly larger.

Yarrell states that this bird is nuudi less rare in England than the lied (d' the
same species; but the latter is in(n'e ecnnmon in the northern islands of Se(jtlaiid.
Mr. Salmon, who visited the Orkm^ys in tlie snmmer of 1831, says of this bird, as
quoted by Yarr(dl : "This beautiful little bird a|)i>eared to be very tame ; although
we shot two pair, those that were .swimming aliout did not take the least notice el
the report of the gun ; and they seemed to be much attached to each other, for when
one of them flew to a short distance, the other directly fcdlowed ; and while 1 held a
female that was wounded, in my hand, its mate came and fluttered before ray face,

rnALAUui'onin.K - tuk vuw.wun'KH — LoniPKs,

83;j

\rtcr Hoini' little (litlirtilty, we were rortuiiiitc in tiinlinn tlicir iitsts, wliicli wen*
l>lai Til ill small tiit'tH of ^niKH. iiinl wi'ir .liiuiit tin' si/.t' ot' tliut of II Titlark, hut miii!h
i|('('|ii'i'. Tlii'y liail lint just I'diiiiui'iio'il la,viiiK< •liiiir l<(, as we foiinil Imt (Uic nr two
f^-^'s ill a iii'st, ami tlii'ir miiiiln'r is tniii'."

Nilssoii also mi'iitioiis this liini visiting Swcdfii and Norway, iiiid states that a fi'W
iciiiMiii to hi'i'rd (111 the margins of fn'sh-water lakfs; Imt tin' Ki'''ut.('r part k<» tiirtlirr
imitli. Mi: \V. I'roctor visited leeland in the summer of l-S.'J", and states that ho
loiiiid it hreediii^ on little hilloeks in tho marshes. The youii}^' liinls left the nest as
sniiii as hatched. < hi llie a|i|ir(>ai'h (d dan.i^ei. the old liinl runs amoiif^ the ui|uati<!
|il;iiils, s|ireadin,i,' her wind's and enmiteileitiii!,' lameni'ss. As soon as she has siie-
nrded ill attract ill;,' the enemy away Inim her youn^;, siie soars upward to a ,t,'''*'"t
liii;,'iil. then desciMids Very rapidly, making' a noise with her will^'s, the motions of
which ill her upward tli!,'lit are also .somewhat remarkahle. On returning' to the

i;r(iiiiid she calls her youii<,' to'^'ether with a | iiliar cry, and ^'jithers them under lu-r

alter the manner of the domestic ileii.

Tiiis I'lialarojie is found on the I'acitic coast at Vancouver Islaiul, where Mr. K.
|!iiiuiic mentions its lu'cseiice. Dr. Cooper states that in winter it migrates south of
Caliiiirnia. not htdii;^ common lieyniid iMoiiterey. lie procured a single specimen
soiitii of San Die^ro, wliicli had heeii killed, May 1. hy flying,' against the liKhtiiou.se.
At .\h)iiterey he noticed its arrival, apiiareiitly Irom the nioiiiitaius, ahout Septemlier
].■»; and lie saw this hird otf San Kraucisco Hay in tJuiU!, when it may have heeii
nesting' amoii^ the ('oast iJaiiKcs.

Tliis sjiecies is also mentioned hy lieiuhardt as occurring in Greenlaml ; and ( 'aptain
ISlakiston received specimens of it from Hudson's Itay and (Ircat J'lear Lake; Mr. Koss
also found it on the Mackenzie IJiver, althou;.,di it is not common there.

.Major Weihlerlinrn records the taking of two specimens of this liird in Ik'r-
luuda ; one was found di-ad. March 21. ISfS, suji])oseil to Jiave heen killed hy Hying
a.uaiiist the iron lighthouse during the night; the other was found the '' -ilowiug day,
swiiiuuing ill Hamilton Water, and was kiUed with a stick. Mr. Ilurdis mentions a
tliird, taken .March 8, IxriL'; this one he kiUed with liis walking-stick.

Mr. Uoardiiiau informs me that this sjiecies is found ahout l'a,s.sama(|UO(hly ISay all
the summer, and that it undoubtedly breeds there iu the spring and fall. It is geu-
crally known as the ".Sea Goose," from the jieculiar manner in which it sits on the
water. Its food appears to be Crustacea and marine insects.

Mr. Harold Herrick also states that these birds may be .seeii in large numbers all
the summer on the " Ki])lings," about eight miles from Grand .Meiian, wliere they
congregate to feed on the shrimps and aniinahnihe tliat drift in the eddies matle liy the
advancing and receding tide. They do not ap]»roach the shore except when driven
ill i»y storms, but ;ire represented as being very tame.

Rieliardson states that they In'ced on all the Arctic; coasts of America, and only
resort to the shores of Hudson's May in the autumn, freiiucnting sh.ady ponds, in which
ihcy swim with ease and elegance, their attitudes resembling those of the Common
Teal; and like that bird eimtinnally diitping tlieir bills into the water, picking up
tiic small insects which constitute their food.

(Jiraud, in his " Mirds of Long Island." mentions having seen several specimens of
tliis bird that had betn procured on the coast of New Jersey, where it is regarded
as very rare, as it is also on fiOiig Island. He met with one on the inner beach the
latter part of June, in company with a party of small Sandpipers. It was very
gentle, and sh 'd no disjiosition to take wing, even when lie came (piite near. Tliis
proved to be s. mug male of tliat year, and its stouiacli contained particles of shells

■m

334

riLWDClAl. Ull.VM.AioUKM— LIMIC<»I,.K.

* ;i

* I

:,}•

ft*

lii

iiiid miiiit. Tliis N|M>picH is iiitr(><iu*>nt in tlic iiiiildli- dirttrirt, ami is rart>ly mM>ti nuiiiIi
ttf Ni'w N'ork. (liiuiid Htativs. ou tiir aiitimrits (d' I'lidcssm- Ituird, that, cxaiiiidcs n|
tlds l'lialiir<)|ii> have twiir Ihtii tai<cii near CailiHlf, I'a.

S(ii'(Miiifii.s III this I'liaiai'Dpf arc urcasiinialiv tai<*'it iu>ai' ItoHtnii, as \vt II as on
various iitlici' |Mii'liniis id' tin' New I'ai^daiid cuasl ; ixit it dnrs not a|i|ii'ar to lit- loin
iiioii oil ui' iii'ai' till' laiiil. It also orriiis as au irii'^idai ami iidi'n|ii<'iit laiKiaiit, Imili
in Hpi'iiiK and tall, near l<akt> KoskonouK,

A small tlmk of tiii'Sf liirds was sfi-n on tlic west coast of (liccnlaml. in latitmli'
7\'\ in .lane, on Tarn's first vova.uc ; and I{oss, in the Appendix to the "'I'hird Vny.
ap'." nicniions thai a small tlock alighted under the lec ol the ship daring' a stniie^r
hrceze, and were so tearless as to approach within a lew yards, feeding,' on siii;il|
Hhrimps, which were seen in ;,'rcatr nnndicis. At that time the ship was at least si\i\
ndles Irom the nearest land. These birds were alterward lonml hrecdin;,' on the
AVhalcHsh Islands; lait noiu' were m'cii after h-uviiiK (irccniand.

According' to the ohservations of Mr. I,. Knndien, this species arrives in Cnndier-
land in thine in lar^e flocks, but is not so ciuiimoii HHfii/i'itirtus ; and he states lli;it
lie has seen the htlmtiin as far south and farther north, and nearly as far trnin
land as that Hpecics ; hut this is true only of a few individuals. It seems more IhihI
of the shore, hreedinj,' |)lentiliilly on the islands in Disco liay. It is less hic^m-
riou.s than_/W//'/n'//M, and prefers small hays to the open sea. This bird ali^;hts eii
till! drift-ice, and feeds by juiiipinj,' into the water after food, where the /»///>(*/•/».«
Would have aliKhtt'd in the water in the first jilace.

From the ilcniidcd condition of the breasts of the males id' this species which have
been taken diiiiiif^ the breediii<,'-season, there is ^'ood rciison to believe that, like ihe
Wilson's I'lialaropc, the males id' this spci'ies do their full share of tin' labors nf
iiiculiatioii.

Mr. Elliott found a few stray couples brpcding upon the I'rybihd' Islands, nest in;,'
around the margins of the ponds; and he secured several newly hatched young binls,
whiidi were very jji-etty and interesting. The down of the head, neck, and upiier
])arts is a rich brownisli ytdlow. variegated with i)row'nish black, the crown being nj
this color mi.xed with yellow, with a long stri[)e extending down the back, flanked
with one over isieli hip, another across the rump, and a shoulder-spot on eaidi sidr.
The under i)arts are grayish silvery white. When startled or solicitous I'lU' the saldy
of its young, the parent bird utters a succession of sonorous tweets, (juickly repeated,
with long intervals of silence.

Mr. Audubon, who found birds of this species quite lunnevous in the I?ay of Fuiidy,
and afterward met with them in Labrador, regarded them as being somewhat shy.
They procured their food on the water, on which they alight like Ducks, and tloat
with all the buoyancy of a CJull. They walk about upon masses of Boating seaweed
as unconcernedly as if on land. Their notes are said to resemble the syllables tinrt-
tirret-tivevf, and are sliari> and clear. Their flight is like that of the Common .'^nip|■.
At the approach of an enemy they close u]» their ranks and fly in a body, so that num-
bers may be killed at one shot. Audubon has met with these l)irds in Uirge flocks at
a distance of more than a hundred miles from land.

In Labrador this Phalarope occurred only in small parties of a few pair, .and were
always iii the immediate vicinity of fresh-water ponds, near which they breed. Tlieii'
nest is descrilied as a hollow scooped out among the herbage, lined with a few bits el
dry grass and moss. The eggs were always four, are said to average 1.1!) inches li,\
.88, to be pointed at the smaller end, and with the ground-color of a deep dull bull.
irregularly marked with blotches of a dark reddish brown. The birds showed great

IMIALAROPoDIDiB — THK I'lI.VLAROl'KM - 8TK(»AN()Pl'8.

835

liinls.

lllPlifC

•iiif; 111

sidr.
iifi'ty

)Clltl'll.

FiiikIv.
lat sliv.
ii.l H.iiii

; tiro I-

Siii|»'.

lit iniin-

ot'ks at

1(1 wciv

bits III
•hos liy
ill bull.
il gruat

,iM\it't> for the HiilVty "f their I'^CK". liniiiiiiK or niiuiiiiK with I'xtt'iiili-il vviiiKs, utturiiiK
a i'l'fhlc iinil iiii'laiM'luiiy imtt*. Tin- ynun^ h>iivi> tlii> in'st sliurtly utter they ure
iiati'lieil, anil run alter tiieii' |iaretit.s over the moss ami almi.^' the eil^'es of the small
|iiiiiiU. They hail all ileparleil hy the lie^'iiiiiiii^' ul' AuKHst.

Mr. MaeKarlane loiiiid tluH Mpecies ijreediiij,' in ^reat almmhuiee in the Aictie
rei,'inns thrmixh whieh he pasHeil, linni the nlj,'"' nl the wtMidcd emintiy tn the
.slmres til the Aietie Sea. Ill niiiie than titty in.stame.s in which he made note.s id'
il> nest.«t and e>,'^,'.s, he round the I'oriiier to Im- mere depressions in the jjronnd lined
w ith a lew dried leaves uiid gras.ses, and in almost every instance placed near the ed^'es
(il filial! iininls; the iiiimbei' of the ej,'|,'s was almost invariably four. The nests were
.sii'ii li'iiiii llie I7lh ol .liiiie iiiilil into •Inly, and in several instames perfectly fresh
c;,';,'s were Iniind as late as .Inly .">. They were tolerably numerous in the wooded
niMiitiy. were also louiid in the Uarreiis wherever there were small lakes, and were
iiiil less frcipieiitly seen at the very ed(,'e of the Arctic Sea and on the island,^ off thy
I'nast. Sometimes the birds permitted the near a|ipi'oach id' man without any noise
(H special manifestations of uneasiness; but at other times both |iarents would make
(,'rcat oiitcrii'S, and tly frnni tree to tree in order to draw the intrudei' away from the
nest.

The e>,'>;s of this species average l.K* inches in leii^dh by .SO of an inch in breadth.
Tlicir j,'round-color is a t,'rcenisli drab. 'I'he spots are much liner and more numerous
tliaii in the cf^j^s of the j'n/lnirlii.i, and are of a sepia-brown. They are pyrii'orm in
shape, and miudi smaller than those of the IJed I'lialarope. Their nests were found
li\ Mr. Lockhart i|U!te common on the Vukon. These cj,'ns, collected in gi'cat nuni-
licrs at various iioints on both the N'ukon and .Vndcison rivers, exhibit Ljreat variations.
The ^Mouiiil-eolor ran},'es from the darkest olive-green to biuwnisli olive, drab of va-
riipiis shades, to butf, and more rarely to a stoiic-gray. The spots also vary in si/c and
ill llicir distribution, but are usually very iiumcrous, and often continent; tiiey vary
ill tlicir shinies from a bistre so dark as to be nlmost black, to chocolate-brown, and
even lighter sluuh's.

Gknus STEGANOPUS, Vikiu.ot.

Sliijunopus, Vir.ii.i., I'liif. Jlrth. IS'JU, 1100 (typf, I'hclnropus lubutiis, \Vii.s., = 7'. U'ilsoni, Sauise).
//nl^iHii/liix, lloNAI'. Syiiiip. 1N1!S, ;il2.

CuAU. bill sleiidur anil suVmlatL', with Htrii-tly Imsal nostrils, as in f.uhlpm ; wch bctwueii
iiiiii-r mill iiiiildlc toes mil rcucliiiig to scfimil joint, tliu lateral iiu'inbraiie of all the toes iiiir-
iiAv anil scarcely scallo])CMl.

Steganopus Wilson! .

WILBOK'8 FHAIABOPE.

! Ti-iiifia (jhicidlh, Omf.i.. S. N. I. ii. 178S, »i".') (baswl on Plain I'lialarope, Penn. Aret. Zool. II.

178"., V.>:,, 110. 41.'-. ; I.ATH. Syiiop. V. 17:»).
riiiilaniinii lolmliis, " biNN." Wii.s. Am. Oni. I.K. 182,'., 72, pi. 73, fig. 3 (not of laxx.).
I'li'iliini/iiis inimiii, SAUixr., App. Fiankl. Jouni. 182.'», Ct»l. — Hw. & Hicii, V. 15. A. II. ISSl, 405,

1.1. C!i. — Ni-TT. Man. II. 1834, 24.".. — An>. Oiii. Biog, III. 1835, 4U0, pi. 254. — Cass, in Itainrs

Ii. X. Am. 185S, 7ii5. — Baikd, Cat. X. Am. U. 1859, no. 51t».
I'hnluroiHis (IIoloiMUuit) U'ihuiii, lioNAi-. .'^yimp. 1828, 342, no. 279. — NcTT. Mnn. II. 1834, 245.
fMbipes JVihiHii, An.. .Synop. IS-IH, 241 ; I?. Am. V. 1842, 299, ).l. 341.
Slegampiis Wilmini, Cocks, Iliis, Apr. ISfia, 158; Kt-y, 1872, 248; Clicck List, 1873, no. 409; 2il

ed. 1882, no. 002; IJ. N. W. 1874, 407. — Kiuuw. Noiu. N. Am. 15. 1882, no. 505.

336

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES - LIMICOLiE.

Phalaropiia freiiatus, ViEiii. Oiil. Ois. 11. IbliS, 178, Jil. 271.

Phnlaropiis stnwiliuhiliis, \Va(ji.. Isis, 1831, .523.

Phci/arnpiis JimhriiiJiis, Tkmm. I'l. <'ul. V. pi. 270.

Lobijks iitamun, .lAitii. k .Sf.i.hy, III. Orii. 1. pl. 10.

" StigiiiKipil.i trlciihn; Vll.ll.l.." (ColKs).

lAibiiMH iintaretU'UH, l,i:.ss. (Jul, Fkazkh, 1'. Z. ."<. 1843, 118).

Hah. TfiniHTiitf Nortli America in j,'t'iiL'ral, but ihii'lly the interior portiDiis ; rare aloii;,' lla
Atlantic coast, ami not recorded lioin tlu; Pacilic slojie of Calitbrnia, Oreyon, or Washiiij^ton Teiii-
tory. North t(j Kasterii ()re>,'oii, the Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, anil Maine ; south, in niij^raliuiw,
to Brazil and I'ata^junia (('hnpat Valley).

Sp. Chau. All lilt fvinale in summer: Foreiiead and crown pale pearl-grny, the former with u
blackish line on eacii side ; occiput and nape white, chanf^ini.' to plumbeous f,May on the back iiiid
scapulars. Striiie on the side of the head (chielly back oi the eye), and continued down tlie >iilc
of the neck, dee]) black. ciianj;ing on the lower part of the neck into rich dark chestnut — iliis
extending; backward more interruptedly on each side of the interscapular region ; outer sca]iuliirs
marked with a similar stri])e. A short stripe above the lores and eyes (not reachinj,' the liill),
cheeks, chin, and throat piu'e white ; foreneck and juguluiu soft bully cinnamon, deepest laterally

fiWi

and posteriorly, and fading gradually into creamy buff on the breast ; remaining lower parts wliitc
Wings brownish gray, the coverts and tertials bordered with paler; rump brownisli gray, ujiiicr
tail-coverts pure white. Adult mak in numiner : .'^midler and much duller than the female, with
the beautiful markings of the latter but faintly indicated. Adult and ijoumj in wintir : Aliove, cnn-
tinuous light ash-gray ; ui)per tail-coverts, superciliary stripe, and lower parts white, the juguhiia
and sides of breast tinged faintly with ])ale asliy. ynunij, Jimt ji/innitiji : Crown, back, and scapu-
lars blackish dusky, the feathers bordered conspicuously with bud". U})per tail-coverts, superciliiiiN
stripe, and lower parts white, the neck tinged with buff. Dnvnij ijounij: Prevailing color briglii
tawny fulvous, paler beneath, the abdomen nearly white ; occiput and na])e with a distinct median
streak of black, on the former branching laterally into two narrower, somewhat zigzag lines ; lowi r
back and nnnp witli three broad black stripes ; Hanks with a black spot, and caudal region crus-cd
by a wide subterminal bar of the same.

Mule: Wing, 4.75-4.S(l ; culmen, 1.2.'); tarsus. 1.20-1.2.'); miildle toe, .90. Fenmk : Wing,
5.20-5.30; culmen. 1.30-1.35 ; tarsus, 1.30-1.35 ; middle toe, .»0-l.(Kt.

The habits of this cxclusivt'ly American I'halaro])*', and to some extent its geo-
grapliical distribution, liavc oontinncd. until vovy recently, to be impert'ectly ascer-
tained. It was known to AVilson by oidy a single specimen, all record of which has
been lost. Even .Vndubon apjiears to have met with very few of this si)ecies. ami
to have gathered but little information as to its habits. It is now known to be In
far more common in the interior than near the coast, to breed in Northern Illinois.
Iowa, Wisconsin. Dakota, and Oregon, and thence northward into the British pos-
sessions to an unascertained extent. It is also abundant in Utah, but does not ai)iii'ai'

PHALAROPODID^ — THE PFIALAROPES — STErrAXOPUS.

337

iluii^; llu
m TiMii-
igrutiuiis.

er with ii
biiek ami
II till! si(k'
lilt — this
scainilar^
till' I'ill),
t latevally

parts white.

amy, \\y\<i-y
lualf, wiili
Ahovf, f'lii-
IL' ju'^'uhuii
ami siNiiiu-
uin'iriliaiv

color l>ri;Jii
iiK't im-iliaii
iiu'n ; lowir
liioii cio>Mtl

k: ^Vill!-^

idfii

■nt its i;t'o-

t'ctly asci'v-

whicli hiis

jn'oit^s, ami

vu to be liy

vn IlUiiois,

U'itish l«'s-

iiot appeal'

to liiivt' hpcn found on the Pacific coast. During tlic winter months it occurs in
(liiiitcniala an.l in Mexico, Init to what extent we have no certain inl'orination.

More recently it leis been ascertained to be a common resiih'iit in the more sontli-
nii portions of South America. .Mr. il. Jhirnford, in liis account of the birds observed
iiv him in the Cliupat VaUey of Pataf^tmia. mentions this species as beinj,' quite com-
iiioii in that re,<,'ion, where he saw it swimminj,' tjraceftdly in tlie still pools formed
liv the eddies of the river, and in nearly all the adjacent stagnant ditches. The birds
were usually seen in pairs.

(';iptain Uendire regards this l)ir(l as being moderately common in Eastern Oregon
(luring the breeding-season, at which time it associates with the Willets, whiidi it
iiscnd)les in its own actions when any one approaches its nesting-place. Mr. Ntdson
iiii'iitions this species as a very common summer resident in the mar.shes of Northern
Illinois, arriving about the nnddle of .May, and remaining until into August. It nests
fioiu about tlu' L'oth of May until late iu June.

Mr. A. li. Kumlien, in "Field and Forest," duly, 1S7(), supplies some interesting
notes relative to the very remiirkable and eccentric ways of this bird. In its mode
ol living it is (pnte ditferent from most Waders; and one very peculiar feature in
its habits is that the male attends to the duties of incubation almost entirely alone.
while his nuudi nu)rc richly dressed mate idly gambols <m the shore. Unlike most
hirds, the female of this species makes tlu- advances to the male during the jiairing
si'Msini, and it is (piite connnon to see two females pursuing one male. Mr. Kumlien
hiis invariably found the naked and wrinkled belly, (diaraeteristic of the incubating
hiid, present in the male, but never in the fenude. Neither does the female evince
the distress shown by the nude when the nest is approached, the latter licing (piite
reckless of danger, while his mate will not conu' within gunshot. The nest is de-
st led as being a flat, loosely-constructtid affair, liuilt in a tussock of grass, seldom
in I he immediate vicinity of ojien wiiter, but usually in the adjoining grassy marshes,
in one instaiu^e a nest was found, four n.iles from the nearest sheet of water, in a
small slough on a Idgh ])rairie. Mr. Kumlien speaks of this species iis being remark-
ably ([uiet and still. Tins oidy note he had ever heard it utter was a weak misal
ijuack repeated six or seven times in (piick siu-cession ; this is usually done by the
nude at the time when the nest is ap])roa(du'd. The young are conducted to the shore
soon after they are hatcdied, and when surprised will take to the water ami swim and
(live with great ease. They are fnlly tiedged by the last of July, congregating in con-
siderable flocks at that time.

I'rofessor T. Kumlien wrote me in ISfiO that this species, whicdi before that
period had been om> of the rarest of birds — only two or three having l)een noticed
in iis many or more years — had becomt* (pnte jdentifid, moving in large flocks. The}-
arrive .May 4, and are at first very shy. b\it btd'ore leaving beconu' as tame as the
beast Sandpiper. He often wattdied their movements from a distance of not more
than six or eight feet. From the facts that there was not one male to eight females,
that they nuived in flocks, and that at the sanu' tinu' the females had eggs full-sized
in their ovaries, ho was led to sus])ect that they were judyganums. He has sine(>
written me that this sjjccies is now found more or less comnumly each season near
bake Koskonong. A few' remain there to breed, but the greater jiortion pass throngh
to more northern regions in the latter jtart of May. The young begin to appear in
advance of their parents in August. In the sunnner of 187.'{ this species occiirn-d
there in nnusnal nnmbers. The young birds becanu' very uumennis a.s early as the
middle of July, but gradually gri'W less abundant toward the 15th of Angiist. IMr.
Ivnndien Avas of opinion that only a very few of the yttung birds cuuld have been

VOL. I. — 43

'? ■ 1 a

•Vf,

.|.f.H;.

'«'

',■ '

mil

338

PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL.E.

niised in that iiinnodiate vicinity; and it was a partioulaily noticeable fact timt
there were few or no ohl birds to be seen. In one Hoek of two innuh'.'d or nioiv
he observed only a single old l)ird. lie conjectured at the time that the ItarL•llt^
might be engaged in raising a second brood ; but none were seen at any later iiciind
in that season. Mr. Kundien has met with this species every year for more tiimi
thirty years. His attention was tirst called to it by the peculiar manner in whicli it
carries its neck, which bulges out and presents a singular appearance, during thr
breeding-season, or al)out the last of .May. At this time the birds were fighting, nm-
niug against one another, and uttering their i)eculiar grunting notes. Tlu-y arrive
in Wisconsin from the -Ith to the middle of May, and leave early in the fall, •khh'
having been noticed after the tirst frost. Those that conu' to the lake in spring ilo
not all stay. They do not arrive in flocks, like the Trlnr/ir, but are more scattered,
and select l)y preference certain places in which they remain. He has never imt
with them at any great distance from the lake, and has every evidence, except actually
finding their nests, that they l)reed in the marshes not far from it. It is not sliy.
liefore pairing, this bird keeps in small companies, associating with small TruHjii:
Kildeer, etc. He has never iu)ticcd it swimming, except wlien wtmndcd, and then ii
swims like a Duck, nodding its head the while. Jle has never known it to dive, luit
it often wades up to its belly in the shallow water, its iioti' — particuhirly during
the breeding-season — is a siugulai' low grunting, which is not easily descrilied. In
fiying it lifts its wings higher than the S[)()tted Sandpiper and some of the sniiil!
Tvhujir. In the spring of 1S7.'> it was not more numerous than nsual, but from the
last of .lune to the last of .\ugiist it was in unusual lunnbers, nearly all of I hem
young.

Mr. (rcorge O.Welch, of Lynn, Mass., informs nu' that he has occasionally met
with single Inrds ol' this species, but regards this as something very unusual. In
May, 1.S74, he procured a tine speciuieu — a male — in Naliant. It was in its lull
summer dress, and his attention was called to it liy its very singidar proceeilin-s.
The bird was on the ground at the edge of a small brackish pool, every now ami
then springing up into the air, and — as was afterward ascertained — catching small
dipterous insects. This it did as dexterously and as ra])itlly as the iiu)st ex]iert
Fly-catcher. .Mr. Batty writes me that it is .seen on Long Island occasionally. Imr
that it is very rare there, as well as in Northern New Jersey, where it is called the
" Xeedle-l)ill Sni]).'.'"

Mr. Audubon, in his account of this sju'cies, chums to have met with it along th"
wliole ea.stern coast from IJoston to New Jersey ; but this prol)ably was a mistake.
It is certainly (pute a rare bird in that region. Mr. Audubon also states that he saw
it in Kentucky, as well as :ii other ]iarts of the Tnited States, in .lune, ISL'lt. he
received a pair which had ju.st l»een killed by the tishermen with whom he was stay-
ing. These had ai-ted as if nesting, and their appearance seemed also to iudirate
this; l)ut their nest could not l)e found. .Vbcmt the same period his son i)rocured twe
specimens killed (m the rocks at the Hapids of the Ohio l)elow Louisville. Late in
the summer of 1SL*4 three were ol)tained near lUiffalo f'reek on Lake Krie ; Kd\v;inl
Harris also jn'ocured one near New York, and John Uethnne cme near IJoston. i'lie
birds obtained near Lake Kiie were feeding around the borders and in the shalhiws
of a pond of small extent. When first seen they were mistaken for Yellowsliaidis,
so much did their movements re.-iemble those of that species. They waded in the
water np to their bodies. ] icking for food right and left, and performing all tlieir
movements with vivacity and ideganee. They kejit (dosely together, and occasion-
ally raised their wings for a few moments, as if ai>[)rehensive of getting into too

PHALAROPODID.K — THE PIIALAROPES — STEGANOPUS.

339

(liM^p wat«n", and l)oiiij,' ol)lij,'i'<l to fly, aii<l seemod to prefer flying to swimming. Tlioy
wi'H' not lioanl to utter a note. In their stoniaehs small worms and fragments of
viTV ilflii'ate shells wtu'e found. The liirds seen at the l{a[ii(ls of the Ohio flew in
till' manner of tiie ("omnion Sniiie, jiroeecding at flrst in an undulating or zigzag line,
Imt more steadily alti'r rcaeiiini;- a ei-rtain tdevatitm.

Mr. Salvin found in the eoUeetion of Don Vineente (Jonstaueia a sjjeeimen of this
I'haiarojie whieh had l)een ol)tained ne.ar the City of CJuatenuda, and Swainson states
tliat it is nut uncommon (m tiie Itnrders of the lakes adjoining the City of Mexieo,
tidui wiienee he received s])ccimens of both adult aiul young. .Mr. Di'esser mentions
llial in ScptcndM-r, in travelling from lirownville to San Antonio, he saw what he
liad no doulit was a liird of this species, and on the 4th of .fuly, 18()4, he t.iot a pair
(III some flooded land near San Antonio. ^Ir. J. .\. Allen found these birds abun-
dant in the Valley of (ireat Salt Lake, and they continiu'd so into September, llo
considers this one of the most charai-teristie species of that region, wliero it is a suni-
iihT resident, lireeding in great nund-ers on the islands anrl .shores of Salt Lake. Mr.
i;iil,L;\vay met with the Wilson I'halarope in May at I'yramid Lake in Xevada, and
auain saw it in .hine in the ponds lu'ar the Kiver .lonhm in ('tali. It has been
iioiieed iu September on the Cohnado Uiver; and Dr. Cooper thence infers that this
may lie the species observed iiy him during the summer among the lakes (d' the Cas-
cade Hange. This s]>ecies has l)een observed about the rpi>er Missouri in the breed-
ing .season, and on the Arkansas Hiver between Forts Larned and Lyons. It has also
lireii met with in the sunuuer iu various parts of Minnesota and Dakota.

Kicliardson states that this I'lialarope breeds on the Saskatchewan Plains ; but it
was not met with by him beyond the ii~>th jiarallel, nor were any seen on the coast
ol Hudson's l>ay. lie adds that this bird lays two or three eggs among the grass
ciii tlie mai'gins of small lakes. The eggs are very obtuse at one end and taper
iimch at the other, and have a ground-Cidor intermediate lietween yellowish gray and
cream-yellow, interspersed with roundish s])ots and a few larger blotches of umber
111 own. most crowded at the obtuse end. The eggs measured 1,;>7 inches in length by
.'.II of an iuidi in breadth.

Specimens of this Phalarf)pe were shot by Mr. William IJrewster at Kye Reach in
tiie summer of 1.S7L'. (hraud m»>ntions it as of occasional occiuTenoe at Egg Harbor,
New ib-rsey, as well as on Long Island.

The eggs of this species are pyriform in shajie, the ground varying from a light
fawn-coloreil draii to a deep rufous drab. Tlie sjiots are of a dark bistre, of a varying
iiiti'iisitv, and very generally di.striliuted. The sjiecimens in the Smithsoijian Col-
lection were ]»rocured from different jioints in Iowa, from I^tah and North- ru Illi-
niijs. My own are from Northern Illinois and from .Minnesota. j\lr. Kennicott found
ii lireeding in the Calumet marshes in Illinois, near Lake Michigan. Mv. 15. V. (Joss,
who priK'ured the eggs fi'om ^liuuesota. writes me that it breeds quite commoidy on
111 irshes, and generally near water. The nest is almost always cm huunnoeks, (pute
deeply excavated, ami lined with dry grasses. One was found on a platform raised
aliove the shallow water.

51 i

I .-^tl

^^H«^"^»»Wt

i^iW^^

if' I

?:i

■ :

340

I'U^UUCIAL iHtALLATOUES — LLMICOL.E.

Family KI'X'rHVIKOSTIUD.E. — Tiik Avocets and Stilts.

The lii'vnrr trout ridiv, in aiUliticm to tlu' featuivs already mL'UtinnL'd (see p. lOS),
are characterized hy the excessive length of the h'ys, with very hiii},' slender nei k
and snhiilate, elimjiated Itill. The plumage has the same dense, soft character a>
that of the J'/uilarojiodula; Fidicimr, and Loiiiiipamm.

The threi' kuuwn genera, only two of which occur in America, differ as follows : —

A. lliml tciu invsciit.

1. Reourvirostra. Aiiti'iior toi-.s all wl'1)Ikm1 ; Ijill lecurveil.

B. lliml tiH- Wiintiiiu.

■1. Cladorhynchus.' Toes all wcbljcd ; l)ili perfectly straight, excessively depressed ; tarsus

liiit little if any Ioniser than bill.
;{. HimautopuB. X(» welj between inner ami middle toes, and web between onter ami

middle tdis nuite small ; bill very sli,i;litly recurved from the middle, cylindrical m

scarcely dei)ressed ; tarsus much liinner than the bill.

Genus REOURVIROSTRA, Lixnveus.

Jli'f It rvi rostra, LiNN. .Syst. Nat. cd. 10, I. 1758, liil (tyiio J{. iivocctta, L.).

Char. lliml toe rudimentary, but distinct ; anterior toes united to the claws by a nuuh
emar^^inateil membrane. IJill depressed, decidedly recurved, extended into a fine point, whicj] is
slightly decurved. Tail covered by the winj,'s.

R. americana.

The species of Avocet are few in nundier, there Ww^ one jKculiar to North America, Souili
America, Australia, and Eurojie, respectively. The two Americun species may be distinguislad
us follows : —

> Cladorhynchus, G. R. Guay, Gen. U. III. 1840, 577, \\. 155, fig. 1 (type, Lcplorhynchtis pcdoraUs.
Di: Bus).

RECURVIROSTRIDJ: - the AVOCETS — RECURVIRdSTRA.

341

1, R. amerioana. Outer scnpulai-H, ruiup, and upper tail-coverts, tibo part of secoudaries and
"iviiter winj,'-C(>vertH, white, at all aj^es. Hub. North and Middle America.
■2. R. andina.' No white whatever on ujtper parts, except Lead and neck. Jlab. Andett ol'

Cliili.

RecurviroBtra americana.

AMEKICAN AVOCET.

Eicurvirostra nmerkfUKi, Uyiv.L. S. X. I. 17»S, i>i»a. — Wilson, Am. Oiii. VIl. 1813, 126, pi. tl;!,
lijr. ii. _ SvTi: .Mull. 11. ls:U, 7.1. - Arn. Urn. Hio<,'. IV. 1838, 168, pi. 318 ; .Syiiop. 18;j!t,
2;V2; lliids Am. V1.1S13, 24, pi. 3:.3. — IS.uia., iSiids X. Am. 18,-i8, 703; (at. X. Am. 1!.
l»y.<, no. r.17. — <'oi-Ks, Key, 1H72, U7 ; <'link List, 1873, no. 407; 2d cd. 1882, no. tfOO. —
HiDow. N'oiii. N. Am. H. 1881, no. 560.

lia-iinirmlni mriihitlii/is. Via. Zool. Jour. IV. 1820, 356 ; Zool. Voy. Blos.som, 1839, 28, pi. 12.—
C.VSSIN, iUustr. r>. t'al. Te.\. etc. 1855, 232, pi. 40 (= winter pliunage I).

II.VB. Teuiperute North America; north to the Sa.ikatchewnn atid Orent Slave Lake, south
(ill winter) to Guatemala, Culia, and Jaiuaicii. Much rarer in the Easterti than in the We.stern
I'l'dvinco.

Si'. t'HAR. Win},'s (except secondaries, terminal half of {{rcatcr coverts, and inner secondarie."*),
iiiiicr scapulars, and adjoinin,;,' leathers of the back, hrownish lilack ; lower parts, rump, outer .scaj)-
iilais, and middle of the hack white; tail asliy white or pale ashy. Ailiilf in nmnmcr : Head,
luck, and lueast, lij^lit cinnamon, liecomiii;,' white around the hill and fadin;,' jiradually into the
while of the body. Tulials brownish gray. Adult (and ijoiukj) in winter: Head, neck, and

/t^-"--

breast, white, more or less tinged with pale blui.sh gray, especially on crown and nape. Yovng:
Priiiiiiries slij^htly tipjied with whitish ; scaimlai's and feathers of back tippeil or transversely
iiioitled with pale fulvous or liulf. Crown dull grayish ; nape tinged with light rufous. Total
Icii.uth, about IT.tK) to 18.75 inches ; extent, 3().(H> to IJti.lM) ; Wing, 8.5()-9.(Xl ; culmen, 3.-i(>-3.()5 ;
tarsus, :j.7()-3.8() ; middle toe, l.()()-1.7t>. Bill deep black ; iris umber-brown ; legs and feet ashy

blue.

The intensity of the cinnamon-color on the head and neck varies with the individual; some-
times there is a dusky gray suffusion around the eye, this lieing especially characteristic of younger

binls.

The American Avoeet is a bird of iircifiilar or occasional appearance in various
liortions of North America, tintl is found in most of the Southern States in greater or
li'ss abundance during the winter months, breeding in numerous U)calities along the
.Vtlautic coast as far nortli as Long Island, and also, under favoring circumstances,
tliidughout the interior, at least as far south as Southwestern Texas. It is abundant

' P'cnrviroslra andina, Piiilifim & La.ndbeck, Wiegm, Arth. 1863, 131, — Harti.vo, Ibis, 1874,
257, pi. 9.

{ f-

i ;,

i. '■
1 ,.

i. ■
' l

i
■ i

342

PU-K(;()("IAIi (JI{AI,r,AT(»RKS — LIMICOL.E.

in Salt Lako Valley, and to tho north as tar as the Saskatclipwan Kiver. Exaniiilcs
were procured at Tort liiw l)y Mr. Clarkt". at I'ort Ivcsolution l>y .Mr. Ijockhart, and
on I'oiivv liivcr by Mr. Kos.s.

Mr. Salvin nu't with it in ditt'eront ])art8 of (Jiiatoniala, tindin^ it conunon at Cliia-
pani and about the n('ij,'lib()rin},' lagoons on tlu' racitic coast. Tliu liirds of this spt^cifs
which he saw did not have tlie rust-colored necks and heads of nortliern si)ecinieu.s,
but all were white in these jiarts.

Oidy a single excanijjh? is known to have been taken as far to the northeast a» Point
Lei)reanx, on the l>iiy of Fundy. and it is a very rare bird in New Kngland. Mr.
Hoss speaks of it as licing very rare on the Mackenzie. Captain Ulakiston met with
it on the shores of the shallow lakea in the ^'alley of the Saskatchewan, where la-
found it feeding on insects and small fresh-water crustacea. llichardson gives a
similar account of this liird, having d'ound its stomach tilled with fragnn-nts of
Crustacea and gravel. Jle sjieaks of it as lieing very noisy, uttering cries of distress.
and flying al)out the heads of those who invade its haunt.s.

In Utah it is generally known as the " White Snipe," and was there met witli liy
!Mr. Allen, esi)ecially in Salt Lake Valley. In September it was still very abundant,
and was regarch'd as being highly characteristic of that region, where it was one ol
the most common .summer residents, breeding (m the shores and islands of the laisc
Flocks of many thousands of this s])ecies were seen at the mouth of the Weber IJivir.
Mr. Uidgway also found it abundant in spring and summer about the numerous alka-
line ponds and lakes of the Great Hasin, breeding in those localities in company witli
the Stilt (IlhiHiiifo/iiiti itii'.firdHits).

Mr. Henshaw also mentions it as a common sumnu'r resident in Utah and Cdln-
rado, and as still more abundant during the migrations. It lives in summer on tin-
borders of .all the lakes and jtonds of any considerable size. In seeking food it resorts
to the water itself, and not to marshes or bogs. Its long legs are specially adapted to
the purposes of wading, and its elongated bill and neck allow it to jiick up the insects
on the bottom of the shallow j)ools, or the larviK that are swinnuing about. Where
it has not bei-n molested it is i)erfe('tly tanu' and unsuspicious, and contimii>s its
graceful motions with entire unconcern while subjected to a close scrutiny. 15ut in
parts of Utah it had learned to dread man as its enemy, and baffled all his efforts.
On the 21st of Jinie it was found in great nund)ers on some alkaline lakes northwest
of Fort Garland, in Southern Colorado. As Mr. Henshaw visited one pond alter
another, he was met everywhere by troops of the old birds, which flew in wide circles
about his head, while the shores resounded with their harsh cries. He shot several ;
but the others still contiimed their nuuueuvrings, merely wideinng their course. The
death of their companions seemed to excite little apprehension, although they ocia-
sionally flew close to the body of one which had fallen, or alighted beside it, as if
trying to comprehend its fate. Where the water wa- sutticiently deep to allow nt'
swimming, they alighted freely on the surface, and moved bueyantly about in a
graceful and pleasing manner. The crops of those examined were filled with the
larvip of some water insect. A single set of four eggs was found, placed in a sliglit
hollow made for the purpose, and lined with weeda.

Mr. Moore met with a single individual of this species in Florida. It was alone,
standing on a sand-spit in a bay near the sea. Its diet had been exclusively fish,
sixteen of which were within the throat and oesophagus, and no other food was found.
The fish were from seven to fifteen sixteenths of an inch in length.

On Long Island Giraud found this species less frequent than the Stilt, and not
generally known to hunters. It frequented shallow pools in the salt-marshes, and

-TTT.

RECUKV'OSTRIILK — THE AVOCETS — UECl'RVIRDSTRA.

343

wiis somotinu's scon wadiuj,' hrpast-deep in jmrsuit of its food. H(f fouiul a few breed-
iiii,' ui'ar KkK Hiii'l»<>i', N. .f., wlicvo they arn known as ■• I{liiP-stockinj,'s," from the
(iild'' of tlii'ir lt'j,'s. Tlifir nests were Imilt anions thick tufts of f,M'ass, usually near
;i |i(>(>I (if shallow water, in California Dr. Cooper found the Avocet rather rare in
till' southern part. One which had Immmi killed at San Diego lato in Xovoniber was
iv^arded as a f,'reat curiosity. Jt is more common in the central re},Mon of the State
ill the winter, and is frei^uently l)rouj,dit to market. Dr. Cooper shot individuals in
tlie riatte l{e,t,'ion in August, and thinks that some breed in the northeastern corner
of the State of t'alil'ornia.

in Wilson's day this bird was called by the inhabitants of Ca))e May '• the Lawyer,"
lidiii its perpetual clamor. It was foinid associated with the Stilt on the salt-nuirshes
ol New .lirsey, on the L'Oth of May, and was flying around the shallow pools uttering
till' sharii notes of r/!r/,--i/!r/,-r/!r/,; alighting on the marsh or in the water, fluttering
its wings, and keei)ing up a continual cry. A iii'st was found built among the thick
tiitts of grass, at a small distani'e from one of the pools, and was made of small twigs
(il a seaside shrub, dry grass, and seaweed, and raised to tlm height of several inches.
Till' eggs, which were four in ninnber, he descrilies as being of a dvdl olive color,
iiiiirkcd with large irregular blotches of bhu^k, and with others of a fainter tint, lie
iidcls that this species arrives at Cape .May kite in April, rears its young, and leave.s
tor the south early in October.

.Ml'. Audubon found a number of Avocets breeding near Vincennes, Indiana, in
.liinc. 1S14. Their nests were on an island in a large shaUow ]»oud. At his apitroach
the birds kept uj) a constant noise, remained on the wing, and at times dived through
the air toward him. There were three nests with eggs, besides a female with her
brood, on tlu' island. He ol)served that this bird on alighting keeps its wings raised
until it has fairly settled. If in the water, it stands a few minutes balancing its head
iiiiil neck, and then stalks about in seandi of food, sometimes nuuiiug for it, ami oeca-
siniially swimming, or wading up to its i)reast, with its wings partially raised. In
iVeding these birds remain separ.ated from each other, although occasionally meeting
ill their flights, and are silent, but apparently not on unfriendly terms with their
fellows. In searching for their food they move their heads to and fro sideways
wliilf the liill is passing through the soft iiuid, and when the water is deej) they im-
iiu'ise the whole head and part of the neek. i\ pursuit of acpuitie in.sects they seize
their prey by thrusting the lower niandilile iieneath it, the other being raised above
tlir surface. This bird is also expert in catching flying insects, Avhich it pursues
with partially expanded wings.

On ap])r()achiiig one of the nests on whieli a female was sitting, the latter scram-
blcil off, running, tumbling, and at last rising on wing, floundering hither and thither
tivi'r the pt)()l, now lying on the surface as if ready to die, and now limiiing, as if to
invite the intruder to pursue her. All the Avocets left their nests and flew directly
iit him, except the one with the lour young birds, who betook herself to the water and
wailed off, followed by her brood. The latter swam as well as young ducklings of
the same size. The nests were placeil in the tallest grass, and were entirely com-
posed of this material, but of another year's growth. The inner nest was five inches
wide and lined with tine prairie grass, about two inches in depth, over a bed about
ail inch and a half thick. The eggs in each instance were four in nundjer.

Audubon describes the Avocet's flight as similar to that of the Stilt, the bird
passing through the air as if moving to a great distance, v. ith an easy, swift, continued
flight, the legs and neck fully extended. When nbinging toward an intruder it
moves downward, ami passes by the person v.itli , 'ed of an arrow.

a44

PR.ECOCIAL O.vALLATORES — LIMICOLiE.

t i

On several oreaaions ^[^. Salvin notipcd that tli<> birds of this species seen at Chiii-
pam were swinuiiiuK. and were most indiistriouH feeders, their Itills l)einK eonstantlv
at work, and admirably adapted fur pickiuK the most minute object from the surfaic
of the water.

Mr. Dresser often saw Avoccts at the town-la^'oon near Matamoras, generally
findinj,' them in families of Hve or six, .some of tlie yoiinj,' birds bein^ oidy just alile
to Hy. They were not sliy, init canu' to a sliallow part of the lagoon close to the
houses, and waih'd alon^. moving tiu-ir heads from side to side with [x-rfeet ref,'idarity,
reminding' one of a i>arty of mowers, not K"J'>n '» i"' ''V" I'l'tS but one being sli},ditly
behind and to the side of tlie other. Towards August tliey had liectnue much nunc
abundant. In .May and .lune, \HM, M\: Dres.ser .saw several pairs on (Jalvestnn
Island, and was told tliat tlu^y breed on Molivar I'oint, and on the islands outside ol
the IJrazos, and St. Louis Pass.

Mr. Aiken mentions the occurrence of this species in Colorado. Ca|)tain Iiendire
foiuid it an aluuidant summer resident in the lower valleys of Southeastern ( >regon. liut
not in the higher regions of tlie lUue Mountains anywhere above an altitude of |..stMi
feet. It breeds on .Malheur Lake and tlie swampy siu)res of Sj'lvia's Hiver. .Mr.
Nelson speaks of it as very abundant on Salt Lake, where it Ireipiented tlie shore iiy
hundreds. One which he had wounded tried to escape by diving and swimming short
distances uiuh'r the water. ]h: Merrill mentions it as i)eing common during the
winter in tiie Uio (Jrande Hegion, where a few remaint'd to Inced.

Mr. llenshaw saw on Santa Cruz Island, Califoruia, several which had paired, and
were probal)iy lireeding. They lived on the beaches, picking up sea-slugs and small
crustaceans from the surface of the water.

Eggs of this species (S. I. No. L'{(>.S",») found by Mr. Hidgway in an alkaline deposit
at Soda Lake, near Carson Desert, .June '2H, ISOS, measure l.H~} by l.J3() im-hes. Their
grcmnd-color is a light rufous drab, over which are jirofusely distributed blotches of
irregular shape and size, the colors being a eondjinatiou of sejua-brown and liistrc
The eggs are oboval in shai)e. with one end more pointed than the other. Another
set (S. I. \o. l.'(-14I) from Carrington Island, in (Ircat Salt Lake, June, 1SG9, measure
2.08 by L40 inches. Their ground-<'olor is a dark drab, lightly tinged with olivaceous,
and spotted with dark blotches exclusively of bistre.

ill

GEifus HIMANTOFUS, Brisson.

Himanfopus, Biuhs. Orn. V. 1700, .33 (type, Charadriits himaiUopus, LiNN.).

Char. Hind tne wiuUing ; outer and miilillc toes coniipcted nt the base by a short web ; tin'
inner toe completely separated from tliu niitltlle. Bill Kubiilate, deeper tha.. broad, slightly up-
turned towanl the end. Legs excessively lengthened, the bare ]iart of the tibia about half as Idiii;
as the tarsus, wliieli greatly exceeds tlie hill in length, the latter being nearly twice the lengtli nf
the middle toe.

The Stilts have much tli(! same range as the Avocets, but the species are more numerous, tin if
Ijeing at the present time alxmt seven recognized by authorities. Like Recurrr rostra, the nciiiw
Himantopm is represented in America hy two very distinct sjiecies, the one belonging to Noitli,
Central, and Northern South America ; the other peculiar to the more southern portions of the
Southern Continent. Thev differ as follows : —

1. H. mexioanus. White of the forehead not extending over the crown,
continuous with that of the back.

Black of the nape

RKCrRVIIlORTian.K - THE HTILTS - HIMANTOPl'S.

345

2. B. braslllenBls.' Wliito of tlit- forflioml i-xtt'ii<lin^' luick to mid int'lixliiiK the ocri]mt.
Black uf tliu iiii|)(! HuparatiMl fniiii tliul uf tUu luuk liy ii uidu wLitu l)ur uuroitH lowt-r |)urt
of iLt' nupe.

I»

//. Mexicanua.

HimantopuB mexicanus.

AMBBICAN BLACK-HECKED VULT

C'harndriua mexicanus, Mri.i.Ki;, S. N. Sii|i|il. 177ti, 117.

Ilimiiniopnn mcvicaniis, OisD, cd. AVii.so:, VII. 1824, .'rJ. -- Bosap. ( 'oiiip. List, 1838, 54. — Riuow.

Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. .'.07. — Couks, 'h\ Clicck List, 188-.', no. COl.
Vharailrins himuntupus, Laiii. Ind. Oni. II. 17!I0, 741 (pint).
Rcmrvifostrn himantopus, Wii.s Am. Orn. VIL 1813, 48, pi. 58, lig. 2.

' IIlMAXTOl'irs nilA.SILIEN.SIs.

I Ifiiiiiiiitdpiin wiiiniiinis, ViKlLL. Noiiv. Diet. X. 1817, 42 (based on Zanciido, Azaka, Apiint.

III. 1805, 29!)?).
" Himanlupus nigrkollin," ArtT. (Soiitliorn South American ivfei-ences j nee ViEiLu).

//. brasilietuU,

Hirmntopus brasiliensis, BiiEiiM, Vbg. Deutschl. 1831, 684. — ScL. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, 454
(fig. of head).
Hab. South Brazil, Buenos Ayre.s, and ChilL
VOL. I. — 44

340

I'U.KCOCIAI, (lltAM.AIOIiKS - I.l.MIC tI,.K.

/liiiKiiitiiinis iiiijiio'l/i.i, ViKii.r,. Niiiiv. Dirt, X. 1N17, lii. -Nnr. .Man. II. l.tiJI, 8. - Ani. nm,
IMotf. IV. ls:i8, :!I7. pi. :!•.;» .Syimp. 18^11, •.'.•.;! ; IlinU Am. VI. l.Ma, yi. pi. :in». — U.\ii;i..
IHnU N. Am. 18."i8, 7(il ; (at. N. Am. II. IS.'.lt, m). il8. — ti)iEN, Ki-y, 1872, 'H7 ; Cli.vk
l.i.M, lS7.i, II... 108 ; Ilii.U N. W. I,s7l, Id'.'.

UiiiisHkiIih iiiijrifiitlis, tAiiAN. ill .SiliDiiil.. (iiiiiiiiii, 111, 1S47, 758.

.\liu-n>liirniiH iiiijrii-ollis, (IrM.i.. .1. I'. <•. 18.">ii, I'J'.'.

Ilhiiiiiil'ijiiis liiiciinis, ViKii.i.. N. I>. X. 1817, 1- (.M.\ii>i).

II.Mi, Till' will. if i.r tciuptTatf Xmlii .Viiicriiii, Middle Aiiicri.'a, mid Ni.rllirni S..utli Amniia
Hi.ulli til Pciii aiiil r.i'ii/il ; (ialii|.a;;..> ; Wol [iidic-i in j^t'iii'iai, and Itrniiiiilas ; n.irlii, .m the
Atliintic niaHt. Ii. .Maine. Mi.i'e ^'eiieialiy diKtriiiiUed and inure aliundaiit in tlie WcMteiii lliiin in
tlie I'ilstein I'liivinre.

Si'. ('ii.Mt. .li/(//^ iniilf: Forehead, a larj,'e |.ii.st(iciilar wpi.t, lores, entire lower jtartH, rump, uml
upper tail-eovertx, wliite. Iteiiiainder III' tile lieail, wiiole nape, l.ai'k, Mra[.nlars, and wiii;,'^ (li.iili
siirlaceH), ^'loMiy l.laek, with a >4i'ei'nisli l.lne lelleriion. Tail pale ^'rayi.'^h. Itill l.lark ; iiiHi'iim-
soii ; lej,'.t and leet lake-red (tr Iwaiitiriil io«e-pink in lil'e, yellowish in the dried skin. Adult J'ninih: :

■ '

!^illlihu• til tile male, but hack and scapulars ln'ownish slate, and the hlack ol' other pi.rli.iiis
duller. Yoiiiiij,finil iihiiiuiif : .Siniilai In the adult leinale, hut the leathers of the hack, the siiipu-
lars, and terlials hi.rdered with hiiiror.lull whitish, tli.' hlack of the head and nape linely iiiiiIiImI
with the .same, liutniij ijinuuj : Almve li..;lit rulvous-j,'rayish-, inotlled with dusky, the hack iind
rtinip relieved hy He vera! lai>,'e l.lack l.lotches. I feiul, neck, und lower parts rulvous-whilish, ihc
crown, occi]. lit, and nape ^'layish, the crown with a mesial Mack xlreuk, the occiput witli ci)ai>c
spots of the same.

Total len>,'tll, ahout 14 to l.")..-)() inches; extent, 27 to 30; wiiij;, H..'i(l-!MHl ; ciilmeti, nl t

2..')0 ; tarsus, 4.(K» ; middle tnc, l.;J7. liill deep black ; iris rosy carmine ; lef,'s and feet line in-e-
piiik or delicate pale lake-red (in lil'e).

Adult specimens in lii}^h lu'eedin-^'-phiumge sometimes have the while of the breast, etc., tin;,'ril
with soft creamy pink.

Tlic Stilt appfars to be a oomiiioii species throughout aoai'ly the whole of tlie
Uiiitt'il States, I'l'diii tlie Athnitie tn tlie I'lu-ilic ; iimre. :iliiiii(liiiit in tlie Wt'steni inn!
(Suit' States, and less freipieiit in the iimrc Ndrtlieni and Kasteni. It oecurs uei a-
sionally near Calais, Imt, aeeonliiig to Mr. Ihiardnian. is very fare. Sever;il individual
birds hav(^ lieon taken at Cirand .Menaii; and occasional instances of its caidiire ni;ii'
Hostoii are known. Mr. lioardnian also met with it in Florida, where it was t'oiind to he
most numerous toward the end of Afarcli. It occurs in most of the West India Islamic.
in >b'xico, and in Central and South America. ]Slr. Salvin found it on the J'acilie
coast of Guatcnnila, and also .saw a single individual wliiidi liad l)een procured inai'
the modern City of (Jiiatcinala. .Mr. K. Newton mentions the Stilt as being w. H
known by name to most of the inhabitants of St. Croix, although rarely seen. Thougli

nECl'UVIUOSTUTD.K — TIIK STILTS - UIMAN'Tol'l'S.

847

(if tlH'
tflll illlll
luVS (ici;i-

■idividual

luro mar

luitl to !>•'

Islimas,

[l-Pll lliMl'

Tlu>ii:4l>

iiiii ('(iimiuiii, it is ii it';,Miliii' vi.sitaiit. iiiid is iiossilils a ri'sidnit. Aii'drdin^,' tn I,('(».
t:iiid, it i.s I'DUiid ill 'I'riiiidiid, and, iilllioii^'ii lint colitiiioii, is siiplMisrd to \>f n-sidciit
ill tliiit island. Mr. C W . W viill, (••liiis," 1.S7I) niciitidiis lindiiij; it wading in the
.•ilialluws (tf a laj^iiun lu'ar ('ii'iia','a, in ( nloiuliia, S. A.

A siii.i,di' t'xaiiiidt' nl till' Stilt is rccordt'd liy .Major Wt'ddcrliiirn as liaviii^,' liccn
>liiit in hiTiiiiida, .liinc o, isri.'!. |>r. Ilcrlandifr (MSS.) rites this siiccics as inlialiit-
iii;- laaisliy iilaci's mi llic littoral plains (d' tin- (iiilf ol .Mexico, in Texas. 'I'aniaiilipas.
ihe vieinity <d' Tamiiieo. and oii the slioies of Lake 'l'ania.|na and 'I'lixpan, in the
Slate of N'eia ('ill/. It is there kimwii liy the trivial name of '/VA///A(.

|)r, ( 'ooipei' noticed a nii^^'ialin,'.; tlock at l''ort .Mojave, on tlie 1st id' May, IHCil ; and
III! the iL'lh ol' .May, LS(ii{, ohtaiiied the tiist one seen at Santa liarliara. lieiiee he
iiihrs that it always arrives t'roin the south about that time. It is rare on the I'aeitii-
coast, hut iiii;,nates tliidii.i,di the interior, and seeiii.s to pr«d'er the I'resh-water streams
ami marshes, reedin.:,' aloiii^ their shores. Speeimi'Ms have lieeii procured near the
llocky .Moiintaiiis ; Imt it is everywhere rare in Caliiornia.

.\ccording to (iiraiid, this species is loiind on liOiig Island, liiit is not couiiuon ;
ami it is this hird, and not the .Vvoeet. which is Ihe •• Lawyer" of liiinters. On the
sia-i'uast ol' New .liTsey, where it arrives Irom the south in the latter part ol' .\pril,
it is more common. Ilirdsid' this species associate in small parties, and resort to the
sliallow ponds on the iiieailows in the vicinity ol' the sea-<'oast, where they wade in
pursuit of aipiatie insects and minute shelllish. Occasionally a lew straj,'j;lers may
h ' seen loileiiii^' alioiii the pools on the soiitheni shore of Long islaml ; Imt these are
usii illy solitary individuals, and such are said to he infreqiu'iit. This liird is very
lanly exposed for sale in New Y'ork luarketM, and is not known to liieed on Long
I.-.laiid.

Ill Utah, liotli this species and the Avocet are known as the '• White Snijie." Mr.
Alli'ii found both species in Septemhor. in the valley of the (Jreat Salt Lake, and
(piite ahundaiit, both species being charaeteristie id' that region, where both arn
siiiiimer residents, anil breed on the shores and islands of tlu' lake i!i great
aiiinidanci-.

.Mr. Widgway met with this bird in the spring and summer mojitlis near the alka-
line lakes and ]ioiiils id' the (ireat liasin, inhabiting the same localities with the
Avocet. and being its almost constant eomjianion. In the southeastern portion of
( >regi(ii ('ai>taiii IJeudire found it assoeiatt'd with the Avocet, and l'iTi]ueiitiug the
same localities, but not so common. It also breeds in that region.

.Mr. Moore writes that he has seen but two pairs of this s])ecie.s, on Sarasota Hay,
ill I'lorida, (luring a residence of two summers, or from February to XovemlH'r in two
I'liiisciMitive years. The lirst pair seen was .luiie 1!). 1S7(>, and the second A])ril 0,
1S71.'; the latter in a pond two miles iroiii the Uay in company with Totunns
j/'iri'pcs.

On the coast id' (Juatemala, as observed by Mr. Salvin. the Stilts were wading
iiiioiit near the shore, pecking at the surface of the water; they were in great num-
licis, but all in small flocks. .Mr. K. Newton, who observed it in a lagoon on the
.south side of the Island of St. Croix, also mentions its occurring in small flocks of
tliiee or f(mr. These were wading mid-leg deep in its shallow water, and were
ipiite regardless of the ap|iroacli of the boat, but walked .slowly about, s(mietiines
picking up insects from the surface of the water, at others dipping their bills into
it and, then stojiiiing, with their heads on one side, as if listening, or looking intently
into the water. Leotandsiieaks of them as usually occurring in ]mm in Trinidad, on
the borders of partially dried pools. I'erched upon their long legs, they move with

348

PR.TinMMAL URAM.ATortKM- MMiniL.K.

mIow stt'pM, iiM if iiu'iiMuriiiK tin- k>'*i»i>iI< <"' "■"* '* tViuliil nl iiijiiiiiiK tlii-ir Imij; and
Hlfiulfr liiiihs. Tlii'ii' ery is (U'HciilH'd as Im-Imk Icrlili' ami nuiI.

Wilsnii. wlio liail a kihmI (i|i|M)rtimity U>v oltscrviiiK tin- lialiits ol' tliis hird on fh..
st-a-roant ol' New .Iciscy, statrs tlial it anives tliiif. alxnit tlit- L'.'itli id Ajtiil. in Nhiidl
Hocks of twenty or thirty. snUlividinK into snuillfr parties, assoeiatin^ ilminK 'li''
remainder of tlie season in small companies (d two or tlirec pairs. It inlialiits tlir
upper portions of the salt-marshes near the uplands, w in-re are numerous shallmv
po(ds alxive all hut tin- hi^'hest tides. These poolti uhound with minute sludlli>li,
iKpiiitie inseets, with the larva-, e^^'s, and spawn of various fiu-nis of nnirim- life; imd
upon these the Stilt ihietly leeils. A small party (d a dozen or incu'e usually niidM'
their stay in the thick j,'rass in the vicinity (d' suidi localities, and there con.stinrt
their nests. These are at first sli|.,ditly formed (d a Hinall <|uantity of dry k*">>\
hardly cnou^di to keep the c^'i^s from the damp f^round. As incuiiation f^oes on. ilic
nest is increased liy the addition of dry twij^s, roots of the salt-^rass, seawei'd, imd
various other sulistanees. until iiuite a hiilky nest is fornu'd. 'I"he e^^'s are usually
four in numher, and ih-scrihed liy him as of a dark yellowish (day-color, thickly
marked with lar^fc blotcdics (d' Itlai k. They are (dtcn jdaccd within fifteen ny twenty
yards of catdi other, and in the little colony the ^'reatest harmony appears to prcvaU.
While the females are sittinj,', their imites are usually feeding' in the adjoining
marshes; lint if any peisoii jipproaches their nests, they all cidlect in the air. fl,\iii,\'
with their lonj? lef,'s extcmled hehind them, and keep up a continued yidpin^,' nutc
of r/!r/c<'l!rl--tf!r/,: At the same time they droo]i their win^s, stand with their lc.;s
half-hent and trendilin;^'. as if nnalile to keep tliemsidves ereid. and lialancing their
bodies with ^,'reat ditliculty. These mano'uvrcs arc uniloid)teilly desi^,'ned to turn tlic
attention <d' the intruder from their ej,'j,'s to themselves. If in wadin;; this iiinl
( liances to yet into the water In-yond its depth, it can swim a short distance as ui 11
as the Avocet. It is known to .liMsey Inuitcrs liy tlu' names of <'Tilt.'' '•Stilt."
and " Lou^'slianks." It occasion;d]y visits the ujdands. and wades in fresh-wati !■
ponds in seandi of food, wliicdi it scoops up very dexterously with its (hdieattdy-fornicd
hill, the extremities of which arc soft, and ]irovi(h'd with tine nervous luemhrancs,
enahlinj,' it to detect its food at once. The .Stilt raises onjy a single hrood, and departs
south I'arl}' in Septend)cr.

According to Audid»on. a few of this sjiecies winter in J^ouisiana ;ind in Florida,
hut the greater jiortion jtrocpcd beyond our soutliern limits. In 1S.'57 this binl made
its first appearance near (lalvestou in April, in .small flocks of seven or eight, keeiMii;,'
near the small, shallow, brackish jtonds wlierc it sought its food; it is then more shy
than while breeding, and \itters a whistling cry different from its notes of di.strcss
when nesting. It iiie.s in a rapid manner, with regular Ijoats of the wings and with
extended neck and legs, and walks with a tirm gait, the staggering mentioned h,v
Wilson a.s noticed when breeding Ixung simulated, and not re.al. This species is not
common along th<' shores of the Carolinas. Its food is said to consist of insects,
small Crustacea, worms, the young fry of fishes, ami the small Libelluhe,

The Stilt probably breeds in all the (iulf States, in favorable situations. Dresser
noticed it at Matamoras in July. On the L'd of dune, 18fi4. he saw two jiairs on
Galveston Island; and on the 4th of July, after a lieaNy fall of rain, this bird all nt
once appeared in abundance in the flooded lands near San Antonio. Dr. Merrill, wlm
had a still better opportunity of observing its habits in the same region, speaks of if
as being both common and resident there. It breeds in the marshes in May, makin.;
its nests on wet grassy flats, and laying three or four eggs. The nests Avere platform^
of straAV and grass, often wet, and barely keeping the eggs out of the water. The

RKCUIlVtR(>.STI{II>.K TIIK STIMS - HIMANTOPtlS.

349

iiviTiiKi* Hizu of the luttfi- WiiH l.T.j hy I.IU; th«> i'Xti-ciiH>H wuro 1.88 hy l.'St, iiiitl IXA)
I IV 1. 10.

Twii Ki'ts (tf till- t'KjjH of tills s|it'rl('s (S. I. No. 717 Jiiul fUl.'i) — niic ri'iiin Mutniiio-
ra.H, Mi'xifti, piiiciiri'tl Ity Lii-iiiiiiaiil Cuiirli, ilic (itln-r liy l)r. \Viinlt'iii:iiiii iil Calcii-
HiiMi I'liHH, liii, — iiifUHiirn 1.7<t Ity l.ljo iiiclifH, niid lmvi> a KroiUKUolur ul dark ilnil),
Mnni' with ii nit'niiH, iitiii'i'.s with an nlivao'iiiis, tiii^'*'. Iti other i'xaiii|ili's tiii.si'
Nliadi'H art' iiioif or less iiitfiniin^jlcd, and llu-y arc .spotti'd and iilotihi'd with a dark
lii'.tro hardly distin^Mii.shaiilc Ironi iilai-k.

.\ii I'KK ill my caliiin't, collected iiy .Mr. N. W. Ili.shop on the Pampas of S(tntli
.Vhierica, lielonniiif,' to the southern species (II. Ill-null liitsis), nicasuri's !,S0 liy l..'{0
inches, lint, except in its larj,'»'r mIzc, i.s not appreciuldy dillcreiit liom Iho e^,'^^s ul'
the North Amcrleaii Hpfcit'tt.

i-wat( r
tiirnicd
liraiics,
departs

•'lorida,

d UKuli'

ceepiiii;
lore sliv

distress
md willi
oned I'V

's is net

insects,

Dresser
j)airs en
rd all at
rill, wli'>
ks of it
makin','
hltfornl^

^vl

^IW

l'\

1. r-

'Ml

.li

I 4

Order ALECTORIDES.

CRANES, KAILS, ETC.

TllK Alfdoruhs are a tdleranly well-defined fTroup of limls, related somcwliai
closely to the Limivolo, l»ut very diHtiiiet from the Iftroilium's, to wliidi soiiir
of tho forms (more esjtecially the Criiida) bear a teleological resemlilaiiee. Tyjiiiid
Families of this Order are the (ri-nida' (Cranes), Annnifkc (Conrlans), and Jitillliln
(Kails), all represented in North An.eriea. In addition to these Families, Smith
America possesses several others v'lich have been placed here, l)ut wliethi r
ri^'Iitly or not, we cannot say. These extralimital families are the £iiri/pi/yi<lo (Sim
Hitterns), Ilrliornif/iidir, Cdriauiiihr (Cariamas), and IWtphiidcv (Trumpeters).

Tlie typical mcndters of the ;,'r(iup are pra'cocial and i)tilopa'dic.

The i'amilies of this Order which come within the .scope of the present Wdik
are the followiii'' : —

A» Si/c small or incdiiiin ; liciiil ixunmlly IV-atlicrcd or with a frontal sliicld ; iiiiilcllo toe ikmiIv
as Imi^' us ilic tarsus; hallux wull ilcvfjopccl (nearly a.s loii^' as thu lirst juinl of ilu'
nii'ldlc tof), ni-arly incuniliont. (Itnlli.)

Rallidse. Si/.r niotlinni to very small ; outer primary lon^or than tho si.\th, very liroaii ;
sen Hill nearly or ((uili! ei|ual to the lon^'est. Ikeetrices almost ruilimuntarv, soft, neai iv
hiililen by the coverts. IJili not curved to one side at ti|) (usually shorter tlian ilie
tarsus).

Aramidae. Si/e medium or rather larj,'e ; outer ]irimiiry shorter tlmii seventh, the iiiii' !■
wid) very narrow, exeejit at end ; second ((uill much shorter than the li)nj,'est (lillli)
Rectrices wtdl ilevidoiied, firm, twelve ill nuniher. Hill curved to one sicU' at tip, eipi il
to or loiif^er than the tarsus ; inner secondaries broad, renchin.i,' to end of primaries, tluii
webs ])aitially ilecomi)osed.
B. Si/e laip' ; head partly naked (exc'i • yoiinj;), or with ornamental plumes ; middle toe
less than half the tarsus ; hallux si....,i, much elevated. {Units.)

Qruidae. [< "haractera a.s nbove.]

Fam'lv RALLTD^E. — TiiK Il.viL.s, Gallixclks, and Coot.s.

Chau. Small or medium sized wadinfj or swimmiiif; birds, with coiniircsstd
body, very jono toes, whirl, are sometimes (in the Coots) lobed alony the edyes,
short, rounded, concave wings, and very muscular thighs.

Tlie brief diagnosis given above is sufHcieiit to distingui.sli the itails, of wliatcvi r
sul»-fiiiuily. from the C(uiilai',s and Cranes, tludr (mly near allies. The typical Hails
(liiiUiiKv) are of very small to medium size, tho typical genus, Tinthis. being cliar-
actf Ized particularly by a lengthened slender bill, while other genera, as I'onann

RALLID.E - THE HAILS — RALLUS.

351

liioiiil :

luailv

mil till'

c mil' I
(liliii)

IS, llifii

;iii(l rVcf, have this member comparatively short ami thick. The (Joots and (lalliimles
liiive tiie base of the culmeii coiitimit'd iiiniii the tdrchcnil. wiicre it widens out into a
iiKiic or h'ss <^ilil)(ms or expanded phite ^n^ 'nintiil sliieid. 'I'iie Coots, however, are
peculiar in having' the toes fringed with scalloped Haps or lateral lolii's.

'Die three siilvlaniilic'S of Itullidw oceiirring in "^"rth America may be tlius
(listiiij,'uished : —

Rallinae. Xe fntiital process ; toes withuut lateral lobes ; size varialile ; liili sunu'liinuH

liiiiili cli)iij,'ati'd.
OalliuulinsB. A fnmtal jirocess, as in Fitliviinf ; toes without lateral lulies ; si/.c lar^ic.
Fulicinae. A frontal jn'ocess, as in (lallinulime ; toes with u lateral IoIkmI niaiv'in ; si/.e

lai^'c.

The several sul)-families havinj,' thus been detined, the North Anu-riean genera
may lie characterized as follows : —

Sni-FAMii.v liAl.lilN.K. — Tin. TiiiK liAiLs.

A. l'>ill slender, ei|Ual to or longer lliaii the tai-sus.

1. Rallus. [Cliararters as iiliove. ]

O. liill sliiiit, Hot iiKHv than twn lliiids tlie taisiis (usually imirh less),

2. Porzana. MiiMIe toe alinnl ei|iial to nr ^liMlllly longer than tarsus ; liase of gonys nut

forming a deeiileil angle ; niiilille of cuhnen deciileiUy depressed or coiicavo.
;{, Crex. Miildle toe shorter than tarsus ; liase of gonys forming a decidi-d inii;le ; inicldle of
euUiiell scarcely aiijireeialily de|iressed.

Siii-KAMii.Y OAliLIXl'LlN'yE. —Tin; (iAii.iMi.is.

4. lonornis. N'nstril small, oval ; middle toe shorter than tarsus ; tc es without trace of
lateral nienihrane ; inner iiosterlor face of tar.ais with a sin^de low nf large i|nailratu

scutella'.

r>. Oallinula. Nostril elongated, slit-like ; middle toe longer than tarsus ; toes with a
deciiled indication of lateral memhraiie ; inner posterior face uf taisus cuveied with
several irregular rows of small hexagonal scales.

Srii-KAMii.v I'TI.ICIX.K. — Tin; Coors.

(i. Fulica. Nostrils, and pi'o]ioi'lionatc length of toes and tarsus, as in ilnllltiiiln ; toes
liordered with a very wide, scallojied, lateral niemhrane ; inner po.-teiior face of tarsu»
covered with small scah's, as in (IhIIIhkIk.^

lldle le

edge:

Gexi's rallus, Lix.v.tu's.

Ji'dhia, Linn. S. N. cd. Id, ]7.kS, 1.'.:? ; cd. I'.', 17t!ti, 261 (type, li. aqvatkus, Li.vx.).

''iiAR. Bill longer than the head, rather slender, compressed ; upjier mai.ilildo slightly curved ;
iiosiiils in a long ^;roove, and with .'i large memhraiie ; wings short ; tertiary ipiills lon;_'. frei|iiiiiiiy
1oiil;i'1' than the |)rimaries; fail very shori ; legs moderate, tarsus siiorter than the midille toe, mid
CHViicd on all sides with transverse scales ; toes long and rather sleiidi'r ; inner toe rather shorter
tli;Mi llie outer ; hind toe short and weak.

This genus contains numerous species, inhaliiting all the temperate countries of the world, and
viiy -iinilar in their hahits, and lVe.,iientIy in ap|iearance. 'I'heir long toes enalile them to run
ovir ;iiid (limb amongst aipiatic jdaiits wiih ;^reat facility.

' A .South AiiiPiican iif'wwn, Puriilnirinps, Pri'iiKiiAN, l«'lon«iiig to tlif fodlinnliiin;, is inmh like (Jnl-
///o'/.(, (lit lins the lateral iiiaij;iii to the Iocs iiiorc dccidodly ilcvel()|ied, tin u'oiiy- very short, and much
a.si' -Mliiif; tcrniiiially, the culineii very straight, mid the fn ntal shield small and very iiointed.

r.r-TTT

ALECTORIDES.

Ssmopsis of the North American Species.

<'oM. CliAK. Aliovr, (ilivr of iisliy, witli iiKii'i' or Il-ss tlistiiict liroiitl liiii^'itinliiml HtriiHs df
iliirktT ; Ih'iiciiIIi. riiiicolorcil aiilcriuily. viiiif^iiilcd with luiw on the llmiks iiiul rrissiuii. I!rcii~i
iiKiii' or liss icdilisli ; Ihiiiks mill c ri»iiiii willi lnuwii aiul white IninnvtMitt' Iwit* ; a !-ii|iialonil li,'lii
slripi'. Wiu^'-i'ovi-Tls usually luoif iul'f.-<fi'Hl than back.

A> Size laip- (win^; luoiv tliaii 5 imlus).

u. Axillais aud llankiilusky. with wiilt- white luu-s (liars alioul 15 of an inch wide on flank-)

1. R. elegana. Hack and m m|iu1uis iKliracenus-nlivc or yellowish drali, shar]ily and rons]ii( u-

ously sirijpcd Willi Mack : l.icasi dccit cinnainon. Win;,', ").!»(Mi.HU; ciilnicn, :!.H>-l'."i1i ;

least dipth of Mil, .i'i'-.:j."> ; laivus. I,!mi-l'. |o ; nii<l<lle toe, l."(t-iM(>. Huh. Fresh-wal.i

inai'shes of hlasifin Noiih America.

K. •■Ifiiam.

h. Axillus and liniiij; of wiie^r dark Ihoh n, narrowly liarrcd with white ; Hanks dark limwii
disiiiii'tly lutrrecl with liniii white and Macki^ii, lh<' hars of the former aliont .ii,') .07 di .111
inch wide.
■2 R Beldingi. .\lic)ve, dee|i olive-lnown. di«tinilly liiit not sharply -Iriixil with lii-owni'li
hhii'k ; l>rea.st, etc., rich cinnamon, Wiiii,', .'i,7l) ; tail, :!..*iii ; ciilineii, :/ l.'t ; le.'i>i deptli
of hill, .W); tarsus, l.'.i:^ : middle tm', l.so. /Af/<. Ciilf of (.'alil'orniii (Kspiriln S:iiii>>
Island).
r. A.\illars and tianks Itrowni^h ;,'ray, with narrow while liars (liars alioiit jo of an inch wide
on Hanks).
'.\. R. obaoletiu. Hack and -ca|iidars i;rayish olive, iniljsiinctly stri|ie<l with dii-ky ; lucust
deep cinnamon, Win^', (i l(i-(i.(iit ; ciilmeii, J l'.'i-:^..iI) ; least depth of hill, .;l:>-.:i.'i;
tarsus, :2 Id J.J.'i ; middle toe, 2.(N)-:2.,'i. Ilnh. Sall-waler marshes of ( 'alifornia.
1. R. longiroatria. itack aiid scapulars hrownish ^ray or ashy, oli>-oIetely >-tri|.'d with
ln'owii (ill (iiilf coast spei'imeii^ disliiicily stiiped wIlli dii-ky) ; lireasi pale hiilf (in (inlt
coast specimens ilnll cinnamon). Win;.', ."i.L'(i-(i.(Hi; culnieii, 2.o,')-J.riU ; least vieptli el
hill, .^-l-.'Xi ; tarsus. I.kVuMu; middle toe, I.T'i-iJ (H). //nh. .Salt-water marshe- n|
Eiistern I'liiletl .Stales, West Indies, and Niirtheiu.tern South .Vinerica.
B. Size small (wiii'„' h-^ than •..'"id jnrhe«).

5, R. virginianua. Similar to 7/. i/ct/diM, Imt rather nmre deeply colored, /Mi. N'oith and
Miiltlle .Vnierica.

RALLID.E — THE RAILS — RALLL'S.

353

crepUanH,

IS 12, it;o,

K.V, lbr>',

— KllHJW.

Rallns elegans.

THX KIXG BAIL; GREAT RED-BBEASTED BAIL.

II. elegans.

Jliilliis crepiliDUi, \Vii.« Am. Orii. VII. ISIS, |>l. &2, ««. •-* (lif,'. 'mt not Joscr. Not 7;.

UMEI,.). -C) Ai,I,KX, Hull. .Mils. Cniiip. Z.H)I. Ill, 1872, 1S2 (Cleat Suit l.iiku, I'tali
i:,illi(.i.l,;i(ias, An., (trii. llii.«. III. IbS.'i, 27, I'l. 203; Syiio].. isy.t, 21.^ ; II. .\iii. V.

pi. :i(i!i. HaiiiI), H. N. Ami. 1858, 746; Cut. X. Am. IS. l^.V.t, iic. 6r.2. — t'liiKs,

273; I'li.ik Mm. 1n7:{, no. 4(Ji5 ; 2a tid. 1S82, no. 070; lUiiU N. W. 1874, D;tr.

Noni. N. Am. B. 1881, no. .'■tin.

/(. tenulroBtrU.

liiilliiKfl>'ii<iii», viir. timnnmtrin, L.vwii. Am. Nut. Feb. 1874, 111 (City of Mexico). — HirniW. Bull.
Nutt. Orii. <'lul), V. no. :», .luly, 188ii, \AV,

lI.Mi. FicHli-watt'i' nmr.ilicH of ilic Hiistvi-n I'ruvinix- of tlio Uiiiluil Stuti;s, north, (•a.-<imlly, to
M i-siiliii^ftls, Muiuf, mill Cuiiailii Wfil, rt;4iiliirly to the MidtlK' Stuti-.s ami Nortliiiii Illinois;
wc>l to Kansas ((JiiMt Salt l,:iki', .\i.i.KX ?-). l{c|plafeil in the salt-niarslifs aloii;,' tlu' Atlantic
ainl (iulf coasts liy it'picM'nlalivi' roiiiis i>f //. tniiijlnmlfiii.

Sv. Cii.Mi. All nil : Aliiivi', Vfllowish olivi- or (K-limceous-dial", very conspicuously lunl sliai|ily
>iri|iiMl wiili l.l.ick ; ciown il iik lonwii ; a mi j mil oral >livak of lnnwiiisli wliitu, continufil to the
ui'.i{iiii ill a lii'ciaili'i' stri|ii- of liiowni'li ^'lay ; luit-s ami >iil>orlijtal r('}{ioii lir<i\viii.--l: ;.'ia\ nriluU
l>rnwiiisli ; cliin ami tlu'oat wliitc ; iciiiaiiKli'r <if licad and neck, including; jii^'uluni and liica>t,

liiiiwtii-li

r.l-t d.-plll

rim Siiiii"
inch wi.lc
vV ; liii;i-l

1. .;12-.:!-'!
lia.

ij,.d «'lll

IV (ill (lair

It dcptll >'l

liaifln- "I

ISoHli aii'l

li-iit ciiinaiiion ; Hanks and sidi-s dark lirownisji mljlackisli ilunky, liarn-d with white, the white
K.iis aveiiiyin^' alioiil .|(>-.|.'i of an inch in width, the iiiteis|iaces more tlitiii twice as wide ; crissiini
iiii\t'i| dusky and white, the lateral feathers almost iiiiinaciilale white ; middle of the alidoiiieii
roiisideralily li^'liler than the hreast, sonieliini'M i|uile white ; axillars and lining; of the wiii^' Hiniilar
to the tiaiik'i. lull white hars narrower, and less distinct. Wiiivi-coveits ru^ly liiownish, soinetinies
iiicMiiiii'.' to i'liestnut,aiid not infn i|iieiitly iimie or le>^ liaricil with reddish white ; teilials wirlely
-iiipecl, like the Nca)iulai's ; renii^cN plain iimherlu'own ; lectrices raw-iinilH'r, with a dusky medial
-liipe. " Lower niandilile and ed>;es of upper liiowni^ii yellow ; rid'.je of upper, and lips of hoth.
deep hrown ; iris lirij,dil leil ; feel yellowisji liriiwn. tinned with olive ; claws of the same color''
(Ai oriiDN). Ihi'i'iifi jiiiiiiiii: riiiroriii ;,dossv Mack; hill dusky, llie end. and iniumph'' wide
hand near the hase (eiiclosiiij,' the nostiil). pale yellowish or whitish (in the skin) ; lej;s a:i'! feet
hiiiwiiish (in skill).

Tulal len^'th. ahout 17 inches; win,', r».!H>-(; ><(l ; culineii, 2.1i-2.f)0; depth of hill in midille,
.•.!7-.;ri ; tarsus, 2.20-2.10; middle |oe, l.>.o-2.1<».

'I'liu individual variation in this Hpeeies U very considerahle, hoth as re;^'aiils ('(duration ami the
piciporlioiis ; hut it may always he readily distinguished from the allied forms hy the character.s

' May piissililv Im- il. nhmihlii.i.

'* Nu N|icciiiiens tivuii ; muy |iuii.,ilily he obsolelus.

Vol. I.

a:>

; .]
n I

«i

a54

ALKCTOIIIDES.

pointed oiu in tlu' uliovi- Kynoi^is tlic vitv r(iiis|iicuiius, sliarply-di'tint'il, ami liroad Muck stripes
alpiivc, uiHin an (iiJiivy-ljriiwn or vullci\visli-()livait.otis j;ii)un(l-iiili)r, ciiniliinL'il witli the linnaiiinii
liii'ast and dark Hanks, licinj,' tliu pnmiint'nt distinulivi' IVatmvs. Tlu; ciiiet' variation in coloi-
I'onsists in the dcyivu of asliint'ss on tiie side of the lieud (some exanii>les l)einj,' distinctly asliy, a>
in most specimens of Vu lnuyirMtriii cnpititiin), iiiul in the precise »luule of the {^round-color of tli>'
upper parts (which, however, is never asjiy).

The only extraliniital Npeciniens we have seen ari' one from the City of Mexico, in the collec-
tion of Mr. tieor),'e N. Lawrence, and one from the Valley of Mexico in the National Museinn.
These aie so dilTerent in many respects from the common North American hird as to lie enlillcl
to at least sul)->[iccilic separation. Ctimpared with true </<';(((/(«, the di>tinctive chamcters of the
Mexican nice are as follows : —

(I. elegans. Flanks and sides dusky hrownish, widely and disiint ly harred with pure while.
Wiiij;, .">.!»( m;.,S(»; culniei:, i'. Ii*-i'..")(» ; least depth of hill, .:i7-.:i.'i ; tai-sus, ■2.-2{)-iAO ; mid.lle In,..
1.8()-:i. 10. //nil. Fresh-water marslii. of Ka.stern North America.

li. tenuirostris. Flanks and sides reddish umlier, narrowly and indistinctly harred wiili
reddish while and dilute cinnamon ; hreasi and neck more deejily and unil'orndy cinnamon lliaii
iu iliyiiim. Winu, .">.!»(•; cidinen, :i.(i(»-:i.l(t ; least depth of hill, .i'^ ; tarsus, l.W»-I.!»0 ; middle
toe, 1.7(). f/itl). Mexico (Ma/atlan and Cily of Mexico).

The accompanying,' li;,'ui-e of the liill of tuiiilroMris is taken from the type wpecimen in Mi.

Luwn-nce's C(dlection.

RiiUiis rh'ijiinn ti'iiiiirnsfrin.

Till' ilistinetion iM'twccii the in'csciit .s]M'cii's ami tlic ludrc connnoii Clappcv Hail
t'litiivly t'sciipcd tin- iiotii-c nf Wilsnn iuid Niittall. iiltlum,t,'li the fornicr luii.st umpies-
tioiiiilily liavi' inct with tlif r/i'i/mis in the Dflawari' uiarsht's — in his ilrscriptioii oi the
rrr/t!finis apparently cDnfoumlino: the manners (d' tlif two species. The (listinctness of
i/ri/inis as a siiceies and suuic id' its peculiarities were lirst inaile kiinwn to the pulilic
Ity Mr. .Vuilnlion. his attt'iitioii liuviiij,' Ween called to the snhject hy I'r. •hdiii Uaeh-
inan. .\lth(in.i,di .Vudnlton sjieaks (d' liavino; met with a sinj^le indiviiliial of tiiis
species in Keiitnid^y. he sccius to have rri^ai'dcd it as an cxidnsividy sontiu'rn species
juid as hi'liif,' cnnlinctl to the fresli-wattT marshes of tiic Simtlicrn States, and not lo
have been awiire how cuniniun it is in the low laiitls of all the Northwestern States,
ranijinu <'ven as far as Nortliein W'isciuisin and .Minnesota. lOveii now lunch remains
to lie learned as to its ooneral aWiindaiwe in Ihesi' States, the dates of its appearance
and departure.

Mr. Uri'sser foiiml it pretty common in S(Mitlieni Texas, on the I'.razos and Colo-
rado rivers, and also occasionally on (lalveston Island.

(iiraiid did not nu'ct with any speeiniens id' this Itail in the luarshos of T.om;,'
Island. Itnt nientiiuis tin- timlini,' a sinj^le specimen, taken at Willianisluirj,', now in
the cal)inet of ,dr. Lawrem-e; ami he rt'<.^ai'ded it as liein,!.; e.vtrenndy rare in that
re<,'ion. .Mr. .1. II. Itatty. however, informs me tli.it iu' has loinnl strai,'i,ders (d' tiiis
spi'cies in all parts of honf; Island, as wtdl as in the meadows of New frcrsoy betwei u
Jersey City and Newark, where it breeds, lie liu.s al.so taken a siiif^le hik'( imen ne;ir
West liaven, Coim.

RALLin.K — THK UAIL8 - RALLUS.

355

Mr. Lewis states that it is well known ti) the Delaware Jtail-shooters as the '• Kin>,'-
Kiiil." It tie(iuents the fresh-water marshes of the interior, and feeds on the same
liM)d as the .Sora Kail, Itein^r often fouml in the sanu^ localities as that bird, lie met
witii it in greater almndanet^ farther sonth. and rarelv noticed it north of the Dela-
ware marshes. Its Hesh he rcganls as very similar to that of the Sora. Imt as not
lii'iiij; (jnite so delieate. thon,i,'h at times e(|nally juiey and tender. It is found in
Ire.di-water marshes oidy. iiceordiiig to ids experience, and was not met with on the
sra-lioard. It seems to have the same wild skulking habit of the Sora. iind its Hight
is sliort and labored ; when on<'e raiseil it is easily shot. When wounded it can liotii
suim and dive well, and conceals itsidf in the water among the reeds. .Mr. LewLs
siiot one in duly, on an iipland marsh in the nddst of a thick wood in .Maryland.

Mr. .Vudulxin regarded it as being altt)getlier a fresh-water bird, and coidined to the
Southern .States; and in this first supposition he was undoul)tedly correct; for what
was supposed to be exceptional in the Pacific coast Kail is only evidence of the
ibstinetness of species; but he was in error in tidnking it exclusively southern.

Tins bird is abundant ;dioui Ohicago. on Lake Koskonong, Wis., in .Minnesota,
ami in other Western States ; and we have no doulit that the Kail referred to by
Mr. .Mcllwnuth as breeding about Hamilton, Ciunida West, is this iiird. and not. as
lie supposed, the i-n/>!finis. I saw it ;dtnndant in the market at Cliieiigo about the 10th
III Ajiril in an unusually late season. .Mr. d. \. Allen met with it in Salt Lake Valley,
\vlier<' he fouml it very almndant.

.Vudubon speaks of it as an excessividy .shy bird, running Avith ciderity. and when
caught crying like tlie Common Fowl. It resides throughout tin- year in the fresh-
water marshes in the interior of South (Carolina, (Jeorgia. Florida. Louisiana, and
Texas. The siiiue author was infornu'd that this bird is now and then obtiuned near
i'iiiladelphia, where it is consiih-red very rare, and is known as tic "King Kail."

in .South Carolina, aecoi'ding to Dr. r>achman. although not so ntimcrous as other
species, it is not rare in iavoralde situations. AVherevcr tle-re are extensive marshes
liy tlie side of sluggi>'h . '^I'eims, this Kail maybe lound gliding swiftly among the
tangled rank griisses ;ind aquatic weeds, or standing on the broad leaves of the water-
lily; ;ind there, on some little island of the marsh, it builds its nest. Dr. I'.acdiman
states that he has found twenty pairs breeding within a s]iace having a diiimeter of
thirty yards. The nests were phiced on the ground and raised to the height of six
01 eight inches by means of witiiered WiM'ds and grasses, the numliei' of the eggs
licing nine or ten. He found a few with eggs aliout the middle of .March, liut the
greater number of these b'.rds begin to breed about tiie middle of .\)U'il. They
n pair their nests from tinw to time, and retuiii to them several years in succession.
Tiic young — which iire at t'rst covered with ji lilack down — leave the nest as .soon
lis they are hatched, and follow their parents along the borders of streams and pools,
where they feed on in.seets, seeds, tailpoles, leeches, and small craytisli. Dr. IJaeh-
iiian sevend tinu's attempted to domestieat<' this bird, but faih'd, probal»ly on aeeonnt
III being unable to olitain a suflicient (piantity of suitable food. When grown it feeds
oil a variety of sidistanees, including seeds iind other vegetidtle i)roduetions. In its
S^i/zard were found the seeds of griisses which grow in the places it freipients. On
one occasion its stomach was crammed with the seeds of the Arinnlo frrfn ; and that
III' another bird contained a (piantity of imts which had evidently been jiieked up on a
newly-sown field near the marsh. It is ii bird ditlicult to shoot, as it is not easily
raised, and In-eause it confines itself to swampy places, covered with smilax and other
hriers and thus rendccd inaeeessible. In seascms (d' greiit drought, when the marshes
hiioine dry, it has been known entirely to disappear fnmi the neighborhood, retiring

■ -Tir I

■^

356

ALKCTOHIDES.

,..„ r^

to largiT and dooper jjoikIs in interior swaiMps. It has hut a Hiiijjlc hrood in a Hoason.
unli'ss tlic lirst has iM'cn (h'strovcd. lis Hi},'ht is stronj,'('r and more protracted tiiiin
that of the rn/ilfmis, hut otiicrwist- rcstMnltlinj,' it. When sud(h'nly Huslicd, it rises
and ^iH'H oil' witli a cliinl;, its h'),'s dannlinK, and jn'oeeeds in a straij,dit line lor some
distance, after wlneh it drops anions tliieli gras.s and runs oM witii wonch-rful sjioed.
Its nund)er is not diniinisiied in winter hy any nii},'ratory movement.

Mr. .Moore nientinns as a curious fact in the natural liislory of this species, as well
as in that td' rfr/tifniis ami rhyhiliniiis, an<l the l'nr:;<mii tiimlhia, that it is almost
impossilile to Hush one after the middle of NovendM-r, in localities where durinj,' the
two iirevious months a dozen or more mif,dit he put on wiuf,' iu a few hour.s. This
hird may then he often heard, hut not seen, as ;it other times, to take wing.

Two eggs in my coUei-tion (No. To), ohtained in the Cahimet marshes, lUinoi.s, hy
Kohert Kennicott. have a grouiid-c(dor of a dead creamy white; they are marked
quite sparsely with small spots and Idotches of a prevalent oval sliape, some hein^' dl
a purplish-slate color, hnt the larger jiortion heing chirk purplish hrown. Oneei,'^,'
measures l.Gi) inches in length hy l.L'l) inches in breadth; the other I.G8 inches hv
1.25.

'» 'i

RalluB Beldingi.

BILOIHO'S BAIL.

Rallita Hrliihigi, Kmow. I'loc. U. S. Nut. Mug. Vol. 6, 1882, 348.

HAn. Es])iritu Santo Island, (lulfof Calirornia.

Chah. .Most rosi'iidilinj,' It. itnjiuiii. lait darker and richer colored throii>{hout, the sides iiml
Hanks with the white hars imuli narrower, and marked also with very disiiiut bhukisli liars.
Size siiialliT. Adult inidf (No. M(i4l!», Kspiritii Santo Islands, Lower Calirornia, Feli. I. l>s:;;
L. UKi.nixii); I'ileuni and ui>iier half of nape dark sooty l>rowii or sepia; ground-color of oilur
upper parts deep olive-hrown (nnieh as in It. virj/ini'ioiiw — deeiiledly darker than in It. iliijitns),
Iiroadly slri|HMl with brownish Mack, ahout as in It. nhmilitmi ; wing-eovert.'» dull cheslniU-lirown,
tingcil with olive, the c.xteiior feathci's more rusty ; suiiraloral stripe lijjht cinnamon, the leailn r<
white at hast' ; lores, continuous with a liroad stripe hehind the eye, dull grayish hrown ; un^lt r
eyelid whitish ; malar rcj^'ion, checks, entire foicneck, ju^'uhun. ami hreast rich ciniianioii. niin li
deeper than in any of the allied forms ; chin white, throat nn.xed white and cinnamon, the laiii r
on tips of the feathers ; entire sides and Hanks ratln^r dark hair-hiown (le>s olivaceous than u]ipir
parts), rather distinctly harred with hlackish and very sharply harreil with ]ture white, the hars nf
the latter color aliont .0.'>-,o7 of an ijii'h in width ; lining of wing dark lirown. with very naridw
white liars; anterior and middle |i(a'tion of ciissiun marked nmch like ihe Hanks, the lateral .md
terminal lower tail-coverts piu'e white. Ri.^al two thirds of the niandilde and posterior ]ioition ni
nia.\illary toniium deep orange ; rest of Mil dark horn-hrown, the end of the mandihle jialer ; feet
(hirk horn-lirown.

Wing, .'i.TO inches ; tail, i.M ; culuion, 2.15 ; depth of bill at base, .50 ; in middle, .30 ; tar-
sus, l.»2; middle toe, 1.80

Compared with speeimens of all the allied species and races of the geiuis. the
present bird is instantly distinguishable hy the characters p(dnted out above. In
iidensity of ccdoration it most m-arly resembles ft. rli't/hiitunin, but, ajjart from its
much larger size, jtresents the fcdlowing differences of coloration- the side of tlir
liead below the eye is ehietly cinnamon, whereas this portion is in /»'. n'riji'iiHiuiis very
distinctly ashy; the hreast, etc., are both dee])er and redder cinnaunm ; the ground-
color of the sides and flanks much ])aler (uidform hliiek in h'. r!rf/!iiiinni.s); the hla<k
stri])es of the upi)er parts are both narrower and less sharply defined, while the win!,'s
are much less rusty.

UALLin.K — TIIK RAILS — RALU'S.

867

Compared witli tlir lar},'t'r simmmcs {/,'. /niH/lni/ifris, willi its ract-s, /i. i/ii/hvm luul
U.ohsoh'fiiK), it is (iiHicuit tn siiy ti) wliich this Itiiil is most in-arly vcliitptl. Ntmc of tlu'
luiins of //. /oiii/irnsfrl.s, Ikiwcvit. iiccil close <-i)iii|iarisoii, the (larkcst-rdlon'd race of
iliat species (A*. iitiii/lnisfrlK .infiini/iis, from Luuisiaiia) having,' liroader blaek stripes
aiiil a very dilfereiit (asli->,'ray) f,'roiiiid-<'olor above ; tlie breast, etc. a very iiiueh (hdler
iiiid liKliti'i' eiiiiiainon, and tiie tiank-bars broader and on a nniform ^M'onnd-4'(ilor. A*.

(;//.s«.//7//,s af,M'ees liest in tb loration of ijie npper parts, wbicli. liowever. in all s]ieei-

iiii'iis (iiicindin;; one from San (.tnentin liay. on tiie western side of Lowei' Calii'ornia)
hiive a lij^liter. and in some a decidedly j,M'ayer. j,'rouud-color ; but tlie white Hank-
hiirs are nnich broader, with nnieolorcd inteispaees. the breast very eonspicnonsly
|i;der, and the size eonsi(lerai)ly ;,'reater. A', ilitjuiis has also the iireast paler, the
t,'niiind-«'olor of the iipp«'r parts a li;,diter and much more yellowish (dive, ami the
iilick stripes much more sharply detined. I'lion tlie whole. I see no other way than
1(1 consider the specimen in (piestion as representing; a very distinct species or local
nice, whicdi i take },'reat pleasure in nandng after its collector.

[NoTK. — Since the iibovo was written, tin- Nulidnal Museum lia> rcrcivi'd two iidditional »\wv\-
imiis. a uiali' luuf a fciualc. cipllcctccl liy .Mr. licldiu^' at bu i'az in .lanuarv, \xx',\. Tlicsc af,'rce
I'liisi'ly with the type, from Ksjiiritu .Saut'i Island, thus fully cslalilisliin^' the validity of the

f-]iei'iu».J

Rallus obsoletuB.

THE CAUFOBNIA CLAPPER RAIL.

? RalhiH flrf/nns, t.'oor. k .SrcKi.. I'aiitic K. It. l{f|i. .Ml. ii. 18«(», 24(1 (Wnshington Terr.).
Jlalliis rlniniiH, var. ohmi/ct lis, Uinfiw. Am. Nut. VIII. Is74, 111. — Couks, t'litck List, A|iii.l873,137,

no. 4<iti ((.
Hii/Ziis ilifjiiiis, 1). iibsiiHiis, Ciiris, Itirds N. W. 1>>74, "ilt.'i.
i;nllii.H dIisuIcIiis, KiiMiw. bull. Null. Hm. I'luli. V. no. :t. ,liily, 18H0, ]:»l»; Xoin N, Am. B. 1881,

no. .'iTo.
l{iiHilH liiiigirdslris nhsuhlils. Cocks, Cliock List, ill cd. 18S"J, no. (574.

Il.\u. Salt-marshes of the Pacilic coast, siatlh to San (^ucntiu Hay, Lower ('aliforniii, luuth to
AViisliinjrtoti Territoiy (?).

Sp. ("hau. Ailiilf : Above, grayish olivaccons, indistinitly stri]«'<l with Lrownisli black ; crown
aiiil n.i|ic browid.sli dusky ; a llj,'lit Lrown sn|iralorul stripe ; lores and snliorbital re^^ion dusky
liinwiiisli ; chin and throat white ; rest o!' head imd lUM'k, with jn^nilum and breast, lij,'ht ciima-
niiiii, as in It. iliijiniii : Hanks and sides |,'i'ayi?)i brown, with narrow Lars of wjiito (bars about
.iis-.jo ol' an inch wide, tiic intcrsjiaccs .-Jo to ..'lo) ; .ixillars and lininj,' nl' winj; siindar, but darker,
the white bars narrower ; anal rcj;ion and middle of alHlonicn ]>lain jialc bulf; i^'issiiin brown or
diKky, barreil with white, the lateral feathers neatly itninaculate white. Win;^'-co verts umber-
liiiiwn ; reinijics |dain dusky ; rcctriccs j,'iayisli idi\c, obsolcttdy dusky centrally. Ihnniij ijimiuj :
Uniform j^'lossy Mack ; bill Link and whili^Ii (the latter on end and around nostril).

Total '.clioth, about I7.0(l-IK(H1 iiiclies ; win^-. (;.40-(i.(iO ; cullneli, 2.2.'>-2 .'iO ; loa.st depth of
l.ill (tlii(aio|i middle), .:i2-.:i.') ; tarsu.s, -LW-l-lh; iniddle toe, i>.(K>-2.1.5.

The Salt-water Marsh-hen of the Pacific coa.-^t differs t'roni that of the Atlantic seaboaid in the
iimri! olivaccms upper jiarts, with vi'iy tli.stinct dusky stri|)cs, and decided ciniiiunon-color of the
lifcast, ill which rospect.s it approaches the Fresh-water species (/»'. elfijunii), the reseiiibLmce to
which is so ^;roat in tlit^ last respect that the bird was oii;,'inally described as a vai'iety of It. tkijnns.
'flic colors and inarkinos of the llauks, liowever, as well as its jieculiiir habitat, ])rove its ivlatioii-
sliip to be rather with U. hnginiKtriii. We here treat it ns an independent species, for the reason
tliiit it is isolated (ieo^^rnphicMlly from any of the races of It. lomjirostria, while it may also always
1m' di.stinguished by its peculiar colors and proiiortiona.

358

ALKCTOniDKa

III till' •* Aincricuii Naturalist" Inr Kclniiaiv. IS7I. Mr. l;i(l},'\vay calls iittcntinn
for tin* Hrst tiiiif to what li<' iImii niiitiiilcitMl a I'arilic varittv "t A*, iht/iiim. \\,
ii(»\v reminds it as a pioiialilv ppod ami ilistiiict siucii's. 'I'lic tv[tc was taki'ii liy !>i.
Siicklt'V ill San l''raiirisi(> in Marcli. l.s.">7.

Litth' in kiKiwii as to its (listiiirtivc manners or lialiits. Witii rf>,'ar(l tn this foiih
we liavf lint lew nolfs t'rnin aiiv nl' tlic writers mi the liinis ot tlir Pacifir coaKt. ami
all tlicsc well' written with the Iteliel that the liinl rel'ened to iiy them was really
the A*, c/it/iiiis. Dr. ('oo|iei'. in his maniiseii|it notes, makes im ntion ol this s|M'cies as
havinj,' heeii met with \<\ himsell'; ami enusidi rin^i; it to lie the Hii|i|iose(| Fresh-water
Kiii^' iiail. he expresses his surprise at timiiii!,' it liy no means eonfine.l to the Iresl,.
water marshes. The same writer also mentions liaviii;^ heanl the notes ol' JInils
in tlie Colorado and Mojave valleys; these may possihly have lieeii individuals nl
the \'ir!,nnia itaii. 'IMie season of the year was the wiii'er and early spring. Sinn'
then he has louiid this species common on the eoast. at all seasons of the year. :in
lar north as San Francisco, lie lonnd it iieiiuentin^' inditt'crently lioth the >:iit
iiiai'shes ami the fresh ; luit it coneeuls itsell' so completely, that it can he very ranly
ohtained, or even seen, except when started In a doi:.

Dr. ('iio|)er once loiiml one of tiicse liirds concealed in a hole amoii),' some riM-k
Hand; and instead ol' makin;^ lor the marshes, it Hew out to mm ami settled niioii the
water. At San I'edro, dniiiii; the extremely hi,i;h tides ol .Inly, the same ohserM-r
jirociired sevcial examples ol tliis species. 'I'licy were all younj,' liirds. but liilly
m'owii. They had lieen driven Irom the marshy islamis liy the overflow, and wen-
tloatiiij; alioiit perched nptm pieces ol' wo<iil. waiting' lor the waters to snliside. They
seemed to Ite perreetly liewildered. and could hardly he iniliicc(l to take to tiij,'ht. In
another part of his manuscript i)r. Cooper dwells upon the fact — iinlooked lor li\
him — that this bird certainly I'reipu'nts lioth lirackish water and salt-marshes.

Mr. J. A. Allen also makes mention of havinj; met with a liail, supposed at the
time to lie H. iliijinis, in the \'alley of (.Jreat Salt i.aki' ; hut this may have been. ami
probably was. the present spircies. Whatever it was. he found it very abundant there.

Inder the name of Hnlliin vli'ijiniit, Mr. Ileiishaw refers to this species iis iHiie,'
common in certain marshy spots {•\{\^{' to the sea at Santa Harbara. and as retiriie.'
duriiij,' the day into the beds of tall rusiies. which serve to screen it Iroiii all eiieiiiiis
as well as from the j,'lariin,' sUn. !>y the lirst of .Inly the youii(^ \v«'re out and able
to accompany their parents in search of food. 'I'hese birds be^aii to be active about
sunset, heraldini,' the approach of dusk by loud outcries; but they were not eiitiivly
(|uiet duriiifj: the day. Immiij^ jtrobably forced to fora^'c more or K'ss at that time in
order to satisfy the luiiij,'er of their yoiiii},'.

RalluB longiroBtris.

THE OIA?FES BAIL.

II. longirostris.
lialliu Inngiroslri.i, I5(i!iii. Talil. I'. K. U^:! (IkimiI on Mfi- « /imij hn; de Cayenne, Burr. PI. Kul.

84U).
Hal/us cru.sniroslris, I,awk. Ann. bye. N. Y. X. Fili. 18'11, in text (baliiii).

b. crepitans.

Rnllus errpilnna, ftMKi,. .S. \. I. ii. 1788, 7i:( (Imsi'il on ('laiip,r Pitll, Pknn. Arot. Ziml. II. I'Sl.
no. 407). — Wii.K<>N, Am. (iiii. VII. lS];t, \V1 (.Ir.s.r. Im' not tlio li^jniv :).— Xiri. Man. II
1834, 201.- An>. Orii. IJiofj. 111. ISlt.'i, -iUl, (il. -214 : .Syiiop. ]».!!•. '.Jl-i ; B. Am. V. 1S42, 1'-
pi. 310. - Haiku, U. X. Am. 18.".s, 747 ; <'at. X. Am. H. )85!", no. 553.

RALMD.K - TIIK RAILS — HALU'S.

359

Jlii/liis liiiitiirti^lrh rri/iiiiiiii, Itiimw. Hull. Niitt. *Uu. • liili, \'. im. M, July, 18/)0, HO j Noin. N.

Am. II. IhHl, no. r>*I. Cuikh, (.luck Li-,!, Jil nl. IsS'J, iii). 1173.
/,'r(//i/« 'iiiKjinmlris (iiir jloiiii. ), «'iii»>, K>.v, l"*?.', 'J/H ; (lurk l.i»l, ls7^, .10. 405; 11. N. \\.

1874, u:i(l (.'xil. syii. |.t.),

<'. aaturatua.
ItiilhiH liimjiriish-is Hiiiiii-dliis, "IIknsiiaw, .\|S. ' liiiuiw. Dull. .Nutt. drn. ('lul>, V. mo. !I, .luly,

!»»(», 110; Noiii. .N. .\iu. II. iHhj. II". .'.71 ". — CniTEM, ('hi'ck LimI, 2'1 cil. In.hJ, no. (17.'i.

(/. oarlbieua.

/l(il/i(ii i-fijiilmiH i\ui\ 11. IniKjirmlrin, An I', (all \Vf.t linliiiii ii'rcroiii'i's).

Hii/lii.i luiKjiraslriM ini-iliii iiH, KiiMiw. Hull. Nutt. (»rii. C'lul>, V. ii<,. a, .luly, 18S0, Ho.

II All. Sull-walt-r iiiai'^hc^ of liic Atiaiitii: unci (iull icmsts of tlif L'liitoil Stutiv, north —
I'li^uiiliy to .MMssm'liiisctt.-i, ri'j^'ularly Ik Cuiiin'i'tifiit i Wrsl lii(liu.4, uml (.'on.st of Noi'tiiiTii Soulli
Aiiicricii, III l!i'ii/il. Tin' ;4ni;;ni|iliiiiil racfs liniiiccj a-. rcilInwM : /dik/i'ciw/im to Nuitlifiii Suiitli
Aiiii'iii a (( 'awMiiii' to I tall ill) ; vnfiliirun to tlii' Wc-t IiulicH ; mlnrndu to Ihc (iull' iciasl til' tlut
I'liiic'cl .Siati'M (liiiiiisiaiia to Klnriiia), aixl i-fi}tiliin» to llic .Vtlantic (•ou>l ol'tlu' I'liiteil Stntrn.

Sr. CiiAU. Ailiill : .Mmvc, oliviui'cUH-Kiay, or Muni'tinii .t even a^liy, usually viiy olisolfti-iy
-iiii«cl, soiiiciiiiios uiiironii, liiil, iiioiT raifly (ninri' j;riii'rally in .Houllii'rn ^iiciinii'iis), ^tripfcl with
olivaivoiiH or ovuii (lii«ky ; crown ami im|H' iiniroriii lirown or duMky ; a lirownixh wliiti- sniirajoral
>lii|i(' ; side of ihf Inad rliidly ^iiayi^li (^ipiiuliuus iiicliniii;.; to asliy), iliirktir on tlu' loivs, and

H. timi/iroKlrii crepilann.

iK'cciiuiii;.' |iali- ciniuinioii or liiitl' on the nial.ir ir^^ion ; chin and tliroal white ; rest of the neck,
wlih ju^^ulnni and lireast, |iide cinnaiiion-liiitr, olivaceoiiM-liuH', or, in>>re rarely, dull ciiinaiiion,
tiii.;icl will) olive ; Hanks and sides |i,ile o|i\aceciu-L;r.iy cir lirowi.isli slate, liaried willi while (as
ill ■■i:<iililH,i) ; a.xillais and liiiiii;; "( the win;,' •.iniilar, liiil inme naiiciwly Inured witii white ; anal
iv-iiii ami middle of theulidonieii jilaiii li;^lii liiilf, ^{rayi^li, or dusky, barred with \>liite centrally,
|i|aiii while laterally. \Viii;_'-ici\iii^ ii«iiall\ more hrowii than other ii|>]Mr parts; reiuij,'es plain
iniilMf. Iiiiiniij iiiiiiini: ll.Xiiclly like that of //. ilmniK and It. iilwihlii^.

Total length, iilioiil I ».(m>-|.-,.(m» inches; wiiiL,', o. I(M!.(H) j cnlineii, i>.l(i-i'.l.") ; least depth of
hill (r,iroU;,'li middle). .i-l-.iA ; tarsus, l.s.-|-i'. Ki ; micldle toe, l.7*» :2.<Ml.

I'lill lii'ciwiiish (nearly the color of the siipraloral <tiipe). tin- iip]iei' half of the niiiNilla dusky;
iii- law-umhur lirown ; loj^'s and feet vi-ry similar in color to outer wehs of primaries (manuscript
Holes on fresh specimens killed in .Inly on Vir;,'iiiia coast). Accoi-ilint; to AiDriKix,, the fresh
colors of specimens examined liy him were as I'lllows ; '• !,ower inandiMe and ed^jes of upjier
y'.'lliiwisli liiown ; rid|,'e of upper and tips of liodi deep luown; iris pule yellow; feet p»ile liviil
^'IMV, liii^^ed with oran;^e alioiil the tiliio-tarsal Joint ; claws dusky."

Utiltiu li)niiiivnli-in is liy far the most varialile of the North American s])ocies of the jjonus, the
vaiiiiiioiis noted ill a lar^je series hein;: idainly local or ;;eo;;ra|)hical to a very lai|;e di tjree, Imt also
iiicli\ idual to a consideralile extent. Kxamides from the Atlantic coast of the I'nited .States (New
Yolk to North Carolina) are the palest-colored, the npix-r parts liein>» fro(|uently plain ),'rayish, tho

^11

■f'

ilil

f ?

Hi-

3G()

ALKCTOUIUKS.

Hli'i|)v« (oliviic't'tiiiH, not iliinky) vitv fiiiiil, or i-vi-n HiitiictiiiifN i|uiti* nlMoli-ti- ; ilit* bri'iiHt iivarlv or
• |iiitr wliiti- I'l'iilriillv, willi It vnv lU-iiilcil ii^li-;;iiiv wii-*!! iiitikh tin- jii^iiliini. S|H'riiii('iiff |'|,,|,|
liiiMi«iiiiiik mill Wc-icrn Floiiiln hit >|iiiii' ilillrii'iii, Iwiiij; vt-rv il.iikl\ ihIipmmI, ilir -iii|wH iiIh.\.
liMinl itiiil (liNtiiii't, (lui«k,v Mutk <>ii Aii axli-tfiiiy kidiiikI ; tin- limiNt ilciiiU'il lintiaiiiini, lif,'liti i r »liii'li ilii'i'c i" it ruiiniili'i'itMi' iiiiiitlN'i' licl'iiri' ii'-) mi' ninii' liki' iliii»i>
lirHl ili'ni riU'il itlmvt', Imt liii\r lli>' ii|i|'t'i |iiti'l< ilinliiirll,\ <tii|>ril with ilt'('|i uliviti I'mi^ m i.iw-
iiiiilH'f liriiwii, lli(.> lirciint Ix-iii); I'lilittnl itlM)iil tin- »itiiii' iim in tin- Atliinli<' Stati-n K|H'rinirn<. It U
cxirnliti^ly |iriiliiili|i' iliiil till' ;^i'n^'rii|i|iir itii|iiii'l III llii-M' xmiatiiHi'* will In' iiiiilirtin'il liy nmri'
t'Xlrii'ivi' "I'lics, tliu.1 r^litlill-'iiin^, aliiun «itli llir tnic liiiiiiiiimlriii (:^" iritiminiitliin,'' I^AWit.), Imir
wi'li-himkfil "rliinulie " nicu», wliicli nmy In- ililintil an rnllnwi. : —

fi. longirostrla. Aliovc, iiliM'-^'ia.\,ili'<iinrtly "tii|)i'ii tvitli vantlyki'-lnnwii ; luiant ili't'|> luiir
III' |Mili' riiiiiminm. <'iiImii-ii, I 1M>-2. I(); lia^l >li'|>tii i>t' liill. .:i.'i-. lO; win^', ri.-jo-.'t.rto; laiMi^
I "J-I.N.'t ; miiliUf toe, l.7'». llnh. N'oitlurn iiia'<l orSiiiilli Aimiira (('iiycniii; Id litliia).

A', tiiiniirimtrii.

h. orepltana. Al><>vi-, mIi-ki'h>, tlic i>lri|H'> u-imlly nlisnli-tt' ; il' iliHtinct, li^^lil iilivarri>ii>, aiiliail*-il with ^ray mru^*
till' jiiv'iiliiiii. Ciiliiii'ii. iMr-j.:.ii ; Ii'UnI i|i'|>iIi nj lijll. .L'J-.;i^ ; taiMis l>5-J.|(t; iiiiilijlr ini-.
l.7(i--'<Mi. l/((li. Sall-wati'i' nim>ht'>, Allaiilii riiii-l riiilril Stali'-^.

<'. oaribaeua. Culnr-i i>t /niiiiininlrlH, ('nlnirii. ■2.\2~'^.'>*> \ Irast ili'|it1i nl' liill, .l'.'i-.:iii ; tmsii-'.
l.»:i-LMn ; nii'lilli' ti»'. l.>'i>-|.!(ri. Iliih. \\\m Imlii's.

il. MituratuB. Aliiivi'. nlivc-v'i'ay m- a>liy limailly Mtripftl witji hrownish Mark ; hii'iot <liill
i'Imiiuiiiou. Ciihiii'ii, 2.I(»-J. I.'i ; Ii'mM ili'|ilii uf liili. .-Ji.'-.iiK ; lai-ms, l.!»,"i-:i.<M( ; uiiilillc luf, l.T'i-
1 H(i. //"/i. liniiisjaiia.

Tlii> ('lii|i|M'r Itiiil of tIn'Soiitli Atliiiitic iiii<l (liilf Kt'^'ioii lins a smufwliat i-cstrirtiil
i'aiij,'t' witliiii llif I'liiti'il Sfati's. It is cdntiin'il to llif sca-lmai'd. and is ioiiiid mily iis
far tu lln' iiortli as Lmi!,' Island Sumnl. a lew, arccti'dim,' to Dr. W'tod. hifi'diii',' in
Soiitlu'iii Comu'ctiiMit. lint laiciv stiii^';,'liiij,' laitln'r inntli. Altiii}^ tin' Athiiif if iiml
till' (iiilf foasts il is si'i-n as lar as the .Mississipiii. and pfulialily Ih'VuiiiI tu .Mcxirn;
lint it is not j,'ivt'ii liy Mr. Jlrcssrv as a liiid ol' Texas, and I am nut awaiv nt any
int'iitioii III' it a.H having Ih'i'M initiiM-d in .Mi'xiin nr in ri-ntial Aiiii'iira. It has nut.
HO far iiH 1 am awai-c, Im-i-ii si'cii on tin- I'ai'itir riia.st, nor aiivwlicii' in tlir intiiinr.
«'X('i']itinKtliat it is incntiniicd liy Mf. Mrlhvraitli as liavini,'lM'i'n found in tlio viciniiy
of llaniilton. < Mitaiii ; lint lir jirolialiiy niistonk tin- Itnlhis ilfijinin for it. Ito('rnr> in
nioMtof till' West India Island.s. l»rjM'din),'alMindantly in ('iilia..raiiiaira, Santo l)oniin.:n.
and otlirr iHlands. lint it is not nii'iitioni-d as havint; Ih'i'ii notici'd in 1't'niinda.

I'rofi'ssor Ni'wton stati's that it is tonnd in St. Cioi.x. wlii'ir it is vi-iy local,
fro(|U('ntinj,' a laif,'t' lapion in the south of the island, ami W\\\<i tln-ii' (|iiiti' nnmt'iims
ami lircrdiiiL'. Tin* liiids wi-ri' very noisy. i'S]ii'('ially in tlii' I'vcniiif,'; and wlirii a
mill was liri'd near tlirir liannts. tiii'ir ontrrii's coiild ln' heard on every side. Tiny
were very shy, anil not easily shot. as. on liein^; a|i|iroaelieil, they were seen ninniii.i.'
aorosrt the shallow water, or hopiiiiif,' from root to root of the mangroves, lookinj; Iil<<'

li|^

RAI.LID.K - Till-: ItAFI.S - UAI.Ll'S.

8«;l

•ni't'iiu". mill

.su lauiiy I'utH, ami tukitiK ii-Iiiki' iiiiioii^ tlu* tliii-kfst ot tlif IhisId'h, not slmwiiiK tliciii-
Mi'lvt'H iiri litii)( iiH tlicri* WHS any u|i|iai'riit ilaiiKcr. An adult, siifciiacn and a youn^'
liinl t't'ciMitly liatrlii'd ui'ic dlitaiiii'd Jaly I'l. 'I'ln- .stoniaili ol tin- toiiafi' rontaini'd
;i |iipiti(»n (d a riali and a h\v shells. Tlii- yoiiiiK Itird wan coniiilettdy idntlifd in
liliu'k down witli a ^rt-i-nisli ^'lo.ss.

Lt'-otaiid ){iv<-s this as onr ot tiit* most rommon l>irds of Trinidad, and as lirin^
l>v tar till' most ainindaiit (d tiic Itails. It is always toiind anions tli<' nian^'iovcs,
iiiid iM'Vcr It'avcs tin' iiuidcr ot tlic mm. As it movt-s it always iiolds its li<-ad ficct
iiiiil its tail idi'vutt'd, IVar rather ilian pridt* sirming to lir tli<' moving; nuisf of thfso
jiositioMs. It always secnis a|>|in'ln'iisi\i' of daiij<cr, stoppinj,' every moment to waleh
iiiid to listen, and if seriously threatened eoncealinK itself hehind a iaannrove-fliim|),
or taking' to HiKht. it then lowers Um iiead, extends its neek hori/ontally, and starts
off with the rapidity «d an arrow. When nothing; appears to distiirh it or to attrait
its uttention, it seems to manliest sportive inipuLes, utteriii),' its very peeidiar rollinj;
ery. Other liinls take up and repeat the refrain, until the whole swamp resounds
willi the clamor, whieli may he heard to a ^reat distanee. This l)ird will responil
icidily to a deioy-ery, and is not fri;,ditened at the .slight of the hunter if tin' latter
keeps motionless; in this way it may he readily ohtained. It is mmdi hunted lor, as
a!tli(iu>,di its tlesh is not of the nieest (piality, it is eonsid«'rt'd fairly nood.

In many parts of the eountry this lard is generally known as the '• .Meadow-hen."
It is es>entially a southern speeies, resident thnaiKhoiit the year south (d the I'oto-
niae, hardly known Iteyond Loni,' Island, ami rare even there, (iiraud states that it
is. however, ahundant on the sea-eoast (d' New .lersey. and that in some sea.sons it
cHiiirs in eonsideralile mindiers nu the salt-marshes ahaiy; tlu' south shore of I-oni<
island, whieh it readies aliout the \s\. nf .May. remaininj; until the latter part of
Septendier, and a few eoutiuuin.!:; e\en as late as Oetolier.

1 am. however, informed Ity .Mr. .1. II. Uatty that, having' lor sonn- tinn' suspeeted
tli.it this speeies remains on \,\.\w^ Island durin.L; the winter, he ohtained positive evi-
diiice of the fact in at least one — perhaps exceptional — instance. On the Ith of
I'lliniary, lH7.">, havin,\' hcen informed that a •• .Mea(hiw-hen " had heen .seen on a
iici,'lilM>rin,y; creeli, he proceeded to the place with his ^{un and dog, and procurt'd tho
hini, whiidi |iioved to lie a line adult male.

This species is said to he contineil almost e?itindy to low wet marshes, hidinj^ in
tlic reeds and I'ank j^rass. It can sidilom he seen llyiu},', and seems when pursiicd to
ilcpcnd for escape on its power of runninj,'. Its speed is very rapid, and with its
tliin compressed hody it is aide to pass ihroiii,di the j,'rass so <pnckly that it is soon
nut of si^dit and dan^'cr. In l.ou'^' Island it hreeds in the latter part of .May, placing'
tlic nest on the meadows, and usually hiiildin;,' it so hi',di that it ma_\ he readily <lis-
c(p\cn'd. This is attriliuted In the damrei- from lii,i,di tides. The e,i,'j^i are esteemed
a '.;reat delicacy and are much si>u;;hl alter, Ihe uuiiiImt found in a nest Indng u.snally
ten, of a jiale clay-colnr. tiiidy dotted ujth piirph t in making? a short excursion

in the water this liird In mcs suddenly alarnn'd, it instantly disappears hy divinj,',

or if near the hank, hy hidiny: in the ;^'rass. Jf far from the shore it will cdiny to the
roots of tin' >,'rass, where it will sometimes icmain a surprisinj,dy long whih'. It is
lint usually pursued hy sportsmen except when the meadows are ovcrtlowed hy the
miusual high tides, which occur idtcr the wind has heen hlowing heavily from the
.southeast. Hunters take advantage of these occasions, and pushing a skill' over the
sunken meaihiws, drive the Kails from their retreats, often ohtaining them in large
tiiniiliers. .\s this hird is slow in its flight ami moves in a straight line, it heeomes
an easy mark wdieii there is nothing to ohstruct the sight, and may he very readily
vol.. I. — 40

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

l^|2.8

Hi m

Si us.

tii.

■Uuu

I.I

1.25

ill '-^

|l.6

^4^

)

111

• A

'■' i)

362

ALECTORIDES.

taken. Its food consists of .small crabs and other minute crustaceans. In tlic
latter part of the season it lu'coiiies very I'at, ac(|uires a tine flavor, and is highly
esteemed l)y many as food. Mr. Lewis, on tlic other hand ('•American Sportsman,"
p. 221'), maintains that tlie Hesh of this bird is universally insipid, dry, and sedgy. Uv
also speaks of it as being very shy and secret in its habits, and states that he has nut
met with it excei)t along tlie salt-marshes of thti sea-sliore and the mouths of large
rivers, lie occasionally found it numerous in tin; brackish fens of Long Island, l)iit
has noticed it as Ijeing especially abundant along the shores of New Jersey and Dela-
ware. It arrives from the south about tlu; middle of April, and its presence is so(jii
made known by its very ])eculiar cry or cackle, similar to the well-known notes of the
Common Guinea-fowl. Even when these liirds are most abundant in the marshes few
of them are to be seen.

This bird begins to lay about the close of ^lay ; the nest being simple, but artfidly
contrived for conceahaent, and having the long grass twisted and plaited over it ii:
the form of an arch, so that when tiie ol)servcr is inexperienced the eggs are effeit-
ually concealed. The usual nund)er of these is eight or ten, but there are sometimes
as many as fifteen. The egg of this l)ird is regarded as a great delicacy, and is
eagerly sought for. Sonu'timcs the marshes on which this bird breeds are overiloweil.
in consecpience of the long prevalenc^e of easterly gales, and the eggs destroyed in
immense numbers. To flush it being almost imjjossible, the only way to obtain it
is to hunt it on the marshes in a light boat during the i)revalence of a high tide. The
flight of this bird is very similar to that of the Sora Kail, although even more slow and
labored, and it is easily brought down when on the wing.

On the coast of the Carolinas this si)ecies breeds in great numbers, some remaining
nearly all the year; but in winter it occurs in smaller numbers, and occasionally, dur-
ing the coldest weather, disappears altogether. The number of its eggs is rarely more
than seven, and in South ('arolina they are laid as early as the 2oth of April; but.
owing, perhaps, to the nests being so often robbed, fresh eggs are found through
June. Two broods are usually raised in one season.

In Jamaica this bird is known as the " Alangrove-hen," it being so named with
reference to its api)earance, habits, and haunts. It is said by Mr. Hill to rand>le
about with its callow brood, like a hen and chickens. At low water it visits the un-
covered flats, and searches for small crabs. Worms, shell-flsh, insects, and Crustacea
are its animal food, and the seeds and shoots of aquatic plants form the vegetable
portion of its nourishment. As this bird has much of the character of the GalUiwceo;
and as the young are able to run and feed themselves as soon as they are hatched,
these are, when half grown, as heli)less on the wing as half-fledged ]iordtry. At this
age, when feeding on the shoals, they can l)e run down with great facility, and are
said to be delicious eating.

Wilson states that the eggs of this bird are a great delicacy, far surpassing in his
opinion those of the domestic hen. So abundant were the nests of this Rail, ai'cord-
ing to his observations, that he has known twelve hundred of their eggs to be collected
by one man in a single day. Wilson also mentions that on several occasions, when
an unusually high tide had flooded the marshes on which these birds were breeding,
he has found the dead bodies of the females, who had perished on their nests,
strewed along the shore — proving how strong are the ties of maternal affection in
this species. He also states that it has a covered pathway through the marshes,
under the matted grasses, through which this bird runs in the manner of rats, and
by which it esca])es observation.

Its cries are said by Audubon to resemble the syllables euc-cuc-ciic-cuc-cu-cahOrchhit.

RALLID.E — THE RAILS — RALLUS.

363

the first of these notes being extremely loud and ra2)id, and the later ones lower and
inotracted. The bird seems to jjossess the powers of ventrilot^uism, so that it often
iippi'ars niueh nearer than it really is.

In South Carolina, during the month of Uetober and later, it is hunted at high
tide, in the same manner as is practised near Philadelphia in hunting the Sora Hail,
and numy are thus obtained. This can only be done during high water.

Mr. ^loore states that \n', has measured, in one instance, the footjirints of the
Cla[iper Kail, made on a smooth sandbar, and found the interval between them, for
several steps, nineteen inches. These nuist have been impressed when the bird was
running at its utmost speed. Even then the extent is surprising, when the length of
llic tarsus is borne in mind, this being onl}' li.To inches. The largest stride of a
Canada Crane is only 19.50 inches. The interval between the footi)rints of the (Jreat
nine Heron, in its widest step, is 19.87 inches. An egg with the shell formed was
I'ound in one of these birds June (!tli ; and live young l)irds, only a few days old, were
seen Aug. 4, 1873.

The ground-eolor of the eggs of this species is usually a pale cream, but miudi
deeper than that of Ji. eh'//iiiis. The nuirkings are also much more numerous than
in those of the latter, but essentially of the s;une tints — dark ])urplish brown and a
lighter purplish slate. Two eggs in my collection (Xo. 77), from South Carolina,
taken by ])r. Uachman, measure : one 1.00 inches in length by 1.17 in breadth, the
otiier 1.70 by l.L'O.

The eggs exhibit grefit variations in size and shape, the largest measuring 1.80 by
1.10 inches, the smallest 1.50 by 1.05, the most oblong l.CJO by 1.00, etc. The ground-
color varies from a jiale buff to a dirty white. All are marked — more or less
siiarsely — with spots and blotches of reddish brown and obscure lilac and slate.

-cCihu-i'iih'i-

Rallus virginianus.

THE VIBGINIA BAIL; LITTLE BED-BBEASTED BAIL.

Rallus virginianns, LiNX. S. N. 1. 1766, 263 (ba.sod on Cati'.sii. 70 ; Uris.s. V. 17ii). — WiLS. Am.

Orn. VII. 1813, lO'.t, i-l. 62, l\g. 1. — Nrrr. Man. II. 1834, 20j ; Aim. Oni. Biog. III. 1835,

41 ; V. 1839, 573, \A. 205 ; 1!. Am. V. 1842, 174, pi. 311. — IJAinn, 15. N. Am. 1858, 748 ;

Cat. N. Am. H. 1850, no. 554. — CofF.s, Key, 1872, 273; CliCLk List, 1873, no. 467; 2cl ed.

1882, no. 677 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 536. — Ridgw. Bull. Nutt. Oni. Club, V. no. 3, 1880, 140 j

Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 572.
liitUus aquatlcus, vnr. /3, Lath. Ind. Oni. II. 1790, 755.
llallus limicola, Vikill. Ency. Jli'th. 1823, 1059.

Hab. The whole of temperate North America as far as the British Provinces, south to Guate-
mala and Cuba ; occasionally winters almost at the novtliern limit of its range.^

Sp. Char. Adult: A miniature of 7i'. clcrjawt, but more deeply colored. Above, olivaceous,
lipiivily striped witli black ; wing-coverts clicstnut-rufous ; reniiges plain dusky ; crown and nape
dusky, sometimes uniform, usually indistinctly streaked with olive ; a brownish-white supraloral
line ; side of head uniform plumbeous (sometimes obscured with a brownish wash) ; malar region,
fmi'neck, jngulum, breast, sides, and abdomen, sometimes throat also, cinnamon, the middle of the
belly lighter (sometimes whitish) ; flanks (not sides) and axillars dusky, barred with white ;
lining of wing dusky, the feathers tipped and bordered with white. Downy young : Glossy black ;
bill scarlet or orange-red in life (whitish or pale yellowish in the .skin), slightly marked with
blacki.sh in front of the nostril and on ba.se of mandible. Young {first plumage) : "Top and sides
ol' head, neck behind, back anteriorly, rump, breast, and sides, dull dead black. Interscapular

' A specimen was sent by Captain Bondire to the National Museum from Walla Walla, Washington
Territory, which was sliot there Jan. IC, 1879, when the snow was more than a foot deep I

364

ALECTORIDES.

region black, with a few of the feathers iiiar^'iiifil witli brownish nlivi'. Wing-coverts and \v\nf^<
nearly as in ailult, a little (liillcr .iikI (hirkcr, iierhai)s. Suiiurciliary line obscure ashy. Tlnoiii
ashy white, finely siiotted with Maik. Central ref,'i()U of lower breast and abdomen, with a few cif
the feathers nn the sides, tiii},'ed with wliite. Anal rej^ion-and crissuni ihdl reddish eliestnut. In
my cabinet, from f'ambri(l},'e, Mass., August, 1875. Several otlii'r s|)('ciniens of corresiionding iij^'cs
a},'ree closely with the one above describwl. A male, however i('anibridj,'e, Auj,'. 9, IfS"")), dillVrs
inhavin<5a faint reddisli wash over the white on the breast and abdomen" (Brewkteu, Bull, Nutt.
Orn. Club, .Tan. 187!), p. 45).

Total len^'th, about 7.50 inclies ; wing, ;j.!)()-4.25 ; culmen, 1.45-l.(i(t ; tarsus, 1.3(t-l.4() ; mid-
dle toe, 1.20-1.40. " Bill dark brown, the lower mandible and edges of upper yellowish brown ;
iris bright red ; feet yellowish brown tinged with olive ; claws more dusky" (Auuubon).

This sjjccies is very mucli like R. rligans in miniature, being exceedingly similar to that species
in coloration. Close examination, however, reveals several important differences, the more obvious

of which are the following : the whole plumage is darker ; the sides of the head more unifornily
and distinctly plumbeous ; the sides and abdomen are cinnamon, like the breast, instead of being
respectively barreil, like the flanks, and plain buff or whitisli ; the lining of the wing is not barreil
like the flanks, but has dusky and white irregularly mixed, the latter color being on the border
and tips of the featliers. There is apparently more of individual variation in this than in any
of the larger species, scarcely two examples being closely alike. The chin and throat niiiy be
distinctly white, or the cinnamon may extend forward entirely to the bill ; .some specimens iiiive
the lores decidedly dusky, othei's, clear plumbeous, like the auriculars ; the crissum is sonu'tinies
plain cinnamon, the concealed bases of the feathers dusky, but oftener is white, tinged with cinna-
mon. One example (an adult male, Xo. 84077, U. S. Nat. Mus , Riverdale, 111,, May 3, E. W.
Nelson) has the flanks dark lirown, witli the bars nearly obsolete. No. 7057 (National Museinu
Collection), from St. Louis, Mo., also an adult male, collected May (i (\V. S. Wood), has the lower
parts dull grayish brown, browner on the breast, almost slaty on the abdomen and tibiae. There
seems to be no geographical variation, however, notwithstanding the exten.sive range of the species,
specimens from ("Uiatemala, Mazatlan, Sonora, California, and Washington TeiTitory being cpiite
identical with others from the Eastern United States.

The Virginia Rail has the most extended distribution of any of this family, being
foitnd, at certain seasons, throughout the entire United States, from Florida to tlie
extreme eastern limits of Elaine, and from the Atlantic to tlie Pacific. It occurs in
great numbers in Canada, especially in the western portion, and has been found
breeding as far north as Big Island by ^Fr. B. Ivoss. It is also very abundant in Illi-
nois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and others of the Western and Northwestern States. It
is a winter resident of Cuba, but is not known to breed there ; nor is it given by
either Gosse or Marsh as being foitnd in Jamaica. In Central America it appears to
be rare, only a single specimen being on record as noticed there ; this is mentioned
by Salvin as having been taken ;it Antigua, in Guatemala, in September, 1859. on
one of the cochineal plantations. This species is abundant in the winter months in

RALLTD.E — THE RAILS — RALLUS.

365

may be
linens have
sometimes
ith ciima-
3, E. W.
^lusi'iiin
the lower
.. There
e species,
uiiig (iiiite

Uy, being
ida to tlie
occiii's in
;en fmuul
.nt in Uli-
tates. It
given by
ippeavs to
uentionctl
1859. on
nontbs in

(liffpvpnt parts of Mexico. It was obtained near Matamoras, in August, by Mr. Dres-
ser ; and is given by Dr. Heerniann as occurring at San Antonio. A single specimen
oi' tliis bird has been taken in IJcrnuida. Mr. J. A. Allen found this s[)ecie« very
common in the marshes and low lands in the Valley of (treat .Salt Lake; and Mr.
Kidgway mentions having seen two or three individuals in the vicinity of I'yramid
Lake, among the sedges on the banks of the sloughs and ponds. It is only ])artially
migratory in the wiiitei', even in phuu's where the winter is (juite severe. A specimen
was taken by Captain Hendire near I'ort ^Valla Walla, Jan. .'{. 1S79.

Although Dr. Cooper never obtained any himself, he states that this bird is found
tliroughout the marshes of California, chieHy those of the interior, and as far to the
nortli at least as Cape Flattery. It is undoubtedly resident in California throughout
the year, as Dr. Suckley obtained a specimen near tlie Straits of Fuca in January.

iMr. Boardman informs me that it is found as far east as Calais, and even breeds
in tiiat neighborhood, although it is not common. It was once cpiite abundant in the
vicinity of IJoston in all our marshes and fresh-water meadows, and more especially
(in the margins of brooks. In June, 18.'i7, I discovered a nest crontaining ten eggs
witliin the present limits of Hoston, and only a few rods from a recently-constructed
I'aih'oad track. Mr. Allen included it among the l)irds of Western Massachusetts,
Imt did not regard it as being of common occurrence there. On May IG, 1859,
Mr. Frederick Ware found a nest, with nine eggs, in the Fresh Pond marshes. West
Cambridge.

Although found sparingly present, diu'ing the bi'eeding-season, along our entire
Atlantic coast, from Charleston, S. C, to Eastport, it is far more almndant in the
fresh-water meadows of the interior. On Long Island, according to Giraud, it is
known to hunters and si)ortsmen by the name of the '• Fresh-water ]\Iarsh-hen '" or
"Mud-hen." It is there only found in low situations, usually selecting the reedy
margins of watercourses and rivulets. Giraud also met with it on the low salt-
umrshes along the sea-coast. In its habits, as well as in its plumage, it bears a greater
resemblance to liallus eler/ans than it does to E. r cjntans. With all the movements,
actions, and manners of the former its own are very much in unison. Hiding, as it
does, among reeds and rushes, it escapes observation, except on the part of tliose who
are familiar with its habits.

Like all of this family, the Virginia Kail is very reluctant to take wing, and when
pursued by dogs it trusts to its legs until they cease to be sufficient. It runs with
great swiftness, and is capable of continuing a very rapid and irregidar course through
the close grass for some time. Unless followed by a very active dog. it is always
able successfully to evade pur.suit without ex[)osing itself to the sportsman's gun.

It is not often observed on the Avater, yet it c^an swim and dive very well Avhen
driven to this element for safety. It seems to prefer wet ground, or water so shallow
tiiat it can wade through without being obliged to swim. The food of this species is
sii.d to consist of aquatic insects, worms, snails, and the seeds of various kinds of
grasses that grow on marshy ground and in the low fresh-water meadows which it
f'reipients. The flesh of this bird is not ])articularly delicate, yet it is frequently
brought to the New York market in the month of April.

WUson speaks of it as far less numerous than the Common Eail in New Jersey,
though frequently seen along the borders of salt-marshes, as well as among the
meadows on the banks of the larger rivers. He met with it on the Barrens of Ken-
tucky, but was told by the inhabitants that it Avas seen in wet places only in the
si)ring, going north during the breeding-season. It feeds less on vegetable and more
on animal food than the Common Sora, and on this account its flesh is much inferior

366

alectoridp:s.

to that of tliis species. In Wilson's tinu' it was known as the "Fresh-water .Mnd-
hen," because it freijnented only tliost; jiivrts of the salt-marsh where fresli-water
springs rose thronj^li the hoi^s in the salt-nuirslics. In sncli places these birds bnild
thi'ir lu'sts ; and one ol these, which was .si-en by him, is desc.'ribed as beinj,' placed in
the bottom of a tnft of grass in the midst of an ahnost impenetrable (luagniire, and as
composed altogether of old wet grass and rnshes. The eggs had been Honted out of
the nest by an extraordinarily high tide, and l;iy scattered about. The female still
lingered ai)out the sjiot, and suliered herself to be taken by hand, and during the few-
hours she was detained hiid an egg exactly like the others. Wilson descril)es tln'
o'^in; as being shai)eil like that of the Honn'stic lien, and as nu'asuring l.L'O inches in
length by less than half an inch in breadth; it is of a dirty white or pale cri'aiii-
color, sprinkled with specks of reddish and i)ale purple, most luunerous near the gretit
end. This bird was su^jposed to begin to lay early in May, and to raise two broods
in a season, as in the month of .Inly ^Fr. Ord brought to Wilson several young only a
few days old, which had been caught on the borders of the Delaware. The parents had
shown great solicitude for their safety. The young birds were covered with tine down,
and were wholly black, except a white spot on the bill. They had a sliort [liping
note. Owing to its secretive habits, this bird can rarely be seen. It stands and runs
with its tail erect, which it jerks whenever it nnn'es ; it tties only to a short distance,
with its legs hanging down. The moment it alights it runs off with great speed.

Muttall, who heard the notes of the male of this species on the Charles Jtiver
marshes, describes it as a guttural croaking cull, like the noise of a wat(dinian's rattle.
sounding like r^^H-^-M^-^W//;. The young have a slender cry oi peejj-jieep ; and tlic
fenuile, when startled, utters a sharp squeaking scream, Avhieh seems nuieh neaicr
than it really is, and so\iiuls like lceek-l;rr];-l;clc.

Audubon states that these birds winter in Lower Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and
the Carolinas, remaining in the Western States later in the fall than farther east ; liut
a large proportion retire after the first severe frosts. He met with them on the St.
John's River, in New Brunswick — where, however, they are very rare; and he also
remarks that he found them breeding in ^Eareh near New Orleans ; in Kentucky in
April; and a little later iu\ar Vin(!ennes, in Illinois.

Wilson evidently makes a mistake in regard to the breadth of the egg of this spe-
cies, meaning doubtless an inch, and not half an inch. An egg (Xo. 210) in my
collection, from Calumet marshes, Illinois, identified by Mr. Eobert Kennicott,
measures 1.28 inches in length by .9(5 of an inch in breadth; and two (Xo. 1271)
measure each 1.30 inches by exactly 1 inch iu breadth. The ground-color in these
is a creaniy white. The markings are generally very nuieh scattered, except about
the larger end, where they are crf)wded together, but nowhere continent; these mark-
ings are small blotches of a bright brownish red, and there are also slightly larger
and fainter ones of a purplish lilac. The markings vary in size in the different eggs.
In shape the egg is a rounded oval, one end much more tapering than the other. 'J'iic
usual number of its eggs is nine, never more than this, and very rarely less.

Genus FORZANA, Vieillot.

Porzana, Vieill. Analyse, 1816, (jl type, liallus porzaiia, Linn. — Cass, in Bnii'd's B. N. \n\.

1858, 748.
OHygometi a. Leach, Syst. Cat. 1810, 34. — Ohay, Oen. B. IIL 1846, 593 (type, Ealhis porzann.

Linn.).
CrcciscHs, Caban. Jour, fiir Orn. IS.IO, 428 (type, Halites jamaiccnsis, Gmel.).
Cotiirnici'ps, BoxAi'. " Conipt. licnd. XLIIL 1856, 599" {ty[)e, Fulica HMcboraccnsis, Gmel.).

RALLID.E — THE RAILS — PORZANA.

307

V Mud-
h-watcv

is Imilil
lacod ill
, and as
I out of
iiU' Ktill
the lew
ibcs till'
lu'lics in
(' f veil 111-

]W 'r,n'Cilt

o broods
ig only a
.'onts liad
lU' down,
rt piiiin;-,'
and runs
distaui'C,
peed.
Ips Uivi'V
n's ratlti'.
; and tlio
i;h ncan'v

n-gia, and
past; I lilt
on the St.
id ho also
ntnt'ky in

this spc-

>) in my
vonnicott,

^o. I'-'Tl)
in these
pt about
so niark-

tly hu'i^iT
cnt C!j:;j,'s.

thor. The

B. N. Am.
Jmel.).

Char. Bill Hhorter than the head, coniprcssud, .straight ; nostrils in a wide j,'ro()Ve, with u large
nu'iiihriuiu ; winj,'s moderate , iiriniaries longer than terlials ; tail short ; legs rather robust, the
l;u<iis about the length of the middle toe ; toes long, tin; inner one slightly shorter than the outer.
( Ifiieriil form compressed and slender.

This genu.s contains very numerous species, inhabiting both tumperatu and tropical regions, fru-
iiucnting marshea and borders of rivers. In the spring and autumn several species migrate in largo
numbers.

The geuus as here ccnsidered probably retpiii'es subdivision.

P. Carolina.

Wo have not at hand the required material for defining the exact limits of the genus Porzana, so
far as its American representatives are concerned. Without, therefore, considering any of the
e.-ctraliinital species, it may sullice to say that of the three which pr(ip(,'rly belong to North Amer-
ica, one (P. Carolina) is a very near relative of the type of the genus (/'. m<(rni:tta of Europe and
(Ircenland), while the other two are ])erhaj)s sutiiciently different to justify generic separation.
The species which occur in North America are lour in mnnber, including one which is merely a
straggler to Greenland from the Palu;arctic Region. They may be distinguished as follows : —

Above, russet-olive, with l)lack blotches and irregular, partly longitudinal, streaks of white.
(/'())';.(i»a.)

1. P. maruetta. Neck and lireast olive, speckled with white; (lanks brown, narrowly and
irregularly barred whh white. Wing, 4.20-4.40 inches ; culmen, .68-.72 ; tarsus, 1.20-
1.30; middle toe, 1.2.')- 1. IS.'). Hah. Palicarctic Region ; casual in Oreenland.

2. P. Carolina. Neck and breast without white specks ; throat blackisli, and sides of head
and neck plumbeous in adult ; throat white, sides of head and neck, with jugulum and
breast, fulvous-olive, in young ; Hanks broadly liarred with white and slate-c(dor. Wing,
4.15-4.30 inches; culmen, .75-90; tarsus, 1.25-1.35 ; middle toe, 1.3t)-1.45. Hah.
North America.

Above, ochraceous, with broad black stripes and narrow transverse white bars ; secondaries
white, forming a conspicuous patch on the extended wing. (^Cotuniicopis.)

3. P. noveboracenais. Head, neck, and breast ochraceous ; tlanks dusky, barred with
whitish ; cri.ssum cinnamon ; lining of wing and axillars white. Wing, 3.00-3.G0 inches ;
culmen, ..50-.(jO; tarsus, .05-1.00 ; middle toe, .90-1. (K). Hah. Ea.stern North America.

Above, blackish brown, speckled with white. (Cncisms.)

4. P. jamaJceusia. Najie dusky chestnut or sepia-brown; lower parts slate-color or dark
plumbeous (the throat sometimes whitish), the posterior portions narrowly barred with
white.

a. jamaicensis. Back speckled with white. Wing, 2.95-3.20 inches ; culmen, .50-.60;
depth of bill through lia.se, .2()-.25 ; tarsus, .85-.90 ; middle toe, .85-.95. Hah. Warm-
temperate and tropical America, from the United States to Chili.
cotiirnicuhts. Back without white specks. Wing, 2.50 inches ; culmen, .60 ; depth
of bill through base, .15 ; tarsus, .75 ; middle toe, .85. Hab. Farallon Islands, coast
of California.

iiaj

368 ALECTOIIIDES.

Forzana maruetta.

THE EUKOFEAN SPOTTED OEAXB.

Rallus porzam, Linn. S. N. til. 12, 1. 17tiU, 2tl2.

Crex ponaait, Jenyns, Man. liiit. Vi'it. An. isa.'i, 218. — Nau.m. Vijg. Dcutsclil. IX. 1838, 523, \A.

237. — MAcdiLi,. Man. 11. 114 ; Hist, liiit. U. IV. 1852, 035.
Oitij'ioinctm immnut, ^VV-VU. Cieii. Zoul. Xll. 223. — boNAI'. Conip. List, 1838, 53. — Keys, i

BI.A.S. AViib. Vm\: 07. — tliiAY, (ieii. 11. 111. 5U3 ; Cut. Brit. 13. 1S(J3, 171). — liEi.sii. Ibis,

]S()1, 12 ((livrniiinil).
Oalliiuila macii/dt'i, IIiieh.m, Vtig. Di'Utschl. Is31, 008.
Ga/linulapniicltilii, Huehm, t. i'. Oyi», pi. 30, liy. 3.
Orti/fjomelra maruelfu, Leacii, Syat. Cat. 1816, 34.
Purzuiia iiKtntiilii, (iiiAY, List (!cn. B. 1841, 91. — KiDOW. Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, 188U,

201, 222 ; N'oni. X. Am. li. 1881, no. 573. — Col'k.s, C'hi'ck List, 2il eil. 1882, no. 078.
SputleU Cmh; YAitii, Brit. B. td. 2, III. i>7, lig. ; cd. 3, III. 114, lig.

Had. Pulioaictie Kl'^Iou ; oeeas^ioual lu Greenlunil (cf. Reinharut, "Ibis," 1861, p. 122).

Sp. Chak. Aihdt : Abovo, russut-brown, relieved bv obloii}^ sfiots of black and irregular, mostly
longitudinal, streak.s of white ; crown streaked with black, but without a median longitudinal stripe
of this color, as in P. mroliiut ; a wide superciliary stripe, malar region, chin, and throat, soft mouse-
gray ; lower half of lores dusky, upper half ihill whitish ; auriculars, neck, and jugulum li;;lit

'ilili

hair-brown, irregularly speckled with wliite ; abdomen \\hiti.sh ; sides and flank.s brown, bar
with >vhite : crissum, plain creamy bull', Youny: Similar to the above, but superciliary str
finely speckled with white, the malar region, chili, and throat whitish, si)eckled with brown,
breast and belly washed with pale butt'.

AVing, about 4.25-4.5(1 ; culmen, .08-. 72; tarsus, 1.2(1-1.30; middle toe, 1.25-1.35. Bill"r
dish yellow, brighter at the base," iris reddish brown, feet yellowish green (Macuillivray).

Tills species is about the size of the Common" Sora"of North America (Porr.ana caroliuti),
resembles it very closely in coloration, the upper parts being almost precisely similar. It may
immediately distinguished, however, by the white speckling of the neck and breast, and the stiva
crown, characteristic of all stages, and in the adult plumage having no black on tlie lores
throat.

the

lIliL
■ l.U

kcd
111

The "Spotted Crake" of England, or "Porzane Maronette" of the French, is.
according to M. Gerbe, a bird common in the greater part of Europe, Asia, ami
Afri(!a, and more especially in the warmer portions of that region. It is a bird of
the old continent, and has no other claim to a place in our fauna than its occasional
presence in Greenland. Gerbe says that it is not rare in any ])art of France, not even
the more northerly, -where it usually arrives in ^March. and from which it departs in

RALLID.E — THE RAIL8 — TORZAXA.

369

liai'V stripu
brown, llit^

Bill " iv.l-
Iuay).

\roUHii), and

It may ^'^

tlio sti'i^akod

hie lorts iiv

freiK'li, is.
I Asia, ami
a bird of
loccasioiuil
\ not even
idepui'ts in

ScptoinlKT iiud Oftoboi', tli()Uf,'li ii few icniaiu later. It is saiil to ho especially eom-
nioii in Italy, in Sicily, aiiil in tlic Houtliern jioitiou of Jiiissia, but to be very rare in
lldUiind. Acconliuy to .M, Itmitclit', as (jiiutt'd l)y (Icibc, it breeds in immense nnm-
lii'is in the marslics of Saint-Lament du I'ont, near (ireiioliK". Its nest is said to he a
strn('t\ire loosely woven ol coarse weeds, but so constructed as to be raised or depressed
liv tlie rise or tall of water.

Tiie number of the ej,'gs varies from ei},dit to tw(dve. These, are slii^'btly oblonj,' in
>liape, of a lirij^dit clear yellowish brown, covered witli numerous very line points,
with scattered blotches of varying size, some small and round, others larger, and
viuying in sliapc, but always <piite distinct in their coloring. These markings, .scat-
tered over most of tluj egg, but chietiy grouped about its larger end, an; of two kinds,
one deep violet-gray, others either a reddish or a blackisli shade of inown. Tliey are
siud to measure from 1.34 to l.;J8 inches in length, and from .'J4 to .US of an inch in
lireailtli.

Tile liird is said to have habits very similar to those of the European Water liail,
tiv(|iienting, like tliat bird, ficsli-watei' marsiies and tlie margins of Avater covered
with ruslies and coarse reeds. It feeds on insects, snails, small rcjitiles, and mpiatii'
plants. Its Hesh in tlie autumn, when it is fat, is of very tine flavor, and hardly
iiiieiior to that of the Land-Uail.

In (Ireat Uritain, according to Yarrcll, this bird is a suimuer visitor, arriving in
England by the 1 Ith of March, and remaining as late as the 2.')d of October. In
e.\ce])tional instances iiulivubuils liave been taken as late as November, and once
even in .Fanuary. It is. as a sjiecies. much less numerous than the Land-Kail, and is
more a([uatic in its habits. It frecpieiits the sides of streams and lakes, concealing
itself among the thick reeds, and seldom leaves its seciu'e jiosition among the luxu-
riant vegetiition of marshy gi'ounds, nidess driven out by the aid of a trained dog.
Its body is compressible, enabling it to make its way tluough the tliick herbage with
facility. Its toes — whl(di are, long in ]ini])ortion to the size of the bird — afford it a
linn footing over nmd or wei'ds, and also enable it to swim with I'ase. It is more
abundant in the maritime portions of England than elsewhere, and breeds in considcr-
alile numbers in the nuirshes of Norfolk. It also hreeds in other jiarts of England,
wiiere it can find suitable localities, and is more common in the fall than at any other
tiiae. It feeds on worms, atpiatic insects, and slugs, as well as on soft vegetable
.substances. When kept in confinement it readily eats bread and milk or worms.

This bird occasionally, but rarely, visits Sweden in the summer. It has been
taken at Tunis, and near Smyrna in the winter, and during its migrations in the
islands of the Mediterranean.

It breeds in such marshes as are overgrown with reeds and sedges, its nest being
Iniilt on the wet ground, usually near the edge of the water, and formed of coarse
aquatic plants lined on the inside with liner materials. The young are at first covered
witii a black down, and are said to take to the water with readiness as soon as they
are out of the shell. Yarrcll describes the egg as being of a iiale reddish white,
spotted and speckled with a dark reddish brown, and measiu'ing l.'Jo inches in length
by .87 of an inch in breadth. Three eggs in my own cabinet (No, 1390) — collected
in France by Dr. James Trudeau — are oblong and oval in shape, of nearly equal
size at either end. The ground-color is a light butf or dark cream-color, with a
rodilish or a yellowish tinge, sjiotted irregularly with rounded and scattered marking.s
of a deep brownish red. These are of varying sizes, sbapes, and shades, a few as if
washed with the groinid-color diluted, and exhibit a shade of slate and lavender. They
vary in length from 1.30 to 1.35 inches, and in breadth from .94 to .99 of an inch.
vol,. I. — 4"

■jrjr

I;!

I! i

370 ALKCTUUIDKS.

r^orzana Carolina.

THE CAROLINA BAIL; 80RA RAIL.

Jialliin airoliuii.i, Us\. H. N. I. cd. Id, I. 17.18, If.:) ; rd. V>, I. 17(10, 203. —Sw. i Ukjii. !•'. 15. A
II. isyi, 4ii;!. — .\ii>. (»ni. Ilio;,'. III. l.s:).'i, li.'.l ; V. l,s;i!t, i,7->, pi. -J.):).

A'"//».v {Cirr) niruliiiin, UciNAl'. Olis. Wils, IMlM, Ho. '^3(1. - NllT. .Mall. 11. Ks:i I, '2W.

Oi'tijgDiniti-ii oint/iiiii, Uns.w. ('miip. list, 1838, 53. — Aiii. Syiiop. 183U, 21;! ; II. .\iii. V. 181-2, 1 1.',

]il. 3(10.
Por-Miui caroliiiii, ("a.ss. in Uniid's H. N. Am. IH'jS, 7-41*. — H.vuiii, fat. X. Am. 15. 185'.t, no. ri,"."). —

C(iri:s, Ki.y, 1^72, 273 ; Clicck List, 1S73, no. Ids ; 2(1 cd. 1.S82, no. 07!'; liiids N. W. 1871,

638. — liiiKiw. Nom. N. Am. II. 1H81, no. 57-1.
JialluH stiiliiliiii, ViKit.i,. Kiif. iMi'tli. 1823, 1071.

Had. TIk; wIidIi' of ti'iuiiuratt! Xortli AniL'iicii, Ixit most coiiinu)!! in tlu' L^ilsIltii ProvincL' ;
West IndiL's ill j,'cU('nil ; wlmli! of MidiUf AiiK'iioa, soiitli to New (Jraiiaila and Wiiuziiela ; uci'i-
dfiital ill GiueiiliUiil and Eur()iJ(; ; liuriniidas (nuiueruuH in mii,'i'atiuiis), Bii;i:d» uhiuliy in tbi;
nurtliern part of its raii),'L'.

Sp, f'HAii. Aihilf : Aljovf, lirij,'lit olivf-lirown, witli lonj^itudinal spots of lilai.k, sonio of tin;
feuthors fd^ud witli wliito ; top of hoad with a liroail lon^'itiidinal stiipo of Idack j iiiitcvior por-
tion of head, with chin and throut, black ; sides of licad and neck (e.vcupt as dcscril)c<l), jii^'M-
luiu, and breast light plumbeous ; abdomen white ; anal ic^'ion and cri.ssum creamy white or pale

* '.

buff ; flanks .sharply barred with white and slate-color. Young : Similar, but lores and superciliary
stripe brownish, the chin and throat whitish ; rest of neck, with Ju>;ulum and breast, li;,'lit brown-
ish. Bill <;reenish yellow (more oranye, especially at base, in summer adults) ; iris bnnvn ; le;;.,
and feet greenish. "JJuintij staijn — chick a few days cdd : Bill short, e.vceedingly com]))essed, lii^li
at base, rapidly tapering, the tip deflected. The whole body densely covered with dull black
clown, beyond whicli are produced abundant long, glossy, black hair-like filaments. Upon tlie
throat is a tuft of stiff, coarse bristle-like feathers of a bright orange-c(dor. These are directed
forward, and give the bird a most singular appearance. (From a specimen in my cabinet collected
at Cambridge, Mass., June 21, 1874.) This liird, although the only specimen of the kin<l now at
band, is one of a large brood which was attended by the female parent. Several of the otlnr>
were distinctly seen and closely examined at the time. All had a similar orange tuft upon llic
throat." [Bhkwster, in " Bull. Xutt. Orn. Club," January, 1879, p. 48.]

The most abundant and most univei'.sally known bird of its genus inhabiting the United States,
and variously known as "the Rail," "Sora," or "Ortolan," according to locality. It is especially
numerous along the creeks and rivers on the Atlantic during the autumnal migration, when exclu-
sions for obtaining it are a favorite amusement of our guimera and spoi'tsmen. It a]ipears to inhabit
the entire temperate regions of North America. There is apparently little, if any. geographical
variation noticeable in a large series of specimens, and the jirincipal individual variation consists
in the extent of the black on the throat, which in some examples extends back as far as the middle
of the abdomen.

The Common Sora Kail, so abundant in the eastern portion of tlie IMidiUe States
during its migrations, and so familiar to all the sportsmen of the Delaware, ajipears

RAI.LID.E — THE RAILS — PORZANA.

371

111 liavo a very cxtcmlt'd (listrihiition. Paring' tho wintt>r it ia found in fiivomblo
l(ic;ilitit'S tlirouKluiut Cfiitml America, iMcxicu, and tiic cxtrtMUi' southern portions of
I lie I'nited States, and in tlie sunuiier it extends its niinrations as far nortli as lati-
liule (>L'''. it was found at Fort Hesohition, Moosu Fort, Fort Kae, and on tiie Red
lliver.

3Ir. Salvin states tliat it is tlie only Kail found about tiie Lake of Dueilas, in
(iuateniala. where it is nii^riitory, li-avinj,' tliat district on the apjiroadi of summer.
Mr. Skinner also oiitained specimens in the district of Vera I'az. A sinj,de l»ird of
this species — a femide — wiis tiiken alive at St. Croix; and this was the only instance
111 its occurrence which c;ime to the kn(iwledi,'e of Mr. Kdward Newton. Li'otand
includes this Hail amonj,' tlic visitants of Trinidad, where it is only a bird of ])as.s-
iij^'c, arrivin,!,' in Dccendx'r or .liinnary, and leaving in April. It is met with very
nirely, and extdusively in overflowed districts and meadow-lands not far from the
.si'ii-sliore. It is a visitant also of Cuba, where it is not known to breed. It is lueu-
tioned by Mr. (los.se as being probaltly a regidar winter visitant of .Jamaica, two
specimens having l)epn taken there at different times. Mv. March al.so gives it as a
hinl of that island, and thinks that it is found there at all seasons and in all waters,
Irish or salt. He has never met with its eggs. Uoth Mr. liraco and Mr. Moore note
its presence in the Hahamas in winter.

Its movements and the irregular character of its visits to Bernuula are interesting
features in its history. MajiU" .1. \V. Wedderbnrn ("Naturalist in licrunida," p. 4r»)
states that it regularly visits licrmuda, arriving early in Septend)er. The first speci-
men, obtained Sei)t. .*!, 1S47, was settling on a branch of a niaugrove-tree — a very
uinisual action for tliis species, as it very rarely alights on a lind), and this one was
liiui' feet from the ground. A few remained throughout th(> winter. In October,
]S4t), it arrived in inunense nund)evs, and one was killed January 17, and another
April 20. J. L. Mnrdis, in some supplementary notes (\). 8L') added to Major Wed-
(lcrl)urn's paper, states that however heavy and sluggish this l)ird may appear when
disturbed in its marshy I'etreat, there can be no doubt that it possesses great strength
lit wing; and the fact that it never fails to visit Bermuda in its great southern migra-
tions is siitficient proof of its jxiwcrs of flight. .\ single in.stanee was noted of its
lii'iiig met with as early as August '2-1. In .September it had become rather numer-
ous, l)ut were more alnnidant in October than at any other time. In some seasons
these birds all disa])i)eared about the end of October, while in others a few remained
to the 25th of November, and some even beyond that time. In 1841) and the three
following years this bird visiti'd ]]ermuda in its s])ring migriitions, appearing in
the latter part of February, and remaining through the months of March and April.
'fell specimens were shot and three taken alive, louring a southwest gale which pre-
vaile(l on the Dtli of October, 184!), thousands of this bird suddenly appeared in the
marshes of Bermuda, and on the 29tli of the same month not one of this species was
to be seen. The whole immense flight Iiad departed on some unexplained journey.
This departure could not have been occasioned by any want of food, for the marshes
\vcn> abundantly supplied, and the ]n'evailing temperature was between 70° and 80°
Fahrenheit. Jlr. Hnrdis states that this bird is also found in its migrations in the
Island of Barbadoes. .and thinks that there is little cause to doubt that the rivers
ami marshes of South America are its southern haunts during the winter months.
It is very fat when it arrives in the Bermudas — evidently a provision of nature to
sustain it in its long and arduous flight from one region to some distant point, as it
probably traverses the Atlantic Ocean for thirty or thirty-five degrees of latitude
without food.

!^*P^

"f ;

? ■

I tin

372

AhECToUIDES.

JSt'iiiliiirdt rctiiius thin spcrics iiiikhi^,' tlic liirds of (irt'ciiliiinl on tln' sticn^tli ol n
hIu^'I*' Npfciiiti'U ohtuiiu'il lit Siikki rtn|)|icii, ( h't. <t, IKL'.'t. Sir iltilm lUcliiinlMuii Hpciiks
III' this spccii'H us iii'iii^' ('iiiiininii in tin* Imii' ('oiintiics, in tlir .siinLiiu'i' season, up U,
tilt' (ILM paralli'l. It is partiriilaily aliundunt on tiic siiorcs of tlic small lakes wliidi
skirt tlie plains of tlu' Sask.iteiiewan.

Afr. noiirilnian int'ornis nie that he hi^ t'onnil this Itail in the neii^hliorhooil ni
Calais, Me., where it is known to iireed, ami where it is mueh more eomnion than the
ViriLjinia Itail. it lireeds in all llie marshes alon^,' the iiorders ol the mimeroiis inlets
and rivers on the southern shores of Maine, and I have I'oiuid it cspiM-ially abundant
on the Sheepseot and Oamariseotta rivers. I'rolessor Verrill mentions it as a sum-
iner visitant in ( (xt'ord County, lint as not oeeurrin.y; thi're in very threat luindierN.
Mr. .\llen speaks of it as arrivin;.,' near Sprin,i,'tieid. .Mass., in April, remainiiii^ until
Movendier, liri'edin}^ and lieeomiuj,' ipiite common in Septemlier and (>etoliei'. 'i'|ii.
wame naturalist also mentions it as common in (i-eat Salt Lake N'alley. .Mr. IJidLrway
mentions it as lieinj,' inimerous in the maishes aluMit Pyramid and (Jreat Salt Lakes;
and the sanu' was true of jtnliy N'alley and the vieiidty of Parley ',s Park, and in fail
in all the localities of a similar character throu,!.,diout the entires extent of his route in
tiu> (Jreat P>asin. Mr. Dresser found this siieeies not uncommon near San Antonio
in the nuinths of Septendier. Octolier. and Noveiultcr.

Aceordiuf,' to tlic ol),scrvations of (iirand. it is not common in Lon^ Ishmd, thou^ii
luiw and then to lie nu't with alon.i,' the shruliliy hanks of creeks, and is also some-
times observed on the salt-mai'shes. In the vicinity of New ^'ork City it is not,
knoAvn to occur in any f,'reat nundiers, oidy a few halting,' in their northern migra-
tions on wet and miry places covered with tall j^i'ass and rushes, it is very abun-
dant in the early part of Septendier alonj,' the reedy nuir^,dn of the llaekensack llivir.
where it is hunted in the same manner as the ••('lap]ier Kail." It is exceedinf,dy timiil
and retiring, seeking,' seclusion among the lank grass. At low water it can very larely
he detected, as it hides so (dostdy among tlie tall water-plants; iind but for its .shrill
sliort notes its ])resenct> would not be suspected. In eonseipiencc of this peculiarity
of its habits, the sportsman'.s excursions are regulated by the state of the tide, and
his visits are timed so as to enable him to be on the sjiot some time bid'ore the tiilc
is in. Seated in a light skiff, ;uded by a ])erson .skilleil in the sport, who jiushcs
a.long the boat and forces the Kails from thoir itlaces of concealment, he is often
enabled to fliish and to shoot a large nund)er. The bird is driven from its place of
ooncealiuent, the rushes no longer affording it any ]iroteetion. ami it is compelled to
rise as the boat apiivoaches. As it always sjirings up at a short distance, and its tligiit
is feeble, it is easily shot. The Sora is very sensitive to cold, and is not to be nut
with in these marshes after the first sharp frost. In the spring, during its northern
migrations, it makes a short stoj) to recruit in its favorite marshes, but continues its
journey Avith oidy a very brief (Uday. Its favorite food is wild oats, from wliidi
its flesh derives a very delicate flavor. In tlu; autumn it becomes very fat, and is
then much sought for by epicures. AVhen driven in the fall to warmer sbelter by an
early frost, it will, on the reeurrence of nnlder weather, often return to its favorite
feeding-grounds. It leaves New Jersey early in October.

"Doughty's Cabinet of Natural Hi.story" (1. p. 208) gives an interesting account
of the manner of hunting this bird on the marshes of the Delaware. Early in August,
when the reeds have attained their full growth, the Sora Kail re-sorts to them in great
numbers to feed on the seeds, of which it is very fond. This reed (the Zhnnhi chin/-
losa of Miehaux) grows up from the soft nniddy shores of the tide-water, where the
surface is alternately bare and covered with four or five feet of water, and attains

RAF.MD.K - TIIK RAILS - PMIJZANA.

87;}

a liciKlit (iT ten fci't, rovrriii),' triuts ol' niiuiy iirics in cxti'iit. I lie stalks ^'luwiii^'
so clost'ly t()},'t'tLt'V that a Imat, fXir|itinn at lii^,'li waliT. can liaidly make its way
tlir(ni;,'li tlii'ia, The srcil of tliis jilaiil is Imi;,' ami slciidtT, wliitc in cdldr. sweet tn
the taste, anil veiy nntritinus. \\ hen the reeds are in irnil the Uails in ^'leat nnni-
iiei's take iMissession (d' them. At this season a |iers()?i walkiii;,' ahai^' the iianks of
the river may liear their eries in every direelinn, IC a stone is thrown anion^' the
reeds there is a j,'eneral onlery and a reiterated /:iik-/.ii /,-/,■ ii/,\ like tin' seream (d' a
(iaiiiea-Cowl. Any sudden noise prodnees the same ei't'eet. None id the lards. Iiow-
e\er. eaii he seen exeejit at hii,di-\\aler ; and when the tide is low tlie\ kei'|i secreted,
and a man may walk where there are hundreds of iheni without seein]L,f a siuj^le one,

On its first airival tins liiid is veiy lean; hut as the seeds ripen it- iapidl\ latleus,
and I'roui thel'tlth <d' Septendier to the middle ol <>ctolier is in excellent condition.
The usual mode id' shoot ini; it on the Didaware is as alreadv descrihed idr the llacken-
sack Iviver and marshes. The sportsman reipiires a li]i;ht skill', a stout and expe-
rienced hoatman, and a pole iil'teen I'eet in lenf,'th, thickened at the lower end. .\liout
two hour.s hel'ore hi,i,di-wati'i' the hunter ami his c(Uupanion enter the reeds, and each
takes his post, the lornH'r staudin;,,' in the how, the latter on the stern-seat, jaishinj,'
the skill steadily throuj^h the leeds. 'i'he Hails I'ise, one by one. as the hoat is moved
alony;. and only at a .short distajice in trout id' it. I'ladi liird is instantly shot down,
the hoatnuin keepinj^ his eye on the spot where the hird tell, directing' the boat for-
ward, and collectin;,' the ^imw while the hunter is reloadin.i:;. in this manner the
sjiurt is carried on; the boat heiuj,' pushed .steadily throuj,di the reeds, the birds an^
tlushcd and shot, the Ininter alternatidy loadin}( and tiriiif;, and the iissi.stant pushing
the skiff and ]>iekin^' up the fallen i,'ame. This is contiinied until an hour or two
alter hi^di water, when they are compelled hy the fall of the tide to retire. In these
cM'ursions it is not uncommon for an active and expert, marksman to kill from a
hundred to a hundred and fifty iiails in a sin;,de tide. .\s two bii'ds rarely, if ever,
lise toi^ether. each must be shot. sin,i;ly.

The flight of the Sora Uail among the reeds is usually low, and, sludtpv being
abundant, is rarely extended to more than iifty or a hundred yards. When winged,
and mnnjnred in its legs, it dives and swims with great I'apidity. aiul is siddom seen
a^ain. On such occasions it has been found clinging with its feet to the I'eeds, under
the water, or skulking under the floating vegetation with its bill just above tlu' sur-
face. This bird is apparently weak and delicate, in everything exce])t its legs; but
these jOTssess great vigor; and its body being remaikid)ly thin, it is able to jiass
readily between the veeds. Though its tiight seems fecdde, yet it occasionally rises
to a considerable height, stretcdu's its legs out behind it, and liies nii)i(lly ivcross the
|)claware where it is more than a mile wide,

in N'irginia, along the shores of the Iviver .bnues. in the tide-water regions, this
Hail is found in the fall in jirodigious ininibers ; ami there it is usually taken at
night, and in a different maniu'r, A kind of ii'ou grate is iixed on the top of a stout
pole, whiidi is placed, like a mast, in a small canoe, and tilled with sonui light com-
bustible. The man who manages the ranoe i.s provided with ,a paddle ten or twidve
IVct in length, and, about an hour before high-water, enters the reeds. The space
lor a considerable extent around is well lighted, the birds are bewildered, and as
they appear are knocked down with the i)adille. In this manner from twenty
to eighty dozen have been killed by three lu'groes in the short space of three
hours,

T''his lirflK is freciiiently met with at sea b(>tween our shores and the West India
Islands. Mr. Lewis, in the "American Sportsnum," refers to a living example taken

fr- [I

! f

1.*

■;!',»

374

ALECTORIDES.

on the ship " Michaol Annelo," duiiiij,' a voyngc from Liverpool, in May, 1851. Tlii'
nearest land was Cape !Sal)l(', thvcf hundred miles distant.

The sensiti.cness of tliis bird to cold, and its immediate departure iij)(»n the tirst
severe frost, render its niovemeuts variable, and dependent on the season. It usiiidl\
leaves the Middle States in October, but in favorable seasons remains m\ieh latei'.
In 184() the fall was a remarkably mihl one, and the Soras eontinued abundant f>ii
the Delaware Hiver until tlie last of Novend)er.

Captain Uendire mentions this bird as being present in Eastern Oregon during llic
breeding-season; but how abundantly he was not able to ascertain. He only iint
with it on four occasions. .Mr. tJosse informs me that it breeds in great nunibeis in
the wet marslu'S of Wisconsin, that its nest is constructed of dry grasses, and tliat
this is sometimes jtartly arched over, but more frequently under broken-down grasses
or weeds. The eggs — as he states — are seven or eight in number, and occasionally
even more. A nest found in Lynn. Mass., by !Mr. ^loon, contained lune egg.s. and tliis
is said to be the common numlu'r.

Mr. E. AV. Nelson, Avho earefuUy studied the habits of this Kail in Xorthcni
Illinois, gives the 1st of Alay as the date of its arrival, and October as that of its
departure. He states that it nests along the borders of prairie sloughs and marshes,
depositing from eight to fourteen eggs, and that its nest may often be discovered iit
a distance by the apjiearance of the svu'rounding grass, the blatles of which are in
many eases interwoven over the nest, as if to shield the bird from the tierce rays ot
the sun — felt on the marshes with redoubled force. The nests are sometimes built on
solitary tussocks growing in the water, but their usual position is in the soft dense
grass growing close to the edge of the slough, and rarely in that which is over eiglit
inches high. The nest is a thick matted platform of soft marsh-grasses, with a slight
depression for the eggs.

In Wilson's day the history of this Kail was very imperfectly known, and some of
the information in regard to its habits accepted by him as true was without doubt
incorrect. This is especially the case in that which relates to its breeding, all ot
which really had reference to the Virginia Kail, and not to this l)ird. I believe tliat
this Kail does not breed anywhere south of the 4l'd ))arallel. and that it is very
rare there, excu'pt in the Northwestern States. It breeds from about this i)arallc] to
the ()2d, in favorable places, from the Atlantic to the racitii^ coast. The breeding of
this bird was not known to Wilson, Audubon, or Nuttall, and the young and eggs
referred to by the tirst two belong to another sjiecies ; Dr. r>achman's notice of a
nest found on the Hudson has reference, however, to this bird.

The Sora breeds in fresh-water marshes, on small dry or elevated tussocks, and
in the middle of tufts of coarse herbage. Its nest is usually a mere collection of
decayed rushes and coarse grass loosely aggregated, and not admitting of removal as
a nest. The eggs are from seven to twelve in number. Instead of the creamy-white
ground of the Virginia Rail, this egg has one of a light dralwolor. The marking's
are spots of a roundish shape, and are all of a uniform dark rufous tint. The form
of the egg is also quite different, it being oblong oval, ecpial at either end, and <linci-
ing from that oi Halhis virgin lanus in all respects, and in so marked a manner as to
l)e at once distinguishable from it. No. 5,%, from Concord, Mass., measures 1.38 by
.88 inches, and is remarkably oblong. Two eggs (No. 1272) obtained by Mr. Goss in
Minnesota are much more rounded, and have the larger end more obtuse. Thesis
measure, one 1.18 by .90 inches, the other 1.15 by .91 inches.

RALLID.E — THE KAILS — PORZANA.

375

)1. Th.'

the livst
t usually
ich lali'v.
ndant on

uviug tlic
only nil I
lUulit'i's ill
, and tlial
>-n grasses
casionally
<, and tliis

Nortlit'vn
;hat of its
il nnuslics.
leovPiH'd lit
I ich avf iu
vpo rays i>t'
les built I 111

soft dense
; over t'iiiht
itli a slight

,nd some of
lout doulit
ing. all of
liove that
it is very
parallel to
n-eeding of
and eggs

notice of a

^socks, and
dlection of
removal as
eamy-whito
e markings
The i'oni>
and diftVv-
annev as to
res 1.38 hy
ilr. Goss in
ise. These

Porzana noveboracensis.

THE LITTLE YELLOW BAIL.

Fitlicn noveboracensis, Umkl. S, N. I. ii. 178!!, 7ul.

Urli/joinclra nuvebunicciinin, Siki'iikns, Sliaw's (Ifii. Zuol. XII. 1S'21, 22'J. — AUD. Syiiop. 1839, "JIS ;

15. Am. V. 1S42, 15-.', \<l 307.
J!iillu.i niivcbomeciisis, Honai'. .Sjicir. t'diiii). 1S-J7, -IVl ; Am. Oin. IV, 183'J, 13t), jil. '27, lig. 2. —

NUTT. Mau. II. 1834, 215. — S\v. & Uku. V. I!. A. II. 1831, 4U2. — Aii>. Oiii. IJiu;,'. IV. 1838,

251, pi. 329.
Punana 7iovebori(irusln, C.v.ss. in liainl's ii. N. Am. 18')8, 750. — liAiiin, <'iit. N. .\m. U. 185!), no.

557. — < ones, Kry, 1872, 274 ; < heik List, 187;!, no. 40'J ; 2d cd. 1SS2, no. (JSO ; Birds N. W.

1874, 53!t. — liiniiw. Xoni. N. Am. Ii. I8bl, no. 575.
I'tnlu JIuilsuniat, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 17!»U, C55.

Jldllus I'lijicullis, VlKII.l,. Noiiv. Diet. X.WIII. ISl'J, .550; (!id. Ois. 1834, 108, pi. 260.
" Pdrzitiia jamaiceim'ii (')" (fiioi), 1>iim;\v. Oiii. 4atli I'ur. Kxp. 1877, til3 (XeViida and Utah).'

IIau. Eusterii Xortli America, north to Hudson's Hay, and Nova Scotia, west to Utah and
XuvaiUi. No e.\traliinital record except Ciilia and the Bermudas.

Si>. Chak. Adult : Vullowisli oduaceiiiis, very glos.sy ul)ove, where broadly stri])ed with black,
tliu lilack intursectud by narrow bars of wjiiti' : belly whitish ; Hanks dusky, narrowly barred with

wiiite , crissum light cimiamon ; axillars, lining of wing, and exposed portion of secondaries, white.
'• I'.iU greenish black, with the base dull yellowisli oiange ; iris hazel ; feet and claws light flesh-
cnjoi" (Aluuhon). Total length, about ().(M) inches ; wing, 3.00-3.50 ; culmen, .50-.55 ; tarsus,
.!)U-l,00 ; middle toe, .90.

Tlure is a considerable range of indiviilual vaiiation, both in size and markings, even among
spciiniens from tlie sane' locality.

The specific habits and distribution of this bird are imperfectly known. It has
bei'U found in various localities along the Atlantic coast as far to the eastward as
New IJrnnswick, it is known to breed iu Xorthern Illinois, wliere its nests and eggs
luive been taken, and it also occurs (Ui the I'acitic coast, probably in at least e(pial
abundance. As it is also found in Southwestern l'e.\as. we naturally infer that it
has a very general distribution over the entire Tnited States, from the Gulf shore to
Canada, and probably farther north, and from the eastern to the western coasts.
Tliat it is anywhere abuiulant cannot bi' jiositively stated, although it might be so,
siiuc its small size and skulking habits might prevent its being seen, even when
lavseiit in considerable numbers.

Mr. Dresser M'as informed by Dr. Heennann that this bird is not uncommon at
iliteheU's Lake, near Sail Antonio. As when the forunn' visited that locality the

' Till! small Hail ivfcnvd, with j^rcat licsitatioii, by Mr. Kidgway to P. Jtvnaiceiisis, in his "Ornithol-
ogy of tlie Fortieth Parallel," \i. 613, was undoubtedly this sju'cies, which is the only quo showing white
iildiiL,' the hinder margin of the wins — a peculiarity noted in the birds observed. The apparently
"blickish color" was due to imperfect opportunity of observation.

^•T^^W'^', ■■ :-

■y!(5

t i

11 1

\m.

I* < ■
m

lijfl

376

ALECTORIDES.

liikc \v;is nearly dried up. ho did not succeed in findiuf,' it, althout;]i told !)y hunters
who resort then; tiiat at sonic seasons it is quite al)undant. Mr. iJoardman inl'ornis
me that this Ifail occasioniiiiy occurs in the nci,nlii)(U'h(j(id of Calais, ami that oni'
specimen was received l)y iiim wliicii liad Ih'cu talvcn in the I>ay ol' Fnndy. He
rejjardd its appearance in tliat section ol' tlie country as being a rather uncommoii
occurrence. It is not known to breed tiu're, and its presence has oidy been noticed
in the fall. It is occasionally luiticed also in ^Massachusetts. A single specimen
Avas taken in Newton by Mr. Maynard. Sei)t. <S, 18li8, in a dry and ojien field; ami
I am infornu'd by Mr. I'urdie that another was procured in the marshes ol' Canton,
Mass., Oct. ir.. 1.S71.'.

.Mr. (Jirauil was of o])inion, that although the i'ellow-brea.sted J{ail is selilom
met with on Long Island, it is far from being so rare in that locality as has been .sii]i-
posed. Its hal)it of skulking among the tall grass and reeds whicli overgrow certain
wet and seldom-fre([nented marslies, as well as its unwillingness to take wing,
explain its sup])oscd scarcity when actmdly jjresent in abundance.

llichardson, although lie did not meet with it in the Arctii' Region himself, ami
could not learn any particulars in regard to its habits or the extent of its migrations,
(luotes from the manuscrijit notes of Ilutchins a notit.'c of it, written in 1777, men-
tioning it as an inhabitant of the nnirshes on the coast of Uud.son's liay, near the
efflux of the Iiiver Severn, from the nn(hlle of .May to the end of Septendier. It
never flies, he adds, altove sixty yards at a time, but runs with great rapidity among
the long grass near the .shores. In the morning and evening it utters a note wliirli
resembles the striking together of a Hint and steel. At other times it makes a shriek-
ing noise. He also adds — l)ut in this he is evidently misinfornuid — that it builds
no nest, dcjiositing sixteen /ifrfni/i/ icliltc rj/i/.s among the glass. Its eggs nvc known
not to be white, and in Illinois its nest resembles the ordinary loosely constructed
one of this family.

Dr. CtHijier writes that he is indtdited to Mr. Mathew.son for authority to add tins
species to the fauna of the Pacific coast. The latter obtained several sjiecimens oi' it
at Martinez in autiimn, and afterward other oliscrvers met with it in the winter.
It seemed to lie not uncommon there, and to be a resident s])eci(?s.

The Trince of Musignano iditaincd a specimen of this bird in the New "^'evk
market, in February. ISlJO. and regardeil it as an Arctic species. This opinion .Mr.
Audul)on was not iiadined to accejit, stating it to be a constant resident of Florida.
as well as of the lowt-r portion of Louisiana, where he has found it at all .seasons;
.and he regarded its presence in midwinter near New York as accidental. Jn tlic
neighborhood of New f)ileans it is said to l)e common in all the deserted savaniiiis
covered with tldck. lons'' grass, among pools of sjiallow water. There its sharp and
(iurious notes were he;ir<l many times in the course of the day. These; sounds conic
uiion the ear so as to induce the listener to iKdicve the bird to be nui(di nearer than
it really is. In Fhu'ida Audulion found this s])ecies even more abundant than it was
in Louisiana, and he met with it both on the niidnland and on several of the Keys —
where, as he .states, it begins to breed in .Marcdi. In the neighborhood of Xew < >i-
leans it is said to breed at the same ])eriod. T)v. P)ac,liman has found this bird mar
Charleston, >S. C. ; and ]\Ir. .\uduboii met with it near \'incennes, on the Wabash, in
summ(>r, where it had yoniv , 'iroods. At Silver Springs, in East Florida, the latter
had a good oiiportunity of observing the habits of this Kail, along the .'uargins of
lakes and swampy bayous. He noticed that it followed the nuxrgins of the muddy
shores Avith nu-asured ste])s, until, attracted by some object, it would suddenly
jerk its tail upward ;ind disappear for the moment. It was so unsuspicious, that at

RALLIDvE — THK RAILS — PORZANA.

377

times he could iipproaeli it within a few yards, when it woidd only rise more erect, gaze
at him for a uujmeiit, and then resume its oeeujjation. lie was told that the best way
til ol)tain a shot at tliis l)iril is to lie coueealeil near an ojiening, and (!all it out of cover
liv imitating its notes ; when, being very pugnacious, it comes to the open s]iaee and is
easily shot. Its Hesli is said t(j lie delicate and savory, its Hight is described as being
swift, and more protracteil tliau that of most of the Kails.

Mr. Audid)on describes tiie nest of this bird as being similar to that of llalhis
i/i'ijuns ; but as he mentions that tiio eggs an; white, and that the nt st resembles that
of the Common (^hiail, we cannot receive his account as altogether reliable.

Dr. James Trudeau, as ([uoted by ^fr. Audubon, states that this Kail winters in
till' Southern States, arriving in Louisiana about the eud of October or the beginning
of Novend)er, and that it is common in marsluts in the vicinity of woods. It is with
(lilficidty forc'cd to fly, and even when ]Mirsued by a dog it will only rise when ai)par-
ciitly just on the point of being caught. Sonu' of this species nest in Louisiana;
others migrate* northward about the beginning of March. Dr. Tnidcau has seen them
ill Salem, X. J., about tlie end of Ajiril, a few remaining there.

^Ir. Xuttall mentions that in the nu-adows of AVest Cambridge, Mass., and in
(itiicr w(*t marsh-lands rartdy visittnl by man, lu* has occasionally nu't with this bird.
One was brought to him hite in autumn that had been surprised while feeding on
insects by the margin of a small pool overgrown with the leaves of the water-lily ;
without attempting either to swim or to fly, it darted nimbly over the floating leaves.
W'iien wounih'd it can swim and dive witli great skill. "Sir. Ives informed Mr. Xuttall
tliat it is frequently nu't with, in the fall, in the marshes in the vicinity of .Salem,
Mass. Mr. X'uttall also mentions that, having spent the night of Oct. (!. l.S.'Jl, in a
lodge on the borders of I'resh Pond, he heard, about sunrise, the i'ellow-ljreasted
Kails begin to stir among the reeds. As soon as awake, they called out, in an abrupt
and cackling cry, h-rik-Icrel; kreh, kre/:, ktik Ic'kh. This note, apiiarently from young
birds, was answered in a lower and soothing tone. These uncouth and guttural notes
resembled in sound the croaking of the tree-frog. These birds were 2'i'<'hably a
migrating brood from the north. I>y the first of X'ovember this ea"kliug ceases, and
ill all probability the whole liave jiassed fartlier south.

Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (\o. "OoT). from Winnebago, in X'orth-
crii Illinois, measure respectively, l.OS inches by .80, 1.12 l)y .S2, 1.12 l)y .80. They
aic of oval shape, one end slightly more tapering than the other. Their ground-(!olor
is a very deep buff, and one set of markings — which are almost entirely confined to
tlie larger end — consists of Idotehes of pale diluted jmrplish brown; these are over-
lain liy a dense sprinkling of tine dottings of a rusty lirown.

Porzana jamaicensis.

THE LITTLE BLACK BAIL.

a. jamaicensis.

Rail ns jamaicensis, Gmei,. .S. N. I. ii. 17S8, 718 - Am. Om. Bio;;. IV. 1838, S.'JO, pi. 349.
Ortiiijomdra jumuiccHsis, " .Sria'UKS's, .Sliaw's (Icii. Zool." — Am. Synoii. 1839, 214; Ii. Am. V.

1842, 157, 1)1. 308.
Pui-Miui Jaiwdcaisis, ('.\ss. in liniiil's 15. X. .\iii. IS.'iS, 749. — RaiiM), Cat. N. Am. B. 18.59, no. 556.

— Coi;i;s, Key, 1872, 247 ; C'lierk I,ist, 1873, no. 470 ; 2a (.-d. 1882, no. flSl ; Birds N. \V. 1874,

539. — ItiiKiw. Xoni. X. Am. B. 18S1, no. 576.
Cre,cj)i/gma:ii, Black wia.L, Bivw.sti'i's .(oui-. VI. 1832, 77.
Orlij(jometm chilnisis, Boxap. Coiniit. HiMid. .XI, III. 599.
ItiiHus salinusi, PrriLiri'i, Wiogm. Ardiiv, 1867, 262.
•' Oallinula salinasi, PlilL. Cut. 1869, 38."
VOL. I. — 48

I \

I )

378

ALECTORIDKH.

h. coturniculuB. — FABALLON BAIL.

['iirzanaJamaicni/iiSfVar.culunticuliis, " lUiiiD MS." — liiuiiw. Am. Nat. VIII. Fi-b. 1874, 111.
ruruoiajamakciisis, h. eutuniicii/iin, Col'K.s, liilils N, W. \SH, u4().

PomiHu jtuiKiiecii.si.i cultiniiculus, liiixiW. I'loc. U. S. Nut. Mils. Vol. 3, 1881, 202, 222; Num. N.
Am. I!. 1881, no. 57ti '/. — I'm i.s, (■hetk List, 2(1 nl. 1SS2, no. tJ82.

Had. Tcniiic'iiitc North America, north to MassiiclmsL'tt.-<, Noitheni Illinois (hivciliii;;), Kaii-
•sas, ()ri'i,'on, and Caliloriiia ; tiouth thi'ou;,'h Wi'sU'iii South America to C'iiili ; ('iiha ; .Jamaica ;
liermiidas. Tlie race cotunticiilun coiidned to the Farallon Islands, Caliloriiia.

Sr. Cii.vn. .Smaller than P. twiubontcciisis, and tiie smallest of North American Ittilliil'i.
Adult : Head, neck, and lower parts dark iiliimheoiis or slate-color, darkest, and olten nearly Mack.

P, janmiccnsis.

on the pileum ; abdomen and crisstim bro\vni»ii black, marked with transverse bni-s of white ; iiajic
.and back dark chestnut or reddisli sepia-brown, the other upper parts brownish black, witli sinali
dot.s and irref,'ular transverse bars of white ; piimaries immaculate dusky, or with small spiit> df
white. Yiiumj : Similar, but lower ])aifs dull asjiy, the throat inclining,' to white, and thecinun
tinged with reddish brown. Doinui iiomiii : " l']iitirely bluish black" (Cassin). Bill black : \n<

P. jantakensis cotiirnkulus.

inm

red; "feet bright yellowish ffiveii " (Audi'Uon i). Totid len>;th, about 5.00 inches ; win^,' r^riii-
S.^O; culmen, .50-.G() ; tarsus, .8r)-.90 ; middle toe, .S()-l.()(».

Several Cliilian s])eciniens in the collection of the V. S. National ^Museum appear to be e.\;ully
like specimens from the United States. A fine adult from San Francisco, Cal., in ^Ir. Hensliaw's
collection, also agrees minutely with eastern specimens and those from Chili, mentioned above ;
but one (No. 12802) from the Farallon Islands, olf the coast of California, differs in so many ]iar-
ticulars that Professor Baird has described it as a distinct local race (P. cntimnculus), witii I lie
following distinctive characters : Back without white specks ; depth of bill .1.5 of an inch, iiistra.l
of .2()-.2."), the culmen being as long as the maximum in true 1'. jmiudcevsis. The general size is
also smaller.

So far as we are informed, this species — the smallest of our Xortli Ameriiaii
Rails — is of infrequent occurrence on the Atlantic cocast. Tt is known to occur froin
the Delaware marshes about Philadelphia southward ; and is said to be more comiiiou

' In an ndiilt male, killed Jinie 6, 1879, near W.nshington, D. C, the fresh colors nf the "soft parts"
were ns follows : Bill entirely deep black ; iris bright liiick-rcd ; legs and feet brown, much the same ('(lnv
as the wing-coverts.

RALLID.K — THE RAILS — I'ORZAXA.

379

in the West India Islands than with us. Its st'cictivc habits and its cxtrcnu'ly small
size favor its concealment, and explain its .'i])pai'ently great rarity, without necessa-
lily prcsuuiiui,' it to he very uncoinnion. since it may exist aiuindautly without its
]ircsence being kn;)wn or suspected, it has been i'ound liy Mr. Krider breeding al)out
I'luladelphia, and its eggs have been obtained. It is given by Dr. (iuudlach as a i)ird
iilCuba, Imt without positive knowledge as to its l)reeding on tliat island. Mr. Gosse
states that a sjx'cinu'n of this s|)ecies was iirouglit to him in .(amaica in April alive
and unhurt. It lived in a cage two days, but scarccdy ate anytiiing. Aitliough once
(ir twice observed to pick in tlie nuul. in general it would not even w;dk upon it. It
was not at all timid; its nu)tions were very deliberate, it slowly raised its large
IVet, and then set them down without making even a stej). Its neck \vas usually
drawn in short; and then it presented very litHc of the ajjpearance of a Rail, but
rather that of a Tassenne bird. Wlu-n it w.'dked, its neck was more or less extended
iiorizontally, although it occasionally lu'idled ujt. AVhen standing still, the throat was
(iltcn ill sliglit vibration; l)ut there was no Hirting or erection of the tail. Mr. (Josse
iiu't with these birds on three other occasions. In the latter part of August, in the
morasses of Sweet Jviver, several of them Hew out from the low rushes at his feet,
and fluttering along for a few yards with a very labored flight, drojjped into the
dense rush again. In the manner of its flight, and in its flgure, this bird greatly
resembled a chicken. It flies, with its legs hanging inertly (h)wn, with feeble and
laborious motion, from one tuft of herbage to another, whence it will not emerge until
ahnost trodden on. Mr. CJosse heard it utter no sound ; but Iioliiiisoii, cpioted by Mr.
(Josse, in describing two of these l)ir(ls brought to him in October, 17G0, says their
cry was very low, resembling that of a foot at a distiMM-c. Jle noticed also their
peculiar flight and their mode of srpiatting. Several, Robinson adds, were killed
accidentally by the negroes at work, as the bird is so foolish as to hide its head, cock
up its rump, and think itself safe. It is then easily taken alive. The negroes in
Clarendon call it the "Cacky-(|uaw." from its cry. It is also, for the same reason,
called the "Kitty -go" and the ",T(^'iiny-ho '' in Westmondand. This cry, instead of
being limited to three syllables, is said by Mr. Mandi to be like rhi-chi-cro-croo-nvo,
sevi'ral tinu's rejjeated in sharp, high-toned notes, so as to be audible to a considerable
distance.

A single example, agreeing in all resjiects with others from Jamaica, i,s stated by
^fr. Salvin to have been shot by Mr. Fraser near the Lake of Duenas, in Guatemala.
It is also known to occur in South America as far south as Chili,

Mr. Titian R. I'eale informed Audubon that, in duly, IS,'!!), he received from Dr.
Thomas Rowan an adult and four of its young alive, obtained near I'hilathdiihia.
Tlie young died soon after they were received, but the old bird lived four days. They
fed sparingly upon Indian meal and water, and soon ai)peared at home. The old
bird proved to be a male — rendering it rather remarkable that he should have allowed
liiiuself to be taken by hand in trying to defend his young brood. ]Mr. I'eale had in
liis museum another specimen, taken many years before, caught in the neighborhood
of Philadelphia. Mr. Kowan, sujjposing the old bird was a female, wrote to !Mr.
I'eale : ♦• The hen flew a few rods, and then flew back to her young in an instant, when
tiiey caught h(>r, together with her four young ones.'' He adds that he has seen the
s;iiue bird in his meadow every month of the year, and thinks that it is resident, and
ddcs not migrate to the south.

Captain Charles TJendire writes me that he observed this Kail, in April, in the
vicinity of Lake Malheur, in Southeastern Oregon ; and he states later that he has
ag;un met with it, and that it \inquestionably breeds there.

■ I

iilia

iilllKa;!

380

ALKCTORIDKS.

It has also beon taken in the HtTiuudas. Major Woddprbuni met with it in the
rciubroki! Marsh, ^'ov. 19, 1847. Ik' saw aiiotiuT in the sanit; piiict-, in Uctober, t\u-
lullowinj,' yi'ar; a third soon alter at the Shiici- J'onds ; and Mi: llurdis i)rociircil
OUL", Nov. 1(», l.Sili, also at I'cniltrokt' Marsh.

It has only recently been credited with a New England residence. Mr. .).][. IJatty
informs nu' that he has taken it in Connecticnt. ile says: "1 have never taken but
two of this species. I shot them both in a I'resh-water marsh, several years ago, at
Ilazardville. ("onn. I had never observed them before that tinn-. nor have I met
with them since. They were breeding, as 1 saw .several of their yonng, and caught one
of them, which I examined and let go again. This' was in the latter part of .Jnnc."
It has since been recorded by Mr. 11. A. J'ludie as taken at Saybrook, Conn., on tii-
anthority of Mr. .1. II. Clark, who wrote hi.a that a neighbor of his, while mowing at
that ])lace. Jnly lO, liSTC), swung his scythe Mver a nest of ten eggs on which the binl
was sitting, cutting off the bird's head and br.'aking all but foni- of the eggs. It has
also recently been reetirded from Clark's Island, I'lynunith Harbor, Mass., where a
specimen was obtained in Angnst, iSIJi*.

Mr. Nelson ud'ers to the Little lUack Kail as a species of not very rare occurrenco
in Northern Illinois, wla'i'e it breeds. During the spring of 1875 he nu't with tiini'
specimens in the Calinnet marshes; the first was sei-n early in ^lay. In the saiac
season, on the iDth of June. Mr. Nelson states that .Mr. Frank De Witt, while collect-
ing with him near the Calumet IJiver, was so fortunate as to discover a nest of this
si)eeies that contained ten freshly laid eggs. The nest had been constrncted in a deep
cni)-shaped depressicm in a perfectly ojten situation on the border of a marshy spot.
and its only eonceahnent was that furnished by a few straggling ('nrlrcs. It was com-
l)osed of soft grass-blades, loustdy inti'rwoven in a rounded shajic. The nest, in its
form and manner of construction, was similar to that of a .Meadow-lark. Mr. Nelson
describes it as having an inside dejjth of 1^.50 imdies ; inside diameter. .'I.L'o; outsiilc
depth, 3.50 ; outside diameter, 4.50. The eggs are saiil to be of a creamy white.
and to aver.age 1.00 inch by .81, being of a lu'arly jterfect oval, and thinly sprinkled
with tine reddish-brown dot.s, which becomi' larger and more nunu'rons toward the
larger end. Minute shell-markings in the form of dots were also visible. I'robably
in consetpu'uce of the small size of the depression in which the nest was inclosed, tlic
eggs were in two layers.

Mr. Henshaw states that this Kail a])iiears to be as numerous in California as in
anj' other i)art of its habitat. I'rom information given by ]\Ir. (jnd)er, he judges it
to be rather (common in the extensive tide swani])s of that State. It has also liem
found by Mr. (Jruher on the Farallon Islands. Its small size and skulking habits, as
well as the nature of its swampy retreat, render the ])rocuring of specimens dittieult.
Mr. Mathewson informed Dr. Cooper that he has frecpiently obtained it at Martinez
in the fall and in winter.

Dr. James Trndeau informed Mr. Audidwn that this species arrives in Louisiana,
in company with the Yellow-breasted Rail, about the end of October, and is very
common in marshes in the vicinity of woods. It migrates northward in the begin-
ning of March, and a great luimber of this species are said to breed in the vicinity
of Salem, N. J.

An egg in my collection, obtained by Mr. Ashmead in the neighborhood of riiilu-
delphia, and given me by Mr. Cassin (No. 5G4), has a ground-color of a light cream
or creamy white, over which are generally distributed fine markings or minute specks
of a brownish red ; these are most numerous at the larger end. The Qg^ is oval in
shape, is tapering at one end, and measures 1.00 inch in length by .75 in breadth.

RALLID.E — THE RA1L8 — CREX

381

Genus CREZ, Ukciistein.

CrUt Beciist. Xatnrf;. Dcutschl. IV. ISOD, 470 (type, 0. pmknsin, Urvust.,^ Jiallua era; Link.).

Char, Siinilur to I'umnin, but liir;,'ur mid nl' stoutiT build, the middle toe shorter thnn the
'awns, the culmeu scarcel,y di'pri'ssed in tiie luiddli: puilion, and the bade ol' the gouy.- Ibvming a
lU'cided angle.

0, pratenm,

Crez pratensiB.

THE COBN-CBAKE.

Ralhiscrcx, Lixx. S. N. od. 10, 1758, liyi ; od. 12, I. 17C6, 261. — Dkoi,. Om. Eur. TI. 1849, 266.

OnlUnuln crcx. Lath. Ind. Oni. II. 1790, 766.

C'irx pratcnsis, Bkch.st. Taschenb. Viig. Dcutseh. 1303, .3;$7. — Naum. Vbg. Dcutschl. IX. 1838, 496,

pi. 236. — HoNAi'. Coiiip. List, 1.S38, :>:i. — Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Kur. 1840, 67. — Macgii.l.

Man. II. 113 ; Hist. Brit. B. IV. 1852, 527. — ('As.s. Pr. Ac. Xat. Sei. Philnd. VII. Jan. 1855,

265 (New Jersey); in Baiid's B. X. Am. 1858, 751. — BAiitn, Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 558.

— Coi-Es, Key, 1872, 274 ; Clieck List, 1873, no. 471 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 683. — Kidgw. Xoni.

X. Am. B. 1881, no. 577.
Crex hcrhnrum and C. allicrps, Buehm, Viig. Deutsehl. 1831, 694.
The Land-Jiail, Yauk. Brit. B. ed. 2, III. 92, fig. ; ed. 3, III. 107, fig. ; et AucT.

Had. Palcearctic Region, occurring casually or irregularly in Eastern North America ; Green-
land ; Bermudas.

Sp. Char. Adult : Above, grayish brown or light drab, conspicuously striped with black ;
wings reddish, with indistinct white transverse spots on the larger coverts. Lining of the wing
and u.\illars, soft cinnamon, the former edged with white. Head ash-gray, with an indistinct loral
and postocular narrow stripe of very pale drab — the crown like the back ; throat, belly, and anal

;■' >

3S2

ALfc;CT()|{II)KS«.

iij

HiKl'

llllli^t

iilii

'. :'!

II'

rc^'iiiii, wliilt! ; loreiicck ami breast pale iliali, liiij,'(il with k^' ; nidcs nml ciisHHiii lraiisvci«ilv
liaiulcil with liiiiwii ami wliilc. Vinnifj : Similar, Ijii! willKnil any •^vi\\ mi the licail. Iioinm
ijiiiniij: riiil'iirm dark sdciiy lnowii, llic liuail lilackisli ; l)ill uiiilmiu liiisky, or iiait: lii'dwiiifli ;
ills lirciwii; li'^'i ami l( it " Miiisli licsli-folor" in lilu (Macuuj.ivhav), pale lirowiuHJi in drii'cl
skins. Tolal Icmj,'!!!, al.mil lOMKi-lO.TiO ; extent, 17.(M>-lS.(i(t ; win^, r)."lMi.O(l ; eulnien, .«')-.!)( i ;
tarsus, l.r)0-l.(i(» ; niiddlc toe, l.;i(».

Till" liiiiid-lviiil, or ('(irn-Ci'iikr <if Kiimjic, is ;i I'c.miial' visitiuit in sunimcr ol' (irccn
l;iii(l, wlR'i't' it lirct'ds, iind is tlicuec ii stnij;:^drr to our J']iist('rii Athintio cofist. as i'lir
soutii as \a)\\>^ Island. Its apiicarancc in New Kni^laiid, tiuiufr'i jirobahly occasional,
liu.s lu'vcr — that 1 am aware — been actually detected. It is credited as occurring' in
JJerniuda.

In (Jreat IJritain, aeeordin;,' to Varrell, it is a eoinmon sunimer visitor, niakinj,' its
a])|)carauce in the southern counties oi' lOnijlanil ilurini,' the last ten days oi' .\pril.
i)ut in V(ukshire and farther north, not until the second week in May. It usuallv
leaves the IJritish Islands in October, hut sin},de individuals have been met with iis
late as Deci'mln'r ami .lanuary. It is common in the valleys in Scotland, and abnn
dant on the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It visits Denmark, S\ve(h'n, and Morway.
^'oing as I'ar north as the L*'aroe Islands and Iceland. It is abundant over the entire
European continent, and has been binnil in winter in Asia Minor. It is mentioned
by Dr. Ueintdven among the birds oi' Madeira, and its a|i|)earani'e has been noted in
its sjjring migrations in .Malta, Sicily, and .Vlgiers. It is inidmh'd among the birds
of >.'orthorn .\sia in I'allas's •• Zoograjdiia Hosso-Asiatiea."

.Major Wedderburn states that on the L'^tli of Oet(d)er, 1847, he shot a singli'
specimen on the I'endiroke ^larsh, llermnda. A notice of this "ran; occurrence "
was sent at the time to the '• Zixdogi.st," 1849. and the sjieeimen given to .Mr. Varrell,
from whose colloetion it jiassed into that of C(doncd J)nimnioiul.

In Europe this species is said to fre([>u'nt the long grass of marshy wator-moadows
near rivers, beds of osiers or reeds, and titdds of green grain, where its ])rescnce is in-
dicated by its creaking note; and hence one of its name.s, that of Corn-Crake or Coni-
Creak, by whiidi latter name it is known in Ireland. This note can be so nearly
imitated by passing the tlnnnb-nail along the teeth of a cond), that the bird can be
decoj'ed within a very short distance by the sound thus ])ro(luced. This call is tlic
love-note of the male, and is continned until a mate is found. After the season
of incid)ation it is seldom heard. If ke])t in continement the Land-Hail, besides
this call-note, utters a low guttural sound whenever it is disturbed or sudilenly
alarmed.

The food of the Covn-Crake is said to consist of sings, snails, worms, small lizards,
and insects, with portions of vegetable matter and a few seeds. Its nest is phu;ed on
the ground, and is formed of dry jdants. A field of green grain, thick grass, or elovci'
is generally the situation that is ehosen. The nundii>r of the eggs is said to be from
seven to ten ; and these, in England, are laid about the michUe of June. The youni;.
when first hatched, are covered with down, of a black e(dor, but soon accpiire their
first feathers, and are able to fly in about six weeks.

It is related by Daniel — as (pioted by Yarrell — that in 1808 as some men were
mowing grass, u])(m a little island belonging to the fishing water of Low Bells, on the
Tweed, they cut off the head of a (Jorn-Crake whicdi was sitting on eleven eggs.
About twenty yards from the sjjot they found a Cartridge sitting upon eighteen eggs.
The mowers took the eggs from the nest of tin; Corn-Crake and put them in that ol
the Partridge. Two days later she bi'ought out the entire brood of twenty-nine, all
of which were seen running about the island. The Partridge took care of them all,

RALLID.E - TIIH (iALLINTLKS — loNOHNIS.

383

misvcrM'ly

I. IhtiVini

lii'c>\vni.»^li :
It ill (li'iid

II, .H")-.!)! I ;

of (irci'ii-
iHt, as lur
(•('iisii)ii:il.
•urriiit,' ill

iiiikiii^' its
ol' April.
It usuiiU.v
ot with lis
and iilmii

I Nor\v;iy.
the iMitiiv
iiiciitioiicil

II noted 111
i\w biids

)t a sin^^lf
•cnrri'iicc"
Iv. VanvU,

;iiid was oliscrvcd to gather her large i'aiiiily under lier wings withont making any
distinetioii Ix'tween them.

In Enghuid many I.and-lfails are shot liy tlie s]iortsmeii. and an; eonsiden-d most
delicate as artirles id' food. This Itird does not take wing very readily, and Hies
slowly, with its 'e"s hanging down, s(ddom going t'urtiier than the nearest phiee of
sli.'lter, and is rarely Hushed a .-.eeond time,

Oeeasionally, when e.xpo.sed to dang' rs from wliich it is nnahhi to eseajie, this liird
will put on tiie .semlilanee of death, dis.se narrates a striking instanee, in whieh a
Ciirn-Crake had heen brought to a gentleman liy his (h)g, to all appearanee (piite dead,
.^itanding l>y in sUeuiie, he suddenly saw it open an eye. I let hen took it up: its head
;e4,iiii fell, its h'gs dropped loosely, and it appeared to lie (piite dead, lie then
pill it in his pocket, and liid'ore long he fidt it strugglini,' to escape, lie took it out,
:iiiil it was again as apparently lifeless as Indore. Having laid it upon the ground
and retired to a distance, the liird in a few minutes warily raised its head, looked
around, and ran off at full speed, .lust li(d'ore these liirds take their dejiartiire, in
the fall, they congregate tiigether in large flocks.

The gnmnd-eolor of the egg of this species, when fresh, is a pale reddish white,
spotted and sjieckled with ashy gray and a pale red-lirown. It measures — aei'ording
to ^'arndl — l.")!) inches in length liy l.l.'l inches in breadth. An egg in my collection
(No. 1;>.S'.)) — given me by J)r. Macdiman, and reeiiived from Mr. Doubleday — mi'as-
urcs J.oO by l.lO iuidies. lieingoviil in sliaiie, onP end decidedly tapering. Its ground
color is a light buff with a slightly reddish shade. Tke markings are few, si'attered.
and large, nowhere confluent, but larger and more numerous at the obtuse end, and of
;i rich shade of dark red, with a tcMidency to brown. It is, in miniature, a fac-similu
(il the eggs of the common ICuropean tiallinule {(lnUlnala chloropus).

-meadows
■nee is iii-
.e or Corn-
so nearly
rd can !"■
call is the
he season
il. besides
suddenly

ill lizards,
placed on
, or clover
o be from
he young,
uire their

Imen were
Ills, on the
Iven eggs.
Iteen eggs
lin that ol
jy-nine, all
them all,

Gkxis IONORNIS, Ivkk in:\i!.\(ii.

'1 rorphi/ntht, I5i.Yiir, Cut. R. Asiut. Sor. ]84i", '283 (tyin', P. rhhimiolnn, Blytu).
IiKioniin, HiacuKNU. Sy.st. Av. liS.'iii, |i. xxi (tyi"', Fiiliat iiidi'linicti, Linn.).

/. 1)111 I'll iiivii.

' The interrogntion-mark hciv implies the douht existing as to whether the Indian bird is congeneric
with the American .sjieeies. Should such prove to be the case, which we do not regard probable, our bird
woulil stand as Porphyrula martinica.

.f iiiiji I

^iii

384

Al.KCTollIDI'X

Chah. Siinjliir to Gallinnln, Imt t'oriii iimrt! hU-ikIii-, iinxtrilM hiiuiII iiml nviil, iiiiil<llt> too mIioHi i
tliMii till- tiir-'iH, mill the liM'M wiiliiiiil ii'iK'i' III' lati'ial iiiciiiliraiiL-. CoIhik vitv liikiKUoinc (iliiilly
o|ia<(iii' l>lu(', |iiir|>li', mill ^n-rii),

Tlioiv arc two Aiiii'iiiaii siifcii's nl'iliiH hlmiih, wliiili clitlVr in ilic rulinwiii^ iiaiticiilars : —

I. martinioa. Lower |iai't.s nlaly |iui'|>li' in aiiiiit, li;{lit luill' in yoiiii^'. Win^', (I.M(|-7.:>(i

iiiilii>; (iiliiicii, I. HV-I. !),"); taiMii, J.:J(»-:i .'<> ; niiii<llc loc (willioiit cliiw), L'.-T)-:.'.;!."!

Iltih. WainuT iMiitrt of Niiitli uiiii Suiitii All ciiia ; Wrsl iiiilii's.
I. parva.' I.dwit parts ]iiiii' wliiti' at all ii;,'f.H. Win^', .">.(M) inilici ; riiliiicn, 1. 2(1; tarMii^.

1.7'); iiiiilillt! tue {irith ilaw), li.riu. //,th. Noitlicrii Soiilli Aiiiriita (('ayi'iiiii,' aii'l

Aiim/oiiK).

lonorniB martinica.

THE PURPLE OALLINULE,

Fiilira mdrliiiicii, Linn. S. N. I. I'tlii, •Jj'.i.

Oulliiiulii iiiiniiiiitd, \.Aiii. ImUhu. II. 17!io, 7ill». - Ni-rr. Man. II. 18;i4, 'J'21. — Aili. <»in.

nio«. IV. 1S38, a7, pi. :10.1 ; .Syiiop, l,H!)it, -JKi ; 11. Am. V. Isp.', 128, pi. 31)3. —Cans, in Uiiir.i's

It. .\. Am. 1858, 753. — ll.viljo. Cat. N. .\m. 11. l.sr.'.i, no. .''iiH.
rur/ilii/ri'i iiKiiiiiu'cd, (ios.si:, lliids .lain. 1817, 377. -('on:s, Key, 18"1', '2'tt ; Chnk List, 187:!,

no. 473.
T(nii)i;ii.i murtiiiicd, liKicii. Av. .><yst. 18.",3, 21. — liiixiw. I'roi'. I'. .S. Nat. Mim. Vol. 3, 1881, 2o'.',

227 ; Noni. N. Am. B. ISSl, m.. .178. —Co it ks, Clark List, 2.1 rd. 1HS2, no. (W.'i.
Fi(/ifii. iii(irH)iicriisis, .fMij. Hi-itr. 1781,12, jil. iii. — (J.MKi.. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 7tiU.
Ftilii'ii Jhniiiistris, (J.MKi.. !<. N. I. ii. 1788, dH!*.
I'lir/t/ii/i-ii) tuL-oiiii, Vllili.i,. (Jal. Ois. II. 1825, 170.
" I'uiphijrin ci/dnicii/lis, Vir.11.1,."

O'li/NuH/djior/iliiiriii, Wii.s. Am. Orii. l.\. 1824, <!'.', pi. 73.
Por/i/ijriu ddiiricdiiiin, Sw.viss. ('jassil'. U. II. 18;)7, 3,')7.
Muftiiiicu Udlliiiutc, L.vni. .Syiiop. 111. i. 178,1, 2iiri, jil. 83,

Had. The wliolu of tropical and wann-tcmpiTate America, south to Brazil ; north, casually,
to Ma.s.sachu8etts, Maine, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, IIlinoi.s, and Missouri ; IJerniiulas, iiiil
throuf^hout West Indies. Not reconled from any ])art of the Western United States.

^ loNOKNIH I'AKVA (Bodd.).

Im FdVorite, de Cayenni', V>VYV. PI. Knl. 897.

Fulka jxirv(t, Bodd. Tubl. P. K. 1783 (i'.\ PI. Enl. 897). —Oallinula parva, Scm.EO. —Pur-

phiiriiijidrvns, .Soi,. & Sai.v. P. Z. .S. 1SG8, 4C0, fig.
Oallimtlajlaviroslris, Gmel. S. N. L 1788, 699. — Gldticeslcsflamrostris, Rekiiend. '

RAM.ID.F TMK CAF.MN'I'I.FsS - IO\r»nN*rS.

385

Si'. CiiAU. All nil : Hciid, iic'i k. mill ln.vir |iiirlH nlaly liliiixli |iui|ilt', ilaikir (■■iiiuitiim'H nuiirly
I 111 k) iiii "•iiliiiiii'ii iiml liliiif ; ( ii«-iiiii |>iiri' while; nii|iir \m\\\* luiulil iili\c-;^iii'ii, i Imn^'iiij,' t"
lai;;lit vt'filili rlilin- inWiiiil I lie iim|i|i' m| I lie 1ii\m r |iiiii'., ilir >ii|i's ami liiiiii;; nf wiiiK al-u ^'ifcniili
I'liic; wiiiK'' liiiK'''*''' K'"''" tl'i'" liaik, ami .xliailnl «iili liiij,'lit vcrililiT-liliu', Kimilal ^liiclil
l>i'i;,'lit Mil)' in lil'i' (;.'rrriii>li III' iill\ari'iiii-> ill ijiiiil --kill-) ; liiil lui^^'lit icil, li|i|ii'i| wiili yillnw ;
iii< ciiiiiwiii ; !('Kt aiiiMi'i't M'llii\vi-li. Wnnni : AlmM'. Ii;<lil I'lilMiii^iiiinw n, liii;ini wlili ;,'riiiii-|i
Hii wiiii^M ; lii'iicatli. |iai<' riilvuiis ur Iniiry, tiir Im'IIv wiiili^li ; Iroiilal nIiii'IiI -inalii'i' tiinn in mliill,
.lii-ky (in "kill'*) ; liill liiill M'llinviHJi. Ihiuiiij iikiiiuj: " I'lniii.ly lijin k " (Ai Di ikin). ThImI
l ii-lli, iiliiiiit 12. "ill iiii'lii'M ; win>;, 7.(Kt-7.;((> ; lulnicn (im Imlin;,' Imntal wliit'lii), l.,s:)-|.!):( ; liiriiiM,

j.-'.'>-i.:.Oi iiiiilillc tiM', -i/irt-iM^.

Spi'iiiiii'iM vary M'liiaikalily in llic m/v. iiml t'luiii oi'tlu' rniiiiMJ plalc In IHI7h,'i, Ccaia, ISia/il,
il i-i lii'iiailcr liian iniij^', ami its iiuHiciiui' inai';;iii loiimlcil : ii->iially il is liin;,'i'i' than ln'iniil, aiul its
|i.iit('iiiii' I'Xti'cinily an an;,'li' — Niiiin'tiini's ariili'. TIu'It is also miirh iliU'i'ii'mr ainiiii;^ imliviiliials
ill till' inti'iisity III' tiiii I'lijiii's. All tlii'sc variations i(|i|ii'ai', liowi'Vi'i', ti> In' iiMiily iiiili\ iiliial, nr
|M'iliM|is |iai'tially HcaHniial, ainl fiitii't'ly imli'iiinilint nf Imality.

Till' I'iiiiili' (ijilliiiuii' is cHSfiitiiilly ii sinitlirni siH'rics, ami <'!iiinu'ti'riHtir ol' the
sniitlicfii ilistfiL'ts (il till' liiili'il Stiitrs, wlicrc it is I'diiml at all seasons ni' tlic yrar.
il is iiii't with rriiiii tin' Carnliiias suiitliward aIniiL; tin' Suiithfrii Atlantic fnast, and
riiiin l''liiiiila III .Mi'xii'ii aldii.i,' tlir slmii's nt Ih" (iiill. It also (ii'cms in tin' West
imlia islands. Mrxirn. and Criitral Anirrica, and dvit a lar^'i' cxt-ciit nl' tin' iinrtlii'in
piirliiins (il Sdiilli Aini'iica. It is a ^rcat waiidiTrr, nr in its nii.Lti'atiniis is driven liy
ti'iupests to distant jMiints. as stia,y;j,di'is have lieeii I'oiind ainii!,' tlie entire Atlantic
iiiast as I'ar eastward as tin' Itay ol' l''nndy. A lew are said to lireed as far nortli as
rharlcstoii, S. <'. Tliisltird is an oeeasioiial visitant in Iteriiiiida, as also in Missouri,
llliiinis, Wisconsin, and (tliio. Mr. (ieor^'c A. Itoardiiian iiil'nrnis me that a sin^de
iiislaiiee ol' the accidental oeciirrenee of this sjieeies came under his knowlcdi,'!' in the
\ iriiiity of Calais. .Me. 'riie liird was found I'eedini,' on the Hals near that city late in
tin' summer; and .Mr. William lirewstcr also mentions the olitainin.n a line s|iecimen on
Caiie ("oil in April, IS7l>. Mr. (iiraud states that this bird is only of rare and occa-
sional oecurr<'nce on l.on.t,' Island. A few instanc "■. are mentioned in which it lias
Imiii found driven out to sea in very stmiiiy weather. In one instance an adult male
ami female were met witli three hundred miles to the south and east of the I'.elize.
Tlii'se were not foniiil toj^cther, hut were met with foiirtei'ii hours ajiart. The lirst
alighted on the vessel. Tlie other, in an attem|it to alij,dit. fell exhausted into the
sea; it was, however, rescued ; and in a short lime lioth recruited, and arrived in New
\'ork in j;ood condition. They were U'{\ with meal, lish, lircad, and various articles
111 diet from the table. They were also furnished with water for bathinj,', of which
tliry made tree use. They a|i|iear(Ml to be quite contented in their conlineiiieiit, and
liir .several months seemed to enjoy jierfect health, when the female was siidih'iily
t.'d^i'U with cramiis and died, the male surviving her but a few days, .\bont the tiiiu!
Ill the .severe revolviu},' southerly fjale of the tJOtli of .January, l.S7<>. an iinlividnal of
this species was driven into the harbor of Halifax, and was secured. Mr. .1. Matthew
•IciMi's. of that i',ity, states that this is the only individual of the s]tecie,s known to
have been taken in Nova Scotia. Mr. <'. \V. Wyatt met with this bird near Lako
I'aturia. in Colombia, South America, and Mr. Leyland found it in the lat,'oons near
I'eti'ii, in Ontral .\iuerica. ^Ir. H. C. Taylor states that it is abundant in suitable
localities in Trinidad, and that he afterward met with it in jj^reat numbers at Porto
Ki'o. T/'otaud also states that he found it very abundant in Trinidad, whtire it keeps
mostly airong the rushes and reeds that cover tlio inundated meadows. At certain
parts of the day, especially in the early morning, and still more frequently in the
iiitcrnoon, it comes out from these liidiiig-plaues to the banks of the rivers or the bor-

voL. I. — 49

886

AI,i;t TnlMDKrt.

:lt

iiii

If 's

I ill I-

(loi'M dl' the wiivt'H, iiH if to (liHiiliiy tlif fxniiiMitf nmvr of its mdVcmcntH iiiul tin
lirillianrv <>l' its colius. Iaw im tlif luiikoiil I'ur imv <liiii^,'i'r that iiiav iiii'iiacr it, ,ii
till' IcaMt iiiiisi' it taiti's tn fli^'iit ami liiiji'.s aimm;,' tlif iiimIu'h. It i.s i>nly wlicii it>
|ila('*> of rt'ti't'at ih inacccHHililf tliat HiKlit is uttciuiitt'il, its iiiovi>iiii>iit in tli*' air iN'in^'
lit'iivv, titiil Hot wt'll Mii.Htaiiu'ii. Its voici- is loml ami stmiiK. '"'t lias in it mifliiii;;
n-niarkalili'. Worms, luolliisks, and tlic trait of various kimis of a(|ii:ilii' plants an'
its food. It j,Mtlit'rs si'i'ds and carrii's tlimi to its lirak willi its daws, and it aNo
inaki's nsi' of iIu'mi in diniJiing to tin' nislics wlicn' tlir walri' is vers df('|p. li is
not ofti'ii ki'|it in ia|iti\it\ . Init wlifn tluis cunlinrd cndnics its lot conti'iitrdly. It,
ficsli is not considi'ri'd piod.

In ifaniaii'ii this liird is known as the "Sultana." and is said liv M;'. (iosse to \^r
not \inr(unnion in sonn' of tin- lowland jionds and marsliy rivers. This author stati-,
that oni't'. in riding,' from Savanna la .Mar to N(';,'ril, lit' saw oni' of this spfcit's walk
in^' in the ndddh' id' thr road. On his ajiproai'li thi' liird took no nmri' notirf of him
than a Common I''owl would havi- doni', hut saunti'ri'd almut, ]iii'kin^' hm' ami tin iv.
ami allowini; him to loiui' within thri'i- oi' four fci't. At IfUj^tli he niadi' a noisi- aii<l
a suihh'ii motion with ids hand ; t hi' liird onlv half opcnrd its win^ iind ^'avr a little
start, us !i ('hii'k«'ii would hiiv*- chini'. Init nt'itlu'r ticw nor ran. The vast morass in that
ni'i},dd)orliood ahonndi'd with tlu'si' birds, and their pri'siiin' in this hij,diwiiy was a
matter of daily oeciirrenee. Although he did not see another i|uiti' so feai'less as this
one, they were all very hold, eonnni,' ont from the iiishes and stndling aeross the rimd
in si},dit of pas,serH-lty.

lie adds that it lias little of tlie aspect of a (Jaliiiiule, hut stands hi^dier. and h;i--
its lej,'s more forward. As it walks, the iieek is alteriiiitely liriiUed up or thrown
forward, and its short Idaek-aiul-white tail is eluinged from a semi-erect to a iierprn-
dieidar position, with a tlirtinj,' motion. As tiiis hird walks over the tan;,ded leaves
and stems of aipiatie plants restinj^ on the surface of water, it moves with ijreaf
deliheratioii, freipiently standing' still and looking leisurely on either side, W leu
\u'.\)t in eonfineiiient it soon heconies ipiite tame, and feeds ea).;erly on the seeds d
the f/tifriis si)n//nnii, DV (luinea corn. It is sometimes spoken of as the •• i'lantiiin
Coot," from its fondness for that fi'uit, and the "Carpenter Coot," from the noise tlie
bird makes when it breaks the shells of wutcr-isntiils against pieces of timber, wiii( h
is supposed to resemble that of a carpenter at woi'k.

On the Mississippi, aceoriling to Audubon, this species is rarely I'ound above
.Memiiliis. and even there it is rare; but between Natdie/ and the mouth of the rivei'
it is decidedly abundant. As soon as its yoiinj,' are hatdied. it retires with them 1m
the tall t.;rass of the savannas bonlerin^' the lakes and bayous, wliei'e it remain^
until Se})tember; and at this tinu' it has a delicate whistliut;- note, rescmbliii!;- tli:il
of the Bhu'-winf,'ed Teal. At the ai)proaeh of winter this bird returns to the borilei>
of ponds and rivers, and becomes more shy and vi,i,dlant. usually moviujj; in the nijjlit-
time and feedin<,' by day. It breeds iit a remarkably early jieriod oi the year — ;ie-
eordiuj,' to Audubon, as early as February, The calls of the jiarent bird to its younu
are almost incessant dnrin}? the entire night, and aie elicited by any unusual noise ;
indeed, so intent is it on the weltare of its jjvogeny, that it will allo\,- itself to be
caught while thus oceuiiied.

The nest, according to Au(lubon'.s observations, is generally placed among a species
of rush which is green at all seasons, round, very jiithy, rarely more than five feet
high, and which grows along the margins of ponds. The birds gather many of the~e
rushes, fa.stening them at the height of two or three feet, and iilacing the nest upcn
them. This is built of the finest rushes, both green and withered, and is quite as looscl v

RALLin.E — TIIK OALMNMLKS — OALLINL'LA.

4 llllll lll>

um-c it. .ii
■ wlicii ilH
' iiir liciiiK

it iiiitliiii^'

|iliuitH nil'
iiiil it iil>"
i'Cl>. It is

..(lly. It^

iossi' to 1"'
tluir KtutfH
i>('il'H \viili<-
ti('i> (if liiin
' mill tlii'ii'.

;i llilisc illlil
;ilVC 11 litllr

miss ill that
hwiiy was a
I'li'SS as tliis
)ss the riiml

lev. ami lia>
I (ir tliniwii
lo a iii'iiM'ii-
ii^'lcd Icavis
1 with 1,'ii'a'
Whin
if st'i'ils I'l
I'laiitaiu
iitiisc till'
lllT. wliiih

imud abtivi'
if the vivi r
ith thi'iii t"
it rciiiaiiis
uililini,' that
the honliis
, tilt' iiit,'lit-

yi'ar — ;i'-
(> its V(Min;J:
isual ii'ii>'' '

icseli til hi'

lit; a spt'i'ii "^
Ian fivo hit
|ny of tlir-i'
nest ui"'"
li' lis loosi'ly

iii!iiU> UK that ot till' Coiiiiaoii (iiillitiiih*, it iM'iii^ Hat, and hiiviiig iiii iiitcriial <liiiiiu>t«T
lit' eight or till iiirlii's, mill an ciitirc luvailih ot alHiiit tittt'fii. Thi' i'KK>* m*' ><iiiil to
hi' from ti\t' to st'vi'ii ill immlii'i' — laii'ly imni' — ami to rrsi'inlili' tlmsr of d. ;/iil,iifii.
riiis ii'si'iiihlaiH'r is not mtn markrii. Iiowi'Mt, ami thi' i'>,':,'s of tlir two .sjn'rii's niay
always 1)1' iraililv ilistiiiKiiifthi.'il mir fiiuii tin- otlii'i' hy tlir ili'lirncy of tlir shell of
till' vnu of this ,s|MM'ii>s, ami tin- iiiori- |iiiikisli liiit> of tin' ^'loiiinl. Amlniioii ili'snihi-s
thi' I'KKs as of a li'^'ht yi-llowish k'"i>'' sjiotti'il with hlarkish lirowii. Thr yoiiiin '"'*J
at lirst ijiiiti' Itlark, ami rovi-ri'il with ilown. ami an' fully tlnlnril liy thr Ist of iliiiu'.
The ({I'oiiml riiliii' of tin' i'KKh, liotli in tin' rolh'rtion of the Sniithsonian Iiistitn-
timi ami in my own. is n| a li^^Iit |iinkisli Imif, rovni'il with srattiTnl inaikiiiKH of
,1 inii'lilish slali'. ami tiii'si' aii", for tin' most pai't. small roiimlish s|iots. '1"\mi i'^fj;s
I. No. 7'.)) in my I'olh'i'lion, fioin Mataiiioias. I'olh't'tcd hy Dr. )lt>rlanilii'i', iiii'iisur*', uni*
l.7."> iiirlit's liy l.L'O; till' otinr. I..").S hy Jl'."). Two othrr i'},'^,'s, from Louisiana (No.
• iru). iin'asiu'i', out'. !.7o hy \.'J0 indn's; tin' otln-r, 1.70 hy l.L'H. Tin- Ki'tniml-colur nf
thi' latti'i' is of a (li't'|H'r shaih- than usual of thu laukitih buff so chuiactcristio of the
i',i,'KS of till! ^{I'niis I'liriilii/rli).

(ir.Ms OALLINULA, liiti.ssoN.

ildlliaiilii, Hiiiiis. i»iii. VI. 17tin, 3 (typo, Fiilicn chlornpun, Linn.).

('n.\U. Hill sliditi'i' timii lifail, iiiini>n'ssi'il, its vcitiial ontliiU'H coiivi'X tiTiniimlly, strai^ilit or
.»li;,'lilly coiiciivi' i)iiiM)>iti' thi' iiiistiil ; iiii>liil i'liiii;,'iiliil, lnii;,'iluiliiiiil. >lil-liki' ; foivln'ail cnvfn'tl
liy ail I'xti'ii^iuii lit till' liDiiiy I'dvi'iiii^; nf tin' lijll (nnlinii'iitiiry in tlii' yimiij,')- .MiiMK' toi' Imiyor
than till tarsus ; tucs with a.^ili^lit lati'itil iiii'iiiliraiu' or niiir^'iii.

Till' aliitvi' rliarai'ti'rs will Mcrve ri'ailily to ilisiin^'iiisli tlii' s|ipt'ii's of thii» fjonus from thi' nllied
.\iari'iiaii ;,'('iii'ni, luiiiirni.'t anil I'liqihijriiiii^, tliu foriiirr liaviii}{ the nostril fiiiull and ovul, thi; niiilille

(/. itnleatd.

tiif sliortiT than till' tarsus, and the toes witlmut trace of lateral niemhrane, while the l.'itter (an
I'Xi lusively South Ameriean {,'enus) has the frontal shield sni.ill and conical, and is, moreover,
I'liiiiiiosed of hird.s of small si/.o. Two Anierican species of Gallhiitla are known, hoth more nearly
itllii'd to the (1. chluroj)us of Flurope than to any another species, hut very distinct from that, as
Will as from each other. Their distinctive char.ictere may be expressed thus : —

Tom. Char. Plain dark plumbeous, clearer plumbeous beneath, usually tinged with dark olive

388

ALW-TOUIDF'IS,

:] ■

'' iff

or Hi'pia-liinwii atiovt' ; ludiul Icm^'iluiliiiiil xtripcs mi tlic Hanks, latonil fcatlicrs of the crisHiiiii,
mill ImimIit III' till' wiii^', wliili'. Itill and li'Diilal hIiIi-IiI (in uiliilt) l>i'i^'li( M'iI, ilii- eiulnf tlic roiniii'
yi'llowisli ^Mi'i'.i ; li';,'s ami I'ril j^riiMi (in iil'i'), tlu' ui>|iL'r jiail of tlii' tiliia sfaiirt.

At I'roiilal sliiflil luiindril ur iminlril posli'iiiiiiy.

1. O. cbloropiiB.* Wiiij,', (i.(i(i-7.iM> iiulii's ; culnifii, iinliuliii^,' IVontal sliiclil, 1 ")() 1.7.");

lursiis, l.jM>-2.<Ht; niidiili' till', 2.-jr>. Mark ^,'iirnisli tpjivi'. //uli. I'uJa'aiftif lti'j,'i(iii.
B« Froiitiil sliii'M tninrati' |H>sti'iiiirly.

2. O. galeata. Win,;,', V).M -7.'S> iiiclirs ; liill, Inmi riiil oi' I'liiMlal -iliii'lii, l.7n-l.s"i ; liusiis,

2. 1(i-2.;t0; niiiiilli' lin', 2.5(1-2.(10. Hack, scj'iPiilars, anil nini|i. dark si'iiia-lirown (nunc
iiliviiii'iius anli'iicii'ly), disliiiitly dillrrriit rnun llir i dear iilnnilinms of llir lnwrr |iarl> ;
lah ral I'lMtiii'is of llii' crissiiir "iilin ly imri' wliili'. Jlnh. Nmlli and Middli', ami niii< li
of Mill, .Ainriica. and Wi'st ii, lirs.

3. O. Oa.maui.- WIiil;, !). Id im lii's ; liill, from I'lid of fronlal siiiild, l.'.Mi; (ai.siis, 2.(;(i;

middle lor, 2. SO. llaidi dark slali', sli^diliy linj,'('il willi dark sooty luown, not di.-iiiH ll\
dilfi'ii'nl from tlic dark slaly |ilnmlii'oiis of tlir lower parts ; lateral feal!iei>. of the rii.-Miiii
liordered with lilai'ki.sh slate. IIkIi. Vicinity of Luke 'I'iticaca, I'eni.

Gallinula galeata.

THE FLORIDA GALLIinTLE.

Cir.i- fiii/iiitii, l.Kicr. Vevz. DouM. ^x•2■^, so, IKP. H2(i.

Oalliiiii/Uiiiikul,!, Hdnac. Am. ( »rii. IV. l,s;!2. 128. — Nl'lT. Miin. II. ISItl, 221. - ('.\s.s. in Hiiinr.s

It. N. Am. IS.IS, 7;V.'. — \i.\ut\>, It. N. Am. IS.O!), no. ^m. - Coi i..s. Key, 1S72, 27.''. ; (lnvk

List, lH7;i, no. 172 ; 2(1 cd. 1882, no. (181 ; Birds N. \V. 1871, .""iJo. - liinow. Noni. N. Anr. I!.

1881, no. rp7!".
Gnlliiudii chi'di-d/iii.i, I'.owi'. Syimii. 1828, li.'td (nee L.viii. ). - Ai'D. Orn. lUog. III. l8:(r>, 'Mu,

pi. 221 ; .Synop. 18:ilt, 210 ; I'.. Am. V. 18 12, l;!2, pi. i!()4.

TiAit. Tile whole of tropical and tem|)erale America, north to Canada, south to r.ra/il and
Chili.

Si'. Cii.Mi. Atliilt : Frontal ])late larj^e, oliovale, Irnncated or sli^ditly eonve.x po.-^leriorly, ll.ii
and smootli, or ttuniil mid corriij,'ated. liill shorter than the head, rather thick, conipic»cd.
Head, neck, and entire lower parts dark idnnilieons, with a Muisli cinereous cast, frei|nently ni;iily
Mack on the head anil neck, and j,'eiierally li,i,diter (in antninnal and winter specimens ipiile whid )
on the uhilomen. (!ri.ssum white, the middle feathers Mack ; fe.ithers of the Hanks widely ed^d
with wlii((', ])rodiicini,' liroad stripes ; ed^'e of tlu^ win;;; and ed;,'e of outer primary white, rppi r
])arts dark russet-, or .se])ia-hidwii, darker on tlu^ rump. Dili and frontal shield liiij,dit scarlcl in
life, the end of the former ^'roeiiisli yellow or lirij^dit yellow ; iris lirown ; lej^s and feet yellowidi
'.{reen, the joints ashy Mne ; iipjier ]>arl of the naked tihiie scarlet. Yniiii(i: Siinil.'ir, Init fronlal
sliield rudimenlary, tiie hill hrownish, )paler at the tip; the whole lower parts snifiised wilh
whitish, and the head mi.\ed with the same, pariicuhuly the throat, wliiidi is soniutinies whoilv

' (iAi.i.iNit.A nii.oKoi'iT,s. The iMiropcan (inllinnlc or Miiiirdicii.

Fiilini rlihro/iii.i, LiNN. S. N. imI. 10, 17r>S, ir.2 ; ed. 12, 17()(!, 2.''.8.

h'li/liinil.i ch/iini/iiis. Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1700, 770. — Nacm. Viij;. IVntscld. l.'s'. 1S:!8, .'.sT,
111. 210. -r.oNAi'. Comp. List, 18:!8, .fin. - Ki;y.s. k lii..Ns. Wiili. Kur. 1810, (i8. -
Macoii.i.. Man. II. 117. — (iliAV, (icn. 15. III. 1840, im ; (at. Hril. H. l.S(i3, 1,80.

Sfariiiiriilii, ,ii'jilfiilriiiiiii/l\ liuKlIM, N'iif,'. Kclltschl. ISDl, 704.

Fiilicafitm, (!mi-.i.. S. N. I. 1788, fii»7.

Fiiliai MdCiihitii, (iMKI.. t. c. 701.

FulieajUwipcH aw\ F. Jislii/iiiin,(iM\.\.. I. c. 7o2.

CitmmoH anlliii\(li\ Vv.ss. IJiit. /nol. II. 1812, 121, jil. 22, up. tif,'. ; ct Anrr.

Mimr-hni, Yakk. lirir. \\. ed. 2, III. 114, lifr ; ed. :i. III. 12!", lij,'. ; et Anr.
2 (iAl.i.iNli.A ("Jak.mam. (liiniian's (lidliinilc

Qallinula Oarmani, Allen, Bull. Mus. Comj*. Zool. IlL July, 1876, 357 (Luke Titicaca),

iiinn fiiiWIitrflitiiMriiiiiii --- -■^""-

RALLID.K — TIIK (iALMM I,KS — (iALLIXILA.

381)

he ruiiiirr

1.50 1. 7.") ;

*") ; l;usMs,
iwii (llldlc

iiiiil iiiiii li

isiis, :!.<•.• I;
it ili.-iiiicllv
the ( ri.->iuu

wliilc. Stript's oil llic dunks li'sr< ilisiincl (ir ncavly iilisolih'. Puirnii ijiminj: (Slossy lilack, llic
iiu'dial lower parts riili;,'iiions ; lliroal and clucks iiitcisi>rrM(l with silvery wliilc liaiis ; liill
yi'llowi'li (rr<l in life V) rinsscd almiit tlic iniddlf liy a dusky liar.

'I'olal li'iiKlli, idMiiit Il'JM) Id i;t.(M) incli.'.- ; exlcnt, lio.dd to :>l.(i(i; win^^, (i.H5-7.2r> ; luliiii'ii
(to end <ii' I'rulilal shield) 1.7(>-1.,S.") ; tar.-iis, J.iU-ii.llU; inlddlc toe, •J,M\-iXA),

ss. in niiird's
, erri ; t'lM''k
11. N. Am. li.

I. \x\\:i, "'■w,

r.l-a/.il and

•i-iolly, ll il
iiii\in's--i '1.

I'litly iniolv

(iiile wliii< )
ididy cd-.d
ilf. Vyyvy
it scarli'l ill

rt yellowili

lint IVolllal

illiised willi

lines wli'dlv

..\. is;?8, r.sr

1840, (i8.
ISO.

ti(-Hca).

This s|ieci(s inucli ii'seiiiliies liie Moor-hrii, AVatci-lun. or (ialliiiiile ol' l']iir(i|ir ((.'. rlilnrnjiKu),
lull is lai>;<'r, has llic t'idiilal shield tiuiii'ated instead nl' pointed iioslcrioily, and is otherwise did'erent.
Il likewise icseinlilcs other exotic .species, particularly <!. (Idnniiiii of the I'eruviau Andes, hut is
c|uile distinct. S]iccinii'iis v.iry a i,'rcal deal in the size and slmjie of the I'rontal shield, and in the
aiiKiunI ol' white oil the alidoiucn. Thesis v.iriations are liy l.o ineans depeiuh'iil on locality, how-
ever, hut upon the indiviiliial, havini; doiihtless soiiu! coiiiieetioii with a;;e and season, tin; white on
llic alidoineii liciiii; more iinukcil on winter spcciiueiis.

Tlic liiiliits mill till- tli.striliiilidii of ^liis .s]M'ci(>s, mon^ os]H'{'iiilly the lalfcr. liave
liii'ii very iiiiiicrlVetly Uikiwii, ainl very iiicorreetly ,i,mv('1i. W'ilsMi a|)p('iirs to liavc
lireii imiiwarf (d' its cxisti'iici'. .Vinliilimi r('i,Mnl('(l it, as idciitieal with the l'air()])caii
MiiDi-hcii. ami as an cxidiisivcly soiitlicrii species — a lew ini.Lrriitiiij,' to Carolina on
the east — and tlmn.Ljlit tiiat those I'oiinil on tiie fresh wateis of the niiddie districts
wi'ie only sti'a;j;j^lers. It was said not i,o ascend the Mississip]ii aliove TS'atidicz, and
iiiit to ho sciMi in tiie western eonnlry. >;nttail. wiiile reeoLtni/.in,i;' its distiiu-tnoss as
a s])eeies i'roiM fi. r/i/oro/nis ol' iMirope. calls it, the I'Morida (lallinnle — a iiainc ealeu-
lalcd to perpetnatf the wroii;,' impression existino; as t(> its distrilml ion — ami speaks
id' it as "iinkmiwn in Canada." I'^veii .Mr. Cassin, in the ninth volume ol' the " raeifu;
Kailroad Keiiorts."' assij^ns to it a. lialiitat exidiisividy southern, and eonsiders it
as only aeeidental in the Middle and Northern States — inakiii.i;' no mentit)n ol' its
aliendant pre.senec liotli in the Northwestern States and on the coast of (!aliroriiia.
Instead of being known as the I'Morida (Jallinnle. it deserves the more compridiensive
title of Anniriean (iallimile. It is alnindaid, in South Anieriea from Panama to tlio
rcj,Mon of the La I'lata. in the West India Islands, in Central America, in the Southern
dull' States from South Carolina to the Mississi|)|ii. and jiroliably to Mexico, on tli(>
California (ioast, and in the re.icion of the (ireat Lakes, both on the Amorican and
th(! ('anadiaii shores.

Professor Newton found it a common and resident sjieeies in St. Croix. While it
I los(dy resembles the Kuropean r/i/Drojnis in its appearanet>, and while the habits of
the two birds a,p])ear to be identieally the same, their eggs ev(Mi being undistinguish-
ahlo from oiteli other, the tiotos of the two birds are very difforont. This (Jalliiuile
liroeds in St. Croix in .\pril, and also in C!uba, where it is abundant. Mr. Marcli

390

ALECTORIDES.

and Mr. (iosse call it the Scarlet-fronted <lallinule. It is conimon in Jamaica, and
nests in .Janiuuy, and even earlier. In I'ebruary }ilv. iMareh obtained unfledged young
in a pond near Si)anisiito\vn. It is said to lay eigiit eggs, and these are described as
having a elayisli-white gnuuid splashed sjjursely with small spots of sepia-brown. I>y
contact with the damj) nest the ground-color is not infrequently changed to dili'eri'nt
shades of drab. JNLa jor Wedderburn found it lireeding and not uncommon in ]?ermu(hi,
and obtained a niuuberof sjK'cinu'ns during his sta}'. Mr. Ilurdis speaks of it as one
of the native birds of the Hernuulas, rearing its young in pools and swamps, where tlie
den.se growth of Hags and .sedge renders its pursuit almost impossible. It is more
conimon in ( »ctober than at any other tinu', ajtpearing all at once in marslics and
jiouds, wheic for months jircviously it iiad been unknown — owing, probiiMy, to an
iuHux of nugrat(U'v individuals from the American shore.

It is said by l^cotaud to be (piite (•oiunu)n in Triniihul, where both in its abode and
in its manners it <loes not ap^iear to l)e different from tiie inati'tnliv, though a murli
more social bird than the latter. Jt hides itself in the rushes or takes to flight at the
least danger, .sonu'times seeking siudter in the branches of tlu' mangrove-trees whidi
overliang the watt-r. It can run anu)ng these branches with astonishing rapidity,
occasionally extending its wings, as if to preserve its e(pnlil)rium or to avoid losin;^-
its footing. Its flight, which is ahuost always accompanied by a harsh cry, is heavy
and not well sustained, being apparently retarded by its claws, which are always
hanging down. Its tlcsh is eaten, but is not regarded as good.

Mr. G. C. I'ayhjr met with this species at the Lake of Yojo3-e, and has no doulit
that it is conuuou throughout Hontluras; and ]\Ir. Salvin nanu's it as among the birds
■which freipient the Lake of Duenas. Ouatemala — where, however, it is not common.

It is an occasional visitant along the Atlantic coast, as far to the eastward, at least,
as Calais ; and a few occasionally breed in Massachusetts. Mr. CJeorge A. Boardman
ol)tained a single specimen of this bird near Calais, Me., in the spring of 1871. An
immature exam]ile of this species was shot at Fresh I'ond, Mass., Sept. 3, 1808, and
two other indivichials were seen. The specimen obtained had without doubt been
hatched in that locality. On the Dth of October, in the sanu' year, Mr. ];>rewster shot
another example, and wounded a thii'd in the sanu' place. He also met with an adult
bird there on the od of dune. It is more than probable that straggling pairs of this
bird occur in favorable situations iu JMassachusetts and breed there.

Giraud speaks of this si)ecies as a bird seldom observed on Long Island, a few oidy
having l)een known to occur on its south shore, while one examphs is recorded as hav-
ing been taken on Staten Island. Jfr. (xiraud refers to iut'ormation received by letter
from Professor I5aird to the effect that this bird has been occasionally observed on
the Susquehanna Kiver and its tributaries, where it was usually noticed in the vicinity
of fresh-water streams and ponds. It ajjpeared to be exceedingly timid, to conceal
itself among the rank grass, and, like the Eails, seldom to take wing except when
performing its migratiuy flight. When surprised it runs nimbly, and if hard presscil
takes to the water and swims and dives well. Its food consists of worms, insects,
and various vegetable ])roductions which grow in low wet grounds. It was found
abundant by Dr. Bannister (jn the Parana, among the reeds of the lagoons.

Mr. Uidgway frecpu'ntly met with it at Sacranumto, in the tule sloughs, in company
with the Coot, and mingling its own guttural noises with the clucking, boisterous
notes of the latter species. In the interior it was not seen, although the Coot was
abundant in .all the larg(> marshes. According to Dr. Heermann this species is not rare
in the marshes in the interior of California, and Dr. Newberry mentions finding it at
San Francisco. Dr. Cooper did not meet with it near the sea-coast.

RALLID.E — THE GALLINULES — GALLIXULA.

391

ica, and
(I yoimg
ribc'cl as
ni. r.y
liftVvfut.
it'i'iuuda.
it as out"
lu'i'i' the
; is move
ihcs and
vly, to an

bode and
li a ninili
;ht at the
H'S which

vapidity,
)id h)sini;

is hi'avy
l'c always

1 no douht
; the birds
eounnon.
d, at least.
IJoai'dnian
1871. An
l.S(;8, and
oubt been
Iwster shot

I an adult
lii-s of this

few only
led as hav-

II by letter
Lserved on
lie vicinity
Ito eonc-eid

pept when
kl pressed
Is, inseets,
Ivas found
pis.
company
boisterous
Coot was
Is not rare
Lling it at

Mr. Audubon states that when he was at Sprint? <Jarden Sprin,!,'s, in East Florida,
in the early p.art of January, thi.s Gallinule was seen in great inunbcrs on every bayou
Icadinj? toward the waters of tlm St. .lohii. lie describes the nest as Inrnied with more
labur than art, and as composed of a ([uantity of withered rushes and ]dants woven
into a circular form. It was frecjnently from two to three iiiehes thick in the centre,
and surrounded by an edge or brim four or five inches hit,di. If not disturbed this
bird will raise at least two broods in a season, using the same nest, wliich each time
is refitted. In Lower Louisiana the nest is usually ti>e or six feet from tiie water,
along the bayous and ponds, among the rank weeds which are so abnn(hint there.
The number of eggs .seldom exceeds nine. AVlien the (iailinule leaves its nest it
covers tiie eggs, to protect tiiem from its numerous enemies. Itoth sexes incul)ate, and
the young follow the i)arent as soon as tliey are hatched, the mother being assiduous
in her attentions to them. Their food consists of grass-seeds, Avater insects, worms,
and snails, t(>gether witii which they swaUow a good deal of fine gravel. T'hey run
over the broad leaves of tiie lilies as if on land, and can dive readily when neces-
sary. On land this bird walks like a Chicken, and may frequently be seen searching
I'dv worms and insects among the grass, which it nips in the manner (jf the common
Domestic Fowl.

According to Mr. G^sse, the (Jallinule in .Jamaica is known as tlie (Joot. while
the latter is called the Water-hen. He found it scarctdy distinguislialde from the
European Moor-hen, either in appearaiKU' ov manner, dtdighting in water where there
is cover, sometimes a swiftly running stream, but usually large jionds where tall thi(dv
liulrushes and masses of the ginger fern surround the l)anks. Jn sncli a i)iece (d'
water, early in tiie morning, or if the jdace is unfrerpu'uted, at any lumr of the day,
tlie (Jallinule may be seen playing on the surface, and uttering a loud (diudi at short
intervals as it swims to and fro. When alarmed each bird sounds the iKjte. Imt in a
liiglier key, and the whole flock seeks coiun-alment. There they continue to call to
one anotlier, and if mucli pressed conceal themselves by keeping under -water, holding
on the roots of the rushes. If the ol)server remains silent and concealed, in about
iialf an hour the cluck is again raised, and the bird begins cautiously to re-emerge,
and resumes its occupation at the margin of the reeds. One of this sju'cies which had
been slightly wounded was fastened with a cord attached to one foot, and allowed to
swim in the pools of lUuetield's Kiver. Its first impulse Avas to dive, and then to swim
along about a foot beneath the surface, striking out both with tlie feet and with the ex-
panded wings. When thus immersed in the water, its whole ])luniage was coated with
a pellicle of air, which had a singular effect. When it swam at the surface only the
head, neck, and a part of tlie liack was exposed. When iiermitted to do so, it would
iii'c[) in among the weeds and grass at the margin and remain motionless. It vas
unwilling to walk on boards, and when on the turf, was only capaljle of maintaining
a walking ])osture as long a.s its motion was rapid. It is said to be abundant in the
iieighliorhood of Hamilton, on Lake Ontario, where — as 31r. Mcllwraitli states — it is
oidy less common than the Coot. It breeds abundantly on the Canadian side op])osite
I'ctroit, from whiidi locality I have received its eggs. It lirecds commonly m the
Calumet marshes in Northern Illinois, on Lake Michigan, and is also abundant in the
vicinity of Lake Koskonong in Southern Wisconsin.

^Ir. B. F. Goss informs me that this bird breeds abundantly in the shallow muddy
Hats which border the lakes and streams of Wisconsin, and winch, being covered with
a thick growtii of flags, rushes, and aquatic grasses, furnish a suitable home to tlie
(iallinules. There they build their nests, rear their j'oung, and spend the entire sea-
sun. The nest is not very claboratidy constructed, being raised but a few inches

392

ALECTfiRIDES.

jibovi' tlio shallow Avatov, and sli];'litly Inillowcd. 'I'lic leaves of the cat-tail flag seem
to be the favorite material iiseil in its cinistnietinii. i''rom six to eij,'ht is the usuiil
number of e},'j,'s, and these are li^Ljiit yellowisli brown, sjiotted and si)lashed with dari<
brown, and varying in length from 1.(17 to l.cSO inches, and in breadth from 1.17 In
l.LM inciies. AVben driven from her nest, the female bird skulks a short distance
tlirough tiie herbage, and then with head erect and expanded tail sin; walks slowly
away.

Mr. Moore foiuid this s])ecies nesting in Florida on the L'Oth of April. One nest,
coidaining ten eggs, was in a tussock of grass a few inches al)ove the water, (piitc
cxjiosed from above and on all sides, and was made of blades of grass and lineil with
the same. The eggs were taken, and on the second day the nest Avas found to con-
tain another egg, just laid ; and a day or two later a second one was discovered on ;i
tussock lu-ar l)y. It is possilile that two l)irds together laid these twelve eggs.

Another nest — only just lieguu when found — was visited daily till the young were
seen to leave it; this was on the I'Oth of iMay. l>efore this nest was finished an egg
was laid in it, and material was added after as many as three eggs had been laid, the
total being six. The first was laid on the 2LM «>f Ajnil, and the sixth on the .'JOtli.
This nest was (piite unlike the other. It was placed in a close collection of I'oiifr-
clvrias, and was fornu'd almost entindy of their leaves. Some were bent down to form
the bed of the nest; others were l)ent in a like nuuuier for a rude canopy over it ;
others were divided, and used to raise the sides (d' the nest and to finish it. Most df
the materials were used in a green state. The leaves of this plant are spongy, and nn
losing their vitality shrink to a mere trifle of their living bulk ; and this may have
occasioned the additions made to tlu; nest.

The ground-color of the eggs varies from a dark cream to a light buff, the deptii of
the coloring being affected by the influence of the materials of the nest. When first
laid, and luistained, the ground-color is a creamy white. The imirkings are usually
scattered, small, ami rounded, of liright reddish brown, and lighter and fainter stains
of purplish slate. Two specimens of the egg of this bird (Xo. Ili78) collected in
^linnesota by Mr. li. F. Goss, are of oval sliaju', ont^ end but very slightly largiT
than the other ; one measures 1.80 inches in length by 1.26 inches in breadth, the
other 1.70 by 1.30 inches,

Gkms FULICA, Lixx.i-:u8.
Fulka, Link. S. N. ctl. Id, 17.'>M, ir.-J ; nl 12, 1 17ti(>, 257 (typo, F. atra, Lisx.).

li.

Char. Very similar to (UdUniili, Imt flic toes margined by a broad, deeply scalloped latival
membrane. Bill shorter than the liead, .straight, strong, compressed, and advancing into tlie I'catlicis
of the forehead, where it freipiently forms a wide and somewhat i)rojecting frontal jdate ; nostrils
in a groove, with a large nR'nil)rane, near tlie middle of the bill. Wings rather short, second ainl
third quills usually longest ; tail very short ; tai'sus robust, sliorter than the middle toe, witli viiv
distin t transverse scales ; toes long, each having semicircidar lobes, larger on the iimer side ; hind
toe rather long, lol)ed.

Almost the only difl'erence between FhUm and Gallinula consists in the single character ol' the
toes, as pointed out above. The two genera aiv, however, (luite distinct, since there appears to W
no species known that is intermediate in the character of the feet.

Leaving out tlie remarkable F. cornvht, Boxap., which has been made the type of a distinct
genus 1 — and we think properly so — there are knoAvn six American species of Fulica, whose cbai-

1 Lyeomia, Bonap. Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 4, Zool. I. 46 (18.')4).

HALLIIXE - THE COOTS - FCLrCA.

393

lutiTs, trmislatLHl from Mi-ssrs. Sci.atku &. Sai.vinV " Claci^ sy)t(.ii.ci/iii" (P. Z. S. l.'sds, p. 4(!:i), ait-
as tollows : —

.('. Ciissuin Miifk ciMitrally, iiiixcil with while lati^rally.

Lari;t' : lli'iul nt' tliu wiii^' hlack F. (ji'jmitat.

Small : lifiid cit' tlin wiii^; wliiti^ F. nriliuaca.

//. (.'rissum whiilly white.

tt". Si'coiidaiio:! (•(iiHiilmcil.

Miir|,'iii of tlu' Willi,' whiti' F, ttrmillata.

Mai;,'iii of the will;; ((mcoloivd F. huen^i'itjiu

h". Sftoiidarics tipjji'd with white.

Lai'i^'f : ISili vi'lh>w F. Uuaqttcni.

Small : ISill sipotteil with red F. niiurinuia.

I', amerim.na.

Thu two species occurring (one of them aceideiilally) in North America differ in the following
cliaiacters : —

1 F. americana. Lateral and posterior feathers of evissum, ed,!,'e of wins,', and tips of secondaries
v.Iiite ; hill with a daik-hrownish >pot near end of each inaiidihje, the frontal shield
ilark brown. Win,!,', T.i'.VT.IiH ; tarsus, i.m-->.H\ ; middle toe, iAiy-iSMi. J{,tl>. Whole
of North and Middle America, and West Indies
atra. Only the edj,'e of the wing and very narrow eilge to outer ])iimarv white ; hill rt-ithout
dark spots near end, and frontal shield not conspicuously different in color from the hill.
Wing, 7.7(1-8.80 ; tarsus, •2.-2:}--2:.\ri ; middle toe, i'.8,j-3.15. Hah. Paltcurctic Region ;
accidental in Greenland.

■2. F.

Fulica americana.

THE AMERICAN COOT.

Fulica cimcrkana, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 704. — Sw. & Hicii. ¥. R. A. II. 1831, 404. — Nrrr. Man.

II. 1834, 229. — Arn. Oin. Biog. III. 1835, 291 ; V. 1839, 568: Synop. 1839, 212 ; B. Am. V.

1842, 138, pi. 305. — C.vss. in Hainl's B. N. Am. 1858, 751. — B.mud, Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no.

559. _('ouF,s, Key, 1872, 275 ; Check List, 1S73, no. 474 ; 2d ed, 1882, no. 686 ; Birds N. W.

1874, 541. — RiDGW. Kom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 580.
Fulica Wihnni, Steimiens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII. 1824, 236.
Fulica atra, Wii.s. Am. Orn. IX. 1825, 01, pi. 73, fig. 1 (nee LiNN.).
VOL. I. — oO

394

ALECT0IIIDE3.

Had. Till' wholu of Nortli Atni'iica, ^liddle Amuiica, iiiul West Imlies; north to Oreeuluiul
•and Alaska, soutb to Vera^nia and Trinitlad.

Si'. Chau. Ailiill : (ii'UL'ial color uniform .slatt'-color or slaty pluinbeous, tin.' IkmuI and neck
and anterior central jKirtion of the crissuni lilack ; lateral and jiosterior portions of the crissiiui,
edye of winj,', and tips of secondaries white. (In winter, the belly suJfiised with whitish.) liill
milk-white, more bluish terminally, each numdible with a spot of dark brown near the end, bor-
dered anteriorly with a more or less distinct bar of reddish chestnut ; frontal shield dark chestniu-
or liver-ljrown, the culinen just in front of this tinned with greenish yellow ; iris brif,'ht crimson ;
lej,'s bright yellowish f,'i'een, the tiliiiu tinged liehind and aliove with orange-red ; toes light bluish

illitl^:<:^

i : ■
■ .i

gray, tinged with yellowish green on scutelhe of basal phalanges.i Youmj: .Similar, but lower
parts more gray, and much sufl'used with whitish, especially on the throat and belly ; bill dull
tlesh-color, tinged with olive-greenish, the frontal shield rudimentary ; iris brown. Dmmy youmj:
Prevailing color blackish plumbeous ; head, neck, and upper jiarts relieved by numerous cris|.,
elongated, somewhat filamentous bristles, these sparse, light orange-bulf and white, on the upinr
parts, but dense and deep salmon-orange (m the head and neck, where the dark jdumbeous dduii
is almost or quite concealed ; these colored filaments entirely absent from the whole pileum. wliitii
is mostly balil toward the oi'(dput, elsewhere covered with closely appressed black bristles ; Ions
densely covered with short, sl.imen-like, orange-red papillce. Bill orange-red, the tip of the max-
illa black ; feet dusky (in skin).

Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7.25-7.00 ; culmen (to commencement of frontal shicH),
1.25-1.50; tarsus, 2.(K)-2.20 ; middle toe, ■2.45-2.(i5.

The Coiunion Coot of the North American f.inna has a very widely extended
distribution. It is found present and breeding in a large jiart of Northern South
America, in Jamaica, ( 'uba, and other West India Islands, in many of the Southern
States, in the Northwestern States, in the interior between the Missouri and tlie
Western Mountains, on the Pacific coast, and on the Saskatchewan and the Mackenzie
as far to the north as the 55th ])arallel. and even farther. It is not so common on
the Atlantic coast, and is met with chiefly, or wholly, in its migrations — usually in
September. It is very abundant in Mexico in the winter. Two instances are cited
by Reinhardt of its having been taken in Greenland : one was in 1854, by Mr. Olric,
the governor of North Greenlaml, in the harbor of Christianshaab ; the other in tlu;
s.ime year, by Holbiill, at Godthaab. It is an occasional visitant of Bermuda, liicli-
ardson, who met with it in the Fur Country, states that its habits exactly resemble
those of the closely allied Euro|)ean Coot. The small grassy lakes Avhich skirt tiie
Saskatchewan Plains are much frequented by this species. It was not met with near

' Fresh colors of an udiilt male killwl at Wheatland, Ind., April 1.5, 1881.

RALUD.E — THE COOTS - I'TLICA.

39t

,o Greeiiluuil

HiuImoii's liay, nor riirtlicr nortli tluin llie .'lAtli puviiUi'l. In the Fur Country it wuh
always olwcivt'd to arrive in tlic niglit-tinic. Tlu' crojis of thoHc tliat wurc killed
wore found to be lillcd witli line sand. Captain Jilakiston also mentions that he met
with this bird in larj^t' ninuiHMs on the reedy lakes of tlie Saskatchewan Valley, in
the prairies of wliich it arrives about the end (d' April. He noticed that it has the
li;diit of making a shari) rattlini;- noise at ni),dit. and he was told that it migrates only
hy night. Its eggs are collected in great nundiers l)y the fur-traders; and on one
occasion Captain JJlakiston went out on such an excursion in a canoe, and obtained
ii hundred and titty in a few hours — even this was con.sidered a poor day's work.
This species was found in the neigldxM'hood of Fort Carlton and on the Mackenzie,
hut was not met with on Hudson's Jiay. It was procured at Fort Kesolution, Fort
Simpson, IJig Island, Lake Manitoba, and in th<' CJens de Large iMountains.

Mr, Uoardman iniorms nu- that it is not uncomnu)n about Calais, Me., being seen
in the fall and spring; but it is not known to breed there, and its ]iresence is ]ire-
sumed to occur only in its migrations from more northern regions. It is found in
Mas.sachusetts, on the coast only as a migrant, .so far as 1 am aware. It is said by
iMr. Allen to breed near Springfield.

According to the observations of Mr. (Jiraud, this bird is nowhere plentiful in tlu;
middle Atlantic^ districts. Throughout the sea-coast of Xew Jersey, as well as on
that of Long i.slaiul, it is suiticiently frcfpient to be known to the hunters, by whom
it is called the "Mud-hen."' When it docs occur it is usually to be .seen on low wet
marshes and on the necks of land along the nuirgins of creeks, which are thickly cov-
ered with rank grass and weeds, that afford it shtdter in the intervals between the
tides. It is then seldom seen, and when noticed disajijjears so (juickly through the
close cover that it is impossible to pursue it. At high-tiile it sits on the drift grass,
or retreats to higher places on the end)ankment, awaiting the fall of the tide to
rcsunu' its oppoituidty of feeding on the worms, Crustacea, insects, or seeds of the
various plants which aliound on the muddy jdaces it frefpients. In its hai)its it is
sedentary, and, like the Kails and Gallinules, to wliich in nmny resj)ects it has a
strong resemblance, is averse to taking wing. Except when alarmed or suspicious
of dau,L,('r. it moves very leisurely along in ])ursuit of its food. ANTieu not thus em-
ployed its attitude is drowsy and listless. If pursued, it can run very fast and swim
and dive very well, and if in danger, with great rapidity, nuiking use of both wings
and feet in swimming, like the (Jallinule. It has not been ascertained to breed on
Long Island.

Mr. Dresser found this bird abundant near Matamoras and Brownville during the
time he was in that region ; near San Antonio, late in the autumn of ISGH, he also
procured several specinuuis of it. ^Iv. >). A, Allen found it common in May in East-
ern Kansas, where it was seen in large nundiers in the lagoims. ^Ir. Hidgway speaks
of it as excessively abundant and resiih'ut in all the marshes of California, as well
ns thrcraghout the interior. It is also mentioned by JNlr. 1{. Browne as one of the
birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. (Joojier states that it abounds in the nmrshy neighbor-
hood of nearly every ])on(l and stream in California, and it is ])robably equally muuer-
ous in Oregon and Washington Territory. Simth of San F'rancisco it is known only
as a winter visitor. Ueing but rarely shot at by hunters, it is remarkably tame, col-
lecting in flocks of hundreds in the marshes about San Francisco and other cities, as
well as near remote mountain-lakes, walking awkwardly about on their shores, and
scarcely getting out of tlie way to escape the sportsnnm, who thinks it an unworthy
object of his skill, as its flesh is dark and unpalatable. The young bird, however, is
said to be good eating.

396

ALECTOniDKS.

' i

i, '

Tlip Coot can swim and divp with gwiit ease; Init wlicii wtiirtiiij,' to fly sniniis tr;
havi' j^ri'at (litliculty in risiiif,'. at lirst flappiiij,' the water and almost walking uiiun it
for soiuf distance. When uiice fairly up it ciin move witii eoiisi(h'ialile swiffiiess,
resenil)liii},' in this a (irelje mueh nu)re tiian a iJail. In the spring it lieeomes (piite
noisy, the floelis making a kind of ehattering chorus, but Ijeecmiing silent again after
they have separated in pairs Utv the breeding-season. A few breed as far south as
Santa Jiarbara. wliere Dr. Cooper saw young on the lOthof May, while at I'uget Sound
they appear early in .lune. I)r. Cooper diil not meet with the nest of this species.
lait he was informed liy Dr. Liel) tiiat it is eompo.sed of (h'y rushes, without lining,
loosely constructed, and several inches tiiick at tiie bottom. It is live inches deep
and nearly two feet wide, and sometimes floats among the rushes. The eggs are .said
to b^' from ten to Hfteen in nund)er. greenish yellow in ground-color, sprinkh'd witli
snmll lirown spi'cks, and measure U.(«> by l.U.") inches.

Tiiis l)iril ri'sembles the Hail in having a compressed body, and can nud<e its way
through tlie dense reeds where Ducks cannot ])ass, and where the water is too deep
for Kails. In such situations it spends most of its tiuu', feeding on grass-seeds.
leaves of a(iuati<' plants, small shells, and insects, collecting mueh of its food under
the water. On tiie land it can sometimes l)e caught l)y iiaud before it is aide to rise.

Examples were obtained by Mr. Skinner in Central America, and others were
observed in abiuuhmce on the Lake of Duefias by Mr. Salvin, which, from speci-
mens afterward obtained, were ascertained with (iertainty to be of this sjieeies. It
is given l)y Leotaud as rare in Trinichul.

Mr. March describes tlie I'ggs of this species, found by him in .lanmiea, as belief
eight or more in uundu-r, oval, jwinted at one end, grayish stone-cok)r, splasiu'd all
over with small bistre-l)rown sjjots and dots. The ground-color is at flrst very pale,
but becomes darker by exposure.

Mr. Oosse states that it may be seen at all hours of the day in the iunneuse morass
of Savanna la Mar, there being hundreds congregated within an acre. There they are
wary to an excess, the distant sight of a man or tlie snai)i)ing of a dry twig alaruung
the whole flock, though the noise of cattle walking on the shore has no su(di tdfect.

A few siiecinu'iis of this bird are recorded by Major Wedderburn and Mr. Hurdis
as having been obtained at JJermuda, usually in November and December, and in one
instance on tlu' L'8th of May.

^Ir. Say ol)served it in the lower part of ^Missouri Territory ; and in Long's
Expedition it was seen in Lake AVinnipicpie on the 7th of June. Mr. Swainson
also obtained specimens on the Plateau of Mexico. ]\Ir. Nuttall mentions that about
the 15th of April, l.s;{.'}, a pair took up their residence in Fresh I'ond, Mass., and
in the following June were occasionally seen, accomjianied by their young. It is
probable that similar occurrences are more common than is generally supposed, liar-
tram informed Wilson that this bird is resident and abundant in Florida. Audubon,
however, controverts this statement, believing that the Coot is found in either Louis-
iana or Florida from November to the middle of April only, that none reuuiin there
after that period, and that none breed there. So sweeping a conclusion from merely
negative evidence is somewhat rash, in view of the fact that the Coot is known to
breed in large numbers in the Island of Cuba on the one hand, and in Texas, and
Tamaulipas, Mexico, on the other. In one instance, at least, it has been found breed-
ing at Monticello, West Florida, from which place its egg was sent me by Mr. Samuel
Pasco, a citizen of that place.

Mr. Audubon mentions having once encountered a large flock of these birds, several
hundreds in number, on the Mississippi on the 22d of March. They were feeding on

RALIJD.E — THE COOTS — FITLICA.

39"

till' grass of a Hiivaium IxmltTiiiK llif rivi-r. ITc plainly saw tht'iu nibble tin- tciKU'r
grass in the Hanuj manner as |)()ultry. When Im Hred into tin- flock, tlic survivors,
iiffr running a few steps, rose iiiid tlew ol't' toward tlie river, their legs hanging
behind, their wings pro hieing a constant whirr. Whih' swininiing they tlew with
ea.se. although not with aueh speed, and moved the head and neck in unison with
their feet.

Mr. Moore states that Mr. Audubon was in error in sujijuising that this bird never
dives. It is not in the habit of iniiuersing its entire body; yet he has oeea.sionally
seen one or two birds, in a sipiail of fou-.' or six. jdungo and remain so hmg beneath
tiie surface that this had becomti smooth before they emerged. This is freipiently
done by one individual while others by its siiUs are engagi'd in picking from th» sur-
face. In like manner the eommon FuHni atnt of Eurojie dives and brings up its food
from the bottom in a very skilful manner.

Mr. Moore is of the opinion that this bird rarely breeds in Florida. Tt comes in
tldcks about the liOth of Sciiteiubcr, and often remains in the same pond until its
departure, which takes plaee between the last of ^lareh and the Idth of Ainil. At
tlio appi'oaidi of danger the Coot does not sink its body in the water, but, like the
(iallinule, hurries to a covert by striking the water with its feet and tiying. The
forward stroke of its wing is performed when swimming slowly in search of food.
When moving with its highest speed, it uses its feet only, its head and neck being
cirried as steadily as those of a DiU'k.

Two eggs in my collection (No. llTo) — collected in ^linnesota by Mr. B. F. Goss —
have a ground-color of a light grayish bulf, sprinkled uniformly with very minute
specks and round ilots of imrplish black. In shape these eggs are of an oiilong oval,
tapering at one end and rounded slightly at the other; thes«' measure, one 1.85 inches
by 1.85, the other l.*,)(> inches by \.'M). A third, from Lake Koskonong, Wis., is oval in
shape, the smaller end being hardly peroei)tibly less than the other; its ground-color
is a deei» butf, with a decided reddish tinge : the spots, though small, are larger,
deeper, and more uniformly rounded, but still sparsely scattered. This egg (No. 78)
measures 1.81' inches by l.lio.

A nest of this species obtained from a reedy swamp at .Marysville, Utah, i.s com-
j){)sed entirely of coarse reeds. It is eight inches high, thirteen inches wide, and
has a cavity four inches deep. It contained ten eggs. Dr. J. C. .Merrill mentions
iiaving found as many as fourteen eggs in a single nest. Mr. \S. F. Goss writes me
tiiat it is very abundant in Wisconsin in early spring, and that later in the season
it congregates in flocks, frequenting more open water. Its preference is for shal-
low water, muddy bottoms, the vicinity of reeds and rushes, and during its breeding-
season it is nirtdy found far from such situations. Its nest is built al)out the last of
May, in some thick cover, where the old growth is brf)ken down, forming a platform
just above the mud or shallow water. It is built with some care, rather deeply hol-
lowed, and composed of ruslus, flag-leaves, etc. Eleven eggs have been found in a
nest, but the usual number is eight or lune. The eggs vary in length from 1.75 to
I'.lO inches, and in breadth from 1.17 to 1.42 inches. The ground-color is dark gray-
ish cream, thickly covered with fine spots of different shades of dark brown, lilac, etc.
Its nest is usually so carefully concealed that it is usually much more difficult to find
than that of the Gallinule.

\\.

j^ ■'-

I: .■

'■ ■

%: ' :

t.*

398 ALKCTOKIDKS.

FuUca atra.

THE EUROPEAN COOT.

Fiilieaalni, Linn. S. N. cl. Id, I. 17:.!*, l.VJ; nl. I'J, 1. 17rtn, 2S7. — Kkvm. & IIi.ah. Wirl.. Kur.
184n, tl8. — Nai M. V('K- P'Misdil. IX. Ks;ts, ti;i,'., pi. 241. - .Siiii.kh. Ktv. Ciit. mu, lo'J. -
.Makhi.i,. Mini. t»iii. il. 11«; IliM. Uiil. II. IV. 1H.V2, Mo. — UiiuiW. Xoin. N. Am. I), issi,
lio..'i.'*(l ((iici-nlinul, ,/''/'■ I'liif. •'• l!l.lMlAl!l>l), - CufK.'*, I'linl l,i>t, -.M im|. 1S82, int. 88:i.

Fulieii iilnriiiKi, Ur.iv.. Kauii. Siut. 1»imi, lyy, — hiiKiiM, Vog. Diutaclil. 1S31, 71lt, |i|. ;trt, tig. 4.

t'ltlieit kucoriij; (Imki.. S. N. 1. 1788, 703.

Fii/ini irllilo/hi, (iMii,. t, r. 701.

FiiUcii iiliilijnrii^, \\\wms\, Vnj,', D.'ulsclil. 711.

Haii. I'lilauivtii: lli'^'imi in ^^iiu'iai ; acciilciitai in (•n't'iiliiii! (I'lnf. ,1. ItiaNiiAUHT).

Si'. ("iiAii. Ailiilt : llciiil and lurk lilmk, tliii* clmn^'inn Kriidimlly into very dark plunilieouit.
bIiUi' on llic upiicr |uirlM, and to li;,'liti'r, more ;,'rayi^'ll, •'late on tlic lower snrl'acc ; rnnip, po.-iti>rior
8capular.'<, mnl hind part of liack niorr oi Icis lini^iMJ wiiii ilark oiivaicons ; inidcr ?<nri'ac'i> of pri-
maries Hilvcry '^my ; odj,'!' of winj,' and vcrv narrow niar^^in to outer web of outer i>riniary, white.
Hill (in lili ) pale red at tiic liase, llie tip white ; frontal plate lilnisii wiiile ; iris crimson ; lei I
liini.-iji ^,'ray tinj,'eil with olive ; liie hare p.irt of ilic tiliia oran;,'e ; (daw^^ olivaceous (Mac (iil.i,ivitA\ )
YoKiKj: .Similar to the adult, hut mori- ^^rayisii ; the hill and frontal plate dull j,'reenish ; the iris
brown, etc. Ihwnii yninui : Sooty iilackish above, dark sooty ;,'ray below ; nei'.k, back, and wiii;,'s
ornamentecl with tine dull-wliile tijanii'nts, the I'orcheail ami hues wilii peculiar small, thickened,
nnd soniewhat curle(l liorny altaciinients to the down, of a pale dull oranj,'e-color (perhaps bri^'hl
oraUj,'e or recldisli in life) ; itasal half of bill pale brownish (reddish or orauj^e in life (), llie
terminal half ])orcelain-whiti', lipped with jet-black.

Total len(,'th, about Ki.OO inches ; extent of wind's, 22.(M) ; wini;. 7.70-8.80; culiuen (iucludint;
frontal plate), l."t>-2.t«); tarsus, U.^ri-i.'Xf ; middle toe, :i.Nj-3.1J.

Family A K AM ID.R — The CnrnLANS.

Arnmidw, Mosai'. Coiisp. 11. IS.I,'), lii3.

Char. Largo Rail-like hird'i, diU'criiio from tin- true IJuils (UnUirld) m thn outer
primary liciiij,' shorter tliiiii the .seventh, it.s inner web greatly narrowed, as if cut
away, except at end ; the elongated hill (about einial to the tarsus) slightly curvcil
to one side at the ti]i ; the inner secondaries well develo]ied, broad, their welis
slightly decomposed ; the rectrices well developed, firm, and very distinct from the
coverts.

The Coiirlans are very closely related to the true Hails, and so far as the extrrunl
structure is concerned, scarcely dift'er except in the peculiarities ])oiiitcd out above,
none of which, howevei', seem to bo shared by any of the linlUdtv i)rop»'r. But cuie
penus is known, the characters of whicli are as follows : —

Gentts ARAMUS, Vikillot.

Aramus, Vikim.. Ar.nlysc, 1816, 58 (typo, Courliri, Buff., =.irdcn scolopaccn, Omki.. ).
B. N. Am. 18.'-.8, fi.l?.

BAIfll'.

Char. Bill elongated, much compressed, liotli m.wdibles decurved and turned slightly to one
side at tip. Gony8 very long. Bill of equal width nearly from base to tip ; nostrils pervious, in

fff'

AUAMID.K-TIIK ColKLANS AliAMIS.

ai)!)

'irii. Kiir.
4, 10'2. ~
I). 1891,

885.

I. ng. *•

.uiiilieous-
, j)()ittcriiir

ic(> (if I'li-
irv, whilr.
iisDii ; l«'l

ll.MVKAV).

Ii ; the UU
mill \vin,i;^
Uiicki'ucil,
laps liiij^lil
lilV!). 'I'^'

(iucluiliii;^

the ontor
as if oil
y cuvvcil
leir Wflis
from llio

cxtcriKil

out aViovi'.

Hut out'

.)._ Baiv.i'.

irrhtlv to out'

pervious, i"

ilii' liiiHitl t'liiirth <it tho liill. Ili'ttil foatliiri'il to l>ill, mily tlic tycliil^ imknl. ]a"^h li'ii^tliiinil ; tihia
liall Imro ; t>>i-NUM Imi^t'i' thuii iiiiililln t)iu ; twi« withutit IminuI nu-iiiliiaitu : outi-t' lultial rallur loii^'i r
liiiiii iniii'r; iiiiililli' ilaw imt priiinatril. 'I'lic titr-i'l\

'I'lic willy's ai(^ liioail itinl imiiiili'il ; llu' tiitial-* i'i|iial to tln^ pi iiiiaiii'H. 'I'ln' liist liiiiii i»
itcaixi'ly luti^ur than ihu IviiLh, uiul Hiihlakatc. The tail i-* iiuiipiiscil ol' lwi4vi< li-athi'r>*.

A. .^ciiliijMceim.

Two HjiL'cies are at inv-n'iit known to niilurali>ls, tuinicrly siijipciscil to hv one. ("ahanis wii»
the llr-it to point out tile iliiri'i't"i(','s iii'lwccn theiu, and to insist that thuy wuiti distinct, uiid not
iiicivly adidt and younp(. 'I'liry ditl'iT as inlluws : —

Com. CiiAU. I'li'vailiiiL; rolup d;Mk liinwn, vaiyiiij,' Irmu a cliocolatu to an olivaceous shaih* ;
Iliad and net'k, and sduielinie!) (in .1. /i/iViw) (he liack, win({-covei'l», and lower parts longitu-
ilinally spotted or striped witli wliito ; reniij,'e^ and reetriees j,do».sed with purple.

1. A. BOOlopacouB.' White niarkin;,'s cunlined to the hea<l and neck (cuncealed or allo-

^ictlier wanting on other iiortioiisi. Wing, l^.TiO-l |.-J() inches; tail, ".(iO ; culinen,

4.:)(>-4.70; tarsus, I. (il»-,').:i(l. Jlah. Eastern South America.
•2. A. plctUB. White stripes I'xtending over hack, wing-coverts, and entire lower ]iarts,

except crissuni. Wing, ll.(K>-ia()(l ; tail. .'),!)(>; culmen, 3.00-1.8(1; tarsus, 3.5ti-5.L'(i.

Ifiih. West Indies, Florida, and Central .Vnieiica.

' AiiAMUH 8COLorACKi;.s. The Scolupaceoas Cmu'liui ; ISra/.ilinn Courlau.
Coiirlan, on Court iri. Hi ri'. Hist. Nat. di.s. VII. IPJ.
Lr Coicrhin, de Vininim-, Wvvv. I'l. Kill. 17711-1781, jil. 848.
Seolo/HiccoKs Hrrnii, I.atu. Synnp. III. i. 178r>, l(i2 (c.x I'l. Knl. 848).
Anlfa scotiijidiw, (I.mki,. .s. N. I. ii. 178S, tt47, no. 87 (ex Bi'fk. & Lath. 1. c).
Animus scnlojmirus, ViKii.i.. Nouv. Uiet. VIII. 1817, 301 ; Oal. Ois. II. 134, pi. 252. — AuD.

Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, pi. 377 (not the de.scr.) ; H. Aui. V. 1842, pi. 312 (not the tleser.). —

Baiho, B. N. .Am. 18r.8, iJ'(7 (rontnotc).
Cumu, AzAUA, Apunt. III. 18(i.''>, 202, no. StiO.
Aiwmis caritu, Vikii.i,. N. D. VIII. 1817. 300.
IMlu/' nr(li;ii(l,:<, Hv\k, Av. Bras. 11. 1824, 72, pi. xci.
liol/usijioiis, Licnr. Verz. Doubl. 1823, 7i>.
Notlmrixliua guarauiiii, Waoi.. Sy.st. Av. 1827 (not Scolopitx gvarauna, Linn.).

"IF

400

ALE('ToI{IDKH.

ArainuB plotiui.

FLORIDA COURLAN ; LIMFKIM.

TnntaluH indun { KiihuiuiLykii litdum), lli>: Cnjimj llinl, UuiUifuUu iixrikltd, H.vilTHAM,

ArumiiH iiiilUH, t'lUK.H. I'r. A< . Nat. Si i. I'liilml. lS7:i,:t.'i» (rx Uauui. I.'.) j (,'link l,i»t, iiil
nil. (171. — Uiiiiiw. Noiii. N. Am. II. 1.H81, no. 6»l.

/,'"//".« J/'!/""''"". H'iNAi'. .lour. A<'. Nut. S.i. I'liilml. V. Wi:>, :»1 (Floiida).

Ai<iiiii<ii.ii<j<iiil'<i-<< Uaiiih, H. N. Am. IS.'iH, tiri7 ; t'ut. N. Am. H. 1n'i!», ii<>. 4h1.

Aiamiis iniiliifHiciiin, viir. ijiijuiilnis, (OrKM, Kry, 1h7'J, •j71 ; ('link List, lH7a , KU.

Antiims .vohimfrKg, HoN.M'. Am. Orii. III. \n-is, lU. pi. xxvi. (iiei' Vii.ii.1..) - Nrn.
18;u, (W. Aci). Mm. Uii'g. IV. Imih, .1J3 (imt pi. ;t77. wliUh In truu J. .iiu/i*/wceM«)
IHIiU, Jilt ; H. Am. V. 1H4'J, iHl (mil [il. ;il'J. wliirli U J. .vutlnixuvun).

ynlli'iuiili 11.1 liii/iinl id 11.1, C'.vii. .1. f. (». IH.'.O, IJtl (Culiu).

Animus hiihul ifl II :, Sci,. & .S.vi.v. llii», I. 1860, 227 {Heli/o ami Oiiioii, HomluruH).

IIau. (hviiUT Aiitilli's Fiiniilii, mill Allnntii' rmiHt nf (Viitnil Aiiu'iiin, Id {[ihhIuiuh aii<l
Cimta Hira i I'aiilir ru/ift ).

Si'. Cmak, .Ii/»// ; (It'iiiTiil loliir nlivmcim^ uiiiliii-lniiwn, iiirh l'L'iithi.'r iimiki'd ct'iitiiiliy witii
a Htii|)e of wliiti', tlusi" nmikiiiK-^ liiuai mi the licml iiiiil iiirk, Imt iniiili linituli r mil iiutru or Iuh«
cuiinitu ami ovate ini llir lnwiT jiarl-, ii|iii('r imrl (liliic liark, sra|iiilm-<, ami win;; c uvi'itf* ; niik's.
Hank-*, ami irisHiiiii uiiiroriii rliiiiMilali'-lniiwii, wiilmui siivakM ; iiiiiiiarii-* ami tail uiiirnrni viili
purpliMli chocolutf, Willi i)ur|t!i.''li ri'lliTliniis ; uiiinT |iiirtH >{eu('riilly ihdh' ur Iimh ^ilu'seil wiili

TmviU.

•ll. INS'.'.

.Mail. II
; Hyiii.j.,

purplisli bronze. Lores, iiinlar re^tion, chin, luul throat dull white, I'aiiitly streaked with lirown.
"Bill ^ireunisli yellow, dusky tuwanl the end of lioth nimidiMes, hut esiieeiaJly the iiiiper ; iii>
ha/.el ; feet leaiU^tiay ; cliiws dusky '' ' (.\ii)i'H()N). Ymiiiij : Similar to the adult, hut tlie lnown
duller, the white uiai'kiii^js nnich narrower, and less sharply detined. Doimiij ijouuij : "Coveieil
with eoawe tufty feathers of a black color" (Audubon).

Total leii;;tii, about •2.'>.(M)-27.(HI inches; extent, 4(l.(l(>-42.(K) ; wing, 1I.(M>-13.0() ; ciiliiieii,
3.50-4.75 ; tarsus, a.-'id-.'i.io ; middle toe. :}.;}( >-3 .")(».

Among more than fifty specinieiiH of this bird examined, we find great variations of size and
pro|iortions ; and if the labels arc tn be credited, this variation seems i|iiite inilei»endeiit ol'scx.
Young birds resemlile iidulls, but are duller colored, with tlie white maikiiigs much narrower and
less distinct. Sevimil examples from Porto Rico have shorter and deeper bills, anil are smaller
generally, than any we have seen from Florida. In a larger series, however, these difl'erences may
prove not constant. An examjile from La Palnm, Costa Rica (I'acilic side), collected by Mi.
C. C. Nutting, is not essentially different from some Floridan specimens, although rather mmi'
richly colored than most of them.

' III tlie dried skin, the bill is mainly dusky, the mamlitile light brownish on the basul lialf. the
temiiual half horn-color, dusky, or even glaucous ; tliu legs and feet black.

AUAM[I),K - THK CoritLANH — AUAMLrf.

401

, Tiiivi'l'',

1-. Man. II.

itiiilly witli

mlr 111' li-^

nit'oriu I'iili

Kvitli brown.

uiiiii'V ; iii^

lilt lilt' liriiuii

/ ; " CoVi'li'l

1(10 ; I'lllini'ii,

lis of size mill

■udeiit oi'si'X.

limiTowiT all' I

art' siiiiill'i

IfliTc'iices iiiiiv

].,.to.l liy Ml.

vatliLT luori'

usul half, tl"

i'lic <'iiiii'liiii, ill th** Noi'tli Aiiit>rU>uii fiiuiui, iiii'i ii rfr^tni'lnl ilistriliutimi, Ih-iiik
I'liiiliiH'il fxi'luHivcly to tilt* pt'iiiiiNiilii of Kloriilu, uiul imt Ih-iii^ known tn fxiHt in iiii>
utlii'i' |Mirtiiiii iif till' (iiiti'il Stiitcs. It ori'urN in Culia I'ml •liiMiaira, imd |iriilialil,\ in
iitlh'i'M of the Wrst Imiiii Islaiiil.s, ami in |i<irtinns uf 'rnlral Aun-iica. It \n nut
iiicntiiinftl liy l/><ilaiiil uh ncninin^ in 'I'liniilail.

In Floridii, lu'coriiin^ to AmltilKin, it a|i|M>arMto Im> fntin-ly i'oiitin*Ml tn that MM-tioti
iif till* pfninHiila nf I'Mmiila kiin\Mi a.s tin' I'lvi-i'^rlaili's, ami tlif Nwani|i\ iMiiilrrs nf tlii>
IkiViiiis ami la^'nniiH i.sHiiinK' llii'i'i'lniin. In ono iii.stano' it in said tn liavi' Ih'oii pni-
I'uri'il anions tlif Florida Kcvh Ity Titian l'i>ult<. It was nut nict witli \>\ Aiidulidn
nil iinv nf tlidSf islands, nur did In' nntirc it on any part (d' tin* roast lii'twcm Klmida
.iiid Texas. .\iidiil)on dcsnilit's its tli)<lit as heavy and of shoit diiratiuii, the eon-
lavity anil shortness id' the wind's, with the nature nf the plaees whieh it inhaliits.
iiiiderinj,' it slow to remove from niie spot tn aimtlier nii win^. it heinn fmind ehiefls
aiiiiiii^' tall plants, the rnnts nf which are lii'ipiriilly under water. When it rises nt
it^ (iwn aecnrd, it passes tlirnii;,di llie aii at a slinit distanee alinve the weeils, with
rej{ulai' lieats nf the will^s, its lieek extended tn its fllll len|i{th. and its Inli^ le^s
ilaii^'liny: lieiieath, until it suddenly drnps tn the ^rnmid. If pursued, few birds exeel
It in speed. It prneeeds liy Iniij,' strides, lirst in a direct cniirse. and afterward di\ ei|n-
iiiK. so an to insure its safety even when ehiised by the liest dnj,'s. When iieeidentally
surprised, it rises oliliipiely nut nf its recess, with the neck n''''iitly lient dnwnwai'd;
iiid altllnll^dl its le^,'s daiij,dc Inr a while, they arc afterward extended liehind in the
iiiaiiuer nf ilernns. .\t smh limes it is easily slmt. If only wnundcd. it is vain tn
pursue it. Hy the ^'icat lcnj,'tli ami cx|)an«ion <d' its toes it is enahled. altlaainh id'
iiijisidcralile size, to walk nn the lunad leaves nf the .\i/iii/i/ii'ir. It can s\\ iiii w itii
all the Ijiioyancy nf tin' Cnnt and the (Jallinule.

Its ne.st is composed nf rank weeds matted tn|,'etlier and forming,' a lar,y:e mass
with a depression in the eentie. This is placed amnii,!,' the larger tufts of the tallest
'.,'rasses which j^rnw at short distances I'rom the liayoiis. some of them influenced liy
llie low tides of the (Iiilf ; it is fastened tn the stems of these plants in the same
iiiaiiuer as that of the Clajipcr Itail, and is |,'eiii rally secure from iniimhition. The
r;4i,'s arc usually six in niimlter. and are lar^'e for the bird. The y<aiii^' are hatched
out early in .May, are covered with a rather coarse black down, and follow their
parents soon after their apjiearance. This bird is said to feed, in Florida, cliietly on
a lar^'e greenish snail which is abundant in the l']vcr^j;lades. While on the wiiij,' it
utters a note said to be a sort of eai'klc, like that of the Cniumnn Hen; but when
nil the ground this ery is much louder, especially during the pairing-.seasnii, or when
startled by the report of a gun. Its Hesh is regarded as good eating. The statements
as to its ever alighting nu trees Aiidiibnii was inclined tn discredit.

Dr. Itryant (I'roc. linst<in Xat. Mist. Soe. VII. ]>. 11) does not consider Audubon
as being ipiite accurate in regarding the Everglades as the heacUiuarters of this spe-
cies. In his visits to that portion situated near Fort Dallas, he did not meet with
an individual. He never found it either nn the shallow ]K)nds nr the wet savannas so
luimeroiis in the neighborhood of Indian River. The part of Moriila in which he saw-
it was on the St. John'.s and the waters connected with it, between Lake Harney and
Lake (Jeorge. He first noticed it at Wikiva, and from there found it in great num-
bers as he descended the river, wherever the locality was suited to its habits, until
he arrived at Spring Garden Lake, where it was more numerous than at any locality
previously visited. It was generally seen standing on the edge of the shore, or eise
on the Xi/tnphew or other broad-leaved plants able to support its weight. He found
it very tame and unsuspicious for so large a bird, allowing itself to be approached

VOL I.

mr ' '?

402

Ai-ECTOKIDl'X

l^;!

1 ': '

1 1 !■' "■

ill

witliin fjmi.sliot, stiiiuliiif^ in the saiiu' phu't'. bobbing' its licail up and down like a
Sand|iipi'r, On takinj,' wiuj,' it utters a loud cluck, and if a tree is in the nei^ddior-
hootl gener.iily aliKl'ts on it, or, if not, usually alij,'lits in some thick part of tlir
marsh, and is not easily started aj,'ain. ih\ the St. .lolin's it I'eeds principally on a
species oi' .\'itlrit, which is extremely abundant, and also on the small unios. Its
ordinary note — which this bird seems to be very I'oud of uttering' — is said to in'
very disa},'reeable, and to reseud)le that t>f the Peacock. ISesides this it makes ;i
number of other sounds, all of the nu)st uidiarmonious deseriiition. Incnbation is
said to beijin in February. The few nests Dr. liryantsaw were made on low willows.
In Spriui,' (Jarden iiake he saw lour on one small island. The nnndier of ej,'^'s is
(inusnally lari,'e, lifteen haviufij been taken from one nest. l''rom the unsuspicious
nature of this bird, and the fact that it betiays its whereabouts liy loud cries. Dr.
liryuiit preiUcts its extermination as soon as that part (d' h'lorida is .settled.

iMr. rmardman informs uu' that this biid is more j,'encially known in Morida ;is
the " liimpkin." and it is so called from the jteculiarity of its walkiuj,'. its movements
resemblinjf the nu)tions (d' a lanu' person. It is a veiy tame and unsuspicious binl,
and will not infrc(iuently answer a call, and thus betray its position to the sports-
man. It is of nocturnal haltit, movint; alxud in the id^ht-tinu', and durintij the hours
of darkness is nnich more noisy than in the daytime.

In damaica. accordiufj; to (losse, this bird is ^'enerally known as the ''('luckiuy-
hen,'' from its ordinary note when nudist urln'd in its solitudes, lie nu'utions uu'ci-
iuf^ one in Auj,'ust. in a wood on liluelields Peak, where it was walkinji; at a little
distance from him, and iduckinj,' deliberately, with a voice exactly reseudiliu;^- that ot
a sauntering Fowl. A i)recipitous j,'idly btdiiud the lUueHelds aboninU'd with tiii>
species, and in February, a parching,' drouf,dd. havint,' wasted the mountain pools. tiii->
bird was driven in numbers to the s]>rin!.,'s ^nishint,' out at the foot of the luountaiu.
He was infornu'd that it was in the habit of roostint^ in the hi.i^h trees in that nci^li-
borhood. and went one eveninj,' to the spot to ol)serve. .lust as the twiiiLjiit \\:is
fadiu},' into darkness, he bcfran to hear them sereaminfir and Hyiny; around. Tlicii'
notes were souuitinies a series of shrill screams uttered in succession, then a harsh
cry, like hrau, kvaii, knniy krvaow. All were loud, sudden, and startliu},'. Sevci:il
alij^hted on .a larj^e tree not far from him. but were too wary for him to a]ipio;i(!i
within gunshot; one. however, was secured by his servant.

During the drought several (d' these bii'ds frecpu'iited the moi'asses near Paradise
Hiver, and from the summit of a matted nuiss of eonvolvuius covering a large biisli.
he had an cjjportunity to see and to watch their singular movenu'nts. The tangled
creepers atVc.-ded a sujijjort for their broad feet, and they stood boldly erect. ;is if
watching, in an attitude exactly like that of an Ibis, though flirting their tails in llie
manner of a Hai' At briid' intervals they uttered a shoit. sharp so\ind. and some-
times loud, harsh jcreams of /.n'noir. When alarmed they flew lu'avily and slowly.
with their long legs hanging down, and with outstretched neck. nud<ing a very awk-
ward appearance. (Jo.sse was informed that they scrat(di and jjick in the mannci' of
a Coninu)n Fowl. The stonuich of one that lu( examined was stuH'ed with siii:dl
water-snails, divested of the shells and tilling the (I'.sophagus almost to tlie fauces,
The piercing cries uttered at the ai)j)roaeh of night Avere not heard at any other time.
and (luring the day this bird eounnonly emits only its (hdiberate ehu'king. (ios-e
did not regard it as a nocturnal bird, but considered the.se cries as only iudieative nf
preparations for repose, as they soon r(dai)se into silence.

lieing so swift of foot, this bird, in Janmica. does not confine itstdf mertdy to a
few localities, but ranges the lonely woods from the mangrove morasses of the sea-

GIiriD.K - Till-; CHANErt - (iRTS.

403

shore ti) I lit' very tojis of tlie wooded iiioimtaiiis. (.rosae esteoined it the best wild-fowl
(if till' cnimtry.

I\Ir. W. T. Miui'li, of Simnislitowii, .laiiiaica, furnishes the following full and
|)iu'ticiilar iiccouut of its haltits : —

"Tlio ('hii'kiii^'-hcii iiiiiK'iirs mmc closely allied u> the Lainl than it is to tlic Water IJirds. It is found
in ail |iai'ts of thi' island, and is now very i oinnioii in the lowland distrii^lH of the South Midland paiisheM,
jUm'i ;,'"">' I'onrses, and near wet, marshy lands. It is often seen and heard in thi' driest seasons aliout the
;;idlies in the vieinity of Spauishlown. It roosts on trees anil bleeds on thi' uronnd, like the < oninion
I'nwl — in the lowlands, usually in l'iii;iiiin fenees. It lays ei<;lit or more I'^'^s, and these measure 2\ hy
1 !; of an inch ; the ^rouud-eolor rufous, sjilashed at the lar^e end with small hiirnl-oehre sjiots ; and I
liave had ej{^M taken from April to NoveuilK'r. Tlie llesh is tender and well llavored, hut a strong |ii'e.ju-
illie exists a;,'aiusl it IVom the prevailinj;, thiin;^h I lielieve eiioneous, o|iiniiin that it feeds on snakes and
li/ai'ds, I have never found in its stoinaih any ntlier food than snails, slugs, jiortions of small eralis, and
witiid-wmmH {Hii//iiiiiliii /iiiliiiiiri'i). The junks of snakes referred to liy lioliinson were |iiiilialily large
slugs. One of my eolleetois, however, assures me that he has found a young sniike and lizaiils in them ;
and a young s|iortsman lately told me. in support of his assertion that it does not eontine itself to the food
I have nieiitioued, that whilst liiating up a gnlly-eoiuse hi' shot a White-helly Dove, and that as soon as
111!' liinl I'll to the giound, and notwithstanding the report of the gun, a Clueking-hen delilieiately eaint!
iliwii the hank and endeavon'd to earry olf the Dove. It feeds late and early, and has lieen eonsidered a
night-feeder. I have often hnird that the .Inniii are to he seen on moonlight nights stalking ahout thi'
water-Hashes at I'apage Fort and (!reat Salt I'oud, feeding on the small erahs and snails aliouuding at eer-
liin seasons in those Idealities ; hut (rom my own oliscrvations I U'lieve the liirds thus seen were Night
Herons. Aniithii opinion whieh I lielieve to lie erroneotis is, that it broods like the liarn-door Fowl. The
liiut of this hiid does not, however, seem to he very well adapted to seratching the giound, the hill
appearing more nsefid in .seeuring and pri'iiaring the I'ood it lives on."

An oygof this species in the Smithsonian CoUeetion (No. 85131) has a rotindeil oval
shape, one end Iteiii,!,' oidy very slightly less rounded than the other. It measures li.'JO
iiiihes in length hy MtTt in iireadth. Its ground-color is a dark grayish white with
a light wash of sepia, and marked with a few scattered blotches of a darker sejiia.
Over the extreme of the larger end these are more marked and lainierous, and nearly
cover it. This egg was ])rociired in ("nba by Dr. Ciiiiullach.

Family CRUTD/R — Tiik Cuanks.

The diagnosis of this family has already been given on page 8,^)0. The species
lire all of very largo size, and inhabit grassy plains its well as niarshe.s. The bill is
iiKiderately long; the nostrils broad and ju'rviotis, the ntisal groove extending but
lillie beyotid them. The legs are long, but the toes are short; the hind too is very
short and much elevated, the ohiw searetdy touching the ground.

The genera are few in mimber, Init one, <irns, belonging to North America.

Gen'is GRUS, I'ali-as.

Oru.% Pam.. Mise. /oul. 17tfti, tJ<) (tyjH', Ardea gru.i, L.),

('iiAR. Bill Iciigtlicnt'd, straight, tlic upper nmiidihlc (inly slightly ilectirvcd (it tho extrcino
lip ; tilt! I'oiiuuissurt' and other mitliiit's straight. Nasiil groove very large iintl ()|U'ii, extending
over the ho-snl two thirds of the liill. Nostrils hroadly o])en, pervious ; the anterior extremity half
way from the tip of lull to eye. The iipjM'r half tif the head naked, warty, Imt with short hairs.

Legs much lengthened ; toes short, hartUy mure than one third the tarsus. Inner toe rather

W'<

404

ALECTORIDHS.

loii;j!i;r, its claw much liirjjer than the outer. Hind toe elevated, short. Toes connected at lia.se l\v
membrane. Tarsi jpromllv scutcUate antcriorlv. Terlial.s longer than itrimaries, decurved ; first
quill not much shorter than second. Tail of twelve feathei's.

I f ■ '

■ li

■ 1

. .

-■

4:.

. j

■■

Synopsis of Species.

A. Adnlt plumajje white, the primaries Idack ; dieeks naked.

1. G. americana. Hill very tiiick, the ^'ony-. siidn;^ly convex.

B. .\<liilt iiluiiia},'e i^'r.iyisli or iilnmlieniis. the primaries slate-color ; cheeks always feathered.

2. G. canadensis. Bill sleiider, lonj^er tiiaii mid<lle toe ; j,'onys straight.

a. ccniiidoi.tis. Win;,', I7.7.")-19.(H> iniJies ; eulmeii, :J. 00-3.70 ; tarsus, 0.70-8.00 ; middle toe,
2.80-2.!)."). Hal). Alaska to New Me.vieo and Texas, lueeding (exclusively V) far north-
ward.

/3. mexicnna. Wing, 22.00 inches ; culnieii, ,").(MM).0() inches ; tarsus, 10.00 ; middle toe,
3.50 or more. flnh. Western United .States and Gulf States from \Vashinf!ton Territory
to Florida.

a. caiuidensis mexicana.

QxxxB americana.

THE WHOOPING CRANE.

Arrlm amerirnnn, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 234 (liascd on Ei>w. pi. 132; PATEsn. pi. T.*) ; Briss. V

382). — Wii,s. Am. Oni. VIII. 1814, 20, (il. 64, fig. 3.
Grus avuricana, Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 372. — Nutt. M.m. II. 1834, 34. — Aud. Orn. Bioi;,

III. 1835, 202, pi. 226 ; Synop. 1839, 219 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 188, pi. 313. — Baird, B. X. .\i.i.

1858, 654 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 18.')9, no. 478. — Couf.s, Key, 1872, 271 ; Check List, 1873, no. 462 ;

cd. 2, 1882, no. 668 : Birds N". W. 1874, 530. — Hinow. Xoni. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 582.
Grus clamator, Bartr. Trav. 1791, 292.
Grus struthio, Waoi,. Syst. Av. 1827, Orus, no. 6.
Grus Hoyanus, Dudley, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. VII. 1854, 64 (young). — Stimpsox, Mem. Chic.i.so

Acad. I. 1868, 129, pi. 19.
La Grue d'Aviiriquc, BuFF. PI. Enl. 1770-1784, pi. 889 (adult).
Hoopiiig Crane, Forster, Philos. Trans. LXII. 1772, 409, no. 37. — Penx. Arct. Zool. II. 1785, 442.

GRUID.E — THE CRANKS — G-RUS.

405

Hab. The interior of Nortii America from Texas and Florida to the Fur Countries*, and from
Colorado to Ohio ; south to Guanajuato, Central Mexico V ' Formerly found, casually, in the Atlan-
tic States.

Sp. Chak. Adult: Whole crown and occiput covered Ijv a warty or granulated skin, almost
bare on the occiput, iiut covered anteriorly by black hair-like bristles ; the color of this skin riil-
(lish in life. Lijres and malar region, indudiu),' a narrow an].,'ular strip extendini,' from thi> latter
(luwn each side of tlie tlirnat, also naked, and simihuly bristle<l, llie bri>tles deii'-fr aiileriiuly.
Color entirely pure wiiite, excepting,' tlie primaries and tiieir diverts, which are uniform slate-black,
and a patcli of plumbenus on the upper part of the nape, adjoinin;,' tlie bare >kin of the occiput
mid extendiiij,' <lownward for the distance of about two indies. '• P.ill wax-yellow ; iris j,'ambiij;e-
vellow ; bare skin of Iiead iluU oran^;e-((i|or ; lej^< Idue-blaek." (Sw, iS: Rich. I.e.) Yhiiikj : Ifcail
'■iim]ili'tely leathered. General color white, with hir^;i' patche- heie anci there, especially above, of
lij,'ht cinnamon, the head an<l neck almost continutmsly of this color. The primaries and their
coverts tmiform dull black, as in the adult. liill dull wax-yellnw, tlie terminal ])ortioii lilackish ;
]ci,'s an<l feet blackish. Iiinii'ilurr : Hare p(irtiiiii>- i I liie head indicated by feathers of a har>lier
texture and darker color than elsewhere, (jcciipyiii;,' the areas which are naked in the fully ailull.
IMuinage much siiiMied with pale cinnamon, as in the tirst ])himii:,'e.

Total leuf^th, about 52.00 inches ; extent, t)2.00 ; wiiij,', 2 J.oo ; culmeii. ■).;{.') ; tarsus, 12.00 ;
iniddle toe, 4.2r>.

The (ireat White or W'lKMipiii;^ Criiiii' is nearly eoiitiiied to the eentral iiortioii of
\nrth Auierica. passiii;^ the winter nioiitli.s iii the swamjis of Florida and 'i'cxii.s.
and breeding,' in tiie more inirthern porti(jns of the continent. It breeds in favor-
able localities in the rej^ion north of the 4.'>(l parallcd. some, however, nestiiij; in the
prairies of Central Illinois. Jowa. Minnesota, and Dakota. Cajitain lUakiston (••Ibis,"
ISCi.'J. J). ll'S) mentions meeting; with this species at different times (hiring his travels
ill tlie interior, tlioiii;]] he was not able to procure sjieeinieiis. Mr. Ross records tlie
lapture of a single s))eciiiien on Mackenzie Kiver — where, however, the bird was
ipiite rare. Sjieciiuens in the Smithsonian Institution were procured at Fort Kesoln-
tinii. Big Lsland. Fort Rae. and at Salt Kiver. near the fireat Slave Lake.

Heavne. in the Apjieiidix to his •■.luiirney to the Noitliern Ocean." published in
IT'.ti'). states that the Whooping Crane visits Hndsoirs liay in the sjiriiig, though not
ill great numbers. It was generally seen only in pairs, but not very often, and was
usually observed to fitMpient the open swaiiijis. the sides of rivers, and the margins
of lakes and jionds, and to feed on frogs and small fishes. It was esteemed very
good eating. In breeding it seldom had more than two young, and it retired south-
ward early in the fall. lie adds that its wing-lioues are so long and large that he
has known them made successfully into flutes.

Richardson states that he found this si)ecies freciuenting every ]iart of the Vuv
Country, though nowhere in such numbers as the Urown C'rane. It migrates in Hocks,
and performs its journeys in the night, and at such an altitude that its ])assage is
known only by tlie ])eciiliarly shrill screams whicdi it utters. It rises from the ground
with great difficulty, flying for a time quite low, and affording a fair mark for the
sportsman; but if the bird is liot entirely disabled bv the shot, it will flglit with
great determination, aiul can inflict a very severe wcuind with its formidable bill.
Richardson knew of several instances in which the wounded liird had put the fowler
to flight and fairly driven him off the field. When fat its flesh is good eating, but is
very inferior to that of the Brown Crane (Grus canadensis).

Mr. Dresser states that on his first visit to the town lagoon at IMatamoras, in June,
1863, he saw a pair of these Cranes, and subsequently met with a small flock of seven

■

' Fide Professor A. DitgIs, in epist.

400

ALKfTORIDES.

.m-

or ei{,'ht ; but thosp wero so wary that he only succeeded in shooting two. He inc^uired
of the Mexicans as to where they In-ed, and was infoi-nied tliat tiieir eggs could Ik!
proriired at a lagoon some distance to the west of J{ag(hul, Jiocadel J\io (.Jrande. .Mr.
Dresser was not ahlr to go there, and was thus unal)le to test the accuracy of tiiis
very doid)tful infoiniation. On his return to Matanioras, in JcS(i4, he saw none at the
lagoons there. During his rand)les in Texas he saw this hird on only two or three
occasions near San Antonio, ami once at Point Isahel. Jle was told that it is occa-
sionally seen on (ialv(ston Island, and at the mouth of the Urazos Hiver. IVIr. .f. .\.
Allen was informed that it is toleraldy common in the valley of Great Salt Lake,
both in the sjiring and in the fall.

Mr. lioardman writes me that, so far as he is aware, this species is wholly unknown
on the coast of Maine ; and 1 can find no certain evidence that it has ever been seen
in any i)art of New England. It is not given by Giraiul as a bird of Long Island,
and is very ire on any part of the coast north of the Chesapeake, though Mr. 'I'urn-
bnll states that, in IX")", while at Ueasley's I'oint, he saw three of this si)ecies olf the
inlet. They were very wary, and could not be aj)proache(l. In W'ilsoir's day a few
appeare<l in the marshes of Cape May in Decend)er, particularly on and near Egg
Island, and lingered in tho.se marshes (hiring the whole of the winter, .setting out
northward about the tinu' the ice lu'oke uj). During their stay they wandered about
the marshes and nuuhly flats near the sea-shore, occasionally sailing from ])lact! to
place with a low and heavy flight, just above the surface, at times uttering a loud,
clear, and i)iercing cry, which might be heard to the distance of two miles. This
singular cry — to which the Whooping Crane owes its name — is uttered with vari-
ous modulations.

As Wilson considered the (J. ranndenslH to be but the immature bird of this S]iecics,
we cannot with certainty separate his statements and assign each where it belongs.
He .states that he frcfiiuMitly met with it in the low grounds and rice plantations of
the Southern States, noticing it near the Waccamaw IJiver, in South Carolina, on the
10th of February, and in a jwnd near Louisville on the L'Otli of .March. The birds
seen were extreuudy shy and vigilant. They would sometimes rise spirally in the
air to a great height, the mingled noist of the screaming, even when the flock was
abuost beyond the reach of sight, iesend)ling that of a i)ack of hounds in full cry.
On these occasions they flew around in large circles, as if reconnoitring the country
to a vast extent for fresh (puirters to feed in. His information in regard to their
breeding must be rejected as agreeing in no respect with the jirestMit reality. Audu-
bon also regarded the imindoisls as identical with th(! young of this species, and lie
gives the time of its arrival in the western country as about the middle of Octolu'v
or first of Xovember, in flocks of twenty or thirty, and even thrice that nund)er,
spreading from the Northwestern States to the Carolinas and Florida, on the s(juth-
east to Louisiana and the countries bordering on Mexico, in all of whicdi this Crane
spends the winter, returnnig north about the beginning of May. He found it on the
edges of large jionds, in swanqiy woods, and in extensive morasses. In its migra-
tions it travels l)oth by night and day. He states that in the fall, while the water
is low in the ponds, this bird works Avith its bill in the mud to uncover the roots ol
the great water-lily, which when reached it greedily devours. While intent upon
this the bird may be easily approached. As soon as the heavy rains fill these j)ools
it abandons them, and resorts to other jdaces. It is said to frequent fields in
which corn, jjcas. sweet potatoes, etc., have been planted, feeding on the grain and
peas, and digging up and devouring the potatoes. It also feeds on water insects,
frogs, reptiles, moles, and field-mice. Audubon once found a garter-snake fifteen

iJ-L.

GRl'ID.K — THE CRANES — (iRTTS.

407

inches long in the stomacli of one of this species, lie dcHcriljes the cries uttered liy
tliis bird as loud and piercin;,' — so loud that they nii}j;lit l)e heard at the distance of
tliroe miles. The flesh of the youu},' bird he sjM'iiks of as bciiif,' tender and juicy,
wliih* in the (d<l birds it in'conies very dark and t()Ut,di, and is untit lor the tabic. In
captivity this Crane is extremely gentle, and will feed freely on grain and otlicr
vcgctalde substances.

Mr. Audubon kept one, Avhih) he was in ]>oston, which hail lu'cn taken, wliile
young, on the Florida coast, a wing having been fractured and afterward aiajju-
tated. This bird was very gentle, and would suffer him to caress it witii the hand.
It searched the wood-jtile for worms and grubs, watclicd with the patiei "c of a cat
Ibr mice, and would swallow tliem whole, it also led on coi'u and garbage from tlie
kitchen. At tinu'S it would look upward, and, as if callin;f to some acquaintance
passing high in tlie air, would cry aloud. It was naturally suspicious of some lurk-
ing danger; and sonu'times, on very slight occasion, would manifest a sudden and
causeless alarm, as if some dreaded enemy were at hand.

This bird has never l)een detected on the racitic^ coast, or west of the f!reat Plains ;
and as (1. rimii(lriis!.i iiii'.rlnnNi is common there, this of itself is suiticient evidence
(if the difference of the two species. Mr. Kcnniitott met with it at l''oit Ilesohiti.ni,
-May L'O, and procured a speoinu'u. A nest of this species, containing two eggs, was
found near Salt River, not far from Fort He.solntion, (Jreat Slave Lake, in 1.S(I4.
TJie eggs (Smithsonian Institution, No. UL'SH) measure, one .'i.SO inches by 'J.itO, the
otlicr 3.70 inches by !.'.")(). Their gro>ind-c(dor is a deep grayish white, with a Avash-
iiig of sepia, marked sparsely, except at the larger end, Avitli bold jjatches of dark
rusty si'pia-brown, and more obscure blotches of an opaque sepia. These last are
thinly siuittered over nearly the whole egg. At the extreme portion of the obtuse
end these markings are far more numerous, become continent, and form an irregular
crown. The eggs are oval in sliajje, and a little more rounded at one end than at
the other.

Grus canadensis.

a. canadensis. THE LITTLE BBOWN CRANE.

Ardea canadensis, Linn. cd. 10, I. }7i>X, 1 fl ; cil. 12, 17<)t), 234 (Imseil on Kdwaiids, I. 33 ; Hinss.

V. 385). — Fousi. Pliilos. Jour. 1..XI1. 177'2, 40!) (Scvcin It.).
Grus canadensis, Tkmm. Miiii. I. 1820, p. c. — .Sahink, Kiaiikliii's Jour. 685. — HlciiAlilis, I'luiy's

Second V"oy. 353. — Sw. & liicil. F. 15. A. II. 1831, 373. — lioNAi'. t'oMsp. I. 1850, 08. — S( I,.

Ibis, 1860, 418 (Hudson's \'m\). — lii.AKisr. Iliis, 1863, 128 (int. Brit. Am.). — Dai.i, & Ha.s.nist.

Trans. Chicago Acad. I. 1869, 289 (St. Jlicliaid's, Alaska). — Tacz. J. f. O. 1873, 112 (N. E.

Siberia). — CiiCEs, Clicck List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 060.
0ms fused (liart), ViKil.l,. N'ouv. l)ict. XIII. 1817, 558 (iiicludfs both forins).
Orus jmliuphicit, Waul. Syst. Av. 1827, (!rus, sp. 7 (l)asi'(] on KinvAuns).
Ofusfnilcrculus, Cass, in Bainl's R. N. Am. 1858, 656 (==juv. ; Xuw Moxioo !). — Baihd, Cut. N.

Am. B. 1859, no. 480. — Au.r.s, Bull. X. O. C., V. 1880, 123. — Itimsw. ib. 187 ; Noin. N. Am.

B. 1881, no. 584.
Grus fratcrcula, Tacz. Bull. See. Zool. France, 1876, 246.
Blue Craue, Foiisr. 1. c

Brown Crane, Pkn.v. Arct. Zool. II. 1785, 443. —Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 43.
Little Brown Crane, Ridgw. 1. e.
Nortlwrn Sandldll Crane, Coitks, 1. c.

/3. mexicana. THE SANDHILL CBANE.

Ardea (gnis) mexicana, Mui.i.iai, S. N. Suppl. 1776, 110 (ex Biuss. V. 380).

Ardea canadensis, var. /3, Lath. Ind. Oni. 11. 1790, 676 (Mexico).

Grus pratensis, Bautu. Travels, 1701, 144, 218 (dr.scr. ). — Coues, ( iieek Ltst, 2d ed. 1882, no. 670.

:-r^p_-

l>«p<

"P»W

408

ALECT0KIDE8.

Grus/usca (|jurt), ViKlLL. Nouv. Diet. XIII. 1817, 558 (= " Ardea canadensis, Lath.," aud refers

to both l'o|•|ll^).

Olnis canatli iisix (ncc Tkm.m. ex Linn.), Nirr. Man. II. 1834, 38. — Uaiud, U. N. Am. ISns, 0.15 ;

Cut. N. Am. H. 18,'.ii, no. 479. — CouE.s, Key, 1»7'2, 271 ; C'lMM.k List, 1873, no. 4C3 ; liinis N.

W. 1874, 532. — KiD(i\v. Xoin. X. Am. B. 188), no. 583.
Orus avHi-iiana (siiii|m)m'i1 younjj), Auo. Orn. biog. III. 1835, 441, pi. 261|; Synoi). 1839, 219 ;

1!. Am. V. 1842, 188, i.l. 314.

IIau. TIiu true G. mnadensig, Arctic and Subarctic America, nii^ratin^ wouth in winter.
Hri'iils in Alaska to tin- coait at St. Micliacr.-i, in tlic .Mackcn/ic Hivcr district, alung the wliole of
the Arctic coa.sl, and otlier parts of the hif,'li nortli, where entirely replacing' the larj^er G, mt-cicuua.
The latter, snutliern half (if North America in general, e.xceptin;,' the Atlantic seaboard north nl
Florida (ami the extreme north ?) ; Cuba ; Mexico. Formerly found throughout the east also.

Sp. C'h.vh. Adult: Entire ]>ileum. including' lores, covered with a bare, granulated skin (red-
dish in life), interspei'sed with scattered fine blackish hairs ; the posterior margin of this bare skin

divided medially, on the occi])Ut, by an angular projection of the feathers on the upper luirt of tlji-
nai)e. General color of the plumage continuous and nearly uniform plumbeous-gray, this fit-
quently stained or overLiin in places by a rusty wash, the primaries slate-colored, with wliitisli
shafts. Cheeks and throat sometimes distinctly whitish. Legs and feet blackish ; bill blackish,
paler at tip ; iris crimson ( YmuKj: Head entii'ely feathered. Plumage much as in the adult, but
of a lighter and more brownish gray, and always conspicuously stained, especially on upper parts,
with tawny cinnamon or ferruginous.

II canadensis.

Wing, I7.r)(»-19.00 inches ; culmen, 2.W-X70 ; tarsus, «.7(>-8.00 : middle toe, 2.80-2.95.

/3. mexicana.
Wing, 2().tK)-22.()0 inches ; culmen, 5.0()-6.(K) ; tarsus, 1().0() ; middle toe. 3.50-4.10.

In this species there is a vast amount of individ\ud variation in both proportions and colors.
especially the former, scarcely two specimens being apiu'oxiniately alike in all their measurements.
As to cold's, the cheeks and throat are usually grayish or light ash-gray ; but sometimes they are
distinctly white, in very marked contrast to the jjlunibeous-gray of the nape — a ])eculiarity we are
inclined to ascribe to probable greater maturity of the individual. Besides this variation, the
plumage is freciuently almo.st entirely devoid of any ru.sty stain, while again it is very highly tinged
with that color.

The shape of the hill also varies greatly, as does also the appearance of the naked part of the
head ; the latter is sometimes roughly granulated or almost papillose, with few hairs (as in N".
8914, Nebraska, in which it is also scarcely divided by the occipital featheis), while again (as in
No. 13440, Utah) it is densely covered, especially on the lores, with black hairs, while the occipital
feathers form a deep angle projecting far into the naked skin of the crown.

Although we h.-ive as yet not been able to find specimens which were not positively the one form
or the other, we consider it very ]iiobable that the two races distinguished above as canadensis and
nuxicana will yet be found to intergrade, since we have been wholly unable to discover any

GRUID.K — THE CRANES — GRUS.

409

(liffcrencL's Ijctweeii tliem except in size. In this conneutinn, liowever, the reader is ref'urrcd Id
tliu " liuUetiii of the NuttiiU {)riiith.)lip),'iciil Chih" for April, 1880, p. 12;j, and for July, 1H8(>, p.
1ST, where Mr. J. A. Allen iiiul Mr. Itiilgwiiy, respectively, consider them distinct species.

Till' Inrf^cr and bfttt'i'-known race of tliu Sandhill Crant^ (hern calli'd vicrmnm)
wliili' having;, to a lar^n' cxtt-nt, the saum di.strilnitiou as tlu' anivricanti, is found to
extend its movements over a sonu'wliat larger territory, breeding nmeh farther south
tlian the Whoojjing Crane, and being distributed as far west as the I'aeifie coast,
where (}. (inierirann is unknown. Where the two are found together this is ever
tlic more abundant species. It is an occasional straggh'i to New Kngland, and is also
known to breed in Cuba, and possibly in others of the West India Islands.

In Southeastern Oregini Captain IJendire found this a common summer resident,
l)recding abundantly on the h)wlands as well as in the highest mountain valleys. Its
iioarse cries could be heard almost everywhere in the vicinity of water so long as the
locality renuiined cpiiet. Each i)air ajifH-ared to have a certain district during the
breeding-season, ami he lu'ver found two pairs breeding within half a nule of each
otlier.

Dr. Cooi)er s])eaks of this spt'cies as descending from the mf)untains into the San
.loaquin Valley. California, about Se])tember l.'ilth. when the h)W water enables it to
oljtain an alnmdance of fish and other food.

He also mentions meeting with two individuals of this sjiecies among the nnmntains
of Montana, but none elsewhere, excepting a tame one near Kort Colville. This bird
would follow their horses for some distance, apparently for the jileasure of the racte,
running with outspread wings until it had been pa-s.sed, then Hying ahead and circling
around to meet them again.

Elsewhere Dr. Cooper sj)eaks of this as being an abundant species in Cidifornia
(luring the colder months, some remaining throughout the summer anu)ngthe sumnnts
of the Sierra Nevada. They arrive from the north in flocks about the last week in Sep-
tember, and in the interior ap])arently go south of the limits of C!alifornia. as he lias
seen retunung tlocks passing to the north, over the Colorado Valley, about the 13th of
March. At this season they rise from the ground by laborit)US tla])i)ings, circling
iiround higher and higher, until they get so far uj) as to seem like tlocks of butterflies,
iuid then gradually nu)ve northward; but most of these migrations are done at night.
Their cry, almost constantly heard when they are Hying. J)r. Ct)oper states, is a rattling
sound exactly like that nunle by the blocks and ropes when hoisting sail on a vessel.
Tiicy also at times have a loud whooping cry. lie aihls that this bird builds its nest
oil the ground, in May, on sonu' elevated spot, among ferns, where it may be partly
concealed, and yet whence the a})proach of danger can be jierceived. The young of
this s])ecies are often raised from the nest, becoming very familiar and amusing,
showing much sagacity and a disposition *;o join in play with their friends. But as
pets they sometimes become dangerous, f. juia pro])ensity to use their sharp bills too
freely, even pecking at the eyes of the children with whom they are playing.

The Sandhill Crane feeds on all the small animals it can catch, such as mice, frogs,
grasshoppers, etc., and probably on young birds. In a state of domestication it is
omnivorous, eating bread and vegetables also. It does not usually frequent the sea-
shore, nor is it often found in wet places, but prefers dry prairies, ploughed tields,
sandy hills, and like places, and in this respect is mdike the Heron family. It
is a very wary bird, and ditticult of approach within shooting distance, and can
he reached only by stratagem. As food Dr. Cooper regards it as nearly ecpial to the
Turkey, especially when young ; and it is constantly brought to the San Francisco
market during the cooler months.

VOL. I. — 52

% :

lii

410

ALECTOUIDES.

Dr. Bryant ascertainotl positively that this .species breeds in I'lorida. 1 1 is lir.si
iniitrcssion was that it began to breed about ll,j 1st oi' March, but he afterwanl
ascertained that sonui breed much earlier than tl is. On the JIth of March a youie,'
liird was brought to him which was already two '.'eet in height, and \vas covered witli
down of a ferruginous color above and cinereoi.s below. The eyes were large aii<l
projecting, and the bird looked like a niiniatare ostrich. The young remain with
their jiarents till they arc fidly grown, and ire fed for a long tinu- by regurgitalion.
They (h) not Hy until they are as large as tlunr paivnts, liuL run with great speed, ami
hide like young partridges. A nest ftmnd l)y him on the Uth of March (contained
two eggs in which incid)ation had just commenced ; another found on the loth con-
tained two fresh eggs, anil a third on the same day had two nearly liatched. It is ;i
very singular feature in the history of this l)ird that it should be thus found breeding
in Cuba, thrimgh all the lower parts of the peninsula of Florida, and thence only seen
in its migrations between tiiere and the Northwestern States.

The observations of Mr. Moore have led him to the conclusion that the migratiui.;
inilividuals (d' this species do not visit Florida during their southern .sojourn, as there
is no increase in the nundx-rs which are seen there during the winter, and no iiiove-
nuMits take place among them to favor this idea. Tin; Florida bii'ds are never seen
to soar high in the air in Hocks at any tinu' of the year, as the migiating indiviihials
may freipiently be seen to do iu their southern winter iiomes in iiouisiana, 'i'exas. ami
other States. One. or at most a pair, has been seen moving in this manner, not
intent on travel, liut as if to take an airing. When Hushed it runs three or four stejis,
and then ri.ses and soars away, but without mounting to the height of the pines. Its
notes are uttered on the ground in sight (d' ajiiiridiended danger. It can aligiit uii
trees, but does so vei'y rarely.

Mr. .Moori' states, also, that nests of this s|)ecies are generally placed in the shalli'\\
ponds with which I''lorida abounds, among aipiatic jjlants. of which they are rornnd.
In one instance a lai'ge mass of these plants was hea|)e(l up. constituting a ncsi.
which, when found. March 'J, was six nv eight inches above the water in its higiir>t
parts. It was about a hinidred yards from dry ground, and in the nudst of mud ami
water. It was within two hinidred yards of a travelled I'oad. and in full view. The
sitting bird had lowered her head, and so remained \intil Mr. Moori' was within sixty
yards, when she Hew off. and dropped down among some plants not far distant. The
mate soon appeared, and continued to Hy around, but did not conw near. The two
eggs in the nest lay with their hnigitudinal diameter in a line jjarallel with the spimd
cord of the bird as she sat on them, and were six in(dics ajiart. The eggs measuriMl.
one 3.75 by li..'>.'i. the other .">.S7 by 2..")7 inches. Other nests were placed on tli"
dryest ground, among the .':aw-palmettos. and formed cd' jjliable nuiterials, herbs,
grasses, and the like, but never with .stiff material or sticks, in one instance the
nest was composed of grasses plucked up liy the roots, with much sand attached.
The entire nest, lining and all, was thus made up.

The young birds run as soon as they are hatched, and nuiy be seen, when not laigcr
than a week-old Turkey, moving about with their i)arents, with whom they renudn till
they are nearly a year old. Sometimes they are run down and taken before they arc
able to fly, the j)arents remaining at a distance, (sxpressing their anxiety by the utter-
ance of loud and ])eculiar notes, and by moving about, but at such tinu's never attacking
the enemy.

In the stomachs of those Mr. Aloore dissected he was never able to discover any
animal food ; but in those of two that were killed feeding together in three inches of
water, he found masses composed of the roots of a snuill species of Sdyltturia. Anotiier

i' I

ORTTD.E — THE CRANRS - r.RUS.

411

contiiiiu'd sot'ds of an \iiil<ii(i\vii ])liint iis liir^'c as coftVc-hcans. All contiiiiit'd moro
or IcHS saiiil, liits oF i|iiartz. and small iirown pcltidcs. Wht'U di'v tlu'sc materials
woidil woif^li two (inni'i's. lOxca vat ions, sufli as Audulxm saw tlicsc liirds making in
KiMituckv. wliiMH! they rooted like lio^'s. have never hecn noticed in Florida, although
the same lily roots are eomnion and abundant. The largest excavations seen were
not lar>;er than a oort'ee-('ti|i.

Incid)ation take.s jdace from the last or the middle of February to the middle of
JIay. or later.

Mr. Moore describes a peculiar use by this bird of the winj,' in its tlijijht. There
is an upward lift or jerk made suddi'idy. The win^; is now laid on the air ^'cntly. an<l
suffered to dip slowly down; then, havinj; reached the proper ])oint, it is suddenly
flirted ujiwards, and attain laid upon tlie air — just, it would seem, at that critical
moment when it is neee.ssary to prevent the bird from declining,' in its chosen line
of Hif,dit.

Mr. Kidj,'way speaks of iindin}^ this species very abundant in the marshes of Rnby
Valley, where it was seen daily, it was also ([uite common in the wet meadows of
Carson Valley, where a tame Crane, can<,dit v.hen youuf; in the neij,'hborinj,' meadows,
was a remarkable and amusinf,' pet. As he was enterinj^ the j^'ate, the bird's eye
quickly detected a Junro oirrfo/nis that had been partially thrust into his coat i)Ocket;
and walking' boldly up to him, the Crane snatched it out and deliberately beat it upon
the i,M'ound until nearly denuded of fe.ithers, when it was swallowed with ajiparent
relish. The Craiu' then again approached, and carefully examiiu'il Ins person for
more birds ; but failing to find any, marched away across the yard ■with a stiitely sti'i).
This pet wo\dd frecpiently walk upon the jMnch, go uj) to the window, and watch
with curiosity and ap])arent interest the sjjorts of the chihlren in the house; and
if any of them approached the window it would evince its pleasure by amusing
f,'esticulati()ns.

!Mr. Dresser did not meet with this s])ecies near ^fatamoras ; but on his journey
from IJrownville to San .\ntonio in Seiitend)er, liSIJ.'i, he ,saw birds of this species
every day. During the winter they were quite eomnion near San Antoiuo ; but all
(lisai)iieare(l toward spring. lie was told that they breed near Galveston and in
^latagordo l>ay ; but this statement requires confirmation.

It is probable that much of the description of habits applied by Audubon to the
Whooi)ing (,'rane is e(|ually referable to the present sjx'cies. At any rate in one
instance it is very evident that he must have had this bird in view. This was in
l)ccend)er, 18^.'!, when his son went to Sjjring Island, on the coast of (Jeorgia, and
where the only specimen obtained was evidently a G. mexicmia. He found the
Cranes plentiful, resorting to the sweet-]i()tato fields, digging up their produce as ex-
]iertly as a troop of negroes would have done. The birds would walk over the little
heaps, probing them in various parts in the manner of a Woodcock ; and whenever a
potato was found, removing the soil, and taking out and devouring the root. In this
manner the flock searched over the whole field, gleaning all the potatoes ■which
had escaped the gatherers.

An egg in my cabinet (No. 652) measures — as nearly as can be estimated, the
smaller end being wanting — 4.00 inches in length by 2.40 inches in breadth. The
ground-color is a deep washing of sepia-brown, over which are distributed large
blotches, a few rounded in sha])e, but chiefly longitudinal, of dark sepia. A few of
the Larger blotches are fainter, and have a slight tinge of purplish. This egg was
obtained near Lake Koskonong, Wis. IMr. Kumlien received it on the 1st of May;
but it had been taken three weeks previously, or about April 10, 1851, and contained

'I'll''
lit-

^^Pt^ "!

412

AI-KCTORIDES.

at the timo ii youn^,' liird ut'iuly ifiuly f<> In- liafrlit'il out. Mr. Kuiiilit'ii wnitc nu'
ill UctoliiT, IH.')] : "'riiis ('nine, ciillcil Iktc tlic Siiiidliill Criiiic, i.s lar^'cr than the
({rus rhirriii of IOiiro|ir. tail rcst'iiililfs tliat liird vimv much. It is ([uiti' coniinuii ht'rc,
hut is till' only Cirus we have. It has both thi' cohu- ami the notes of the Kuropcaii
riiicrcii. It is vcu'y.shy. Tin' iit'oidt- here — tliat is. tlic Auu-ricaus — (;onsi(hM' it good
to efit. It lu'sts in tlic marslics hitf in Mandi and early in .Vpril."

Another etjg (No. (m,'!), hiid in eonfinement in a private ),'arden at Niat,'ani Kails,
in 18."»1', has a lij;ht ,t,'ray f,'round. The niarkiuga areof sepia, few, faint, and seattereil.
except about the larg"!' end. wheie tiu'y form aeouHuent pate h. A few blotches an
of a faint innpli.sh tint. This e},'^' measures ,'>.K0 liy 1'. JO incdu's.

A third fi'om rid)a — sent me by Dr. (Jumlhudi — was found by him anu)ng the
mountain nmrshesof that island. It closely resembles Xo. Gij.'{. exce}it that the spots
are all (piite small and rounded in shai)e, and iiowhero confluent. This egg mea.surcs
3.72 by :.'.;«> iutdies.

The smaller northern form {(>'riix rinindnials) Iv.ih a history so blended •with that dl
the more common and larger raees of the south, that it is now somewhat ditlicult tn
separate that which pertains es])ecially to each .six-eh's. This bird was tir.st described
by Mr. Oassin from a single young .specimen that had been obtained in October, bS.").'!.
near 7\lbu(pierque by Dr. II. li. Mollhaiiseu. It was next mentioned by Mr. !>. 11.
Ross, on the authority of Captain Wakiston, as an inhabitant in the siunmer of tlic
west side of the Rocky .Mountains.

Mr. Dresser was confident that he had noticed this species several times near Sau
Antonio and onco near the Rio Nueces, and he regarded it as a species of not uncom-
mon occurrence in Southern Texas. He also claims to have secured a single exam])lc
whifdi had been shot near San Antonio, and preserved for him by Dr. Heernuinu. It
was the only specimen that could be i)rocurcd, as the birds were very wary ami
difficult of approach.

Both Mr. I»annister and aMr. Dall met with and refer to individuals belonging to
this .species which, at the time, they supposed to btdong to the cdnddi'iniis. ]\lr.
Bannister found it comnnm in the marshes of the Island of St. Michael's and the
neighboring inainland ; and ^Ir. Dall, always sui)i)osing it to be the canndi'iisis.
states that it is a ccminion bird at St. ilichael'.s, as well as at the numth of the Yukon
River, but that it is rare in the interior, an not often seen at Xulato. It is called
by the Indians "Teltintla;" and by them the young of this species is often domes-
ticated, &B these birds become very tame, and eat uj) the vermin and insects, as well
as scraps of food about their camps. Mr. Dall adds that the young are downy until
their first moult, when the red appears very nuudi as it does in the young Turkey.
Mr. Dall obtained the eggs of this species June 17th on the Yukon River. They had
been laid in a small depression in the sandy beach, without any attempt at a nest.
The flesh when well cooked is eatable, but to 3Ir. Dall's taste is rather strong. The
fibula of this bird is among the Indians and trappers a favorite substitute for a pijie-
stem.

Mr. E. Adams ("Ibis." 1878) mentions the arrival of this Crane on the shores of
Norton Sound, Alaska, Avith the earliest of the Geese in the beginning of May ; and
by the middle of the month the whole of the marshes were alive with these birds, and
their noisy croakings were to be heard in every direction, especially about the exten-
sive marshes on both sides of the river. Their nests were placed about the dry knolls
in the marshes, and they had eggs before the end of May.

Captain Blakiston states that this species arrives on the Saskatchewan Plains in
large numbers in April from the south, and in the beginning of May he met with its

OUL'ID.E - TIIK CRANES — TiRUS.

413

('!,'KS. Hu found it as far west as t\w. Kocky Mountains. Mr. >rurray mot with it on
liiulson's Hay, and Mr. Koss tnimd it coiunion along tlic banks ol' tiie Matkenziii
Jiivcr a.'i far nortli as thu Arctic coast,

Ilcarnc, in liis "Journey to the Morthcrn Ocean" (p. L'.'t), refers to tliis sjiecies
iis the Hrown Crane, s])eakinj,'of it as greatly interior in Hm>. to the Whooping Crane,
and as being seldom more than three and a half feet in length, and not weigiiing
(iM an average more than seven pounds. Its haunts and manner of life are, he adds,
nearly tlie same as those of the larger species, ea<'h pair never having nuire than
two young, and tliesc being seldom able to fly before Septend)er. This speeies is
Idund niMch farther north than the larger one, several having been killed by him on
^iarble Island; and he has also met with it on the continent as high at least as lati-
tude (Jo°. Jt is generally esteemed good eating, and goes by tiu' name of the "North-
west Turkey." Ilt^ states that the gizzard of tliis speeies is hirger than that of the
Trumpeter Swan, and is especially large in the young bird. In hot calm days the
Urown Crane nuiy be frequently seen soaring to an anui/.ing height, always Hying
in eireles, until by degrees it i)asses almost out of sight. Vet its note is so very loud
that the sjiortsman, before he ""os its situation, will often imagine the bird is very
near him. This species visits Hudson's Hay in far greater muubers than the larger one.
liichardson also states that it is found in all i)arts of the Fur Country in summer,
even as far as the shores of the Arctic Sea. Its flesh is regarded by him as excellent,
resembling that of the Trumpeter Swan in its flavor. It breeds throughout the
Arctic regions.

Mr. Kennieott met with this species at Fort Resolution, May .'50, where he procured
two examjiles. Mr. MacFarlane obtained a skin, in the autnnni of 180.'i, from the
Eskimos on the Lower Anderson lUver, and an egg in June, 1804, from an island
in Franklin Hay. The nest is said to have been a hole scooped in the sand, and lined
with a considerable q\iantity of Avithcrcd grasses. A few more birds of the same
s])ecies evidently had nt^sts on the sanu* island, but they could not be discovered.
Dr. Walker met with a singlt! specinu'u of this bird at I'ond's Hay, in latitude 72°, on
the west coast of Baftin's Hay ; but it has been very rarely seen so far north as that
coast.

An egg of this species (S. I. No. 157.31) obtained by Mr. MacFarlane in Liverpool
Hay, on the Arctic coast, measures 3.G.T inclies in length by 2.30 in breadth, is oval
in shape, and very nearly equally obtuse at either end. Its ground-color is a faint
washing of sepia-l)rown, and it is marked, over the entire egg, with patches of pro-
nounced sepia, -which become more and more deep until about the larger end they
form a ring of darker and still more distinct sepia.

..(■■.•ir,Srt').v'^>^':'.

Okdek PIKENICOPTERT.

LAMELLlliOS'riixVL (iUALLATOKEa

Cnxii. L)iiUfllii-ostriil iiml I'lu'coriiil Oriillalnrcs, wiili tin- neck anil Ic^'s oxccss-
ivcly eloiij,'ati'(l, tlin anterior tncs liilly wi'lilicd, the hallux very siiiall, Lilfvalcil,
or soiiu'tiuu'.s altii;,'((tli('r waiitiiij,', tlu; hill alpiiiiiUy ln'iit in the inidtllo portinii,
the iiuuulil)lu inmh deeper in tlu; middle portion than the nnixilla. Kggs tew
in number (ono or two), pure white, with a soft eiileareous Hhell.

The l'"lainihj,'oes are lianiellimstral Waders, aud ]»ossess so many peculiarities of
Btrueture, that they may very i)ropcrly l)e cuuHidered as eonstitutiuj,' by tiieinsclvo
a distinct Order, for which I'roi'essor lluxley has pro|iose(l the term Am/i/nmor/i/iir.
This Order c(iiu])rises a siu^de I'amily, which is re|)i'eseiited throuij;hout the wanner
parts of the globe, with the exceitliuu of the Australian and Malayan Wegions.

Family nKEXTCOI'TKlIlD.K. — Thk Flamixgoks.

ClIAi!. Same as those of the Order.

The Flamingoes constitute a strongly marked and very ]H'(Hdiar i'anuly of birds,
resembling souu'what the Cranes, Heron.s, ar.d Storks in general ajipearance, inn
much more nearly related to the Aunt !(/(!■ (Ducks, (ieese. and Swans) in tlunr struc-
ture, while in the peculiar form of the bill and excessive elongation of the neck and
legs they are entirely unique. There ajipear to be only two wtdl-marked genera,
Phantti'copferiis and I'/nriiirnjMirnt.i,^ the latter, <listinguished bj- the absence of tlic
hind toe and a jieculiar form of bill, being represented by a single species, found in
the Peruvian Andes.

Genus FHCENICOPTERUS, Linn.^us.

Phcuiicnptmis, Linn. S. N. cil. lo, \7r>x, 139 ; id. 12, I. 17C(1, 230 (typi-, /'. i-iiher, Linn.).
P/ueiiifoudinn, Ohav, Ibis, 18t)9, 412 {ty\H', I'/ioiiimp/cnts riihiiliis, Fr.ii.nr.N).
Phcenkorodian, (!iiay, Ibis, 18ti!t, 443 (type, Phafiiicop/crm riibn; Linn.).

Chau. Neck and legs excessively elongated, the lower two thirds of the tibia Imre, the iiiiti-
rior two thirds of both tibiii mid tni'sus enveloped by one eontinumis series of liroad traiisver-i'
scutella;, the eircnnd'erenre completed by n smaller posterior series. All the anterior toes com-
pletely webbed, the longest about one fourth the tarsus ; hind toe ])reseiit, but small and elevated :
claws short, broad, and blunt, scarcely extending beyond the underlying pad forming the end ol

1 PuffiNicovAiiRUS, "Be. 185" (Gkay), (typ, Phmiicupteriis andimi3, PiiiLii'pi ; of. "Ibis," 1S()9,
p. 441, pi. 15, ligs. 9, 10).

Pini'.NlCorTKiaD.K — TIIK KLAMINOOPIH — rFIfKNrroi'TKIllTS,

415

I he tiHX. Miixillik iiiiich (li'|iri'MMi'il, chihm inUy I'ur tlio ti'iininal liull', tvirvwlit-ru iiarrowi-r tluiii tht^

IlliUlililili', wliicll in I •""t|y lllirki'llnl ill tile lliiilillc |Hiltiiill, ili »iili'^ rnUKlli'lli'il or Mli;{lltly iMirni-

I excess-

■li'vatftl,
piirtinti,

iii'itifs of

OlUSt'lvCN

p waniii'i'
lis.

of binls.
iuici', liut
iciv stnu'-
iicck iintl
I goiicia,
<'0 of tlu'
fouiul in

Inn.).

|c, tlie iilit<-
traii.<ver.-f
tdfrt coiu-

the ciul "t
|lV.is,"18f)9,

/', ,•»/»■

Till' uliovi' chiifactfrs art- drawn IVcmm /'. nthn; Imt they a|i|>ly ciiually wrll tn tln' ntlii'r npe-
licx of till' i,'t'iiii^, 1)1' wliiili aliiiiit >i.\ arc kimwii. only two of wliicli arc Aiiii-iiciii, uiic, /'. ruhii;
liflo!ij,'hio to the West Inciii's aiiil shoivs of the (iiilf ol .Mcxiii), and tliu ( ialai)aj,'us, the otlu'r.
/'. iijiiipuUiatun, iiL'ciiliar to Soiitlicrii South Anu'iiia.

Fhoenicopterus ruber.

THE AMERICAN FLAMINGO.

Pha'nicii/ileriia ruber, Linn. S. X. I'd. Id, I. \7'>S, VM> (pait) ; rd. 12, I. 17(iO, 230 (piirt). - Wii.h.
Am. Oil). Vlll. l«ll, (.''i. 111. (iti. — Nrrr. Man. II. ls;U, 70. — Avn. Orii, jiict;. V. ISDO, 2,1,'),
pi. 4.11 ; Syiiop. ISIiH, •2(!!i ; 1!. ,\iu. VI. 1SI.1, l(l!», pi. 375. — C.\s.s. in Bainl's H. N. Am. IS.IS,
087. — Baikd. Cat. N'. Am. H. ISali, no. ,■.1)2. — Cori's, Ki^y, 1872, 278 ; Check List, 1873, no.
475 ) 2d I'd. 1882, no. 087. — HiDciW. Noin. N. Am. H. 1881, no. 585.

? Phcenlcopterus (jlyphurliiinchits, Cv.xy, Iliis, 1809, jil. 14, I'tjr. 5 ((ialapiigo.s).

H.\n Atlantic coast.-* of tropical and snhtropical Anieiica fioni Florida Keys to Northern
South AniiTica; Bcrimnlax ; (Jalajiaftos ? ( = ''glii])hnrhipi<-hus," (!kay.)

Sp. C'nAii. Adult: Pivvailini,' ccdor pure venuilion-suaili't, most intense on the wings, else-
where inclniini; to vorniilion-pink ; Hanks rosy carniini' ; ]iriniaries and secontlaries uniform deep
I'lack. Terminal third of the hill (portion lieyond the lieiid) Idack ; basal portion orange, becoming
pure yellow at the e.vtreme base and on the lores ; iris blue ; legs and feet lake-red (Audubon).

iiiiii;

«.JI 'Afv^ ^ '/*

416

LAMELLIROSTKAL GllALLATORES — PHCENICOPTERI.

Length, about 42.0O-48.(M) inciiL-s ; extent, 64.0<)-()6.(H» ; wing, 15.30-16.50 ; culmen, about
5.20 ; baio portion of tibia, 10.00 ; t.iKU.s, 12.00-14.50 ; niidiUe toe, 3.20.

Perl'i'ctly ailult e.xanipk's are almost uniform tine vennilion-scarlet, as ile.scribed above ; lesa
mature inilividuals are paler, the neeii ami b(xly liyht vermilion-pink, tlie wiu'^s light vermilion-
flcurlet. The very young birds ui'e said to be covered with a white cottony down.

ill

iS i:

1 |.

The American Flamingo has small c-laim to be ranked as a bird of tlie Xortli
American fauna, being found only in the extreme portion of Florida 5 and, even there,
the constant persecutions to which it is subjected nuist, by the resulting extei-
niination of the species within a very few years, put an end to even this limited
claim. This Flamingo is more or loss abundant in several of the AVest India Islands.
most especially Cuba and the Bahama Islands ; and a single specimen has been
noticed in the Uernmdas.

The late Dr. Gustavus Wiirdemann visited Florida in 1857, and made some inter-
esting observations rehitive to this species, which Avere published, after his death, in
the "Annual Keport of the Smithsonian Institution'' for ISfJO. He speaks of tlic
Flamingo as being known to but few of the inhabitants of Flori<la, and as being con-
fined to the immediate neighlxu'hood of the most southern ])ortion of that penin-
sula — Ctape Sable and the Keys in its vicinity. It existed formerly near Indian
lliver, but had been driven from that region. On the west coast of Florida it ranges
as far north as Cape Romano, where it Avas seen every year, but was not known to
breed there, and was supposed to nest among the fresh-water lakes near Cape Sable.

Having been told that Flanungoes were taken during the latter i)art of June and
early in July, when numlting, in large nundiers by Avreckers. ])r. AViirdemann sought
for an opportunity to witness their capture, and with this view accompanied a small
party early in August. We give Dr. "Wiirdemann's account, only abridging his naii;i-
tive somewhat. After a while the Captain shouted, "Tht^ Flamingoes !'' IJut it was
not until an advance of another mile had been made that the Doctor was able to per-
ceive two red spots, ajjparently under two distant Keys ; these proved to be large
flocks of this bird, which started up when the party came within half a mile of
them, leaving six of their nundier behind, which were nu)ulting, and unable to fol-
low. Paddling as fast as they could, the nu'U soon came up with these birds, which
employed both wings and legs in endeavoring to escape. The Captain seized one
after another and threw them into tlu^ boat, taking the whole six. They afterward
overtook other flocks of the Flamingoes in a similar manner, luitil the small canoi'
was loaded doAvn with mori' than a hundred of tlu'se unfortunate birds, packed away

PnCENICOPTERID.E — THE ELAMIXGOES — PHa^NICDPTEHUS.

417

without the 8inalh\st regard oitlu'r tor tlit-ir ooiiit'ort or their lives. On the return
of the Jiarty to Indian Key tlie dead l)irds, whicli were all in a very fat condition,
were distrilnited, and the liviuij; ones eontined in a ten-pin alley.

Dr. Wurdenuiini states tiiat there must have been not less than live hundred
Flamingoes assembled where the last were captured. They appeared to congregate
in these shallow waters, feeding on a small shellfish having the form of a clam,
which they fished ui> from the nuuldy banks. No other food was found in their
stomachs. They wt re always seen in Hocks, and their notes sounded at a distance
like those of Wild Geese. When captured, they uttered a single low note like that
of a Crane when siuldenly started.

While in confinement one Flamingo would utter a cry like that of the Domestic
Goose calling for its mate, and this cry would be answered by another bird in notes
similar to those of a Gander. 1'he captives were fed on rice and fresh water, but
woidd not eat so long as they were >vatched. Of eight birds dissected by Dr. Wiirde-
niann only one was found to be a femah', and he inferred that the females moult
earlier tha i the males. The hel])less condition to which the Flamingo is reduced
when moulting nuikes it an easy ]>rey to its enemies, and must eventually lead to
its extermination. In confinement it becomes so tame as to feed from the hand of its
captor.

Wilson, eojjying from Dr. Latham's "Synojjsis," gives an account of the breeding
of this bird which, though long considered as trustworthy, is now known to be erro-
neous. The Flamingo does not build uj) a small hillock-like nest, hollowed at the
top, on which it can sit, resting either foot on the ground. The nest is raised but
slightly above the surface, and only just enough to jirotet^t it from the danger of
being overflowed \>\ tin water of the marshes in which it is i)la(^ed.

Mr. J. L. Hurdis states that a party from JJermuda, in .Tidy, 1850, visited the
Bahamas, Avhere they found the Fhnuingoes in great numbers. This party visited
Luke IJosa and waded to some of the islands, the water being only knee-{leep. On
one of these islands there were at least two Inuidred of these birds, too shy to admit
of a near ajjproach. Man\' young Flamingoes were discovered, some of which were
run down and captiu'cd. These had an .awkward gait, but scuttled along at a good
puce. They were in the gray jilumage, of different stages of growth. Mv. Hollis —
one of the ])arty — stated that he saw several of the nests of these birds, and obtained
some of their eggs. These all i)roved to be addled, and to have been thrown out by
the parent birds. He s]ieaks of them as being white, and abcmt the size of the egg
of the Common Goose. The nests were comjjosed of nuul and sticks, more or less
raised, on account of the surrounding water. The highest was not more than nine
inches above the ground, while many others were nearly level with it. T^'c surface
was hollowed out, and only capable of holding two eggs.

Mr. Audid)on mentions meeting. >[ay 7, LS;i2. while sailing from Indian Key, a
Hock of Flamingoes advancing in *• Indian file," with spread wings, outstretched
necks, and long legs directed backward. These birds were very shy, and kept at a
distance, so that he was not able, during his stay in Florida, to procure a single
specimen. He states that these Flamingoes have been met with along the eastern
coast to as far as Charleston, S. C., where some were procured as late as 1830. Nore
liave ever been seen about the Mississippi or in Tex.is.

This bird is said to be common in Cuba, especially among the small islands on the
southern shore not far from the nuiinland. Its Hight is like that of an Ibis, usually
in lines, with neck and legs extended, alternately flapping and sailing at brief inter-
vals. It usually sails round a locality several times before it alights, doing this for

VOL. I. — 53 •

418

LAMELLIRO.^TRAL GHALLATORES — rnCENICOPTERI.

the most part in shallow Avati-r, and ravoly on tho land. Its walk is slow and stiff;
and it moves with great cantion, its height enabling it to wateh for the approach of
enemies. In flying over water it rarely rises higher than ten feet; but in crossing
land it always increases its elevation.

Mr. A. ^lallory — as quoted by Mr. Audubon — writes, in 1837, that the Flamin-
goes were then breeding on the Keys near ^Matanzas. lie describes the nests as being
built on the ground, and as irregular masses of earth placed in salt ponds, surrounded
by Avater and two or three feet above it, their tops being hollowed out, and without
lining.

The number of eggs is always two, and they are descril)ed as being white, about the
size of those of a Goose, sliowing, when scraped, a bluish tinge within. The young arc
said to be white at first, and not to attain their full scarlet color until they are two
years old. They take at oiu;e to the water, and cannot walk until two weeks after
they are hat "lied. Mr. Audubon describes an egg ])rocured from (!uba by Dr. Bach-
man as measuring li^ inches in length by 2^ in l)readth, of an elongated shape, pure
white externally, and of a bluish tint where the surface has been scraped. The
shell is described as being rough, granulated, and rather thick.

Dr. Bryant found the Bahamas a favorite resort of the Flamingo, and saw im-
mense numbers of them at different localities. He heard of three lireeding-places.
but was iniable to visit them, owing to ill health ; these were the lUght of Bahama,
Audros Island, and Inagua. The sauu' observer had seen it stated in the " Natural-
ist in Bermuda" that this bird does not sit on its nest Avith its legs hanging doAvn on
each side ; but all the persons he questioned in regard to this statement — and they
were quite a number, there being among them several very intelligent persons — gave
him the same account of its nesting ; namely, that the nest is built of clay or marl,
and that it is raised gradually, the bird Avaiting for one layer to dry before applying
another, and that Avhen completed the nest has a conical form, resembling a sugar-
loaf in shape, and being slightly excaA'ated at the toj); also that the bird sits m
it Avith its legs hanging down on each side. The breeding-places are in shallow
lagoons, at a distance from the shore ; and as the bottom is a tenacious clay, they
can only be approached Avith great exertion. The eggs, Avheu fresh, are pure Avliitc,
have a smooth feeling to the touch even when the surface exhibits numerous slight
de})ressions, and resemble plaster models rather than eggs. They are of an extremely
elongated shape, and taper at one end, A-arying greatly in size. One taken by Dr.
Bachman at Matanzas, Cuba, measures 3.40 indies by 2.00 ; another, also from Cuba,
3.80 inches by 2.11. Tavo procured in the Bahamas measure, one 3.55 inches by 2.08,
the other 3.63 inches by 2.20.

id stiff ;
:oach of
[jrossing

Flamin-

as being

■rounded

without

ibout the
ouug ave
r are two
eks after
Dr. Baeh-
ape, pure
)ed. The

L saw im-
ng-plaees.
Bahama,
"IS'atural-
jT down on
-and they
)ns — gave
y or mail.
e applying
g a sugar-
rd sits m
in shallow
elay, they
nire white,
rous slight
extremely
ten by Pr.
from Cuba,
es by 2.08,

ORDEii ANSERES.

THE LAMELLIROISTRAL SWIMMERS.

Char. Lamellirostral Swimming Birds, with straight bills, short legs (always
shorter than the wing), the tibiie usually completely feathered, and scarcely free
from the body ; hallux well developed, though usually small, never absent. Eepro-
duction pruicocial, and young ptilopa^dic ; eggs numerous and unmarked, with a
liard, usually very smooth, shell.

Like the Phwnkojiter!, the Order Anseres is composed of a single family, wliich,
however, includes very numerous genera and species. The Order is represented in
every portion of the globe, but most numerously in the northern hemisphere.

Family ANATID^. — The Swans, Geese, and Ducks.

Char. The same as those of the Order.

The Family Anutidir, which includes all the known Anseres proper, or Lamelli-
rostral Swimmers, constitutes so well-marked and natural a group of birds as to need
no further definition than that given above. The Anat'uhe are allied most nearly to
the Phfinicoj}teri(/tr, or Klamingoes, which, however, are trenchantly separated by
many striking peculiarities of structure. The sj)ecies being very numerous, naturally
fall into several more or less \vell-detined groups, which have been accorded the rank
of sub-families. These, however, grade so insensibly into one another, that it is
extremely doubtful whether this rank can be maintained for them.* Birds of this
t'iunily are found in every known part of the world ; but they abound most in the
northern hemisphere, particularly in boreal regions. Tlie North American repre-
sentatives may, for convenience of classiHcation, be divided into three toleral)ly
well-defined groups, as follows : —

Cygninae. Neck extremely long (as long as or longer than the body) ; size very lai-ge ; bill
longer than the head, tiie edges parallel, the nail small ; tarsi shorter than middle toe ;
lores naked ; tail-feathers 2()-24 ; color chiefly or entirely white (e.\cept in Chenopis
atrata, the Bhu^k Swan of Australia).

' " The whole fnmily Anatidw forms, as to structural fentures, a very homogeneous group, and inter-
mediate links are everywliere to l)o found. TIius it is very difficult to define the sub-fumilies anatomically,
and to give the structural diU'ercnccs by which tlicy are to b<! separated, so that I find it not improbable
that an exact investigation, bnscMl on a more abundant material than I can at present procure, will reduce
the sub-families to groups of lower rank." — Stejnegeu, in Pioc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 5, 1882, pp.
174, 175.

■ HJIUl^P IMJ

420

LAMELLIROSTRAL 8WTMMKRH — AN8ERES.

AnserinaB. Neck iiicxlcrutely long (shorter thuii tbe botly) ; size viuiiible (iiMUrtUy meiliiim,
never very larne) ; bill not lonj,'er tliiin the lieiid, tiiperin^; to the end, which is chiclly
occupied by the \av^i; broail nuil ; tarsus lon},'er than the njiildle toe ; K)res leathered ;
tail-leathei's 14-:iO ; color extremely variable.

AnatiuBB. Neck moderately lonj,' (shorter tiiaii the body) ; size variable (usually small or
medium) ; bill extremely variable ; tai-sus shorter than the middle toe ; lores usually
feathered ; tail-1'eathei-s 14-lH ; color exti'eniely variable.

Sub-family CYGNIN.^, Bonapautk. — The Swans.*

"1838. —Cygnimr, Br. Coniii. List, p. 55.
1850. — Cijgniih; KaiM' (Jide fiUAv).
1852. — VIorimv, Hkiciiii. .Syst. Av. p. x.
\mQ.— Cycnidtv, Des Muus, Tr. Ool. Ornith. p. 537.

" DiAGN. Anatida havixg the hind toe without web and tlie lores naked, coincident with reticulatt
tarsi, the latter shorter than the middle with the claw.

" Neck very long, as long as, or longer than, the body. Bill longer than the head, broad, ami
of nearly ecjual breailth for the whole length, roundetl at the end, culmen high, depressed at the
tip ; nail rather large, only slightly arched ; lamellie of u|)per maudiiile vertical, in one row ;
nostrils situated nearly at the middle of the bill, in the fore part of the oblong nasal sinus. Lores
naked in the adults ; in all species, except one, thinly covered with small down or feathers in the
young. Legs short, stout ; lower part of tibia naked ; tarsi compressed, much shorter than the
middle toe with the cLiw, and covered with small hexagonal plates, the size of which diminishes
laterally and posteriorly ; the anterior toes reticulate as far as the second Joint, then scutcllate ;
middle toe longest, longer than the tarsus, the outer longer than the inner, which has a broad
margin ; hind toe short, elevated, and without web, the cjaws strong, arched, compressed, except
the middle, which is only compressed on the one side, the claw of the inner toe in (dil birds the
largest and most arched. Wings long, am|)le, the inner remiges highly develoj)ed, with about 32
quills. Tail composed of 20-24 rectrices, short, rounded, or cuiieate.

" Sexes similar.

" The preceding marks eondjined appear to express the essential characters of the Gygnime. r>y
this diagnosis I follow Mr. Sundevall in excluding the genus Coscoroba, Rkichb., which has tlic
lores feathered at all ages. . . . The removal of Coscoroha to the Anatinw will be discussed more
explicitly below. The criterion ' tai-si reticulate' further excludes the genera Cairinu, Vi.vM,
and Plectropterus, Leach, which, it is true, have the lores naked, but the tarsi of which are scutel-
late instead of reticulate. Anseruuas, Less., luis cert^iinly both nakecl lores and reticulate tarsi, but
differs in having the tarsus longer than the middle toe with claw.

" Anatidce which do not at once unite all the above cliaracters consequently belong to one uf
the other sub-families."

"Synopsis of the Genera.

a'. Predominant color of the adults white ; young with downy or feathered lores ; tertiaries ami
scapulars normal, not crisp ; tail longer than the midillc toe with claw.
6'. Tail cuneate ; the young with the down on the sides of the liill not forming loral antiiu.t
c\ Inner webs of outer four primaries an<l outer webs of the second, third, fourth, and
fifth sinuated ; the young with the down on the sides of the bill reaching alm<i-'
to the nostrils ; webs of the feet scalloj)eil.

• In the preparation of this article on the ('ijffmme imicli use has been made of the very valimbU'
"Outlines of a Monograph of tlie Cijgnimv," by Dr. Ijtionhard Stejncgcr, ])ublishud in Vol. 5 of llif
" Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum," pp. 174-221. The matter taken directly therefrom is
inclosed in quotation marks.

t This term denotes the ])rojecting angle of the loral feathering at the base of the bill.

ANATID.K — THE SWANS.

421

niudiuui,
is chiolly
iutlnji'cil ;

' small ov
9 usuully

h reticuluk

broad, uiul
issed at thi;

0)11! row ;
lus. LfiriK
hers ill tlu^
!r tliiui tlii;

diiiiiui>li(M
I si'uti'lbitc ;
has a bioii'l
ssed, exfi'lit
Id birds the

til about 32

yyn ince. Hy
liich lias the

ussed iiioii!

»«, Fl.KM.,

are scntid-

ite tarsi, but

m to one oi"

1. StheneluB, Stkjnkukr, 1882.

A Inner webs of outer tliree priniaiies and outer web* of the second, third, and fourth
slnuated; the younj,' with the chiwii on tlie sides of the bill teriuinatiuy fur back of
the nostrils ; webs of the feet straight, not Hcalloped.

2. Cygnus, Ukciist., 1803.

6'. Tail rounded ; the young with the down on tiie sides of the bill fonning very distinct loral
antiu!.

3. Olor. Waol., 1832.

a". Predoaiiiiant color of the adults Ijlackish ; the young with naked lores ; tertiaries and scaini-
lurs crisp ; tail shovter tlian the middle toe with claw.

4. Chenopis, Waql. 1832.

" ftftxjrd/thh'ii/ iJlsti'iltntion.

" The Ci/(/m'»WB appear both in the northern and the soutliern hemispheres as e.xtra-tropical biixls,
no representatives of these large Litmdlinmtnii being found within tiie tropics. They are conse-
([ueiitly wanting both in tlie Indo-Ariii-an Troiiical — they do not at all breed in Africa — and in
llie American Tropical Region, only one species being met with in the South American Temperate
and one in the Australian liegion. Tiie remaining seven species occur in the Arctic and the
North Temperate Uegions, the greatest numlH.r, viz., five, being found in the Old World, and here
I liey only extend their winter migrations to the two southern provinces, the Mediterranean and
tlie Manchurian, without breeding tiiere. The two North American species only breed within the
American division of the Arctic Hegion.

" The foUowhig table gives a synopsis of their distribution : —

Arutit! reg.

Xnrthtemp. reg.

Name of species.

1
( j Iiido-Afr trop. reg.

X South Anier. temp.

Australian rep.

S't/icneliis melancorypha . .

''i/lliius (libbus

—

--—

—

' itiiiiialabil is .

—

Unwiiii ....

—

, 0/ur ci/(jHus

—

licwickii

—

..^

ciiluinhianus ....

-—

—

buccinator ....

— .

—

— .

—

Chenopis alrutus ....

—~

—

_ ..

irtiai'ies ami

•al antiiu.t

fourth, aiul

;hing almo^'

very valualiK'

''ol. 5 of tliu

therefrcni is

Of the genera, as defined above, only the thirtl {Ohr) belongs to North America, the remainder
Iiciiig distributed as follows : —

Tiie lirst, Sthenclus (new genus, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. Ti, July 25, 1882, p. 183), includes
only the Black-necked Swan (Anns nulancorypha, Moi.., Cygnus nigrlcollis, Auct. e.v Gmkl.) of
Chili and other parts of Soutliern South America; Cygnus proper contains three species (one of
liifiii the common domestic species), all of them peculiar to the Palanirctic Region ; Clienopis, in-
cluding only the Black Swan of Australia {Anas atrata, Lath., Cygnus atmtus, Auct.), is confined
til Southern Australia.

As before remarked, the Coscoroba Swan (Anas coscoroba, Mol., Cygnus coscoroba, AuCT., Anser
cundidiis, ViElLL., Coscoroba camliila, Stejn.) of South America, while resembling the true Swans
ill its large size and pure white color, agrees in structure with the Ducks, and can properly be
considered only as a gigantic memlier of that sub-faiuily.

422 LAMELLIROSTllAL SWIMMERS — ANSEKES.

Geni's OLOR, Wagleb.

Olor, Waul. Isis, 1832, 1234 (typf, Anas cygmis, Linn.)-

Ohar.* Neck very loti^' (li)ii>,'cr thiiii llio body), bill lotij,'L'r than the lii'iul (commissure! lonf,'cr
thim tlio tarsus), widening' slightly to the end, the edges straight ; hasul jiortiun of the bill covercil
by a soft skin extending over tlie loi^'s to the eye, the upper outline running nearly straight bai k
from the forehead to the upper eyelid, the lower running from the eye oblitpiely downward, in a
nearly straight line, to the rictus. Nostrils situated a little posterior to the middle of the maxilla,

'III-

V. hnccinalor.

and quite near tlie culnien ; no trace of a knol) or caruncle at base of the bill. Lower portion uf
the tibia bare ; tarsus nuich shorter than tlu; middle toe (l)ut little longer than the inner), mm li
compresi?ed, covered with hexagonal scales which become smaller on the sides and behind. Hind
toe small, much elevated, the lolw narrow. Tail very short, rounded, or graduated, of 20 to i I
feathers. Wings rounded, the second and third quills Imigest ; i>rimaries scarcely reaching beyoiid
the ends of the secouduries. Color entirely wliiti-, the sexes alike ; young pale grayish,

"Synopsis of the Species.

o*. The distance from the anterior angle of the eye to the hind border of the nostrils much longer
than the distance from the latter to the tip of the bill.
h^. The yellow color at the basi' of the 1)ill extending beyond the no.itril.^.

* " DiAGX. ; edominant color of the adults white ; the young with downy or feathered lores, the down
on the sides of the bill teniiinating far back of the nostrils, and forming very distinct loral antia; ; tcrtiaiiis
and scapulare normal, not crisj) ; tail longer than the niiddip toe with claw, rounded ; inner webs of outi r
three primaries, and outer webs of the second, third, and fourth, sinuated | webs of the feet not scalloped "
(Stejneoeb, tQia. cU. pp. 197, 198).

ANATIDE — THE SWAXS — OLOR.

423

1. CygnuB (Linn.), 17^8.

6'. The yellow color at the bnse of tliu l)ill not uxlendint? to the nostriln.

c* Siimller : Total Icn^'tli alMiiit 1, 150 mm; midillc toe with daw about 125 mm; the
yellow spot ut the liasc ot' ilic liijl making at least one third of the svirface of the bill
and lores.

2. Bewiokil (Vauk.), 1830,

c*. Larger: Total k'nj,'th about l,400mni; middle too with idaw about 140mm; the
yellow spot at the base of the bill making,', at most, one fifteenth of the surface of the
bill and lores.

3. ColumbiauuB (Oud.), 1810.

n^. The distance from the anterior anj,de of the eye to tin; hind border of the nostrils equal to the
distance from the latter to the tip of the bill.

4. Buccinator (Rich.), 18C1."

The North Amerii'an species of (Jlor may be readily distiiij;nislied by the foUowini,' characters : —

1. O. oolumbiauua. Tail-featheis usually 20 ; bill not Ioniser than tiie liea(',the anterior end

of the nostrils considerably anterinr to the miiUlle of the ma.xilla ; iiakei' loral skin usually
with a yellow obion],' spot.

2. O. buccinator. Tail-f' -ithers usually 24 ; bill longer than the bead, the anterior end of

the nostrils roacliiii^' to about the middle (jf the ma.vilhi ; nake<l loral skin entirely black.
Size considerably larger.
Through a mi.sconception of statements made on )). 4C5 of the " Fauna Horeali-.lmericana," Vol.
II,, the author of a "Nomenclature of North American Birds" (I'uU. U. .*■>. Nat. Mus. No. 21)
iiK luded Bewick'.s Swan in the Nortli American fauna. In this, however, it .leems that he was
iu error, as pointed out on pp. 210 and 211 of Dr. Stejneger's Monogra))h, before referretl to. In
view, however, of the possibility that this species may yet be found within our limits, we quote
liolow, from Dr. Stejneger's paper, its chief synonymy and principal characters : —

" Olor BewiokU, Yarr. (Bewick's Swan)."

" Diagn. The distance from the anterior angle of the eye to the hind border of the nostrils is
nuich longer than the distance from the latter to the tip of the bill ; the yellow color at the base
of the bill does not extend to the nostrils, making at least one third of the surface of the bill and
lores. Smaller : Total length about 1150 nnn ; middle toe with claw about 125 mm."

Syii, — 1830, — Ci/i/HUs Bewiclii, Yaureli,, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI. j). 453 (ncc Ririi, 1831 qute 0.

columhianus, t)l!l>).
1838, — Ci/gnus islamlicus, Nau.m,, Wieom, Archiv IV, 1838, p. 364 (nee BiiEUM, 1830, quae

Olor cygiuis, Linn.),
1838, — Cijgnus Bcnckkii, KvToy, Monogr. Anat, PI. 18 (err. ti//>.).
1840. — Ciigiiiis minor, Keys. & I$i.as, Wirbelth. Europ. p. LXXXII.
1842. — Cifgtuis mela7wrhiiiiis, Nau.m. Viig. Deutsclil. XI. p. 4S>7.
1851. — Cijgnus mu.sicus, Kj.kiiboll. Orn. Uan. PI. XLIV. (ncc Bechst. quse 0. eijgnus,

Linn.),
1854, — Vygnus ameriiMHUs, Haktl, Naumannia, 1864, p. 327 (nee Suarpl, quoe columbianus,

Okd),
1856, — ' Ci/gmts Altumi, Homeyer,' Bp. Cat, Parzud,, p, 16.
1866. — ' Ctjgnits Allumii, Uadekek,' Schi.eoel, Mus. P, B. VI, Anseres, p. 82.
1880, — Cygnua Bewicki, Dkesser, Birds of Eur, pt, Ixxvii.-kxix,"

Olor cygnus.

THE HOOPEB SWAN.

Anas cygnus, Linn. S. N. ed, 10, I, 1758, 122 ; cd, 12. 1. 1766, 194,

Olor cygnus, " Bonap," Ridow, Proc, U, S, Nut, ilus. Vol. 3, 1880, 202, 222 ; Xom. N. Am. B.
1881, no. 586, — Stejn, Proc. U. S, Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1882, 198.

424

LAMEMJROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES.

CyguuH ftrux, Li„uii, Syst. Cat. 181(1, 37. — Hteph. Opii. Zool. XII. 10, pi. 37. — Orav, fien.

H. 111. (110 ; (at. Hilt. W. 18(13, l.SS. — IIkinii. IMh, 18(11, 13 (Om-nlan.l).
Cijijnu^ mimini.i, UKcllsr. NiiluiK- Pt'ntsi'lil. IV. 1809, 830. — Uonai'. Coinp. List, 1838, bti. — Kkys.

& Hi.AM. Willi. Kiir. »-2. ^ Maciiim,. .Mun. II. 158. — Coukh, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 6l»0.
Olor m uHkus, Waoi.. Isis, 1832, 1^34.
Ci/gniM olor, I'ai.i,. Zooj^r. Ildsso-A.'i. II. 182(1,211.
Ciignun Tiiulhiii-hinHn, Nac.m. Viig. Deutsclil. XL 1842, 478, pi. 296.
iriii.il/iiiif or ll'i/il Siriiii, Ai'iT.
The J/oniKi; Elk; or n'hialUng Swan, Yaiik. Hiit. |{. ed. 2, III. 187, fig. ; ed. 3, III. 191, fig.

Had. Puliniirtic Rt'^jioii. Accidental in Uici'iiliind (Hki.mi. " Ilns," IftOl, 1.3).

Si'. CiiAii. " The (listaiicu from tlic (interior aii^li- of tlu' eye to the iiind liordcr of tlio nostril>
is much loii^'cr than llm distance from the latter to the ti[) of the lull ; the yellow color at tlu'
Itase of the bill extending beyond the iio.stribi, making two thirds of the ourface of the bill ami
lore" (3TE.IN. torn. lit).

Ad nil : Pure white, the head Hometimes tin^'ed with rusty; lores nnd basnl portion of bill to
beyond the nostril yellow, the terminal portion black ; iris brown ; lejjs nnd feet black. Yimng :
Grayish brown, the bill llesh-color basally, dusky terminally ; leg.s and feet (,'rayi.«h. Total lenf,'th
about Ct feet ; extent aliout T.OO-H.tK) feet ; winj,', 23.0()-:JO.()0 inches, culmeu (to frontal feathers)
4.(MJ-4.75 ; tarsus, 4.(H) ; middle toe, .5.(KMUM>.

The Wild Swan of the Old World has no other olaim to be classed as a Nortli
American bird than its siipjiosed jjresence in (Ireenland. Dr. Keinhardt states that,
accordinp to tiie accounts received from the Eskimos, it formerly bred on several
places near (Jodthaab, bnt was long ago totally exterminated by i)ersecutions at the
time of its moulting. During the fifteen years preceding the year 18G1, according to
that ithor, this bird had again made its appearance in Greenland ; and Holbijll states
that several individuals were observed at Julianeha<ab in 1846. Dr. Reinhardt saw two
specimens which had been sent from South Greenlaiul in 18/)2 ; and in .June, 1859, a
fine one was shot at Atanink, nearly ten miles north of CJodthaab. If undisturbed
this may again acquire a claim to be mentioned as one of the birds of Greenland.

Called in Europe the " Hooper," " Elk," or " Whistling Swan," this species is found
throughout Europe, breeding in the more secluded parts of the north, and appcariiii,'
in the winter in the more southern regions. Its very peculiar note, said to resemble
the word hnop, gives it the name by which it is most generally known.

This bird is a winter visitant of the more southern portions of the British Islands,
where it arrives in flocks about the middle of December, and in greater numbers
as the' weather becomes more severe. It is found throughout the year in the Orkneys,
where a few pairs breed, and where large flocks appear from the north in October,
a portion of these remaining all winter. In December these birds are seen flying in
compact bodies along the coast-lines, at which time the London markets are sometimes
supplied with them to profusion.

They also visit Holland, France, Spain, and Italy, and a few go as far south as
Barbary, or even Egypt ; in severe winters they are found in Corfu and Sicily.

Linuii'us, in his account of his travels in Lapland, mentions meeting with this SAvan
on several occasions ; he saw three at the residence of the Governor of the province
which were as tame as Domestic Geese. This bird is said to appear in La])laud witii
the first breaking-up of the ice, and to be the earliest of the Anatidai in its northern
migrations. It frequents the most secluded swamjjs and lakes in the wooded districts,
and in the northeastern portions of the country is rejiorted to be very numerous.

According to Bechstein this species is more frequently domesticated than the Mute
Swan, and there are several instances on record of its having produced young when
in confinement in England.

ANATin.E- THE SWAXS — OLOR.

425

Mr. YarrcU states that a pair of tlu'H«! Swans bred on oiio of the islands at the
Gardens of tho Zooloj^ical Society, in the sunimtT of IKW. As the Cyjrnets, wlicn
only a fow days old, were sunnin),' tiifnisclvcs on the niaij,'in of an island cdose to
dcci) water, a Carrion (!row made a descent and stmt k at one of tlicni. The nuile
iiird vMiw to the rescue in an instant, and seizing the Crow with his beak, pulled it
into the water, and in spite of its resistanct* held it there until it was drowned.

In the eastern parts of Europe tiiis species ranges from the lakes of Siberia in
summer to tiie Caspian Sea in winter. It is said to fly, in the manner of tht! Wild
(foose, in wedge-shaped Hocks, uttering, as it moves, a tine melodious clang; and this
is all which can be put forward on its belialf to support its claim to having a musical
voice. Its weight varies, in different individuals of this species, from thirteen to
twenty-one pounds.

The Wild Swan builds on the ground in secluded and marshy places, the nest being
large, and composed of rushes and coarse lierl)age. The .egg is described l)y Yarrell as
Ix'ing of a uniform ])ale brownisli white, and measuring four inches and one line; in
length by two inches and eight lines in breadth. The incubation of this Swan lasts
forty-two days. Its food consists of grasses, weeds, routs, and the seeds of ])lants.

According to Wiieelwrigiit tiiis bird is only seen during the periods of migration
in the southern and midland districts of Scandinavia. It breeds up in Lapland, gen-
erally in the retired Fell lakes. The eggs an^ seven in nund)er, in color a brown
yellow, rather shorter and tliicker than those of the common tanu* Swan. Many birds
of this species remain in the Sound, otf the southern coast of Sweden, during mild
winters ; but none are seen at this season off the north coast of Finland. An (!gg in
my cabinet, taken by Proctor in Iceland in 1841, is of a dark ivory color, and measures
i.liO by 2.yO inches.

Olor columbianuB.

THE WHISTLING SWAN.

? Cuffnus ferua, Baktii. Trav. 17!»1, 294 (tiiny be 0. bttceinnfor).

Ci/niiiis vutsicus, lioNAT. Syiio|>. 1828, .379 (nee riKciisr. 1809).

Ci/gmis Bewicki, S\v. & liiiii. F. IJ. A. II. 1831, 405 (iii'i' Yaiik.). — Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 372.

t'ljgnus ferns, Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 36(i (iiei; Lkacii, ISlC).

Cjignus americniiiin, Siiaki'I.k.ss, DoiiRlity's Cab. N. H. I. 1830, 185, pi. 10. — AuD. Oni. Hiog. V.

1839, 1.33, |.I. 411 ; .Synop. 1839, 274 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 226, j.l. 384. — Baiup, B. N. Am.

1858, 758 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 561 a. — CoUKs, Key, 1872, 281 j Clicck List, 1873, no.

477 ; B. N. W. 1874, 545.
Olor amcn'cnnu.i, GiiAV, Cat. Brit. Mus, 1844, 131. — Bonai'. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1856. — Ridow.

Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 588.
Anas columhiiiHUs, Oiin, fiulhrio's Gcog. 2il Am. ed. 1815, 319.
Cijijiius colnmhimuts, CouKs, Bull. U. .S, Oeol. & Gcogr. Surv. Terr. 2d series, no. 6, 1876, 444 ; Check

List, 2d cd. 1882, no. 689.
Olor columbianiis, Stf.jn. Proii. T. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1882, 210.

Hab. The whole of Noilli America, breeding far north ; accidental in Scotland.

Rp. Char. Tail usually of twenty I'eatliers ; bill not longer than the head. Adult: Entire
plumage pure while, the head, sometimes the neck, or even entire under parts, tinged with rusty.
Bill, tarsi, and feet deep black, the bare loral skin usually marked by an oblong spot of orange
or yellow (dull pale reddish, yellowish, or whitish in the skin); iris brown. Young: Light
lilnmbeous, paler beneath, the fore jiart and top of the head tinged with reddish brown. Bill
reddish fleah-color, dusky at the li]) ; feet tlull yellowish flesh-color, or grayish.

Total length, about 53.00-55.50 inches ; extent about 7.00 feet ; wing, 21.50-22.00 inches ;
culmeii, 3.82-4.20 ; tarsus, 4.06-4.32 ; middle toe, 5.40-5.90.

VOL. I. — 54

.' : I

426

LAMELLIRdSTRAL SWIMMKRS — AN'SEUKfl.

"The priiiciiml mmtomiwjl ehiiriicter of thin 8|K;cie(i in the iliHponition of tho trncliua in tlir
Btcniuiii, it iiiiikiiih' liiit one hnri/ontnl liiiii upon iLsi-lf at thi; point farthest from ils entrance in
the front of the eiilai^ed carina. We have not iuul the opportunity of exanliniM^r full nki'letons or
perfect Hkulls of the other North American M|(fcieH of Swan (O. Intccinutor), hut it pruliably a^reeM
with Ihiti in tlie purticulurH dilferiiig from tlie other AitMrinte. The ^^eiierul form of the skull is

i''

>lA'

JI^^HI

mudi more slender ; its height is less in proiwrtion to its leiigtli ; the occipital condyle is deeinr
and more rounded ; the descending process of the lachrymal shows a widely expanded quadrate
external surface, which is wanting in the Geese. The development of the frontal sinuses, aiul
the obliteration of the retreating angle between the anterior jwtrtions of the 'rontul bones, whicli
is sometimes to be observed, appear to be merely evidences of full maturity." (fl. M. Bannis-
ter, MS.)

The smaller of the North American Swans, known amon^ authors as the "Ameri-
can Swan,'' is found throu^'hoiit the more northern jtoitions of the continent from
the Atlantic to tlie raeitic. It is not, however, abundant on either coast near tlie
sea. In the summer it fretjuents the lii^'h interior, and breeds on islands in inland
lakes ami along tlie shores of the Arctic Ocean. It is very rare in New Entfland,
though ])robably some of this species do pass over this region each year in tlitir
autumnal migrations ; in fact, specimens are occasionally secured. ( )iie was taken
at Xahant, and is now in the museum of tiie Hostoii Society of Xatural History, 1
am not aware, however, tliat any have been observed in New England in the sjjrin.u.
Mr. (liraud includes this liird among the winter visitants of Long Island, and it is
the only Swan known to occur in that neighborliood.

On the Pacific coast large flocks of these Swans were seen by Dr. Cooper on the
Columbia Kiver, in the Cascade Canon, in IStiO, as early as Ort(dier lil), and their
migrations southward appeared to be generally <piite early. Dr. Cooper had pre-
viously — in 185.'i — seen them in the lakes of the Columbia riuin. about the saiiie
time. He also st *"i that tliis Itird ajjpears t(i be less common in California than
the buccinator. During the entire winter it is abundant on the Colunibia Hiver and
the fresh-water lakes toward tlie north, so long as these are not frozen. At suili
times it occasionally — but very rarely — appears on salt water. These birds arrive
on tlie Columbia in Octtdier, flying in long V-shaped lines, and uttering loud whooji-
ing cries. They feed almost altogether on vegetable food, such as the roots of tlie
Sagittaria, and on grasses and various water-i)lants. In searching for these, as well
as for snails, their long necks become quite useful in deep water.

Hearne, in his " Arctic Voyage " (]>. 435^, writing nearly a century ago, states that

AXATin.f; — THE SWANS — OLOR

427

i'lOlll

the
luiid
ami,
their
liken
I

it is

on till'
their

il pie-
siinie
than

?v ami
sm'li
arrive
vlioop-
of the
is well

's that

l)oth this HpocieH and the O. biicdiiafor viHit Hudson'H Bay in the aummer, and that
there appoared to be no p«'re»'ptil)ln difforenet' Ix'tweon them exeept in Hize. (). Colum-
A/V/wi'swa.s then the more eommoii one near llin Hca-eoast. Imt was liy no means aliun-
daiii, lieinR seen only in jiairs, or occasionally singly, where the mate had been shot
on tlio passage nortli. The weight of this bird lie gives as varying from nineteen to
twenty-four pounds.

According to Uichanison, this Swan arrives in the Arctic IJcgions later tlian the
(toese, and l)reeds on the small lakes of the coast and islands of the Arctic Sea. its
nest is generally plai-ed ou a small island, and is (!onstrueted of- any htose nniterials
which happen to be in the inimeiliate vicinity. These are heai>ed together until a
hirge mound is iornied. 'i'his Itird is very shy. and can usually be killed only at
a long shot with a ball. In its migrations soni*' flocks (U'e said to cross the interior,
imt the greater part follow the coast-line of Hudson's Hay. Richardson states fnr-
tiier that it is only seen in the interior of the I'ur Countries on its passage. He
mentions that Captain liyon describes its nest as being Imilt of moss-peat, and as
having a length of nearly six feet, a width of four and three (piarters, and a height
on the outside of two feet, the cavity being a foot .'ind a half in diameter. The eggs
are said by the same authority to be brownish white^ or wliite slightly clouded with
a brownish tint.

Mr. George Harnston states that at ))resent, except in a few i)articular localities,
this Swan has become scarce on the shores of Hudson's Hay. It is seen at the same
time as tlm other migratory birds, winging its way to more secluded ret-esses in the
north, nesting throughout the interior. In the scarcity of its favorite food, the roots
of the Saiflttarla suffittlfoUti, it has recourse to those of the Kijui'srtuic.u' and the ten-
der underground runners of certain grasses iieculiar to northern latitudes. A few
of these birds are said by him to stop to breed in the interior, and not to reach the
Arctic coast. Mr. Barnston had two eggs brought to him from a nest on the banks
of a lake near Norway J louse; but these eggs weie probably those of <), hiiecinntor
A considerable niunber of this s])ecies hatch near Eastman's Fort, in James Bay. As
an article of food Mr. Barnston regards this bird as being decidedly inferior to Geese
of every description — differing in this respect from most writers.

From NovenilM'r to March this Swan is abundant in the waters of the Chesapeake
and in all the inlets of North Carolina. In the latter it is now said to be more com-
mon than formerly, having been partially driven from Chesapeake Bay by the severity
of the warfare waged u|)on it. An occasional specimen, according to Major Wedder-
burn, is seen in the Bernnida Islands.

An experienced sj)ortsman who contributed an account of this species to "Doughty's
Cabinet" states that, unless the weather at the north has l)een unusually severe, this
species rarely appears in the Chesapeake until the middle of November. He adds
that this Swan, when less than five years old, is by far the finest eating of any of
tiie Waterfowl found on that bay. It possesses the flavor of the finest Goose, and is
iar more tender. The length of time that its flesh can be preserved untainted is also
mentioned as remarkable, this same writer having seen one still perfectly sweet four
weeks after its death, no other method of preservation than an exposure to the air
having been employed.

The age of this Swan may be known by the color of the feathers, the yearling
k'ing of a deep leaden tint, with a delicate red bill. In the second year it has a
lighter color, and a white bill. In the third season the bill has become jet black,
and about one third of the nlumage is still tipped Avith gray; and until it is fully
five years old an occasional cher will present this tint of youth. This bird is sup-

428

LAMKI.IJIIOSTKAL SWIMMKUrt - ANSKIlKS.

]H)iit'il to livo to a great iigis luid its Ht>Hli Inm-oiiu'h <'xcc>t>iliiigly toiiKl> mid tiiHtt'li'MR.
Ill coiiHcriiUMifc (if this, tin' iiKHi' fX|M'rii'ii( I'll liuiitfiH of tlit' ('licHa|H-ak*' UHiutlly
allow tli<> |iati'iai'i-lis ol tlif tlnck, who h'ail in tlicir tlight, to pass iiiiliariiinl, 'rhcHc
ohl IcadiTs hav<- a note llioii^'ht to rcsriulih' in a rcniaikalilc ih-^ict' thi> hoiiiuI of a
coniinon tin lioin; and tlu* unntuHiunl i-liamctt'r of their crii-N increaHCH in intniHity
with tiifir aK"'.

In the autumn of ISl".) the writer vas, with another person, on Ahhy Islam), whrii
seven Swans were apjiroaehinn the I'oiiit in one line, and three others were a short
distance iH-hiud them. The Hmall k>'<»M* endeavored to pass the luri^er, an<l as they
doubled the i'oint, at about sixty yards' distance, the three formed \\i;h the sccdnij
birils of the larger tlock a s([uaru of less than three feet. .\t this moment both kuii->
weru dischar^'ed and threo HwauH weru kiUed, luid the fourth so much injured tlmi
it left the tiock. These woro all less than five yeiirH old, and avera^'ed eiKhlecn
pounds in wei^dit.

These .Swans rarely, if ever, leav** the open shorea of the bay for the Hide streams,
and few, after their regular settlement, are found above Spesutie Islaml; but they
are seen in flocks, varying from lifty to five hundred in number, along the western
shores as far down aH the mouth of the I'otomai'. Since tlu'se observations were
made, however, the number of thestt birds I'reijuenting that region has been greatly
redm'e<l.

During a still night a few Swans could often be .seen asleep in the mithlle of the
bay, surroiincU'd by a group of far more watchful (leese; and the writer from whose
account this information is derived was paddh-d, one morning at daybreak, within
ten feet of a sleeping Swan. The food to which this Itird seems to be most partial
on the Chesapeake is the eanva.ss-back grass, wtu'ms, in.sects, and small shelllish. It
rarely actually flies, even when pursued by a boat, unless very closely followed; and
when it does ri.se, it i.s generally with a scream. On alighting in the water, particu-
larly if an> other birds of the same species are near, there is usually an interchange
of noisy greetings. Even when one of the wings ut this bird has been broken, it can
.swim with great rapidity, and if not otherwi.so hurt a single oarsman is rarely able to
overtake it.

Dr. Sharpless, of riiiladelpliia, stiites that he has known unwounded birds to
collect around a cripjdcd eomi)anion and urge it to escape, pushing it forward ami
placing themselves on each side, sui)porting the broken wing, and abuost lifting the
object of their affectionate care out of the water. The same writer — probably also
the author of the article referred to as having ap])earcd in " Doughty's Cabinet" —
furnished Mr. Audubon with a full account of the habits of this species, as observed
by him in winter, in the waters of the Chesapeake. lie states that in its migratiiuis
southward it collects in flocks of twenty ov thirty, and moves only when the wind
is not op))osed to the direction of its flight. It mounts high in the air, forms an
elongated wedge, and utters loud screams as it departs, these cries being oecasionall\
repeated as the bird moves on its wny. AVhen flying, tlu? wings seem almost without
movement, and their sweej) is very unlike the semicircidar movements of Ui'ese. Dr.
Sharpless estimates that this bird travels at the rate of at least a hinulred miles an
hour when at a high elevation and with a moderate wind in its favor. Its flight is
estimated to be twice as rapid as that of the Wild Goose.

In travelling from its summer abode to its winter residence, this bird keeps far
inland, mounted above the highest peaks of the Alleghany, and rarely follows tin
watercourses. It usually arrives at its regular feeding-grounds at night, and signal
izes its coming by loud and vociferous screaming, with which the shores ring for

AVAxrn.K THi: swans oLOII.

120

ROViM'iil himi's. Ill till' Hilling tlii'Mi' bii-ilN a^iiiii itHHtMiililc iih t'lirlv us .Miinli, uinl
iifti'i' iiuiiiy pri'panitioiiH liy iticrHHiint wiisliiu^'s imhI ilii'HMin^.s, iiu'iiiiwliili' ilistiirltiiiK
till' iici^'lilHirli<ii>il with tlifir iioisf, tliry i|i'|iai't tur tin* iinrtli with ii ^'iiii'i'iil rhiiiinr
of uiiniiiMical Hi'i'i'iiiiiH. Ill thi- (!hi'.sa|M'iikr Ihcy ciilk'i't in thx ks ol trmii uiir to tivi>
liiiiiilri'tl i)U the HiitH nt'iir tlix wt'stnii nIiihi-h. t'loiii the mniitli ul' the Siisi|iii'haiiiiii
iiliiiost to thi> Wip Klips. Whfii ahiniii'il tliry Im>i'iiiiii> iiistiiiitly Hih'iit, anil tiii'y ih'priiil
iiiiirh mnrc on Hwiiiiiiiiii>,' than dii Hyiii},' tur cHVi'tinK' an I'smpf. Wlicii fVciiin^r, or
ihrs.siiif; tlii-ir ptuniaKc, this Swan is n.siiallv vciy mii.sy, ami at niKhl tlifsr I'lainors
iiiiiy Ik) hi'ui'il to tin- iliHtanco ot «i'V»'nil niili-s. Tlu-ir notes uii' vaiit'il, hdiiii- rcscm-
iiliiiK till' inwrr niii'M iiiaiii' liy the niiiiiiiuii till hoi'ii. iithcrs iiinniiiK' th^oll^'h tin- vaii-
(iiis ni(iiiiihitiiiiis of ihi' notos ut the rlarinct. 'I'lu'si' ilitVi'ii'in rs an' pirsimn'il to bu
ih'pfiiili'nt upon u^'c.

In HliootiiiK at a HyiiiK Swan, Dr. Sharph'ss stati'H that thi' hill shoiihl Im' ainu'il ut,
or, il K"'"K \vith a hrt'czf, a lout lict'orc thr hill. A Swan ran rarely he kilhd iihIosh
.stnick in the neck, anil lar^^e masses of feathers may he shot away without imiiedinj^
the hird'H proj,'ri'SH for a nioineiit. When woniiiletl in the win^,' only, these Swans
will reatlily heat off a (lo^,^ or even a man. They are sonietiiiies liidiinht within shoot-
ing ranj,'e hy sa^liii;,' down upon them while feeding,', as they rise to ilisailvaiitaj;"'
anainst the wiiiil. In winter, hy mt'iiiiH of white dresses anil lioiitH eovereil with iee,
sportsmen iiaihlle or float iiy nlKlit into the eentre of a Hoek, ami niimhers may thus
he killed liy hlows of a |ioIi'.

This ripeeies admits of lieiii^,' tamed and iKutially domestieati'd. A pair helong-
iiij,' to till' ('(Miit'tury ut Milford. Mass.. were exhihited at the pmiltry show in lioston
ill J871. They were perfectly tame, permitted themselves to he toiiehed without
resi.stanee, and fed readily from the hands id entire straii<,'eis,

Mr. MaeFarhine nientioiis this Swan as hreediiij,' in eonsiderahlc iiiiiiil)i'r.s in tlin
vii'inity of Fort Anderson. The i'^'f,'s were found from the middle of .liiiie to tho
last of .Inly, The nests were on the j,'ronnd, and K''"'''"dly lined with hay, or oeea-
sioiially with down and feathers. The maximum niimlier of e^'^'s was four. Other
ne.sts were Hocn on islands in Franklin ISay and in other portions of the Arctic Seu,
The ei,%'s taken in .Inly usually eontained emhryos.

Aecordiii},' to .Mr. Dull, this .Swan is comnion all alon^' the Vukon, arriving,' with
tile (iccse about .May 1, but in a contrary direction, coniin},' down instead of j,'oin>,' up
the river, and breediiif,' in the great marshes near the nioutli of that river. The ef,%s
are usually on a tussock ipiite siirroumled with water, and .so near it that the female
sometimes sits with her feet in the water. The Indian name of the species i.s
•• Tolnvuli." At Xulato the ej,'KS are laid abnit May L'l. but later ut the mouth of the
^■ukon. These iiirds moult in July, and cannot Hy ; at that time the Indians spear
them with bone tridents. They arc very shy. Mr. Uannister foiiinl them common at
St. Michael's. They flew in small Hocks of ten or twelve, in a sin.i,de line, udvancing
obliquely.

Caiituin Hendire. in a letter written \ov. 14, 187I-, mentions the cajiture of birds
<d' this species on Lake Harney, in Eastern Oregon, where it was very numerous.
The stomach of one contained about twenty small shells, half an inch in length,
and identical in kind with shells common on tlie beach near Los Angeles, Cal., a
ipiantity of gravel, and a few black seeds. He found the meat excellent — much
superior to that of the Wild (roose. On the 18th of A]>ril, l.S7o, he wrote, mentioning
the arrival of a large Hock, all of this species, there not being a huvrhiator among
them. He afterward noticed them as being very common on the liorders of Lake
Malheur during the migrations, a few remaining until April 2-^. lu the L!"pi)er

430

LAMELLIROSTIIAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES.

Sylvie's valley, in the Jilue Mountains, tlu'ii' tnuuiu'tings were heard as hate as May
21). They feed on tin- small bulbous loots of a water-plant growing near the shores of
the lake. ...' thinks that none breed there, and that only disabled ones remain on the
Oregon lakes in the summer.

Specimens of this Swan were procured by Air. Kennieott on the l'or('ui)ine Kiver,
and others by Mr. J. l{«'id on Itig Island. Tliey were obtained on the Anderson and
Swan rivers, as also on the IJarren CJrounds and the islands in Franklin liay, in the
Arctic Ocean, by Mr. MacFarlane.

The eggs of this sjjecies — those from Anderson liiver as well as those from the
Yukon — are all alike, and vary Imt little in size or color. They are of a uniform
unspotted buft'y white (;olor, becoming yellowish wlien exjmsed to tl'.e weather. Three
of these eggs furnish the following lueasurcments : 4.05 inches by 2.55, 4.25 by 2.80,
and 4.25 by 2.65.

Olor buccinator.

THE TRVMPETEB BWAN.

Cijgnus huceinatnr. Rich. ?. B. A. II. 1831, 4ti4 (Hudson's Hay). — Xctt. Mnn. II. 1834, 37ft.—
All.. Om. Biog. IV. 1838, ,036; V. 183!t, 114, j.ls 400, 376; .Syiioi.. 183!», 74; B. Am. VI.
1843, 2111, pi. 3»-.>, 383. Baikd, B. N. Am. 1858, 758; Cat. N. Am. B. 18.W, no. 562. -
CouES, Key, 1872, 281 ; ('lit-ck List, 1873, iio. 470; 2<1 f«l. 1882, no. 688; Birds N. \V. 1874,
544.

Olor hiicciua'nr, \Va(;l. Isi.s, 1832, 1234. — KiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 58». — .Ste.in. Proc
U. S. Nut. Mils. Vol. 3, 1882, 216.

Cygniis Pusmorci, IIinck.s, IV. I.inn. Soc VIII. 1864, 1 (" iionto) ; P. Z. S. 1868, 211. — Mookk,
P. Z. S. 1867, 8 (critical).

Hab. Chiefly the interior of North America, from the (Julf I'ou.it to the Fur Couiitriea, breed-
ing from Iowa and Dakota northward ; west to tlic Pacific coast, but rare or canual on the Atlantic.
Accidental in England.

Sp. Char. Tail of usually 24 feathers; bill longer than the head. Adult: Plumage entirely
pure white, the head, sometimes the neck also, or even the entire lower ])arts, tinged with rusty.

Bill, naked lores, legs, and feet, uniform deep black ; iris brown. Younrj: " In winter the yonn;,'
has je bill black, with the middle portion of the ridge, to the length of an inch and a half, light
flesh-color, and a large elongated patch of light dull purjjle on each side ; the edge of the lower
mandible and the tongue dull yellowish flesh-color. The eve is dark brown. The feet are dull yel-

ANATin.E — THE SWANS — OLOR.

431

lowiah brown, tiiii^etl witli olive ; the dawa brownish bliicii, the webs blackish brown. The upper
part of the head and the cheeks aiv li^,'lit ivddish brown, each leather having; toward its extremity
a small oblonj^ whitish spot, narrowly mur^'iiied with dusky ; the throat nearly while, as well as
the ed{,'e of the lower eyeliil. The ^.iieml color of the other parts is jjrayish white, slijihlly
tinged with yellow ; the upjitr jwrt of the neik marked with spots siualar to those on the head"
(Audubon).

Total lenj,'tli, about 58. "lO to(;8.(K( inches ; extent, about 8.(H)to nearly lO.tKt feet ; wing, 21.(Kt-
27.25 inches ; culineu (from fi\)ntid feathers) -1.3-1— 1.7(1 ; tarsus, 4.54-4.02 ; middle toe, ().(H)-G.5(I.

The arrangement i>f the Inu-liea in this species is very different from that in U. columbianm. in
having, besitles the hori/oiital bend, a vertical flexure, occupying a prominent prntulxjrance on the
anterior portion of the doi-sul aspect of ilu' sternum.

The Trunipi'ttT Swan is aluuwt exclusively foxind in the interior during the breed-
ing-.sea.son, is edniinon in all the valley of the Mississippi, and is found from Southern
t.'alifornia in the winter to the highest .Vrctic regions in the summer. It breeds in
the interior as far iu)rth at least as the 7(>th parallel, and as tar south as latitude
42°. A tew of this si)e(;ies breed in Central aiul Northern Iowa, and thence north-
ward.

On the Vaoitic coast, according to ] >r. f 'ooper, this is the prevailing si)ecies, n.s it also
is throughout the interior of the continent, being found in Minnesota and Nebraska
in Jtine, .Inly, and August, where some undoid)te(lly breed. It is i)resent in Califor-
nia in the middle of the winter only in small nundters, frequenting, as u.siud, the
inland fresh-waters, its habits are said to be much the same as those of the
Whooper, Init itserv is very different, resendding the notes of aFrencdi horn, and being
very .stniorous. These peculiar tones are dependent on the form of the windpipe,
which is very long, and Ix-nt in various S-shajied turns through hollows of the breast-
lione — the differences <'orres[iondiug to the different cries, as well as other distinc-
tions of the species. .\ Hock of what |)r. C(K>)>er supjjosed to be this sjjecies wintered
at Fort Mojave, in latituile .")">, Colorado N'alley; but J)r. Cooper saw none near the
southern coast of California.

According to Sir .I(diii Hichardson, the Trumpeter Swan arrives in the spring in
the Arctic Kegions .several days in a<lvance of the ( loose, and remains later in the
season. He foiuid it breeding in the interi(n- from the (iOth to the GSth parallel. It
frequents only the fresh water, swims with great rapidity and elegance, aiding itself
by raising its wings when going iM'fore the wind. If attacked when swimming, it can
strikt^ sevendy with its wings. This Swan flies very high, aiul usiially alights in the
water. It is the Common Swan id' the interior of the Fur C'ountries. and was found
breeding as far soutii as latitude r>l° N. With the exception of the Kagles, it is the
earliest of all the migratcnv birds.

llearn*' states that at his time this species visited Hudson's Hay in large numbers
in the summer months, and bred on the islands in the fresh-water ponds and lakes.
The eggs he s|»eaks of as so large that one of them would be a sufficient meal for a
moderate! man, without breatl or any other additiinis. In the interior parts of the
country this species precedes every other kind of waterfowl, and in some years arrives
as early as the month of Mandi. and long before the ice of the rivers is broken up.
At those times tliese birds always frerpient the open waters of falls and rapids, where
they are shot by the Indians in considerable numbers. This Swan is said frequently
to weigh as much as thirty jKninds. Its tlesh is regarded as excellent eating, and
when roasted equals in flavor the Ix-ef of a young heifer. The Cygnets are also very
delicate. Hearne states that notwithstanding its size this Swan is so swift on the
wing that it is, in his opinion, more difficult to shoot than any other bird. Indeed,

.^^

432

LAM KLLl ROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

ill order to hit it nt all, the hunter must take sight at a point several I'eet in advance
of the bill. Hearne thinks tliat its speed, when Hying before the wind in a brisk
gale, cannot be less than a hundred miles an hour. When nu)ving against or across
the wind, however, it makes slow progress, and is more easily shot.

Captain lUakiston mentions jmtcuring a specimen at Fort Carlton, on the Sas-
katchewan, on the ;{(>th of ^larch. It was the iirst of th(^ spring migration; it was
a male bird, and weighed twenty-three pounds. Mr. liernard Jvoss found this species
eunuuon on the Mackenzie Kiver, and Mr. IJ. Urowim includes it in his list of tlic
birds of Vancouver Island.

The Journal of ilajor Long's Expedition to the IJocky Mountains refers to
Swans, which were i)roliably this species, seen passing northward as early as the ;i2d
of February. This liird is anu)ng the first of tlie migratory ones to reach Hudson's
Bay, where it apjjcars in Hocks of fnnn twenty to a hundred. It is .strictly mouogii-
mous, and breeds in the islands and in low grounds among the reeds and sedges.
making its nest of leaves and dry grasses. It lays from five to seven eggs of a dirty-
white color. The young are hatched in July, and in August the moulting season
connnences, when, for a while this Swan is unable to Hy. It begins to nu)ve south-
ward about the 1st of Seiitember, resorting to the lakes and rivers about the (JOth
parallel, where it renuiins until October. Its manner of nugration is said to be almost
identical with that of the nnn'rlcdinis. the birds collecting in Hocks of c(msi(h'rablc
size, and, availing themselves of favorable Avinds, when they nu)unt high in the air,
forming an elongatt-d wedge, and departing with loud sonorous screams. They reacli
their places of winter resort late in October or early in Novend)er, and their ariival
is nuirked by the sanu' outbursts which attend the coming of the smaller species.
under similar circumstances.

Although not able to Hy when moulting, this bird cannot be readily taken in tliat
condition, as its large feet, ])owerfid leg, and vigorous wings enable it to riui on tlic
surface of the water faster than an Indian can i)addle his canoe ; and to capture it liy
hand i« rendered almost imjtossible, by the circumstance that resort is had to diving
and other skilful nuuKvuvres to facilitate escape.

A nest of this species was founil by Mr. W. C'. Kice at Oakland Valley, la., in
the spring of 1871, ami the Cygnets taken from it. Three of these were successfully
raised, and were ])urehascd for the Mount Auburn Cenu'tery, where they were received
in I)ecend)er. They bore their transjuirtation, in a week of iini)aralleled severity Im'
the season, withovit injury, and were renuirkably docile and tanu'. In the summer
months when at large they would h'ave their pond and seek the companionshi]) ol
their keeper, whose occupation as painter occasionally retpiired his iiresence on tlic
grounds near their place of abode. If ])ermitted they would spend the day in liis
company rather than remain in their poml. They were perfectly and completely
domesticated, and showed no fear of any perscm, feeding from the hands of any
stranger. This Swan has also been domesticated in the cemetery in Cincinnati, a
pair of the progeny having l)een sent to the Loudon Zoological Gardens, and another
to Mount Auburn.

Mr. Audidwn states that these Swans a])pear on the lower waters of the Ohio about
the end of October, in the larger ])onds and lakes at no great distance from the river.
preferring such as are closely surrounded by dense and tall cane-brakes. There they
remain until the water is frozen, when they move southward. During mild winteis
a few remain in these ponds until March. Mr. Audubon traced the winter migrations
of this species .as far south as Texas, where at times it is quite abundant. He met
with a pair there that had lu'en taken alive in the winter of 1836, and had been

ANSERIN.t: — THE OEKSE.

433

domesticated. In New Orleans examples are frequently exposed for sale in the mar-
kets, having been procuretl on the i)onds in tho interior. The waters of the Arkansas
and its tributaries are well supplied each winter with this species, and the largest
spccinu'n Mr. Audubon ever saw was shot on a lake near the* junction of that river
with the Mississii)pi ; it weighed thirty-eight pounds.

This Swan is said to feed chicffly by parti;illy immersing the body and extending
the neck under water in the manner of the fresh-water Ducks, with its feet in the air,
thus preserving its bal.ince. Occasionally it resorts to the land, where it feeds, more
in the manner of the Duck than in that of the Goose. Its food consists of the roots
of various plants, leaves, seeds, aciuatic insects, land-snails, small reptiles, etc.

Mr. A\idubon once kept a male Swan alive two years. At first extremely shy, it
soon became accustomed to the st'rvants, and after a time came at the call of its name,
"Trumpeter," and ate bn^ad from the hand. It at last became quite bold, and would
drive before it the Turkcv-Cock, as well as the dogs and servants.

Mr. Mu(!Farlane saw the Trumpeter Swan breeding on the Barren Grounds, on
islands in Franklin liay, and near the Arctic coast. In one instance a nest containing
six eggs was found near the beach on a rising ground. It was composed of hay, down,
and feathers intermixed. This was the general charac-ter as regards stru(!ture and
situation of the nests of this species. Those in the Barrens were usually placed on
elevated ground ; others were found near the banks of the Lower Anderson River.
The usucil nund)er of eggs was four.

The Trumpeter was also nu^t with on the head-waters of the Frazer Kiver by Mr.
Elliot ; as also nccar Fort Yukon, where it was ascertained to breed, and where ex-
anqiles of its eggs were procured. Specimens Avere also taken both by Mr. Kennicott
and by Mr. Lockhart in the same region ; by Mr. L. Clark and Mr. B. It. Boss at Fort
Kae ; and on Big Island by Mr. J. Reid.

This was the only Swan observed by Mr. E. Adams on Norton Sound, where it
appeared by the 3()th of May. It was at no time abundant, but associated itself with
others of the species, so as to form Hocks of from two to eight or ten in number. A
few were said to l)reed in that locality, but the greater part of them went farther
north.

The eggs of the Trumi)eter are of a uniform chalky white color, and rough and
granulated on the surface. They measure from 4.3o inches in length to 4.(j5, and
from 2.G5 to 2.90 inches in breadth.

Situ-family ANSEETNiE. — The Geese.

The chief characters of the Anserhin; ns (listiiiguisli(><l from tlie Cijgninm and Anatuue, consist
ill the more elevated IhhIv, with tlie lengthened le;^s, tilting the species fur a more teri-estrial life,
iilthou^h ecjually able to swim. Their necks are very nuieh shorter than in the Swans, and
usually longer than those of tlie Ducks. From the latter, all tiie Geese arc distinguished by the
character of the covei'ing of the anterior part of tlie tarsus, wiiich consists of small hexagonal scales,
ijut in tlie Ducks of narrow traiisvei-se scutollK. Including the genus Dendrocycna, which, notwith-
standing its close superficial resemblance to the Ducks, seems to belong rather to this sub-family,
the Anserince of North America may be divided into two groups, as follows : —

Ansereee. Bill tapering to the tip, not Irmger than the head (freciuently shorter) ; nostrils
situated near the niidfUe of the maxilla ; only the lower end of the tibia bare.

Dendrooyonew. Bill depressed and broad at the end, longer than the head, the edges nearly
l)arallel ; nostrils situated far posterior to the middle of the maxilla ; lower half of the
tibia l)are.

VOL. r. — .55

1 b

l^^\

434

lamp:i.liro.stral swimmers — anseres.

il'P

The G(!08e of the Northern llL'inisijhcn' vary ho iiiiicli in tliu dutuilH of form, that thu (,'L'iic'ra
iiHUally rccoguizctl are far more artilii-ial than natural, their ileliuition liein<; of the utmost dillieuhy,
scarcely two species lieinj,' exactly alike in the minutiie of external anatomy. No f,'real vioK^nce
wouhl Ik.' (lone their trne relationship, were all the North American (Jeese, except I'hilactr mu\ Jkii-
drocijam, referred to a sinj;le ^enns, Amii- ; Imt for convenience of classiticatioii it may serve the
]mrpuse best to admit a limited nundier of }{enera, delined as follows : —

ASHEKEiE.

Bill varialile, the nas4il cavity ' situated near the middle of the maxilla, elonj^atcd, anil indis-
tiiully defined; "nails" <if the hill rather small, occupying,' nmch less than the Ujrminal
third of the hill.
a. Colors variable, hut head and neck with little, if any, black. Bill and feet li^lit ctdored
(usually reddish) in adult.

1. Chen. Hill very robust, the culmen sli^ditly, tlie lower outline of the mandible d<!cidedly,

convex ; very sli<;htly depressetl imme<liately behind tiie thickenecl nails ; cinnmissure
widely gapin}{ (except in C. Roiisi'). Head aiicl neck of adult white ; some species entirely
white in adult dress, except |U'imaries. Bill and feet redijish in the ailult.

2. Anser. Bill hmiv slender, the eulmen gently concave, the lower outlinit of the mandiblr

slightly concave anteriorly ; decidedly depressed immediately behind the rather thin nails ;
commissure nearly or ipiite closed, by the dose appnixiniiition of the tomia. lIcNid and
neck never white, and no sjiecies entirely white (normally), iiill and feet lif{ht c(dored
in the adult.
6. CNdors dark, with the head and neck rhielly black ; bill and feet deo]) black at all npes.

3. Berniola. Bill usually nnuh as in Aiisir ; all tin; characters, except tho.se detined above,

exceedingly varialile.
B. Bill de])ressed and broad, the nasjd cavity situated in the basal half of the maxilla (its jios-
terior end nearly or <piile touching,' the frontal feathers), broaclly ovate, and distinctly
detined ; nails of the bill very lar-^'e, occujiyiug nearly the tc^rminal third of the bill.

4. Philaote. tVdcr bluish, variegated with whitish borders to the feathers and subterndnMl
dusky crescentic Iwrs ; expo.sed jiorticm of the tail white. Adult with the head and nape
white, the bill and feet light colored ; young with the head iduinheous, the bill and feet
dusky.

DENDROCYCNEiE.

5. Dendrocycna. Bill longer than the head, the edges nearly parallel, the lamellic entirely

concealed by the overhanging edge of thi; maxilla. Lower jtart of the tibia bare for a
considerable distance. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe with claw, but longer than the
middle toe without c law.

Besides the species proin-rly considered to be American, another has been reconled as occurriiit;
within our limit.s, on the strength of a single specimen shot on Long Island, N. Y. This is tin'
Egyptian (loose, Chenalopex tfijyptidcuis, of South Europe and Northern Africa — a common s)>ccieH
in aviaries ; so that it is altogether probable that the example in (luestiou was one escaped fniiii
confinement. The genus C/«"?i((/'</>c.c differs from all the Xirth Anu-rican (Jeese in its style of
coloration, the wing-coverts being white, ami the secondaries metallic purplish ; tlie maxillarv
toinium hangs over the mandible so as almost to conceal it terminally, the bill being muidi de-
]ire.t.sed at the taid, and very di-ep thrtmgh the base ; the h'gs are lengtheneil, the tarsus consider-
ably exceeding the middle toe in length ; \\w. hallux well <Iev(do|ied. The cidors of V. frgijptiucu.f
are as follows : Head whiti.sh, with an ehmgated patch surrounding the eye, and a collar encircling
the lower part of the neck, chestnut rulbus ; neck light bniwni.sh giity ; breast, back, scapulars,
sides, and flanks pale fulvous, finely undulated with dusky ; outer webs of tertials (inner second-
aries) ])lain cbestnut-rufous ; alxlomen, anal region, anrl wing-cov(!rts white, the greater coverts
Ijarred near the end with black, forming a single narrow bar across the wing ; secondaries dark
metallic purplish ; primaries, primary-coveits, and aluhc, rump, upper tail-coveits, and tail ])laiii

• By "na.sal cnvity" is hert; meant not the n]H'ning of the external ncstrils, but the opening in the
maxillary bone, chicily covennl hy tlie overlying niumbraue.

ANSEKI>M<: — THE CICKSK - CHEN.

435

greuuinh bluck, saircely k'"-*\v ; l>iiast with ft larj,'!- central irrf},'ulftr patch of dark chfutuut ;
I risHuni ochmccoiiH bull". 15111, !»•;,',«, and let I red in lilc. Winj;, 14.75 inchuH ; culiiion, l.U() ; depth
of bill at Iwc, l.(Ht ; tarsus, 2.!».") ; middle toe, ^.M.

The followiuj,' is the primipal synonymy of tin- spccicn ; —

Chenalopex • aegyptiaca. — Iviyi'TIAn Ooohe.

Atuis irgijptiaca, Linn. S. N. fd. 12, I. 17t!ti, l!t7.

ChetMluiM-j: mjijjiliiicii, Siiii'ii. (ii-n. Zool. .\1I. 18-.'4, 43, pi. 42. — IJoNAP. Conip. Li.st, 1SJ38, 56. —
Kkyh. k Ui.v.s. Wiib. Kur. lS4o, 84. — .MAi(iii,i.. .Man. II. 153. — Gkav, (icii. 15. 111. ]84»,
605 ; fat. Hiit. H. 18t>3, 183 ( i;nf,'liiud ; two iii.slaiircs). — Akih'U,ht, Hull. N. O. C. II. Apr.
1877, 52 (Caniarsic, Lonj,' l.slainl, N. Y. .Ian. 3, 1877 !).

Annsvurid, ISkiilst. Orn. Tn.sLlnMib. II. 1803, 4.">4.

Egyptian Ooose, Yauk. Brit. B. id. 2, III. 173, lij,'. ; ed. 3, III. 177, fij?.

Genu.s CHEN, lioiE.

Chen, BoiK, Isis, 1822 (tyi)c, Anxr hyitfrUtrcus, 1'am.as).

EMtnthcvwps, ELi.ior, Pr. Philnd. Acad. 1868, (ly|«', Anser Rnssii, Baiup).

Of the three North American sjiccies of this ^'enus, two, C hjiperhnrem, the type, and C. rnru-
Uscem, ore precisely alike in the detail.^ of form, the only difference being the colorulion, which is

v>liA^^, -^.

C. hy)>erbttrens.

very distinct in the two ; the tliiiil s])efies, C. A'ox.s/, while ajireeinj,' strictly with A. hyperhnrens in
plumage, both in the adult and young stages, diller.s decidedly in the form of the bill, wliich is quite
p(!culiar. It seems unnecessary, however, to adopt the generic term E.mntUcmnfg, proposal for

' (Jliennlopcx, Stf.imiknh, .Shaw's (Jen. Zonl. XII. ii. 1824, 41 (type, Anurr juhtilus, Si'IX. — Sri,. &
Salv. p. Z. 8. 1876. 300). [The Egyptian (ioosc .seems hardly strictly congeneric with the South Ameri-
enn species uiwn which this gemis was based, and may roipiiro another generic name.]

■iiiiii

436

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AN8ERES.

it by Mr. D. G. Elliot, since the <lifferciice in the churactor of the bill from that of the typical
species of the geuiw i» hurdly of generic value. The »i)ecie« may be distinguished an follows : —

Synopsis of Species.

A* Plumage never chieHy white ; the lulult mainly griiyinh brown, with bluish-gray rump and
wing-ooverts, tlie head and part of the neck white. Young almost wholly gruyish brown,
including head and neck.

1. C. oaeruleaoeiM. Bill very robust, tlie posterior lateral outline of the muxilhi decidedly

concave ; coniiuissure wiilely giiping, and lower outline of the mandible decidedly convex.
Wing, about 1.').(K»-17.<H) inches; culnien, 2.1(1-2.30 ; tui-sus, ;j.(H»-;j.3(i ; michlle toe, 2.1.')
-•2M). Hal). Interior of North America; Mississippi Valley, chielly in winter.
B« Plumage of the adult pure white, the primaries black, more grayish towaiil the base; young
grayish white, the cenires of the feathers darker gray.

2. C. hyperboreus. 15111 robust, and shaped like that of C. (•(rrn/fgccjw. Wing, 15.(K)-1H.5()

inches; culmen, I.!»r)-2.H(); depth of ma.xilla at base, l.l.')-1.5() ; tarsus, 2.80-3.50;
middle toe, 2.IO-2.IM). //<(/). The whole of North Ameiica.

3. C. RosiL Hill small, the posterior lateral (mtline of the maxilla almost perfectly straight,

the toiuia closely a|>proxi mated, and the lower outline of the numdible scarcely convex ;
in older specimens the biwe of the maxiUa corrugated or warty. Wing, I3."r)-I.'")..')0
inches ; culmen, l.."iO-1.70 ; depth of nmxilla at base, .85-.95; tarsus, 2.30-3.00 ; middle
toe, 1.80-2.05. Hub. Northwestern North America.

Chen csBrulescens.

THB BIVE-WINOEO OOOSE.

Ams cfrmlfseens, Linn. S. N. ihI. 10, I. 1758, 124 ; n\. 12, I. 17tiO, 108. — Gmel. 8. N. I. 1788,

513.— I-ATH. hul. Om. II. 1790, 830.
A)U)er cicnilfsceiit, Vikii.i,. Kiic. Meth. 1. 1823, 115. — Baiiid, Cat. N. Am. B. IS.'iU, no. 664. -

CoUEs, Key, 1872, 282 ; Check List, 1873, no. 471» ; Birds N. W. 1874, 553.
C/icn camhscciis, liimiw. I'roc. \J. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, 1880, 202 | Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no.

590. — CoL'Ks, Check List, 2a ed. 1882, no. 094.
Aiiscr hyihrhorcua (supiKistHl young), .Steimiens, Shaw's Gon. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 33. — B/Viitit,

B. N. Am. 1858, 760.

Hab. North America in general, but chiefly the interior.

Si*. Char. Adult: ifead and upper half of the neck white, or mostly white, the former fre-
([uently washed with orange-rufous anteriorly ; lower neck and Ixxly grayish brown, the feathers
bonlereil terminally with paler, these pale edgings, however, ni^arly obsolete on the neck, where
the tint is darker, inclining to idunil)eous-umlier, which joins irregularly against the white above
it. Rump and wings plain ^learl-gray or bluish cinereous (the former sometimes white), in strik-
ing contrast to the deej) giiiyish brown of the scapulai's, sides, etc. ; that of the rump fading into
white on the upper tail-coverts, and that of the greater coverts edged ex rnally with the same.
Primaries black, fading basidly into hoary gray ; secondaritfs deep black, narrowly skirt(>d with
white ; tail dee|) cinereous, the feathers distinctly borilered with white. Hill reddish, the com-
missund space black ; feet re(hlish. YoiDig : Very similar, but the chin, only, white, the rest of
the head and neck being uniform pluniljeous-umber or brownish plumbeous, like the breast, only
darker in shade ; bo<ly more cinereous than in the adult, the pale tips to the nearly truncated
contour-feathers being obsolet<'. Rump, wings, and tail as in the adult. Bill and feet blackish.
Downy young, not seen.

Total length, alx)ut .30.00 inches; wing. 15.00-17.00 ; culmen, 2.10-2.30 ; tarsus, 3.00-3.30 ;
middle toe, 2.1.'j-2.50.

The chief variation in the ]ilumage of adults of this species consists in the extent and continuity
of the white of the neck. This is usually more or less broken, the dusky of the lower portion
ninning upwards in invgular spots or projections ; it extends highest on the nape, where it some-

ANSERT'K — THE GEESE — CHEN.

437

times reachcH to tlie crown. Tln' hrinlit orniiKe-rufouH tingi? to the ontorior portion of the liwul,
l)L'iii}{ nn arfifieiul Htiun, is fmiiiuiitly t-ntiri'ly nWiit. Tlie color of the nlxloinon also viirics from
iieiirly piire white to ii tint Imnlly jxilir than liie l»n'u.Mt ; tlie rump in aluo Honu'tinitr*, Imt rnvlv,
entirely white, while occasionuUy while I'eutherH are irreguhirly interspersed ainonj,' the dark
feathers of the l)o(ly.

In both the ailull and young utagea of this (Joose the itluninge is so very distinct from that of
U. hiiprrhoreiis that there is no (lerasiDU for confounding the two when the points of distinction are
understood. We are uualde, however, to
find tlie slightest difference in the details
of form or in proportions — a fact wliich
suggests the mere possilijlity of their be-
ing white and colored phases of the same
Hjiccies, as in some Herons ; but we do
not consider this as at all probable, al-
tliough in view of their similarity of fnrni
and size, and that the chief variations
area tendency toward partial albinism,*
the possibility of such a relationship
sliould be borne in mind.

This form, once su])pose(l to be
the young of the Snow Goose, is
now regarded as au cntirt'ly good
and dis 'inct species. Mr. G. liarns-
toii, in liis valuable paper on the
ticese of Hudson's Hay, referring
to the prevalent supposition that
this species and the A. hijin '■'^'•"m.s
arc mere varieties, because of the
tricndly intercourse that exists be-
tween them, is positive that this
l)elief is not well founded. The
young of the hi/jterhoreuit arrive
from the north with their parents
without any intermixture of other
(Jeese in their Hocks. They liave
the same white garb as the old birds,
i)ut with their In^ads as if soih'd
with iron-rust, and with a bill, ten-
der, soft, and compressible. On the other hand, the rn'rulfsrena comes down upon
tlie eastern coast also in perfectly distinct flocks, the young birds having a more

1 A specimen figured in the " Trnnsactioiis " of the t'hicngo Academy of .Sciences, Vol. I. 1869, pi. 18,
liiis the whole umler jiarts, ]H)sterior to the juguluni, puri' white. Wis have also seen examples in which
not only the nMonien, but also the ninip, was wliitc ; while, as noted alxive, white fentlicrs are sometimes
interspei-scd irregularly in the dark phniiage of the Inxly. There is also siiniethiiig very "unsatisfactory"
or suspicious in the irregular, variable, and uiuiecided way in which the white of the nock joins upon the
dark color below it.

Mr. E. W. Nelson, of Chicago, who has enjoyed the advantage of inspecting very numerous specimens
ill the markets of that great game centre, writes as follows (Hull. "Nutt. Oiu. Club," VIII. 1878, p. 137)
with reganl to the changes of plumage in this species : —

"The adults of this species invariably im>ssc8S the white head nnd upper part of the neck, which in
the younger specimens is more or less variegated with dark feathers. These ■'' -Mipear as the bird becomes
older ; and in many the head is a pure snowy white, in sharp contrast to i nluniage of the rest of

438

LAMELLinOSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERKS.

(Hffusfil and (larktT blim color, and Ikmh^ also of a smaller hIzc. In tho spring .lames
Hay is Ircqucntly tTossed by l>otli s|i('<'ii's at Cain- .Ioiioh and at Ca\H: llenriettii
Maria. Occasionally two or tlircc ot the rimi/mriiis may he seen in ii Hock of tlie
Snow (ie»'se on the All)any sliorc, while two or three of the latter may also he Hceii
accompanyinfj full tiocks of the rttruU.snii.i on tiie east main shore. This may Ite
accounted for hy the similarity of tlieir cry.

l$y Indian report the threat i)reedin^'-j,'round of the nrniirsirns is the co\nitry lyini,'
in the interior from the northeast point of Labrador. Kxtcnsive swamps and im-
passahle hogs provail there, and tlie CJeese incubate on the more solid and ilriest
tufts, dis|tersed over the nKjrasses, sale from the approach of man or any other than
a winged enemy.

Mr. Jlearne, who wrote a century ago, refers to this as a siiccies distinct from the
Snow (.Soose. He speaks of it as Ix'ing of the hame si/e as the latter, and, like it.
having hill and legs of a deep flesln'olor, hut with the entire jdumage of a dirty iiliie.
n-sendtling old lead, its skin, stripped of its feathers, is (d' the .same color as that nl
the Snow (loose, and the Hesh is ecpially good eating. This species, he achls, is sel-
dom seen north of Clnirchill Kiver, and is not very common at Fort Vork ; but iit
Fort Albany it was much more ph-ntiful than the Snow (lOose. The brceding-jilaccs
«»f both species, however, were cipially unknown, even to the most careful and accu-
ratt! observer. Hearne could not ascertain that any of their eggs had (!ver been
taken, and their winter haunts had, up to his time, remained wh(dly undiscovered.
Hirds of this species were not infre(pu'ntly observed to le..<l a Hock of the Snow
(leese; awd as they u.sually Hy in angles, it was sometimes quite a striking thing to
see a bird of a different color leading the van. The leader is generally the object ol
the first sjMirtsman who fires, as this throws the whole Hock into such confusion
that some oi the other huntcus fretpiently kill six or sev<'n at a shot.

So far as is known, this species does not occur on the J'acific coast; Dr. Cooper
has never met with it on any part of that coast.

A(H!ording to Mr. ISoardnum, this (Joose occurs occasionally in the neighborhood
of Calais, where it is even more common than the White-fronted sjtecies (Anser Gam-
beli). He also informs me that a specimen has been taken at (Jrand Menan.

It is (juite jirobable that Mr. Audubon, to whom the existence of this species as
distincit from the Injpi'rhoirus was unknown, may have referred to it as the gray stale
of the Snow (toose, which \w mentions as so very <'ommon in winter al»out tin'
mouths of the Mississip])i and along the shores of the ( Julf of Mexico as far as Texas.
lie ahso notices the fact that the young remain for sc^veral y«!ars of a dark-bluisli
color, and mentions that a friend kept one four years without any change l)cinj,'
noticed.

tlio upper parts. Tlio young would npppnr nt first sight to he. a tlistinfit sjionics, so <li(riTPnt is tlio i)iiftirii
of coloration. Tho wliite of the lieail, nock, alulonicii, utid tail-coverts is entirely nlisent, and the bin! i-*
of an alnio.st uniform a.shy plumbeous, .slightly darker alM)Ut the hi'nd, and lighter on the abdomen. This
plumage is retained until the seeond year at lea.st, as many .s|)e('iinens are pnicnii'd in spring with tlic
dark head, neek, and alxlomen still immaeulate ; and these, I think, are young of the preceding year. At
the same time si)ci^imcna are foun<l with the dark fi'athers nlmut tho head well mixed with white, ivpri'-
Renting the second year. In birds of the third year the white predominates; but not until the fouith iir
fifth year docs the plumage become perfect."

ANSEUINiK — TIIK (JKKSK — CilEN.

439

Chen hyperborena.

THE SNOW OOOSE.

Atuer hijperborfiM, Pai.i.. H|iic. /ool. Vlll. 17tl7, 80, 25, 1'l. fln ; (hkistcrn Sil»oiia) Zoog. RoHtM)-A«.

II. l.S'JtI, 'JJ7. — Sw. it Kit II. !■'. U. A. II. isai, HI7. Svrr. Mmi. II. 1S;J4, :il». Aid.

Orii. UioK. IV. 18;i», r.«2, j.l. 'Ml ; Syiiop. 18311, ^7:1 ; II. Am. VI. 184U, 'Jl-', pi. :W1. - H.\iiii>,

H. N. Am. 1858, 7tlO ; Cut. N. Am. H. 18.11), no. 5«!1. — Coikw, Koy, 1872, '282; Clietk Lint,

187;t, 11". 180; M. N. \V. 1874, 548.
AiiiiH /u)/" rl>i>rni.i, (J.mki,. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 604. — VVii,.s. Am. Oni. VIII. 1814, 76, |>l. <I8, I'. 3.
Vlll It hi/jxrliornin, lliili:, Wis, 1822, 5(i3. — UliKiw. Num. N. Am. 15. 1881, no. 51)1. —C'i>i:ks, Check

List, 2at'tl. 1882. no. (W>.
ytniiji iiiviilin, FoiLsT. l'liilc)«. 'rniiis. I.XII. 1772, 413 (SeVLTli li.).
Tiit/iniia iiivcii, ISukiim, Vh),'. Pi'Utsclii. I8;il, 8.'il.
IHiiti' Itiiini, Lawson, Vmm\. 147.

.S'«»ic UiMHv, I'KNS. Aivt. ZcH.l. II. 17!)0, 47!». - Lath. Syiioii. VI. 1785, 445.
Amur III bitiKH, ('AS.S. I'l'. I'hila.l. Ann!. 1851!, 41. — llAiiiD, W. N. Am. 1858, 1)25.
t'lini ulb<itii.i, Ki.i.iiir, llhistr. Am. II. II. 18(!i>, |.l. 42.

Aiisi'f hititirliiinnn, viir. iiIIhiIiis, ('iiii>. Key, 1872, 282 ; Clifck List, 1873, no. 480(t.
Aiisrr liyjurhinriis, \t, iiIIhi/iih, ('(pcks, Kirds N. W. 1874, 541).
Clirn hiiiirrhonuaiilliiiliiii, liiimw. I'r. I'. S. Niit. .Mils. 1880, 202 ; Norn. N. Am. ». 1881, no. 501«.

— CiiiTKs, Clurk List, 2il 111. 1H82, no. OUO.

HaB. Till! wlldli! of Ninth Allirliril,

lirei'iliii;; t'ur iioitli ; iiiori! riiii' mi .Atlantic.
('iiiLst than wuHtwui'il. (iri'i'iiliiiiil ; lasnal in
Kiirii|ii!. .Soiitli to ('ul)a.

Si". Chak. Adult: Kntiii' iiluiim{{i', ex-
cept the iiriiimrics, Hiiow-whitc, the heiul
sonii'tiiiii'.s staini'tl with oianj,'i'-riilous iintc-
rioi'ly ; |iriiiiai'ii's ili'i']i Mack, failing' liasallv
into j,'rayisli, the |ii'iiiiary coverti* anil aliilu
lii'iii)^' lioaiyash. liill |iiir|ili.ih reil, the nail
wliitish, anil the intcrtoiiiial space lilack ;
iris ilark brown ; eyelids whitish ; feet i)ur-
plc- or oraiit,'e-reil, the soles ilinny yellowish.
ViiHuij: Ahove, iiiehulin^' the lien'l ami neck,
pale cinereous, the feathers of the iloisal re-
;;ion more whitish on their edges ; wiiij,'-
coverts and lertials dark cinereous centrally,
their edges liroadly juire white ; .secondaries
mottled cinereous, skirted with white ; pii-
niaries as in the adult. Uiiiii]), upper tuil-
covcrts, tail, and lower parts, ininiaculate
Miowy while, the tail and I'reast tinged with
pale ash. Head usually more or less tingt^il
with oraiige-nifou.s, this deepest anteriorly.
l>ill and feet dusky. />oirHi/ j/zn/ii;/ not seen.

Total length, ahout .30.(K) inches ; wing,
]r).0<)-l8.5O; culmell, 1.!):>-2.H() ; depth of
maxilla, at base, l.l.'i-l..')() ; tarsus, 2.8(>-
;i.r)(); middle toe, 2.1()-2.!)().

There can be little qucstiou that two
forms of the Snow Ooo.st! e.\iRt in North

America, distinguished by their size and also their geogrophicnl distribution,
which the name hyperboreus properly belongs, and of which (UbiUiw, Cash., is

The
a pure

smaller, to
synonyrae,

440

LAMKLMKOSTUAL SWIMMKUrt — ANSEUES.

iHLiw>< tlinm^^liout thf iiortliwi'slirn |K)ititm»t of the continent (iM-ing ihi' mily one known to bri'ud
in Aliixka), ami in w mtcr iniputtM ovi-r thf whoh> of the country from tliu Puciflc coiiHt to the
Mississippi N'lillcy. Tiir other, with iiiixfr ^ciirnil si/t- mikI ilispro|MirlioniUcly heavier hill, liri'cils
ill the rci^'ion alioiit ihulson's llay, ami in winttr nij}{ratuH Koulhwai>l chiolly aioii^' tlu' Atlantic
coiwt. This hiiil is the Atia* nirtilu of Forsi»r (I""-), ami if it i» to W recognized iw u nice, us
We think it oiiKhl, il slmnlil Ix' callcil Chm (or Aiimr) liijjHrliimiiA tiirdlin.

Ainoni,' the spicinuns cxaniini'il is a yonn^ hinl (S«. kMMh, U. S. Nat. Mus., S. Turner, coll.)
ohtaineil at Mount Carinel, 111. (in winter), which is .xceplionally sniall, nieasuiin>;, win^;, 11.. 'hi ;
cnlmeii, :i.(i.") ; depth of maxilla, at has.-, !.:.'(); tarsus, :{.(HI; middle toe. •i.iMi. Of the llfteeii
examined alto^'i'lher, all possessed sixteen rectrices except one, an adult from Alaska, which had
einhleen tail-feathers.

An ailult male killed at Mount ("armel, III., Oct. fl, \HT.i (No. H4(!!M(, U. Ridoway, ndl.),
nieii.siireil,wlien liesh, 27.(Ki inches in length and riT.tHi in extent, and wei^died Ti] Ills. The fresh
colors of the iinfeatheieil ))ortioiis weii-asfidlows ; ltjllhri};ht salmon-pink, U'comiiixhriKhter llesh-
color around the nostril, and more dilute purplish on the lower maiiililile ; un;;iii yidlowish white,
nnd commissural space deep Mack ; iris dark lirown ; evidids j(reeiiish white ; feet <lilute purple-
lake, the s(des of the toes dull lii,dit naples-yellow. An atlult male collected nt Pyramid Like.
Nev., Dec. 28, |H(i7 (No. .'■>:Mi!HI, l'. S. \at. Mus., 11. HllMiW.W, coll.), weij;hed T. llis. ; leli^'tll, 2S.(l(i
inches. Bill dull li^^dit salmon-purple, U'coiniii^ white on the un;;ui ; the tuilmon-color ]iurest on
the culnien, and most ]iurplish liasally ; the Mack of the commissural space Heparated from the
purple hy a backward extension of the white of the nail ; iijdidn Jkdi-aihir ; iris vandyke-hrowii ;
tarsi and toes deep Htilnion-]iurple ; claws Mack.

An immature specimen, collected at the Sink of the FiumlHddt, Nev., Oct. 31, IHGT (Xo.
63(181), U. HiiHiW.VY, coll.), dilfereil in the eolor of till' liillaiid feet as fidhtws : Hill blackish dusky,
beconiint; ^Teenish slule on the up|H'r loisjil portion ; tarsi and toes greenish slate.

The Snow GodHi' is an Arctic .s|K'('ics, coinnum to Initli continents, and ocrurrinf;
(luring tiic siininnM' in hi^'li nortlicni latitinlcs. It is foiiinl in its niiKi-atiuns on liotli
coasts, as well as on inlainl water in the interior, is almntlant on the i'acilic, luit rare
on the Atlantic coast, and visitinp even .Japan, avIicic its local name is Jlahut/aii.

According' to Mr. Hoardnian, it is liy no means nnconnnon on tlio coast of Maine ;
and the same is trtic of the rcj,'ion adjiu-ent to the St. Croix Iviver. It is, liowever.
comparatively rare in Mas.sa(dinsetts. On Loiifj Island, accordinj,' to (Jiraiid. it is also
not coninion. Occasionally tiie yoimt,' "^ this species are seen ex|io.sed for sale in the
New York markets, but the adults rarely. In .some seasons small Hocks are met
with on the South Ihiy. and now and then strag>,'leis are noticed ttyiiin in company
with the common (V.nada (loo.se. Tiie wliiten«'ss of their plumap' renders tiieni very
consjiicncms, and wlien opportunity otters they are sinj,'h'd out liy the hunters. On tlie
Jersey coast this bird is known as the' " lied Goo-m-," and it there usually makes its
first aiipearance in November. As tlio winter ]irofjresses it proceeds farther s(uitli.
stopjiinj? again on its return to the north, late in winter or early in spring. At times il
is said to be abundant on the coast of New Jersey and in Delaware J$ay. It there fre-
quents the marshes and reedy shores, feeding n]ion the roots of various marine jilants.
particularly that known as the sejwabbage. Its bill is very strong, enabling it to imll
uj) the roots of sedges and other marine jdants with great ease. The Hesh — while it
canin)t be called tishy — has a strong and jKn-uliar taste, but is held in high estima-
tion by some ejiicures, who consider it sujK'rior to that of the tame (Joose.

On the Pacific^ coast this bird is more or less abundant frfim Alaska and Washing-
ton Territory to Southern California. Dr. Coojmt mentions having seen large flocks
of this species at Los Angeles in Decemlx-r. 18(»<). It occurs in great mimbers in the
middle and western portions of (California in winter, freipienting esjiecially the
marshes and plains near tlu; sea, sometimes ai)i»earing on the sandy bars about

AN.SEUIN'.E — THE GKESE — CJIKN.

441

tlu' Hliore. It iirrivi's from the north in Uctolier, and rcniainH until March, wIhmi it
joins its kindred of otlivr HpeoteH, and together thoy depart for more nortliern regions.
While in California this bird feeds cliieHy on ^rass, and is very shy and watehful. It
is generally silent. Imt at times, ehietly wln-n Hying, utters a shrill htnrk. It is hunted
and shut, and many are brought to market, iH'iug eonsiilered, when young, better thuu
the eonnaon Wild Goose.

This l)ird oeeurs in the interior of tlu' continent on all the hirge lakes, as well as
on the smaller coUcctions of water. iMr. .). A. Allen met with it in Salt Lake N'alley,
where it lM>gins to arrive in considerable nund)ers about October 1st, lieing known
there as the White IJrant. JMr. Hidgway also found it a more or less common winter
resident or visitant on all the larger lakes of the Great Hasin. (.'aptaiu Hendire
mentions it as common during the migrations in Kastern Oregon. It is of accidental
occurrence in the Herniudas, two examples, according to Major Wedderburn, having
been shot at Kiddle's Hay in (Jctober, 184S.

Hearne, in his Account of his .louruey to the Northern Ocean, speaks of the
White or Snow Goose as being the most inimerous of all the species of birds fre-
cpienting the northern i)art of Hudson's Hay, and says that it makes its appearance
about a week or ten lUiys after the common Wild Goose. In the tirst jtart of the
sca.son it arrives in small parties; but in the niiddb' and toward the latter end ecuues
in such anuizing numbers, that when they settle in the marshes, the ground for a con-
siih-rable distance ai)pears like u fichl of snow. When feeding in the same nuirsh
with A. f(iiiii</rn.sis, the two species never mingle. Like the latter, it will tly to a call
resembling its own note ; anil in sonui years it has been killed and salted in great
munbers for winter consumption, it being alnu)st universally regarded as good eating.
If proper can' be taken in the curing it will continue good for two years. The
Indians at Ilud.son's ilay are said to be far more expert than the Europeans in killing
this bird, some of them having been known to obtain upward of a huiulred in a single
day, a single Indian commonly killing from a thousand to twelve hinulred in a
season ; but at the timo llearne wrote Im was reckoned a good hunter who could kill
three hundred, as these Geese did not then frequent that region in as great numbers
as they formerly did.

Hearne adds that the general breeiling-jilace of this species was not known to the
Indians of Hudson's Hay, nor to the Kskimos that fre(pient the extreme north. The
general route they take in their return to the south in the I'all of the year was
ccpially unknown.

About Hudson's Bay this bird is said to be the shyest and most watchful of all the
species of Geese, never suffering an open approach, not even to within two or three
gunshots. Yet on some of the rivers near ('umberlaml House, and at Has(]uian, the
Indians would occasionally kill twenty at a shot. This was done on moonlight nights,
when the Geese were sitting in the mud, ami the sportsmen were concealed from
view.

According to the observations of Dr. Kichardson, the Snow Goose in summer feeds
chiefly on berries, and is seldom seen on the water except during the night or when
moulting. It frequents the shores of rivers and lakes, and visits both the interior
and the coasts in its migrations, but resorts in great numbers to thi' Barren Grounds
to breed. The eggs are of a yellowish white color, and of a regular ovate form, their
length being three inches, and their breadth two. The young fly in the middle of
August, and by the end of September have all departed south. Their food in the
summer consists of rushes and insects, and in the autumn of berries, particularly
those of the Empetmm nifjrum. When in good condition — as Bichardsuu says —

vou I. — fiO

442

LAMKLMIloSTUAl- S\\ IMMKIIM - ANHKUEH.

this liirtl is verv cxcclli'iit ciitiiih'. iiiul fur Hii|M'ri(ir to tin* Cuiitulii Ooomc in jiiiciiii>sH
iiiul tliivor. 'I'lic yoiiii^' (U) not uttaiii to tin- full |)Iiiiiih^o of tlif old bird U>fori> tlh-ir
fourth yvav, uiid until that jiciioil they ki't-p in si'iKiratc tlocks. 'I'lu'V aif said tu
hav<> liccn nunii-i'ous at Fort Alhanv, in thi> sonthrrn portion of Kudson's Itay, wImti'
the old iiirds wt'i'c lan-ly sci'n ; and, on (lie othi'r liand, tht> old Itirds in thfir nii^'ia-
tions visit York Factory in Ki'^^iit nundtcrs, i)utal\viiys Mnaocoiu|inni<'d by their younu.
Tlu'v a|i]M'ar in the sprinj,' a few days lab r than tlu- <Jiinadu UtH'8»', and ihwh in larp'
lliirks Ijoth on the coast and throu^di tlu- inti-iior.

Ai'cordin^; to till! observations of Mr. JJaraston, tluH Hpi'cit's — known anlon^' tin'
Indians as the H'rfols or Ifnfiin — is less conspiiMious in the interior than sonn'
other kinds of (ieese. It seldom alijjhts except alon^' the niar^'ins of lar^e lakes
and streams, and the grassy ponds of the prairies. Owing to its arrival in such gnat
nuiuU-rs, it l>eeonies the first object (d sport in James ilay, and the havoc niadc
there is often very great. In tin* fall, when Mocks of tlie young birds ani jiassing
siiuthward, it is no uncommon thing b)r a good shot to kill a hundred in a single day.
This bird still forms the staple article of food for natives at the All)any Fiu-tory.
This is the last of the (Jeese to leave bir tlu! south, its migration taking jthiee in tlic
latter part of September.

These birds are deliberate and judicious, ^fr. Harnston adds, in their i)reiiaratioiis
for flight, and make their arrangements in a business-like manner. They cease to
feed in the marshes, keepingout with tin; retreating title, and at its How retiring sti|.
by stei). continually dressing their feather.s with their fatty oil. They are then ready
for the lirst northerly wind which blows; and in twenty-biur hours the coast so lately
resonant with their incessant cries, and covered, pat(di-like, with their whitenin;.,'
squadrons, is entirely (h'serb'il.

Iicinhardt states that this species is known as a bird of Greenland by the occiii-

renct! there of a few stragglers only in immature plumage. It is not known to br 1

in any part cd' that coast occupied by the Panish .settloments, ami jtrobably does not
breed in any part of the island.

Captain IJlakiston s|)eaks of thi.s Goosc! as being late in its arrival in s]ning, and
as dtdaying behind the others id' its family in going south in the autumn, lie roiind
it rpiite numerous lioth on Iluilson's Uay and in the west, tracing it as far as the Iiucky
Mountains, Mr. b'oss speaks of it as equally abundant on the Maiken/.ie. He was
informed by Mr. I'rudeii, a fur-trader, that the father of the latter, living at the Kcd
J{iver Settlement, had (h)mesticated a pair of these birds, one <d' which, after a tinic,
died. The next fall, as a flock of this species was ]>assing over, one of them .sei>aratcil
itself from the others, desctendcd, and took U]) its ipiarters with the tame troosc,
remaining there all winter. The following spring, however, it joined its brethnii
as thi'y came by, and proceeded nmth. Jn the fall it again returned, rejoining and
living with its mate of the former winter: this is said to have In-eii repeated for
several years.

Mr. Audubon's observations enabled him to ascertain that this sjwcies regain ily
visits the valley of the >rississippi in October, individuals appearing in the immatmv
plumage a fortnight or more before the adult birds arrive. As a general thing tlic
flocks of old and young kept apart and did not mingle. This Goose was esi)ecially
abundant in the gray jdumage alK)ut the mouth of the Mississipjji, as well as on all
the muddy or grassy .shores of the bays and inlets of the (Julf of Mexico. Duriiig
the rainy seasons it aboimds among the large imiiries of liOuisiana, feeding on the
roots of plants. It is said to be more silent than any other species, randy emittini,'
any cvy ex<!ept when pursued after being wounded. Dr. hachiuan kept for several

ANSEHIN.K - TIIK OKKMK - CIIEX.

443

yoarn a tiuiu' Snow (Iuohi', which imiti'd with u cummou tumi' bird; hut tin- cggH
w«>ro unpHMhu'tivt'.

ArconliiiK to IMidihMuhnlT tin- Snow (ioosi' orciirn in Silicria, wlicnrt" it cxtr-ndH itH

tnnvi>mi>nt.s to tl xtiiMiir ninth, Mr. |)n',sMt'r ulso statcH tiiat tills hird is round

(|uitf ri'^'ularly in thi> I'aHti'in portion ol Kuropi'an KiiHsia. It lias also Ix-cn nii>t
witli in Japan; but in not l<nown to iiav** lN>i>n si-rn i>iti>i>r in (trt>at Iti-itain or in
Scandinavia. It. is In^iicvcd to have liccn taken on several occanions in IJerniany.
AcconliuK' to Naunianii, considcralde thicii.s iiave Ih'cu known to \msh thron^di Sih',sia.
iSeclistein nicntioiiH the occurrence of a lar^^e tloek ou tlie li'Hhof •lanuary, 17'.IL', pasH-
iuK' over t lie 'riiilrint,'er\valil. A .single .s]ieciiiieii is reported to have Iteen taken in
France in 18l.".>. It is also said to occur in (Jreece.

Dr. I)cnlanil — as ipiotcd by .Mr. Drcs.scr — states that Snow (Jeese are connnon
in Ouba from Octolw-r to April. In October, t.Sto. two td' these birds came to a pond
on which some tame (icesc were swimming', and were shot. He adds that when the
Cieiiai^a ih- Zapata lie^ins to dry up, portions are covered with Snow (tcese, ami that
he had killed at lea.st thirty of tliem in one season. 1)r. .Merrill nu-ntioim this spocioH
as ((iiite common during' winter on the western coast of 'I'e.xas.

Mr, Maci-'arlanc describes these (Jeese as beiuj,' very niinierous at l''ort Anderson
about May '-'."i. tlyin;,' northward, but bein^,' afterward driven back by the severity
of the weather. The nests of these birds were discovered on a small island in a lake
near liiverpool May. They were in ludcs in the .sandy soil, ami were well lined
with down. Mr. Mall found these birds common on the Vukon in thi^ spring. Their
Indian name is //«///.<//, or ("Jreat Wliite llird. They arrive about .May !>. tiyinj,' from
the .south up the river, but only stoji to feed in the marshes during' the night. They
do not breed in the vicinity of the Yukon, nor do they return in the fall by the same
route by which they came. They have all gone by May liO.

Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution by Mr. Kennieott,
near Fort Simp.son by Mr, H. !». IJo.s.s, and at Fort Kae by Mr. Clarke.

fu a paiier of the lute Mr, E. Adams on tlm itirds of Michala.ski, Ala.ska (" Ibis,"
187S), th»i first arrival of the Snow (Jooso on Norton Sound is noted as liaviug taken
place ou the '.)th of j\[ay. During the two following days this bird was con.staiitly
jiassing over in large flocks of from one liuiidrcd to three humlred, an imnicn.se num-
ln'r thus arriving. After tluit time only a few straggh'rs wero seen. The flocks
followed one another with great rapidity, and as soon as one large body disappeared,
another was seen advancing. In this manner — as ho was assured — they pass every
year, and all return about the end of September; at each season, with the ex(M'ption
of a few stragglers, being seen for ouly three days. Jfone of the other kinds of
( Icesc were seen in such numbers ius this was, nor was any other sjiecies so regular in its
liight. This iiird generally ]»asscs over at a considerable height, and seldom alights
I'xcept at night; but the stragglers flew ex(;eptioually low, and were easily shot.
Kvery bird seemed to be in full plum..ge and in good eonditicm, but none remained
to breed.

The smaller form probably does not differ as to its general habits and other
characteristics from the larger. Hut little is known as to its distribution and
liistory. According to Dr. Cooper it appears to Im rather common in California in
tlie winter. In company with the Snow Goose it fre(pu'nts the jdains, and is said to
have very similar habits; at least nothing distincitive has been observed. This bird
is much less abundant than the Snow Goose ; but a considerable number are brouglit
to market every winter, and they are known in the markets of San Francisco as the
" White Brant," on accoiuit of their snutUer size.

444

LAMKLMKOSTUAI- SWIMMKUS— ANSKItKS.

CiiSHiii, who (l«'Hcriln'(l tliis .siK'«;i»'s in ISAd, ri-j^anltMl it an Mun Vfry ran-, Ixit. not
iinkiKiwii on tlic Atlantic coast. He had mM>n Itut iivf siM't-inicns. uric of whiili was
Iroiii (>rc},'on ; and the otiicr lour — wliicli occiirrcd in |>airs — were lound in tlic
market in l'liila(Ud|iiiia, and are now in the colh-elion ol tlic Acjuh-niy oi' tliut city.
Two were adults, and two were in imniatnie pluniap'.

Two cxani|>Ies (d the smaller I'orm were obtained in Indaiid in Novcmhe.-, IS71.
Mr. Howard Saumh'rs diionicled their oi(urren<c at a meetinj,' ot tlie Zooh.j^'icul
Society in I.S7-. lie states that on the JHh of Novcnd»er his attention was attracted
to two (icese han^^in^' n|i in Leadenhall MarVet, London. I(y diiip-nt ini|iiiry he sidi-
se(|ncntiy ascertained tliat they liad itecn sliot near Wexford, on the lake of Taciini-
shin, on the south coast, liy a Ikiv. Tiiey were the only ones that had appeared
there; hut tlierc was a third one sidweiiuently shot in We.xford llarlMir. They had
liecn swininiin;^ aiiout on the lake for some days hidiire tiny were shot. The lake
adjoins the sea, from which it. is separated hy or':y a narrow rid;;e of sand; and it
prcdtahly would i»e one (d' tin- lirst places birds wouhl make if coming' from the sea.

I'nder the name of .Itimr /ii//iir/iiir<it.i, .Mr. IN ie writes that it is impossihlc to
convey any i<h'a of the incessant clatter of sounds emitted hy this and the While-
fronted (Joose when disturlM'd at ni^ht by some prowling wolf, as they .all roost on
the ground in wet prairies. The old (Jecsc of this species f,'encrally keep together;
and their white pluuia},'e. contrasted with the dark ground, presents the appearance
of snow-banks. K; r(dy seen in the water, they remain all winter in Calilornia and
the southern parts oi (frcf^cui. When they lirst arrive from the north they arc vcr_\
tame, allowing |M'rsons to approai h very near, and a skilful rider on a hoi-Hc is en-
abled to cat<di them with a lasso. Mr. I'eale saw four that had Inm-u taken in this
way in one afternoon.

Two examples of this (ioo.ie wer»' obtained at Fort Resolution on the litJtli (d
May hy Mr. Kennicott.

The efjj^ of the ."^now (Joose is (piite larj^e .is <M»mpared with the size of the binl. is
oval in shape, the two ends being <d' uneipial si/.e, and the color is a uniform dirty
chalky white. They average il.lO by li.liO inches.

Chen RoMi.

BOSS'S SMOW 00

Jtiser /?aW, BAniit, MS. C.v; s. IV. I'liilad. A.ad. IStil, 7!». — CorKx, Kpy, 1«72, '.iSS ; Ohfok I.i-I,

187:1, II". isi ; itinis N. W. 1871. .'..''..■J.
Rj-nnthriiiii/1.1 A',mi, Ki.l.lnr, llliistr. Am. 11. IV. IStllt, pi. 4-1.
Chill A'<m/, liiiHiw. I'r. I'. .S. i^at. Mus. 188(1, 'Joa ; Num. N. Am. 11. IHM, no. :m. — Coijk.m, ('lie. k

hist, -.M imI. 1882, no. C 7.

H.Mi. Arctic .'Viiicricii in Hiniiiiicr, racitic coast to Soiitlicni C'aliforiiia in winter.

Sp. Chau. Ailnll : Colors c.vaitly as in A. iiiii>erhoriiii>. Entindy Miowy white, the jirimiirii"-
black, fading into lioary asli hasally. liili and fed .iiill HMMish, tlie nails of tlir former wliii'
Toiiiia of the hill flosejy ap|ii'o.\iniatcil, the intervening spare scarcely cxposiMl. I^aiei'o-liasa! out
line of tilt! bill straight ; base of the bill fmpiciitly warted or cornigateij. y<iiiiiii: White, tinK<'l
with grayish, the centres of the feitlliers of upper parts ileeper ;.'ravish ; bill mnl feel dusky.

Wing. ia7"i-l.' .'■(O indies ; culnieii, 1..VI-1.70 ; depth of iiia.xillaat base, .h.",- !»."i ; width. .70-. so ,
tarsUK, -i.aO-U.CK); uiddle toe, l.nO-2.0.-| ; tail I'eatlieis, ni.l.^1.

In adults ()btai..eil at the same seawiii (winter or stinmier) there is great variation in the nm^ili
nei^ of thu Imisu of tliu ma.xilla ; in many (perhaps a majority of s|H!t:iiuvii.H) the luisu is siiiipl\

ANSERTX.E — CUE fJRESE — CHEN.

445

HliKhtly nifjoxf, wiili lon^'ituilinnl siilwiliiiii.«, little if miy inoic iliMiiict than in C. hiipnhnrciis. (S, c
a('ci)iii|)aiiyiiiK' < iit>.)

H|MTiiii(ii No. 4l7<>.'i, Ihnii tJrcat Slivc Like, |ii(ilMilily an immature individual, is exceptional
in liavin;,' ll terontlary i|nill> ile.-j. I.jink, li|i|»r«l willi white, the plumaj^e <«'' ':.:■ nape and anal
iej,'icin hli;,'lilly ver^iinj; lnwanl a-liy, tlie nail of
the l>ill Mai'k, lippol wilh white. In all other
ren|HM't.M than iIiok- mentioned, the ap|M-arancu i»
that of an ailnlt liiid ; and these dilferences woidd
seem to indicate a ralliei' ciilferent tninsition )ilu-
nia^e fnim youth to nialuiily than in the .1. Iitjjur-
liiimiH.

lli'iiriH', in Ills ••.Iouiiu'v to (lie Nortliorii
(tccan," ri'lers ti» a .small (Judsc which was
iindoulttfilly this .s|M-cics. lie calls it tlio
•'Horned Wavcy," |>i(dial»ly from t lie caniii-
clt .-. at tin* Ikisc of the liill ; and lie dcscrilMS
it as follows: "'I'liis delicate and diiniiiiitiv<>
species of the (ioose is not miudi larf^cr iliaii
tilt! Mallard I>uck. Its |diima^'e Ih deli-
catidy white, cxci|it tie <|nill-feathers, which
are lilack. The hill is not more than an iindi
long, and at the kise is stndih'd roiiiid witli
little knobs alH)nt the si/.e id' peas, lint more
remarkaldy so in tli- male. Moth the hill
and the feet are of the .sann- eidorwith those
id' the Snow tJoose. This s|M'cies is very
scarce at Churchill Itiver, an<l I iM-lieve ar»i
never found at any of the scuithern settle-

ments; hut alNuit two or three hmnlred miles to the nortliwe.st of Churchill 1 have
seen them in a.s larf^e tloi-ks as the Common Wavey or Snow Goose. The flesh of this
is exeeedingly delicate, lint they are so small tluit when I was on my )'• irney to the
north 1 ate two »d" them one night tor siipiier." llcunii! axUla that this speciies was

not dcHcrilHMl liy reniiant in his "Arctic ZcKdogy " — prohaldy for the reason that the

person who presi I at Fort I'rince td Wales at ih-' tinu' the ecdU'ction was making,

did not pay any attention to its completeness. According to Ilparne, the Indians luid
never met with any of the eggs of this s|)eejes, and he conjectu. <1 that these birds
rctiro«i to North (ireenland to breed. Their route in the fall of tho year, as tln-y

Kimim ^^ytmmm/.mnKui

446

LAMELLinOSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERE8.

return south, was also unknown, riicy \v«'rt' rau'ly seen on the roast of Hudson's
Bay soutli of 69° north.

Mr. T.ciiiartl H. Hoss mentions tlie fact that the Slave F^ake Indians recognize the.
differeneo iM'twt'on this Hpeeies and hotli t\n' ti/fnitiis and the In/prrhoi'iiis, it being saitl
to anivo from the south later than the I'onner, and earlier than the latter.

A largo number of imlividnals of this sjjecies were taken iit Fort I{esobition in
May, l.S()(), by Mr. Kennieolt. and in .May. ISO,'? ;ind 1S(m, i)y ^fr. .». I.oekhart.

Mr. IJlakiston (•• ll>is," IS7.S) refers to a smaller White (ioo.se mixed witli the
flocks of A. /ii//ii:rfi'iriii.i in .lajjan, which he refers to "./. afhiffux,'^ but wlneii may have
been this sjieeies. Its lueal namo was Ko-hakugan.

Captain J$endire nuMitions th(> iiroeuring a single specimen of this (Joo.se on Silver
River in Eastern Oregon, .\pril IL*, t87(». but considered it a very rare, species there.
It had been shot by Sergeant Kennedy out of a Hock (d' twelve, and weighed two and
three fourths i)ounds. Its note was .said to be (piite ditferent from that of the Snow
Goose. Other e,\amides have Iteen taken in .Marin ('o. and in other parts of Cali-
fornia, where its presence, however, is e.xc(>])tiona.l and rare.

Dr. .Tames ('. Merrill informs me that tlirs Goose is by no means uncommon about
Fort Missoula, in Montana Territory.

Mr. L. Helding, of Stockton, <'al., writes us as follows concerning this sftecies :
" Usually associates witli other <5e>'se when in tlu^ San Joa<piin Valley, especially
6'. /ii/j)L'rf>oiriis, and when Hying individuals are sometimes scattered through .a flock,
or, as is often the ca.se, congregated on one si(h' or other portions of it. F once saw
about a hiuidred of these Oecse in a separate flock, flying very high, and going north-
ward, the sjieoies being determined by its cry, which somewhat resenddes that of the
small ' Cackling (roose ' (/>'. cininili'Dsis hiimjnnrin). In Xovendierand DeciMuber, ]S.S(»,
itwasipiite as abnndiint in the Stockton market ius ('. /n/iifi'tmiriis — owing, I snpjKtse,
to its tanif-ness." Specimens of ('. Tinmti were observed at Stockton by Mr. IJclding
as early as Oct. 6, 1880, and by the. I."»th they became common. Mr. Pidding further
renuirks that "the flesh of ('. liossl, unlike that of Geese generally, is excellent
food."

Grm-s ANSER, BitissoN.

ill

An9fr, HiMss. Orn. \. 1760 (tyi)o, Ami-i oMcr, Liss., = ./. cinrretui, Mkyku).

This guuus (liffm's from Chen chiefly in the form of tin- bill, wiiicli i,s inucli les.s rolnist, iiinrc
depressed tcrnuiiidly, the nails thimicr and less art'licd, the tonna less divergent, etc. In fact, tlif
bill of some si'eeies is ipiite iiti-iitical in form willi that of the Jargi'r speciiM of Ihriiiclii ((vokk/ik.si.^
&ni\ Hutching!). The type of tlie genus, .1. i/iii ;•<■».<, Mkvku, has tlie bill deridedly appro.xiniatiiig
to tliat of Chi'ti, the coimiiissmi! gaping <|uile widely. BiU one s| ies oceuis in America, Iht" com-
mon White-fronted Ooose (Aiiurr (liimhili, n.\KTi..\un). The yMwy specie.i occurs also in Europe
in II representative form — the .-1. ((M/y/VDi.*, <!.mki.. The di.l'erence between them is diielly one
of size, tho American binl being decidedly the larger. Another European species or race resem-
bling A. alhifnmH, but much sniiillcr, sei-nis to bear to tin' latter about the same relation which
llrnicla Ilutchiim or 7*. h ncnpuria do to ]!. anudhitais. Tlie following measurements I'lijni a eoii-
uiderahlc series of specimens will serve to show the comparative size of the thive binls : —

WliiK.

Cllllili'll.

ni'I-thofllKIX. WIdll; (if mux.
Mt Ikisiv III liasiv

Tiirsiis.

Mlililli- 1".'.

A. Oiimhcli,

14. S."}-! 7. 50

l.S()-2.:i.'i

.00.-1.20

.R.';-1.05

2.rtO-;i.2o

2.3.-1-3.00

A. alhifrmvt,

11.75-18.00

l.fiO 1.7."

.00

..SI 1-0. 85

2.2.'i-2.80

2.20-2.50

A. minulus,

13.25-15.00

1.15-1.3.-)

.05-0.70

.70-0.75

2. 00-2. DO

2.00-2.16

■.V !
I

AXSKRIX.E — THE fi KKSE — ANSER.

447

From tlu'sc iiionHiironu-iits it may In; rcmlily seen tlmt llii! tliri-c fitrius iiitiTj^riule ns to^i'iiunil
size, tliu )iill Ix-iii},' the only infm))LT in wiiidi tlicri; u t\ cunstaiit liiircrt'iicc ; and lis we an; not
aware ol' any iidsIiIvi' rliaracter.s nl' iiolomtinn, it sccnix very priilialile tliat tliey rcmstitute tucivly
races iif one Npccies. At any rate, we sliall so hen^ rej,'ar(l llie American Jorni anil itc neaivst
Kuriipean ally (.1. idliifniii^), leaviii;^' the linal ileterminatiou r)t' (lie (|ue8tiuii (if determinable it
lie) to future investi;,'at()rs.

Another species of true vl/idt/' — the Benn fJoose (A. siiji'liim) --\\m been cre<lited to North
America by Nuttai.i, ("Man." ii. ls;j2, \>. ;Uh ■ "Canada and Hudson's Hay"); but a]ii)arenlly
without (,'ood authoi'ity for so doin^,'. Considering' the possibility of its occurrence, however, itx
principal synonymy and characters are herewith (,'iven ; —

AnsEII SKoKri'M ((iM.) lir. The Hcau (iouse.
villus xiiji/iiiii, (iM. ,S. N. I. 17MH, .ll-J.
Aiiufi- Hiijilum, Mkvi'.I!, Tiisch. II. ,154, I't AfcT.
Anmr nnvnuis, Hui'.lIM, Viig. Deiltschl. 838.
? Aiisff rii/i.imi.i, )

Aitsir jihitjinrim, J

BiiKMM, t. c. lip. 837, 838.

Sp. Char. " Male thirty inches lc.n^{ ; bill moderately (hick, iieaily as lonj,' as the head, two
inches and u thinl in leii^^th, and an inch and two twelfths in hei^dit at the base, nine twelfthH in

A, tilhi/iviis,

hei},dit behind the circular unguis, yellowish oran^^e, with the base and unguis black ; t«rsu» three
inches lonj,', dull oraiij^e-yellow ; the wiM;,'s lciii,i,'ei' (li.in the (ail ; feathers of (he neck linear-obloii},',
disposed in riilf,'e3 ; head and neck ^'r.iyish brown ; upper |)arts dark brown ami jjiay, iMUied with
the whi(ish terminal mar^fins of tin' feathers ; hind jiart of back blackish brown ; lower ]iarts pale
brownish '^ri\y, becomint,' whili' behind. Fimuli similar, but smaller. Ynuiuj with (he upjM'r parts
darker, (he heail and neck of a li'^hler brown, (luce small ])a(ches of white feutbew at the base of
the bill" (M.vcoil.MVKAY, '• Mist, lirit. 15." IV, iK,-2, p. Mtt).

448

LAMELLIRUSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERE8.

Anaer albifrons.

a. albifrona. THB IVBOPBAM WHITE-TBOHTID OOOSB.

Anas albi/ro)u, UiiEU 8. X. 1. ii. 1788, 509.

Aastr albiJ'ruM, liKLiiHT. Nuturg. IV. 18UU, 898. — Macuilu Man. II. 1842, 149. — Sciileo. Kev.

Ciit. 1844, 110. — Newt. P. Z. S. 1800, 339 (iriticul). — Kf.i.mi. IbiH, 1801, 12 (Greciiluiid).

— KiDiiw. Norn. N. .Via. IJ. 1881, no. 693. — Toies, Check LUt, 2a eil. 1882, no. 692.
Aimr erythropuH, Flkm. Hr. An. 1828, 127 (neo Ll.s.N.,=3 Temminckii, tiuiE, =mmulu», Naum.). —

(iiiAV, Gen. U. III. 1849, 007. — SciiLKO. Mua. P.-B. Aumres, 110.
Amis casttrca, S. <!. 1!m. Htist-, II. jil. 13.

(?) Aiiner intrniudiitu, Naim. Nut. V.>j{. Ueutw"',. XI. p. 840, pi. 288.
{>) Ansfr Miilius, Tkmm. Man. Orn II. p. 519.
(I) Aiiner palliiKa,ii¥X\*. Xauniunnia, 1855, 264.

A. albiJroM (Jambeli (lutiiltj. A. albi/ront Oambeli( young).

b. OamVMli THI AMBRIOAir WRm-FBOHTBD OOOSB.

Anser albi/rmis, Boxah. Synop. 1828, 37«. - Sw. & Kiiii. F. B. A. II. 1831, 466. — Ni'TT. Mini

II. 1834, :U0. — Aiu. Oni. Biog. III. 1835, 508, pi. 286; Syuop. 1839. 272 ; fl. Am. VI. ISHS,

20'.t, pi. 380.
Aiuer (lamhcli, IIaktuub, R. .M. Z. 1852, 7. — Baiuu, B. N. Am. 1868, 761 ; Cat. N. Am. I'-

1859, no. 60.''i.
Anurr albi/runa, var. Uambeli, CoCEs, Key, 1872, 282 ; Check LUt, 1873, no. 478 ; B. N. W. 1874,

646.

AXRERIN.K - THK OEEfE - ANSER.

449

Anicr nthifrnm finvihrii, UiDciw. I'r. 1'. S. N'lit. Mils. 1880, 203 ; Xom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 503 a.

— CofKs, I'lnM'k List, 2il i-il. IHS'.', no. liit:).
.inner fr\ilhriii)ui>, llAiiti), Stiiiislmry'H l!i'|>. iM.'r.', :121 (iipc Linn.).
Anitcr fmilnlin, lUiiiii, H. N. .Vin. 1858, .162 (= young ; .New Mexico); Cut. N. Am. B. 1859,

no. 560.

IIab. TIio wlidlc (if Nortli .\ineriia, brewUii},' far northwaixl j Culia. The tnie A. albi/rous,
restrictwl to the PaUriiri'tic It(';;iiiu ami (ircenlaiHL

((. Oambeli.

Sp. fnAK. Aihill: I'revailint,' rnlor hiownisli ^{lay, ihis uniform on the head and nock, and
bocoinin« nine li darker <m the Hanks ; fealhern of tlie mantle, win),'s, Mvs, and flanks distinctly
liitrdered lerniinally with jiah- lirownish asli (srinietimes approaehinji (^rayisli white) ; upper cdj.'ea
of the upper hiyer fif Hank- leal hers pure wliite. prmhicinK a conspicuous white stripe when the
feathers are properly adjusted. Hreast and al-
doinen >,'rayish while, mixed more or less with
irrt'Kuhir spots and |iatehes of hlaek, sometime.i
scattered and iscdated, liut oftener mon^ or less
confluenl. .\nal region, erissum, and upper tail-
ooverls immaiulate pun' white ; rum|( hrownish-
slate ; ^'reater win^!-c()Verls j,daueous-j,'ray ti)>j)ed
with while ; secondaries Mack, Iheir ed},'es mir-
rowly white ; primaries slaty lilack, ),'rowiiij,'asliy
liasally ; primary-coverts j;lancous-},'ray. Tail
hrownish slale, broadly lipped with white, the
feathers narrowly skirled with the same. Front
of the head, from the base of the bill to about
half way across tin- hn-cs and foreheail. including
tlie anterior border of the chin, while, borden-d
behind liy brownish blai'k, which ^'radually failes
into the j^'rayisli brown of the head 'Uid neck.
|{ill reddisii (wax-yellow. _/((/.• Xki.sox), the nail
while ; feet reddish. Yninifi (= .1. frniiltilin,
It.Mitn) : Nearly similar to the ailidt, but tin;
anterior portion of the head dark brown, instead
of white ; wiiij;-coverts less ^laiiciais ; black
blotches of the under surface absent. Nail c.
the bill black. I><ni'n>j \iii\iit<i: Above, olive-
;;reen ; beneath, din{,'y >,'reenish yellow, i',eei)est
yeUow on the alMlomen. (Hardly distinj.uisha-
liie from youn^of Vnrniiia fdimilnitii'i, but a]ipa-
rciitly more deeply coloreil, and with >,'realer
contrast between cidor of U|iper and lower sur-
faces.)

Wing, 14..')()-17.2r) inches ; culmen, l.4t>-
2..3r) ; tarsu.s, 2.00-.'J.I(i ; middle toe, 2.:J.5-2.70.
Tail-feathers 16 to 18, usuully the former.

A. albi/rou.

Mum.

. 1843,

h. albifrons.

Sp. Char. Exactly like A. GanMi, but smaller. Winj;, l.'».00-l,').7.'> inches; eiilmen. l.CTi-
1.75 ; (h'pth of maxilla at l>ase, .00, width, .8(»-.s.'> ; tarsus, 2.25-2.80 ; middle toe, 2.20-2.45.

The ])rinci])al variation anions individuals of this species is in the amcmnt of the black blotch-
ing on the lower parts. In some rtjiecimens (as No. lOHi.3, Frontera, Texas) there are only two or
three small spots, while in others (as No. 10788, Hudson's Hay Territory) the black predominates
over the lower parts, bein^ uuntinuuu.s un the uUlomen, and uidy broken ou the breoMt by the

vol.. I. — .'j7

450

LAMKLUIUiSTKAL SUIMMKIW - ANSKUKS.

ailiiiiMiiiv (ilii li'W jmlf liiiun'oiis Ifiulurn. In N". I'llT, \ViiMliiMj.'tiiii, D. ( '., tlic wliilish ^my o|
tlif liiwfi- iMirtH Ih Hlroiij;lv tiiijiiMl with (xlinux'dUx-riil'imM — witlioiit (Imilit iinTfly an aiviilcnt.il
Htain trim ri'irM;,'in"ini ilnv. Tlifii' is iil.-'" a ^li^'lit ranj;"' >>( varialinn in tin- sli.nli' ul' ilic lirowni-li
tint^< III' till- IxiiU , Mini)' s|i('i'inii'nH incliiiiiix to cini'i't'oiiH ami nilirrs a|i|>iiia<'liin;^ dark iinilicr. 'I'Ik-
HiiiallcHt H|HM-iiiu'n (xci- lui'nAurcnii'nts almvc) is No. KHiilt, l-'mnlira, Texas ; tin- laincst is Nn.
l«7«8, Wnshington, D. V. In N'o. i'(»i;i>, l-'i'it IJi-soiiiticiii, the while ><( (he loielieail is iimiv

exteiiileil ihaii in anv ntheis, leadiin;: as I'ar as tlie niid-
ille III' Ihe eyt', ami sending! Uick a stripe over tiie eye to
its |MiKleriiir an^'le, ami annther nii earli side the thi'iiat.
The vai'ialiiiiis n! |ilnnia;,'e in this speeies are tliii-
disi listed liy Mr. Iv \V. Nelson, in the " lilllletin ol' lin
Kssex Institute," Vol. VIII. (1.^7(1), \>\>. 1:«1, i:J7 : —

" The individual variation in this s]H'cies is vi ly
^;reat. .\ larj,'e majority havi- the onliiiary while tVonliil
Kind and the under )>arls |>lentilully mottle I with l>lai k.
In others the Maik j;radually decreases, until some spei i-
iiiens do not sho'.v the least ti'aee of dark oh the alHln-
ineu ; in sueh iuslauies the frontal white liand is usuall\
])resent. The youiiK exhiiiil a dark lirowii IVontal liaml
in plare ol' while, liut with more or less dark spol- on
the alHlonien. in very hi;,'h pluiua;;e Ihe alnlouieu l>r
eomes almost entirely lilark, only a few rusty-iohaed
leal hers lieint; interspersed throuK'h tin' hlaek. The

white nail on the liill is ;;ener,dly rrossecl liy one ol
more |on;,'iluilinid stripes uf dark horn-eolor In sjiriii),',
as ihe lireedin:^-seasoii approaches, tint hill hecomi's a
dear waxy yellow. There is also nuit.-h variation in
ni/.e amoii^' adults of this species. I have examined a
iiumlier of specinn'us, which liy correct comparison were
at luaxt iiiii/iiurtli smaller than the averaj,'i'."
A hyhrid lietween .liinif iliimMI ,'uid lliriililii nriiili iiliilis, from San Francisco (N'o. 4l7iM,
Oct. -i'l, lH<i2 ; '•". (iKt'iiKit), shows an eipnil comliinatiou of the characters of the two species. Tin-
bend has the white front of ,1. Unmliili and the white cheek-patch of /;. ihikkIiiihIi ; the Mack nl
the lU'ck lij^htens {gradually into the jfrayish lirown of the iu;.'uluni ; the ^;ri'ater coverts are silvi ry-
slale, as in .1. itninliill. and llie tail is wholly lilack, as in /.' I'tinali iihIh ; while the uppi'r lail-covcrl-
are spoiieil white and lilmk. The anal rej,'iou and crissum are white, hut the lon;.'er feathers n|
the latter are douiled with Mack. Tin hill and feet are pale-colored (reddish in life I), as in
A. llnmhili.

It i.s very (liuilitl'iil wlirthcr tlio Wliitc-froiitcd (iixisc (d" ({fpciiliiiid Itcloiifjs to
t\w Kiifnjx'iiii spt'cii'.s (ir to tin- lafK<'i" Aincrieiin fiuin. I'i'ulV.s.snr Ncwtdii appeiiis
ratlu'f iiu'liiiiMl to ii.s.sij,'ii it to tin- latter; Imt as tin- true iilh'ifninH is a reouhu
visitant to Irflaml. the <'xaiii|ilfs taken oti tin' cast coast of (irccnlainl may perhaps
lidoii;,' to the < ihl World form; luit it doi'S not follow that those of the west .-iiasi
nre of the same kinil. The White-fronted (Jotise is in'ctty K'''ii<''"iny distril'iitcd over
the entire {'ahi-arctic Kcf^ioii, lireediiij,' in-ai" the coast-line of tin- Arctic, (►ceaii. in
l>oth Kiirope iind .\sia. and also on the lar^jcr rivers, hays, and inlets, in its mif,'ra-
tions it is variously ami iim'(|iially distrilnited, Imt is more abundant in l''.astcrii
Europe than in West. ext.emlin>< its iniijrations into CeiitiMl .\fiica almost as far as
the Kipiatof. It is usually foiiml in (Jreat lliitaiii and Ireland, ami is ii tolerahl.v
re^jular visitant. altho\ij,di more common in the severest winters.

This liird is ulaindant in Northeastern Africa duriiif^ the cold season, and at tlmi
time is the most c<mimon (Joose in K^iyjit. wliere it may l»e met with in Hocks. It
leaves that region in March. It is also a winter visitant to India, ami isalsoi|uite

A-'Mi/nm* fn/thin/iD.i,

ANSKIIIN'.K — TIM-; fJKKHK — AN'SKH.

451

Illf^S til

.lipravs

iri'i;ulai

.•ii;i>l

■ll (IVI 1

li'ai), ill
iiii!,'ra-

[■'.iisti'in
liii- as
ll.Talilv

lit thai
Iks. It
III i|uil'

frcqiieiitly Ht't'ii ill tlic iimtiicrii distiii-ts of Silit'iiu, wlicrc Miiltli'iHlorff sjM'aks nl' it
iis til** iuu8t coiiimiiii siifcifs louiiil hi'iH'diii^r oil till! Tuiiiiyr. It ;U»o occuis in C'liiiia
and •rapau.

in its m'licial lialiits this (lnosc a|i|M'ais to be iu no wist- ililTcrriit troni our roiii-
iiion Ncantic toini, A. Unmlnli It tlit's in wfilj^c-shapfil tlocks. frn|ucntU iittfriiiin
a loud iind Iuu'hIi <tv, wliiidi may Ih> hi-aid ut u roii.sidi-ialilc dislaiici'. TIicnu tlocks
ill!' said to 1h> },'rii('nilly on the wiiiK just iK-rorc sunrise and sunset, and tliey are very
regular in tlieir niovenieiits, taking the same line of tligiit, and feeding ut the same
spot ciu'li day ; they may in eoiise(inenee U- readily ohtained liy lying in wait fur
fliem. When oiiee lireil upon, the Hoek usually h'aves the neigliliorhiMd. This liird
prefers low damp districts to the uplands, and may more freipiently he fouml in
localities where aipiatie plants grow than in cultivated lields. Mr. St. ilohn states
that it is frenucntly .seen off the coasts of Kngland and S«'olland in severe weather, anil
also in iiiiirshy districts and gra.s.s-tields. It arrives in Morayshire earlier than the
iitlier species of (lecse. hut is never .seen there in Hocks of more tlian eight or ten
individiial.s. This (ioose feeds almost exclusively un vegetahle matters; and Mr.
Macgillivray states that a spei-inien sent to him from Northiimlierlaiid had its stomach
tilled with the tender shoots and leaves of the common clover, on which it had heeii
feeding after a severe snow-storm, hike the other species, it hreeds near fresh-water
or salt poids not immediately on the coast, and makes a large nest on the ground,
warmly lineil with down. The eggs are from J'our to six in nnnilier. are yidlowish
white in color, and measure about .'t.lL' inches in length hy L'.l.l in hreailth.

The .Vmcriiiin •' Wliite-fronted," or '•Laughing, (loose" is a resident, during tlio
summer moiitlis, in high .\rctic regions, migratory in the spring and fall, and in tiie
winter diffused over all the southern jiortioiis of North America, being more abun-
dant in the central anil western regions, and comparatively rare on the Atlantic
coast.

According to ^Ir. iJoardman, it is of occasional occurreiiee near Calais. < hie wa.s
procured at St. Sti-pheii that had tlowii against the Hag-statf. and had thus iieconie
disabled. It is rarely seen in Ma.s.siudinsetts, iilthough individuals are occasionally
liiought to the markets which have been taken on ("a|ie Cod. .Mr. (Jiraiid speaks of
this bird as being exceedingly rare on !,ong Island. A single specimen is mentioned
as having been shot near iJabylon. and given to the New Vork Lyceum.

On the I'ueitic coast it is more abundant. Dr. Cooper mentions having seen tlocks
iif this species at Los .\iigeles in Meceiiiiicr. l.sCiO. It is also given by .Mr. I{. I'liowne
as one (d' the birds of Vancouver Island. Captain Kendire mentions it us abundant
in (hegon during migrations, and the first to arrive in tho fall.

Dr. Pickering, in his Notes taken when naturalist id' the Wilkes ICxpedition. men-
liiins the occurrence of immense niimiiers of (lecse of various sjiecics on the coast of
California and Oregon, in the month of .Vpril. and subseipieiitly in October. He
calls particular attention to the abundance of this species in that region, and .says
tli.it the (Jeese are usually seen either Hying in lines — generally bifurcating from a
point, but frecjuently irregular — or walking on the ground in seiudi of fooit.

Mr. I'eale, referring to this sjiecies, states that about the middle of (Jctober v;!st
numbers id' White-fronted or liaiighing (lecse arrive in Oregon and California from
the north. They are generally found on moist prairies, and feed almost entirely on
gra.ss. None were seen that were black anywhere, except in patidies on the breast.

Mr. K. Aihims, in his Notes on the IMrds ob.served on the Coast «)f Norton Sound
("Ibis," 1H7S), speaks of this (loose as arriving tli.'re as i-arly as the L'.'M of .\pvil,
liut not la'comiiig idiiindant laitil the liist week in Ma}'. Tlu^y did not congregate

452

LAMKI,LIH(»STI{AI. SWIMMKHS ANSKUKS.

ill large Hucks, hut wure more oitcii im-t with singly or in HiniiU partit's. A lew
rniiaiufd to lnved in foiiipany with the Hrrnli/n iili/rintim. Itiit hy tar thu greater
uuiuher went tarther norlii,

Dr. il. ('. Merrill nientinns tliis s|iecies as the first to arrive in the aiitunin in
Stmthwestern Texas, usually alMUit the first week in Oeldher. Coniparatively lew
reniaineil throughout the winter, hut during the niigratioiiH it was only exceeded in
nuuiliers hy tiie Snow (lOose. In their spring migrations he IiaH seen tioeku ut at
least two hundred pass over Tort Urown as late as the I8th of Ajuil.

J)r. Cooper nientutns it as very ahundant during the wet season in California,
Honu> arriving a.s early as the seeond w«-ek in Septenil)er, freciiienting thu plains
ahnost exeliisively, rarely appearing on the sea-shore or in the water. Of all the
(Jeese that art! found in Califmnia, this is regarded as hy far the hest for the tahle ;
and near the Colundiia Kiver it was found a very easy hird to shoot. The hunter
eould walk in the long grass where llie hinls were, and shoot them down as they rose
Hingly or in [lairs. In California they are more su.spieions and wild, and it retpiires
eonsideral)le artifice to ohtain a shot at thent. ThiH in dune hy nu>anH of lirush
hiding-places, over which they Hy, or hy driving an ox that has heeii trained for the
purpose toward them, keeping concealed Ix'hind it until close to the liirds. In this
way most of these tJeese arc now shot f(U' market.

Mr. (Jraysou nu-'t with this species on the western coast of Mexico, near .Ma/atlan.
where, from the month of Septendier until Fehruary. it occurs in considerable Hocks,
appearing to migrate up and down the southern (Sulf shores.

It is said to feed (diicHy on herries, ami is seldom seen on the water, exee]it at
night or when moulting. It fre«piunts the sandy shores of rivers and lakes in Hocks,
one of their iiumher jHTforming the duty of sentinel. They Itreed in great nnndters
in Arctic .\nierica and on the islands of the I'olar Sea, hut arc nunc rarely seen on the
coast of Ihulson's Hay. This hird migrates over the interior, and its hreeiling-places
are always ch(»Hen in the vicinity of woodcil tracts. It passes north in large Hocks
at the sanu! time with, or a little later than, the Suow (Joose, through the iuterior of
the Fur Country to the hreeding-places. which are in the woody districts skirting the
Mackenzie to the north of the sixty-seventh parallel, ami also to the islands in the
Arctic seas. The Indians imitate its call liy patting the mouth with the hand while
they repeat the .syllaiile un/i. The resend)lance of the note of this species to the
laugh of a man h;us given tti the hird the common name of "Laughing (Joose."

Mr. Ilearne, in his ''.lourney" (p. II.'S). refers to this species as the '• Laugh'iig
(loose." In si/e, he says, it is the e(pial of the Snow (loose, Init its skin, when
stripped of its feathers, is delicately white, and the Hesh excellent. It visits Church-
ill Iviver ill very small niimhers ; hut about two hundred miles to the northwest ol

tliiit Hiver he has .seen it fly in large Hocks, like th )mmon .Snow (loose. Near

Cumberland House and It:is(pii,an this bird is found in such numbers that the Indians,
in the moonlight, fretpiently kill upwards of twenty at a shot. Like the " II(Uiieil
Wavpy" (.Itisfr It'iissi), it never Hies with the lesid of the shore, hut is always seen
arriving froih the, westward. The general briM'ding-pl.aces of this sjM'cies were not
known to .Mr. Ilnarne, although a few of their eggs had Imhmi occasionally found north
of Churchill River, (^iptain TUakiston speaks of this (loose as being a couuuou hiril
on the Saskatchewan in the spring and .autumn, especially in th(i latter season, when
it is found in immense nnmlK-rs. Mr. Koss also found it abundant on tlui Mackenzie,
as far north as the Arctic, coast. The marshy country l)ordering the lower parts oi
the S.xskatchewan River, in the neighborhood of Fort Cumlmrland, is a great resoi i
of this species.

ANSKIUN.K — THK (JKESK ANSKK.

453

Ai'curdiiiK tu Mr. (i. liunistoii, the l^aiiK'liin^' (toosr is scliloiu simmi in th«' Huuthfin
portion of lluiUon's Hiiy. At Fort Wnk it is less rare, and at Fort Cluinhill (iiiit«
ainuulunt. lit- rt'gurds it uh h-iug mi inlial)itant ol Cmtraland Wi-HtiTii Anii'ricii
in till- winter months, rather than of the * astern side. Tlieret'ore in its |iro^'ress
nortiiward it strikes npon the roast westward ol' iJanies Hay, where it is seliKini seen.
On the Lower (.'ohindna and in Ore^'on, or in tin* Wilhunette VaUey, it alMinnds with
otlier wihl towl, when, as frequently happen.s, the winter is niihl and there is no
snow on the i;round. It is ini liuh-d by llolholl anion^ tlie birds of (ireenhmd.

Mr. Au(hd>on states that ibirin^' his resiih'iiee in Kentucky not a winter [las.sed
witliont his notiein^ a hir^e nundter of tlies«' birds, und says tliat thuy uru frt>-
([uently olfered for .sah' at that .season in the market of New Orleans. From tlio
imndM-rs seen hij,di on the Arkansas IJiver. he presumed that many winter beyond
the southern limits of the Initeil States. In Kentuiky Itirils of this speeies >,'>'ner-
ally arrive before the Canada (loo.se, betaking,' themselves to the (,'rassy jioiids; and
of the dilTerent (Jeese which visit that country, these are by far the least shy. The
liocks selilom exceed from thirty to lil>y imiividuals. The flight of this l)inl is linn
and well-sustained, and re.senddes that td" Hirnlihi ruHitdvims. In its nu),'ratit)ns it
pa.s.ses at a considerable height, arraiigL-d in a Hock of an angular shape, an old CSander
leading. ( )n the ground it walks with ea.se, and when wounded runs with considerable
speed. While in Kentui-ky it feeds on iM'echnuts and acorn.s, and gleans in the eorn-
tields for grains of mai/e. It also nibbles young grain and blades of grass. In its
stomueh the broken shells <d' snails are al.so found. It leaves Kentucky a fortnight
sooner tlum the Canada (loose, starting at tlu> .same time with the Snow (ioose ; but
the two speeies do not nungle with each other.

Mr. Dall mentions linding the White-fronted (loose extreim'ly eonimon in Alaska.
It arrives at Nidato about May (>th to lOth, and breeds all along the river gregar-
iously, laying from six to ten eggs in a depression in the sand, without any kind of
nest or liidng. lie found its eggs all along the rivi-r, from Fort Yukon to the sea.
and thence to St. .Michael's. The Indian name of the bird is Tut»itn<ilt. Air. Itannis-
ter speaks of it as one «d the first of the (Jeese to arrive in the spring, when it .soon
beeiuni's aliumlant. He found it nesting on Stuart's Island, ami probably also on
St. Michatd's.

Mr. MacFarlane found this speeies breeding abuiulantly on the Lower Andei.ion
Itiver, on the Arctic coast, and among the islands in the Arctic Sea. He has fur-
idshed notes as to their nesting, and fnun these it ,'ippears that the maximum luindier
of eggs is seven, and that in nearly every instance observed iiy him the eggs wt re
not de|iosit<'d in a nu-re depression without lining. Imt that there was a plentiful
supply of hay, down, and feathers, although in some instances this liidng was moro
scanty than in others. The eggs were found in June and duly. Those obtained ati
late as June L'O usually contained large endtryos, but in a few instances they wen;
found to be fresh as hit»* as .luly (>. When the nest was approached the pan-iit bird
would exhibit signs of fear, (lying off without noi.se at a low elevation. Mr. Mac-
Farlane found this bird breeding aliout the Lower Anilerson IJiver, in the vicinity of
fresh-water lakes. The nests weie generally in N.ooded districts, and were u mere
dei)ression in the ground, but W(dl lined with feathers and down.

The White-fronti'd Cihisc was also taken in the neighborhood of Fort Uosolution
by Mr. Ki-nnicott. May L'l and L'(l. ISOO.

Dr. Ilerlandier's manuscript notes seem to show that this (roose, in the winter,
inhabits only the wooded marshes formed by the overflowing of the liio Uravo dtd
Xo'te, in the vicinity id' Matamoras.

454

I,.\Mi;i,LII!t)STKAL SWIMMKIIS - AVSKUIX

Till' t'KK^ (if tluM H|M'ci«'8, ill hIiuim' anil K*'»i'ral iip|M-uriui(H>, urc iiiuliNtiii({ui.sliulili>
fruiii tliDsc lit till' Snow (iuuHu. 'Vlwy un* uf a iinifiirni ilull-whiti) culor, iinil nifUMure
nbuut '.'.MU by l'.(Ml ini^lifH.

(iKM H BERNICLA, Stki'Iikns.

fiiniii-li, Stki'IIKN^, <1"Ii. /"Nil. Xll. ii. IH'JI, l.'> (ty|>i', Amii lurniiln, I. inn.).
LiUcttfHtniti, l{i:iri|. MvhI. .\v. iH.'iU, |i|. ix. (\\\>v, .Inmr Icuenimii, UKciiNr. ).
LiiicMi-fihiirim, Haiiii>, B. N. Am. \HM, 7iS'( (ty|ie, Amu enunileiiiii, I.i.nn,).

Willi iiiiirli tlif MiiiK- t'lit'tii tliriiii;{liout a* ihv it\<fv'um of Aiin't, tlioHc liclciiit^iiiK to the ^I'liiix
lliTiiii-lii all' tlixtiii^'iii^lit'il liv till' <liii'k<'i' |iliiiiiut{(', wiili tlif liiail ami iicck tiiii'lly liLick, ami
the dill ami fcft I'litiivlv ilf('|i lilmk, at all ap->«. All llic kMowii i>|iucit'>i iif IkntUlii (an ihojiltIv
n-Htiirti'il) iH'i'ur ill North Aiiitiiin, ami may In' dvliiiLtl a^ IkIIowm : —

r/r/(

'-■/i-. .17

it. cauailfutii.

\. Huatl mill iii'ck hlack, with u wniiuwhat triaii;,'iilar |Kilrh <>!' wliiti' mi I'lii'li chfok, UHiially con-
flmiil iimli'iiii'Ulh till' liiail, Imt Hnuuliiiic^ M|iaralt<l liy a lilaik Hlii|n' or "inlhiiui«"
aloii;,' tlif tliio.it ; ill Hdiiic Mitc'riinfii.-t It wliitf lollar aioiiml the lower in'ck.
1. B. cauadenaiB. Tail-l'.atliLTH I » to -20 iiuIu-h ; wiiii,', i:J.(ki-2l.(Hi ; luliiii-ii, .1).')--J.70 ; tar-
Hus, :!. |(i-;j.7<» ; iiiiilillf luf, I hi»-:1.1<i. Tail, riiinp. ami iiriiiiaricx liinwiiisli Mark ; ujiih i
tail-covirtH, iris-<iiiii, ami aiml ii';;ioii wliilf ; n>t »f llif i>lniiiat,'i.' (,'ra_vi'<li Imowii, lij,'litti
Im'Iow, till' fi'athin* li|>|Hfil with jmiIit ffitii. Whole of North Aiiu-rica, nouth to Mexico.

B. Huuil, iii't'k, ami .jii'.;iiliiiii Mark, th<- iiii<lilli- <>r the iiuck with a while |Niteh on uai:h Hiili', or a

Wiilit t'.illhir of the Millie, illlerrU|>teil l»'hili<l.

AXSKKIN.F, -TIIK ('.KKSK - IHIKNICLA.

455

8. B. bcrnlola Witi^, l:j :t(>-i:|iMi imlicH ; cnlmpn, 1.20-l.AO; inrHiiH, 2.|(U2.(u; iiiHi|l<- tm-
1.7*^2.1(1. Wliitf of tliu iit'i'k I'liiiliiM'il t(i two liiuki'ti ("trt'iiki'il) luitrlicN dd ciu'li Nidc,
AliiiVf, lii'iiwiii-li ;^'i'ity, tlnr rratliri- iiiiiTuwly li|i|i<'i| with );i'iiyir<li white ; \viii^-riiviTt'«
iii'iirlv iiiiirnriii, innri' Miii^h /luy ; iriiii^;c-, niiii|>, iiiiililli' iiii|« r lail-i'iivi>rl^<, iiihI icitiitin,
lii'iiwiii-'li lihirk; tcriiihiiil mill hitciiil ii|>|>('i' I'lil-covcil^, iriT»uiii, and iiiiiil ri'^'inn whili* ;
lowrr iiai'tt |iah' Kiuy, Ihi' IValluii li|i|ii'il willi ^'I'ayi^h while, aliiu|>lly aii<l xtiiiii^ly rnii-
tni'tteil with llie lilai'k nl the jiix<iliiiii, iiii>l laihiiK iii^eir^ilily iiiti) the while nl' the anal
r<-.;iiiii. Null. Sea-i'iia.'<l'* III Kiii'ii|ie ainl Ka-ieni Noith Anuiira ; rare inlaiiil.

3. B. nlBTiouia. \Vin><, IJ.70-i;|.'iii inches ; i uliiieii, I.J<^l.a<'i; lai'xiit, 2.;i(>-:2.rMi; miihlle Iim>,

l.Hii-2.INI. Wliite III' the iieek I'liMiiiti;; aiii»liiii'l enllai', iiiterrii|)tcil only iH'liiinl. AIhivv,

nearly linirnriil dark snnly liinun ; tail-rnverl'*, eir , wliite, and ri'tni;;!'.^, ell'., lilai'k, aH ill

//. hiriitii ; Inwer part'* dark ^mity |iliinilieiiii'< (inurli like the ii|i|M'r jNirtH in lii''iilii)> nearly
i\» dark ah, Init ul>rii|itly detineil a<.;Miiixl, the lilai k of the ju^tiliiiii, uh widl a-< the white of
the rris'Oini ; feallieiN nf the Hidi'.H and Hanks ti|i|ied uith ;,'rayish wliite. Ilnli. Western
distrirls of All t ic Ainericii, south in winter to Lower ('aliluiiiia; ucuideiital on Alluntic

CIHUtt.

C< Head mostly white, the lores, iH<'i|iut, neek, and jiitiulnni Mark.

4. B. leuoopsia. \Viii;<, I I.!Mi-I(I,!Mi in< In^ ; < nlineii, l.li) |.4n ; tai^iiH, -J A<)-3,ini ; niiddh!

tiH', l.!Mi--J.|t). Alinve, silvery ^'tay, the h-alhei's marked with a liroail liuliterminal har
of lilaek and narrow tip of while ; renii;;es, rump, ami tail Maik ; upper liiil-i'ii\erts, anal
i'e;{ioii, and erissiim while ; lower partM urayisli while, darker nii the sides and llankH.
IJith. .**eii-i'oasts iif .Nortliern Kiimpe, hut onasioiial almiK Atlaiiliu cotwl of North Aiueriea
(Hudson's llay, Lon^; Island, Curriliiek Sound, N. C, etc.).

Bernida canadenaia.

a. Caiiadenils. THE OAKADA OOOII.

ylims fn)i<iil>n.>,i\ I.inn. S. N. I. \7M, lUS. - Wll.s. Am. Hm. VIII. IHH, .'i2. pi. rt7, f. 4,

yf;i.w/- mi„iilnis,„, Vll.ll.l. Klir. .Melli. l.S-.'ll, I 1 ». Hw. & l!|i II. F. H. A. II. 1.>>.I1, »tiN, XlTT.

.Mail, II. \K\\, MV. -Ai'i>. Orii, IUdk. III. 1895, 1; V, 1831), «)07, pi, <JU1; Synop. 1831), 270;

l». Am. Vl.is»;i, 17H, pi. :i7<l.
Ittrniflii ,<iitiiil.,isi.i, lloih. Isis, 182n, 021. llAlttii, II. N. Am. IS.'iS, xlix. 'di ; <'itt. N. Am. II.

1850, no. 607. — KiiHiw. Num. N. Am. II. \SH\, no. 61)4, — tor Icn, Chiuk List, 2d cd, 1882,

nn. 702,
Brtiiiln ,-iiHitil.nm\ n.\NMt*T, I'r. Ae. Nnl. Sei. Philiul. IH't), 131,— Coiks, Key, 1872, 283 ; Cheek

List, 1H7:i, iiM. W, ; llinls \. W. 1S74, .'i.'i4.
XBtriucla J{:iniitli>,i,, Unss, (aimd. Nat. VII. Apr. If^tfj, l.Vi.

fi. OooidentalUi. THB WE8TEBN CNKMI.

Bfmieln itiviihnl'ilis, Haiiih, II. N. Am. \s:,x, 7im (in tixt); Cut. N. Ai' " IS.IO, no. Mia.
Hii-niela ctimulinHiii, viir. iHCiiiitttalin, Daii,. & Kanmni-. Tr. Cliiiiif{o Aim i. 1»«I), 2D.'i,
Btrnielii ritniiAfnuin iwcidiitlalis, Itiiniw. I'r. I". •><. Nut. Mus. Vol. 3, 1880, 203; Xom. N. Am. II.
1881, nu. &04 c.

y. Hutobinal. HUTORIXS'S OOOaS,

Ami!> hcrnieln, var. ft. I!li n. App. I'any's Vnj,'. ;itiM.

Ainur nulihiiim, Sw. & I!n it. V. II. A. II. 1831, 470. — Xutt. .Man. II. 1«34, 302. — Orn. IVwu.

III. 18.i-,, -J-Jtl, ).l. 277 ; .'^.vimp. 18:i!), 271 : B. Am. Vl. 1843, 1!i8. pi, 377.
Beniiihi llHlfhiiisi, Wooim. Silxr. Kxp. 18.'i3, 1o2. - Ramid, H. N. Am. 1858, pii. xlix. 7<I<1 ; Cut.

N. Am. II. 18.V.), Ml). .111!).
nranUi lliihhinsi, IIanmsi. I'r. Ae. Nut. .%i. I'liilail. 1870. 131.
Itrnntit oiiKiilniiiiM, var. /(iilcliiHui, Cori'.s, Key, 1872, 284.
ttrinita oinailfnuis, i: lluh-hinxi, CorRn, II. N. W. 1871, 554,
Bfniieln cnnailmnh llnleliiiisi, Kiiiow. Pr. I'. S Nat. Mas. Vol. 3, 1880, 203 ; Norn. N. Am. B. 1881,

no. 604 1«. — CoiKs, Cheek List, 2d fil. 1882, no. 7o4.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

i^/ ",-:^,

C <i'.%

1.0

I.I

1^ jm |2.5

|5C ^^" H^H

1^ 1^ 12.2
145 i|2.0

1.8

1.25 i 1.4

^ 4!^'

'V-

' ' ^ ' — -r ■ ^^^T^"T7r-P-^^y^^"i- ^^?>*'j'>

.iij»v'"iie'*^jii^_i*ji<i IT.-"

466

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

B. Leucopareia. THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE.

Anscr canadensis, Pall. Zoog. It.-A. II. 1826, 230 (iiec Li.n.n.).

Anscr hucoparcitis, BhANiir, Bull. Sc \v. St. Petersl). I. 1836, 37.

Bernicla leiicoparrin, Cass. Illustr. B. Ciil. Te.\. etc. 1853, 272, pi. 45. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858,

xllx. 765 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 568.
Branta canadensis, var. Icucnparcia, Col'KS, Key, 1872, 284 ; Check List, 1873, no. 485 (i.
Branta canadensis, b. leucopareia, Col'K.s, B. N. W. 1874, 554.
Bernicla canadensis Icucoparin, Hidgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, 1880, 203 ; Nora. N. Am. B. 1882,

no. 594 6. —CouES, Check List. 2il ed. 1882, no. 703 (iiait).

Hab. 01' canadensis proper, temiHTiite Nortli America in general, breeding in the United
Sttite.s and British Provinces ; casual in Europe ; occidcntalis, the northwest coast (California to
Sitka) ; Ilutchinsi, breeding in the Arctic districts, migrating south, chiefly through the Missis-
sippi Valley and westward ; leucopareia, Pacific coast chiefly, breeding along the coast of Alaska,
but frequently straying inland during migrations.

Sp. Char. Adnlt : Head .and neck deep black, the former with a white patch covering the
throat and extending up over the cheeks to Ijeliind the eyes, growing gradually narrower above,
the upper outline usually more or less truncated, tliis white patch, however, sometimes interrupted
on the throat by a narrow black strijie or isthmus. Very rarely, u broad white band, more or less
distinctly indicated, crosses the forehead between the eyes. Black of neck fretiuently bordered
below by a white collar, more or less distinct. U[)per surface grayish brown, varying from almost
cinereous to umber, each leather bordered terminally by a i)aler shade ; lower parts with the ex-
posed surface of about the .same shade as the tips of the feathers of the upper parts, the concealed
portion of the feathers of the shade of the j)rovailing color above — this much exposed .along the
sides anil on the flanks. Primaries and their coverts pl.ain dusky, the former growing nearly black
terminally. An.il region, crissum, and lower tail-coverts immaculate pure white. Tail plain deep
black; rump plain blackish slate. Bill and feet deep black. Young: Similar to the .adult, but
the colors duller, the markings less sharjily defined ; black of the neck passing gradually below
into the grayish of the juguluni ; white cheek p.atches usually finely speckled with dusky ; light-
colored tips to the contour-feathers broader. Downy youmj : Above, including an occipit.al patch,
golden olive-green ; beneath, pale-greenish ochre, the head rather deeper.

Total length, about 20 to upw.ards of 40 inches ; wing, 13.60-21. (K) ; culmen, .95-2.70 ; depth
of maxilla at base, .60-1.20; width, .52-1.20; tarsus, 2.10-3.70; middle toe, 1.80-3.40. Tail-
feathera, 13 to 20.

If, as seems to be the case, all the North American Wild Geese similar to Bernicla canadensis in
color are of one species, there is probably no feral bird and few domesticated kinds, which vary to
such great extremes of size. A series of upwards of fifty specimens, carefully measured at the same
time, gives the above results, the variation amounting to the following percentums of the maxi-
mum measurements, only adult birds being measured : Wing, 35.24 per cent ; culmen, 64.81 per
cent ; tars\is, 43.25 per cent ; middle toe, 47.06 per cent.

The only character which seems to approach constancy is the number of tail-feathers, the smaller
specimens usually possessing 13 or 14 to 16, and the larger 18 to 20 ; but the number varies with
the individual, some examples, referable to Hutchiiisi on account of size, possessing 18 or more,
and vice versa. After a very careful consideration of all the facts involved, we feel constrained to
look upon all the North American Wild Geese resemliling li. canadensis in coloration as if one spe-
cies, no matter what their size may be, it being scarcely possible to define the line between even
geographical races. The following, however, is an attempt at a subdivision of the species such as
seems warranted by the material in hand ; but it may be premised that examples not infrequently
occur which are as properly referable to one as to the other : —

A. Tail-feathers usually 18 to 20 ; size usually large.

1. Canadensis. Lower parts mu(!h i)aler tluan the upper, the light brownish gray some-
times fading gradually into the white of the anal region ; white cheek-patches usuallj
confluent on the throat, and white collar round lower neck in the winter plumage very
indistinct or obsolete on account of the light color of the jugulum. Wing, 15.60-21.00

ANSERIN.E — THE flEESE — BERNICLA.

457

Am. 1858,

m. B. 1882,

the United
[xUfomia to
the Missis-
; of Alaska,

avering the
nver above,
iuternipted
iiore or less
ly bordered
from almost
k-ilh the ex-
ile concealed
ed along the
nearly black
il plain deep
le adult, luit
lually below
Lisky ; light-
ipital patch,

2.70 ; depth
■3.40. Tail-

nadcnsis in

lich vary to

at the same

of the maxi-

eu, 64.81 per

the smaller
varies with
18 or more,
jnstrained to
s ■>{ one spe-
letween even
ecies such as
infrequently

gray some-
;che9 usually
ilumnge very
, 15.60-21.00

inches ; culmen, l.r),")-2.70 ; depth of mandible at base, .80-1.20 ; width, .7')-!, 20 ; tar-
.sus, 2.45-3.70 ; miildle toe, 2.2r)-;5.;50. (Ten specimens measured.) Hub. United States
generally, and Hiitisli Provinces, breeding cliielly north of 40°.

2. Occidentalis. Whole ])luniage more biowu than in camuLimis, the lower parts onlv

slightly paler than the upper, the deep brown of the abdomen contrasted abruptly witli
the white of the anal region ; white cheek-patches fre(iuently separated by a black tlnoat-
stripe, and white collar round lower neck usually very distinct in winter plumage. Wing,
1(5.25-18. 00 inches; culmen, 1.40-1.()5; depth of maxilla at base, .80-.!)5 ; width, .70-
1.00 ; tarsus, 3.or)-3.25 ; middle toe, 2.50-2.7"). (Two s[>ecimens measured.) JJuh.
Northwest coast, south to California in winter; north to Sitka.
B. Tail-feathers usually 13 to 16 ; size usually .small.

3. Hutchinsi. E.xactly like canadcnsk in plumage, but averaging slightly darker; size

smaller. Wing, 14.75-17.75 inches ; culmen, 1.20-1.90; depth of maxilla at b.isc, .70-
1.00; width, .60-.85 ; tarsus, 2.25-3.20 ; middle toe, 2.05-2.80. (Seventeen specimens
measured.) Jftth. Breeding in the Arctic Eegion.s, migrating south in winter, chiefly
through the Western United States and Mississippi Valley.

4. Leucopareia. Exactly like occiikntalis in colors, but averaging still darker, the size

much smaller. Wing, 13.(iO-l().35 inches; culmen, .95-1.35 ; depth of maxilla at base,
.60-.7.5; width, ..52-70 ; tarsus, 2.10-3.10 ; middle toe, 1.80-2.4,5. (Ten specimens meas-
uied.) Huh. Breeding in the Western Arctic llegiuns (coast of Alaska, etc.), migrating
Southward into AVestern United States, though occasionally .straying eastward to the
Mississippi Valley.

It is barely possible that the several forms defined above reallj^ represent as many distinct
species, and the intermediate specimens which occur are the result of extensive hybridization ; or
there may be two species, a larger
and smaller (B. canadensis and B.
nntchinsi), distinguished al.so by a
difference in the number of rectrice.s,
and each having a darker western
representative race. Indeed we are
inclined to regard the latter view with
considerable favor. At present, how-
ever, we can do no more than to de-
scribe each form in detail, and present
the history of each as known at the i,

present tinie.^ / IV

n. canadensis. — The Large Can-
ada Goose.

Adult (No. 10402, Salt Lake, Utah ;
Captain Stansburv) : Size very large,
the bill lengthened and depressed,
the lower jiarts pale gray in c(dor,
fading insensibly into (he white of the
anal region. White gular patch im-
macidate. Wing, 20.00 inches ; cul-
men, 2.10; tarsus, 3.30; middle toe, ^1- canadensis.
3.20. Tail-feather.s, 17.

1 Since the above was written many additional specimens of 11. hucopanh Imve l.oen received nt
the National Mn.seun,. These arc so uniforn, in all their charncto,-s as to leave no ,l,,ul.t n. n,y nn.u
that the species is distiu.t fron. B. canndcnsi... The relationship of /A IMchin.i is st.il uncertam, but
the probabilitv is that it represents a lighter-clored inland race of U„co,,„rna : thoa«li on he other hand,
it may k- a small northern forn, of cmutd^^ms, bearing the snuie relation to the latter that Ona, cam,,
dcnm'.i does to G. mexkana. — U. 11.

vui,. I. — rjS

.'■v=»fr:TiB-f»'.

458

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES.

1
1

Tbe specimen described above is an iivevn{,'e representative of the typical form of Bemicla cana-
deusis, known to hunters usually as the " B\<^ Wild Goose." The distribution of this form is some-
what uncertain, but it apparently prevails in the region around Hudson's Bay, and the United
States generally, breeding as far Kuuth at I'ast as the parallel of 4CP, but now rare, except during
the migrations, east of the Mississippi Valley.

Two specimens in the collection (Nos. 20116, Fort Simpson, May, 1860; P.. R. Ross — "7J.
Bamstonii" on original label— and 53691, Truckee Meadows Ntv., Nov. 5, 1867 ; R. Ridgwav)
have a well-defined band across the forehead, between the eyes, of speckled white and dusky. A
specimen fornufrly in the collection, but destroyed by insects, somewhere from tlie high north, had
this band unspotted white ! No. 0954, Rio Rita Laguna, New Mexico, has the entire lower ports
stained with reddish ochraceous, this being i)erhaps merely a discoloration from contact with ferru-
ginous clay. Among the variations' of this large race of the Canada Goose are perhaps to be ranged
the Umncla leucolwmn, or Wliite-frilled Goose of Murray, and the B. Barnstoni, or Barnston's Goose
of Ross, descriptions of which are given fartlier on (see p. 461)).

/3. occiden talis. — Lakuer White-cheeked Goose.

Adult (No. 5994, Port To wnsend, Washington Territory ; Dr. Suckley) : Throat speckled with
black medially, indicating an isthnms, not complete enough, however, to separate the white of the
opposite cheeks ; black of the neck bordered below and in front by a collar of pure white, abruptly

defined against the dark grayish brown of the
jugulum. Plumage generally, dark grayish
umber, the paler terminal borders to the feath-
ers very inconspicuous, the lower parts scarcely
paler than the upper, and abruptly defined
against the pure white of the cris.uim. Wing,
18.(»(> inches ; culnien, 1.65 ; tareus, 3.05 ;
middle toe, 2.75. Tail-feathers, 18.

No. 66615, Puget Sound, Dr. Kenneria',
dilfers in lacking the white collar; No. 46228,
Sitka, May, 1866, F. BibCHorF, is like the last,
liut jireserves a trace of the wh.ite collar. No.
23238, San Francisco, Cal., April, 1861, F. Gru-
BER, is considerably smaller, measuring, wing,
16.25 inches ; culnien, 1.40 ; tarsus, 3.25 ; and
middle toe, 2..'j0. In coloration it is quite pe-
culiar : the very broad and c(jntinuous white
collar extends entirely around the neck, though
it is somewhat interrui)ted beliind ; while be-
low, it is bordered by a very dark-brown collar,
which is nearly black at the edge of the white,
but fading off gradually into the ash of the
jugulum, which is considerably paler than in the
foregoing examples. The feathers of the neck all api)ear to be white below the surface.

As in the leucopareia, the seasonal differences of plumage are well marked in this race. The
white collar belongs only to fall and winter birds, in which the brown tints are darker and more
of an umber cast. As spring advances, tiie white gradually disappears, and in midsummer is
entirely obsolete, this chanyc taking place without moulting of the feathers.

y. Hutohinsi. — Hutchins'b Ooose.

Adult (No. 49829, $ , Nulato, Lower Yukon, Alaska, May 9, 1867 ; W. H. Dall) : Exactly
like typical canadensis in colors. Wing, 16.35 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.90 ; middle toe,
2.10. Tail feathers, 15.

In a large series of specimens, the following variations are noted : The ashy beneath varies from
the pule tint of canadensis to the dark tihades of leucopareia and occideutalin, but is usually about

S. Uutchinsii.

ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — BERXICLA.

459

■nicla cana-
'111 is soiiie-
the United
L'L'pt duriiii,'

{OSS — " n.

Ridgway)
dusky. A
1 north, bad
lower ports
with furru-
,0 be ranged
ston's Goose

)eckled with
white of the
ite, '.ibruptly
i-own of the
irk grayish
;() the feath-
u'ts scarcely
)tly defined
iini. Wing,
rsus, 3.05 ;

Kennerly,

; No. 4C228,

ke the last,

collar. No.

m, p. Gru-

uring, wing,
3.25 ; and
is (piite pe-
iiioiis white
leck, though
while be-
)rown collar,
)f the white,
ash of the
than in the

s race. The
;er and more
idsuiumer is

l) : Exactly
middle toe,

varies from
sually about

intermediate between the two extremes ; the white collar round tlie neck, at the lower edge of
the black, is seen only in nutumnal or winter specimens. Tiie white of the head is usually un-
inteiTupted on the throat, even in very dark-plumaged examples, but occasionally separated into
two patches by a black throat-stripe, as in Icumparna and occiiJcnlaUn, tlie plumage otherwise being
light colored.

fi. leucopareia. — Little White-cheeked Goose.

Adult (No. 62526, $ ad., St. Paul's Island, Alaska, May 14, 1872 ; II. W. Elliott) : Throat
with a black " isthmus " .75 of an inch broad, separating widely the white cheek-patches. A distinct
wliite collar between the black of the neck and dark brownish gray of the juguluni, tliis about .75
of an inch wiile in front, and extending completely around, though mucli narrower, and somewhat
interrupted, beliind. Lower parts dark brownish gray, abruptly detincd against the white of tlie
crissum. Wing, 14.25 inches ; culmen, 1.30 ; depth of maxilla at base, .75 ; width, .65 ; tarsus,
2.55 ; middle toe, 2.30. Tail feathers, 14.

Other specimens in the collection are cliiefly in summer plumage, having paler lower parts and
less conspicuous white collar ; but nearly all have the two cheek-patclies completely separated by
a broad black isthmus on the throat.

With only two exceptions, the specimens are from the Pacific coast, chiefly the northern
portion.

No. 9956, North Red River (September ; R. Kennicott), is one of the smallest in the series,
and is otherwise peculiar. It is apparently a young bird, as its plumage presents some feauires
indicative of immaturity. The black of the neck fades gradually into the smoky gray of the jugu-

Wnalino I,alie, Ncv. (adult).

St. Mlchnd's, MaaVa. (,fn'l)

lum, without being separated by the usual wliite collar ; the white iheok-patches are thickly,
though minutely, speckled with black ; the feathers of the lower parts, and also the upper tail-
coverts, have bhickish shafts. It measures as follows : Wing, 13.70 inches ; culmen, 1.25 ; tarsus,
2.60 ; middle toe, 2.10. The smallest exami)les we have seen are the lollowing : —

Depth

Wiiltli

Nnintwr

No.

IjO(^ality.

Date.

Wuii;.

L'ulinon.

..fbiU
lit base.

of bill
at base.

Tarsu.s.

Middle
t.)(>.

rectrircs.

Fort Klamath, Or.

14.20

.95

.60

.55

2.50

1.90

77104,

Stockton, I'al.

December

13.60

1.10

.00

.52

2.60

1.90

70006,

Andnlusin, 111.

14.25

1.25

.70

.65

2.10

1.80

73130,

St. Jliclmol's, Alaska,

Sept. 13

14. 15

1.05

.60

.55

2.60

1.90

72744,

Wnslioo Lake, Nov.

Nov. 12

14.25

1.12

.70

.55

2.40

1.95

I'l-'!

■i

'm>!

There are others but slightly larger. Any of the above could stand, in a natural attitude,
beneath the breast of some of the larger examples oi canadensis or occidattalis ; still, other speci-

*ii
J)

IWW«Si((!»,»»!!MH"ft»»Wr

^Sill

460

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

mens, liiiving 13 to 1(3 rectrices, vary in size, so as to lead directly up to the smaller examples,
possessing 18 to 20 rectrices, ■ being wholly impossible to separate specimens by size ahtne.

The ttccompanying figures, which are life-size, are intended to show extreme variations in the
shape of the bill iu this diminutive race.

'J'here appi^ir to be other variations of this species, which are hardly to be classed as geograph-
ical races, but which seem to owe their characteristics to hybridization witli otlier species, or to an
abnormal degree of individual variation. Among these luay be classed the —

Bcrnida Icucolcenw, MuiiUAV, Wliite-Frilled Goose, EJ. New Plii. Jour. IX. April, 1859, 226.

Sp. Char. Similar to the common Canada Goose of the United States iu markings, but larger.
Chin from rami of lower mandible, cravat on sides and beneath the jaws, and extending along
under side of neck nearly to end of Ijlack portion, white, becoming narrower and spotted with
black ; under eyelid liroadly white ; lower part of neck pale dirty lavender, upper jiait of breast
paler ; lower part and belly almost white ; <jr breast and belly pale lavendei', with a broad white
band across breast ; legs brown ; >veb bright yellow. Length -JO.OO inches ; upper mandible, above
2.50 ; wing, l!).2r> ; tarsus, 3.00 ; first phalanx of middle toe, 1.50.

Difl'ers from B. canadensis in larger size, and plumage paler throughout ; brown replacing black,
etc. The white of head is more extended, reaching along nearly the whole throat and to lower
jaw ; the interdigital spaces yellow, not black, etc.

Bcrnida Banislonii, l^oss, Canad. Nat. VII. 1862, 152 ; Nat. Hist. Review, 1862, p. 28.

" This bird was shot at Fort Simpson (on tlie Mackenzie). It is of very large size, with the
breast of a briglit fawn-color. The deltii of leathers running up into the lower mandible is white,
instead of black, as in B. cancuknsis. The tail is of sixteen feathers. The Indians consider it a
distinct species from the Canada Goose. It seldom flies in parties of more than five or six."

Bernicla Canadensi

iis.

Our common Wild Gooso has a very extended range througliont the M'hole of North
America, occurring from the Gulf of ]\Iexico to the Arctic Ocean, and from the At-
lantic to the Pacific. Ahundaut upon nearly all the interior Avatcr.s, it breeds in
various parts of the country as far south as latitude 42"^ N., and even farther south
than this parallel in favorable localities, and throughout .ill the regions north.

Ei('hardson found it abundant, in pairs, throughout the J'ur Countries up to a liigh
parallel of latitude. It associates in flocks only on its flrst arrival, and feeds on all
kinds of berries. Early in the spring its crops are found to l)e iilh'd Avith the farina-
ceous astringent fruit of the Elwaipms arf/oitca. The inhabitants of the wooded and
swampy districts depend principally upon this Goose for subsistence during the sum-
mer. It makes its first appearance in flocks of twenty or thirty, and is readily decoyed
within gunshot by the hunters, who imitate its call. About three weeks after its
first appearance it disperses in pairs throughout the country to breed, retiring at the
same time from the shores of Hudson's Bay. It was found nesting as far north as
Fort Anderson and the Lower Anderson River ; but the statement of Dr. llichardson,
that it is not known to breed on the Arctic coast, remains unchallenged.

In July, after the young birds are hatched, the parents moult, and vast numbers
are killed in the rivers and small lakes before they art; able to fly. "When chased by
a canoe aiul obliged to dive frequently, this bird soon becomes fatigued, and makes
for the shore to hide, thus falling an easy prey to it.t pursuers. In the autunni it
assembles in flocks on the shores of Hudson's Bay for a month previous to its depar-
ture for the south. In its migrations it .annually resorts to certain resting-places, some
of which arc frequented both in the spring and autumn, and others only in the spring.
While on the Saskatchewan it generally builds its nest on the grouiul ; some pairs

ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — BERNICLA.

461

• exaniple.s,

uiiu.

tions in the

s geiigraph-
ius, or to an

9, 226.

, but lai^^er.
idiuj,' alonj^
[lottoil with
lit of hruast
hroail while
diblu, above

acinj,' bUick,
lid to lower

y.v, with the
)lc is white,
consider it a
■ six."

e of Koi'tli
iim the At-

bvocds in
tluH' south

north.

to a high

I'ds on all
tlu' farina-
oodod and
<j; the Kuni-
ly decoyod
LH after its

ing at the
ir nortli as

ichardson,

t nnmhers
chased by
uid makes
autumn it
its depar-
aees, some
;he spring.
5ome pairs

were found breeding in trees, depositing their eggs in the deserted nests of Kavens
and Fish-hawks. Its call is iuiitated by a prolonged nasal pronunciation of the
syllable wool; frcijuently repeated.

Viv. George Barnstou states that this species — the largest of any of the CJeese
visiting Hudson's Hay — is almost always the earliest in its arrival. At first unly a
single straggler appears ; then two or three together, soon to be followed by a contin-
lums tiock of fresh immigrants. These are the advance-guard of the serried legions
of other Waterfowl, and they soon spread themselves over the whole breadth of the
continent. In its disposition this species has less of wildness than the Snow Goose.
It hatches in (piiet covuers, where there is still water, and grass and rushes to aiford
it sustenance. It is at home in the wooded country as well as in the extensive
marshes of the sea-coast, and on the Barrens of the Eskimo lands. During the winter
it takes refuge in the oi)en water of more southern regions, although ilr. Earnstou
saw a small Hock of this species in the open current of water aljove Lachine, near
Montreal, in the month of January or February. Before Oregon was settled, the
Tost at ]'\)rt Vancouver was sup[)lied with these Geese in immense nundiers.

Captain Ulakistou gives as the range of this sjiecies in the territory of the
Hudson's 15ay Company, from the Bay to the Kocky Mountains, as far north as the
Arctic Ocean. He found that it was the earliest of the Geese, appearing at Fort
Carlton as early as ^larch 28, and remaining there as late as Novcnd)er 3. It is not
restricted in its breeding-grounds to the Far North, as he discovered a nest with four
eggs between the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan on the 4th of May.
It also occurs west of the Kocky IMountaius, and Mr. E. Browne gives it as one of the
common liirds of Vancouver Island.

l[earne, in the "Narrative of his Journey to the Northern Ocean" (j). 4.37), desig-
nates this species as the common Gray Goose, while he gives the name of Canada (loose
to the /ienilrla Ihitchiiis). He also states that tliis l)ird precedes every otiier in the
Hudson's Bay regicm, and that in some early springs it is seen on Churchill Kiver as
soon as the latter end of April, although more comnioidy arriving l)etween the 11th
and the IGtli of ^lay. In one year it did not uudce its appearance until the liGth of
May. At their first arrival these birds generally come in ])iiirs, and are readily
decoyed by cries imitating their notes, so that they are easily shot. They breed
in great numbers in the plains and marshes near Churchill Biver; and in .some
years the young ones are taken in considerable numbers, and arc easily tamed ;
they will, however, never learn to eat corn unless some of the old ones are taken
with them.

Mr. Hearne adds tliat on the 9th of August, 1781, when residing at Fort Prince of
Wales, he sent a party of Indians in canoes up Churchill Biver to procure some of
these Geese. In the afternoon they were seen coming down the river driving a large
flock before them, the young ones not more than half grown, and the old ones so far
advanced in moulting as to be incapable of flying. The whole flock, to the number
of forty-one, Avas driven within the stockade wiiicli incloses the fort, where they were
fattened for winter use. Wild Geese fattened in this way are preferable, in his
opinion, to any others. When full grown, and in good condition, this bird often
weighs twelve pounds.

According to Dr. Cooper this is not a very common Goose in California, though
some are sold in the market every winter. He met with a few in January near Fort
IMojave, but saw none at San I)i(>go. By its large size and sonorous honk-honk,
uttered as it flies, this bird may readily be distinguished from other species, even
at a considerable distance. It is nuich more southern in its range than the other

. ■ f.

462

LAMKLLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

Geese, some n'mainin^; to breed about Klamatli Jiuke, and others in the Cascade
Range, if not farther .south.

Mr. Kidgway mentions it as breeding in the interior, about all the lai^, lakes of
the Great l?asin. Its young were caught in May at Pyramid Lake, and the old birds
were shot there. It is resident in the Truckee nu-adows, specimens having been
procured tliere in Xovembcr; but it was not so abundant there at that time as li.
Iliitrhlnxl was. 'Slv. .1. A. Allen found it already \)rcsent in great luuubers in the
valley of (Jreat Salt Lake.

Dr. Cooper states that he noticed a large number of this species breeding along
the ^Missouri, where every day he nu't with broods, from ''"ort Leavenworth up to
Fort Itcntou. They were said to lay in nests, on trees, probably the deserted nests
of some other large bird. He also saw two at Spokane Uiver, in Washington Terri-
tory, Septemlu'r 25, which iiad passed the sunnner there.

iMany interesting and striking evidtuices of the sagacity of this bird are narrated,
having reference to the manner in which its migrations are managed, and its safety
provided for on its feeding-grounds.

In the migrations of these (reese, families assemble in flocks, and many of them
unite in forming a vast column, each band having its chosen leader. They generally
continue flying during the night, l)ut occasionally alight and await the day. Before
doing so the pioneers survey the ground below, and select a spot favorable for food
and safety. Sentinels are appointed from among the Ganders to sound the alarm,
should an enemy appear. Mr. Giraud states that he has seen these Geese adopt the
same j)recautions when in large flocks in the daytime. I'he sentinels separate from
the main body, move about with heads erect, ready to detect the first indications of
intruders. After an interval these outposts would return to the main body, their
places being immediately supplied by others.

The hoarse Inmk of the Gaiuler is a cry so familiar to the iidiabitants, that it is
impossible for the birds to arrive without their visits becoming known. The practised
bay-hunter watches their flight, discovers their favorite sanding-jdace, and, on gaining
the desired j)oint, puts out his decoys, sinks a box in the sand, and there conceals
himself ; and as the Geese approach he carefully prepares for their rece])tion. "When
wouniU'd this bird is able to sink itself in the water, leaving onlj- its bill above the
surface, and can remain in that situation for a considerable time. During storms it
flies low ; and also when the weather is very foggy it becomes confused, and alights
on the ground. Wild Geese remain on Long Island in the fall until the bays are
frozen, and return on the disappearance of the ice in the spring ; but at that season
their stay is short. Early in April they collect in large flocks, and move off almost
simultaneously. Their food consists of sedge roots, marine plants, l)erries, and herb-
age of various kinds. In the winter they are common on the lakes in the neighbor-
hood of the Lower ^Mississippi. There — as INIi". Giraud was informed — a few
stragglers are wont to remain all summer. The Wild Geese are said to arrive in the
waters of Chesapeake Bay about the last of October, when they immcdiatelj- dis-
tribute themselves over the entire bay, rarely leaving its shores for the smaller
streams, although often retiring to the smaller inlets to roost, or to feed, at night.

According to Mr. Lewis this bird sometimes makes its flrst apjiearance in the
Delaware and in the Chesapeake in October, this early arrival being considered a
certain prognostic of a long ami hard winter. On return of the Wild Goose to the
north it passes through the Eastern States in April — earlier or later, according to the
weather. When in the southern waters it feeds on the leaves, blades, and seeds of
maritime plants, and the roots of sedges.

ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — 13ERNICLA.

463

le Cascade

^. lakes of
e okl birds
iving been
time as B.
)ei's iu the

ding along
orth lip to
[Tted nests
gtou Tei'i'i-

■e narrated,
;1 its safety

iiy of them
y generally
ly. Before
3le for food
the alarm,
e adopt the
)arate from
lieations of
body, their

!, that it is

e practised

on gaining

conceals

AVhen

above tlie

storms it

ind alights

bays are

lat season

iff almost

and herb-

neighbor-

d — a f ew

ive in the

lately dis-

le smaller

night,
nee in the
nsidered a
lose to the
ling to the
d seeds of

Its flight is heavy and laborious, the flock forming a triangle, and being always
led by an old gander. When wounded the Wild (ioose can swim and dive with great
facility, going long distances under the water. When taken alive it is easily do-
mesticated, and nii.xes readily with the common tame Goose. Yet even after it
lias become quite donu'sticated, and even after it has reared a brood or two, it will
ex]ul)it symptoms of uneasiness as the periods of migration approacli, and will some-
times fly off and join the wild ones passing within hearing ovcrliead. On the other
hand, wliole flocks of Wild Geese have been known to be decoyed by domesticated
ones, and induced to alight among tiiem.

Vlv. Audubon found this Goose on tlie 'Magdalen Islands, sitting on its eggs, early
in June, and in Labrador nesting in every suitable marshy plain. According to his
observations, all the birds of this sjjccies unite togetlu'r before departing on their
spring migrations. He has noted preparatory symptoms of meeting as early as Jan-
uary. In his opinion these Geese are far more abundant, during the winter, on the
interior waters tlian they are near the sea-coast, lie (jbsi-rved them in immense flocks
in Kentucky, and was informed that before the settlement of the country the Wild
Goose bred abundantly in all the tennierate parts of North Anuu'ica. As late as 1819
Mr. Audul)Oii met with the nest, eggs, and young of this species near Henderson, on
the Oliio. It usually builds its nest on tlie ground, in some retired place not far from
the water, i)referably among the rankest grass. The nest is carefully formed of dry
plants of various kinds, and is of large size, flat, and raised to the height of several
inches. In one instance Audubon foiuid a nest elevated above the ground on the
high stump of a large tree iu tlic centre of a pond. The greatest number of eggs
found in the nest of this bird when iu a wild state is nine ; I)ut six is the more com-
mon number. The domesticated (ioose, however, lays as many as eleven. Tlie eggs
average 3,50 inches in length by I'./iO in breadth, and are thick-shelled, smooth, and
of a dull yellowish-green color. The ])eriod of incubation is twenty-eight days, and
there is but one brood in a season. The young follow their parents to the water
within a day or two after they are hatched, and remain with them until the following
spring, being tiie objects of their devoted care.

!Mr. Audubon gives an interesting account of a pair of this sjiecies which he cap-
tured at the mouth of Green Kiver, Kentucky. Their young were taken with them,
and these he succeeded in raising by feeding them with locusts. They mated and
bred in conflnement, l)ut the old ones were only partially domesticated, and would
not mate. These birds were all especially inimical to dogs, but evinced a still greater
dislike of an old Swan and an old Turkey-Cock. They proved very useful in clearing
the garden of slugs and snails.

The flight of this species is Arm, rapid, and protracted, the bird moving with great
steadiness and regularity. Before rising it usually runs a IVav feet witli outsjiread
wings, but when surprised can rise with a sudden spring. In its migrations it is
liable to be thrown into confusion by passing into a fog-bank, or over a city or a place
where there is much shi^jping. Severe snow-storms also disturb it ; so much so, that
individuals have been known to dash themselves against the walls of lighthouses and
other buildings iu the daytime. In the sjiring migrations flocks not infrequently
alight in fields of young grain, and commit great havoc in the course of a single night.
Both keenness of sight and quickness of hearing are remarkable in this bird, and it is
always vigilant and suspicious ; so that it is with great difliculty taken by surprise,

Mr, MacFarlane found this species breeding in the vicinity of Fort Anderson,
the nests being placed near small inland lakes ; they ai)i)eaied as early as May 17.
In one instance five eggs of this .species were found in a deserted Hawk's nest warmly

Ill

464

LAMELLIUOSTUAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

liiu'd with down, which had appiU'cntly lu'cn phicki'd by the foiiinh* from ht'v own
body. In otlicr instances nests were found by hiui in similar positions. Wlien built
on tlui f^round the nests ai»])ear to liave been vai'iously couiiKJsed — in one instance of
decayed leaves, down, and hay; in ai.jther of dry willow sticks and uu)ss, liueil witli
feathers and down. Kjj;^'s found atiev the middle of .Tune contained embryos, which
were more or less develojicd. In one instance a lu'st was composed of a quantity of
turf and decayed ve^'ctable matter lined with down, feathers, and nu)ss.

Mr. Dall found this bird not luicommon at Fort Yukon, where its eggs wero also
obtained, and it was also taken at Sitka by Bischoff.

It was f(mnd breeding by ]Mr. Kennicott on Lake "Winnipeg in June, at Fort Ivcso-
lution as early as April r>, and at Fort Yukon, May tlU; by Mr. L. Clarke at Fort ]{ae
in May, at Fort Sini]ison l>y ^^^l'. li. 11. Koss, on the Anderson Hiver by Mr. jNFacFar-
lane, auumg the mountains west of the Lower jMackenzie by Mr. 1\. M"J)onald, at
I'ort Klder by Mr. :Minot. and at Sitka by F.ischoff.

])r. I'lcrlandier, in his manuscrijjt notes, speaks of it as inhabiting during the win-
ter the great plains of Tamaulipas, Mexico. He has seen it in Hocks of several
hundreds in the grassy marshes between San Fernando and Matamoras, in the vicinity
of Soto Le Naninc, etc. It is commonly called /'(ifufn't/uero. He also met with it in
December on the central plateau between the. Hacienda of Enoarnacion and Aguas
Nuevas, near Saltillo.

Its eggs are of a uniform bright ivory white, of an oval shape; but vary both in
size and shajH'. Specimens in the Smithsonian Collection, exhibit tlu^ following
nu'asureuKUjts : (Xo. 1)400, Anderson liiver, MacFarlaue) ,".2o by L'.lo, ami IJ.IO by
2.2o inches; (Xo. 19<Jt) lUry by LM<». and .'1.10 by 2.30 inches; (Smithsonian Institu-
tion, Xo. 04;!4A) Fort Yukon, .'!.4u by 2.](>.

The fcn-m called J>fnn'r/(i. orrif/riifn/!.^ is apjiarently the I'aeilio coast ri>presentative
of the common Canada (Joose. Examples of it wen; taken at Sitka by Mr. Hischoff,
but no nu'ution was made of any specitic variations in habit. Since then it is saiil to
have been i'ound in great abundance b}' Mr. (irayson in Western JNIexico, Avhere, as
he states, he saw it in large flocks while on the road to Durango, between the Sierra
M'adre ^Mountains and that city. This was in the nu)ntlis of February and IMarch.
He did not, however, see or hear of any west of the Cordilleras.

Jieriilda JLutfh insi.

Although the Hutchins's Goose was first distinctively named by Dr. Eichardson
in the "Fauna 15oreali-Anu'ricana," its existence as a well-marked race or species,
distinct from the ('(i)i(((Icns!.i, was well kiunvn to Mr. Hearni" nearly a century ago.
Under the nanu! of the Canada Goose, he refers to it as (piite distinct from our caim-
(ft'iisi.i, which he calls the eomniou Gray Goose. At the time he wrote it was well
known to the Indians, as Avell as to the English, in Hiulson's ]?ay as the I'l'sh-a-
fisL While it does uot differ in plumage from the common "Wild Goose, it is much
inferior in size, the bill is much smaller in proportion to the size of the body, and the
flesh, which is much whiter, is more highly esteemed as food. It is by no nutans so
abundant at Hiulson's Kay as the common species ; and as a general thing it goes
much farther north to breed. A few pairs were, however, known to have bred near
Churchill lliver. It Avas seldom that either this or the true Canada Goose was
known to lay more than four eggs, all of which, if the nests were not robbed, the
birds usually succeeded in hatching.

This Goose breeds on the shores of the Arctic Sea; but in its migrations keeps
near the sea-coast, and is seldom seen in the interior.

ANSKRIN.E — THE GEESE — BERMfLA.

405

hcv own
ht'ii liuilt
istanct' of
iiicd with
OS, wliii'h
iiantity of

were also

'\n't Ivi'so-

Fort- ]fac

•. ISracKiir-

Doiiald, at.

f,' tho wiii-
oi' si'vcval
lie vicinity
with it in
intl Aguas

Liy l)oth in

t'oHowing

1(1 .'5.10 by

m Iiistitii-

■esentativo
•. IMsi'lioff,

is said to

where, as

tho Sierra

,nd ilarch.

ichardson
ir speeies,
ntnry ago.

onr cuiKi-
t was well

o Phl:-<i-
ib is luuch
y, and tho

means so
ig it goes

bred near
Joosc was
obhed, tho

ons keeps

Although closely resembling the C'anada Goose in most resiiects. except its smaller
size, its habits are said to lie (piite ditt'erent from those of th;it hinl. Wliih' the
cdiKti/i'usU frecpieuts tlie t'resli-water lakes and rivers of tlu; intci'ior, and feeds chiefly
on herbage, the /fufc/iliisi is always found on the sea-coast, feeding on the mariiK!
plants and the mollusca which adhere to them — whence its Hesh derives a strong lishv
taste, in form, size, and general colors of the phuuage it more nearly resenddes the
Brant than the (Canada Goose.

Acc(jrding to Mr. Barnston, Hutcdiins's Goose arrives at Hudson's Bay later in
the season than II. cunadensiit, and at about the sanu' tinu- as the Snow (Joose. It
is shot in considerable quantities at 7\ll)any and elsewhere ahmg tlie <'oiist of James
Bay. This bird does not incubate in scattered or detached partic.'s throughout the
wooded country, but proceeds in larger and united flocks to tlu; extrenu' north, reaching
Hudson's Bay about the beginning (d' May, and at once beginning to feed in the
.salt-nuirshcs among tlu^ soft white-rooted grasses, remaining a fortnight or three
weeks, in company with the '• Wavcys," or Snow (Jecse. J'.y this time tlie Geese
are in good plight, and they tlien take their (lei)arture, not reapj)eariug until they
return with their young broods in the montli of September. Th»y are killed in
less numbers on their jiassage to Hiulsou's Bay than the ciiiitK/ciisi's, which may be
accounted for by their habits; l)ut when once the birds have settled u])on their
feeding-gnmnds, the slaughter of them is immense.

Captain James Clark Boss, as (pioted by Audubon, states that this species ari'ives
in Hocks, in the neigld)orhood of Felix Harbor, about the middle of June, and soon
disperses in pairs to its breeding-jdaces. At Iglo(dik, the oidy jiliice where he had
previously met with them, their nests were found in the marshes near the sea. JUit
on this occasion several pairs constructed their nests on a ledge of rocks near the foot
of a high precipice; Immediately above them the Dovekie.s, Loons, and several .spe-
cies of Gulls, and near its summit the Gyrfalcon and Kaven, had also built their
nests. From three to four eggs were found in each nest, of a ]nu'e white c(dor and (d'
an oval form, measuring .'5.10 inches in length l)y L'. 10 inches in breadth. Its Hesh
Mr. Boss pronounces of a most excpusite Havor.

In Texas, both on the coast aiul inland. !Mr. Dres.ser found these birds quite
common. During the winter he shot several on JlitidieU's Bond. The shore luinti-rs
there tire well aware of the difference between this species and the canadensis, cidling
the latter the "• 15ay Goose," and th(> former the "Prairie Goose." Dr. ^Nferrill also
mentions this form as being more common than the riin(i(/eiis!s.

Dr. ('ooper states that this bird is altogether tho most <'ommoM of the 15rant family
of Geese along the Pacific coast, where it arrives about the first of <.)ctober, and frc;-
(pients both the inland ])lains and the salt-marshes that border tiu^ const. He thiidis
it goes as far south as San Diego, though h(> met with none tlicre. It iisually feeds
on the plains early in the morning, and toward noon returns to the water, Avhere it
rests during the middle of the day anil night. Large nund)crs are shot, both while
feeding and resting, but the mode of pursuit varies according to cii'cnmstances.
The brush shed and the trained ox are used on the plains; but in the water a Ijoat is
required, Avith which the Geese may be ai)proached very closely under cover of the
tall weeds. With a large gun twenty or thirty are often killed in two shots, one fired
while the birds are sitting, the othei' as they rise. After feeding again in the .after-
noon, the greater part of those in the interior are said to assemble at favorite roosts
in the wide creeks and sloughs, though many are seen in scattere<l Hocks about the
marshes. Dr. Cooper is confident he saw this s])ecies in the San Joaquin Valley as
early as September 10, and on the loth he met with a large Hock there. Mr. llidgway

VOL. I. — .")9

Ill

466

LAMELLlIiOSTKAL SWIMMERS — ANSEKES.

ill'

saw many of this species in Novembei- on the Truckee meadows, wliere it is a tall
ami winter visitiint.

This species is of irreguliiv orenrrence on the Atlantic ct)ast. At some seasons it
has hecn found not uncommon in tlu' vicinity of Hoston ; and nambcrs have been
brouj,'lit to market from the ("ape. On tlie eastern extremity of Lony Island, aecord-
iufj to Dr. (riraiul, it is also not uncommon. It is well known to hunters as the
"Mud Goose "' at .Montauk Point, where it is freipiently observed in ('ompany with
the rntitii/cnsis. The sportsnu-n of the south side of Long Island are not acquainted
with it, although there is no reason to doubt that it is freiiuently procured there.
At some seasons it has i)een known to be quite abundant in the Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. Uall found this bird to l)e the most ('ommon of all the Geese, both in the
Alaskan islands and all along the Yukon Hivev as high up as Nulato. It was breed-
ing on St. Michael's and I'astolik, as well as on the river. In the latter place it takes
the place of the leucopttreia, which is comparatively rare there. The nests were
depressions in the sand-beaches, similar to those of the A. Gamheli It arrives in
company with the latter species, and leaves about the end of September. The num-
ber of its eggs varies from six to eight.

Mr. MacFarlane fouiul it nesting in great nund)ers on the Lower Anderson, and
on the shores and islands of the Arctic Sea. Some nests were on low, small islets in
fresh-water lakes ; these were constructed of a ([uantity of down placed in a depres-
sion in the ground. The number of eggs was six. The ohl birds were generally
quite tanui. ( )ther nests were found on islands in the Anderson Uiver, and also in
the Arctic Sea. In all instances there was nujre or less down and feathers, and in
some cases these were mingled with dry grasses or leaves. In one instance four eggs
of this species were found in the deserted nest of a Crow or Hawk, built on the fork
of a pine-tree, and at the height of nine feet. The parent bird was shot while on her
eggs. The ground in the vicinity was at that tinu) covered with snow and water, and
this was probably the reason the bird nested in so unusual a place.

Mr. Adams notes the iirrival of these birds on the shores of Norton Sound on the
8th of May; and a considerable number remained to breed in the marshes. They
came in small flocks as well as by twos and threes, and were all in good condition,
but varying greatly in their weight — one being less than three pounds in weight,
while others were lu-arly six. They were not numerous in the innuediate vicinity of
Michalaski, the greater number I'emaining in the marshes thirty miles south.

Specimens of this (loose were secured by Mr. Kennicott at Fort Resolution and
Fort Yukon, in Jlay, l.S()(); by Mr. li. II. Koss at Big Island and Fort Simjjsou ; by
Mr. MacFarlane on the Anderson, on islands lu the Arctic Sea east of that river, also
in Franklin Bay and at other points in that region.

The eggs of Hutchins's Goose are of a dull ivory-white color, and oval in shape.
Two from Fort Yukon (Smithsonian Institution, No. 14583) measure, one 3.00 inches
in length by 2.00 in breadth, the other 2.95 inches in length by 2.05 in breadth.

Bernicla leucopareia.

The form known as Bernicla leucopareia was first described by Brandt, in 1836,
and afterward by Professor Baird from a specimen obtained in Puget Sound by Dr.
Suckley, in January. Mr. li. Browne claims to have obtained this bird on Vancouver
Island, and mentions it as common there. Mr. Kennicott procured specimens of this
form on the Yukon, but noted nothing specifically distinct as to its habits. JMr.
Bannister speaks of it as connuon in the early spring at St. Michael's ; and Mr. Dall
cites it as abundant on the sea-coast, near the nu)uth of the Eiver Yukon, where it

L..,.,'- !.,

ANSERIXil! — TTTK P.EESE — BERNICLA.

46^

breeds. It Avas rare at Nulato, ov farther inland, on the Yukon, Its eggs were taken
l\v liini at Pastolik.

According to the ohsorvatious of Mr. F*]lliott, it is of occasional occurroncc on the
Pryhilof Islands, where from time to time it straggles in small squads of from ten to
thirty, evidently driven l)y the high winds from their customary line of emigration
along the maiidand. Although not breeding there, this bird spends occasionally
weeks at a time on the lakelets and ui>lands before taking Hight.

Several specimens were taken on the Yukon Jiiver by ^Ir. Kennieott, in May,
18(>1; at Fort Yukon by Mr. S. Jones; on St. Michael's Lsland by Jlr. Bannister;
and at Fort Kenai by Mr. Uischoff.

Mr. L. Helding (in r/)ist,) considers the //. Icucnpareia " a strongly-marked species,"
and says that it is abundant in Avintcr in California, where it is known to hunters as
the "Cackler," or ''Cackling Goose," on account of its peculiar cry. His first fall
record of its occurrence at Stockton is October 12, and the latest spring record,
April 25.

Bernicla brenta.

THE BBANT GOOSE.

/ivn.ihernicla, Linn. S. N. I. 1760, litS. — Wii.s. Am. Orn. VIII. 1S14, pi. 72, fis. 1.

Jlmnta bernicla, Uanmst. Pr. Ac. Nnt. Sri. Pliiliul. 1870, 131 (iioi' ScoroLi). — CoUKs, Key, 1872,

284 ; Chcfk List, 1873, no. 484 ; B. X. W. 1874, 556.
Anscr hcniida, Ii.lio. I'rodr. 1811, 277. —Sw. & Rich. F. H. A. II. 1831, 469. — Xi-tt. Jinn. IL

1834, 359. — AiTi). Oiii. Hiog. V. 1839, 24, 610, pi. 391 ; Synop. 1839, 272 ; R. Am. VI. 1843,

203, pi. 379.
Anscr brrntu, Pali.. Znog. li.-A. II. 1826,223.
Bernicla brcnlu; Stei'IIF.xs, (ion. Zool. XIL pt. ii. 1824, 46. — IJaird, H. X. Am. 1858, 767 ; Cat.

N. Am. B. 1859, no. 570. — Rinow. Norn. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 595. — Couics Check List, 2(1

pil. 1882, no. 700.
Anscr lorqiiala, Fui.scii, Viig. Dcutsclil. IL )il. 156.
Bernicla mclanopsis, Maicii.i.. Man. Orn. II. 1842,151.

Hau. Eiistcni North America in general,
but chiefly the Atlantic coast ; rare in tlie in-
terior, or away from salt water ; Palccarctie
Region.

Sp. Char. Adult (No. (i3fiU5, New York
market, .J. H. Batty) : Head, neck, and.jngulum
continuous black, the anterior jiortion of the
head having i' brownii^h cast ; po.sterior outline
of the black on the jugulum very regular and
sharply-defined against tlio brownish gray of tJie
breast. Middle of the neck witii a transverse
crescentie patch of white on each side, formed
of white tips and sub-tips of the feathers, the
black .showing tlirougli in places so as to form
obliipie lines. Above, sinoky-plumbcous, the
feathers distinctly bordered ternnnally with a
much paler and more brownish shade. \Viii;;s
like the back, but with a somewhat plumbeous
cast, the paler margins nearly obsolete. Sec-
ondaries blackish brown ; primaries brownish

black. Tail uniform black, but almost concealed Viy the snow-white lengthened coverts, the
upper of which, however, are invaded by a medial stripe of blackish plumbeous-brown from the

468

LAMKLMRO.STRAL S\VI^[MT':IlS — ANSEKES.

riimi). IJrcast, iiIhIdiui'ii, sidi's, iiiiil Hanks imicli like the iipjicr piirtu, Iml tlic li},'lil tijps ti> thu
I'l'iithcrs wliiti'i', l)i()ailt'r, ami iiiinc cunsiiiciioiis ; anal if,i;i(in and cii.-isiini ininiaculatu siiow-wliiti'.
Wini,', 12.30 inches; ciilincn, 1.20; tarsus, 2.0;") ; niidilli' lov, 1.70. Viiinni (Nd. 1278(i, Wasliinj^-
ton, 1). ('., DfccndHT, |s:iS; ('. |)ui;.\i,i;iu : Similar to tlic adult, lint tlif wini^'-covrrts and scc-
onilarii's biuadly tiiipi'd with iiuic while, lurniinj,' very eiins|)icuous liai's. Jiowur [laits jialer and
luorc unili>i'ni ; white on middle of the neek iviIucimI to small s]ieiks.

Two adult siieeiniens rnmi Eufdiie ditier t'luni aiiv in a seiies nC lour American skins (adults),
in lai^;er size and slightly iialer lolors ; the dill'erences are so slij;ht, howevei, tliat they jiroltaMy
would not jirove constant, if more examides were compared. Indeeil, a thiid KurojK'an s]iecinieii,
labelled (i)y Sfiii.i'TlUt) " holier Nonleii,'' is nearly as dark eviaywheiv as II. iiiiiilfiui.t, and would
i)e instantly lel'erred to that specie-. wer<' it not for the white neck-patches, which are exactly
as in tyjiical /jnu<rt — that is, widely separated in I'ront, as well as behind. It maybe a hybrid
between the two.

Tlip ("omiuon Brant (Joosc lias an almost cosnioiiolitaii distfilmtioii. Fn the suniiucr
it retires to very liiK'i nortlu'rii latitiides to hrccd, and in the aiitiiinn and winter
w'iiinlcrs over large portions of both tlic Old and tlie New World. It is i'oiind in all
the high Aretic regions of Asia and Knro|ic, and in North America cast of tlic Kocky
Mountains. In the wi'stcrn jiortions of America, it is replaced hy />. in'r/ririnis, a
clos(dy allied form. It is almost unknown in tlic interior. A single cxaiii[dc taken
on Lake Aliidiigan, near IJaciiie. hy Dr. Hoy. is the only exception, so far as 1 know.

llcarnc was convinced tluit lliis hird must breed in the remote north, as it std-
doiii appeared at C'hnrehill Jvivcr until September. Its route in tlit^ spring was
unknown, nor did any of the Ifudson's IJay Indians know of its breeding-place. ]t
always came from the north in its visits to Chiindiill ixiver. Hew near the margin of
the coast, and was never seen in the interior. Its ilcsli, although delicate to the eye,
was not much esteemed as food. In some years birds of this species jiassed the
month of Ohurcliill JJiver in incredible numbers. In their movements south they
nsiially availed themselves of a strong northerly or northwesterly wind ; and this
made their flight so swift, that once, when .Mr. Ilcarne. killed four or five at a single
shot, they all lell from twenty to fifty yards beyond the place where they were hit.
When in largo flocks they arc known to tly, in the manner of the Snow Goose, in the
form of a wedge, and to maki' a great noise. Their flight is irregular, sometimes
being forty or fifty yards above the water, and yet, an inst;int later, they may In^ seen
skimming close to its surface, then again they will rise to a considerable height; so
that by some they are said to "fly iii festoons.*'

Acconling to Jiiehardson, this s|)ecies breeds on the shores and among the islands
of the Arctic Sea. and kcejis near the sea-coast in its migrations. It is rarely, if (>ver,
seen in the interior. As no mention is made among the records of the Smithsonian
Institution of this (Joosc being known to breed on the coast of the Arctic Sea,
Richardson may have been mistaken in this siii>]iosition. He mentions its feeding
on moUnsea, tlu^ f7ri( /(irfiim, and other nuirine ]ilaiits — idiicfly njion the latter,
from which its flesh acquires a strong flavor. It is said to leave its breed ing-cpiarters
in September.

Dr. Vessels inclndes this species among the birds procnred on the "]*olaris" Ex-
l)editioii (" Hnlletin de la Societc de (}(''Ographie.'' ISlareh, 187/)) ; and .Mr. Feilden
(" Ibis," October, JS77) also includes it among the birds procured in the Jbitish Arc-
tic l']x))edition of 1870-1876. and sujiidies the following interesting note : ''During
the first week of .Fiiiie, jiartics of these birds arrived in the vicinity (d' oiir winter-
qnarters (lat. 82" 27' >«'.): for some days they continued flying nj) and (h)wn the
coast-line, evidently looking out for places bare of snow to feed on. They were very

ANSKUIX.K — THE OEKSH — I'.KIINICLA.

469

tijis to llii'
suow-wliilc.
li, Wasliiiij;-
I'ts iiiul sec-
ts jiaU'r and

ins (adnlts),
luy prolialily
iin sjH'ciMicn,
s, anil wtniM
are exactly
lie a livldiil

he suinmcr
111(1 winter
(iiiiiil ill all
tlic IJiicky
tn'(/rir((iii<, a
luplc taUfu
IS I know,
h, as it sfl-
■ipriii^' was
;-lila('t'. It
' iiiai'ij;in ol'

to till- t'VO,

jiassctl the

south tlify

and this

it a sinj^'lc

wiMc hit.

ISC, ill the

soiiu'timo.s

IV In^ si'on

loight;

the islands
y. il' ever,
uthsoniun
rctie Sea,
s feediiif^
lie latter,
i;-( [uarters

aris" Ex-
r. Feildeii
rilish Arc-
• During
lur winter-
down the
were very

wary, and kept well out ol' gunshot range. On the L'lst <if .lime I toiuid the tirst
nest with eggs in hit. 82" .').'{' N.; siihseiiuently many were loiind. When the young
are hatehed the parent liirds and hroods congregate on the lakes, or in open watcr-
sjiaces near the shore, in large flocks; hy the cud ol' .Inly tiic old hirds were moulting,
and unable to tiy, so that they were easily secured. . . . '{"lie llesh ol' this bird is most
excellent. The gander remains in tlie vicinity ol' the iicsl while the goose is sitting,
and accompanies the young brood, in one instance, where 1 killed a I'emale as she
left her nest, the gainh'r came hissing at me."'

J)r. Walker met with this (ioose on the coast of (Irceiiiand, near (lodtliaab, and
afterward, in the mouth ol' liellofs Strait, saw it moving northward in .Mav. Some
of these birds constructed nests on tiie cliffs which form the sides of the Strait.

Aeoording to Mr. Jiarnston, this (ioose is the ('ii//ririi/,!m(nr of the Cree Indians;
and is still but little eared for at Iliidsoifs Uay. lie sjieaks of it as keejiing out to
sea, on the shoals, near low-water mark. It arrives tiie latest of all the birds of its
family.

According to Trofessor KcMiihardt, it is one of the common birds of (ireenland.
where, on the entire coast occupied by the Danish settiements. it aiijiears only on its
passage to or from its breeding-places, wiiich must be in very high latitude — at the
least north of the .seventy-third parallel.

J'rofessor Alfred Newton states ("Ibis," ISd.")) that on Tarry "s Kxpeditioii one of
its nests, containing two eggs, was obtained at Ross Inlet, latitude 80 ' IS' N.. on
the IGth of .June, which was at that time proiiably the most iiortiicrn land ever visited
by man. It was tiieii also seen in large Hocks about Wahlcii and Little Table Islands.
Dr. jMalmgren found it breeding on the Depot Holme. Spit/bcrgcn, and also on the
shore of the niainland and in Treurenberg liay, showing that Trofessor Torell was in
error in stating that it only breeds on islets.

Sir .lames Ross states that the ISrant (loose did not reiiiain near I'elix Harbor to
breed, but went still farther north ; ami that during the sumiucr months it was only
seen in the highest northern latitudes that were visited. It, was found breeding on
Parry's I.slands, in latitude 7T" and 7.')'. Captain Scorcsby reported that it was not
common at Siiit/bergen ; but, Messrs. lOvans and Stiirgc, in tiicii' visit to that group
of islands, found it breeding in immense numbers, and reported the ground covered
with its nests. These were constructed on tlu; bi'acli. and were perfect masses of
down and feathers, in which three or four eggs were buried. This was on the South
C!ape Islands.

]\Ir. (J. (iillett found this species (piite common in Matthew's Strait. Xova Zcmbla ;
Von lleugliii also saw it in large Hocks at the same place; and \'on I'.acr iiientions its
occurrence on Nova Zcmbla. and adds that it is not considered by the Russians to be
a (ioose. It collects in much greater iiiimbers upon the Island of Kolgiijew, where ex-
peditions are sent to kill and .salt these birds. .V merchant of Archangel inbirmed
Von Daerthat on one occasion Hfteen thousand (Jeesc were killed there in two hunts.
MiihlendorlT enumerates it as one of the birds of Arctic Siberia, occurring only in the
extreme north.

Mr. Hoardinan informs me that this bird is common in the fall about Macey's 15ay,
in the Day of Fuiidy. ft occurs in varying numbers on the New I'Jigland coast, both
in the spring ami fall, and is especially abundant on ('a[ie (Jod in the spring, or from
jMarch to May.

Mr. W. Hapgood, in a very full account {)f the habits of this species (" Forest and
Stream," Scjit. L', 187.')), states that in ordinary seasons Drant begin to be coininon at
Cape Cod early in March, and continue coming and going until the end of .\pril. At

470

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWI^EMERS — ANSERES.

times they are present on the i'eeding-groiuKls in immense numbers. They never mi-
grate against a northeast wind, but await a breeze from tlie southwest. Tlieir course
is first east-northeast, but afterward so deflected as to bring them into the Bay of
Fundy, up which they pass, rising over the narrow neck of land to Nortliumberland
Straits, where they find shoal-water and good feeding-grounds, and where they remain
until the end of May. Leaving the Gulf of St. Lawrence, their course is said to be
westward of Auticosti, and in a northwesterly direction, toward the Arctic Ocean.
Their exact route is partly conjectured. They are known to arrive in the vicinity of
Melville Island in immense numbers, and to pass along Wellington Channel to more
northern regions. That they also reach Smith's Sound, and breed in large numbers
at the junction of its waters with the Arctic Sea, has recently been ascertained by
Mr. Feilden's observations.

Mr. Hapgood mentions as a noteworthy peculiarity of the Brant, when in confine-
ment, that it pecks at and eats decayed wood, and suggests that this seems to indicate
that driftwood may be no inconsiderable portion of its food in Arctic regions, which
in some regions is quite abundant. In their southern migrations the Brant are said
to make no stop at Cape Vod, unless compelled by stress of weather, but spend their
winter months along shore from Barnegat to Florida. L)r. Kane regarded the i)res-
ence of this bird in large numbers as clearly indicative of open water.

On Long Island, where it is familiarly known as the Brant, according to Dr.
Giraud it makes its appearance about the loth of October. In the spring and au-
tumn it is very numerous on the coast, exceeding in number botli the Canada Goose
and the Dusky Duck. Its manner of flight is very different from that of B. canadensis.
It moves in more (iompact bodies, less rapidly, and without seeming to have any cho-
sen leader. AVhile in the bays of Long Island it seems to be inactive, seldom taking
to wing, unless disturbed by a passing boat or the near approach of a gun.

It rises slowly, and when on the wing moves sluggishly for a short distance, and,
unless attracted by a distant flock, frequently returns to the place just left. Its food
there consists largely of the Zostent mnrhw, or eel-grass. At low water it may be
seen industriously at work tearing uj) its favorite jdant. When the tide has risen to
such a height as to compel it to relinquish its work, it then drifts with the current,
feeding on the fruits of its labor.

The Brant is very fond of what is known to hunters as '* sanding," and resorts to
sandbars for that i)urpose, where it is killed in great numbers by men who secrete
themselves in excavations made in the sand. The locality known as Fire Island Bar.
on the south side of Long Island, is a celebrated point for procuring this species.
Giraud was informed in 1840 that the lessees of this island sent to the New York
market annually from this bar several hundred dollars' worth of birds — chiefly
Brant. In passing over the Long Island bays, these birds avoid as much as possible
the points of land and the tussocks of grass, and this makes them diflicult to obtain,
except in the manner descrii^ed, or by shooting them from batteries anchored in the
shallow parts of the bays. These batteries are constructed by taking a box six feet
long, two and a half wide, and one foot deej), with sides and ends shelving, on which
sand is placed, to imitate a bar. The upper edges of these boxes are even with the
surface of the water, and in them the hunters lie concealed, having a number of
decoys around. By means of this arrangement one man can often discharge, with
deadly effect, two double-barrelled guns into a flock. A statute was passed in 1838
prohibiting the use of this methof^ of killing birds ; but this law was defied and openly
violated, and becoming a dead leti;er, was at last rejiealed.

While the Brant is not known to dive for its food, it not infrequently endeavors

ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — BERNICLA.

471

to escape by doing this when it has been wounded, although it rarely succeeds in
accomplishing its purpose. While by many this bird is not consideied as being
desirable as food, Cliraud speaks of it as excellent, even tlie adult birds being tender
and juicy, and free from any tishy flavor. Its flesh has the most desirable taste in
the spring ; but at times it acquires a disagreeabh' sedgy flavor.

Owing to its apparent unwillingness to give iip its wandering habits, this bird
cannot be fully domesticated. Giraud tried the experiment with young birds, but
without success. Even where the attempt has seemed partially successful, the Brant
could not be made to breed.

Mr. Audubon did not meet with this species in Texas, and could not obtain any
evidence of its having ever been seen there ; but Mr. Dresser mentions it as common
on that coast during the winter.

According to Yarrell, the Brant is a regular winter visitor to the shores of all the
maritime counties of England, remaining through all the cold months of the year.
It is a marine species, never seen in fresh water, passing the greater portion of the
time out at sea, frequenting extensive nuuldy flats, or such sand-bars as, are exposed
at every ebb-tide. It makes its ai)pearance at these feeding-places a short time before
the water leaves the ground exposed, and remains there, unless disturbed, until this
is again covered by the tide. In such situations the flocks of Brant are often of
extraordinary size.

Colonel Hawker states that these birds are always wild, except in very severe
weather, and that their cautious instincts prompt them to leave their feeding-grounds
as soon as the tide flows high enough to bear an enemy. To kill Brant by day it is
necessary to get out of sight in a small punt at low water, and keep as near as pos-
sible to the edge of the sea. The cry of a flock as it approaches is said to resemble
that of a pack of hounds. When they come near to a boat, if the hunter springs up
suddenly, the Brant in their fright hover together and prt'sent a fine mark. Other
writers also si)eak of the resemblance of the notes of a flock of tliese birds to those
of a pack of hounds in full cry. On the British coast these birds feed chiefly on the
fronds of several alga;, especially Ulra, latissima.

Yarrell states that the eggs brought home by the northern voyagers were of a
uniform grayish white, measuring 2.75 inches in length by 1.75 in breadth. The
birds kept in conflnement in St. James's Park and at the Zoological Gardens have
never manifested any disposition to mate. In conflnement they are exclusive and
reserved, never consort with other birds, but hiss when they are approached, as do
other geese; and their cries are described as resembling the syllables ruck-nick,
I'-r-t'onk, v-r-roiik.

%
•1'

'<b

Cil

Bemicla nigricans.

THE BLACK BBANT.

Anser nigricans, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. IV. 1846, 171, plate.

Bcrnida uiyricans, Ca.ss. lUustr. B. Cal. Tex. etc. 1853, 52, pi. 10. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1868, 767 ;

Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 571. — Riuow. Noni. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 596.
Branta nigricans, Bannist. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philnd. 1870, 131.
Branta bemicla, vnv. nigricans, Cuuk.s, Key, 1872, 284.
Branta bemicla, b. nigricans, Coues, B. N. \V. 1874, 557.
Bemicla brenta nigricans, CouEs, Clieek Li.st, 2(1 eil. 1882, no. 701.

Hab. Arctic and Western North America ; rare or casual in the Atlantic States.
Sp. Chab. Adult (No. 12787, Simiahnioo, Washinj^ton Territory ; Dr. Kexnerly) : Head,
neck, anil jnguluni unifoi'ni deep black ; middle of tlie neck with a conspicuous collar of pure

S??!f.

» ' "'■A»-,i-/T-^T,r

472

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES.

white, inten-upted only on the nape, aiul with obliciue streaks running upward for an inch outside
the ring. Upper parts, breast, and abdomen unil'orni dark brownish phuubeous, the rump, prima-
ries, and secondaries approaching bhick. Anal region, crissuni, sides of tlie rum]), f id upper tail-
coverts immaculate snow-white. Tail uniform black. Feathers of tlie sides and Hanks with very

Bemicla nif/ricans.

broad wliite tips, these almost concealing tlie dusky of the basal portion. Bill and feet deej) black ;
tarsi dark nMldish (lilack in life >.). Wing, 13. -iO inclies ; culnien, IMi) ; tarsus, 2.50 ; middle toe,
2.00. YotuKj (No. (U!)(!:5, 9, riiidakleet, Alaslca, Sejit. 28, 18(i7 ; W. H. Dall) : Similar to the

adult, but collar obsolete, greater wing-coverts and
secondaries broadly tijiped with pure wldte, and
feathers of the sides and llanks uniform brownish
gray, without white tips.

A very curious specimen from Northern Europe
(No. 57107, "hoher Norden;" Schliiter Coll.) is
exactly intermediate between this species and li.
hrenta, and is probably a hybrid. It has the uni-
form colors of the body characteristic of the B.
nigrican.i ; but the shade is rather lighter, present-
ing a more appreciable demarcation of the black of
the jugulum, and has a more bluish cast — the
wing-coverts in strong and abrupt contrast with
the black secondaries. The white of the neck is in
two oppo.site isolated crescents, as in bemicla. It
measures as follows : Wing, 12.85 inches ; culnien,
1.25 ; tarsus, 2.30 ; middle toe, 1.75.

This form is very closely allied to the

coninioii l^rant Goose, and takes its place

on the Pacific coast, wliero the latter does

not seem to occur. The present species is quite rare on tlu^ eastern coast. ]Mr. Hen-

ANSERINvE — THE GEESE — BERNICLA.

473

I inch outside
ruinp, piiiuu-
\(l uppur tiiil-
iks with vevy

L't ik'C]) Ijlack ;

; luiddle tou,
Similar to the
-coverts and
ire wliite, and

irni brownisih

■thern Europe

diiter Coll.) is

-pecies and B.

t has the uni-

istic of tlie B.

,'hter, present-

li' the hlnck of

ish cast — the

contrast with

the neck is in

1 hcniicla. It

■hes ; culnien,

illiod to the
ct^s its place
a latter docs
it. Mr. Heii-

shaw informed me that lie lias seen a single sjioeimen of it in the Boston market •
and there is, Mv. Lawrence informs me, a tine specimen in the museum of the Long
Island Historical Society which was obtained on that island. It is rare in the
interior, Imt Captain licndire mentions its oci-asional occurrence in Eastern Oregon.

;Mr. 11. Urowne includes it in his list of the birds of Vancouver Island. He men-
tions having seen one of these Geese, apparently cpiite tame, stalking about tlie
Unchaltaw Indian village in Discovery Passage, in March, WMl It is known as the
Nulla by the Quakwolths, who also liiid a tame one in the village at Fort Ifupert.

According to Dr. Cooper, this species appears to resort, in winter, only to salt-
Avater bays. Dr. Suckley found it exceedinglj abundant near the Straits of Fuca at
that season, and occurring more sparingly about the moutlis of other bars as far
south as San Diego, where, in the wijit(!r of 1S()1-1801', Dr. Cooper saw these birds
in large numbers. They appeared in October, and remained until April 20, the spring
being much more backward, and their departure taking place probably as much as
two weeks later than usual. He saw no other sjiecies in eoini)any with tlicm during
the whole winter, though others were common on the ])rairies at some distance inland.
They appeared to feed almost entirely on the leaves and roots of the marine grass
(xostera) which abounds in that bay. Dr. Coojjer supposes that they also feed on
small fish and shells, as they acfpiire a somewhat fishy, though not a disagrecalile,
flavor. They were exceedingly wild, and flew so high that he only succeeded in pro-
curing a single specimen. Tlieir note is said to be a croaking cry, much less strong
than that of the other species. Dr. Coojier never saw any in the San Francisco
market, but he ni(;t with them about and outside of the Bay, in LSG,'5, as late as
the 24th of April ; and he has every reason to believe that large numbers frecpient
the fields of kelp which line the coast and extend out some miles from tlie shore.

Mr. Kennicott, in a note dated Fort Yukon, May 1!), refers to procuring three
specimens of this bird, known in that region as the "Eskimo Goose." He states
that it arrives there the latest of all the birds, and after nearly all the other (ieese
have passed. It flies in large flocks, and very rapidly. The three specimens were
the first noticed that season, and the only ones killed, although two dozen or more
flocks of from twenty-five to fifty were seen in all ; but in no comparison, in point of
numbers, with the other four species. This bird is said to pass La Pierre House in
immense numbers both in spring and fall.

Mr. Dall states that this Goose arrives in immense flocks in the spring along the
sea-coast, and he shot one at Nulato, May 21), 1808 ; Imt it was regarded as being
a very rare visitor on tlie Yukim. It passes Fort Yukon in the spring, as it does
St. Michael's, being present only a few days, and breeding only on the shores of the
Arctic Sea. Mr. Dall was informed that this species is not found at Fort ^'ukoii in
the fall. He killed one at Unalaktak, Sept. 28, 1867, on the edgi> of the ice in a
small stream ; and mentions that he uniformly found this Goose lean, tough, and of
a disagreeable flavor. It is also very shy. The few that appear in Norton Sound in
the fall are the last of the Geese, except the "Emperor Goose'' (I'/iilnrfe mnagica).

Mr. Bannister mentions that he was told that this bird was far less abundant
than usual at St. Michael's the season he was there, when only a few were killed.
It arrived there the 12th of :\ray, almost the last of all the nugratory birds ; and
was observed Sept. 2;$, 1865, on its return. It is said to come usually in immense
flocks, and to afford more profitable sport for a few days than all the other species
put together. The flight of the main body of these migratory birds is along the
western edge of St. Micdiael's Island, touching Stewart's Island, and then proceeding
directly northward, across the open sea toward Goloviu Sound.

VOL. 1. — 60

I fPIHItPil|^«p|ni«^IHUJW M-' ' '

474

LAMELLIROSTHAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

It was seen breeding ubundantly by Mr. MacFarlaue near the Arctic Ocean. Some
of tlie nests were found on small islets in fresh-water ponds ; others on islands in
the Anderson, near its mouth ; and many others either on the shore or on ishuuls
in Franklin I5ay, or other parts of the Arctic Sea. In some cases the nest was noth-
ing more than a mere (h'[)ression lined with down ; but in some the cpiantity of down
was quite large. The number of eggs in a nest was generally five ; but in one case
as many as sev^en were seen, and in six or seven instances six.

On tiie coast of Norton Sound, Alaska, as observed by Mr. E. Adams (" Ibis,"
1878), these Guese were observed to arrive in the middle of May in great numbers.
They were first noticed on the 12th. Th(\y keep much more to the sea than the other
Geese, and large flocks are only seen inland near their breeding-places. They keep
along the coast, out of shot, and in the spring their line of Wight is directly north.
They breed in the southern nuirshes with the Ilutchins's Goose, th{> natives eoUec^t-
ing their eggs at the end of Juno, and bringin;.; them by boat-loads to Michalaski.
Mr. Adams regards the eggs as being by no means good eating, since they are rank
and Hshy ; but the Russians consider them excelleiit.

Exami)les were taken in large mnubers on the \ ukon by Mr. Kennicott, and after-
ward by Mr. T. Lockhart. Mr. ^Fac Farlaue found it breeding in abundance on islands
northeast of the mouth of Anderson liiver, in Liveri)ool Hay on the Arctic coast, on
Franklin Hay, on various other parts of the coast, and especially in regions west of
Anderson River.

Eggs of this species from Liver[)()ol Hay (Smithsonian Institution, No. 9183) are
of a dull ivory-white, or a grayish-white color, and range in length from 2.75 to 2.90
inches, and in breadth from 1.80 to 1.8;j inches.

Brauta leucopsis.

THE BARNACLE OOOSE.

Anser hncopsis, Bkcii.st. Tiischb. 1803, 424. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 355. — AuD. Orn. Biog. III.

1835, 609, pi. 2i)(> ; Syiioi). 1839, 271 ; 15. Am. VI. 1843, 200, pi. 378.
Alius leucopsis, Tk.mm. Mi\ii. 1815, 531.
Bcrnicln Iciu-opsis, Bon:, Isis, 1822, 5()3. — Baiiid, B. N. Am. 18:'i8, 768 ; Cut N. Am. H. 1859, no.

572. — KiDGW. Norn. N. Am. 15. 1882, no. .W?. —Cocks, Clieik List, 2il cd. 1882, no. 699.
Branta leucopsis, Bannlst. Pr. Ac. \iit. Sei. PhilaJ. 1870, 131. — Coi-i;s, Key, 1872, 283; Check

List, 1873, no. 483 ; Birds X. W. 1874, 558.

Had. Piilrenrctic Region ; casual in Eastern North America (Hudson's Bay and Jamaica
Bay, Long Island, specimens in U. S. Niitional Museum; Currituck Sound, N. C. ; cf. Lawu.
Am. Nat. Y. 1871, 10).

Si>. Chak. Adult (No. 49788. Hudson's Bay Territory ; B. R. Ross) : Anterior portion of tlie
back, jugulum, neck, and occiput, to nearly ahove the eyes, uniform deep Idack, tin; posterior out-
line of which on the juguUnn is very regular and sharply defined. Head mostly white, with a
black stripe from the upper basal angle; of the liill to the eye. Lower parts grayish white, becom-
ing dark cinereous on the sides and Hanks, where the feathers are broadly tipped with grayish
white. Anal region, crissum, and ui)iier tail-coverta itnmaculate pure white. Interscapulars,
rump, and tail uiuform lilack ; scapulars black, their concealed bases slate-color. Wing-coverts
glaucous-ash, broadly ti]iped (lor about .(55 of an inch) with Mack, the last row ("greater coverts")
conspicuously tipped with white. Secondaries and primaries brownish slate-black, ftding basally
into slaty asii. Bill and feet deep black. Wing, 1(5.50 inches ; tail, (i.OO ; cuhuen, 1.20 ; bill .80
wide and deep at base ; tawus, 2.75 ; middle toe, LOO.

Two European specimens in the National Collection differ from that descril)e<l above — which is
the only American e.\ample of the species we have seen — in the nuich lighter color of the upper

eau. Soiuo
islands in
on islands
t was noth-
ity t)f down
in one case

as ("Ibis,"
it numbers,
m the '.itlier
They keep
eetly north,
ives eoUeet-
Miehalaski.
ey are rank

t, and after-
e on islands
tic coast, on
ions west of

o. 9483) are
2.75 to 2.90

)rn. Biog. III.

H. 1859, no.
8-i, no. 6t>9.
2, 283 ; ChcL'k

iuul Juinaiwi
cf. Lawk.

[lortiou of the
])()stc;rii)r oiil-
white, with a
white, buconi-
with grayish
iiti'vscapulars,

WillJ^-COVL'VtS

liter coverts ")
Hdiiig hasally
1.20; bill .80

vo — which is
of the iqnier

ANSERIN/E — THE GEE.SE — DERXICLA.

475

pnrts, nil the feathers of the luick, the scaimhirs, mid tlie larger wing-eoverls l)i.ing distinctly, thoifh
narrowly, tipped with pale ash, while the more bluish gray at the base of the fi-athers' is every-
where more or less distinctly exposed. It is not likely, however, that tliese dilffrenccs will prove
constant.! These European skins measure as follows : Wing, 14.90-1(5.00 inches ; culmeii, 1.10-
1.45; tarsus, 2.50-.3.(H) ; middli; toe, l.!)0-:2.10.

The (daini of the liarnacle ( Joose to be included in the North American fauna is
based upon its probable constant occurrence in Greenland, and occasional capture
along the Atlantic coast. The individual
instances of its being taken at long inter-
vals and in distant localities may possildy
be accounted for by considering them as
birds escajied from •onlincnieiit. In a lew
instances the occurrence of this bird in this
country can be proved to have been caused
in till Manner suggested; otlu'r (;ases are,
and will perhaps remain, doubtful.

Holboll states that this Goose in autumn
regularly visits the southern part of (rreen-
land ; but be docs not believe that it bnuuls
cinywhere in that country. I'rofessor Uein-
hardt, however, considers these two state-
ments inconsistent with each other — and
indeed he has been told that a few of the
eggs of this (roose have been actually taken
in Greenland ; though be is not positive as
to the truth of this stateiaent.

One specimen was obtained by j\fr. 15. I{. Ross near Rupert House, on James's
Bay, at the southern end of Hudson's Bay, and is presumed to be tlie first Xorth
Anuu'ican specimen ever procured, or at least known to have been taken. Another
was shot on the coast of Xova Scotia; but there is no doubt that it was one of
several that a short time before hail escaped from the grouiuls of Mr. A. Downs, near
Halifax.

No mention is made of the llarnacle Goose by Dr. Richardson, and it was not
noticed either by himscdf or by any of his ])arty. llcarne, however, refers to the
occurreiu'c, on Hudson's Ray, of a single specimen of what he styh^s the Rean Goose.
He speaks also of seeing this Goose at least three several times ; and it is quite
possible that the bird he refers to under this name may be the Rariuicle.

A second specimen has more recently been taken in (Currituck Sound, N. C. It
was killed on the 31st of ()ct(dH>r, 1870, from a blind Avhere ther{> were fifteen or
twenty live Geese as decoys, toward whom it was attracted. It was unaccompanied
by any other bird. It is not improbable that this may have been a bird escaped from
continement.

Both Nuttall and Bonaparte refer to this sjiecies as being rare and accidental in
America ; but unfortunately mention no authority for the statement, and refer to no

1 Since the above was written there liiis hecii received at the Nationnl Sruseum a lino mounted c.xiiinple
of the Barnacle Goo.se, obtained at Jnniaica Bay, Long Island, on Oct. 18, 1870, by Mr. J. KciuIhH, by
whom it was kindly presented to the Museum. This example is even more did'crent from the Hudson's
Bay one than the European specimens above mentioneii, the whole back being distinctly marked with
broad bars of bluish gray. In size it is intermediate, in all its measurements, between the extreme.s
as given in the diagnosis on p. 450.

'• I]

'i-'i

476

LAMELLIROSTJtAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

instance of its actual occurrence. Audubon hiuisclt' never mot with it; luit single
specimens have more recently been secured in Vermont, and near New York City.

Mr. Selby sjjcaks of it as a regular winter visitant of (Ircat Britain, and says that
it comes, upon tlie approach of autumn, in vast muubers to the western shores of
that country, and to tht' north of Ireland. It is very abundant on the coast of Lan-
cashire, frequenting the nuirshy grounds that are occasionally covered by tlie spring
tides, and such sands as produce the sea-grasses and jdants upon Avhich it feeds. It
is a very wary bird, and can be approached only by the most cautious manoeuvres.
It nuiy be shot by juoonliglit, when it comes up(in tlu! sands to feed, by persons
crouching on the ground, or from behind some slieltei, in such ])l;ices as the flocks are
known to frecpient. Its llesh is said to be sweet ami tender, and is highly esteemed
for the cable. On the approach of spring it departs for nu)re northern countries, and
by the middle of Marcli none are left behind. "When made captive it soon becomes as
familiar as the Domestic Goose, adajjting itself to eonlinement, and breeding readily.
It has been known to mate with the White-fronted Goose, and to hatch out a brood.
Small flocks have been kept for several seasons in St. James's Park ; and young broods
were hatched in 1844, and again in 1845. IJroods have also been raised on the
grounds of Mr. A. W. Austin, near Boston, in Lincolnshire. Mr. Yarrell states that
the eggs laid in St. Janu's's I'ark were white, and measured 2.75 inches in hnigth by
1.87 inches in breadth.

]Mr. Dunn states that this Goose migrates in vast numbers along the western
coast of Norway, from the Naze of Norway northward, Avhere it generally seems to
make the land after leaving the Danish coast. The shores of the AVhite Sea are its
supi^osed breeding-place. It appears in vast numbers on the coast of Scona, in (;)cto-
ber ami November, and is reported as visiting the Fariie Islands and Iceland. During
its migrations it is said to be abundant in Holland, France, and Germany.

Mr. Audubon describes its eggs, from specimens in the Museum of the University
of Edinburgh, as measuring 2.87 inches in length, by 1.87 inches in breadth, and as
being of a uniform yellowish cream-color.

Professor iMalmgren states (" Ibis," 1869) that this species is certainly an inhab-
itant of Spitzbergen. Many were seen in Advent Bay, and one Avas killed in the
beginning of August.

Middendorff gives it as occurring, during the breeding-season, in Siberia, in the
northern Tundras, or Barrons. j\Ir. H. Saunders met with a single specimen of
this species in Spain, near Seville. It was shot in the " marisma " (lagoon), in the
southern part of the kingdom.

Mr. Wheelwright states it to be only a bird of passage through Scandinavia, going
to and from its breeding haunts. The eggs in his collection, he mentions, bear a
very close resemblance to tho.-<e of the Anser minutus, but are smaller. It does not
breed in any part of Scandinav.a.

Genus FHILACTES, Bannister.

" CMmphagn ," rsAiim, B. N. Am. 1858, 768 (not of Eyton, 1838).

Philacte, Bansist. Pi'. Philail. Acad. 1870, 131 (typn. Aims canagica, Sevast.).

Char. This genus, the most distinct among the North American Anseres, differs from all other
of our Geese in the peculiar form of the hill. This member is unusually short, with A'ery large,
broad, and thick nails, which occupy neorly the terminal third of the bill. The nasal cavity is
very large, broadly ovate, and distinctly defined, its posterior end nearly or quite touching the

but single
rk City.
I says that
1 shores of
^st of Laii-
tlie spring
feeds. It
lanoDuvres.
by persons
3 flocks are
Y esteemed
ntries, and
l)ecomes as
ng readily,
lit a brood,
mng broods
sed on the
states that
1 h'ngth by

lie -western
ly seems to
Sea are its
iia, in Octo-
d. During

University
ith, and as

y an inhab-
Ued in the

eria, in the
pecimen of
on), in the

lavia, going
ions, bear a
It does not

)•

om all other
h very large,
asal cavity is
touching the

ANSERIN^E - THE GEESE — PIIILACTE.

477

frontal feathers. The feet are also Romewhat peculiar, the tarsus being proportionnlly shorter, and
the toes longer, than in other {,'eiieia. From the South Aniericau genus Cldwphaija, with which
it has been a'^sociated, it is as far removed structurally as geographically.

The only known species is tlie beaiitil'iil Painted, or Emperor Goose of Alaska, said to have
been found also on the Caspian Sea.

Philacte canagica.

THE EUPEBOB QOOSE.

Anas canagica, Sevast. N. Act. Petrop. XIII. 1800, 346, pi. x.

Anscr eanarjkus, BiiASDT, Bull. Acad. St. PctiTsb. 1. 1830, 37. — SciiMic. Mus. P.-B. Anscrcs, 1865,

113.
Bcrnkla canagica, Ghay, Genciu B. III. 1843, 607.
Chlaiphnga canagica, Boxap. Conipt. Rend. XLIII. 1856, 648. — Baiud, B. N. Am. IS.'iS, 768 ; Cat.

N. Am. B. 1859, no. 573. — Elliot, Illiistr. Am. B. III. 1860, pi. 45. — C'oi:ks, Check Li.st, 2d

ed. 1882, no. 698.
Philacte canagica, Baxmst. IV. Ac. Xat. Sci. Pliilad. 1870, 131. — CouES, Key, 1872, 283; Check

List, 1873, no. 482 ; B. X. W. 1874, 558. — Kidgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 598.
Anscv pictiis, Pai.l. Zoog. Kosso-As. II. 1826, 233.

Had. Coast and islands o( Alaska ; Caspian Sea (?).

Sp. Char. Adult : Head and nape white, tlie former frequently stained, especially anteriorly,
with orange-rufous ; throat, and neck frontally and laterally, brownish black, or dusky grayish
brown. Tail slaty on basal, and white on terminal, half. Prevailing color of rest of jjlumage bluish
ash, with a glaucous cast, each feather handsomely variegateil by a narrow terminal bar of white
and a broader subterminal crescent-shaped one of black ; these markings very shaqily defined on
the upper surface, breast, and sides, but nearly obsolete on the abdomen and crissum. Greater
coverts and secondaries slate-black, conspicuously margined with white ; anterior lesser coverts,
primaries, and primary coverts jdain slaty gray. "Lower mandible dark horn-color, with a white
spot on each side of branching rami ; membrane about nares livid blue ; rest of upper mandible
pale purplish, with a fleshy white wash ; edge of nail dark horn-color, rest of the nail horn-white ;
iris hazel ; legs and feet bright rich orange-yellow" (E. W. Nelson, MS.). Young: Nearly simi-

478

LAMELLIHOSTRAL SWnnfERS — AXSEREfl.

liir to the ailiilt, Imt tlic luail and uwk jiIuiuIk-kuh, the forniur RjicrkliMl with white, especially on
top ; the transverse luirrin},' of tiie ifuthers Icnh distima tlian in tlic adult. Hill and feet dusky.

Wint;, 14.30- 1.'). 7(1 imdies ; cnliuen, 1.4(»-l.(ii') ; tarsus, 2.(i(i-2.8.') ; middle toe, 2.40-2.50.

In a very lni>,'e series of fine adult specimens before us there is little appreciable variation in
colors, except in re<,'ard to the nranye-rulous stain on the head, which is entirely wanting in some,
but in others very deep, and covering nearly the whole head.

'■U

This species wiis introduced as a probable bird of Xorth America by T'rofessor
Baird, in the niiitii vohune of the "Pacific Railroad IJcport.s." It had been said to

be coiunioii among the Aleutian Islands;
but according to the observations of ^Ir.
Dall, it was not seen in any of the regions
visited by him. lie was at .some pains to
make inc^uiries in regard to it, and tlus ex-
istence of such a bird appeared to bo un-
known to the natives of the islands visited
by him. It has been found, however, by
j\Ir. Bannister on the Lsland of St. ^li-
chael's and on the Lower Yukon, and about
its mouth by Mr. Vease and others. ^Ir.
Dall speaks of it as a magnificent bird, and
states that it abounds in profusion in the
Kusilvak Slough, or moiith of the Yukon
River, to the exclusion of all other species.
His endeiivors to reach that point being
unavailing, he was obliged to obtain speci-
mens elsewhere. It Avas quite scarce about
the Kwichpak Slough and on the sea-coast.
By means of a large reward, Mr. Dall ob-
tained four fine specimens from the marshes around Kutlik. This is the largest
of the Geese of that region ; and the delicate colors of the body, with the head and
nape snow-white, tipped with rich amber-yellow, have a very beautiful effect. Its
ej-e is dark brown, and the feet are flesh-color. The eggs are said to be larger and
longer than those of Anser Gamhel'i, and rather brown fulvous, the color being in
minute dots. This bird rests on the ground in the manner of the other Geese. The
Eskimo name of this Goose is Machowfhiluk. The raw flesh and skin, Mr. Dall states,
have an intolerable odrr of garlic, which renders skinning it a very disagreeable task ;
but on cooking this passes away, and he found the flesh tender and good eating.

This species arrives at Alaska about the first of June, or earlier, according to the
season. As soon as the eggs are hatched the old birds begin to moult. Jlr. Dall saw
half-moulted individuals at Pastolik, July 29, 1867. This Goose remains longer than
any other, lingering until the whole sea-coast is fringed with ice, feeding on Mytilus
edilis and other shellfish. It has been observed as late as November 1 by the Rus-
sians. It usually goes in pairs, or four or five together, rather than in large flocks.
Its note is shriller and clearer than that of A, Gomheli or of B, Hutchinsi, and it is
shyer than any of the Geese, except the Black Brant.

Mr. Bannister states that two of this species were shot at St. IMichael's during the
period of his stay there, both of them young, and not in the best of plumage. This
bird cannot be regarded as common at that ^yarticular point ; but Mr. Pease reported
having seen it in June in large numbers on the Lower Yukon while descending that

ANSERIN.K — THE GEESE — DENDUOCYCNA.

479

specially on
['t dusky.
-2.r)0.
variation in
ing in Bonie,

Prof(?ssor
en siiid to
1 Islands;
ms of ^Ir.
lie regions
n pains to
nd the cx-

to be nn-
uls visited
wevor, by

)f St. yi\-

and about
lers. Mr.
t bird, and
ion in the
;he Yukon
er species.
i)int being
;ain spcci-
tirce about

sea-coast.
. Dall ob-
le largest

head and

Iffeet. Its

arger and

being in
ese. The
all states,
ible task ;
ting,
ing to the

Dall saw
nger than
n Ilytilvs

the Eus-
•ge flocks.

and it is

uring the

ge. Tills

reported

rling that

river. Mr. Bannister also speaks of the strongly otfensive odor of its flesh, stating
that skinning it leaves a taint upon the hands which can hardly be removed by wash-
ing. He considers the flesh so strong as to lie wholly unlit for food, though the
Indians and the Eskimos eat it.

According to the observations of Mr. Elliott, this sjieeies visits the Prybilof Islands,
but only as a straggler, and sometimes landing in such an exhausted condition that
the natives capture whole flocks in open chase over the grass, the l)irds being unable
to use their wings for flight. lie adils that he found the flesh of this bird — contrary
to report — free from any unideasant flavor, and in fact very good. The objection-
able (puility is only skin-deej), and may be got rid of l)y due care in the i)reparation
of the bird for the table.

Jlr. E. Adams (•• Ibis," 1878), in his Notes on the lairds observed by him on Nor-
ton Sound, near the mouth of the Vukon, refers to this bird as the " White-headed
Goose," its name in the Eski dialect being Snil-jdr-lih. He flrst met with it at Port
Chirence, and was told by an old hunter that it came in very small numbers every
year, and was excellent eating. Coming suddenly upon a flock of eight, on the Kith
of May, he could not get near them, but was able to examine them through a glass
as they were standing in the water, just at the edgi; of a lake, dressing their feathers.
They reminded him very much of the IJarnacle CJoose, but were larger, had more
white, and no black on their neck, and had red bills and feet. Their local name is
supposed to be derived from an Indian word signifying a cap.

The eggs of this species taken by Mr. Dall, June L'O, 1873, in Kusilvak Slough,
at the mouth of the Yukon, vary in length from 3.33 inches to 3.40, and in breadth
from 2.90 to 3.10. In shape they are of an unusually elongated form, nearly eepial
at both ends ; in color white, but with a general dirty brown aspect, caused by minute
discolorations.

Genus DENDROCYCNA, Savainson.

Dendroncssn , Wagl. Isis, 1832, 281 (type, Anas arcmtta, Cuv. nee Swainson, 1831).

Deiidroci/ijim, Swains. Cliissif. 1!. II. 1837, 305 (same tyiie).

1 Leptotarsia, Eyton, Monog. Anat. 1838, 29 (type, /,. Eytoai, Goulu).

Char. Bill longer than the liead, the edges nearly parallel, deep through the base, depressed
terminally, the nail larg(! and much hoijked ; mandible almost wholly concealed behind the over-
hani>ing ;idge of the maxilla ; neck and legs long, the tarsus nearly etpuil to or longer than the
middle toe, and reticulated in front (as in the .Swans and true Geese) ; wings i-ather short,
rounded, the primaries not projecting beyond the ends of the inner secondaries ; second to fourth
quills longest, and nearly equal ; tail short, almost hidden by the coverts. Habits, arboreal.

The Tree Ducks apjiear to be more nearly related structurally to tlie Sheldrakes (Tadonm, C'as-
arca, etc.) and the Goose-like genus ChcnalojKX, than to the true Ducks on the one hand or Geese
proper on the other ; and with these forms jierhaps constitute a distinct group.

The genus Dendrocycna is distributed througlnHit the tropical and subtropical regions of the
earth, some of the species having a very anomalous range ; for instance, the D. fuha is common in
Mexico and the southern border of the United States, and in the southern p.irt of tropical South
America (South Brazil, Buenos Ayres, etc.), but is apparently absent from the entire intervening
territory ; but what is still more remarkable, tlie same species is said to be found in Madagascar
and Southern India. The D. vidnafa of South America is also a common biixl of Western Africa.^

The American species oi Dendrocycna may be distinguished as follows ; —

» See Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p.

299.

I . !

480

LAMKLLIUOSTUAL SWIMMEUB — ANSERKS.

A> ('ri«sum wliite, Hjiotted with black.

1. D. arborea.' Aliovu, iliill brown, tlio feathers tipped with lighter ; neck Htreiiked with

pale rulvoiis mill dusky ; lower parts dull whitish, irregularly spotted with black. Jlah.
West Indies (Jiiiniiica and St. Croix).

2. D. autumualis. Above, reddish brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts black ; abdomen,

Hanks, siiies, and under side of winj,', black.

n. autuiniiiiliii. Lower jiart of mrk all round, including breast, reddish brown, like tho
back. Wing, !».2(>-!>.7() inches ; ciilmen, l.!)0--M.') ; tarsus, 2.:!r>-2.(i() ; middle toe,
2.25-2.70. Htth. .Middle America, including Uio (Irande valley of Texas.

/3. (liKailor.^ Lower jiait of neck nil round, including breast, browiush gray, abruptly
contrasted above with the chestnut-brown of the back. //((/'. South America.

1). fulva.

B. Crisaum plain white.

D. fulva. Lower parts plain light cinnamon, the tlanks striped with paler ; hack and
scapulars black, the feathers lipped with fulvous ; upper tail-coverts white. Wing,
8.10-8.90 inches ; culinen, 1.65-1.95 ; taraus, 2.10-2.40 ; middle toe, 2.30-2.80. JM>.
Middle America, north to California, Nevada, and Louisiana ; South Brazil, Buenos
Ayres, and Paraguay.

1 DENDROOYCNA AllBOUEA.

Black-billed Whistling Duck, EnwAnns, Oloan. t. 198.

Canard sifflcur, dc la Jamaiquc, BfKK. PI. Knl. 804.

Anasarhorca, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 207 (ex Knw. 1. c).

Lendrocygna arborca, Evton, Monog. Anat. 1838, HO. — Sri„ & Sai.v, Nom. Ncotr. 1873, 73 ;.

P. Z. S. 1876, 376 (inoiingraphic). — Couks, B. N. "W. 1874, 668 (.synonymy).
t Anas Jacquini, G.MKI-. S. X. I. ii. 1788, 536 (ex .I.mq. Beitr. p. 5, no. 3).
Hab. Bahamas, Cuba, Santo Donungo, .laniaica, and St. Croix.

* DeNDROCYCNA Al'TUMXAUs ni.Sl'OI.OK.

Canard sifflcur, de Cayenne, Buff. PL Enl. 826.

" Dendrocygna aultimnalis," Auct. (all quotations from South America).

VendroeygnM discolor, Scl. & Salv. Nom. Ncotr. 1873, 161 ; P. Z. S. 1876, 375.

ANHKRIN^E - TllK (JEESK — DENDUOCVCNA.

481

ikwl with
L:k. llnh.

iilxloint'ii,

I, lik'.' the
liiUUo too,

, (il)rui>lly

L'U.

C Cri88uni black.

4. D. vlduata.' Urcast and lower neck (nil rouiul), rich chcHtiuit ; Hides pule liilvoiw or
yelluwl.sh white, barred with bliickisii ; ab<b)iueii black ; lorciPiiit nl iiiad wliitc; rent nt' head and
uplier part of neck black, with a white patch uu the loreucck. ILA. Southern South America.

Dendrocycna autumnalis.

THE BLAOX-BELLIEO TREE DUCK.

Anas autumiudis, Linn. S. N. 1. 1706, 205 (based on the Ikd-hilkd Whistling Buck; KnwAlius, pi.

104 ; West Indies).
JJcndniri/tjna autumnaliH, Kyton, Mono;{. Aunt. 1838, 109.— IIaiisk, II. N. Am. 18,^8, 770; Cat. N.

Am. H. 18.')l>, no. 5H. — CiifKs, Key, 1872, '.'84 ; Check List, 1873, no. 487 ; 'M ed. 188'->, no.

700 ; Hirds N. W. 1874, 558. - Xvi.. & Sai.v. I'. Z. S. 1870, 374 (monographic).
Dendrocyauiautumnalis, lUuow. Xom. N. Aiu. li. 1881, no. 51U>.

Had. Middle America ond .^uulliwestern border of United States ; West Indies. Replaced
in South America by the D. uutumiKilin discohn:

Sp. Char. Adult : Pileum, neck, back, scapulars, ju>;uluin, and hreast cinnamon-brown ; the
forehead puler, the occijiut jiassin^' itosteriorly into black (which is continued in a narrow stripe

; back and
ite. Wing.
2.S0. Hah.
u\, Buenos

7). mttumnalis.

r. 1873, 73 ;

down the nape), and the dorsal region more i'erru,!,'inou8. Head and upper part of the neck, except
as described, pale ochraceous-ashy. Abdomen, Hanks, rump, and lininj,' of the wing deep black,
abruptly defined against the cinnamon of the breast ; crissum white, spotted with black. Lesser
wing-coverts light cinereous, overlaid by an ochraceuus-olive wash ; ndddle coverts purer ash ;
greater and primary coverts pure white, the lower feathers of the latter dusky ; secondaries, pri-

' Dendrocycna viduata.

Anas viduata, Linn. S. N. I. 1760, 205.

Dendroajgna viduata, Evton, Monog. Anat. 1838, 110. —Set. & Salv. Nom. Neotr. 1873, 129 j

P. Z. S. 1876, 376 (nionogniphic). — CoUES, B. N. W. 1874, 559 (synonymy).
Caiiard du maragnon. Buff. PI. Enl. 808.
Pato caro bianco, Azara, Apunt. III. 1805, no. 435.
Hah. .South America in general ; Cuba.
VOT,. I. — CA

'It?

482

LAMEl.LlltOSTRAL SWIM.MEKS - ANSEKES.

marii'ti, and tail dwit black, the roi't rices pure wliite liasally. Hill ami I'l'i't brifjht llesh-coloi-, the
former yellow near the nostrils ami black on the nail ; iris brown.* Sexes alike, youmj: Much like
the ailult, but with the patteru less ilistiiicl and the colors duller. Cinnamon replaced by dinj,'y

},'ray, more or le.ss linj,'ed with rusty ocliraceous.
AlKlomeii, Hanks, and crissum ^,'rayisli wliite,
tiuf^ed with deeiier {,'ray. Hill dusky ; leel
dark reddish. Ihtvnij ijottiiij : Above, blackish*
brown, varied by larjj;e ureas of sulphury bulf,
as follows ; u supraloral streak extendinj,' over
the eye ; a wide stripe from the bill umler the
eye and e.xtendin;; across the occiput, the black-
ish K'low it extendiuf,' forward only about as far
as directly beneath the eye, and confluent pos-
teriorly with the nuchal loii^'iliulinal stripe of
the same color ; a i)air of sulphury bull patches
on each side of the back, and another on each
side the rump ; posteriiu' half of the win^,' whit-
ish bull', the end of the win;,' blackish ; the black
of the upper parts sends olf two lateral pro-
jections on each side, the tii'st on each side the
croj), till! secoml over the Hanks to the tibiie ;
tlie bulf of the abdomen extending' ui)ward in
front of this last stripe as far as the middle por-
tion ot the bulf sjpot on the side of the back.
Lower parts wholly whitish liulf, paler and less
yellowish aloni^ the middle. [Described from a specimen "about four days old," obtained by
Dr. J. V. Merrill, U. 8. A., at Fort Hrown, Texas, Au^. 14, 1ST7. "Hill bluish above, yellow
below ; le};s t)live."]

Wing, 5).-_H>-<).T(> inches ; eulmen, l.DO-L'.ir) ; t;irsus, 2.2r)-2.(U); middle toe, -J.ao-ii.TO.
The cinnamon-color of the breast varies, in this species, from a vinaceous to a rich rufous ca.st,
but that of the lower neck is always continuous with that of the back ; (he while of the wing-
coverts is sometimes clouded with jiale ash. The South American reiuesentative, /'. ilinfoloi; Sei..
& S.VLV., dilfeis conspicuously, in the lower neck and breast being fulvous-gray, strongly and
abrujjtly contrasted against the dark chestnut-brown of the back, the black instead of whitish liliiu',
and dilferent propiutions. It is pcrliaps s[)ecilically distinct ; but in the aliseuce of specimens
from the region in which intergradation, if existing, would occui', we for the present consider
it a geographical race of thi! sanie species. Three examples in the "ollcclion nu'asure as fullows :
wing, i). U)-!>.;j(t inches; eulmen, 1.8()-l.iK» ; width of bill across middle, .TO-.To ; tarsus, i.dO-
2.25 ; middle toe, 2.25-2.:{.">.

Tills .spt'cics of Tret' Duck obtains a place iti tho Nortli American fauna from its
occurrciit'c on the IJio (iramlc and in Sontlicrn California. It is found tliroiighont
Mcxito, Central Ann'riea, the northern jHU'tions of South America, and many of tho
West India Islands.

In Texas it is known as the " Lotifj-legj^eil Duck." Air. Dresser mentions it as
bi'in^ found occasionally near Matainoras (hiring the snninier; and he was assured
by a person residing in Monterey — one well ac(iuaintc(l with the bird — that it
breeds in the neighborhood of that place. At Galveston a (Jernian hunter infovined
Mr. Dresser that it is ipiite coiiinion there (hiring the winter, arriving in Novciiiber
siiid dei)arting in Mar( h.

Ill regard to its j)resence in Sontlicrn (California, nothing more is known beyond

• "The soft parts in ii full-phiiiiagcd living iiialc were as follow : iris brown ; bill coral red, orange
above; uuil of l)ill blaish ; legs and feci pinkish white." — Mkuuill, Proc. IT. .S. Nat. Mils. Vol. I.
p. 170.

AXSKRTX.K — TIIH GKESK — nHNDROCYCNA.

483

i-color, the
Miuh like
.1 by iliiiKJ'
oclinii'i'ous.
visli whili',
nsky ; Ici'l
io, Miukisir
{ihury ImlV,

L'llllill^ OVlT
11 UIhU'V till'

t.tlu-liliiik-
iilioiit as tar
iiilucnt i>(irt-
lal striiH' of

buff IWtillL'S

luT oil I'acli
L' will-,' wliit-
h ; till' lilack

lateral pro-
.•arli siile the
) the tibiif ;
ij,' ui>\vartl ill
! miiUlli' l»>i'-
1)1" till- back,
laler ami less

obtaiiu'il by
bove, yellow

"0.

I lulous I'ast,
of the wiiij;-
di.icoliiv, St'l..
stiiiniilv aiitl

itish tibia',
sl>eeiliieli»

lit eiilisider

as follows :

tarsus, :J.'2(>-

iiii from its
thn)Uf,'liiiut
laiiy of the

itioiis it as
as iissuvi'd

(1 — that it
r iiii'ov'.m'il
Novt'iulxT

)\v

u bfjoiul

nil ii'il, orange
Mils. Vol. I.

tlu' jiriH'urin!^ tif a siiigU' siiccinicii at Fort Tejon liy Mr. Xantns, who rogarchMl it as
of rai'f and iiiiusiial occiin't'ix'c.

Spt'i'inu'Hs wt'iv ohtaiui'd by Mr. CJ. C. Taylor on tin- I.akc of Tojoa. in Honduras.
The birds Averc very jdi'iitiful. easy of approach, and wen- very ,u;ood catinj,'. Mr.
K. t'. Taylor found this siu'cii's almnihint in the Island of J'orto Hico. when' it was
lirot'din};.

Mr. Salvin niontions havini,' nu't with a flock on tlic i'aciflc coast of (Juatcniala.
He could plainly distinguish the clear whistlini,' note wliicli this bird utters as it
flies. According to licotand it is a permanent resident of Trinidad. It certainly is
known to breed there, and it is also to be met with at all seasons of the year, but
generally in very limited numbers, in tlie coursi- of duly and August it regularly
visits Trinidad in large numbers. The swamps then contain but very little water,
and certain aqtuitie jdants which grow on the edges of iiools jiroduce seeds of which
this Duck is very fond. This undoubtedly is what attracts these birds, for it
cannot be tliat they are driven by cold from the neigliboring iiortions of the South
American continent, where they abound. On the other hand, there seems to be some
evident necessity for this movement, for at that jicriod hardly an individual remains
behind. This Duck is always seen in flocks more or less considerable in size. It
utters a very peculiar wliistling .sound, said to resemble the syllables oii'i-ki-ki ; and by
this name the bird is known in Trinidad. It is not infrcipiently known to perch on
the limbs of trees, in captivity it will freely niiugle with the other inhabitants of
the barnyard, appearing to be (|uite contented with its lot; but it will not breed.
Its flesh, like that of all the Ducks of South America, is deservedly considered a great
delicacy by eiiicures.

Colonel .\. .1. (irayson, quoted by Mr. Lawrence in his pajior on the Mirds of
Western Mexico, states that the history of the habits of this species would be almost
identical with that of its near ally, />. fitfnr. It is, however, more nocturn:il in
juu'suit of subsistence, visiting the ilry cornflclds during the night in great innnbers.
and doing considerable damage there. Colonel (irayson adds that he has al.'^o met
with these birds in the night-time, as they were walking along the road, far from any
water, jucking up the grains of corn which had been drojipcd by the packers.

This species is said to be nnu'c abundant in the vicinity of Ma/.atlan in the latter
part of the dry .season than the JKfii/ni, but in Aiuil and May it migrates during
the night toward Sonora. Many, liowev .-, remain iind breed in the neighborhood
(d' Mazatlan during the suninier, Avhere they are seen during every month (d' the yt^ar,
breeding in the hollows of large trees, and laying friuu twelvi' to lifteen eggs. The
young are lowered to the ground, one at a time, in the moidh of the mother: after
all are safely landed, she eautiou.sly leads her young brood to the nearest water.

This Duck peridii's with facility on the branches of trees, and when in the eorn-
iidd.s, upon the stalks, in order to reach tlic ears of corn. Large flocks spend the day
on Mie bank of sonu* secluded lagoon, densely bordered with woods or water-flags, also
sitting anuuigst the branidies of trees, not often feeding or stirring about during the
day. AVhen ujion the wing this bird eonstantly utters its jieculiar whistle of pv-rhc-
t'hv-uc, from which its native name is derived. Colimcl (Jrayson noticed that it siddom
alights in doop water, always ineferring the shallow edges or the ground ; the cans*'
of this may be the fear of the numerous alligators that usually infest the lagoons.

When this Duck is taken young, or when its eggs are hatched under the common
Barnyard Hen. it becomes very tame, and does not reijuire to bo confined; it is
very watehtul during tlu^ night, aiul, like the (loose, gives the alarm by a shrill
whistle when any strange aninuil or person comes about the house. A lady of

484

LAMKLLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

Colonel Grayson's acquaintance possessed a ])air of these Ducks, which she said
were as good as the best watch-dog ; he himself had a pair which were equally
vigilant, and very docile.

Dr. J. C. jMerrill writes me tliat this large and handsome Duck arrives from the
South, in the vicinity of Fort Brown, in April, and soon thereafter becomes abundant
on the river-banks and lagoons. Migrating at night, it continually utters a very
peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. The Mexicans call
it Pato mah:al, or Corntield Duck, from its habit of frecpienting those localities. It
is \)y no means shy, and large nund)ers are offered for sale in the Brownsville market.
It is easily domesticated, and beccnnes very tame, roosting at night in the trees with
the Chickens and Turkeys. AVhen the females begin to lay, the males leave them
and gather in large Hocks on sandliars in the river. Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who
had had ample opportunity of observing these birds at Hidalgo, informed Dr. Merrill
that the eggs are deposited in hollo\v trees and branches, often at the consideralile
distance of two miles or more from water, and from eight to thirty feet above the
ground. They are placed on the bare wood, and are from twelve to sixteen in number.
Two broods are raised in a season, and the parent carj ies the young to water in her
bill. Twelvt! eggs received from Dr. Finley average LMl inches by 1.58, with but
little variation in size ; they are of the usual Duck-shape, and in color are a rather
clear yellowish white. The birds usually depart in September, but a few very late
broods are seen even in November.

The eggs of this species from the Berlandier Collection, from Tamaulipas, Mexico
(Smithsonian Institution, No. 743), are of an ivory-white color, with a greenish
tinge. In their shape they are of a rounded oval. Three eggs have the following
measurements : 2.00 by 1.50 inches ; 2.30 by l.GO ; 2.10 by 1.60.

Dendrocycna fiilva.

THE FULVOUS-BELLIED TREE DUCK.

Penelope mexicnna, Bltlss. Oni. VI. 17()0, 390 (Mexico).

Anas /iclva, Gmkl. S. X. I. ii. 1788, .''.30 {ex P,uiss. 1. c).

Bendrocygna fit/va, Brr.M. lirise La I'lutii, 1856, 51,"). — Bairb, B. N. Am. 1858, 770; ed. 1860,
I>1 dO ; Cat. N. Am. H. 1S59, no. 575. —Coves, Key, 1872, 284 ; Clieck List, 1873, no. 486;
2d ed. 1882, no. 705 ; B. X. W. 1874, 558.

Dendroi'ijcna fu/vn, I{ii><!\v. Xom. X, Am. B. 1881, no. 600.

A)ws vinjnta, 5L\.x. Iteise Briis. L 1820, 3'22.

Pato roxo ij nrrjrn, AzAKA, Apunt. IIL 1805, no. 430.

Anas hicolor, Vikim,. Xouv. Diet. V. 136 (o.\ Azaha, 1. v.).

Anas eoUaris, Mf.pukm, in Krseh u. Orul). Ene. Sel. i. Vol. XXXV. 31.

} Bendrocygna major, Jeiidon, Birds India, III. 790 (India !). —Sci,. P. Z. S. 1866, 148 (Madagas-
car !),

Hab. Southern border of the United States, north to Central Ciililbrniu and Western Nevada
(Washoe Lake), east to Louisiana. Me.xieo; Soutliern South America. India? Mada;,'ascar ? Not
recorded from Northern South America (except Trinidad), Central America, or the West Indies.

Sp. Char. Adidt : Head, neck, and lower parts deep reddisli oclu-aceous, passing into cinna-
mon on the flanks, where the longer featliers liave a broad medial slvip(> of pale ochraceous, bor-
dered bj' dusky. Crown inclining to I'erruginous ; nape with a distinct black stripe, connnencing
at the occiput. Middle of tlie neck dirty whitisli, minutely streaked with du.sky, beneath the sur-
face. Prevailing color above brownish black, the dorsal and scapular leathers broadly tipped with
the color of the lower parts ; k-sscr wing-coverts tinged with rusty chestnut. Upper tail-coverts
immaculate M'hite ; crissum yellowisii white. Bill and feet black, in the dried skin ; in life, " bill
bluish black, legs light .slaty blue" (Merrim,). Sexes alike. Young not seen.

til-

AXSERIX.E — THE GEESE — DEXDROCYCNA.

486

Wing, 8.10-8.90 inches ; eulnien, 1.65-1.95 ; tarsus, 2.1()-2.Jii ; niidilk- too, 2.3(»-:i.h(i.
The chief vumtion noticed in this species is u .sli;,'ht one in tlie precise simde of the tints.
Specimens from Buenos Ayres are larger tiian those from Mexico, 1)Ut are otlierwise similar.

The Brown Tree Duck has a very (Iiff(M'Piit geographical distribution from that of
the D. atitiimiKilis, as it is not known to occur in the nortluM'u iiortions of South
America (excepting Trinidad), Central America, or the West India Islands. It is
found, however, in Mexico, and extends northward near the J'acific coast of tlie
United States through portions of California and Nevada, and has also been met
with in Texas and Louisiana.

Mr. J. Hepbnrn met with this species breeding in the extensive marshes near the
junction of the Sacramento and the San Joaqnin rivers, in the summer of lvS(;4 ; Dr.
Cooper also mentions seeing a flock of this species flying over the Sacramento east-

Avard, in June, IcSGi"); and Mr. JF. 1>. Morse ])rocure(l an example near San Francisco,
which is now in the nuiseum of the Boston Xatui'al History Society.

A single individual of this species was killed near Xew ( )rleans on the 22d of
January, 187<>, by ^Ir. X. J>. ^Foore, -and was by him ]iresent(Ml to the Smithsonian
Institution. This is the flrst. and at ]n'esent the only, recorde<l instance of the occur-
rence of tliis species so far to tlie east, although it has been known for some time
as an inhabitant of California. The first instance on record of its occurrence in that
State was the capture of a sjiecimen near Fort Tejon by Mr. Hunter.

^[r. Dresser refers to this as the '' liui'dus Long-legged Duck.'' stating that he
observed it occasionally near lirownvilli', in Texas. In June lu' found it in great
abundance on Galveston Island. A German whom he saw carrying one told him that
birds of this species were found there, and afterward took him to their chief place
of resort, a lake in the middle of the island, and toM him also that it bred there, but
very late in the season. This was in the month of June, and breeding had not then
begun. Dr. J. C. ^Ferrill states that this Duck is about as common as the I), autuw-
nafls in the vicinity of Fort Brown, Texas. Like that species, it is only a summer
visitor, ami both siM>cies frequent the same localities ; but their notes while flying
are quite different. Dr. Finley did not meet with this species at Hidalgo.

This Duck is spoken of as occurring sparingly in Southern South America. Bur-

486

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES.

1 I

meister cites it as having been noticed in varying numbers in all the easterly and
northerly regions of La Plata, on the Rio Uruguay, and on the I'arana as far up as
Tucuran. This Ihiek — su|)i)os('d by Lrotaud to be the /n'ro/nr oi Vieillot — is said
bj'' the former to occur in Trinidad, but to be found there chiefly as a bird of passage,
visiting that island very irregularly. Occasionally it comes in considerable numbers,
nests in the island, rears its young, and even has a second and sometimes a third
brood before it departs. It then abandons the island, and is gone for several years
without repeating its visit. Its habits, so far. us Leotaud observed them, are pre-
cisely the same as tiiose of the autumnaUn, and its flesh — like that — is also very
highly esteemed by epicures.

Colonel Grayson — cpiotcd by Mr. Lawrence — gives very full notes of the habits
both of this species and of the (lafuvinal'is, as observed by him in Western Mexico.
Both species much resend)le each other in their general appearance, as well as in
their habits; and both are (piite abundant in Western Mexico as far north as tSonora.
The present species is the most numerous in that region.

At the end of the rainy season, or in the month of October, this bird makes its
appearance in the vicinity of iLazatlan in large flocks, inhabiting the fresh-water
lakes and ponds in the coast region, or fi'i-mi enUento, during the entire winter, or
dry months, subsisting principally uj)on the seeds of grass and weeds, and often, at
night, visiting the corn-flelds for grain. During these nu)nths Colonel (Jrayson has
found it in the shallow grass-grown ponds in very large numbers, affording excellent
sport to the hunter and delicious game for the table. Its flesh is white and juicy,
and also free from the strong or rank flavor whi(!h Ducks not feeding exclusively on
grain and seeds usually have. This bird is large and heavy, and often vei\y fat.

It is more easy of approach than our northern Ducks ; and Colonel Clrayson states
that he has often shot as many as fifteen Avith two discharges of his double-barrelled
gun. When only winged, it is almo.st sure to nuike its escajie, which its long and
stout legs enable it to do by running and springing with extraordinary agility, idti-
mately eluding pursuit by dodging into the grass or nearest thicket. It che water is
deep, it dives, and when it rises to breathe, raises only the head abo/e the water,
remaining concealed among the aquatic vegetation, where it battles the hunter's efforts
to find it.

Although its geographical range is almost entirely within the trojiics, yet this
species has its seasons of periodical migration from one ])art of the country to the
other. During the month of April its well-known peculiar whistle may be heard
nightly as northward-bound flocks are passing in ajiparently large numbers over
Mazathan. At first Colonel Grayson Avas not a little puzzled by this movement,
especially as he had been assured that this bird is not seen north of the tropic,
except as an occasional straggler; but by frequent in(piiries of the natives he was
enlightened as to the point of destination of these Ducks, and was satisfied that
they go no farther north than the JIayo and Taqui rivers, in Sonora, and the adja-
cent lakes and lagoons, and that they breed there. Some, however, remain and breed
in Sinaloa and in the adjacent region ; and Colonel Grayson fo\uid, as late as Xovem-
ber, young broods near San Bias which were unable to fly. They doubtless raise two
or more broods during the season ; but he was never able to discover whether they
nest in holiow trees, as the autumnitHn does, or on the ground, among the grass. He
was informed by the natives, however, that the latter is the case ; and they assured
him that this bird lays from ten to fifteen pure white eggs. Though it inhabits the
region near the sea-coast, this Duck is never* met with on the sea, and very seldom
in the estero, or salt-water lagoon, it being an exclusively fresh-water bird.

ANATIN^E — THE DUCKS.

487

>asterly and
IS far up as
[)t — is said
of passage,
lie numbers,
mes a third
^veral years
HI, are pre-
is also very

: the habits
eru Mexico,
i well iis in
1 as Sonora.

(1 makes its
fresh-water
e winter, or
nd often, at
i ray son has
iig excellent
' and juicy,
clusively on
ry fat.
lyson states
)lo-barrellcd
ts long and
igility, nlti-
le water is
th(> water,
tor's efforts

s, yet this
try to the

be heard

lubers over

movement,

the tropic,

es he was

isfied that

the adja-
and breed
as Novem-
s raise two
ether they
^rass. He
ey assured
habits the
ry seldom

Mr. L. Belding informs us that this species arrives in the vicinity of Stockton,
Cal., from April 1 to May 9; his latest fall record of its occurrence there being
November 1, " when two immature birds or young of the year weri' noticed in the
market."

Sub-family AKATTX.^. — Thk Ducks.

The Anatinm differ from the Anserinm in having the tarsus shorter than the middle toe, instead
of longer, and scutellate, instead of reticulate, in front. Most of the Ducks are of smaller size than
the Geese ; in many species the males are adorned with a very beautiful pluiuage, with a metallic
wing-specuhun, tlie sexual diffea'uce in plumage being usually well uiarkeil. The North Ameri-
can genera may he defined as f(jl!ows * ; —

A. Hind toe without a membraneous lobe (Anatew).

1. Anas. Bill broad, about as long as the head, the eilges parallel, the middle of the culmen

concave, the terndnal part (behind the nail) convex ; laniellie scarcely exposed ; scapu-
lars, tertials, and rectrices broad, not acuminate ; s])eculum brilliant.

2. Ctaaulelasmus. Hill rather narrow, shorter than the head, tho edges nearly parallel, cul-

men gently concave in the middle, straight before and beliind ; Luuinaj distinctly exposed ;
scapulars, etc., as in Anas; speculum dull-colored — black and white.

3. Mareca. Bill as in Chaulclasmus, but lamelhe scarcely exposed ; scapulars, etc., lanceo-

late, the middle rectrices slightly elongated ; speculum chiefly lilack ; a white patch on
the lesser wing-covert region.

4. Dafila. Similar to Mareca, but neck very long, bill ionger than the head, narrow, the

edges nearly parallel, the terminal two-thirds of the culmen quite straight and nearly
horizontal, the basal portion rapidly ascending. In the adult male, scapulars, etc., elongated
and lanceolate, and the middle rectrices projecting far beyond the rest.

5. Nettion. Size very small (wing less than six inches) ; in form nmch like Dafila, but

neck nuich .shorter, scapulars and middle rectrices broa<ler and less elongated, bill shorter
than the head, the lamella) completely concealed ; nape with a small mane-like tuft.

6. Querquedula. Small, like Nettion, but bill longer (longer than the head), broader, less

ilepressed, the culmen decidedly convex anteriorly ; lesser wing-coverts pale dull blue
(in North American species) ; nape without a tuft. ,

7. Spatula. Bill nuich longer than the head, compressed at the base, very broad toward the

1 Some South American gmmn of Ducks, which for present purposes it is \uuiecessary to iuclude in
the above synopsis, arc the following : —

1. Genus HETEUONEri'A, Salvadori.

Ihtevonctta, S.\i.va1). Atti dc la Soe. Ital. d. Sci. Nat. Vlll, 1865, 574 (type, AiU(S melanocepkala,
ViKii.1,.).— Sc'i,. & Sai.v. p. Z. S. 1876, 382.

2. (ienus Metoimana, Bonaparte.

Metopiana, Bonap. Compt. Keud. XLIII. 1856, 146 (type, Ams peposaca, ViEiLL.). — ScL. & Salv.
P. Z. S. 1876, 308.

3. Genus Caiuis'A, Flemiiig.

Cnirim, Fi.e.mixo, Phil, of Zool. 1822, 260 (type. Anas moschnta, Linn.).
Moschata, Less. Traite, I. 1831, 633 (same type).
Oijmnathus, 'NvTV. Man. IL 1834, 403 (snnic type).

4. Gomis Tacuyer?;s, Owen.

" Micropla-Hs," Less. Truite, U. 1831, 630 (tyjie, Anas cinerea, Gmel.). (Preoccupied in Ichthy-

ology. )
Ti hyeres, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. L\. 1875, 254 (same tyiw).

6. Genus MER(iANETTA, Gould.

Merganetta, Gouui, P. Z. S. 1841, 95 (type, M. annata, Gould).

Raphipterus, Gay, Fauna Ciiil. 1848, 450 (type, "It. chilnms, Gay," = .1/. armata, Goui.d).

488

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

end, where the edge of the ninxiUii overhangs the mandible on each side ; behind this,
the fine huueUu' completely exposed. Otherwise much like Querquedula (the wings colored
exactly the same), but linger.

8. Aiac. Bill nmcli shorter tlitin the liead, deep through the base, depressed terminally, the

edges gently convex, anil converging terminally ; nail very large ; base of the maxilla
produced backward and ui>ward into an elongated angle, extending on each side the fore-
head nearly half-way to the eye. Tail lengthened, composed of broad, rounded feathers.
Male with a full, elegant pendant crest of silky feathers.
B> Hind toe furnished with a membraneous lobe.

a. Bill broad, depressed terminally ; tail short, the fi-athers moderately rigid, rounded at ends,

and more than half concealed by the coverts (Fidiguhe).

9. Fuligula. Bill decidedly broadest at Itast-, nuich deiiressed terminally, the vertical thick-

ness just behind the nail being only about one fourth that at the base ; nail large and
very broad. Adult male witli the head rufous, the pileum ornamented by a full and very
soft, bushy, rounded crest.

10. Fuliz. Bill about as long as the inner toe (with claw), the nail small and narrow. Head
and neck black in adult males.

11. JBythyia. Bill longer than inner toe, with claw. Head and neck reddish in adult nudes.

b. Bill shorter than the head, rather compressed, the depth through the base considerably exceed-

ing the width near the end ; terminal portion of the bill not at all depressed. Tail as in
Fidi(jid(K (the central pair of rectricus much elongated in J/arelda). (Cluiigida'.)

12. Clangula. Bill much shorter than the head, compressed, and tapering, both laterally and
vertically, to the end, the nuil small and narrow. Plumage chieHy black and white in the
male ; grayisli and white, with brown head, in the female.

13. Histrionlcus. Bill as in Choxjida, but the nail very largo and broad, forming the end
of the bill, the rictus overhung by a small wrinkled membrane. CoLjr plumbeous, with
white collar and otliei' bands and markings, in the male ; dull grayish brown, with white
sjiots on head, in female.

14. Harelda. Bill much shorter than the head, nearly as broad as deep, the nail lai'ge and
broad, the feathering at the base forming a nearly straight liiu; running obliipiely from
the base of the culmeii to the rictus.^ Middle pair of rectrices and posterior scapulars
nuuh elongated and lanceolate in the male. Colors variable.

15. Eniconetta. Bill .shorter than the head, nuicli compressed, the edges of the maxilla
inllexed so as partly to inclose the mandible ; nail very large and broad, forming the end
of the bill, which is not at all " liooked." Male with the feathers of the lores and occiput
stiff and bristly, the tertials strongly falcate, the plumage beautifully variegated ; female
dull chestnut-brownish, variegated with black.

16. Camptoleemus. Bill nearly as long as the head, the edges of the maxilla furnished
terminally with a thickened membraneous appendage, the base of the nuixilla encased
with overlying skin, including the nostrils. Feathers of the cheeks stiffened and bristly.
Color black and white (head, neck, jugulum, and wings chiefly white, under parts, ring
round lower neck, and other parts black) in the male ; nearly uniform brownish-plumbeous
in the female.

c. Bill shorter than the head, tapering both laterally and vertically towai-d the end ; the base

of the maxilLi continued in a lengthened angle or broad lobe on each side of the fore-
head, or else (in Arctonct(a) densely feathered as far forward as the nostril. Males with
areas of stiff", bristly, greenish teathei-s about the head, the tertials strongly falcate, the
plumage chiefly white and black, or plumbeous. Females brownish, barred with black
(Somakriw).

17. Arctonetta. Feathering at base of the maxilla extending as far forward as the nostril,
and forming a continuous obliciue line from the cuhnen to the rictus ; feathera of the
lores dense and velvety ; eyes surrounded by a dense roundish "cushion" of short, soft,
velvety feathers.

1 In some si>eciniens there is a distinct feathered angle projecting toward the nostril,, the bare skin of
the bill forming an obtuse angle iilwivc it.

ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — ANAS.

489

; behind this,
wings colored

jnninally, the
f the maxilla
side the Ibre-
nded feathers.

iided at ends,

■erticrtl thick-

lail large and

full and very

larrow. Head

II adult males.

uraMy exeeed-

d. Tail as in

lula:)

1 laterally and

1 white in the

niing the end
imbeous, with
vn, with white

[nail lai-ge and

hliijuely from

ior scapulars

the maxilla
ining the end

and occiput
jated ; female

ilia furnished

ixilla encased

and bristly.

er parts, ring

h-i)lumbeous

nd ; the base
of the fore-
Males with
y falcate, the
id with black

IS the nostril,
ithers of the
){ short, soft,

e bare skin of

18. Bomateria. Feathering at base of maxilla exceedingly irregular, the frontal and loral
regions being separated by a backwaiil extension of the bare skin of the maxilla ui the
form of an elongated angle or broad lobe.

d. Bill more or less gibbous at the base, nnich depressed at the end, which is formed entirely

by the broad, Hat nail ; nostrils usually anterior to the middle of the maxilla. Color
black, with or without white on the head or wing, in the male ; dusky grayish brown in
the female (jEdemiw).

19. (Sdemia. Feathering on forehead extending only slightly in advance of that on the lores,
or only to the base of the gibbosity ; nostrils linear, about the middle of the maxilla. No
white in the plumage of either sex.

20. Melanetta. Feathering on the lores advancing as far forward as that on the forehead
(nearly to the nostrils). Bill extremely broud and dei)ressed at the end. Wing with a
white speculum.

21. Pelionetta. Feathering on the forehead extending forward almost or quite to the nos-
tril (an inch or more in advance of that on the lores) ; sides of the maxilla greatly swollen
in the adult male ; end of bill rather pointed, much narrower than the middle portion. No
white on the wing, but head with white patches (indistinct or obsolete in the female).

e. Bill very broad and depressed terminally, as in the Ftdiijulea:. Tail rather long, graduated,

the feathers narrow and very rigid, their shafts grooved on the undjr surface ; tail-coverts
very short, scarcely covering the base of the tail (^Erismatuna;).

22. Erismatura. Nail of the maxilla very small, narrow, and linear, the terminal half bent
abruptly downward and backward, so as to be invisible from above.

23. Nomonyz. Nail of the maxilla huge and broad, gradually bent downward terminally,
and wholly visible from above.

/. Bill narrow, sub-cylindrical, terminated by a conspicuous hooked nail, the edges serrated
(^Mergc(e).
/'. Bill as long as, or longer than, the head, its depth through the base much less than half
its length, the serrations prominent.

24. Mergus. Bill much longer than the head, the serrations acute, curved ; tarsus nearly
three fourths the middle toe (with claw) ; crest depressed, or jjointed.

25. liophodytes. Bill about as long as the head (without crest), the serrations short and
conical (viewed laterally) ; tarsus about two thirds the middle toe (with claw) ; crest
compressed, with a semicircular posterior outline (when erected).

/". Bill much shorter than the head, its depth through the base equal to about half its length,
the serrations small and inconspicuous.

26. MergelluB. Serrations of the bill very fine, conical ; tarsus about two thirds the mid-
dle toe ; crest somewhat as in Lophodijks, but very much smaller.

Genus ANAS, Linx^us.
Anas, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 122; ed. 12, I. 17t56, 194 (type, by climhiiition, A. hoschas, Linn.).

Char. Usually rather large-sized Ducks, with the bill a little longer than the head or foot,
rather broad, depressed, the edges parallel, the end rounded ; speculum metallic green, blue, or
violet, in both sexes, usually bordered posteriorly by a black band, this generally succeeded by u
white one.

Only four species of true Aims are found in America, these being easily distinguished by the
following characters : —

A« Size large (wing not less than 10 inches).

a. Adidt male, except in breeding-season, very different from the female, the plumage varied

and brilliant ; secondaries tipped with white, and greater coverts crossed by a subtenninal

bar of the same.
VOL. I. — G2

490

LAMELLIUOSTUAL SWIMMKKS — ANSKUES.

A. boBOhas. Adult male in winhr: Four inidiUc tail-i'uuthers Htroiigly recurved orcurluil ;
liuml 1111(1 neck brilliant velvety green ; jiij,'uluin rich chestnut, with u white collar between
it and the 1,'reen ol' the neck ; siieculuni rich metallic violet, bounded anteriorly by a
black bar, this ju'eceded by a while one, and posteriorly by a black Hubteriniiial and while
tenuinal band. Adult fiumk and mak in brccdimj season : Wings as in the above ; else-
where, variegated with dusky and ochraceous, the liirnier on the centres of the feiitherH,
and predominating on the upper parts, the latter on the borders, and prevailing beneath.
Wing, l().2r)-12.()(l inches ; culmen, 2.(H»-2.4(» ; tarsus, 1. 5(1-1. ao; middle toe, l.!K)-2.15.
llah. AVholi^ noithern hemisphere.

6. Sexes alike, at all ages and seasons ; no white on the outer surface of the wing.

2. A. obBOura. Prevailing color dusky, the feathers bordered with dull ochraceous ; head

and neck dull bull", everywhere streaked with dusky ; no black at base of the bill ;
speculum usually d(i|i violet. AVing, 1()..5()-11.,')(> inches ; culmen, 2, 0()-2.3o ; tarsus,
I.7()-I.8(); middle toe, l.»()-2.1(). Hah. Eastern North America.

3. A. fulvigula. Prevailing color ochraceous, the feathers marked centrally with dusky ;

entire chin and throat immaculate creamy ochraceous or bulf ; base of the maxilla, espe-
cially below, black ; speculum usually green. Wing, 10, 00-10. 50 inches; culmen, 2.05-
2.35; tarsus, 1.70-1.80; middle toe, 1. 00-2. 00. Ilab. Florida.
I. Size small (wing, 8.50).

4. A. Aberti ' 9 ■ Prevailing color ochraceous, spotted above and streaked beneath with

1 Anas AnKini, HiixiWAV.

1 Amis obscurii, l.Awa. Mcin. Rcstoii Soc. II. pt. iii. no. ii. 1874, 314 (Tcplc, W. Mexico).
Anna Aberti, Hinow. Proc. U. S. Nnt. Mas. Vol. I. 1878, 2.')0 (Mazatlnn).

Sp. Char. Adult fcnwh : Size of Qucrquednia discws and cyanoptcra, but in coloration closely resem-
bling A . fuhirjula. Prevailing color oclmiccous-buff, but this cvciywhere relieved liy brownish-black spots
or streaks. Head, neck, iiml lower pait-s streaked, the streaks finest on the neck and sides of tlic head,
Inwuleston thejuguluni and crissuni, which is .soiiK'what tinged with rusty, and assuming the form of
oblong spots on the abdomen, thigh.s, and anal region ; throat iininaculate. Hack, scaindars, and rump
with the blackish predominating ; the feathers bordeivd witli ocliiaceous ; those of the back and the sciip-
ulai-s with inegulnr indentations and occasional bars of the same. Lesser wing-coveits brownish slate,
bordered with dull earthy brown ; middle coverts with their exposed portion velvety black, fcaming a
distinct bar. Secondaries widely tijipi'd with pure white (forining a consiiicuous band alwut .3,') of an inch
wide), this preceded by a velvety black bar of about e(pial width, the basal half or more (of the exposed

ANATIN.K — THE DUCKS — ANAS.

491

pveil or ciulud ;
collur between
iinteriorly by ii
iiml mill wliile
e above ; else-
)f llie I'eatliel'H,
iiiliiiy beneath,
toe, l.!K)-2.15.

racemis ; lieail
ise ol' the bill ;
l)-2.35 ; tttinus,

y with dusky ;
maxilla, espe-
eulineii, 2.05-

il beneath with

Mexico).

on closely rcsem-
iiish-blnck spots
(les of the head,
ling till' form of
uliiis, and nimii
lUid the scap-
■i brownish slate,
lilack, forniiiifj a
ut .35 of an inch
(of the exposed

brownish black, tin- throat inimaculati' ; liill li^'ht yfliowisii brown, darker on culnien ;
speenluin dark },'''i"''^-Kii'»'ii, ciian^jiii^' to blue and violet, followed, succe.'fsively, by a
velvety black siibtcrniiiial and a pure white terminal bar, each alioiit .3.") of an inch
wide. Wiiif,', 8.,')() inches; culnien, l.(i"i ; tar.sus, 1.30; middle toe, 1.70. Jlub. Western
Mexico (Ma/atlau).

Anas boBchas.^

THE MALLABD.

/.■i lioschns, I,|N\. S. N. I'd. I'J, I. 17<iti, M.^. — Wii.s. Am. (tin. VIII. ISM, n-j, |il. 70, f
Auii. Din. liiog. HI. 183'!, KJl, pi. 2'.»1 ; Synop. ISIiit, 27(1 ; II. Am. VI. l.sl.i, 2:ii;, pi. 1
lUiKii, B. N. Am. l.S.")S, 774 ; Cat. \. Am. H. 18".!), no. .071). — CouK.s Key, 1872, 285 ;
List, 1873, no. 188 ; M. N. W. 1874, .ir.li.

Andu htiinis, WiiAKTiis, Ibi.s, 187i», 4.''>;i. — liiixiw. Nom. N. Am. 15. 1881, no. (jol. — CofK.s, Check

List, 2il ed. 1882, no. 707.
AnuHdimiHtiiii, (iMKi,. 8. N. 1. ii. 1788, ,f.;t8.

Anas (Uuschitu) ihmrstica, Sw. &liii ii. K. B. A. II. 1831, 442. — Xrrr. Man. II. 1834, 378.
Anns /era, " Buis.s." — Lk.aiii, (at. Brit. Mus. 181(), 30.
Anasadunat, Linn. S. \. cil. 12, I. 1760, 20(i. — (!.Mi;i.. S. N. 1. ii. 1788, 538.

Hak. North America in },'eneral, south to I'anaina ; Cuba; ISahamas ; (ireeiiland. Pahearetic
Rej^ioii.

Si'. CiiAU. Adult male in fidl, winter, nnd sjmvg : TFcad and neck continuous suit brilliant
metallic j^'ieen, showiii;^ purple and f^olden-bron/.e rellectimis in dill'ereiit lij,'hts. A riii;,' of ])uie
white round the lower part of the neck interrupted on tint nape ; ju;,'iilum and upper part of the
bri'iist rich dark chestnut. Interscapulars brownish uvuy, liiiely waved with ^;iayisli white ; scaii-
iilars and lower parts grayish white, delicately waved with dark ash. Outer webs of tertials dark

portion) I'onsistiiip; of a metallic speculum of ilaik grnss-f,'roeii, varying to blue nml violet in ccitaiii lights.
Tertials opaiine velvety black cxtcrioily, the inner webs browni.sh .slate ; priinaiy-cnvcrts ami primaries
brownisli slate, the latter edged with lighter. Tuil browni.sh gray, the feathers eilgiil ami coarsely spotted
with light bull'. 1)111 light yellowish brown, darker on the ciilmcn, the unguis dusky ; feet light yellowish
(probably orange in life). 'Wing, 8.50 imlics ; tail, 3.25 ; culnien, l.fiS ; greatest width of the bill, .00 ;
depth of nia.\illa tliioiigh the base, .50 ; tarsus, 1.30 ; niiiKlle toe, 1.70.

Type, No. 12,7811, l'. S. Nut. Mus. ; Ma/.atlaii, Mexico ; Colonel AliKirr.

liKMAliKs. This remarkable little Duck is very dilb'rent from any other known species. In its .small
size, and, to a certain extent, the narrow bill, it is like the s]iecies of Qiierqiiriliiln, but its coloration calls
instantly to mind the Aiiasfiifviriiild from Florida, and the species (//. It'iivillicnw) from the Sandwich
l.slanils recently describeil by Mr. Selater. The specimen is marked as being a feninle, .so it is i)os.sil)lc
that the male may be more brilliant in ]iluiiiage.

In addition to the characters given above, it may bo mentioned that there is a distinct indication of n
narrow, dusky, postocular .streak, and of a wider and less distinct loial .stripe, thus .separating a light
siiperciliaiy stripe from the light color of the checks. The lining of the wing and the axillars are pure
white, the latter with a segregation of dusky spots near the earpo-nietacarpal joint.

1 TIk^ following names also have Iweii referred to this species, as designating varieties or hybrids with
other species : —

" Anns cui-virostra, Pai.i.." ((Iuay. )

"Anas Frnjcincti, Bonai'." (Okay.)

Anas archiboschas, sublmschas, conhnschas, BnF.IIM, Viig. Dcutschl. 802, 864, 865.

Anas piirpttrcnviridis, Sciiinz.

Anas maxima, (iossi;. Birds .lain. 1847, 300 (= hybrid with Cairina moschrita).

Anas bicnlnr, Donovan, Br. Birds, IX. (il. 212.

Anas llirvrri, Ari). Orii. Biog. IV. 1838, 302, pi. 338 ("(/A)C(V«»s") ; Syiiop. 1830, 277 ; B.

Am. VI. 184.3, 252, ])\. 387. [Perhaps adult f of A. Imschas in changing plumiige.]
Anas Andubmii, Bonai'. List, 1838, 50 (' ' Inmamlata "). (Same as Brcweri.)
FHligula viola, Bkm,. Ann. Lye. N. Y. V. 1852, 210.
Anas inparcia, Pllll,. Wiegiii. Archiv, I. 1860, 25 ; P. Z. S. 1866, 531.

W: .'.

492

LAMELLin0STl;AL S^Vr^r^fRUS— AXSERES.

umber-brown, this also tingin^,' theadjoininj,' seuimlui's ; wMig-coverts luiironii deep brownifli ^Tny,
till' last row tipped with opiuiui' velvety black, luid with a siibteriniiial bar t>i ymv white ; specu-
liiiii rich metallic vioh't, with a Hubtermiual velvety black, and terminal jmre white liar; primaries
plain brownish gray. Hump, upper tail-covevts, and cris^um, intense velvety black, showin},' faint
rellections of bluish green. Tail white, the feathers grayisli centrally. 'J'wo middle feathers iilack,
slightly recurved ; the two longer upper tail-coverts greatly recurved. JJill olive-yellow or ochra-
ceous-olive (in life), the nail black ; iris hazel ; tarsi and toes line rich orange-red (changing to
yellowish in dried skin). Length, about iA.W inches; e.xtent, :}8.()() ; wing, 1I.(H)-11.85; cul-
men, 2.10-2.40; tarsus, l.dO-l.Wi ; middle toe, 2.oO-2.lf). Adult male in summer: "Chi.sely

resembling the female, being merely
somewhat darker in color. This
plumage is donned by degrees early
in June ; and in August the full
rich winter dress is again resumed"
(Shaki'K & DitKwsKR). Adult Je-
nudc: Wing as in the male. Above,
brownish dusky, much variegated by
broad pale ochraceous eilges to the
feathers ; ))eneath \)nh' ochraceou.s,
the feathei's dusky centrally, ]iro-
ducing a thickly sjiotted or striped
ap])earance. On the top of the head
the dusky predominate.s, as it idso
does in a loral and auiicular linn,
forming a lighter superciliary stripe
' between this and the crown. Wing,
10.2.')-11.50 ; culmen, 2.00-2.35 ; tar-
sus, l.i50-1.80; middle toe, 1.90-2.05.
Downy jitiinnj:^ Above, deep oli-
vaceous, relieved by two pairs of yel-
lowish bufT sjKits, the firet pair on the
i)ack,Ju.st behind the wing.s, the second
at the base of the tail, the first not
confluent with the buff of the lower
parts ; wings deep olivaceous, varied
on both edges with dull greenish yel-
low ; pileum and nape olivaceous,
darker on the occiput, lighter on the
forehead ; a broad sujierciliary stripe,
including the sides of the forehead,
sides of the head and neck, and entire
lower parts, yellowish bull", deepest on
the head, paler on the anal region and crissum ; sides more grayish, and crossed, between the wings
and thighs, by two wide patches of tlark olive projecting from that of the back. Side of the head
marked by a narrow but very distinct stripe of dark brown from the upper ba.sal angle of the
maxilla to the eye, thence back to and confluent with the olivaceous of the occiput ; beneath
the latter, almost directly over the ear, an isolated spot of the same.

The adult males in winter plumage vary chiefly in the extent and richness of the chestnut of
the jugulum. Sometimes this is restricted to the jugulum, hut occasionally it spreads over the

1 Described from No. 77546, Washoe Lake, Nev., May 22, 1877: H. W. Heksiiaw. This specimen
represents the youngest stage, not long from Ihe egg, and is less than 6 inches in total length, the bill
about half an inch long. Older specimens are larger, the size, of course, proportioned to the age, while as
they increase in size the bright yellowish tints become gradually replaced with pale dingy grayish ; the
oliTaceous of the upper parts also becomes more gray.

^f((>t^

tirowninli (jrnvi
white ; spncu-
liitr; iiriiimrieH
sliowiiif,' faint
rfiitliiTM lilack,
■lliiw or oc'lira-
I (i'liaii>,'ing to
Kt-11.85; ciil-
wr : " ( 'Instcly
liciiij,' meri'ly
color. This
(l('},'r('CM early
;,'iisl the full
aiii re.sunieil "
I. Adult fe-
iialu. Ahove,
varie},'ate(l by
edf^es to the
■ ochraceouK,
■iitruUy, ])ro-
ed or wtriped
J) of the head
SK, as it also
iiriculnr line,
rciliary strijie
•own. Win;,',
.00-2. .% ; tar-
oe, l.!)0-2.()5.
ive, deep oli-
» pairs of yel-
St pair on the
ij,'s, the second
the first not
of the lower
iceous, varied
greenish yel-
olivaceous,
ighter on the
ciliary stripe,
;he foreliead,
;k, and entire
ff, deepest on
len the wings
e of the head
angle of the
)ut ; beneath

e chestnut of
ads over the

This specimen
ngth, the bill
ngc, while as
grayish ; the

ANATTX.K — TIFK DUCKS — A.VAS.

493

Its
e

breast, as in No. liiTlH, Washington, 1). ('. (December), in which the entire lower parts ex.ci.t
the sides, are tinged with ridi cream-color. '

The single European specimen in the coji.rtiou differs from nil the North American males in it>
considerably smaller size. It measures ; Wing, l().20 inches ; .ulmen, 2.(io ; tarsus, j.no ; nii.l.ll
toe, 1.8((. The smallest North American male, muoi.g a large series of specimens, measures.
Wing, ll.(M) inches; culnien, 2.10 ; tarsus, 1.00; midille toe, 2.(M) ; while the average is rousidrr^
ably larger. The Kuropean specimen differs also in markings, ilu, speculum being umch narrower
(the violet less than 1.00 inch wide, instead of 1.50 or more), while black and while bars on each
si.le of it are not nearly so broad. There is no difference, however, in color. Two females from
Europe measure : Wing, !».70-l().0()
iuclu's; (Mdinen, 2.00-2.10 ; tarsus, 1 .(i.'i
-1.70; middle Inc, l.8o-|.,sr).i The
only tangible dilfcrcMce in pattern of
coloration consists in the narrower bars
of tliespe(;uluui, the terminal white one
being reduced to a narrow line, instead
of a <iuite broad bar.

Even in its feral state, the Mallard
varies greatly in si/e an<l markings, al-
though the pro])ortionate number of
" abnormal " e.xamjiles is of course small.
Many of these variations are diu; to hy-
bridism with other species ; but very
many examples occur in which no con-
nection with another s])ecies can be
traced. The lattca' are usually consid-
erably larger than the ordinary wild
bird, and the colors wholly indetermi-
nate, tlie range of variation in this in-
spect being fully etiual to that in the
domesticated bird. .Sitch examjdes are

frecpiently killed during the migrations, either mixed singly with flocks of the ordinary biril, or in
companies by themselves. Without going into further details in regard to these feral varieties, we
will proceed to describe a few of the more remarkable specimens and hybrids which are now
before us : —

(!) An autumnal female from Mount Carmel, III., is so different from all other specimens exam-
ined tiuit there is some doulil whether it is ]iure A.hnschan ; the dill'ereuces from the normal female of
A. boschas involve the pro]iortions as well as the colors. The bill is very broad, measuring 1. 00 inch
in width near the end, and .9.5 at the base ; its length along the culmen being 2.00 inches, and its-
height through the base .!)."). Its color is black, except the terminal third, which is bright orange,
the nail jet black ; the feet are bright orange-red. The ground-color of the entire plumage, except
the wings, is a deep and very uniform ochraceous ; the head and neck arc very finely streaked with
narrow lines of black, excej)! on the <liin and throat, which are immaculate ; this streaking is so
uniform, that there U no ImUrutinn of a darker Inred stripe or lif/hter one (d)ore it, the post-orliital light
stripe alone being jieiceptible. Each feather of the lower jiarts has a medial stripe of black, these
marliiiirifi being of unij'nrm si::e ttnd xhiipe thrnuyhmt the entire lomr surface. The back and scapulars
are more irregularly variegated, the black being nearly in the form of V-shaped markings, though
they vary on different feathers. Tlu- runi]) and upper tail-coverts are almost cinnamon-color, each
feather being broadly black medially, these black markinijs having a bright green reflection. The
wings are normal in coloration, exce])t that the coverts are more conspicuously bordered with white
than is usual. The measurements (jf this specimen are as follows : Wing, 10.00 inches ; culmen,
2.(M) ; tarsus, 1.95 ; middle toe, 2.30.

» Mes,srs. Sharpe & Dn^sscr, liowcver, in their "History of the Binls of Europe" (pnrt xvii. ) give
the measurements of Europenii A. boschas as follows ; " Total length, 23.00 inches ; culmen, 2.60 ; wing,
10.50 ; tail, 4.00 | tarsus, 1.85."

FenuUe.

i I

494

LAMELUROSTUAL SWIMMERS - AXSERES.

(2.) A iiioliuintic variety <>f the ili)nii'Kticatt'<l nn'c in priiiiii-^iitt'd nt Mnimt Auburn, Miixt*., and
in otlicr locaiiticM in tlu' Noilhi'rn Sliitcs. A line juliilt niair Ironi tiie t'nrnicr iiiatc, iiri'scnti'ii by
Dr. IJrcwur to tin: Natiunal MuMi-uni (N'o. (I(i2:)l), liat tin' billowing' ciiarariiTu ; Entire |ilunia;^o
intun^c roal-black, witii an irregular iiatcli of |iuru whitu on the breast, ami a smaller one on the
miiMle ol' tli(! b)rene('k. Lower NUiliice oiiaijiie, anil with a slij,'lit l>riiwniHh ciihl ; l)ut entire U|)]ier
Hurtaee (exicpt priniaiies ami reclriio), incliulinj,' tlie lu'ail ami neelc, |,'lo»Me(l with a brilliant j,'reen
reflection, ehauKinj,' to violet in certain li^ilits; the s|ieculnni is of the same chan;;eal)le (,'reen or
vioh't as tile \vin^,'-coviTls, l)ut is liroadly li|)|)c(l uilb o|iai(Me bhiik ; the head and neck are more
brilliant ^reen than tlie other iioilions. This s|uMiinen nicisures, winj,', [l.2't inches; culnien, 2. i(> ;
tarsus, l.tM) ; niiildle toe, 2.ir>. Tlie bill is blackish olive, and the feet bhick. The latter are much
stouter than those of the wild bird ; l>ut this is said to be a peculiarity of the Domestic Mallard as
distinj,'uislied from the uiltl binl. The size and iiro|iorlions of this siiecimen prove it to lie a true
Mallard, and not a liyl)ri<l with another species, though the prevalence of the metallic rellections
over the whole of the ujiper parts caused an early comparison with Vairimi momihatit, on Hus|pieit)n
that it mi;,dit be part " Muscovy '' — which, however, jiroves to be not tiie caHe. The curled upper
tail-coverts and middle tail-feathers are precisely as in the ordinary Mallard, The charactei-s of
this variety are saiil to be very constant.

(3.) Anions; the undoubteil hybrids lietweeu the Mallard and other species of Ducks, there
are tnree liefore us, represented liy four examiiles. That of most common occurrence is a cross
with the Muscovy {Cuirina moncluitit '), a Tropical American .species, but common in domestication.
These hybrids are no doubt produced in the barnyard ; but it is saiil that such l)inl»donot inherit
the tameness of their proj,'enitors, but revert to tlie (U'iginal wildiiess o!' both species, and escape by
flij,']it. Certain it is, tliat they are frequently shot by gunners along our coast. The two speci-
mens before us possess the tollowing characters : No, 17142, g ad. has the large, broad speculum,
and broad, lengtheniil tail specially characteristic of the Muscovy, ami lacks the recurved feathers
of the Mallard. Head and uipper liilf of the neck black, with a dull green reflection, mixed with
white on the throat and beneath the eye ; lower half of the neck, except behind, white ; breast and
sides deep rufous-chestnut ; rest of h)Wer ])Mrts white, the flanks and post-tibial region lualulated
with slate-color ; erissum brownish black, tinged with rufous. Above, brownish black, griz/.led
with transverse sprinkling of grayish brown, becoming uniform black on the rump and ujiper tail-
covert.s, which have a rich dark-greeii rellectiou. Wing-coverts uniform slate-color ; speculum
uniform bottle-green, narrowly tipped with white ; primaries entirely immaculate pure white ; tail
uniform dark .slate. J'ill yellow (pink in life I), mottled with black ; feet orange. Head com-
pletely feathered. Wing, 1.3.20 ; eulmen, 2.3(>; tarsus, 2.20 ; middle toe, 2.60.

No. 06()17, J ad., with the same general appearance, differs in .«ome important particulars. It
is destitute of the albinotic indication seen in the white primaries and neck-iiatch. The head and
neck are continuous greenish bronze of a peculiar tint, intermediate between the purplish of G.
moschata and the pure green of .1. boschas. The lower ]iortiou of the neck, the breast, and sides

1 Caibina moschata.

Ams moschain, Link. S. X. od. 10, 1. IT.'iS, 124; cd. 12, I. 1760, 199. --Nutt. Man. Water

Birds, 1834, 40.3 (Lower Missi.ssipiii ami (lulf Coast of U. S. I).
Cairina mo/n-luita, Fi.km. Phil. Zool. 1822, 260 ; Br. Anim. 1828, 122. —Sol. & Salv. Nom.

Neotr. 1873, 129; I'. Z. S. 1876, 378 (monographic). — Coue.s, Birds N. W. 1874, 559

(synonymy).
Cairina siilvfdris, SrF.riir.xs, .Shaw's Ocn. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 69.
Lr, Canard Musqiu; Buff. PI. Enl. 986.
El Palo grande n Heal, AzAitA, Apunt. III. 1805, no. 437.
« Anas Mariana-, SuAW, Nat. Mi.so. II. t. 69.

Hab. The whole of tropical America, except West Indies.

This species is most likely yet to be detected in the wild state along our southern Iwrder — in fact,
Nuttall, as quoted above, .says that it is " ocwisionally .seen .ilong the coasts of the Mexican Gulf, in
the lower part of Mississipjii, ami stragglers are frequently observed along the coasts of the warmer
parts of the Union." In its habits it much resembles the common Wood Duck {Aix sponsa), its favorite
haunts being swampy woods and the forest-border of streams, where it nests in hollows of the trees, and
perches on the branches in true arboreal faahioii.

I, MllKH., Iklld

pn'sciitcd by
lire |>luiiui;^o
r I me on l}if
fiitiro upper
illiiiiit ^rt'i'ii
lie j^rci'ii ill'
•ck iiri' mori!
iliiicii, 2.1(1 ;
tor arc iiiiicli
I' Mill lard as
to 1)1' a truo
c retlt'ctioiiH
on suspicion
'urk'd upper
characters of

Ducks, tlK^re
ice is (1 cross
)nu'sticntion.
onot inlierit
id escape liy
le I w 1 1 speci-
id speculum,
ved featliers
mixed with
; breast and
II undulated
ick, },'rizzled
1 U])per tail-
; speculum
whitt! ; tail
Head com-

ulars. It

le head and

plish of C.

, and sides

Man. Water

Sai.v, Norn.
1874, 559

r — in fact,
ivn Gulf, in
he warmer
its favorite
trees, and

ANATIN Ji — THE DUCKS — ANAS.

496

are chestiiut-rufous, the feathers haviiiK narrow white borders, and those in frunt with a central
bluck dot on euch ; the i rissuiu is lilack, tinned with chestnut j remaining' lower parts white,
sli^^hlly grizzled laterally. Doiwd iv;;ion black, tlie feathers bordered leniiiiiully with white, and
yri/./.led iiasally with the same, nome of them tinned with iiil'nu>; rump ami upper tail-coverts
continuous intense j,'reenisli black ; tail uniform ilark slate, with a violet rellection. Win"-coverts
white, mottled transversely with lilack, the last row dusky, shar[ily iiordeied with white ; speiiiliini
brij^ht bi)ttle-;;reen, narrowly tipped with white ; jirimaries dusky, tiie outer webs white, liill and
feet deep Mack. Hcail normally feathered. Win;;, 13. (M) inches; culmen, 2,35; tarsus, iJ.lO"
middle toe, 2.50.

A beautiful hybri<l Initwceu the Mallard and the Pintail [Ihifdn m-utu) was sent to the National
Museum (No. (i()(tls) liy \)\\ ,(. W. Velie, from ('hicaj^o. It corresponds very do.selv with that ti"-
ured and described by Professor Newton, in the " Troceediiijis " of the London Z()olo},'ical Sncictv,
June, I8(in, pi. cl.wiii., and in both form and cidoration is throu;,dioHt a perfect combinalicui of
both species. The head and neck are continuou-* brownish ^,'ieen, raii;,'inj,' from the brown of i>,
acuta on tin; anterior part of the lie.id to the brilliant green of .1. Ixiscltan on the back of the neck.
The white collar is broader than in .1. hn^chan, and imsteriorly sends upward on each side of the
nape a short arm, correspoiidiiij,' to the lengthened stripe of I). (ichIii. The jugulum is pide cinna-
mon ; the wings are those of // (tnilu, e.\cept the teitials, wliiih are tlio.sc of ^1. Imsiltus ; the uiiper
tail-coverts are purplish-bLick, edged with ]iale fulvous ; the two middle tail-feathers are elongated
about half as much as in D. ((nthi, and curled lialf as tightly as in .1. Imschan ! The bill is dark
lead-color, and the feet are dark reddish. Wing, 1 1 .0(1 inches ; culmen, 2.20 ; tarsus, 1.5.") ; middle
toe, l.!>0.

The remaining supposed hybrid is an adult inaU', intermeiliate between .1, hoschtis and A. obscura,
])urcliased liy Professor iSaird in the Washington market, Jan. 2.5, l^^Tl, and is apparently much
like the biril de.scrilied by Audubon as Anun Brnnri. AVitli the prevalent aspect of .1. olm-tira, it
has the side of the occiput and nape brilliant green, and the jiigulum and breast strongly tinged
with chestnut. The lateral upjicr tail-coverts are black with a violet reflection, as are also the
terminal and lateral lower coverts; while the middle tail-feathers curl ujiward, though not so
much so as in pure .1. '"tov/id.f. The white bar anterior to the s])eculiim cjf 6(mi7((I,« is ol)S(dete, or
very faintly indicated, ami the while collar round the neck is wanting. It measures, wing, 10.75
inches; culmen, 2.0"); tarsus, 1..')"); middle toe, 1.0.'); and before skinning was 23..')0 inches in
total length, and 4H..")0 in e.Ktcnt of wings. Tlu^ liill was grayish olive-green on teiininal half and
along culmen, greenish olive-yellow ba.sally ; nail and most of lower mandible black; iris brown ;
legs and feet dull saluion-orange, the webs purplish.

Probably no Duck lias a Avitler ilistributioii. or is foiiiul in greater numbers where
it occurs, than tlic (Jommuii Mallard, the tindoubtcd origin of the doniosticated inmates
of our poultry-yards. It is found throughout Xurtli Anierica, from Mexico to the
Arctic Ocean, and from the Atlantic to the racific. It occurs in every part of
Europe, breeding from Southern Spain to Lapland on the west, and from Greece
to Siberia on the east. Xo part of Asia, except the more southern liortions of India,
is supposed to be without it, and it is more or less abundant in all the northern por-
tions of Africa. And wherever found, the birds of this species are more or less
resident, some remaining all winter as far north as they can find open inland water,
and breeding, in limited uunibers, in localities where the larger pnjportion spend
their winter.

This Duck is cited by Professor lleinhardt as among the birds which breed in
Greenland. Captain Blakiston found it on the Saskatchewan, and abundant through-
out the interior. Mr. lloss met with it along the entire course of the ^Mackenzie, even
as far north as the shores of the Arctic Sea. It is abundant in Vancouver Island ;
and Dr. Cooper found it very connnou in the liocky Mountains in Montana, where
it breeds.

In Hearne's time (1790) flocks of this Duck visited Hudson's Bay in great num-

mmmn^vs

496

LAMELLIKOSTJtAL SWIMMERS — ANSEUES.

|( 1 1'

bers, and wore distvilmtt'd over the regiuu extending,' from the sea-coast to the remot-
est west. Near Cninberhiiid House these birds were found in vast multitudes. At
their first arrival on the sea-eoast their flesh was good ; but when the bird was moult-
ing, it beeauie s'> rank that few Europeans could eat it. This peculiarity, however,
was confined to (hose Ducks which bred near the sea-coast.

This species is not common in Eastern North America. Mr. Boardman has seen
it in New l^runs^vick and Eastern Maine, but it is only an occasional and rare visitor
to that region, and is by no means connuon in Massachusetts. It is found in small
nundjers on Cape Cod, and may possibly breed there. I am not aware that it has
been si'cn tliere in winter. Only a single specimen is reported as having been met
with in Bernuula. Dr. Bryant speaks of it as being very common, during the winter,
in the Bahamas.

Dr. Kenncrly, in ^Farcli, ISno, found this Duck abundant along the Conalitos and
Janos rivers, occurring generally in flocks, but sometimes singly. It was also
common along the Kio San I'cdro of Sonora.

Professor Kundien finds the Mallard (piite common in Southern Wisconsin, where
it breeds in the marshes. The nuiles gather in flocks in Lake Koskonong, while the
fenuilcs take the entire charge of the nest, eggs, aiul young. In some cases these Ducks
remain during mild winters, gathering around open spriug-holes. Tliey are much
more abundant in the fall than at any other time, when they visit the cornflelds of
the prairies in large numbers, anu commit great dej)redations on the crops.

]Mr. J. A. Allen found this bird very common in the valley of Great Salt Lake.
In California, according to Dr. Coojjcr, it abounds during the wet season on all the
fresh waters of that region, but rarely appearing on those that are salt. It is sup-
posed to breed in nearly all [)arts of that State. It also breeds along the inland lakes
and streams up to the very summits of tlie mountains, and northward up to and be-
yond the sixty-eighth parallel. This remarkable power of auaptation to life in
various climates and conditions seems to flt this sjjccies for domestication. Moreover
its flesh is not surpassed by that of any other species ; fed with the same food, even
the renowned Canvas-back is not its su])crior.

Mr. Dall found it to be one of the most abundant winter visitants at Unalashka,
where it occurred in hi"';;.: ni" ibers as early as (October 12, remaining until the suc-
ceeding nu)nth of April, when it migrated northward. It was seen near Mazatlan,
in Western Mexico, by Colonel Grayson, but was not abundant, and was met with
only during the wintt-r montlis.

According to jMr. Bidgway, this is the most common Duck throughout the in-
terior, where it breeds abundantly in all suitable localities, and wliere it is also a
winter resident. Mr. Osbert Salviu found this species common at Zaue, in North-
eastern Africa. It was noticed in the Sahara Begion by Mr. Tristram, and was seen
by Mr. E. C. Tay^ejr in Egyi)t. Captain E. (r. Shelley states ("Ibis," I.S71) that he
found it very abundant in Egypt and Nubia, and frequently remaining there to
breed. According to M •. T. L. I'owys, the marshes of E[)irus and Albania swarm
with it throughout the winter; and Mr. H. Saunders describes it as breeding in the
" Marisnia," or salt-water lagoons, in Spain. Mi'. C. W. Shepard ol)served it breeding
in the north of Iceland, on the shores of Lake My-vatn. It was wild and unsociable,
and nested in (juiet, swampy places on the shore of the lake, or on the islands not
frequented by other species. Mr. Swinhoe adds this Duck to the fauna of Formosa,
and also states that he found it near Amoy, in China. Mr. Godwin notes its presence
in all the lakes throughout all the islands of the Azores grouj), and found it breeding
anu)ng the mountain lakes and marslies in Flores. Middendorff includes this species

ANATIN.E — THE DFCKS — ANAS.

497

) the reuiot-

itudes. At

was luoult-

y, however,

an hfis seen
ran' visitor
lul in small
that it has
ig been met
: the winter,

malitos and
It was also

jnsin, where
t^, while the
these Ducks
■y are much
•orntieltls of

IS.

t Salt Lake.
)n on all the
;. It is sup-
inland lakes
ij) to and be-
a to lite in
Moieover
_• food, even

Unalashka,
til the suc-
^lazatlan,
is met with

lout the in-

it is also a

, in Nortli-

nd was seen

71) that he

ng there to

ania swarm

eding in the

it breeding

unsociable,

islands not

jf Formosa,

its presence

it breeding

this species

among the birds of Siberia, wliert- he found it breeding in the wooded districts and
forests. It is also given l)y Wheelwright as the most common of all the Ducks
throughout the whole of Scandinavia.

In no pcu'tion of Eastern North America is it a common species in the summer.
Even on Long Island Giraud saw but a single pair — in duly, l.SoT — and was unable
to Hud their nest. lie met with this bird in large muubers, however, in North Car-
olina, where it freciueuts the rice-iields ; and also found it common in the bayous
of the Lower Mississippi, and still more numerous in Alabanui. The voice of the
Wild ^Mallard is not distinguishable from that of the donu'sticated bird.

While uu)re or less common on all our rivers, fresh-water ponds, and lakes, it is
seldom met with near the sea-coast. In the winter it is found in hirge nundjcrs in
all the Southern waters, and especially in the rice-lields, where it becomes very fat,
and acquires a delicate Havor. It prefers vegetable matter to any other kind of food,
and its flesh is almost universally c.xceUent. It is easily brouglit within gunshot by
means of decoys. At certain seasons it is abundant on the Delaware, where it feeds
on the seeds of the wild oats, of wldch it is very fond, and which eoutribut<! greatly
to the delicacy of its flavor.

It is abundant in all parts of Great IJritain and Ir.'land ; and in many parts of
Scotland, where it is protected, it exhibits great fearlessness, and even fandliarit}'. Mr.
liobert Gray mentions that in walking tlimugh the policies of Duff House, in Uaiift-
shire, he saw many hundreds of ^Mallards, in a particular pool in the Devcron. wliich
were so tame, that on being apjjroached they merely swam to tlir other siile of the river.
He also witiu'ssed a remarkable assemblage of Mallards, in tlie spring of 1870, on a
pond at IKmglas Castle, Lanarkshire, which weri' so unsuspicious as to allow even
strangers to approach witiiin si.K or eight yards of tlie bank where they sat jireening
their feathers.

Mr. Ciray was also infornu-d by 'Slv. D. Macdonald that he has seen hundreds of
^Mallards, on a null-daai in Aberdt'cnshiri', so tame as to come at the call of the milier
who fed tlieni. Tliis man no sooner api)earetl and uttered a peculiar wiiistle, than
the Ducks canu' flying from all parts of the pond and alighted within a few yards of
where he stood. Hut no stranger could ])revail upon them to approach.

Mr. li. E. Dresser, who luijoycd fav(n'al)le op[iortunitii's for studying the habits of
the Mallard in Northern I'inland, noticed certain peculiarities that have escai)ed
other observers. Like its very near relative, the .luan o/iscKru. it was ol)scrved to
feed chiefly, if not entirely, by night. When found in the marshy lowlands during the
daytime, it was resting, and not feeding; but began to nuive as soon as evening
approached. Mr. Macgillivray states that around Edinlmrgli it resorts at night, from
October to April, to open ditches and l)rooks to feed. As it discovers its food by
nu'ans of the sense of touch rather than of sight, it can feed e(|ually well by inght
or day; but in iiopulous districts it is compelled to feed in tlie dark.

Marshy places, the nuirgins of ponds and streams, pools and ditches, are its favor-
ite resorts. It walks with ease, and can even run with considerable speed, or dive, if
forced to do so; but never dives in order to feed. Its food consists chiefly of the
seeds of grasses. 1il)rous roots (d' idants, worms, nu)llusks. and insects. In feeding in
shallow water it keeps the hind ])art of its liody erect, while it searches the muddy
bottom with its bill. When alarmed and made to fly, it utters a loud i/mirh; the cry
of the female being the louder. It feeds silently ; but after hunger is appeased, it
amuses itself with various jabberings, swims aliout, moves its head backward and
forward, throws the water over its back, shoots along the surface, half Hying, half
running, and seems cpiite jdayful. If alaruu'd, it si)rings up at once witii a bound,

vol.. 1. — (i3

'.'ii' .^ :

498

LAMELLIllOSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

rises obliquely to a considerable height, and Hies off with great speed, the wings pro-
ducing a whistling sound. It Hies by rci)eated flaps, without sailing or undulations ;
and when in full flight its speed is hardly less tiian a hundred miles in an hour.

The Mallard pairs early in the spring, and soon disperses, each pair seeking its
breeding-place, and nesting on the ground, in the midst of marshes or among ■water-
plants, occasionally on higher ground, but always in the vicinity of water. Its nest
is usually large, and rudely constructed of sedges and coarse grasses, rarely lined
with down (n' feathers. It has been known in rare instances to nest in a tree ; in such
cases occu])ying the deserted nest of a Hawk, Crow, or other large bird. The eggs,
usually six or eight in number, are pale dull green or greenish white, and measure
2.25 inches by l.(!0 inches.

The female alone incubates, the nuile leaving her to imdergo his annual moult.
The female sits very closely, and will sometimes even allow herself to be taken on the
nest, or permit the eggs to be removed Avhile she is sitting. When she leaves the
nest she conceals the eggs with hay, down, or any convenient material. The period
of incubation is four weeks. The young, when hatched, immediat-dy follow their
mother to the water, where she attends them di^votedly, aids them in procuring food,
and warns them of the api)roach of danger. While they are attempting to escape, she
feigns lameness, to attract to herself the attention of the enemy. The young are
extremely a<'tive, dive with siu'iirising celerity, and remain under the water with only
the bill above the surface. When the young are full-grown, the male rejoins the
brood ; and several families unite to form a snudl flock.

The breeding-season lasts from April to June, though few nest south of 40° north
latitude after the middle of May. Dr. E. Hey, of Leipzig, informed !Mr. Dresser that
he has known as many as tifteen eggs in a nest.

The j\tallard, both in the wild and in the domesticated state, readily hybridizes
with other species. The Aims niii.iiinn of (Josse is a hybrid between this species and
the Muscovy Duck. A highly esteemed race of Domestic Duck, known to fanciers as
the Cayuga Duck, is uni[uestionably the ])i'oduct of a luiion between a male ISIallard
and a female JFuscovy. Hybridisms between the Malku'd and the Godwell, the
Shoveller and the Dusky Duck, and other s])eeies, are on record.

Tlie following statements in regard to this species are abridged from the very full
Arctic notes of the late Mr. Kol)ert Kennicott : —

The Mallard is found as far north as the .shores of the Arctic Ocean. Being a
strictly fresh-water Duck, it does not breed immediately upon tlie sea-coast, but pre-
fers the inland livers and lakes. Nor does it frequent the great lakes and rivers as
much as it does the smaller streams and grassy lakes and marshes. It breeds sjiaringly
as far south as Mexico, and its nests are not rare in the Xortlujrn Ignited States, but
occur in greatest abundance between the Xoi'thern United States and the Arctic
Circle. In summer this is the most common Duck from the United States northward
to Great Slave Lake. It is also abundant on the Yukon and at IVel's River, and
Mr. MacFarlane also found it common at Fort Anderson, ncu-th of Bear Lake.

At Great Slave Lake and on tht> Yukon it arrives among the first of the Water
Birds, the earliest comers being seen in tiie latter part of April, though the greater
number do not appear until early in May. At Fort Good Hope it arrives a little later.
When it reaches Slave Lake, about the 10th of May, it is already paired. A few
begin to nest before the middle of May ; but there and on the Yukon the greater
number nest early in June, the ycmng hatching about the 1st of July. It leaves its
northern breeding-grounds for the south, without collecting in large flocks, about the
last of September.

ANATIN.E — THE DT'CKS — AXAS.

499

e wings iM'o-
Liudulatious ;
11 liour.

seeking its
inong water-
ev. Its nest
rarely liiu^d
tree ; in such
. The eggs,
and measure

nnual moult,
taken on tlie
lie leaves the
The period
follow their
^curing food,
;o escape, she
le young are
ter with only
e rejoins the

of 40° north
Dresser that

y hybridizes
s species and
to fanciers as
male Mallard
Godwell, the

the very full

an. Being a
)ast, but pre-
iiid rivers as
!tls sparingly
States, but
(1 the Arctic
s northward
River, and
Lake,
of the Water

I the greater
a little later.

ircd. A few

II the greater
It leaves its

cs, about the

At the north its nest is always found among trees, and within two or three rods
of the water — never in moist i)laces among marshes unprotected l)y trees, nor at
any considerable distance from water. The nest is large, the base very unartiticial.
consisting usually uf a simple depression among the leaves, but warmly lined with
down and feathers. In Northern Illinois it was frequently found nesting on the
prairie at the edges of sloughs.

At the nortli the old males moult while the females are incubating, the females
moulting some two weeks later, after the young are hatched. Tlui males remain
near the nest some time after the females begin to incubate ; but before the young
leave the nest they collect in small j)arties of tliree or four, and go off by themselves.
He rarely observed them aitcoinpanying the mother and her young. The young broods
seek the protection of the reeds and grass, and are rarely seen, like the Sea Ducks,
on open rivers or lakes. In summer, the young, before tiiey can Hy, ami while tlie
old birds are moulting, are very fat, and are killed in great numbers l)y tlie Indians.
The hunter stands erect in his canoe, paddling silently along the lakes they frequent.
Upon his approach they seek the grassy edges, where they cannot so readily dive,
and the movement of the grass betraying tlieir course, they are easily killed with
arrows, or even with the paddle. At Fort Yukon he saw lui Indian kill thirty young
Ducks in two or three hours.

In the United States this Duck ranks among the first as an article of food, and
when fattened on wild rice, in autumn, is superior even to the Canvas-back fed on
ixtUi'sneria ; but in the far north it loses its fine flavor. In the spring it is lean and
tough ; and in summer, until after it leaves for the south, its flavor is siioiled by the
stagnant marshy water in which it feeds.

The northern Indians acknowledge this species as the type of all Ducks, simply
railing it, in their various languages, "Hig Duck."' The Canadians and French half-
breeds call it tlu' '•' ('(inurdfnon'ais;" while the English call it the "Stock Duck."

Mr. Dall states that its Indian name at Xulato is Xlntala ; it is one of the first
of the Ducks to arrive in spring, it generally aiipearing, about the 1st of May, in com-
pany with liucophala al/mo/a. It is cominoii b(jth on the sea-coast and in the interior.
Ho found its eggs, eight in number, in a rotten stump about six inches above the
level of the ground, laid directly on the wood, and covered with dead leaves and a
few feathers.

The eggs of the Mallard are usually grayish white, with a more or less decided
tinge of green ; in some the green is cpiite prominent. Three eggs from Dubuque,
la. (Smithsonian Institution, No. 98.31), measure respectively, 2.-3") by 1.70 inches ;
2.20 by 1.70; 2.40 by 1.70; two from the Yukon (Smithsonian Institution. No. (5570)
measure 2.45 by 1.75, and 2.55 by 1.80. The least length is 2.10 inches, and the
smallest breadth 1.50.

Anas obscura.

THE BLACK MALLABD; OUSKT DUCK.

Ams obscura, Gmei. .S. N. I. ii. 1788, 541.— ■\Vn.s. Am. Oin. VIII. 1814, 141; pi- 72. f. 5. —
NCTT. Miin. II. 1834, 392. — Aun. Oin. liiop;. IV. 1838, 1,5, pi. M'l ; .Syiiop. 1839, 270 ; B.
Am. VI. 1843, 244, pi. 386. — BAiitn, H. X. Am. 1858, 775; Cat. X. Am. I!. 1859, no. 577. —
CouES, Key, 1872, 28.". ; Clicck List, 1873, no. 489 ; 2d od. 1882, no. 708 ; B. X. W. 1874, 560.
— RiDOW. Nom. X. Am. li. 1881, no. (i02.

Hau. Eiistem North America, west to Utah ami Texas, north to Lahrailor. Cuba i
.Sp. Char. Adult : Prevailing color lirownisli black or dusky, the feathers edged, more or less
distinctly, with pale grayish fulvous. Head and neck about efpially streaked with grayish white

500

LAMELLIKOSTKAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

(more oohraccous near tlip liill) and dusky ; iiiknim nearly iinitbriu dusky, and a dusky stripe back
from the eye. Speculum violet, cliau;;in^' to ^reeu in some lij,'lits, narrowly tipped with white,
and with a hroad suhtermiuul bar of velvety black ; last row of coverts dusky brownish, broadly
tipi)ed with black. Sexes alike. "Bill yellowish ^Meen, the un;,'uis dusky ; iris dark brown ; feet
orauf^e-red, the webs dusky" (Aududon).

Down]! ;/o(/ii(/:' Above. olivaceous-Virown, faintly relieved l)y six inconspicuous marking.s of
light brownish bulf, situated as follows : one on the posterior border of each arm-winf; ; one (.small,
and sometimes nearly obsolete) on each side of the back, behind the wings, and one, more distinct,

A. obscura.

on each .side the rump, near the base of the tail. Pileuni and najje (longitudinally), brown, like
the back ; rest of the head and neck, with lower parts, light dingy brownish buff, paler on the
abdomen ; side of the head niarked with a narrow iltisky .stripe running from the upper basal angle
of the maxilla to the eye, thence back toward the occiput, but scarcely confluent witii the brown on
the latter ; an indistinct spot on the auricular region, with a still less distinct dusky mark extending
back from this to the nape.

Wing, 10..5()-ll.r)() inches; culmeii, i'.()()-:'.3."> ; tarsus, 1.70-1.80 ; middle toe, 1.90-2.10.

A summer specimen from Moo.<e Factory, [fivlson's Bay Territory No. 17071, (JoHX McKenzie),
differs from United States (fall, winter, and spring) e.Kamples in having the pale edges of the
feathei-s nearly all worn off, so that the plumage appears to be nearly uniform black, while the
lower parts are strongly tinged with rusty, this approaching a bright ferruginous tint on the breast.
Some examples have a slight tinge of metallic green on the sides of the head, behind the eye.

The Dusky Duck appoars to be coufiiied to tlio pastern portions of North America.
It is found from the Atlaiitio coast to the western parts of the ^Mississippi Valley,
occurring along tlu^ tributary streams to an extent not fully ascertained. It is abun-
dant throughout the British Provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia,
and indivi(bials have been occasionally taken farther north. It is also more or less
abundant during the winter months in all the I'^astern and Southern States, including
South Carolina, Florida, and Texas. It has been taken near Fort Anderson in June,
where the species was reported as being tolerably numerous. This is the most
northern point to which it has been traced.

' Described from No. 523ii'J, Calais, Me. ; O. A. Boardman.

ANATIX.E - THE DUCKS — ANAS.

501

iky stripe back
il with white,
rt'iiish, broadly
k brown ; feet

s markings of
S ; one (sninll,
more distinct,

), brown, like
paler on the
icr basal angle
the brown on
ark extending

10-2.10.
McKenzie),
edges of the

ek, while the

on the breast.

the eye.

th America,
ippi Vallcj*,
It is abun-
fova Scotia,
nore or less
s, including
on in June,
s the most

It has not been taken on the Pacific coast, so far as I am aware, nor is it known
west of the iMissi.ssippi Valley. A single specimen is reported by Blakiston as hav-
ing been taken near York Tactory, on Hudson's Bay. That the species occurs in
Labrador and breeds there, is attested by a set of eggs in my cabinet collected there
by a correspondent of iMr. Aliischaler, of Herrnhut, Saxony.

It is very abundant in Xova Scotia, especially in the vicinity of Halifax, where
It has been successfully reared in confinement, and domesticated by Mr. Andrew
Downes. Mr. Boardman informs me that it is very numerous in tlie summer near
Calais, breeding there in great abundance. It is more or less common in all parts of
New England, and is present in j\Iassa-
chusetts all the year. The birds found
in winter are said to be of a smaller and
different race from the summer visitants ;
but I can find no evidence of the correct-
ness of this statement. In severe winter
weather they are driven to the open sea,
and their numbers are then greatly re-
duced. This bird is known to our hunters
only as the "Black Uuck."

According to (Jiraud, it is only partially
migratory on Long Island, but is more
abundant in winter than in summer. In
the latter season it is rarely seen, as it
keeps concealed in the tall grass, which
grows luxuriantly in the i)laces it selects
for its abode. As it subsists on roots and
small shelltish, so abundtriit on the salt-
marshes during the season of reproduc-
tion, it has no occasion to leave its secluded
retreats in quest of food, either for itself
or its young. In the selection of its sum-
mer residence it so carefully avoids places
visited by man, that its nest is seldom
met witli. A friend of Mr. Giraud is stated to have found on the 19th of May, on
the south side of tlie island, two nests, both made of very coarse materials. One
contained seven, the other nine eggs, all of a dull white color. They were placed
under a hen, and eleven of the sixteen were hatched. Their foster-mother could not
restrain them from their prolonged visits to tlie creek, and it became necessary to
confine them in a pen. There they were very uneasy, and refused to eat any kind of
grain, but eagerly devoured clams and all kinds of shelltish. When seven weeks old
they were given to another g(>ntleman, who succeeded in domesticating them. In
their wild state, however, this species is not infrequently " baited " with corn and
other kinds of grain.

Mr. (liraud states that the most successful mode of procuring this species on Long
Island is what is there known as " dusking." This is jiractised on moonlight evenings
by lying concealed in places it is in the habit of frequenting. Perfect silence must
be observed, as tlie slightest noise will frighten it away. By this method of hunting
large numbers are frequently killed. Two celebrated hunters residing at South Oyster
Bay informed Mr. Giraud that while dusking one evening they killed ninety-nine
birds, and would have killed more, but for the want of ammunition.

502

LAMELLIliOSTUAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES.

This Duck keeps eontiimullj inovin<,' about in small jjarties all night. When
■woiin.led it fretiuently escajjes by divin};, aiitl often tlies a great distance before fall-
ing, even when fatally hit, and not infreipicntly strikes the water at least half a mile
from where it was shot. In stormy or very severe weather this species seldom
ventures out to sea, and at such times hies low, affording a good opportunity to the
hunter.

In mild winters, when food is easily procured, it is in tine condition, and is highly
esteemed. It does not, like other Ducks, always rise against the wind, but will
spring up in any direction, and continue to ascend until out of reach. Its voice gen-
erally resembles that of the common Domestic Duck, but at times it gives utterance
to a loud whistling note.

Mr. ( riraud nu^ntions that when he was at Niagara Falls, Oct. 1(>, 1840, eighty -three
Dusky Ducks were killed by flying into the Falls, anil were picked up by the boatmen
in attendance a short distance below. This is said to be a not unusual occurrence in
foggy weather, when many Ducks lose their lives by alighting a short distance from
the precipice, being carried over and killed before they can rise.

Mr. Lewis states (" American Sportsman ") that this Duck is brought in innumer-
able quantities into the New York and riiiladelphia markets, where it meets with a
ready sale ; though he regards its Hesh as inferior to that of most other wild species
of Ducks. In this, however, I cannot agree with him ; as when brought to market
from fresh-water regions, during the fall, it is usually excellent. In severer weather,
when it feeds in the salt water, and in the spring, when vegetable food is not procur-
able, the character of its flesh is changiMl, and it is then less desirable.

JMany are shot in the salt-marshes of the Delaware ; here, however, they become
very wary, and cannot be decoyed. They feed on small bivalves, so abundant in these
waters. They swim and fly with great velocity. Their notes are not distinguishable
from those of the ^^allard ; but their flesh, owing to the character of their food, is at
times inferior. On the Delaware, as on Long Island, they are killed, on moonlight
nights, by hunters who lie in wait for them as they return from the sea to the marshes
to feed.

Major Wedderburn states that this Duck occasionally visits the l>erniudas in the
fall and winter, making its appearance about the middle of September, and being last
seen in December. Mr. Kobert Kennicott met with a few individuals of this species
in Northern Minnesota, where they were feeding on wild rice in company with
Mallards.

In Southern Wisconsin, where nearly all the other fresh-water Ducks are so abun-
dant, Professor Kumlien informs me that this species is by no means common. It is
more frequently met with in the fall than in the spring. He has never seen it there
in the summer, and he does not believe that it breeds in that region. INIr. Audubon
found it breeding in the Bay of Fundy on the 10th of May, 1833, where he met with
young birds apparently not more than a week old.

The flight of this Duck is similar to that of the Mallard, but is even more powerful
and rapid, and equally well sustained. It maj^ always be readily distinguished from
that species by the whiteness of its lower wing-coverts, which strongly contrasts with
the dark tints of its general plumage.

The eggs of this species are of a deep grayish white, usually with a slight tinge of
green. Three eggs obtained north of Rupert House (Smithsonian Institution, No.
4348) have the following measurements : 2.50 inches by 1.76 ; 2.35 by 1.75 ; and 2.50
by 1.85.

ANATIN.E — THE DL'CKS — AXAS.

603

ht. When
before fall-
half a mile
ies seldom
nity to the

(1 is highly

1, but will

voice geu-

i utterance

ighty-three
ic boatmen
'urrence in
lance from

II innumer-
'ets Avith a
ild species
to market
T weather,
lot procur-

ey become
it in these
iiguishable
food, is .at
moonlight
le marshes

das in the
being last
lis species
laiiy with

e so abun-
on. It is
n it there
Audubon
met with

powerful
lied from
•asts with

t tinge of

tion, Xo.

and 2.50

Anas fulvigula.

THE FLOBUA DU8KT SUCK.

Anas obscura, var. fulvigula, Kidow. Aiu. Nat. VIII. Fub. 1S71, 111 (St. John's U. Fla.).

Alias obscuni, b. /ulvigula, Couks, liirds N. W. 1874, 5G1.

Anas uhscurn fulvi(jula,Co{:ii.!i, Check List, 'Id vd. l&S'i, no. 709.

Anasfulviijula, IUdgw. Proc. V , S. Nat. Mus. Vol. I. 1878, 251 ; Noiii. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 603.

Hab. riorida (resident) ; Cuba ?

Si'. Chau. Adult : Colors brownish black and ochraceous in nearly equal amount, the former
in the centre and the latter on the margin of tlie i'ealheis ; many of the featliers, especially tlie
scapulars and long feathers of the sides and flanks, with a second V-shaped mark of ochraceous
inside the marginal one. Entire throat an<l chin iuunaculate delicate ochraceous, or deep cream-
color. Speculum deep metallic green (rarely purplish), with a faint purple or blue tinge in some
lights, tipped broadly with velvety black ; last row of coverts brownish black, hnnully tippeil with
Velvety black and with a subterminal bar of deep ochraceous. Bill olive-yellow, the maigin and
base of the maxilla, esi)ecially below, black ; feet deep orange-red. Wing, l().(K)-l(t.50 inches; tail,
5.00; culnien, ^Oit-i.-io ; widtii of the bill, .90; tarsus, 1.70-1.80 ; middle toe, 1.90-2.00.

This well-marked and ap|iarently very local species resembles A. obscura in general appearance,
particularly in the absence of white bars on the wing, but is very nuich lighter in color, the
entire chin and throat, as well as the greater part of the foreneck, being iuunaculate creamy
bull', whereas these parts in .1. nbscum are thickly streaked with dusky ; the speculum is more
often gieen than violet, the contrary being tin; case in ..1. alisfura. An apparently constant point
of distinction is to be found in the bill, the maxilla in A. obscura being olivaceous to the extreme
base, while in A. fulrigula the base is margined ly a narrow black line which widens out into a
triangular space near the rictus or beneath the feathering of the lores.

Specimens vary chiefly in the color of the speculuu), which ranges from bright grass-green to
violet, the former being the usual color. As in the Dusky Duck, the under wing-coverts and
axillars are pure white.

AVhat has been supjjosed to be only a smaller southern race of the common Dusky
Duck has for some tiiiu' been known to exist in Florida, It is now recognized as a
distinct and valid resident form, contiiied to southern regions exclusively. It is also
probable that the Dusky Ducks known to be resident in South Carolina may also be
referable to this species rather than to A. obscura.

For the history of its peculiar habits I am indebted to !Mr. N. B. Moore ; its exist-
ence being first made known to him, in 18(51). by his killing several adults and meeting
with ii brood of nine young. An informant of Mr. Moore, who has lived sixty -six years
in I'lorida — and for twenty-five yjars on Sarasota l?ay — informed him that it was
unknown to him until within the last six years, when he killed a few on the Sarasota.
This Duck hatches in Florida from the first to the last of April, only one set of eggs
l)eing laid in a season, unless it fails in raising its first brood. The nest is always
placed on the ground, and the number of eggs is usually nine or ten. In one instance
a nest was discovered which was nea ly three hundred yards from water, and other
nests were met with still farther froin water. The one first referred to was cautiously
concealed in a thick mass of dead grass held upright by green palmettoes, about two
feet high. Jlr. ^loore once noticed a i>air of Ducks fly from a pond, near which he
was seated, and pass over the pine-barrens. One of them dro])ped among the grass ;
the other returned to the water. Suspecting that the birds might have a nest, he
visited the locality the next day, when the birds behaved as before. He soon made
his way to the spot where the female alighted, and found her in a somewhat open
space. On her return to the pond he soon discovered her nest. It was carefully

Jj|;,

504

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

screened from view on all siili's, and so canopied by the standing grass that the eggs
were not visible from above. There was a rim of soft down, from the mother's breast,
around the eggs, partly covering those in the outer circle. On viewing the nest the
next day this down was found to have been drawn ovc r all the eggs. Mr. Moore took
them and placed them under a hen ; and six days alter Jicy were hatched. This was
early in April. It would appear, therefore, that the statement that the male forsakes
his mate during incubation is not well founded; for in this instance the male bird,
about the twenty-fourth day of incubation, still kept in the vicinity of the nest. It
is, however, the universal belief that he does not assist in rearing the young.

Mr. Moore also informs me that in August, September, and the first part of Octo-
ber, parties of from five to twenty of this species leave the fresh ])on(ls and fly across
the bay to sand-bars on the inner sides of the Keys, where they spend the night in the
pools or coves near the mangroves, and return at sunrise the next morning. Those
shot at this time were all males ; but in January, February, and March nuitcd birds,
flying in pairs, spend their nights in the same places. In one instance Mr. iloore
came suddenly on a flock of three old birds and nine ycnuig; the latter were only a
few days old. Two of the old birds flew off; but the mother remained, and led the
Ducklings from the shallow pond over a dry and bare bed into a tangled mass of
palmettoes and grass.

Mr. Moore has no doubt that this Duck would be a much more common bird in
Florida but for the sweei)ing tires that are set to burn ofl' this coarse growth of grass,
to allow a fresher growth to spring up for the cattle. In these fires a great many of
the birds must be destroyed. Mr. Moore has not succeeded in inducing this Duck to
breed in confinement, although in 1874 he was in jwssession of nine of this species,
in their third summer, all of which had been hatched out under a hen.

Mr. Audubon mentions finding the nest of a Dusky Duck, probably this species,
on the SOtli of April, 1837, on Galveston Island, Texas, formed of grass and feathers,
and containing eight eggs. These were surrouiuled and partially covered with down.
On the same island others were si!en that evidently had nests. Mr. Audubon was
informed that those which l)reed in Texas are resident there throughout the year. In
South Carolina he was informed by the Rev. Dr. liaclnnan that this species, once rare,
was Ijecoming more and more abundant, attracted probably by the rice-fields; and
farther inland it was even more plentiful. Hybrids between tliis and the Domestic
Duck had been reared, and their eggs were jiroductive, the ott's])ring being larger
than either parent. The young of this species, in the oj)inion of Mr. Audubon, aiford
delici(ms eating, and arc said to be far suj)erior to the more celeljrated Canvas-back.

An egg of the Florida Dusky Duck, collected by Mr. Maynard, measures 2.33 inches
in length by 1.70 in breadth. It has a general resemblance to the eggs of the common
A. ubscura, but is of a lighter shade of greenish white.

Genus CHAULELASMUS, Ghay.

Chautelasmns, Ghay, 183b (type, Amis strcjiera, LiSN.).

Chauliodus, Swaixs. F. B. A. II. 1831, 440 (typo, Anas strepcm, LiNN.). (Not of Bloch, 1801.)

CiMuliudcs, Eyton, Moil. Anat. 1838, 43 (same type). (Not of Latueille, 1798.)

But two species of this geiuis are known, the conuuou ami widely diffused G. streperus, and the
more recently discovered C. Couesi, Streets, of Wusliingtou Island, in the South Pacific Ocean.
The latter is very similar to C. strepcnis, having the same form and essentially tlie same coloration,
but is much smaller, with several differences in ]iluninge. The sides are white, coarsely spotted
with grayish, instead of finely undulated with the same, as is the case with the adult male of

ANATINJJ — THE DUCKS — C11AULELA8MUS.

605

lit tlie eggs
er's breast,
lie nest the
Moore took
. This was
lie forsakes
male bird,
10 nest. It

irt of Oeto-
(1 fly aeross
light in the
ng. Those
latr.cl birds,
Mr. !Moore
were only a
md led the
ed mass of

iTion bird in
th of grass,
i'dt many ot
his Duck to
;his species,

his species,
id feathers,
■with down.
Liduboii was
le year. In

once rare,
flehls ; and
Domestic

ing larger
ibon, afford
ivas-back.
'J.'43 inches
he commou

G. streperus; but this may very possibly be owing to a ilifferuiici! of age, us the type of Uuuesi is
iniuiaturc.

U. Coucsi in very distinct, however, and much smaller, the measurements being us follows :
Wing, 8.20 inches J culmen, 1.40; width of bill, .55; depth at base, .UO ; tarsus, 1.40; middle
toe, 1.60.>

ocu, 1801.)

lerus, and the
Licific Ocean,
le coloration,
rsely spotted
dult male of

C, strrperus.

J Chaulelasmus Couksi, Streets.

Chaulclusmus Cuuesi, Stuekts, Bull. Nutt. Orii. Club, I. no. 2, July, 187(3, 40 (Washington and
New Yolk islands, Funning Group) ; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 7, 1877, 21 (do.).

" Bill nearly iis long as the head, about as deep as broad at the base, dc[irt'ss('il anteriorly, sides nearly
parallel, but converging slightly toward the base, tij) rounded, and unguis abrujitly curved ; frontal angle
short and obtuse ; dorsal line at lirst sloping, rather more so than in C. slirpcrus, anterior portion broad,
straight, and flattened. Internal latnellie numerous, small, and closely packed, about seventy-five in num-
ber — in streperus only about fifty. Nostrils sub-basal, lateral, large, and oblong.

"PluiiuKjc (immnlurc) : Head above dark brown, the featliers tipped with a lighter shade; frontal
feathers with the central ])ortion black, and edged with brownish white ; throat and sides of head brown-
ish white, shafts of the feathers brown, a small brown spot at the extremity of each ; lower jwrtion of
the neck and breast all around with the feathers marked with concentric bars of black and light reddish
brown ; under surface of the body white, each feathi^' with a broad dark band near the extremity, which
gives to this region a mottled aspect ; toward the tail the white of the abdomen assumes a dull reddish-
brown tinge ; the browiiisb-riMl color becomes more decided on the ilanks and siites of the body where
covered by the wings. On the back the plumage is more mature. Color dark brown marked transversely
by fine wavy lines of black and white ; scapulars dark brown and fringed with a narrow rim of reddish
brown. Middle wing-coverts chestnut ; greater, velvet black ; speculum pure white, the inner web of the
white feathers grayish brown ; in the third feather in the speculum, counting from within, the white gives
place to a hoary gray with a black outer margin ; the primaries light brown, the portion of both webs
nearest the shaft lighter ; shaft light brown. Tail contaiidng fourteen feathers, hoary iilumbeous gray,
under surface lighter and shining ; under tail-coverts crossed by transverse bars of black and whiter ; upjier
coverts composed of dark-brown and black feathers nungled. Under wing-coverts and axillars pure white.
Bill and feet black, .somewhat lighter on the inner side of the tarsus. Tibia bare for about half an inch.
Length, 17 inches ; wing, 8 ; tarsus, 1.40 ; commissure, ].6,'> ; culmen, 1.1." ; height an<l breadth of bill
at base, .55 ; average width of bill, .55 ; first toe, .30 ; second, 1.48, including claw, shorter than third
toe without claw ; third toe, 1.88, without claw, longer than outer toe without claw ; outer toe, 1.75.

" A female is similar, but with little trace of the peculiar wing naukings, both the chestnut and black
being wanting, and the speculum being hoary gray instead of white. Both the specimens before mo are
immature ; the adults, it is presumed, will show the peculiar vermiculated appearance of C. slrejicrus.
They resemble the inunature condition of C. streperus so closely that one desciiption of the coloration

VOL. I. — G4

506

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWLMMEUS — ANSERES.

Chaulelasmus streperus.

THE OADWALL; OBAT DUCK.

Anas strepera, LisN. S. N. ud. 10, I. 1758, 125 ; cd. VI, 1. 1700, 200. — Wils. Am. Orn. VIII. 1814,
120, i>l. 71. — NVTT. Mini. II. 1834, 383. — Aitd. Oni. Biog. IV. 1838, 353, \\. 348 ; Synop.
183i), 378 ; H. Am. VI. 1843, 254, \t\. 388.

Ama (Chauliodus) slirpcnis, Sw. & Uicii. F. H. A. II. 1831, 440.

Chaithinsmus sircjwrw, "Okav, 1838;" List B. Br. Mus. 1844, 139. — Baiud, B. N. Am. 1858,
782 ; ("at. N. Am. B. 185!t, no. 584. ~ Couks, Koy, 1872, 286 ; Check List, 1873, no. 4Ul ; 2d
ed. 1882, no. 711 ; liinls N. \V. 1874, 5<i3. — RiDow. Norn. N. Aui. B. 1881, no. 604.

Anas strepera nmcriatnii, Max. .Four, fiir Oin. II. 1842, 109.

"Chaulelasmus amerieana, Hi-." ((iiiAv).

"Anas cincrea et subulata, H. (i. (Jmei.is." ((!i!AY).

Anas Lrkusehht, Gmei,. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 531.

"Anas nutil, Huua.soN " ((Jiiay).

"Anas capensis, Swaixson" ((!kay).

Had. Nearly co.snioi)()litiui (Europi', Asia, Africa, and North America). Teinpenxte North
America in };;eneral, breeding' diii-fly within the United States ; West Indie.s (8cL. & Salv.).

Sp. Char. Adult male in fall, vinter, and spring : Ground-color of the head and neclv pale
brown, or brownish white, thickly speckled with black ; on the pileuni the brown deeper and

more uniform, and the specks ob.solete ; on the occiput,
when present, they incline to the form of transverse
barf. Ju!,nilum marked with greatly curved bars, or
crescents, of white and black, the bars of the latter
wider. Lateral portion.s of the body beneath, back,
and scapulars finely undiilated, in curved transverse
lines, with slate-color and white. Many of the longer
scapulars plain browni.sh yray, broadly edyed with n
li},diter, more fulvous tint. Rump plain dull slate.
Tail-coverts, above and below, intensu opa(|Ue velvety
black. Tail cinereou.s, faintly edged with white.
Middle row.s of wing-coverts bright chestnut, the
anterior coverts brownish gray, and the po,sterior ones
deep black ; last row deep velvety lilack. Speculum
immaculate pure white, the lower feathers cinereous
(some with black on outer webs), narrowly tipped
with white terliuls plain pale ash, the primaries a
darker shad, of the same. "Bill bluish black. Iris
reddish hazel. Feet dull orange-yellow, claws brown-
ish black, webs dusky" (AuDUDOx). Adult viale, in
sumvier: "Crown brownish black, with a greenish tinge ; an indistinct streak through the eye,
dark brown ; rest of the head and neck dull brownish white, marked with blackish brown, as in the
previously described bird [adult male in .spring] ; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts dark blackish
brown, each feather margined with rusty red ; wings and tail as in the bird above described;
breast dull rusty reil, each feather with a central black spot ; ilanks dark brown, broadly marked
and mai-gined with dull rufous ; the rest of the under parts dull .vhite, each feather having a
central blackish brQwu-drop-shajJed mark" (Sharpe & Dresser).

Adult female: Coloi-s chiefly brownish dusky and brownish white, in longitudinal streaks on

Male.

would answer for both species ; but the C, Couesi is immediately distinguished by its greatly inferior size,
which hardly exceeds that of a Teal, the different color of the bill and feet, and the singular discrepancy
in the lamellic of the bill, which are much smaller, and one third n;ore numerous.

" Habitat : Washington Island, one of the Fanning Group, situated about latitude 6° N* and longitude
160» W."

ANATIN.E— THE DUCKS _ CIIAri.HLASML'S.

507

n. VIII. 1814,
348 I Synop.

N. Am. 1858,
3, no. 4Ul ; 2d
). (504.

iperate North

& Salv.).

md neck pale

n deeper and

on llie occiput,

of transveree

urved bar.«, or

! of the lilt lev

joneath, back,

ked transverse

y of the longer

edged with a

un dull .slate.

laque velvety

with white.

chestnut, the

po.sterior ones

k. Speculum

iers cinereous

rowly tipped

primaries a

h black. Iris

claws brown-

lult viale, in

)U<,di the eye,

Dwn, as in the

lark blackish

ve described ;

adly marked

ther having a

al streaks on

y inferior size,
nr discrepancy

mid longitude

J'einaU'.

thp head and neck, and in inv!,'ular transverse spots and bars on other portions. On the upper

surface the dusky prevails, and on the lower parts the whitish predominates. Wiuj,' nearly as in

the male, lint tlie chestnut usually absent, the black less extended, and tiie j^ray of tiie coveits ;.en-

erally more or less ))arred and tipped with wiiite. Abdomen and lower part of the breast pure

white ; throat linidy streaked with dusky, fhwmj

young: "Covered witli soft short d<i\vii ; head,

nape, back, and rump, dark dull lirown. on eaidi

siile of the rump and back of eacli wing-joint a

sulphur-yellow spot, the wing-joints being marked

with that color; forelieail, spac(^ round the eye,

throat, and chest pale sulphur-yellow ; alxlomen

white-, shaded with sulphur-yeUow, on tlii' lower

part sooty gray" (SiiArti'M iV: Dkkssku).

jl/rtic, wing, l().2.")-li.(tn inclies ; culmeli, l.tiO-
1.7'); wiiltii of bill, .GO-."") ; tarsus, 1.4.'')-l.7() ;
middle toe, I.8()-l.!)(>. Fimde, wing. lO.dd-Kt.lO ;
culmen, l..")5-l.(!5 ; width of bill, .(!()-.7() ; tarsus,
I. GO; middle toe, 1.7")-I.Ht.

Although one of the aljove diagnoses will fit
almost any exam[)le of this tpecies, iliere is yet a
very consi(k'rable extent of individual variation
noticeabh- in a large series. Thu. . No. 17040

(Washington, D. ('.. Keb. 2.'), 18(i0 ; C. DmoxMiit) has the unifoini iirown of the pileum coming
down over the fide of tlie hciid to a line on a level with the lower eyelid, tlu' wii(de u]p[)er half of
tlie iiead i)eing tiius nearly free from specks ; while that jiortion behind tlie eye has a faint, but
very perceptible, rose-purple reflection --this part of the head calling strongly to mind the head-
jiattern of Nrttinn and Manm anfriatuu. On tlie other hand, an adult mah; from I'liihidelphia
(No. 4GC.J8, J. KitiiiKu) has even the top of the head spotted. Xo. <J7!)1, $ ad.. Fort ."-^teilacoom,
W. T. (Dr. Geouue Sucki.ev), has the pileum almost chestnut, the brown having there such a
deeph' reddish cast ; the lower neck is nearly plain pale ochrai'eous, abruptly defined against the
darkly colored jngulum. Specimens from Cajpe St. Lucas and Utah present no unusual features.

All American specimens differ uniformly, from the single European pair before us, in several
very tangilde respects. The European male has the neck (juite ileeply ochraceous, while in the
American ones there is seldom more than a mere tinge of this color ; tiie jiigulum is also pervaded
by a wash of a more pinkish tinge of the same, while there is aiijirecialdy less regularity and clear-
ness in the markings of that region. Tlie longer scapulars are more deeply tinged with fulvous,
and the finely undulated portions are pervaded with a brownish wash, entirely wanting in the
American .series. The me.isuremeiits of this b[)ecimen (Xo. .57187, Europe ; Schliiter Collection)
are as follows : AVing, 10.80 indies; culmen, I.G.") ; width of bill. .70; tarsus, 1.5."); middle toe,
1.85. The female specimen from Europe is very .similar to North American examples, but is
rather more deeply colored, the dark centres to the featheis being nearly deep black. The whole
throat is immaculate white. The measurements are as follows : Wing, 9.5t) inches ; culmen,
1.50; tarsus, 1.35; middle toe, 1.60.

The Gadwall, or (Jray Duck, like the ]\rall;ivd, tlio Pintail, the Shov<'llor, and one
or two other fresh-water Ducks, has a general distribution, nearly or quite throughout
the northern hemisphere. It is more or less common in nearly all parts of North
America, from the Fur Eegion to Central America, tind from Elaine to the Vacific.
Its presence in several extended districts, however, remains to be confirmed. It is
found in all parts of Europe, from Iceland to Gibralttir, occurs throughout North
Africa, and is distributed over the larger portion of Asia.

Mr. Robert Kennicott, in liis maiuisoript notes on the Anutkhr of North America,
states that this Duck, like tlie Ai/tlnja americana and some otlier birds, thougJi ex-
tending west of the mountains \vithin the United States, ai^parently i)asses in its

508

i-ami:llihosti{ai, swimmhhs — axseuks.

iiii^'rivtions to the iiDi'lli wliolly to the c.stwanl uf Slave Lake, lie was iinulilc to
(li'tcct it ill rithcr the Viikoii or Mackcn/.ii' lv(';,'i(tii. It' (iccurrin^ at all, cvi'ii at Slave
Lake, lie believes he hIiouM at least liavc lieani of it I'roiii the Indians, for, nnobsor-
vant as they are of the snialii'r hinls, thev jiay attention to anything,' that atfonls tlieni
food, and the ( tpipiu'wayans of Slavt Lake shoot lar^'' numbers of Ducks. The (iad-
wall is not, so far as he knew, an abundant species in any part of North Americu»
thou.ifh it is not uncommon in October in Northern Illinois; and IJi'diardsoii mentions
it as eomnion in summer on the Saskatchewan. Mr. .Merrill found it breeding at
Antieosti, in the (iuif of St. Lawrence. Dr. Suckley observed it in summer in Min-
nesota, aiul ('ai)tain liendire found it lircedinj,' in EasttM'U Oregon.

According to Mr. Dall, a single specimen was jiroeured in Uritish Columbia by Mr.
Elliott, and he believes that its range extends as far as the vicinity of Sitka.

This species is inehuU'd by Mr. I{. lirowno among tlu! birds of Vancouver Island ;
and it was found on the I'acitic coast of Mexico by Colonel (Jrayson, who speuks of
it as being abundant from November until late in the spring in the neighborhood of
Mazatlan. According to Dr. Cooper, it is also conunon in the winter throughout
California, in company with other fresh-water Ducks, and sometimes in distinct
flocks. This Duck is said to be generally shy and (piiet, feeding mostly in the twi-
light, and hiding much of the time amoug the reeds and bu.slies. It has, however,
considerable power of voice, and in the spring is at times ([uite noisy.

Dr. Ileermann states that it breeds in small numbers in the marshes of the Sacra-
mento Valley, and Dr. ( 'ooper found two nests at San Tedro on the L'Oth of July. The.se
were constructed chiefly of feathers, and one contained nine eggs. As a ride, however,
this species breeds in the more northern parts of the ITnited States, especially about
the lakes of Minnesota, and beyond latitude (>8° X. Mr. .1. A. Allen met with a soli-
tary individual on the Platte River, in South Park, Colorado; he afterward found
it very abundant in the valley of Salt Lake, Utah. It is also included by ^Ir. H. W.
Parker in his List of the Birds of Iowa, and given as occurring in the counties Polk
and Clinton.

A female of this species was obtaiiKMl in liermuda in December, 1849. She was
kept in confinement, became ([uite tame, associated with the domesticated Ducks, r-nd
laid quite a number of eggs. Although a persistent sitter, none of her eggs ever
hatched.

According to the experience of Mr. Poardman, this Duck is not uncommon in the
fall in the vicinity of Calais, Me. It is occasionally found on the ponds and streams
of Massachusetts, but is rare, and of irregular ajjpearance.

Mr. Giraiid considered it as ([uite rare on Long Island, where it was very shy,
seldom came to the decoys, and was very difticult of approach, unless the hunters
advanced under cover of reeds and rushes. At Egg Harbor, New Jersey, a few of
this species ;ire seen every fall and spring, and are there known as the •' Welch
Drake " and the " German Duck."' This Duck is said to be one of the most active
of its tribe, flying swiftly, and being an excellent diver. It is exceedingly timid, and
the superior quality of its flesh would seem to show that its food must be chieflj'
vegetable.

Throughout Europe and in all the countries of Northern Africa the Gadwall
appears to have a very general distribution, especially during its migrations. Mr.
Salvin mentions finding it common near Zara, in Northeastern Africa ; it was also
noticed in the Sahara by Mr. Tristram ; and Captain E. G. Shelley met with it in
Egypt and Nubia — where, however, it was not abundant. The latter saw one small
flock of these birds near El-Kab on February 26, and obtained a single specimen.

AXATIN'^ — THK m'CKS — CirArLKLASMUS.

509

llUillllt' to
1 at Slave
', uiiobsor-
Drds thiMU
Tht' (iiid-
Aiiicricii.
nicntions
■t't'ding at
Br in Min-

i)ia by ]\Ir.
I.

•V Island ;
spciiks of
)orh()od of
lii'()uj,'liout
ti distinct
m the twi-
, however,

the Sacra-
ly. Those
. however,
ally al)ont
rith a soli-
ard found
fVlr. II. W.
OS ' Polk

She was
)uck8, r.nd
eggs ever

ion in the
d streams

very shy,
e hunters
, a few of

•' Welch
nst active
imid, and

le chief!}'

Gadwall
ons. Mr.

was also
with it in
one small
imen.

Mr. T. Ti. I'owys found the (ladwall common in the winter in the Ionian Islands.
I'nlike most other writers, he speaks of it as the easiest to a|i|iroaeh of all the Kuro-
peaii Ducks, and lie also regarded it as the liest for the tai)le. It is given liy .Mr. 11.
Saunders in his !,ist of the Itirds of Southern Sjjain. where it was abundant tlirough-
out the winter unl |iril. and be adds that it certainly breeds at Santa Olaga.

According to .Mu.ilendorff, it is found in the forest regions of Siberia. Its presence
in Iccdand was fir.st positively announced by Professor Newton, Mr. (i. C. Fowler
having obtained a pair, with their ne.st and eggs, in ISdL', and Mr. i'roctor having
recicived skins from there. More re<'ently Mr. ('. W. Sbepard has found it breeding
in the northern part of that island, on the shores of the My-vatn Lake. It was shy
and nns()ciai)le. and its nests were found only in (piiet swampy places on the shores
of the lake or on islands not fre(iuented by any other species of Duck.

In Ireland and (Ireat Itritain this Duck is comjjarativtdy rare, occurring in winter,
but nnu'c frequently in spring, and then only in very limited numbers. In lloUiind,
on the other hand, in the months of September and October, it is the most common
Duck in the markets.

Mr. Dresser did not nu-et with tliis bird in Finland, though it is su^iposed to occur
in the southeastern i»art of that coiuitry. It has been procured in the neighborhood of
Archangel, but is rare in the northern part of Russia. It is mcu'c numerous in South-
eastern Uussia, inhabiting large marshy localities, where reeds and rushes abound,
and also freipienting the swampy banks of rivers. In the autumn, during the evening
and in the night, it Hies about the fields. It nests in swamps or on the banks of
lakes and rivers, and the usual number of its eggs is from eight to twelve.

In Asia it has i»een obtained as far east as China and Jai)an. Throughout India,
during the whole of the cold season, according to Mr. Hume, it is the most plentiful
species of Duck.

Like all the Ducks with long-jiointed M-ings, the Gadwall has a strong and rapid
flight. It is generally regarded as a shy species, di.sliking exposure, and hiding itself
among thick reeds and acpiatic jdants. This, Mr. Yarrell states, was ooscrved to be the
habit of a pair in the (Jarden of the Zoological Society, which concealed themselves
in the long grass of the islands. These birds bred there in the season of 18.39, and
again in 1S41, laying seven or eight eggs. They fed on vegetable matter, aquatic;
insects, and small fish.

In general habits this species very closely resembles the ]\Iallard. It is essentially
a fresh-water Duck, frequenting streams, lakes, and ponds where suitable food is
to be found, this consisting chiefly of the leaves, buds, and roots of water-plants.
While feeding this bird sometimes utters a low quacking. In confinement it readily
eats oats, bread, pieces of cabbage, turnip, potatoes, and various other vegetables. A
pair kept at ]\Iount Auburn, !Mass., ate greedily the roots of the common celery.

It bioeds throughout Ctmtral and Southern Europe, making a nest, like that of the
Mallard, close to the water's edge, on the borders of fresh-water lakes and streams.
T'he nest is a mere depression in the ground, lined with dry leaves or hay and down.
The eggs are from nine to thirteen in number, of a i)ale creamy yellow. Those in
Mr. Dresser's coll(>ction averaged 2.10 inches in length and l.oO inches in breadth.

Dr. Bachman informed Mr. Audubon that in the year 1812 he saw in Dutchess
Co., New York, about thirtj' of these Ducks in a single flock. He was informed
that three years previously a i)air of Gadwalls had been captured alive in a mill-pond.
They were kept in the poultry -yard, and were easily tamed, one joint of the Aving
having been broken, to prevent their flying away. In the following spring they were
suffered to go into the pond, but returned daily to the house to be fed. They built

610

LAMELLIROSTIIAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

>ii

their nest on the edge of the ]iond, and reared a hirge brood. The yoimg were per-
fectly domesticated, and made no attiunpt to Hy away, even though tlieir wings were
perfect.

This species, as Professor Kunilien informs me, occurs both in the spring and fall
at Lake Koskonong, but is rather rare. He lias a mounted specimen shot Nov. 14th,
1874. He has never seen it there in summer, but has met with it in spring in marshes
covered with water, and in the fall on the mud-bars and among the wild rice. It is
very seldom seen far from the shore. .Mr. li. F. tJoss, of l'ew;iukee. Wis., writes me
that it breeds rarely- in his vicinity. About May L'4, 1808, he spent several days on
an island in Horicon Lake, where the (xadwall had just begun to lay. He found
three nests, two containing one, and one three eggs. The nests did not differ in their
construction from the ^Mallard's, but were more concealed, all of them being in thick
cover, one perhaps ten feet from the water, the farthest about three rods. The eggs
were smaller und lighter colored than the jMallard's. It was found breeding on Shoal
Lake in 1865 by !Mr. I^onald Gunn, and at New Westminster by ^Ir. H. W. Elliott.
Dr. Kennerly speaks of finding it very common in April in the vicinity of Janos River,
Chihuahua, going in large flocks. IJeyond that point it was not observed.

Eggs of this species in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution (Xo. 12723)
from Shoal Lake are of a uniform cream-color, and range from 2.05 inches in length
to 2.20 inches, and from 1.45 to 1.55 inches in breadth.

Gexus DAFILA, Stephens.

Dafila, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 126 (type, Anas acuta, Linn.).
P/iasianunis, Waol. Isis, 1832, 123r> (same t^vpe).

Char. Bill longer than the head, narrow, the edge? parallel, deep through the biise, but other-
wise much depressed, the basal portion of the culiueu much ascending. In the male, the scajiulars,
tertials, and middle rectrices lanceolate, the latter elongated considerably beyond the other tail-

/>. acuta.

feathers. The adult nude in winter plumage very different from the adult female, but the sexes
much alike in summer.

As defined above, the genus Dafila includes but a single species, the D. acuta, or Common Pin-
tail, of the northern hemisphere. Several .South American species have been referred to it ; but

ANATINiE — THE DUCKS — DAFILA.

511

they all differ in having the sexes alike, in the dull (iiuicli spottu.l) coloration, and in the very
slight elongation of the middle reetrices. They constitute a groiip somewhat intermediate between
Dujlla and Ncttion, and are again directly connected with the latter ))y several small Ducks of the
southern hemisphere, usually referred to the genus Qucrqumlula (e.g. (.).y/af(Vos/ci»-, of South
America, and Q. Eatoni, of Kerguelen Island). The genus l\vcilonctta (type. Anus bahamensis,
Linn.) was proposed for this group by Kauj), and should probably be retained for it.

Dafila acuta.

THE PIN-TAIL; SFBIO-TAU.

Anas acuta, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 202. — Wii.s. Am. Oin. VIII. 1814, pi. 68, fig. 3. — Nutt. Man.

II. 1834, 380 —AfD. Orn. Hiog. III. 183;"., 214 ; V. 1839, 615, pi. 227 ; Synop. 1839, 279;

Birds Am. VI. 1843, 206, pi. 390.
Dafihi acuta, BiixAi'. Comp. List, 1838, ;'iO. — H.uiiu, 15. X. Am. 1S.")8, 776 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859,

no. 578 ; Con;s, Koy, 1872, 286 ; C'licck Li;,t, 1873, no. 490 ; 2d cd. 1882, no. 710 ; Birds X. AV.

1874, 561. — HiDGW. Nom. X. Am. IJ. ISSl, no. 605.
Amis alandica, Sl'.\liu.M. Mus. ('ails. III. , pi. 00.

Amis Spa7Tina)ini, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 876.
Anas camlociifii, Pall. Zoog. Itosso-.Vs. II. 1826, 280.
Amis lui.gkauili, Bimss. Oiii. VI. 1700, 3(i0, pi. 34, figs. 1, 2.
Anas caudata, Biikum, Viig. Deiitsuhl. 800.
Dafila acuta, var. nmcricami, Bonai". Coinpt. Bond. XLTI. 1856.

Had. The whole of North America ; Europe. Breeding chiefly far north, migrating south in
winter as far as Panama ; Cuba.

Sp. Chak. Adult male in ivinhr: Head and upper half of the neck hair-brown or grayish
umber, the upper surface darker, often inclining to deep burnt-umber ; all the feathers (usually)
appreciably darker centrally, producing an indistinctly an<l minutely speckled appearance; on
each side of the occiput the brown has a metallic gloss of dull green, showing a faint jmrple i-eflec-
tion in some lights. Up er half of the
nape opa(iue intense black, separated from
the brown by an upward extension of the
white of the lower neck nearly to the occi-
put, .^tripe on each side of the nape (as
described above), lower half of the neck
frontally and laterally, jugulum, breast,
and abdomen immaculate white. Lower
half of the nape, with entire dorsal region
and lateral lower parts, [inely waved with
transverse, rather zigzag, lines of white
and black, of nearly ei^ual width. Longer
scapulars opaque velvety black centrally,
edged broadly with grayish white ; outer
scapulars with exposed etids of their outer
webs entirely velvety black. T.riials
silvery asli, with a medial stripe of intense
velvety black. Speculum dull green, va-
rying to dull lu'onzy pur[ile, with a sub-
terminal bar of velvety black and a tip of
white. Wing-coverts very uniform brown-
ish gray, the last row broadly tipped with
cinnamon-rufous. Primaries dull .«laty.

Upper tail-coverts with outer webs black, the inner ones grayish white ; lower coverts deep opmpie
velvety black, the (jxterior row with their outer webs white ; post-femoral space delicate cream-color,
Tail-feathei-s dark cinereous edged with while, the elongated middle pair unil'orm deep black. Bill

512

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES.

Femah'.

plumbeous-bluu, the uiigui, base, and strip aloni^ culmeii, black ; iris brown ; feet dusky. Adult
male in suvimer: " H(.'ad, neck, and under parts generally as iii the adult lenmle, except that the
abiloinen is duller in color and less marked ; liack iluU dark brown, each feather luiving one or two
irregular dirty-white bars, and some being irregularly verniiculated with that color ; rump washed
with gray ; tail similar in color to tliat of the bird last described [i.e. adult male in winter], but the
two central feathei-s are but slightly elongated ; wings also as in the last-descriiied stage of jilu-
mage, but the elongated secondaries and scapulars are shorter and blunter, and in color dark gray,

black along the centre, some of the latter being
marked like the back ; flanks grayish brown, every
feather having broad yellowish-wliite bars ; under
tail-coverts as in tlie female" (Shari'E & Dres-
ser). Adult female: Above, idumbeous-dusky,
N'ariegated transversely with yellowish white or
pale ochraceous ; these markings sometimes irreg-
ularly bar-like, but oftener of U-shaped form, one
on the edge, and one in tlie middle portion of each
feather. Wing much as in the male, but metallic
color of the speculum duller, the ochraceous bar
anterior to it paler, and the white terminal bar
tinged with buff ; wing-coverts narrowly tipped
with whitish. Upper tail-coverts broadly edged
with whitisli, and more or less marked with
ii'regular — usually V-shaped — lines of the same.
Tail-feathei-s dusky, edged with whitish, and with
more or less disthict indications of distant bars
of the same. Head and neck dingy whitish, tinged with brown on the superior surface, which is
heavily streaked with blackish, the other portions more finely and thinly streaked, the tliroat ijeing
nearly immaculate. Rest of the lower ])arts dingy white, tlie feathers more grayish beneath the
surface ; crissum and Hanks streaked with dusky, but abdomen, etc., usually immaculate. Yuung
vudc : Similar to the i'emale, but markings on U])per ])arts more bar-like, and lower parts some-
times nearly wholly streaked. Yaioiif femde (No. r)4()33, Kadiak, Alaska, Aug. 1, 18(!8 ; F.
Bischoef) : Speculum dilute raw-umber, marbled toward base of feathers with dusky. All the
feathers of the ujiper parts conspicuously and broadly bordered with bully white ; lower parts
everywhere densely streaked with dusky. Downy young: Above, grayish raw-umber, with a
white stripe along each side of the back, a white space on the wing, and a white superciliary stripe.
Beneath, grayish white, with a very faint yellowish tinge ; an umber-brown stripe behind the eye,
and an indistinct s])ace of the same over the ears.

Male, total length, about :2().(M)-28.(tO inches ; extent, 3(5.00; wing, 10.25-11.10 ; tail, 7.-25-y.5() ;
culmen, 1.85-i'.15 ; width of bill, .TO-.SO ; tarsus. 1.55-1.85; middle toe, 1.70-2.10. Female,
wing, !».()0-10.10 ; tail. 4.50-,").00 ; culmen, 1.80-2.10; width of bill, .Co-.To ; tarsus, l.t)5 ;
middle toe, 1.80.

The range of individual variation of the colors in this species is very slight, consisting of differ-
ences that are scarcely worthy of mention. European specimens dill'er, however, very appreciably
from North American ones in narrower speculum, but not in other respects. Two males measure
as follows : Wing, 10.30-1 l.(X1 inches ; tail (elongated miildle feathers), 8.50 ; culmen, 1.85-1.95 ;
width of bill, .70-75 ; tarsus, l.-40-l.(iO ; middle toe, 1.85-1. !)().'

Tlu' I'in-tail l)m-k is oosniui)()litan. and t'njoy.s a distribution exceeded in extent by
few birds of any kind. In Nortli America it is t'i)und from Greenland and the Arc-
tic coast almost to the Istlnnus of I'anania. Less abundant, Avlicrevev found, than
the Mallard, its distribution appears to be quite as extensive. In the Old World it
is found throughout Euro])e, in .Vsia as far south as Ceylon, in Japan, in ditt'erent
portions of China, ami in Northern .\f'rica.

* Shiirpu & Dresser (" History of the Birds of Europe," Part XIX. ) give tlie diniensions of the Europenn
Pin-tail oh follows : "Total length, 2 I'tet ; culmen, 2.2 inches ; wing, 11.2 ; tail, 7..') ; tarsus, 1.6."

ANATIX.E — THE DUCKS — DAFILA.

618

Mr. Salvin obtained it at Kalize, and found it common throu-rliout the winter in
the Lake of Diiefuis. It is given by Mr. 11. Browne in his ].ist of the 15ird.s of Van-
couver Island ; and Mr. J. A. Allen found it in abundance! in the valley of Great
Salt Lake. :>rajor Wedderburn mentions the occurrence, in November, 1847, of
several specimens — all young birds — in Bermuda.

According to Ur. Cooper, the Pin-tail migrates in winter to the extreme southern
limits of California, being then numerous along the Colorado, and at San Diego. He
found it frequenting fresh-water ponds and inundated meadows, rarely appearing on
the salt water. Being one of the best for the table of all the wild Ducks, it is much
hunted ; and although very vigilant, great numbers are killed for the market. "When
associated with other species, it is the first to give the alarm. Unlike most writers,
Dr. Cooper speaks of it as very noisy, quacking mucli like the Mallard, but not so
loudly, diving but little, and feeding chief.y on vegetable food. In April it departs
for the far north, where it breeds about the lakes in latitude oO°, and farther north,
laying eight or nine bluish-green eggs. It returns southward in October, and winters
in large numbers in Puget Sound and on the Columbia Iviver.

It was found in Avinter near ^razatlan. Western Mexico, by Colonel Grayson,
where, during that season, it is common. It was also found at Coahuana by ilr.
John Xantus.

In Dakota, Idaho, and ;^[ontalu\ it is said to breed in all the reedy prairie sloughs,
and to be more abundant in that region than any other of the Ducks. By the 1st of
July nearly all the broods are hatched, and some of the young are nearly I'cady to fly.

Dr. Walker met with this species on the coast of Greenland, near (xodthaab ; and
Professor Ecinhardt mentions it as accidental, but not rare, being found in North as
well as in South Greenland. Captain Blakiston found it inhabiting the Saskatche-
wan, and the Ked Eiver to lIudson'.s Bay. It Avas also met with on the Mackenzie
by Jlr. Eoss. Dr. Kichardson fimnd it frequenting chiefly the clear lakes of the
northern districts, and breeding in the Barren Grounds, being found, in spring and
autumn only, in large iniml)ers in the more .southern wooded districts.

The evidence of its almost universal ])resencc in Asia. Europe, and Xorthern Africa
is very abuiulant, and so voluminous, that one is embarrassed in selecting from the
many authorities. Mr. Swinhoe found it both in Pormosa and at Amoy. It Avas
found in Egypt by ]\[r. E. C. Taylor; and Captain E. (i. Shelley afterward met Avith
it in considerable numbers both in Egyjjt aiul in Nubia (" Ibis,"' 1871). It Avas no-
ticed in the Sahara by ^Nfr. Tristram, and ilr. T. L. Powys found it common in winter
in Greece. Mi'. H. Whitely mentions nu'cting Avith it at Ilakodadi, in Jajjan. It
AA'as also procured by the Perry Expedition on the Island of Niphon, near Veddo. and
Middeiulorft' found it abundant in Sil)eria. chiefly in the Avooded regions. Mr. 11.
Saunders records it as a not uncommon Avintcr A'isitant in Spain.

Mr. C. W. Shei)ard found it breeding in the vicinity of Lake ]\ly-vatn, hi the
northern part of Iceland. The birds were seen in considerable numbers ; but their
nests Avere not so easily found, being placed singly at some distance from the lake,
in lava-streams that Avere overgroAvn Avith bushes and grass.

In Great Britain and Ireland, though occurring every Avinter, the Pin-tail is no
longer an abundant species. It is found mostly on the eastern coast of Scotland, and
in Ireland is a regular visitant, both on the coast and the inland waters. It breeds
in various ])arts of NorAvay, uj) to and within the Polar Circle ; and some remain all
winter on the southern coast. It also breeds throughout Sweden. Lapland, Finland,
and Northern Kussia, in Poland, the northern parts of Gennany. Denmark, and other
countries. During its migrations it is found in CA'ery portion of Europe.

VOL. I. — Gii

514

LAMELLIKOSTliAL SWIMMERS — ANSEllES.

Ill general liabits it differs little fioiii the Mallard, but is found more commonly on
open water, and is more wary. Its slender antl graceful figure renders it conspicu-
ously easier in its movements. It swims high out of the water, and more in the
manner of a Swan. Its food is essentially the same as the Mallard's. According to
Jlontagu, its note is soft, ;iud it is less noisy than other fresh-water Ducks, being
rather a silent bird. It is said generally to breed later than the Mallard.

According to Mr. Dresser, the nests found by him in l<'inland were mere dei)res-
sions in the soil, ofttni under the shelter of a bush, usually not far from the water,
and lined with small Hags and grass-bents. Within, down and feathers form a soft
bed, on which the eggs are deposited. These were from seven to nine iu number,
colored like tliose of tlii' Jlallard, but more elongated in shape, and smaller iu size.
The eggs obtained by Mr. Dresser in Finland average 2.00 by 1.50 inches.

Mr. Hoardman informs me that this Duck 0(!curs in the vicinity of Calais iu the
fall, but is not found there in the spring. In Massachusetts it is not very common,
but is not at all rare, and is met with both in the spring and the fall. A fine male
was shot in Cambridge, Mass., in April, 1873, whi(;h had alighted in a pool of water
in a small yard near a dwelling, apparently unconscious of danger.

In Long Island it is well known to hunters as the " Sprig-tail '' and the " Spindle-
tail." Although shy and timid, it is often brought within reach of the fowler's gun
by deiioys. When surprised by the hunter's rising to fire, the birds crowd close to-
gether, presenting what is called a "doublet;" and many fall by a single discharge.
Though not known to dive for its ft)od, it will attempt to escajjc in this way when
wounded. When finally couiiJcUed to rise to the surface, it will try to hide under
the bow of a boat, or will skulk in the grass of the marsh, often concealing itself so
well as to escape detection. Its flesh is always sweet, and highly esteemed. Mr.
N. B. Moore, who met with it in abundance in Florida, writes me that he has fre-
qut>ntly seen it, when in contiuement, j)lunge into the water to the depth of two feet,
when dressing its plumage.

Mr. Bannister found it common on the small ponds on the Island of St. ^lichael's
and the adjacent mainland. Mr. Dall speaks of it as extremely common on all parts
of the Yukon, and on the marshes near the sea-coast. In the early spring, arriving
at Nulato about May 1, it is gregarious ; but about May 20, when it begins to
breed, it is generally found solitary or in pairs. Its nest is said to be usually in the
sedge, lined witli dry grass ; and when both parents are absent, the eggs are covered
with dry leaves and feathers.

The Tin-tail is said to fly more swiftly than any other Duck, and is very hard to
shoot on the wing. It lays from six to ten, and even twelve, eggs. As soon as tlie
young are hatched, it withdraws from the river into the small creeks and rivulets,
where it remains until the Ducklings are fully able to fly. Then they all rejjair to
the great maishes, where, on tlie roots of the Enmsetum, they become exceedingly
fat. They all leave about the end of Sei)tember. This species was also obtained at
Sitka and at Kadiak by lUschoff.

The following valuable notes relative to the summer distribution and breeding of
this Duck are abridged from the pajjcrs of my late esteemed friend, Kobert Kennicott :
In America the summer liome of the Pin-tail is within the Arctic regions, farther to
the northward than that of any other of our fresli-water Ducks, com])aratively few
breeding south of Great Slave Lake. In their spring migrations to the northward
they move in immense flocks, which only disperse upon their arrival at tlieir breeding-
grounds. A few reach that lake about May 1 ; but the main body arrive about a
week or so later, and mostly pass directly on across the lake to the northward. On

ANATIX.E — THE DUCKS — DAFILA.

515

larcl to

iis the

■ivulets,

■IKiiv to

Hliugly

lined at

the Yukon the first specimens were seen in tlie hitter part of Ai)ril; and liefore the
10th of May they had arrived in immense tiocks, which remained some time together
in that vicinity before jjassini,' fartlicr north or separating to breed. At tiiis time
the l)irds wei'c fat, and their Hesli delicious, mucli superior to that of any other
Duck, except the Widgeon. At the Yukon tlie Pin-tails are the latest in nesting of
any of the fresli-water Ducks, and generally hatch a weifk or two after tlie ^Fallard.
He found them breeding in the same grounds, and at about the same time, with
Fiiflx ({(finis, though th.y do not associate Avith that species. He always f(mnd their
nest in low b\it dry ground, under the shelter of trees or busiies, though never among
thick large trees, and not more than two or tliree rods from water. They never build
on hummocks in the water, nor on high land, but always just u])on the edge of a
marsh or lake.

The nest is usually idaced at the foot of a willow, among grass, rather than leaves
or moss, and is extremely simple, being composed of merely a few bits of broken dry
grass and sticks, but w(dl lined with (h)wn.

In observing t\n'. breeding-habits of the.se ])ucks, Mr. Kennicott was struck with
the remarkable persistence in the individuals of each sjjecies in always choosing pre-
cisely similar localities for their nests, so far as was possible; and he was therefore
somewhat particular in descril)ing minutely the peculiar nesting-place chosen by
each.

The eggs are from seven to nine in number, and rather small in sizt>. At the
Yukon the young are mostly iiatclie<l in the early part of July. The old males moult
before this tinu'. and tiie females somewhat later. During the summer and fall, as
in tiie spring, the Hesh of this species is superior ti> that of any other Duck in that
region. It leaves the Y\dvon and the Mackenzie liiver Jiegion a little later than the
other fresh-water Ducks, except the Widgeon. It does not collect in such large flocks
in autumn as on its arrival in the sjtring.

^Fr. Kennicott found l)ut few I'in-tails feeding on the wild rice in Xorthern Minne-
sota, where Mallards. Widgeons, and Green-winged Teals were plentiful. He saw the
young of this Duck in considerable immbers as early as June 14.

Mr. MacFarlane found it breeding in large numbers in the neighborhood of Fort
Anderson, anil furidshcs notes in regard to many nests with their eggs, identified by
him. I'he nests were invariably iijion the ground, usually near the water, rarely
more than thirty or torty yards therefrom. The nest was usually a mere dejiression
in the ground, lined with down, with a few decayed feathers under the eggs. The
female sits very closely. In one case he api)roached within four feet before she flew
off. The eggs were usually from six to eight in number; and the male bird was
frequently found in the vicinity of the n(!st. Mr. MacFarhme states that the Tin-tail
is an abundant Duck in that (piarter, and among the first to arrive in spring. It
deserts its nest almost immediately after the young are hatched, and takes to the
water with them. From personal observations he was convinced that this species,
as Avell as the liitnlda rjInrlnHs. invariably sek\ land-locked sheets of water for the
purposes of rearing its young ; while other species give the preference to small streams
of running water.

Mr. L. Kuudien informs me that this is one of the first of the Ducks to arrive in
the spring' in Southern AVisconsin. and is then quite common. Some remain all
summer ; but he has never found them breeding, nor seen any very young birds — as
would in all probability be the cas(> if any bred in that neighborhood.

The ])oints in the .Vrctic Regions from which this Duck was reported to the Smith-
sonian Institution, are Fort Resolution ami the Yukon, by Mr. Kennicott ; mouth of

516

J.AMEI.LIUOSTUAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

Irii

the Porcupine River, by ^Mr. Jones ; Fort Yukon, by Mr. J. S. Ibbiston and Mr.
Lockhart ; Anderson Kiver, Fort Anderson, tlie Lower Anderson, Rendezvous Lake,
the Rarreu (J rounds, etc., by Mr. MacFarlane ; Kadiak and Fort Kenai, by Mr,
Bischoff; and New Westminster, by Mr. H. W. Elliott.

They are mentioned by Mr. Adams as the first Ducks to arrive — April 28 — in
Alaska (" Ibis," 1878), and the only fresh-water species there that vas numerous.
Tliey frequent all parts of tlie marslies in groujjs of three or four, are very wary, and
can only be procured by ambush in the lines of its flight. The nests were placed in
the rough grass of the marshes, and very carefully concealed; the eggs, nine in
number, were of a i)ale green, almost white.

The eggs of this species are oval in shape, and of a pale grayish-green color.
Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (Xo. 4242), from St. George's Island, in St.
James's Bay, measui'e 2.30 by 1.55 inches ; 2.25 by 1.55 ; 2.20 by 1.55.

Genus MARECA, Stephens.

Marcca, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 130 (type, Aiuxs penelope, Lisn.).

Char. Bill small, sliortcr than the head, rather narrow, the edges parallel to near the end,
where they gradually converge to a rounded tip ; culnien gently concave ; lamella) of tlie niaxillaj
almost concealed ; feet small, the tarsus aliout as long as the hill ; sexes very different in winter,
much alike in summer. Adult male in winter with the scapulars and tertials (in the North
American species the tail-coverts and rectrices also) lanceolate.

Af. penelope.

The three known species of Mareca (all American, but one peculiar to the southern continent)
may be distinguished as follows : —

Com. Char, (adult males in winter dress). Forehead white ; posterior lialf of the middle wing-
covert regions white, forming a large patch of this color ; sides and flanks reddish ; abdomen
immaculate white ; speculum velvety black, with or without green.

A. Speculum metallic green anteriorly ; juguluni plain pinkish vinaceous ; sides, flanks, scapu-
lars, and back, delicately undulated with dusky upon a lighter ground ; crissum black.
Tail-feathers acuminate, the middle pair projecting considerably beyond the rest.
1. M. penelope. Hear' and neck plain rufous, the forehead and part of the crown white ;

ANATIN^E — THE DUCKS — MARECA.

517

ground-color of the dorsiil region, .sides, and Hunks, whitish. Wing, 10.(H)-11.(K) inches ;
c ilnien, 1.35-1.45 ; tarsns, l.-J5-l.(i() ; middle toe, l.()5-1.75. Hah. Pidicurctic Region ;
ocLUsional in Eastern Nortii America, more frequent in Alaska.

2. M. amerioana. Head and neck whiti.sh, speckled with Mack, and with a dark metallic-

green space on the side of the occiput (sometimes continued down the nape) ; ground-
color of the dorsal region, sides, and tlank.s, vinaceous or pinki-sh cinnamon. Wing,
10.25-10.75 inches; culiuen, 1.30-1.50; t.irsus, 1.45-1.65; middle toe, 1.G5-I.85. Ilab.
North America.
S. Speculum whollj' velvety Mack ; jnguluin and anterior part of back Mack, irregularly barred
with whiter ; sides and ilanks light rufous; scapulars and back black, the feathers widely
bordered with white ; crissum white, tinged with rufous. Tail-feathers not acuminate,
the middle pair scarcely projecting.

3. M. sibilatriz.' Forehead, lores, and cheeks white, the latter finely barred with dusky ;

posterior part of the crown and middle of the occiput (longitudinally) browni.sh dusky ;
a space of metallic green, varying to violet-purple on each side the occiput, from the eye
to the middle of the neck ; neck, including throat, dusky black. Wing, 10.40 inches ;
culmen, 1.50 ; tarsus, 1.60 ; middle toe, l.SO.'^ llab. Southern South America.

Mareca penelope.

THE EUBOPEAN WIDGEON.

Anna pcnclopc,Liss. S. N. cd. 10, I. 17.">8, 12S ; ed. 12, I. 17<56, 202 {pnielope). — 'S\v\i. Viig.

Deutschl. XI. 1842, 724, pi. 30,5. — Keinh. Ibis, III. 1861, 13 (Greenland).
Mareca penelope, SKi.itv, Rr. Oru. II. 324. — lUiuii, B. X. Am. 1858, 784; I'at. N. Am. B. 1859,

no. 586. — CouEs, Pr. Essex lust. V. 1868, 2'J!) (New Knghuid) ; Key, 1872, 268 ; Check List,

1873, no. 492 ; 2d cd. 1882, no. 712 ; B. N. W. 1874, 564 (footnote). — Uidgw. Noni. N. Am.

B. 1881, no. 606.
Anas caijolca, S. G. (iMKi.. licise, I. 1770, 77.

Mareca fislular is, Stepuexs, Sliaw's Gen. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 131, pi. 50.
Wigcon, Yaiui. Brit. B. cd. 2, III. 286, fig. ; od. 3, HI. 287, fig. ; et Auct.

Had. Palaiarctic Kegion in general, and occasional in Eastern North America (several
records — New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Wisconsin, etc.) ; breeding in
the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.

^ Mauec'A sinii.ATitix. The ('iiiliiiii Widgeon.

Anas sibilalru; Poki'pic, Fror. Not. 1820, 10, no. 530 (f'hili).

Mareca sibilaln'j; Sci.. & Sai.v. I'. Z. S. Apr. 4, 1876, 395 (monographic).

Anas chilansis, Kino, P. Z. S. 1830-1831, 15.

Mareca chilwnsis, Kvtox, Moiiog. An.it. 1838, 117, pi. 21. —Cass. U. S. Astr. Exp. II. 1856,

201. — Si;i,. & Sai.v. Nom. Ncotr. 1873, 130.
Palo pica pequenn, Azaiia, Ajjunt. III. 1805, no. 432 (Buenos Ayres).
Anas parvirostris, Mkukem, Er.scli, u. Grub. Enc. .sect. i. xxxv. 1341, 43 (ex Azaiia, 1. c).

Hab. South Americn.

Tliis species diners from both M. pniclope and .)/. aincricana in details of form and rolor, which,
however, arc merely of sjwciric importance. The bill is (piitn similar, though the commi.ssurc it more ele-
vated basnlly and more depressed in the middle, and its greatest width is through the ba.se. The middle
tail-feathers are not more elongated than tlie rest, and tlie ujiper tail-coverts are less lanceolate. The color-
ation is yet more different, the only similarity lieing in the white wing-covert patch, as in both M. amcri-
cana and .V. penelope, and the green space on the side of the occiput, as in the fonucr. The forehead, but
also the lores and cliecks, are white. In other respects it differs totally from the two northern si)ecies as
follows : Neck black ; jiigubim with liroad transverse bars of black and white ; sides and ilanks plain
rufous ; upper tail-coverts iimnaculate white ; speculum jdain opaque black ; crissum rusty. An adult
male moasurcs as follows : wing, 10.30 inches ; tail, 4.50 ; culmen, 1.50 ; tarsus, 1.60; middle toe, 1.80 ;
width of bill, .70 — the size being thus about the same as that of M. penelope and M. nmericana.
* Only one example measured.

518

LAMELLIHOSTUAL SWIMMERS — AN8EUE.S.

Male.

Sp. Char. Adult male in mnter: IIciul ami neck plain brif^ht rufous, ubniptly tlefiiiwl below,
and becoming paler next the bill ; t'orehead and pileuui medially immaculate white ; n few
blackish feathers around the eyelids. Ju}j[uluiu and sides of the breast pinkish vinaceous, the tips
of the feathers paler. Sides, flanks, and entire dorsal surface delicately undulated with transverse,
zig-zag bars of black and pure white, the bars of the latter rather the narrower. Wing-cnverts im-
maculate pure white, except the anterior jiortion of the
lesser-covert region, which is deep cinereous ; last row
of coverts lipped with velvety black ; tertials velvety
black, shafted and edged with pure white ; the lower
iiiie with till! entire lower web pure white. Speculum
soft metallic green on the anterior half or two thirds,
the terminal portion velvety black. Primaries plain
cinereous. Tail-coverts (both ui)per and lower) deep
black, with a very faint bluish gloss ; rest of the lower
l)arts immaculate white. Tail-feathers dark cinereous,
edged with a.shy white. Bill " light grayish blue, with
the tip, including the unguis, bhick;" iris "hazel
brown;" legs and feet "light grayish blue " (Macgil-
livuay).

Wing, 1(M)()-11.(H) inches ; culmen, 1.35-1.45; tar-
sus, 1.45-1.()() ; middle toe, l.(i.j-1.75.

Ailidl fiiiiide : "Much smaller and ditt'erently col-
ored. The bill, iris, and feet, however are as in the
male. The head and ujiper neck are yellowish red,
with small greenish Idack spoLs, the feathers being
barred with that ci ' r. of which there is more on the upper part of the head. The feathers
of the upper parts in general are dusky brown, edged with brownish red or whiti.sh, and barred
with the same. The wings are du.sky gray ; the coverts in the part which is white in the male
tipped with that color, the secondary coverts with an indication of a dark terminal bar ; the
speculum grayish, without lustre ; the inner secondaries marked somewhat as in the male, but
with dark gray in place of black. The tail-feathers brownish gray, edged with lirownish white. On
the lower fore]jart and sides of the neck the feathers are obscurely barred with reddish brown and
brownish gray ; the sides are similar ; the breast and abdomen white ; the feathers under the tail
white, barred with brown, as are the smaller lower wing-coverts ; the larger pale gray " (Macgilli-
VRAY). Length, about 19.25 inches ; extent, .32.50; wing, lO.(H) ; tail, 4.00; culmen, L.'iO ; tarsus,
1.50; middle toe, 1.25. Young male: Head, neck, jugulum, sides, and flanks, umber-brown,
varying to a cinmimon shade, the head and neck thickly streaked with black, and the feathers of
the jugulum, sides, etc., centred with dusky. Back and scapulars dusky, the feathers broadly bor-
dered with dull fulvous ; crissuni irregularly streaked and spotted with dusky ; rump and upper
tail-coverts slaty brown, bordered with dull whitish. Wing as in the adult, excejtt that the
coverts are dull cinereous broadly bordered with white. Lower parts, except as described, pure
white.

An adult male from Alexandria, Va. CNo. 29519), has the rufous of the head jierfectly uniform,
with only a few blackish feathers immediately around the eye, and a suffusion of the same on the
chin; while the phikish of the jugulum Joins the rufous of the neck. No. 1271, New York
market, has the sides of the head speckled minutely with greenish black, the nape and entire throat
clouded with the same, and the pinkish of the jugulum se]iarated from the rufous of the neck by a
narrow indistinct collar of whitish, undulated with blackish. No. 10376, from Florida, ap})roaches
still more closely to M. nmericana in having also the occiput spotted with black, the eye more
broadly surrounded with greenish, the gro\uid-color of the cheeks nearly white, and the sides per-
vaded by a tinge of the pinkish of the jugulum. No. 62525, from St. Paul's Island, Alaska, is
most like the Alexandria specimen.

A young male (No. 57119, Europe) has the brown of the head, neck, sides, and Hanks, almost
chestnut ; the wing as in the adult, and the dorsal region mostly clothed with feathers of the adult
dress.

ANAT1X.E — THE DUCKS — MAKECA.

519

pure

The Coiumoii Widgeon of the I'ahuarctic Region is entitled to a phice in the fauna
of Nortli America on ratlier more than tlie ordinary grounds of an occasional straggler.
It has been found on different occasions in (.ireeuland, has been taken on Long Island,
is not infrequently seen exposed in the New Vork markets, and comes within our
fauna on the i'acitic coast. Two instances are on record of its occurrence in Illinois.
HolbiiU mentions its presence in Greenland — a young male procured in 18r»l, and
sent to the Itoyal Museum of Coi)enhagen. Hcsidcs this, I'rofesscu- Reiidiardt men-
tions having seen two other specimens — young birds obtained in South Greenland.

Mr. Giraud refers to an individual shot in the Bay of Long Island in December,
1842. This is now in the collection of Mr, George X. Lawrence, of New York. Itich-
ardson was coutident that this si)ecie3 occiurs in tht^ wooded distri(!ts of the Fur
Country, and that it breeds northward to latitude 08° N.

According to Dr. Goo[)er this bird is a not infre(|uent visitor to California. He
has seen quite a numljer in the collections of Mr. F. Gruber and of Mr. Lorquin in
San Francisco, where they are frequently sold in the market. Thtnr hal)its are said
to be similar to those of the M. aitievkuna.

According to Mr. Dall, this species is not uncommon among the Ducks brought in
by the native hunters of Unalashka. One was obtained there Oct. 12, 1871. It is a
winter visitor, and migrates about May 1. Ft was also met with by Mr. Elliott on
the Pryl)ilof Islands, where, as he .states, it is seldom seen, never in pairs, does not
breed, the few individuals observed being ajjparently wind-bound or astray.

In the Pahearctic Region it has a very extended distribution, occurring throughout
Europe and Asia, from Iceland and Siberia southward, and as far eastward as China
and Japan. It was foiuid in Formosa l)y Mr. Swinhoe, and at Ilakodadi in Japan by
Mr. H. Whitely (" Ibis," 1.SG7). In Siberia, acicording to Middemlorff, it occurs in
the wooded or forest regions. Mr. C. W. Shepard met with a few breeding in the
north of Iceland and in the neighborhood of Lake M^-vatn, where it Avas the rarest
of the birds found breeding in that locality. Occasionally one or two were seen,
but they were very shy, and it was impossible to say in wliat numbers they existed
there. Only one bird with its nest was obtained; but during the night the .shrill
whistle of this Duck coulil be heard above the general chorus of cooings and
quackings.

Captain tr. E. Shelley includes it among the birds of Egypt ("Ibis," 1871). He
met with it on Lake Menzaleh, while stopping at Tort Said, and frequently saw
specimens in the market at Alexandria.

Mr. Wheelwright found it one of the nu)st common of all the northern Ducks in
Scandinavia, breeding in almost all the still waters to far u}) within the Polar
Circle. The eggs are described as being of a clear yellowish-white color, about 2.25
inches in length and 1.50 in breadth.

According to Yarrell the. Widgeon visits Great Britain in immense numbers during
the winter season. It frei^uents the shores all around the coast, as well as the rivers,
lakes, and fens of the interior, and is held in great esteem for the table ; but from
its great abundance generally sells for a moderate price. Its habits in some re-
spects resemble, those of the Common ilallard, and great numbers are taken with
that bird, by means of decoys. For coast night-shooting Colonel Hawker thinks
this Duck furnishes the finest sport in Great Britain.

It nuikes its first appearance on the coast of that country about the end of Sep-
tember or the beginning of October, and flocks continue to arrive until the weather
becomes severe. It differs from nearly all its congeners in the nature of its food,
and in tlie time when this is ])r()cured. While the other species obtain nearly the

520 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

whole of their nourishment during the night, the Widgeon procures its food — con-
sisting of grass — in the daytime; and while the Mallard and the Teal are sporting
on the water or reposing on the banks, the Widgeon is devouring with avidity the
same kind of short grass on wliieh the Geese are found to feed. Though many tiocks
of Widgeons are known to aecomi)any the other Waterfowl in their nocturnal wan<l('r-
ings, the larger number of them pass the Avhole night where they have spent the day.
This is shown by their singular whistling noise, wliieh is heard at all hours.

In March and April the Wiilgeons again move northward for the breeding-season,
a small nund)er remaining in the northern part of Scotland to breed about the lakes
of Sutherlaudshire. Mr. Selby, in his paper on the birds of that region, writes that
he was much pleased to observe several pairs of this species upon the snuiller lochs
near Lairg. They probably had their nests among the reeds and other herbage which
grew in their vicinity. Mr. Selby was not so fortunate as to find any of them, but
afterward, upon one of the islands of Lake Laoghall, he shot a female upon a nest of
seven eggs. This was placed in the midst of a large collection of rushes, and was
made of decayed rushes and reeds, with a lining of Avarm down from tlie bird's body.
The eggs are described as being smaller than those of the Mallard, and of a rich
creamy white color. They measure 2.13 inches in length and 1.50 in breadth.

The note of the Widgeon is a shrill whistle, and on this account it is known in
some parts of England as the Whew Duck, and in France as the Canard >S!{ffeur.

According to the observations of Mr. Kichard Dunn, the Widgeon is the most abun-
dant of all the Duck tribe in Lapland, frequenting the grassy swamps, lakes, and
rivers, appearing in pairs with the lir.st breaking-up of the ice. As soon as the female
begins to lay, the male loses his beautiful plumage, and secretes himself in the
swamps and inaccessible morasses. The female la3'S from five to eight eggs. The
young keep among the rushes and reeds in the lakes, the old birds betaking them-
selves to the shallows on the coast. The AN'idgeon leaves for the south early in
September, appearing in great fio(;ks on the coast of Norway and Sweden ; it entirely
leaves Sweden in the winter.

Mareca americana.

THE AMEBICAN WIDGEON ; BALD-FATE.

Anas americana, Omel. S. X. I. ii. 1788, 526. — Wils. Am. Oin. VIII. 1814, 86, pi. 69, f. 1. — AuD.

OiTi. Biog. IV. 1838, 337, \>\. 345 ; Syiiop. 1839, 279 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 259, pi. 389.
Mareca americana, Stei-iikxs, Shaw's Ouii. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 135. —Sw. & Rich. V. B.A. II. 1831,

445. —Baikd, B. N. Am. 1858, 783 ; Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 58.'*. — Couem, Key, 1872, 286 ;

Check List, 1873, no. 493 ; 2d ctl. 1382, no. 713 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 564. — IUdgw. Xom. N.

Am. B. 1882, no. 607.
Mareca penclo^K, b., Blasiits, B. Eur. 1862, 21.

Hab. North America iu general, north to Arctic Ocean, south to Guatemala and Cuba. Acci-
dental in Europe. Breeds nearly • iroiighout its range.

Sp. Chak. Adult -male in wit .r.- Forehead and middle of crown (longitudinally) white,
generally inmiaculate ; ground-color of bead and neck white, sometimes more or less soiled with
grayish or brown, and thickly speckled with black ; a. broad space of metallic blackish green on
the side of the occiput, miming forward to the eye, and sometimes down the nape, where the
two spaces are confluent. Juguluiu plain pinkish viimceous ; sides and flanks the same, delicately
undulated with black ; lower tail-coverts velvety black ; rest of lower jiarts pure white. Btick
and scapulars grayish white, more or less tinged with the color of the sides, and similarly imdu-
lated with black. Wing-coverts immaculate pure white, the anterior portion of the lesser-covert
region cinereous, and the lai>t row tipped with velvety black ; sijeculum soft metallic green ante-

ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — MARECA.

521

ii()rl3', vulvL'ty black jMistLTiorly ; turtialH velvety black, sliariily l'(1),'i;(1 uitli whilt", the lower one
with its lower e(l},'e entirely ])uru while ; priniarics plain dark cinereous. Hiiinii cinereous, niinutelv
undulated ou the edj,'es of the I'eathui-s ; upjier tail-coverts velvety bluck, the inner webs mostly
grayish ; ' il hoary cinereous. Bill light grayish blue, the end black ; iris brown ; legs and feet
light bluish. Wing, 10.2.'j-l().75 inches ; culnien, 1.."}()-1..50 ; tarsus, lAb-lM ; middle toe, 1.65-

J/. americana.

- AuD.

Acci-

1.85. Adult feimde : Above, dusky grayish brown, with transverse, rather distant, bars of dull white
or light ochraceous. U'ing-coverts dark dull cinereous, broadly tijjped and bordered with white ;
speculum dull black. Head and neck streaked with blackish ujion a dull whitish ground, the
former color prevailing on the nape and behind the eye. Jugulum pale grayish vinaceous, the
feathers darker beneath the surface ; sides and Hanks deeper vinaceous ; lower tail-coverts trans-
versely spotted with l)rown ; rest of lower j)arts pure white, i'niuuj imih' : Similar to the adult
female, but the c(dors more pronounced and the pat-
tern better defined, especially on tlie wing. Downy
young : Above, dark olive, with a sepia tinge ; a spot
of pale greenish fulvous on the posterior half of the
wing, one on each side of the back, and one on each
side of the rump. Lower parts, including head and
neck, pale fulvous ; a distinct blackish olive stripe from
bill to and back from the eye, with a wide and con-
spicuous superciliary stripe of fulvous above it.

The chief variation in the plumage of adidt males
of this species consi.sts in the extent of the green patch
and the amount of black spotting on the head, the
pureness of the white on the forehead, and the extent
of the white patch on the wing-coverts. The green
patch on the side of the occiput is usually poorly de-
fined, and broken up by lighter spotting ; but in No.
21-120, Washington, D. C, and No. 84712, from South-
ern Ohio (Dr. F. W. Langdon), it is as conspicuous as

in the adult male of Nettion carolinensis, and of very similar extent and form. Anteriorly, it sur-
rounds the eye, and posteriorly it pa.sses down the nape (where the two opposite spaces are con-
fluent for the entire length of the neck); its outlines are firm throughout, and its surface is entirely
unbroken by admixture of white. In the former specimen the black spotting is so aggregated on
the throat that the gular region is almost uniformly dusky, while the spots at the lower end of
the white portion of the neck are s .ge as almost to blend into a collar, uniting the green of the

VOL I. — 60

Male.

522

LAMELLIUOSTIUL SWIMMERH — ANSERES.

nape with the hlack ol' tlie tlirout. All the other clmmcteM of the BiifiieH iire very much exuf,'K'er-
nti'tl in this Hpecinien. Youn;,'er HiK-ciniens, just iws.seHsed of the iiiUilt ilress, are usually ilJHtin-
yui^'lied liy Imviii;,' the while winj,'-((ivert iiatch tloudeJ with nsh, the green of tho head poorly
deliued, and the white of the foivhead more or lew* speckled.

Female.

The IJald-piitc, or Aini'riciin \Vi(l},'t'un, is distrilmted nearly throughoiit North
Anii'i'ica, is found in winter a.s far to the soiitii as Central America, and in siini-
iner yoes to liiijli northern latitudes to breed. It is a strat,'yler to Kurope, specimens
having been taken in the London markets. In its migrations it j)asHes tlirougji the

interior as W(dl as along the coast. A*; Lake
Koskonong, Wis., Mr. Kumlien lias found it
abundant both in tiie spring and fall. A few
remain in the lake during the summer, but these
are always in Hocks, iinnmtt'd, and in imma-
ture plunuige. No broods of young have been
met with.

Mr. f^alvin found this Duck common on the
Lake of Atitlan, where it was seen in May,
1858 ; and it was also observi'd near the vil-
lage of Laguna, about a day's journey from
Guatemala. IVIr. Salvin afterward met with it
also among the lagoons on the i'aeitic coast.
It was found abundant on the eastern coast of
jNIexico and on the southern coast of Texas by
Mr. Dresser; and Ccdoiiel (Jrayson found it
abundant on the coast of Western INlexico, near
Mazatlan, from November until late in spring.
It occurs more or less numerously in most of the West India Islands, having been
noted in St. Thomas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Trinidad. In the last-named island it is
said by Lootaud to arrive in December and January, leaving for the north in April ;
but in some years is not met with. Its flesh is held in high esteem, especially when
the birds are young, and after they have been for some time on the island.

Mr. Ilearne states that this Duck was, a century ago, a Vi'vy uncommon visitor
to Hudson's Hay. It usually kept in pairs, being rarely seen in flocks, and was
most frequently observed in rivers and marshes near the sea-coast. Mr. Iloss found
it common on the Mackenzie ; and Captain lUakiston also met with it in Hudson's
Bay, and saw it in large numbers on the Saskatchewan. It occurs in tln' spring and
fall near Calais, Me. — where, however, ^Ir. Hoaidman regards it as rather rare. It is
an occasional, rather than a common, visitor to New England. Ac-cording to Giraud,
it is lu't numerous on Long Island, though so abuiulant farther south.

Mr. Allen found this bird (piite common in the valley of the Salt Lake ; Mr. R.
Browne mentions its occurrence on Vancouver Island ; and Mr. Dall found it not
uncommon near Nulato and on the Yukon, but rar*" at St. Michael's. Its eggs and
nests were not distinguishable from those of the Dnfila acuta, but the bird is less
active than that species, and slower in flight.

On the coast of Norton Sound — according to Mr. Adams — the Widgeon does not
arrive until the IL'th of May ; but later a considerable number were always to be met
with about the inland marshes. It appeared to live very much upon insects, which
it captures on the water and about the rushes. The small inland lakes were its prin-
cipal places of resort, and its nests were generally upon the grassy banks. The eggs

ANATIN.R - THE DUCKS - M.VRECA.

623

aro (losrril)P(l as Ihmiik small, imich rlonj^atcd. },'rn(Mally laiK't'r at mii' ciid, and of a
pale Hca-f^rt't'ii color.

ApoonliiiR to Dr. ('ooin-r, this species is one o|' the most alnindant fresh-water
Ducks found duriiii,' the winter in Calil'ornia. and. lirin;,' easily shot, is one of the
most conunou kinds in the market, it is. unlike the Kuropean species, very rarely
seen on salt water; hut. like the Teals, resorts to every little pool and swamp. It
is generally supposed to keep a sentinel on j^uard while feeding. Imt may he decoyed
within easy ^junshot by imitatinj,' its notes. It has been found, duriiif; the summer,
amonfi; the IJocky Mountains, in latitude 41.'° N.. and is .said hy l»r. Siickley to breed
among the inland lakes of ( )re<j;on. At that season it usually ranges from latitude

r»o° to «;s°.

During the violent revolving gab- which visited the l?ermudas, Oct. I'li, lHu4 — as
Mv. Ilurdis states — a large number of Ducks, including this species, took refuge in
the creeks and nuirshes of the islanils. where several JSald-pates were shot by dif-
ferent persons and brought to him for ins])ecti(m. In Xovember of the same year
a single example — a female — was shot. These were the only ones taken on the
Islands during his residence there.

From the f\ill iind interesting notes of the late ^Ir. Hobert Keinucott ndative to
this species we gather tlie following observations : A l>ald-pate"s nest was taken
near Fort Yukon, June 7, some thirty rods from the river, on high, dry ground,
among large sjjruces and poplars. This species always nests on high, dry ground,
among trees or bushes, at a consiilerable distance from water. The Dufi/a aritta
nests in somewhat similar situations — though not generally .so far from water — and
sometimes in dry spots in grassy meadows. Sputid'i vli/jwdta breeds in the woods ;
Bucpphiihi iilhrithi in holes in trees; Qiirvi/Ki'diih ili'sntrs and Xiftinu niro/iiiciisi's in
high, dry grounil among trees ; Fiifir nffiiiis and F. marUa in gr.'issy edges of lakes,
in water, but never in deej) water, unless the nest be on a tussock. ^Ethi/ia vallisneria
nests in rather dee]) water, among grass. Mclnnetta velrctino and PcHonctfo perspi-
cillata breed here — the former very abundantly — nesting among large spruces close
to the water. Thus it will be seen that the Ivivtn- Ducks nest generally on dry land,
and the Sea Ducks in water, or just on the edge of water. Hfrfmii-ffd nests the latest
of all the Ducks, and the Mallard the earliest, ^fr. Kennicott adds that the Hald-
pate is generally known to the voi/aijeiirs throughout the Fur Countries by the name
of "Smoking-Duck," or by its Cree name of Ximimipikhtwaii, Avhich signifies a
smoker ; and its soft, gentle whistle may be easily imagined to resemble the Cree
words.

The Widgeon breeds rather .abundantly throughout the whole of British America,
as far north as the Arctic Ocean, but only rarely in the extreme northern parts of
the United States, both east and west of the Kocky Mountains. In October and
April it visits in large numbers the rivers and marshes, as well as both sea-coasts,
of Northern United States, and is much sought by hunters, its flesh being excellent,
and the bird generally in good condition. It winters in the Southern States, Mexico,
and the West Indies. Though in winter the Widgeon collects in very large flocks,
it passes over the northern parts of the INIississippi Valley in small bands, and usually
arrives at the Mackenzie and the Yukon in pairs, or in small parties of three or
four together. It reaches Slave Lake and the Yukon early in May, and begins to
nest .about the middle of that month, though some do not do so till the early part
of June. It is rather more common west of the moiuitains than in the Mackenzie
Region, and considerable numbers are foTuid in the breeding-season on Lake Winni-
peg, where several were obtained by INIr. Donald Gunn. In the north the Widgeon

524

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

exhibits a greater preference for rivers and oj)en liikos than most of the other fresh-
water Ducks, which ])refer the grassy hikes and nuuslies. Most of the nests wliieh
3lr. Kennioott obsei,>.. were near rivers in places not frequented by other Ducks,
except sometimes by the MaHard. The favorite situation for the nest is remarkable ;
for while the other Ducks — except, jierhaps, the Teal — choose the immediate vicin-
ity of water, he found the AVidgeon always breeding at sonu^ considerable distance
from it. Several of the nests obtained on tlu' Yukon were fully half a mile from
the river — the nearest water. He invariably found the nest among dry leaves, upon
high, dry ground, cither under large trees or in thick groves of small ones — fre-
quently among thick spruces. The nest is rather small — simjjly a dej)ression among
the leaves — but thickly lined with down, with which, after incubation is begun, the
eggs are covered when left by the parent. The nest is usually i)laced at tlie foot of
a tree or bush, with generally no attempt at concealment. The fenuile, when started
from her nest, ri.ses silently into the air. and usually Hies to the nearest water, though
sometimes she will alight on the ground a few rods distant. The males renuiin nuire
or less in the vicinity for some time after the females begin to incubate ; but when
the time of moulting arrives they retire to the grassy marshes and edges of lakes for
concealment, leading a solitary life. The yoving, while unable to fly, are frequently
found seeking the shelter of grassy lakes. As soon, however, as they can fly they
return to their favorite river-shores and open feeding-places, where they obtain
aquatic insects, a few small shells, and tiic seeds and roots of various plants. In the
fall the broods often sejjarate before leaving for the south ; this they do about the
middle of September. Mr. Kennieott several times found perf. st eggs of this spe-
cies—though never of any other Duck — dropped along the shores of rivers, at their
feeding-places. This bird is said to make its first appearance on the Chesapeake
about the last of Octoljer.

While the Canvas-backs and the Black-heads dive and ]pull up by the roots the
vallisnerid grass, the IJald-itates manage to obtain their full share of it, and at times
succeed in robbing them of the whole. At this time the flavor of the liald-jiate is
considered preferable to that of even the far-fanu'd Canvas-backs. Of all the ducks
that are found in the Chesapeake, the Widgeon is said to be one of the most difficult
to attract to the shore by the process known as "toling." In wing-shooting it is
regarded by the Inciters ius a great nuisance. It is not only so shy that it avoids the
points of land, but by its whistling and confused manner of flight it alarms the other
species. During its stay in those waters it is the constant com))anion of the Canvas-
backs, upon whose superiority in diving it dejjcnds in ;> large degree for its food,
stealing from them, as they rise to tlie surface of the water, the tender roots of the
plant of which lK)th are so fond. When in good condition the flesh of the liald-pate
cannot easily be distinguished from that of the Canvas-back. It is also thought that
birds killed on other waters, tho\igh excellent eating, are far inferior to those from
the flats of the Chesaiieake. The liald-jjate is said to visit the rice-lields of the South
during the winter in considerable numbers.

The places in the northern regions from Avhich this Duck has been reported in its
breeding-sea.son are the Yukon liiver ami Kort Yukon, by .Mr. J. Loekhart and 3Ir.
S. Jones; Fort Resolution, by Mr. Kennieott; Fort Anderson, Ander.son River, tlie
Lower Anderson. Swan River, etc., by JFr. MacFarlane ; Selkirk Settlement, by Mr.
Donald Gunn ; Nulat') anil the Lower Yukon, by jMr. Dall ; New Westminster, by
Mr. H. W. Elli. ■ ..

The eggs of this species are of a creamy ivory wliite color, and vary in length from
2.1/i to 2.20 inches, and from 1.4i» to 1.50 in breadth.

ANATINJ: — THE DUCKS — SPATULA.

525

Genus SPATULA, Boie.

Spatida, Boie, Isis, 1822, 564 (type, Anaschjimita, Li.w.).

RUyncluispis, "Leach," Stepiiens, Slmw's Gen. Zool. XIL ii. 1824, 114 (same typo).

Char. Bill longer than the head, much expanded, or almost spatulate, terminally, where about
twice as wide a.s at the compressed base ; maxillary laiuelho very thin, len<,'theiied, almost com-
pletely exposed posteriorly, where resembling the teeth of a fine comb. Tail short, the leathers
acute.

Of this very curious and well-marked genus, in which, however, there is littl" that is jieculiar
except in the form of the bill, about five species are known — one occurring throughout the north-
ern hemisphere, tiie others peculiar to Soutii America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the two American species and that from Australia there is a very close resemblance in the
coloration of tiie wing to certain species of Qncrquahda (e. g. discors and njanoptcm) ; while in
the Australian species (,S'. rlnjuchotis) this curious analogy is carried still farther, the coloration of
the head, including the white crescentic bar across the lores, being almost exactly as in Q. discors.

The characters of the two American and the Australian species are as follows : —

.-jr^»Vfl»'

S. clypeaUt.

Com. Char, (adult males). Le.sser wing-coverts pale dull blue ; middle coverts Ijroadly tipjied
with white ; s])eculum bron:',e-green ; tertials striped centrally with white ; lower parts chestnut-
rufous ; a white patch at the base of the tail, on each side.

A< Culmeu nearly straight, slightly ilepressed in the middle ; feathering at base of maxilla, on
each side extending forward as far as that im the foreheail.

1. S. olypeata. Head and neck dull dark green ; jugulum white. Hah. Northern hemi-

spiiert'.

2. S. rhynohotlB. Head and neck dull brownish gray, faintly glossed with glaucous-green

on the nape ; the anterior i)art of the head marked on each side by a white crescentic
bar across the lore ; jugulum dusky, marked with buff. Jhdt. Australia.
B> Culmen decidecUy concave in the middle portion ; feathering at the lia.se of the maxilla on
each sidi', furming a stniight vertical line.

3. S. platalea. Head and neck buff, speckled with ilusky ; jugulum light cinnamon, spotted

with black. Hnh. Southern South America.

The genus Spatula has a near relative in the cm'um'* Midnrnrhjinehuii mfvihranaceiui of Aus-
tralia, which has tt somewhat similar but still more nmarkable bill, and differs further in the

526 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

following particulars : The maxilla is Ifs.s expaiuled tenniiially, the edges being nearly parallel ;
but on each side, near the end, i?; a nienibrauoous, soniewliat angular lobe, tiie end of the mandible
being nearly truncated, and tiie nail muih ."mailer and narrower than in Spatula ; the nostrils are
much smaller, and near the base of the bill ; the tertials and rectrices are broad and rounded,
instead of acute.

The two American species of Spatula differ more particularly as follows : —

1. S. clypeata. Mah-: Head and neck dark metallic green ; jugulum white ; abdomen and

sides chestnut, unspotted ; back and inner scai»ulars dusky ; outer scapulars white.
Female: Back and scapulars nearly uniform dusky; bill brown, the mandible dull
oiiin;,'e.

2. S. platalea.* Male: Head and neck buff, streaked witli black ; jugulum, back, and scap-

ulars (outer 08 well as inner) deep cinnamon-buff, thickly marked with roundish spots of
black; abdomen and sides chestnut, speckled with black. Female: Back and .scapulars
dusky, the feathers broadly bordered and otherwise \ariegated with bulf ; bill wholly
black.

The female and young male of .S'. plntaJea may also be readily distinguished from those of S. cly-
peata by the much longer, more cuneatc tail, the rectrices being almost, if not (juite, as acuminate
as in the species of PcceUonetta ; thus, while the middle rectrices in a female of S. clypeata measure
alxiut 3.75 inches, those of an example of .S. platalea measure 4.25, or half an inch longer.

Spatula clypeata.

THE SHOVELIEB; SPOON-BILL DUCK.

Anas c/ijjifatn, LiNN. S. X. ed. 10, I. 1758, 124 ; o<l, 12, I. 1760, 200. — Wn.s. Am. Oin. VIII. 1814,

65, i>l. 67, fig. 7. —Sw. & \iuu. V. n. A. II. 1831, 439. — Xurr. Man. 11. lt«34, 375. — Am.

Orn. lUog. IV. 1838, 241, pi. 327 ; .Syiiop. 1839, 283; B. Am. VI. 1843, 293, j.l. 394.
Sjtnlula eltii>eata, Boik, Isi.s, 1822, 564.— BAiiin, B. N. Am. 1858, 781 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no.

583. — Coi-Es, Key, 1872, 288; (luck List, 1873, no. 498; 2d ed. 1S81, no. 718; B. N. W.

1874, 570. — Uinow. Noin. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 008.
Anas rubcns, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 419.
? Anns mexieana, LvTH. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 857.
Chjjtc.nla m'-.^iurhyticlws, platyrhyneho.i, }iomarina, brachyrhynelios, Brkhm, Viig. Deutschl. 876,

877, 878, 879.

Haii, The whole of the Northern Hemisphere ; Australia. Breeding from Texas to Alaska ;
wintering as far suuth as (Juatemala, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Sp. ("hah. Adult male, in viiif-r: Head and neck dark metallic bluish green, much duller than
in Anas hnschan ; breast and outer .scapulars white, the former sometimes sputted with dusky ; entire
alxlomen and sides uniform che.stnut ; crissum dark metallic bluish green, liounded anteriorly by
a band of finely inidulated grayish wliite. Back iind inner scapulars dusky, the featliers sometimes
bonlered with white ; longer, lanceolate scapulars marked with a niesiid lanceolate stripe of white ;
wing-coverts light grayisli blue, the last row tipjied with white, forming a narrow band across
the wing ; fii)eculum bright metallic green, very narrowly lipped with white; tertials dusky
black, with faint green refle<tions, and marked towaivl tiie end witii an inilistiiut mesial stripe of
grayish white ; primaries ami their coverts dull sbite-gray ; rump and upper tail-coverts black, the
former with faint, the latter with i)right, green reflections ; rectrices chielly grayish white, the middle

• Spatula i-i.atai.ka.

Pain tsftatulalit, AzAiiA, Ajiunt. HI. 1805, 431 (Buenos Ay res).

Anas pliitn lea, ViEIl.l.. Niniv. Diet. V. 1816, 157 (ex AzAItA, 1. c).

Sjxilulii phliilea', Hakti.. Ind. A/ara, 1847, 27. — Set. & Sai.v. Xnm. Ncotr. 1873, 180 ; V. Z.

8. 1870, 390 (monngnipiiic).
Jihiinehaspis mncuhtns, "(inii.n, M.S." .Tahh. & SKi.nv, Ilhistr. Orn. pi. 147.
D(^/ila eresio-scapulala, Reiciie.nb. Natnt. pi. 61, fig. 180.

ANATIXiE — THE DUCKS — SPATULA.

627

876,

ones dark gray, edged with white. Bill deep black ; iris bright yellow ; legs and ieet beautiful

orange-red. Adult female : Wings as in the male, but colors rather duller. Othei- parts grayish

brown above, varied with brownish

white ; brownish white below, the

head and neck streaked, the breast,

alxlomen, etc., spotted, with grayish

brown. Bill brown, mandible or-
ange; iris yellow and feet orange-
red, as ill the male. Young male:

Similar to the adult female, but

lower parts (always ?) tinged with

chestnut. Young female : Similar to

the adult, but wing-coverts dull

slate, with little, if any, blue tinge,

the speculum dusky, with a very

faint green reflection, and rather

broadly tipped with brownish white.

Downy young : Above, grayi:5h

brown, with a brownish-white spot

on each side of the back, and a cor-
responding pair on the rump ; pile-

um darker than the back and nape ;

head (except pileuni) and entire

lower parts pale grayish fulvous,

or dirty grayish buffy white, shaded

with brownish gray across the jugu-

lum ; a narrow stripe of dark brown

from the upper angle of tlie base

of the bill to the eye, and contin-
ued posteriorly about half Avay to

the occiput ; another similar stripe

beneath the last, beginning a little behind the posterior border of the eye, and extending farther

back than the one above it. [Described from No. 655C1, Souris R., Dakota, Aug. 10, 1873 ; Dr.

E. CouES, U. S. A.]

Total length, about 20.00 inches ; ex-
tent, 31.00 to 33.00 inches ; wing, 9.00-
10.00 ; culnien, 2.t)0-2.90 ; width of bill
at end, 1.10-1.20, at base, .GO ; tarsus, 1.40-
1.50; middle toe, 1.(5.5-1.75. Specimens
vary considerably in colors : usually the
white of the chest and scapulars is nearly
'^^■^^iik' 'ii^B or (piite immaculate ; but not infrequently
y" ^HIIR,\ ll'fl^V thesis portions are more or less sj)otted with

du.sky. The chestnut of the abdomen is
sometimes immaculate, sometimes barred
with dusky.

The Shoveller Duck, while no-
whore conspicuously numerous, ap-
pears to have the most extended
distribution of any si)ecie3 of the
Female. Duck tribe. It is found throughout

North and Central America as far to
the south as Panama ; is more or less common in every portion of Europe and Asia,

528 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES.

except in the extreme north ; is found in Nortliern and Central Africa ; and is said
to liave been taken even in South Africa and in Australia; but the evidence in this
regard is not wholly satisfactory.

Mr. Salvin found it inhul)iting the Lake of Duenas during the winter, where it
remained until about tiie end of .March. Colonel (Jrayson met with it on the western
coast of Mexico, and Dr. Palmer obtaint'd it at Guaynuis. The fornuu- speaks of it
as very common about Mazatlan from Xovenil)er to May. According to Dr. Cooper,
the Shoveller, or, as there called, the '• Spoon-bill Duck,*' is common in winter along
the entire coast of California and throughout the interior, as far nortii as the Colum-
bia, wherever the fresli water to which it resorts is not frozen over. Jt arrives from
the north about tlie 1st of October, and remains until March or April, associating
with other fresli-water Ducks. It is generally silent, and has at all times but a
feeble voice. Its food (consists of the same vegetable and animal substances as those
eaten by the allied species ; but this bird has the advantage of a more expanded and
sensitive bill as a helj) in finding them, and eonsecpieutly becomes very fat ; its tiesh
is also consitlered well flavored.

From tlie late Mr. Uobert Keunicott's manuserij)ts we take the following: "Tliough
the Shoveller goes in smumer nearly or (jiiite as far to the north as Ihifihi acuta, a
larger proportion nest farther south. A few breed within the United States ; and
Dr. Hoy menti(ms it as sometimes nesting in S(mtlicrn Wisconsin. At Slave Lake I
first observed it about the middli' of May. when tliey had already paired. It is highly
probable that they arrived earlier, but from their small nund)ers escape attention. A
pair comnuauu'd nesting at the Vukon about the L'dth of May. I found it rather rare
at the north, tlu)Ugh less so west of tlu' mountains than in the Mackenzie Region. 1
did not see more tlian a pair of old birds together at any time. The few specimens
observed were usually feeding in sliallow water near the shore ; though they appeared
to seek the grassy sjiots less tlian the other fresli-water Ducks."

^Ir. liannister states that tliis species was frecpuMitly seen by him among the
birds brouglit in by tlie hunters of the Fort, during the month of May, at St. Michael's.
Mr. Dall was informed tiiat it l)reeds at one point in the strait between St. ^liduiel's
and the nuiinland. He obtained only a single skin at Unalaklik ; and thinks this
bird cannot be abunchiut anywhere near the Yukon.

Dr. Ricluirdstm states that this sjiecies chiefly frequents the clear lakes of the
northern districts, and breeds in the Harren (irounds; but is found in consid-
erable numbers, in spring and autumn, in the nu)re .southern wooded districts.
Captain Blakiston procured specimens from Hudson's liay, and also from the Sas-
katchewan ; and it was foinid on the Mackenzie River, Avithin the Arctic Circle, by
Mr. Bernard Ross.

Major Wedderburn mentions the capture of a single sjtecin en in Bermuda in
December, 1844. It is also recorded ns occurring in several of the West India
Islands, Dr. (Jundlach noting it as a visitor to ('uba, Mr. Riisse as having been found
in St. Thomas, and Lcotaud as being (piite a regular winter visitant to Trinidad.
In th(^ latter place it arrives in December or January, and leaves in Ajtril or May.
It occurs rarely in flocks ; and its flesh, owing probably to some local food wliieh
impairs its flavor, is not favorably regarded.

It does not appear to be at all abunthmt on any part of the eastern coast of the
United States. It occurs in small ninidters, in spring and fall, in the neigld)orhood
of Calais, but is not recorded from farther north, it is found occasionally in the fall
in Massachusetts, but is not recorded as occurring there in the spring. Two were
shot at Rye Beaeli in Augiist, 1872.

ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — SPATULA.

529

this

tlu"

)iisi(l-

icts.

Siis-

', l)y

According to Givaud, it is met with in small numbers ou Long Island, where it is
known to hunters by the name of the "Spoon-bill." It is occasionally met with
along the sea-coast ; but is nmch more generally found in the lakes and fresh-water
streams, although never abundant in any part of Long Island. Its flesh is tender
and juicy, and is deservedly held in high esteem. Jlr. J. A. Allen met Avith tliia
species in the valley of Salt Lake, in Utah, where he found it common.

Our space would not suttice to enumerate the various records of its presence in
different parts of the Old World, where it seems to have an almost universal distri-
bution. Mr. Salvin met with it in small numbers near Zara, in Xortheastern Africa.
^Ir. Saunders found it not unconnuon in Soutli(>rn Spain, where it was supposed to be
resident, and to breed. Cajjtain (i. E. Shelh-y ("Ibis," 1871) found it one of tlu;
most abundant of the Ducks throughout Egyjtt, where also some remained to breed.
Mr. E. C Taylor met with it in Egypt ; jNIr. Tristram in Soutliern Valestine on the
Jordan, and in the region of the Sahara. Mr. T. L. I'owys records it as common in
the winter in (Jreece. It was observed in Jaj)an by Mr. II. Whitely ("Ibis," 18(57);
and also in Japan and ('hina l)y other authorities.

According to Yarrell, it is chiefly ii winter visitant in Great liritain, inhabiting
marshes, lakes, rivers, and muddy shores, gathering its food in shallow water. It is
most iilentifnl on the eastern i)arts of England, and breeds in various idaces, from
Essex to Lincolnshire. Various attempts have been made to rear this bird from
the egg, but generally without much success. During the sunnner of 1841 a i)air of
Shovellers made a nest and brought out their young on one of the islands in the
Garden of the Zoological Society. The bills of these ducklings were as narrow and
the sides as parallel as the bills of some young CJailwalls hatched at the same time.
The egg of the Shoveller is described as butty -white, tinged with green, 2.17 inches
long, and l.itO wide.

Yarrell says that this bird is not common in Scandinavia, where it is chiefly confined
to the south of Sweden, and that it is found in Russia and Germany, is abundant in
Holland, and breeds regidarly in the marshes of France. It also occurs in various
])arts of India, .and nearly throughout Asia. Mr. Dresser states that it has not been
found in Southern Africa; lint ilr. Yarrell refers to specimens brought from there by
Mr. Andrew Smith. Von Ileuglin sjieaks of it as a permanent resident in Abyssinia.
In Xnbia, according to Captain Shelley, it seemed to jn-efer the smaller pools and the
banks of lakes and rivers, and to be less shy than other species of ^Vater-Eowl. He
S])eaks of its flesh as "very inferior eating." Dr. Jenlon, in recording its occurrence
in India, speaks of it as feeding, near the edges of tanks, in shallow water, among
weeds, chiefly on minute worms and larvie, which it sifts from the mud.

Althougli a fresh-water Duck, it is not infre(pu'ntly met with on the coast; but
its favorite resort is fresh waters overgrown with aquatic plants. It is not particu-
larly shy, and is generally seen in flocks. It feeds on the seeds of various watei-
plants, grain, and minute water-insects, for wliich last its fringed mandibles are
especially usefid, enabling it to expel the water, and yet retain the minutest insects
gathered in at the sanu' time. On account of its fondness for insects one author has
nanunl the species mnsrarhi.

In Europe it breeds in May, June, and Jidy. Its nest — placed close to some
fresh-water j)ond or lake — is a hole scratched in the soil, lincil with a few grasses
and a considerable quantity of down phu'ked from the bird itself. In Denmark it
breeds near the coast, and on islands in the fiords. The nests are iisually concealed
in the high grass or under low bushes, and ( antain from nine to f(mrteen eggs.
Eggs have been found as early as the 2d of May and us late as the 24th of July.

vor,. I. — fu

530

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSEUES.

L'lu'y are described as paler than those of the ^Mallard, and of very fine texture ; the
(•(dor is greenish gray of a very pah*, soft tone ; in shape they are oblong oval, taper-
ing slightly at one end, and measure from J.'.»7 by 1.30 to 1}.03 by 1.40 inches.
The (^ohn- sometimes varies to grayisli cream.

I'rofessor Kundien informs me that these Ducks are common in Southern Wis-
consin, where they arrive (piite late in the sjjring, and a few remain to breed. He has
met with several broods of young ; but has found only one nest, which was placed in
the midst of a high bog. It resembled that of the Mallard, but was less bidky, and
was plentifidly sufijAicd with down. A great many old males are seen in the early
part of summer, in flocks ; from which he naturally conjectures that their females
breed sonunvhere in the extensive marshes that surround Ijake Koskonong.

Near I'ewaukee, in the same State, this Duck has been found breeding by Mr,
B. F. Goss, who writes me that on May 24, in lioricon Lake, near the highest jjart
of a snudl island, some five feet id)ove the water, a single '■ S])oon-bill " had made
her nest. Tlu^ Mallards were all around within a few ft'ct. As the ground was
quite bare, with nu'rely a few rocks scattered about, the birds could be seen from the
water sitting on their nests. On his first ai)proacli he noticed the Spoon-bill rising
with the rest ; and after examining the nests, selected one that was somewhat
smaller than the others, with smaller eggs, and lined with feathers of a little dilTerent
shade, as the Spoon-bill's nest. He set a snudl stake to mark the place, and retired
until the birds returned to their eggs, when he again a])j)roached, Avatching carefully
the indicated spot, and had the good fortune to kill the bird as she rose. The nest
contained ten eggs, (piite fresh, a little snudler than the Mallard's, from which they
differed somewhat in color and in shape.

The localities in the Fur llegion from which this Duck has been reported as
breeding are Fort Kesolution, on Great Slave Lake, the Yukon Iviver, Fort Kae, Big
Island, Lake Winnipeg, Anderson lliver, the Lower Anderson, Shoal Lake, Unalakleet,
Red River, etc.

Eggs from iho Yukon River in the Smithsonian Collection (No. 6G12) are of a
gi'cenish-white color, and uu'asurc from 2.0.J to 2.10 inclu\s in length, and from 1.40
to 1.50 in breadth.

Genus QUERQUEDULA, Stephens.

Querqtiedtihi, Stf.I'IIKNS, Sliaw's Cww. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 142 (tyin;, Anas querquedula, LiNN.).
Cyanopterm, Kyiox, Mon. Aiiat. 1838, 38 (type?). (Not of Hiillidny, 1835.)
Plerm-nmim, Bl'. Cut. Met. 1842, 71 (tyi>i!).

Char. Size .iinull (wing less than 8 inches). Bill slightly longer than the Lead, the edges
nearly parallel, the nuixillary tomiuni sinuated, .so as to (listinctly expose the lamella) for tl Ijasal
half, and the terminal half of the cidnien slightly but distinctly arched. Otherwise much like
Nettion.

The two North American s])ecies of Querquedula agree very closely in tlie details of form, in
which respect they scarcely differ from tlie type of tlie genus, tlie Q. circia (L.) of Europe. The
cohjration of the wing, which is almost exactly tliat of Sjtnlula, is also essentially the same in these
three species. Tlie females are very different from the males, except in the colors of the wing,
being much duller. The following are the main differential characters of the North Americtm
species : —

1. Q. dlsoorB. Adult vutk : Head and neck dtdl pluml)eous, with a faint lavender-pnrple
gloss on the sides of the occi])ut ; jiileum blackish ; a large white, somewhat crescent-
shapcil, mark before the eye, entirely across fore part of the head ; lower parts pale

ANATIN.E — THE PttkS - IjUEUQUEDULA.

531

reddish, spotted with bhick. Hub. Nnuli Americii f^eneruUy, but chiefly the Eastern
Province.
2. Q' cyaaoptera Adult mak: Head, neck, and lower parts rich uniform chestnut, the
alxlonien duller (sometimes dusky), the jiilcum blackish. Hub. Western America, from
Chili to Wa8hinj,'ton Territory.

Q. disci/rs.

Querquedula discors.

THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL.

Anas discors, LiNS. S. X. cd. 12, I. 1766, 20.'> (based on Qiierq. nmcric. varicgata, Catesii. 100;
Buiss. VI. 452. — Qufrq. nmcric. fuscn, Catesd. 99. — Qiicrq. virgininmi, Biuss. VI. 455). —
Wn,s. Am. Oiii. VIII. 1814, 74, pi. "„'. 4. — Aud. Oni. Biog. IV. 1838, 111, pi. 313 ; Synop.
1839, 282 ; H. Am. VI. 1843, 2S7, pi. 393.

Jnas {llosclws) iliscrs, S\v. & IMcn. F. B. A. II. 1S31, 444. — Xutt. Man. II. 1834, 397.

Querquedula discors, Sir.i'Ui-.Ns, .'^ha\v'3 C!on. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 149. — Baiud. B. N. Am. 1858,
779 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 581. —Cons, Key, 1872, 287 ; Clicck List, 1873, no. 496 ; 2d
od. 1882, no. 710 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 560. — Kincw. Xom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 609.

Sarcclli- nuUc dc Caijcnnc, dile Ic Soiicrourou, BuFi". PI. Knl. 966 ((J ad.).

Had. North America in general, but chiefly the Eastern Province ; i;,)Vth to Alaska, south to
Ecuador, and tlirouj,diout West Indies. Accidental in Euro])e.

Sp. Char. Adnlt mah: Head and neck dull
plumbeous, slightly glossed with lavender-i>urplc on
the side of the occiput and nape, and marked in frmit
of the eyes by a large, somewhat crescentic, patch if
white, e.xtending entirely across the anterior portion
of the head ; jjilcum, chin, and feathers bordering the
white patclies, blackish ; h)Wer parts pah- reddish,
thickly spotted with black, thecrissum uniform black.
Back luid anterior scapulars dusky, marked with con-
centric or U-shaju-d l)ai-s of ])ale reddish bulT ; lesser
wing-coverts and outer webs of some of the longer
scapulars pale blue ; middle coverts white for the
exposed portion, forming i\ bar across the wing ;
speculum bronzy green, dusky terminally, with a
very narrow white tip ; tertials black, with a central
stripe of buff ; a white patch at the base of the tail
on each side ; axillurs imumculate pure white. Bill uniform black ; iris browti : leet yellowish.
Adult female : Wings, only, as in the male ; upper j.arts dusky, the feathers ', I with dull

Male a not. size).

532

LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES.

buff, the pileum and nape finely stronked ; rest of head and neck, and lower parts generally,
laownish white, the head and neck Mreaked with dusky, except on the cliin and upper part of the
throat, the streaks more dense immediately before antl behind the eye, thus forming an indis-
tinct stripe on the side of the head ; feathers of the lower parts generally with dusky grayish
brown centres, forming spots when exposed, less distinct on the alxlomen, where sometimes
obsolete.

Total length, about 16 inches ; extent, about 25 ; wing, 7.00-7.50 ; cuhnen, 1.40-1.65; tarsus,
1.20-1.30 ; middle toe, 1.4(>-1.4r).

The lilue-wiiigcd Teal has a more restricted distribution than the Green-winged,
and is also a much more southern species. It is rarely to be met with north of 60°

Female (nat. sizej.

N. latitude, and, so far as is positively knoAvn, is not fomid on the Pacific coast
betAveen the Gulf of California and Vancouver Island, although occurring on the
Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, as well as, more sparingly, on the coast
of Alaska. It is sujjposed to bri'cd in various favor;ible localities from Florida to
Labrador, and from ^Mazatlan to the Saskatchewan, but ]irincij)ally between latitudes
42° and 58° N., and most abundantly in the Mississippi Valley. It occurs sparingly
at Fort Resolution, Lake Winnipeg, Shoal Lake, and even at Fort Yukon.

Mr. Salvin found it common in tlu' winter on Lake Duenas, in Guatemala, but not
remaining through ^Landi. Dr. IJryant gives it as common in winter at Hahamas.
It was also seen at Sultana Mixtlan, in the I'acitic coast region. Mr. G. C. Taylor
found it in Honduras, both at Tigro Island and on Lake Yojoya.

It was met with in Western Mexico, near Mazatlan, by Colonel Grayson, in which
region he speaks of it as being a very common species, a few remaining throughout
the summer, and probably breeding there. ^Ir. Dresser found it common throughout
Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, where, as supposed by Dr. Ileermann, it breeds.
Mr. N. P. Moore found Ducks of this species abundant in Florida, and believes that
some must breed in that State, as he has seen them in fresh ponds near Sarasota Lake
at every season of the year, and has killed the young in September on IVliska
Lake. He thinks it probable that they breed on the islands, or about the shores of
Lake Okeechobee.

Mr. Pernard Koss found this species abundant in the vicinity of Great Slave Lake,
where it was much more abundant than the Green-wing. Mr. Kennicott met with it
east of the llocky Mountains only, where he found it nesting in rather open ground ;

ANATINiE — THE DUCKS — QUERQUEDULA.

533

but found none on the Yukon, nor north of Shave Lake. In Illinois and Wisconsin
he found it nesting in the prairie sloughs. Mr. Dall, however, speaks of having met
with it sparingly botli at Fort Yukon and at the mouth of Yukon Kiver, but it was
not seen at Jiulato. Captain Smith obtained its eggs from near Cajje Komanzoff. Mr.
Bannister reports it as not uncommon at St. ^lichael's.

It is a visitor to Cuba and other West India Islands. Leotaud states that it
arrives in Trinidad about the 1st of November, and remains there until April. It
is qiute regular and constant in its visits — with, however, occasional intermissions.
It is miu'h sought after by epicures, and in the opinion of Leotaud, the flesh of no
othei- Duck can b(; compared with that of this Teal after it has been one or two
months on tint island.

It breeds in the neighborhood of Calais, Me. — as Mr. Boardman informs rae — but is
not common tlu-re. It is a regular fall and spring visitor in Massachusetts, but I am
not aware that it stops to breed. At Fort I'ond, near Montauk Point, Long Island,
it is said to breed every season.

In the fall of the year this is one of the first of the Duck tribe to leave its more
northern (piarters. Subsisting chieily on insects and tender i)lants, it is compelled
to seek a milder climate early, and usually arrives in the Middle States in the month
of Septendn'r, selecting for its abode the small streams and mill-ponds, where an
abundant supply of its favorite food is fouiul. In a shbrt time, however, it leaves
for more southern regions. It is the first Duck, in the fall, to visit the shores of
the Delaware and the Chesapeake bays, where it begins to arrive in Septend)er,
and remains until driven farther south by the ai))»roach of winter, being found in
winter only where the weather is mild. It is not timid, being easily approached in
a boat or under cover of any simple device. Large numbers are killed among the
reeds, on the Delaware, by means of what are termed " stool Ducks," set out in the
mud. The birds are more readily attracted by these decoys if they are set in the
mud than if placed in the water.

This Duck is fond of the seeds of wild oats, and becomes very fat after feeding on
them for a short time, and it is caught in great numbers in the Southern rice-fields
by means of traps set by the negroes. It flies with great rapidity and considerable
noise ; and is said at times to drop suddenly among the reeds in the manner of the
Woodcock.

Although Dr. Newberry mentions this species in his Report as a bird of California,
Dr. Cooper is confident that he is in error, and thinks that he probably mistook the
female and yomig of the Q. eijanopterfi for it, as they greatly resendile each other. Dr.
Kichardson found this species very plentiful on the Saskatchewan, but did not observe
it farther north than the flSth parallel. It is occasionally met Avith in the autumn
and winter in the Bermudas, and again in April, according to Major Wedderburn.
^Ir. Ilurdis adds that it not infrecpiently visits these islands in its southern migra-
tions. It is first seen about the 20th of September, and is met with at intervals until
the 24th of December. It is most numerous, however, in the month of October, j)ar-
ticularly when a storm is raging or has passed between those islands and the American
coast. A large number were shot during the occurrence of the great gale of Nov. 22,
1854. It is very rarely seen in s]iring, and then usually about the end of IVIarch.

The mouths of the Mississippi, according to ]Mr. Audubon, are a great rendezvous
of this species in autumn and during the greater part of winter, where those arriving
coastways meet other multitudes that have come across the interior from the north
and west. These Ducks are the first to arrive in that iiart of the country, frequently
making their appearance in large flocks by the middle of September, when they

534

LAMKI.LIUOSTUAL SU'IMMERS — AXSEUES.

are exceedingly tat. They depart, liowever, when the weather Ijecomes so cohl that
ice forms. Toward the end o.' February they again become alxuuhint; but this time
they arc U'an, though in their sumnu-r garb, in which the nude is very beautiful.
During their stay they are seen in the liayous and ponds, along the banks of the Mis-
sissippi, and on the large and muddy sand-bars, feeding on grasses and their seeds,
particularly in autumn, when they are very f(uul of the wihl pimento. In the spring
sonic remain as late as the l.'itli of May.

On the liGth of April, iSliJ, in his visit to Texas, Audubon found them on all the
ponds and .salt bayous or inlets of Galveston Island, as well as ou the watercourses of
the interior, where, he was assured, the}' breed in great numbers.

The Hight ol' this Duck is extremely rapid, fully as swift as that of the I'assenger
Pigeon. AVhen advancing against a stiff breeze it shows alternately its upper and
lower surface. During its Hight it utters a soft, lisping note, Avhich it also emits when
apprehensive of danger. It swims biu)yantly, and when in a Hock so closcdy together
that the indiviiluals nearly touch each other. In con.sequence of this habit hunters
are able to nuike a frightful havoc among these birds on their Hr.st appearance in
the fall, when they are easily approached. Audubon has seen as many as eighty-four
killed by a single discharge of a double-barrelled gun.

It may readily be kejtt in conlincment, soon becomes very docile, feeds readily on
coarse corn-meal, and might easily be domesticated. I'rofessor Kundien, however,
has made several unsuccessful attempts to rai.se this Duck by placing its eggs under
a Domestic Hen. He informs nu' that this species is the latest Duck to arrive in
the spring. It is very common, and breeds abundantly in Southern Wiseonsin, espe-
cially on the borders of Lake Koskonong. It nests on the ground among the reeds
{ind coarse herbage, generally near the water, but he has met with its nest at least
half a mile from the nearest water, though always on low land. The nest is simply
an accunudation of reeds and rushes lined in the middle with down and feathers.
This Duck prefers the dryer marshes near creeks. He has always found its nests
well lined with down, and when the female leaves her nest she always covers her
eggs with down, and draws the grass, of which the outside of the nest is composed,
over the top. He does not think that she ever lays more than twelve eggs, the usual
number being eight to twelve. These are of a dear ivory white, without even the
slightest tinge of green. They range from 1.8U to 1.95 inches in length, and from
1.25 to 1.35 in breadth.

Querquedula cyanoptera

THE CIRNAHOH TEAL.

j4nas cyanoptera, Vieii.l. Nouv. Diet. V. 1816, 104.

Querquedula ajanopler/i, Cass. U. S. Astr. Kxp. II. 1856, 202 (Chili) j llhistr. B. Cnl. Tex. etc. 1855,
82, pi. 15. — Baiui), B. X. Am. 1858, 780 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 582. — Coces, Key, 1872,
288 ; Check List, 1873, no. 497 ; 2d cil. 1882, no. 717 ; B. N. W. 1874, 567. — KiDOW. Nom.
N. Am. B. 1881, no. 610.

Anas Ilaffiesi, Kino, Zool. Jour. IV. 1828, 87 ; Suppl. pi. 29 (Straits of Magellan).

Ptcrocyanea cmntkata, "Liciit." Giiav, Gen. B. III. 1849, 617.

Had. Western America, from the Cohuubia River to Chili, Buenos Ayres, and Falkland
Islands. Casual in Eastern North America (Louisiana, Illinois, Florida ?)

Sp. Char. Adult male: Head, neck, and lower parts rich purplisli chestnut, duller — some-
times quite dusky — on the abdomen ; pileum and crissum black ; scapulars and part of the back
chestnut, marked with U-shaped bars of black, the middle of the back more dusky ; tertiala black,

ANATIX.K- THE Dl'CKS — QUERQrKDULA.

535

with a CL'iitml Htiipe of Imff ; longer Hcapulnrs Himilnr, tin- outeniiost fi'uthei's witli tliu outer webs
li^'lit lilne ; lessur wiiij,'-(.'uvi;rt» pliiiii lij,'lit IjIuu ; luiiltllu covcil-* iliisky, tijuied with white ; specu-
liiiii uiiifonn h'ri'L'ii, varviiij,' IVoiii lui'tiillii' f,'ras.s-j,'reL'n to inini/.i' ; prininiii'^t ami |iiiiii,ir\-fi)vert8
dusky; uj)j)or lail-covuit^ liiiHky, edj^iii with pule fulvous; ivctiiceH du>ky, ed^od with lirowninh
white or pale brownish gmy ; iixillurs iuinmculate pure white. Bill deep block ; iri» onuige ;
feet oruuge, joints and welis blackish. Adult fanulf : Sindlar to that of (J. discon, but larger and

y. cyantiplcra.

deeper colored, only the upper part of the throat (sometimes o)dy the chin) unstrcaked, the alxlo-
nien usually distinctly spotted ; juf,'ulum deeply tiiit,'ed with lij,'ht brown. Ymtnij nutlc : Similar
to the adult femalf, but markinjjs on tin; lower parts all distinctly hurjfitudinal, or .streak-like.
Downy iiDUiuj :^ Aliove, dark olivaceous, ri'Iieved by a longitudinal oblong obliciue spot of deep
greenish bulf on each side the back (liehind
the wings), and a similar spot of clearer yel-
lowish on each side of the liase of the tail ;
the anterior spots eontluont with the yellow
of the sides, the ])osterior ones isdlated by the
e.xtension beneath them of the olivaceous of
the tail. Pileum and nape similar to the back,
but ilarker ; forehead, broad su|>erciliary strii)e,
and rest of the head and neck, e.\ce|)t as de-
scribed, with entire lower jiarts, deep yellow-
ish buff, the side of the head marked with a
distinct narrow stripe of dark brown e.vtend-
ing from the upper Ikisc of the maxilla to the
eye, thence back to the occi]nit.

Total length (adult), about 15.50-16.50
inches ; extent, :i4.0(>-:J4.o(» ; wing, 7.20-7.75 ;
culmen, l.Go-1.85; tai^sus, 1.25-1.35 ; middle
toe, 1.4t)-1.5().

Examples from Chili and Buenos Ayres i-.re larger and more richly colored than those from the
Western Unittnl .States ; the white bar acro.s.s the end of the middle coverts narrower, and nearly
concealed by the overlying last row of lesser coverts. These differences, however, may not prove
constant.

The female of this species is very ditiiciilt to distinguish from that of Q. discors, and it is prob-
ably not possible always to se])arate them with certainty. The present species aveiiiges consid-
erably larger, however ; the wing in the adult female ranging from 7.20 to 7..'>0 inches, the cidmen
1.70 to 1.75, against G.70 to 7.(M), and 1.40 to 1.50, us in Q. discors. The colors are also deeiMjr,

.)/((/(■ (i nat, size) .

1 Described from No. 77549, Wnslioe Lake, Nev., June 2, 1877 ; H. W. Hes'shaw.

n'66

LAMELLIROSTRAL 8\VI.MMEUS — ANSERES.

nearly the whole tliroiit being Htreiikeil, the bruuHt deeply tinged witli light brown, und the
ubiloiuen ulnioMt ulwayH dixtinclly H]i<ittcd.

The Ked-hreasti'tl Tciil, so cliiinuitcristic of Ciilit'ornia, is almost exclusively a
western speeies, and is t'oiind along tho Taeitic! coast from I'uget Sound to Chili, and
even, at certain seasons, to tlie Falkland Islands. It occurs eastward to the Kocky
Movuitains, and stragglers have l)een taken in Louisiana, in Floriihi^ and — as 1 am
assured by friends who have met with it there — in the inlets of North Carolina.

Colonel (iray.son met with it at Mazatlan, where it was rather common, but where
it occurred only during tho winter and spring months, and n(!ver in large numbers.

Female (nat. size).

Mr. J. A. Allen mentions finding it in great abundance in the valley of Great Salt
Lake. Captain Abbott speaks of meeting with it at Mare Ilarlwr, in East Falkland,
where he obtained seven examples in one day. It was generally very wild, and far
from common. Although he was unable to find its nest, he had no doubt that it was
breeding on the island, he having noticed it in pairs during the summer months.
jNlr. II. Durnford mentions it as resident, but rare, in Central I'atagonia, where he
met with it at the mouth of the Sengel.

According to Dr. Cooper, this western analogue of the Blue-winged Teal of the oast
is common in winter throughout the lower portion of California, assembling in con-
siderable flocks, though everywhere less abundant than the (ireen-winged species. It
associates with that and other species on all the fresh waters, and has similtir habits
in respect to its manner of flight and mode of feeding. It is also easily shot, and
very good for the table. In summer it is found in nearly all parts of the State, and
also migrates north through the open country east of the Caseadi> iSIountaius to the
Upper Columbia, it having been obtained by Dr. Suckley at Fort Dalles in ISIay. Dr.
Cooper nas also shot it in October near the Spokane River in Washington Territory.
Dr. Ileermann was of the opinion that this species leaves the central portions of
California in winter ; but examples were found there at that season by Dr. Kennerly,
and Dr. Cooper also saw it in small numliers near the Coloratlo, in latitude 36°.

ANATIN.K — TIIK Dll'KS — QUKKt/IKDULA.

531

Cii|it!iiii I5('ii(lir<' luiind it iiKirc (•oimuoii than cither of tiic otlicr two Hiiccics of Teal
ill Eastern ()^e^,'oIl, wliere it iu-eeds in hii^'e iiiiiiiiieis. It lie^jins hiyiii},' al)out May Ifi,
and not infrefiuentiy lie found its nest jdaeed a limidred yards or more from tho
nearest water. J)r. Merrill states that it passes through Texas in its miK'rations, lait
is more ahiiudaiit there in the H]iriii}^' than in the autumn.

Its nest is rom|M)spd of eoarse (,'rass lined with feathers from the breast of tho
mother, and is jilaced in the nuirshes, usually near ponds and still water. The ej,'<,'s
are from twelve to fouiteen in luimher, and are descriltcd by some writers as of a
pale ^reen color; hut I have lu'ver seen any to which this description apjilics.

Dr. (!ooper ohtaiiu'd an t'\ni, just ready for exclusion, from a female killed on the
22d of .Finie, at a jiond close to the sea-hcach near San !)iej,'o. lie describes it as
bluish white, and as measuring,' l.(i(> inches in lenj;th and l.'oJ inches in breadth.
After tho vfi^ is laid the color becomes sonu'what different. EkK** "t this H])ecies
from Fort Crook, Cal. (Smithsonian Institution, No. rt'J't'J), .are of an ivory-whito
color, with a deep creamy tin),'e. Three ej,'ji,'s present the following? nu-asurcmcnts :
1.85 by 1.40 inches, l."^ by l.;{") inches, l.i)() by I. .'{."> inches.

University Press : John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.