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 I.: ; ^ 
 
 $ 
 
 6 
 
THE WATER BIRDS 
 
 OF 
 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 VOL, I. 
 
f^mc^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
I) 5 
 
 // 
 
 i«emoirs of tjje iHuscuni of (JTomparatibc Zodloflg 
 
 AT IIAKVARD COLLEGE. 
 Vol. XII. 
 
 THE 
 
 WATER BIRDS 
 
 OF 
 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 BY 
 
 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. 
 
 
i* 
 
 ;4 
 
 
 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. 
 
 iM 
 
 
 iill-..,aw«;. 
 
i 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
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. 
 
 :M 
 
 <ifl 
 
 
^^ 
 
 INTIIDDICTIUN. 
 
 ix 
 
 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. 
 
 ii 
 
SYNOPSIS 
 
 OF 
 
 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. 
 
 XI 
 
 )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 
 
 OF 
 
 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. 
 
2 
 
 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. 
 
 A. 
 
 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. 
 
 3 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
AUUEID.E - 'Tin: IIKHOXS - ARDEA. 
 
 6 
 
 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. 
 
8 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
 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. 
 
 m 
 
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 
 
M. 
 
 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. 
 
 11 
 
 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. 
 
 
12 
 
 AMTJCIAL (lUALLATOUH.S- IIKHODIONES. 
 
 yp 
 
 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. 
 
 13 
 
 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. 
 
14 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
ARDEIDvE — THE UERONS — ARDEA. 
 
 15 
 
 . — 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. 
 
16 
 
 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. 
 
 i: 
 
 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. 
 
18 
 
 ALTKICIAL GIIALLATUUES — HEKODIONES. 
 
 i 
 
 
 II 
 
 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. 
 
 19 
 
 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. 
 
20 
 
 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. 
 
 21 
 
 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. 
 
22 
 
 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. 
 
 23 
 
 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. 
 
24 
 
 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 
 
 
 'r 
 
 1 i 
 
 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. 
 
 86 
 
 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 
 
26 
 
 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. 
 
 27 
 
 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 
 
 28 
 
 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. 
 
 29 
 
 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. 
 
80 
 
 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. 
 
 31 
 
 
 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. 
 
\0 
 
 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. 
 
 m 
 
AKDEII).*: THE HERONS - DICIIRO.MANASSA. 
 
 88 
 
 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 
 
34 
 
 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. 
 
 86 
 
 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 
 
 ^m 
 
 '"''^ 
 
 '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 
 
fl 
 
 38 
 
 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. 
 
 a9 
 
 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<i 4.15; iiiiddlu toe, 2.2(>-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 
 
40 
 
 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. 
 
 41 
 
 :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 
 
42 
 
 ALTRICIAL fJRALLATORES — IIEUODIONES. 
 
 I 
 
 I' 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
 
 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. 
 
 43 
 
 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. 
 
44 
 
 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. 
 
 46 
 
 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. 
 
46 
 
 ALTIUCIAL (IIJALLATUUES — IIEUODIONES. 
 
 I 
 
 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 
 
 i 
 
ARDEID.K — THE IIKllOXS — FLORIDA. 
 
 47 
 
 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. 
 
48 
 
 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 
 
 40 
 
 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. 
 
 61 
 
 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 
 
o2 
 
 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. 
 
 53 
 
 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 
 
54 
 
 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. 
 
 65 
 
 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'" 
 
 56 
 
 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 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 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. 
 
 67 
 
 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 : — 
 
 No 
 
 .SllfC' 
 
 'J Country. 
 
 Wins; 
 
 
 Tail. 
 
 t'ulmcii. 
 
 
 Depth of bil 
 
 . Tarsus. 
 
 MidiUe-toc. 
 
 14 
 
 North and MiJillu America, 
 
 11.00- 
 
 -12. 
 
 80 
 
 4.20- 
 
 -5.30 
 
 2.80- 
 
 3.10 
 
 .70- 
 
 .85 
 
 3.10- 
 
 ■3.40 
 
 2.05-3.10 
 
 8 
 
 Cliili and IVru, 
 
 12.30- 
 
 13.56 
 
 5.50- 
 
 O.OO 
 
 2.70- 
 
 2 
 
 90 
 
 .70- 
 
 .80 
 
 3.20- 
 
 ■3.30 
 
 2.70-3.00 
 
 •2 
 
 Brazil and I'ara^'uay, 
 
 11.25- 
 
 -11. 
 
 75 
 
 4.70- 
 
 ■4.80 
 
 2.00- 
 
 2. 
 
 70 
 
 , , 
 
 
 3.10- 
 
 -3.20 
 
 2.70 
 
 1 
 
 Sandwich Islands, 
 
 11.00 
 
 
 
 4.40 
 
 
 2.85 
 
 
 
 .75 
 
 
 2.75 
 
 
 2.55 
 
 1 
 
 Manilla, 
 
 10.80 
 
 
 
 4.30 
 
 
 2.75 
 
 
 
 .75 
 
 
 3.00 
 
 
 • > . 
 
 1 
 
 Kodluo Valley, India, 
 
 11.50 
 
 
 
 4.80 
 
 
 2.85 
 
 
 
 , . 
 
 
 . . . 
 
 
 2.75 
 
 1 
 
 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 
 
 4 
 
 68 
 
 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. 
 
 69 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 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» 
 
 60 
 
 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. 
 
 li 
 
 m^ 
 
 '■<■ 
 
 li 
 
 t. 
 
 ■ 
 
1 
 
 ARDKID.E — THE HERONS — XYCTHEIl 
 
 '8. 
 
 Gl 
 
 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. 
 
62 
 
 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 
 
 68 
 
 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, 
 
C4 
 
 ALTUICIAL (ilJALI.ATOltlvS— UKIIODIDNKS. 
 
 ti| 
 
 It 
 
 ,-i 
 
 In tlic luliilt iduiiin^'i', tliJH H|M'(i('j< U |iiolialpIy riniJ<icl(nil>ly 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 
 
00 
 
 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. 
 
 c: 
 
 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. 
 
C8 
 
 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. 
 
 09 
 
 • ■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. 
 
70 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
m 
 
 ARDKID.K — TIIK HKHONS — ARDETTA. 
 
 71 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 rP 
 
72 
 
 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. 
 
 73 
 
 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 
 
74 
 
 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 
 
 10 
 
 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 
 
76 
 
 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. 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 77 
 
 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." 
 
78 
 
 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. 
 
 19 
 
 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 ; 
 
 li"^. niViTi'il ('M'IVwIm'Ii' ami Uliirnrililv willi <liiall, |n|i;;it!iiii|ial, Ili'\a;;n1ial M-alrn ; tn«"< «ilh 
 ti'aii>vri"i' Miilrlhi' I'nr li'iiiiiiial liall. I'Iiiiii.i,l;i' imiIu'I' haul ami rnni|iart alHivi-, Inn-tT Ih'Ihw, tin* 
 fi'iiiiiri'" III' the iHtstcrinr |Hii'ti with tlu'ir ui'Im Miini'what *h'(-niii|inAi-i| ; ii|i|h'1- ^i-1'att.'i' wiiiK-covcilH 
 
 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. 
 
 ' I.innanis'H ilingnosis, " Mnpiitmlo I'ieoniii', allm, reini^'iliiiK ivetrieihiiHiiue ni),'n)-]>in'|iiiiiiHeentilin'i," 
 "ill lint .i|)|ily at all to this s|M'iie'., Init is iilivinusly a|i|ilii'iilile In Kii.ii it iira iiiiiijiinri (.si'e |iaf;e 77). The 
 ;,'ilii'lir ilia^'noslK, howevei-, a|i|ilii's to Mticlniii. a.s iln al.sii must of the refelviiecB liteil. 
 
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 
 
 II 
 
 1.6 
 
 /. 
 
 orw/ 
 
 
 /^ 
 
 # 
 
 i\ 
 
 ^ 
 
 c\ 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 '^. 
 
 ;\ 
 
 '4^ 
 

 
 ^ 
 
V ' ■ ! r 
 
 80 
 
 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. 
 
 81 
 
 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! 
 
 i4 
 
 iHI^!' 
 
 3 : ! ■ ;^ 
 
 82 
 
 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. 
 
 83 
 
 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 
 
i^ 
 
 84 
 
 ALTRICIAL GKALLATOIIES — IIERODIONES. 
 
 w. 
 
 J 
 
 HI 
 
 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. 
 
 85 
 
 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 
 
n 
 
 86 
 
 ALTllICIAL GUALLATOUES — IIERODIONES. 
 
 H 
 
 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. 
 
 87 
 
 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 
 
 88 
 
 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. 
 
 89 
 
 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 
 

 r 
 
 DO 
 
 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. 
 
 91 
 
 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 
 
92 
 
 AI/nUCIAl, (iKAM.AToUMS— IIKKOUK tNKS. 
 
 ^ 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 93 
 
 (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-). 
 
WW 
 
 '■I it^ 
 
 ■ 4 ■; 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 ii 
 
 94 
 
 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. 
 
 95 
 
 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." 
 
U6 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
IBIDID.E — THE IBISES — PLEGADIS. 
 
 97 
 
 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 
 
98 
 
 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. 
 
 el 
 
 In 
 
 If 
 
 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). 
 
w 
 
 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 
 

 ^i 
 
 'i 
 
 '■ 
 
 
 (I 
 
 9 
 
 J 
 
 f< 
 
 lit 
 
 i 
 
 i, J 
 
 « 
 
 ill J* 
 
 1 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 V I 
 
 V, . 
 
 t> 1 
 
 A) 
 
 I 
 
 
 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. 
 
no 
 
 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. 
 
 ir 
 
 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. 
 
 1 
 
■i i 
 
 I 
 
 lis 
 
 if 
 
 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. 
 
 I. 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
 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. 
 
 lU 
 
 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 
 
 .1 
 
 :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. 
 
im 
 
 . 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- 
 
 i 
 

 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 
 
 H 
 
 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 
 

 ,3 
 
 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. 
 
I 
 
 
 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 
 
 Mi 
 
 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 
 
 d 
 
 ^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. 
 
 i' 
 
' 
 
 1G4 
 
 rKJit\)CIAL GUALLAT0RE3 — LIMICOL^. 
 
 f 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
 "w 
 
 
 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. 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 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.) 
 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 IS 
 
 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 
 
 I ill 
 
 II 
 
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 
 
 ii 
 
 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, t<i Dili- I'ai'tlirst ImiiiihI nil's mi tiic iiurtli. and |iri>lialilv 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) 
 
 V. 
 
 /. 
 
 {./ 
 
 .*>i 
 
 
 1.0 :^i^ 1^ 
 
 Hi Ui |2.2 
 
 ii 
 m iu 11.6 
 
 1.1 
 
 
 ^ ^. 
 
 V 
 
 ^.^" 
 
 ^ 
 
174 
 
 PILECOCIAL riUALLATOUES — LIMICOLJ:. 
 
 as 
 
 ' 
 
 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. 
 
 4 
 
 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- 
 
 m 
 
 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 
 
 11 
 
 ! 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 
 
 D. 
 
 21. EurynorhynchuB. Size small (auiong the smallest of the family) ; bill widely expanded 
 
 laterally at. the end ; otherwise, much as in Adodromas. 
 
 E. 
 
 22. Numenius. Size lai-ge to very large (wing 8 inches or more) ; bill long (much longer 
 
 than tarsus), decidedly decurved or arched. 
 
 9. 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 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 
 
 
 m 
 
 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 
 
 ;1 
 
 
 m 
 
 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 
 
f 
 
 IS I" 
 
 li 
 
 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. 
 
1% 
 
 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\ 
 
 I 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 i » 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
 f' 
 
 il 
 
 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 
 
i 
 
 rl 
 
 il'i 
 
 I! i 
 
 ii'i 
 
 in 
 
 
 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. 
 
 ii 
 
 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« 
 
 I! 
 
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. 
 
IP 
 
 ?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 
 
n 
 
 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 
 
 1' 
 
 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, 
 
I 
 
 H 
 
 
 ;?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»^» ' 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 > 
 
 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 
 
m 
 
 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. 
 
 it 
 
 II 
 
 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 
 
 k 
 
 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." 
 
 II 
 
"""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. 
 
 il 
 
 
 - 
 
 I 
 
 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 
 
 V* 
 
 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 
 
I 
 
 •;»; 
 
 20 
 
 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 ■ 
 
 s: 
 
 
 
 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. 
 
 t! 
 
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 
 
ml 
 
 SCOLOPACID.-E ~ THE SNIPE FAiflLY — ACTODIIOMAS. 
 
 229 
 
 It 
 
 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. 
 
 n 
 
 \ 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 
 

 
 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
I 
 
 ' 
 
 
 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. 
 
M 
 
 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 
 
 li 
 
I 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 II 
 
 •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 
 
 if 
 
 mm 
 
li i 
 
 'f 
 
 « 
 
 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." 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 mn 
 
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 
 
 s 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 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 
 
II 
 
 r 
 
 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-. 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 ii 
 
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! 
 
 m 
 
 li 
 
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 
 
l\ 
 
 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. 
 
 il 
 
 11 
 
11 
 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
 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 . . . 
 
 Ii 
 
I ) 
 
 { 
 
 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 
 
 m\ 
 
 Sf 
 
; 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. 
 
 20 
 
 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 
 
 |: 
 
 m 
 
 Mi 
 
 m 
 
 u 
 
 I 
 
 2.2 
 2.0 
 
 1.25 lllll 1.4 
 
 m 
 
 1.6 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 / 
 
 'V>' 
 
 .* 
 
 
 '/ 
 
 '^ 
 
 
 n>^ v^ 
 

 H 
 
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. 
 
 II 
 
 ■,^ 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. 
 
 W 
 
 jiili' 
 
T 
 
 272 
 
 PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLiE. 
 
 m^ 
 
 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. 
 
 Hi 
 
 ■^ 
 
 I 
 
 ■ I 
 
 ? 
 
 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 
 
n 
 
 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 
 
w^ 
 
 276 
 
 PR.lilCOCIAL OIIALI.ATORES — LIMICOL/E. 
 
 f 
 
 
 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. — ;!(! 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 mm 
 
 ?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 
 
i: 
 
 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. 
 
 Hi 
 
 ^1 
 
 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 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 vl 
 
 iM 
 
 
 ::; 
 
 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: 
 ;: 
 
 ■ 
 
 ■ 
 
 li 
 
 ) 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 
 
 m 
 
I 
 
 •'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#' 
 
 li 
 
 I? 
 
 i^ 
 
 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. 
 
 1 
 
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. 
 
 4 
 
 ■■•? 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. 
 
 I 
 
 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. 
 
 mi 
 
 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 
 
 HI 
 
 mm 
 

 298 
 
 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOIIES — LIMICOL.E. 
 
 ^1 
 
 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. 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 , 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 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. 
 
 II 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 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 
 
I 
 
 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 
 
 " 
 
p 
 
 ;{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 
 
 II 
 
■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). 
 
I 
 
 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 
 
 |i 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 

 «■ "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 
 
 ■«i 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
|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 
 
 m 
 
 -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! 
 

 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 
 
 ^i 
 
m 
 
 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, 
 
 11 
 
 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). 
 
 '1 
 
'Wtmm^^- 
 
 326 
 
 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LISIICOLJ:. 
 
 i 
 
 ^« 
 
 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. 
 
 
 it 
 
 1 
 
 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 
 
It 
 
 
 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 
 
 r 
 
 ■:i 
 
w 
 
 ; 
 
 1 
 
 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. 
 
 If 
 
 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, 
 
 V5 
 
 (•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. 
 
 ^' 
 
 ii 
 
;i| 'rf ; ■ m j 
 
 332 
 
 PR.KCOClAr. (il(AI,L.\T()KKS — LIMU'dL.t:. 
 
 :i . 
 
 ■ 
 
 1 '^ "*■ 
 
 1 • '■ 
 
 ' > 
 
 1 ' ' 
 
 ,; ' 
 
 
 U 
 
 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. 
 
 n 
 
 * ;i 
 
 * I 
 
 :,}• 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 if 
 
 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 
 
 in 
 
 11 
 
 , 
 
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. 
 
 ^1 
 
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 
 
 1 
 
 •Vf, 
 
 1 
 
 .|.f.H;. 
 
 H 
 
 '«' 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 ',■ ' 
 
 1. 
 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 L 
 
 mil 
 
 II 
 
 ii 
 
 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. 
 
 Ml 
 
 51 i 
 
 I .-^tl 
 
I 
 
 
 ^^H«^"^»»Wt 
 
 i^iW^^ 
 
 if' I 
 
 ?:i 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■ : 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
I 
 
 
 { f- 
 
 n 
 
 i ;, 
 
 i. '■ 
 1 ,. 
 
 If 
 
 '? 
 
 
 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 
 
 t 
 
 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 
 
 ^1 
 
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 
 
1^ 
 
 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. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 «i 
 
r 
 
 
 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 
 
 Ml 
 
■^ 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 i! 
 
 . 
 
 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 < i n- 
 ti'iillv. NVi'hI liuliiiii nkiii* ii>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>, aii<i 
 nut wi'll ilrliiiril : lii'<'a-<t liiitr, iMtii'i (ii-iiitlly wliiii'ili) n'litrally, ami >liail*-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) 
 
 2? 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 l^|2.8 
 
 Hi m 
 
 Si us. 
 
 tii. 
 
 ■Uuu 
 
 US 
 
 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 ill '-^ 
 
 |l.6 
 
 V 
 
 
 r 
 
 / 
 
 o 
 
 / 
 
 /A 
 
 ^4^ 
 


 
 ) 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 i' 
 
 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. 
 
 
 i 
 
 m^ 
 
 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. 
 
 4. 
 
 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. 
 
 B. 
 
 C. 
 
 3. 
 
 « 
 
 iiaj 
 

 i! 
 
 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 
 
 If 
 
 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. 
 

 i 
 
 i 
 
 r' 
 
 !^*P^ 
 
 "f ; 
 
 Wi 
 
 ? ■ 
 
 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 
 
 i\ 
 
 1.* 
 
 ■;!',» 
 
 mw 
 
 \m 
 
 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 
 
T^ 
 
 ^•T^^W'^', ■■ :- 
 
 ■y!(5 
 
 t i 
 
 11 1 
 
 m 
 
 \m. 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 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 \ 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 il 
 
 H 
 
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 
 
 ;■' > 
 
 Iv 
 
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. 
 
m 
 
 I 
 
 .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), 
 
 WlR'tluT tlic AiiU'i'iiaii M|H'i'ii'M, to wliii'li tin' ^'I'licrii' iiittiii- iulo|)t('il uIhivi' i'* |iro|uTly ii)i|ilir:ili|i', 
 iii'u' coii),'i'ii('iio willi tlu' Old Wcd'lil s|iiTii's (/'ii/'y/Zii/c/i) ililnriiiiiitiiii, lii.vni, iii'i' \'iK.ii.i..), wiiidi i* 
 till! typi' of Ihc ;,'ciiiin I'lii/iliiiiuld, lii.viii. is at |iivMcul iiiii'i'iiaiii. I CI'. I). (1. Ki.i.Ki'i' : "Tin' 
 (ii'iiiH l'c)i|iliyriii ami its S|wiics ;" Nc|iaiiit<' |>aiii|>lili'l, I'lmii "Stray FcatliiTH," |i|i. l-:i(»,] 
 
 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 
 
 i> 
 
886 
 
 AI,i;t TnlMDKrt. 
 
 m 
 
 :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. 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 1^ 
 
 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, ' 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 
4 
 
 \\. 
 
 
 r 
 
 II 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 j^ ■'- 
 
 1 
 
 I: .■ 
 
 
 <> 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 '■ ■ 
 
 %: ' : 
 
 
 V 
 
 \ 
 
 t.* 
 
 i; 
 
 
 
 
 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 
 
 i 
 
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 aii- lniMully Niiilcllati' aiiti'i'ii>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. 
 
 51 
 
mr ' '? 
 
 402 
 
 Ai-ECTOKIDl'X 
 
 l^;! 
 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
'H 
 
 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 ■ ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 f 
 
 
 ■ li 
 
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 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 
 
 I 
 
 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 
 
m 
 
 I 
 
 ^\ 
 
 
 % : 
 
 
 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 
 
wr 
 
 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^ "! 
 
 r 
 
 412 
 
 AI-KCTORIDES. 
 
 im 
 
 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'^>^':'. 
 
 i 
 
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. 
 
 m 
 
 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- 
 
 ;.'iili'il, (lit' I'liil with |) '. .'I'liiiF i|t'i'|i loii^iiiiiliiiiil hiiji iiliiJii^ ; iiiaxillit with udiittiiul hiti'iiil i^rnovti 
 JKitu thr iiii'<liil to till' ti|i ; both iiiii\illiti> uikI iiiainlilmhii' liiiiiinii' t'.\|i<)nu(l. 
 
 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. 
 
 M 
 
 ' 
 
 ill 
 
 
 iS i: 
 
 
 1 |. 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 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 
 
 L 
 
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. 
 
IS 
 
 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. 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 < 
 
 c 
 
 Australian rep. 
 
 
 u 
 
 is 
 
 H 
 
 "u 
 
 'A 
 
 S't/icneliis melancorypha . . 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 ''i/lliius (libbus 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 X 
 
 --— 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 ' itiiiiialabil is . 
 
 — 
 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Unwiiii .... 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 , 0/ur ci/(jHus 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 licwickii 
 
 X 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 ..^ 
 
 ciiluinhianus .... 
 
 
 X 
 
 -— 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 buccinator .... 
 
 — . 
 
 X 
 
 — 
 
 X 
 
 — . 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 — 
 
 Chenopis alrutus .... 
 
 —~ 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 _ .. 
 
 X 
 
 irtiai'ies ami 
 
 ir 
 
 •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 
 
V 
 
 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 
 
 m 
 
 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. 
 
 1 
 
 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, 
 
 .^^ 
 
 J 
 
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. 
 
 A. 
 
 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. 
 
 M' 
 
 
 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 
 
 1 
 
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".'. 
 
 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 
 
 2. 
 
 A. alhifrmvt, 
 
 11.75-18.00 
 
 l.fiO 1.7." 
 
 .00 
 
 ..SI 1-0. 85 
 
 2.2.'i-2.80 
 
 2.20-2.50 
 
 8. 
 
 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 
 
 w 
 
 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 
 
I 
 
 1^ 
 
 450 
 
 LAMKLUIUiSTKAL SUIMMKIW - ANSKUKS. 
 
 II 
 
 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'.% 
 
 7, 
 
 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 
 
 
 <% 
 
 y] 
 
 
 V 
 
 /. 
 
 '/ 
 
 
 ^ 4!^' 
 
 'V- 
 

 ' ' ^ ' — -r ■ ^^^T^"T7r-P-^^y^^"i- ^^?>*'j'> 
 
 
 M 
 
.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 
 
fr 
 
 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 
 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.)(>. 
 
 of 
 
 rectrircs. 
 
 » 
 
 Fort Klamath, Or. 
 
 
 14.20 
 
 .95 
 
 .60 
 
 .55 
 
 2.50 
 
 1.90 
 
 16 
 
 77104, 
 
 Stockton, I'al. 
 
 December 
 
 13.60 
 
 1.10 
 
 .00 
 
 .52 
 
 2.60 
 
 1.90 
 
 15 
 
 70006, 
 
 Andnlusin, 111. 
 
 
 14.25 
 
 1.25 
 
 .70 
 
 .65 
 
 2.10 
 
 1.80 
 
 16 
 
 73130, 
 
 St. Jliclmol's, Alaska, 
 
 Sept. 13 
 
 14. 15 
 
 1.05 
 
 .60 
 
 .55 
 
 2.60 
 
 1.90 
 
 15 
 
 72744, 
 
 Wnslioo Lake, Nov. 
 
 Nov. 12 
 
 14.25 
 
 1.12 
 
 .70 
 
 .55 
 
 2.40 
 
 1.95 
 
 16 
 
 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- 
 
 it 
 
 *ii 
 J) 
 
IWW«Si((!»,»»!!MH"ft»»Wr 
 
 n 
 
 ^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 
 
 t^ 
 
 m 
 
 
 . ■ 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 
 
 m. 
 
 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 
 
 I 
 
 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; 
 
 so 
 
 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. 
 
 I 
 
 % 
 •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 
 
n 
 
 I 
 
 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 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
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 
 
 J 
 
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. 
 
 V 
 
 '• I] 
 
 ii 
 
 'i-'i 
 
 ^1 
 
476 
 
 LAMELLIROSTJtAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
 
 i 
 
 
 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. 
 
 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- 
 
m 
 
 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 . ! 
 
 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 
 
I 
 
 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. 
 
 tl 
 
 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 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' .^ : 
 
 I 
 
 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 
 
 i 
 
 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. 
 
 El 
 
 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 
 
 more 
 
 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. 
 
 V 
 
 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.