Chapter 12

366. 2. Ardea violacea,Linn.Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Plate CCCXXXVI.Male and Young.

Male with the feathers on the upper part of the head lanceolate and acuminate, those on the occiput very long and linear; between the scapulæ two longitudinal series of very elongated feathers with loose margins, the longest extending far beyond the tail; occipital and dorsal plumes not present in winter; head and throat greenish-black, crown and band on each side below the eye white, the former tinged with reddish-yellow; general colours light greyish-blue; the feathers of the fore part of the back and wings with their central parts bluish-black, margined with bluish-white; quills and tail dark greyish-blue; edge of wings white. Female similar. Young in its first plumage dark greyish-white, beneath dull yellowish-white, streaked with dark brown.

Adult, 231/2, 431/2.Youngin October 231/2, 40.

A few spend the winter in Florida. Migrates in spring as far as New Jersey, up the Mississippi to Natchez. Never goes far inland. Not very abundant. Migratory.

Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 26.Ardea violacea,Bonap.Syn. p. 306.White-crowned Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 52.Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 290.

Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 26.

Ardea violacea,Bonap.Syn. p. 306.

White-crowned Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 52.

Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 290.

** Bitterns. Bill considerably longer than the head, stout, tapering, compressed, with the upper outline slightly curved; legs of moderate length, bare part of tibia short; neck thick; body exceedingly compressed; feathers of the neck elongated and curved backwards. Trachea and bronchi wider.

367. 3. Ardea lentiginosa,Swains.American Bittern.

Plate CCCXXXVII.Male and Female.

Feathers of the head and occiput elongated and loose; tail of ten feathers; bill and feet dull yellowish-green; upper part of head brownish-grey; a streak of pale buff on the eye; cheek and an oblique band to the middle of the neck light brownish-yellow, beneath which a dusky brown band from the base of the lower mandible, continuous with a gradually enlarged band of black running along the sides of the neck; upper parts yellowish-brown, patched, mottled, freckled, and barred with dark-brown; most of the quills deep greyish-blue, tipped with light reddish-brown; fore part of neck white above, yellowish-white beneath, the throat with a middle longitudinal line of yellowish-brown spots; on the rest of the neck each feather with a light brown central mark edged with darker; the rest of the lower parts dull yellowish-white, most of the feathers marked like those on the neck. Female similar, but with the upper part of the head reddish-brown.

Male, 27, 45.Female, 261/2, 421/2.

Winter resident in the Floridas. Migrates over most part of the United States. Not seen in Kentucky. Abundant in Texas. Migratory.

American Bittern, Ardea minor,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 35.Ardea minor,Bonap.Syn. p. 307.American Bittern, Ardea lentiginosa,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 374.American Bittern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 60.American Bittern, Ardea minor,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 296.

American Bittern, Ardea minor,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 35.

Ardea minor,Bonap.Syn. p. 307.

American Bittern, Ardea lentiginosa,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 374.

American Bittern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 60.

American Bittern, Ardea minor,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 296.

368. 4. Ardea exilis,Wils.Least Bittern.

Plate CCX.Male, Female, and Young.

Bill rather slender; feathers on the crown and occiput somewhat elongated and loose. Male with the upper part of the head, back, and tail, glossy greenish-black, some of the lateral feathers edged with white; sides of head and hind part of neck light chestnut; wing-coverts brownish-yellow; quills purplish-grey, tipped with yellowish-brown, inner secondaries broadly margined with light chestnut, of which colour also are the secondary coverts and edge of the wing at the flexure; throat and fore neck reddish-white, with a series of reddish-brown spots; fore part of breast, under the elongated feathers, blackish-brown; the rest of the lower parts reddish-white; tibia reddish-brown in front. Female smaller, with the colours duller, theupper part of the head inclining to brown. Young with the upper parts light brownish-red, variegated with brownish-yellow; primary quills and tail black.

Male, 131/2, 173/4.Female, 12, wing 143/4.

Resident in Florida. Migrates in spring eastward as far as Maine, and throughout the Western Country, far up the Missouri. Retires southward in winter. Texas.

Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 37.Ardea exilis,Bonap.Syn. p. 308.Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 66.Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 77; v. v. p. 606.

Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 37.

Ardea exilis,Bonap.Syn. p. 308.

Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 66.

Least Bittern, Ardea exilis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 77; v. v. p. 606.

369. 5. Ardea virescens,Linn.Green Heron.

Plate CCCXXXIII.Male and Young.

Bill rather slender; feathers of the crown and occiput elongated, of the fore part of the back much elongated and acuminate. Upper part of the head and nape glossy deep green; neck purplish-red behind, with an anterior longitudinal band of white, spotted with dusky brown; elongated feathers of the back greyish-green, changing to bluish-grey, with the shafts bluish-white; scapulars, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries deep glossy green, bordered with yellowish-white; primaries and outer secondaries greyish-blue tinged with green; hind part of back and tail deep green; lower parts pale purplish tinged with yellow; lower tail-coverts greyish-white. Young in first plumage without the elongated feathers on the back, otherwise similar, but with the wing-coverts tipped with a triangular white spot, the lower parts chiefly white with brown streaks.

Male, 173/4, 27.Female, 17, 25.

Resident in the Floridas and along the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. In spring and summer disperses over the whole country as far as Maine, and up the Missouri. Returns southward at the approach of winter. Very common.

Green Heron, Ardea virescens,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 97.Ardea virescens,Bonap.Syn. p. 307.Green Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 63.Green Heron, Ardea virescens,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 274.

Green Heron, Ardea virescens,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 97.

Ardea virescens,Bonap.Syn. p. 307.

Green Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 63.

Green Heron, Ardea virescens,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 274.

*** Bill much longer than the head, with its outline scarcely curved; legs very long, tibiæ bare to a great extent; feathers of the lower fore neck very long and tapering. Ardea and Egretta of authors.

370. 6. Ardea occidentalis,Aud.Great White Heron.

Plate CCLXXXI.Male.

Bill, tibiæ, and hind part of tarsi yellow; anterior part of the latter and toes dull green; feathers of the head elongated, lanceolate, and loose, of the back not much elongated; plumage entirely pure white.

Male, 54, 83.Female, 50, 75.

Resident in the Southern Florida Keys. Texas. Never seen to the eastward of Cape Florida, nor on the mainland. Common.

Great White Heron, Ardea occidentals,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 542; v. v. p. 596.

371. 7. Ardea Herodias,Linn.Great Blue Heron.

Plate CCXI.Male.

Bill dusky green above, yellow beneath; feet dull green, paler behind; feathers of the head long, tapering, decurved, two of them extremely elongated; very long, tapering, pointed feathers from the anterior part of the back; forehead pure white, the rest of the crest feathers bluish-black; throat white, neck pale purplish-brown, the elongated feathers beneath greyish-white, with part of the inner webs purplish-blue, forming a longitudinal band; upper parts light greyish-blue, the elongated tips of the dorsal feathers greyish-white; edge of the wing, some feathers at the base of the fore neck, and the tibial feathers, brownish-orange; two tufts of large curved feathers on the fore part of the breast bluish-black, some of them with a central stripe of white; lower surface of wings and sides light greyish-blue; elongated feathers of breast, white, their inner edge black, of the abdomen chiefly black; lower tail-coverts white, some of them with an oblique mark of black near the tip. Young in first plumage without the elongated dorsal feathers, the colours duller and tinged with brown; upper part of head streaked with white, as is the breast.

Male, 48, 72.

Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St Lawrence. Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common.

Great Heron, Ardea Herodias,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.Ardea Herodias,Bonap.Syn. p. 304.Great Heron, Ardea Herodias,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 42.Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 87; v. v. p. 599.

Great Heron, Ardea Herodias,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.

Ardea Herodias,Bonap.Syn. p. 304.

Great Heron, Ardea Herodias,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 42.

Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 87; v. v. p. 599.

372. 8. Ardea Egretta,Gmel.Great American White Egret.

Plate CCCLXXXVI.Male.

Feathers of the head scarcely elongated, those of the fore part of the back extremely long, slightly decurved, with loose filaments, and extending about ten inches beyond the tail; bill yellow; feet black; plumage pure white. Young white, the elongated feathers not fully developed until the second year, bill greenish-black.

Male, 37, 57.

Resident in Florida, and Galveston Bay in Texas. Migrates in spring sometimes as far as Massachusetts; up the Mississippi, to Natchez,Breeds in all intermediate districts. Returns south before winter. Very Abundant.

Ardea Egretta,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 629.Great White Heron, Ardea Egretta,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.Ardea alba,Bonap.Syn. p. 304.Ardea Egretta,Wagler, Syst. Av.Great White Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 47.Great American Egret, Ardea Egretta,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 600.

Ardea Egretta,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 629.

Great White Heron, Ardea Egretta,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.

Ardea alba,Bonap.Syn. p. 304.

Ardea Egretta,Wagler, Syst. Av.

Great White Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 47.

Great American Egret, Ardea Egretta,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 600.

373. 9. Ardea rufescens,Gmel.Reddish Egret.

Plate CCLVI.Adult and Young.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head and of the neck generally, much elongated, very narrow, loose, with linear-acuminate compact tips; of the back extremely long, slightly recurved, with loose filaments, and extending several inches beyond the tail; bill pale flesh-colour, with the terminal third black; feet ultramarine blue, the scutella bluish-black; plumage of the head and neck light reddish-brown; back and wings greyish-blue; long train-feathers yellowish toward the end; lower parts greyish-blue, paler than the upper. Young with the plumage white, the feet dusky green, the soles yellow.

Male, 31, 46.

Resident on the Florida Keys, and in Galveston Bay. Never seen inland. Extremely abundant.

Ardea rufescens,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 628.Peale's Egret Heron, Ardea Pealii,Bonap.Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 96. Young.Peak's Egret,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 49. Young.Reddish Egret, Ardea rufescens,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 411; v. v. p. 604.

Ardea rufescens,Gmel.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 628.

Peale's Egret Heron, Ardea Pealii,Bonap.Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 96. Young.

Peak's Egret,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 49. Young.

Reddish Egret, Ardea rufescens,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 411; v. v. p. 604.

374. 10. Ardea cœrulea,Linn.Blue Heron.

Plate CCCVII.Male and Young.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long and linear; of the middle of the back extremely long, linear-acuminate, compact, their tips extending about five inches beyond the tail; bill blue; feet black; plumage of head and neck vinaceous purple, of the other parts deep greyish-blue. Young with the plumage white, becoming patched with blue as they advance in age.

Male, 241/2, 42.

Resident in Florida and Texas, where it breeds. In spring migrates as far as Long Island; up the Mississippi to a hundred miles above Natchez. Never seen far inland.

Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 117.Ardea cœrulea,Bonap.Syn. p. 300.Blue Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 58.Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 58.

Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 117.

Ardea cœrulea,Bonap.Syn. p. 300.

Blue Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 58.

Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 58.

375. 11. Ardea Ludoviciana,Wils.Louisiana Heron.

Plate CCXVII.Male.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated, tapering, curved, about six of them larger and much longer; of the back extremely elongated, with loose threadlike filaments, extending beyond the tail; bill brownish-black above, yellow beneath; feet light greenish-yellow, with the scutella dusky; general colour of upper parts light purplish-blue; elongated feathers of head and neck above, reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part of the neck; six longest feathers of head white; elongated loose feathers of back dull purplish-yellow; throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of white down the fore neck; rump and lower parts pure white, except the anterior feathers of the breast, which have their inner webs dusky blue. Young with the neck and fore part of the back light brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the back; quills, larger wing-coverts and tail light purplish-blue. Plumage and colouring completed at the end of the second year.

Male, 27, 37.

Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates eastward to New Jersey, where it is rare; up the Mississippi to Natchez. Never seen far inland.

Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 13.Ardea Ludoviciana,Bonap.Syn. p. 305.Louisiana Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 51.Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 136; v. v. p. 605.

Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 13.

Ardea Ludoviciana,Bonap.Syn. p. 305.

Louisiana Heron,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 51.

Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 136; v. v. p. 605.

376. 12. Ardea candidissima,Gmel.Snowy Heron.

Plate CCXLII.Male.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long, loose, decurved; of the middle of the back very long, loose, decurved, with their extremities recurved; bill and legs black; toes yellow. Plumage pure white. Young white, with the legs and toes dull green.

Male, 221/2, 38.

Resident from Texas to Florida. Migrates in spring as far as Massachusetts. Breeds in all intermediate districts; up the Mississippi to Memphis. Abundant.

Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima.Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 120.Ardea candidissima,Bonap.Syn. p. 305.Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 49.Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 317; v. v. p. 606.

Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima.Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 120.

Ardea candidissima,Bonap.Syn. p. 305.

Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 49.

Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 317; v. v. p. 606.

FAMILY XXXIX. ANATINÆ. DUCKS.

Bill of moderate length, stout, straight, depressed toward the end, obtuse, covered with soft skin; upper mandible transversely convex, with the margins internally lamellate, the tip furnished with a decurved horny broad unguis;lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the crura slender, flattened, the edges internally lamellate, the tip a flattened unguis. Nostrils elliptical, open, subbasal. Head of moderate size; neck long or of moderate length, slender; body full; legs generally short, stout, with little of the tibia bare; tarsus scutellate; toes four, first small; anterior three palmate. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage very full, dense, soft. Wings of moderate length, curved, acute, outer two quills longest. Tail short, of twelve or more feathers. Tongue fleshy, with a median groove, lateral reversed papillæ, laminæ, or bristles, and a semicircular thin horny tip; œsophagus narrow, slightly enlarged at the lower part of the neck; stomach a transversely elliptical gizzard, of which the lateral muscles are excessively developed, the epithelium dense, with two concave grinding surfaces; intestine long and wide; cœca long, cylindrical, contracted at the base. Trachea various, generally much enlarged at the bifurcation, without inferior laryngeal muscles, or only with the slips of the lateral muscles prolonged. Nest generally on the ground; eggs numerous. Young clothed with stiffish down, and able to walk and swim from birth.

GENUS I. PHŒNICOPTERUS,Linn.FLAMINGO.

Bill more than double the length of the head, straight and higher than broad for half its length, then deflected, and tapering to an obtuse point; upper mandible with its dorsal line at first straight, then convex, and again straight nearly to the end, when it becomes convex at the tip, the ridge broad and concave, on the deflected part expanded into a lanceolate plate, having a shallow groove in the middle, and separated from the edges by a narrow groove, its extremity narrow and thin edged, but obtuse, this part being analogous to the unguis of ducks; lower mandible narrower than the upper at its base, but much broader in therest of its extent; its angle rather long, wide, and filled with bare skin; its dorsal line concave, but at the tip convex, the ridge deeply depressed, there being a wide channel in its place, the sides nearly erect and a little convex, with six ridges on each side toward the tip. Both mandibles internally lamellate, the edge of the lower much incurved. Nostrils linear, direct, and subbasal, operculate. Head small, ovate; neck extremely elongated, and very slender; body slender; legs extremely long; tibia bare for more than half its length, and with the long tarsus anteriorly scutellate; hind toe very small and elevated; anterior toes connected by emarginate webs, scutellate above, tesselate beneath. Claws oblong, obtuse, depressed. Space between the bill and the eye bare; plumage compact; wings long, very broad, pointed; second quill longest; some of the secondaries extremely elongated, so as to extend far beyond the primaries when the wing is closed. Tail very short. Tongue confined by the lower mandible, fleshy, compressed, decurved, with recurved conical papillæ; œsophagus extremely narrow, but at the lower part of the neck enlarged into a crop; proventriculus elliptical; stomach a very muscular, transversely elliptical gizzard, exactly resembling that of a goose or duck, with the epithelium dense, and longitudinally sulcate; intestine very long, and of considerable width; cœca rather long; cloaca globular.

377. 1. Phœnicopterus ruber,Linn.American Flamingo.

Plate CCCCXXXI.Male.

Bill yellow tinged with bright orange, at the end black; feet lake; plumage scarlet, excepting the ten primaries, and twenty of the secondaries, which are black.

Male, 451/2, 66.

Rather rare, and only during summer in the Florida Keys, and the western coast of Florida. Accidental as far as South Carolina. Constantly resident in Cuba.

Red Flamingo, Phœnicopterus ruber,Wils.Amer. Orn, v. viii. p. 145.Phœnicopterus ruber,Bonap.Syn. p. 348.American or Red Flamingo,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 71.American Flamingo, Phœnicopterus ruber,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 255.

Red Flamingo, Phœnicopterus ruber,Wils.Amer. Orn, v. viii. p. 145.

Phœnicopterus ruber,Bonap.Syn. p. 348.

American or Red Flamingo,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 71.

American Flamingo, Phœnicopterus ruber,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 255.

GENUS II. ANSER,Briss.GOOSE.

Bill shorter than the head, rather higher than broad at the base, somewhat conical, depressed toward the end, rounded at the tip; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened, the sides sloping, the edges soft and obtuse, internally with numerous oblique marginal lamellæ, the unguis obovate, convex; nasal groove oblong, filled by the soft membrane of the bill; nostrils medial, lateral, longitudinal, narrow-elliptical, open, pervious, lower mandible straight, with the angle very long, narrow, and rounded, the edges soft and obtuse, with numerous oblique lamellæ, the tip broadly convex. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck long and slender; body very full, slightly depressed. Feet short, stout; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus short, a little compressed, covered all round with angular scales; hind toe very small and elevated, third toe longest, fourth longer than second; all reticulated at the base, scutellate toward the end, the anterior webbed. Claws small, arched, rather compressed. Plumage close, compact above, blended beneath. Wings long, convex, the second quill longest, the first and third nearly equal. Tail very short, of sixteen or more feathers.

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

Plate CCI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 43, 65.Female, 41.

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

Canada Goose, Anas canadensis,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 52.Anser canadensis,Bonap.Syn. p. 377.Anser canadensis, Canada Goose,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 468.Canada Goose,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 349.Canada Goose. Anser canadensis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 1; v. v. p. 607.

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

Anser canadensis,Bonap.Syn. p. 377.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCLXXVII.Adult.

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

Adult, 25, 50.

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

Anser Hutchinsii, Hutchins's Bernacle Goose,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 470.Hutchins's Goose, Anser Hutchinsii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 526.

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

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

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

Plate CCXCVI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 27, 56.Female, 231/2, 52.

Accidental in North America.

Anser leucopsis,Bonap.Syn. p. 377.Bernacle Goose,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 355.Bernacle Goose, Anser leucopsis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 609.

Anser leucopsis,Bonap.Syn. p. 377.

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

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

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

Plate CCCXCI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 241/2, 48.Female, 23, 441/2.

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

Brant, Anas Bernicla,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 131.Anser Bernicla,Bonap.Syn. p. 378.Anser Bernicla, Brent Goose,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 469.Brant or Brent Goose,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 358.Brent Goose, Anser Bernicla,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. pp. 24, 610.

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

Anser Bernicla,Bonap.Syn. p. 378.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCLXXXVI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 271/4, 60.

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

Anser albifrons,Bonap.Syn. p. 376.Anser albifrons, Laughing Goose,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 456.White-fronted Goose,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 346.White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 568.

Anser albifrons,Bonap.Syn. p. 376.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCLXXXI.Adult Male and Young Female.

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

Male, 313/4, 62.Female, 26, 55.

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

Snow Goose, Anas hyperborea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 76.Anser hyperboreus,Bonap.Syn. p. 376.Snow Goose,Nutt.Man. p. 344.Anser hyperboreus, Snow Goose,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 467.Snow Goose, Anser hyperboreus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 562.

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

Anser hyperboreus,Bonap.Syn. p. 376.

Snow Goose,Nutt.Man. p. 344.

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

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

GENUS III. CYGNUS,Meyer. SWAN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cygnus Buccinator, Richardson's Trumpeter Swan, F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 464.Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus Buccinator,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 370.Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus Buccinator,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 536; v. v. p. 114.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCCXI.Male.

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

Male, 53, 84.

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

American Wild Swan, Cygnus americanus,Sharpless, Amer. Journ. of Sc. and Arts, v. xxii.American Swan, Cygnus americanus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 133.

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

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

GENUS IV. ANAS,Linn.DUCK.

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

386. 1. Anas Borchas,Linn.Mallard.

Plate CCXXI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 24, 36.Female, 22.

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

Mallard, Anas Borchas,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 112.Anas Borchas,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.Anas (Borchas) domestica, Mallard,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 442.Mallard Duck, Anas domestica,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 378.Mallard, Anas Borchas,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 164.

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

Anas Borchas,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCII.Male and Female.

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

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

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

Dusky Duck, Anas obscura,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 141.Anas obscura,Bonap.Syn. p. 384.Dusky Duck, Anas obscura,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 392.Dusky Duck, Anas obscura,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 15.

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

Anas obscura,Bonap.Syn. p. 384.

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

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

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

Plate CCCXXXVIII.Male.

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

Male, 23, 39.

One specimen procured in Louisiana.

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

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

Plate CCCXLVIII.Male and Female.

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

Male, 213/4, 35.Female, 191/4, 31.

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

Gadwall, Anas strepera,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 120.Anas strepera,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.Anas (Chauliodus) strepera, Gadwall,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 440.Gadwall or Grey,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 383.Gadwall Duck, Anas strepera,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 353.

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

Anas strepera,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCXLV.Male and Female.

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

Male, 201/2, 341/2.Female, 18, 30.

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

American Widgeon, Anas americana,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 86.Anas americana,Bonap.Syn. p. 384.Mareca americana, Steph. American Widgeon,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 445.American Widgeon, Anas americana,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 389.American Widgeon, Anas americana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 337.

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

Anas americana,Bonap.Syn. p. 384.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCXXVII.Male and Female.

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

Male, 29, 36.Female, 221/2, 34.

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

Pintail Duck, Anas acuta,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 72.Anas acuta,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.Anas caudacuta, Pintail Duck,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 441.Pintail or Winter Duck, Anas acuta,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 386.Pintail Duck, Anas acuta,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 214; v. v. p. 615.

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

Anas acuta,Bonap.Syn. p. 383.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCVI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 201/2, 28.Female, 191/2.

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

Summer Duck or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. viii. p. 97.Dendronessa sponsa, Summer Duck,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 446.Summer or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 394.Wood Duck, Anas sponsa,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 52; v. v. p. 618.

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

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

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

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

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

Plate CCXXVIII.Male and Female.

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

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

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

Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 101.Anas Crecca,Bonap.Syn. p. 386.American Teal, Anas Crecca, var.Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 400.Anas Crecca, Green-winged Teal,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 400.Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 218; v. v. p. 616.

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

Anas Crecca,Bonap.Syn. p. 386.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCXIII.Male and Female.

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

Male, 16, 311/4.Female, 15, 24.

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

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 74.Anas discors,Bonap.Syn. p. 385.Anas discors, Blue-winged Teal,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 444.Blue-winged Teal,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 397.Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 111.

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

Anas discors,Bonap.Syn. p. 385.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCXXVII.Male and Female.

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

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

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

Shoveller, Anas clypeata,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 45.Anas clypeata,Bonap.Syn. p. 382.Anas clypeata, Shoveller,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 439.Shoveller,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 383.Shoveller Duck, Anas clypeata,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 241.

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

Anas clypeata,Bonap.Syn. p. 382.

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

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

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

GENUS V. FULIGULA. SEA-DUCK.

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

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

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

Plate CCCI.Male and Female.

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

Male, 22, 33.Female, 201/4, 303/4.

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

Canvass-backed Duck, Anas valisneria,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 103.Fuligula valisneria,Bonap.Syn. p. 392.Fuligula valisneria, Canvass-back Duck,Swains. &. Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.Canvass-backed Duck,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 430.Canvass-back Duck, Fuligula valisneriana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 1.

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

Fuligula valisneria,Bonap.Syn. p. 392.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCXXII.Male and Female.

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

Male, 20, 33.Female, 21, 321/2.

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

Red-headed Duck, Anas Ferina,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 110.Fuligula Ferina,Bonap.Syn. p. 392.Fuligula Ferina,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 452.Red-headed Duck or Pochard,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 434.Red-headed Duck, Fuligula Ferina,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 198.

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

Fuligula Ferina,Bonap.Syn. p. 392.

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

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

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

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