Chapter XLV: Colymbinæ. Divers and Grebes, 351 (11)

Bill little more than twice the length of the head, brownish-black, base of lower mandible flesh-coloured; upper part of head deep brown, with a central and two lateral lines of whitish; a brown line from the bill to the eye, and another behind the latter; neck all round pale yellowish-grey, longitudinally streaked with brown, excepting the upper part of the throat, which is greyish-white; upper parts in general blackish-brown, marked with numerous spots of brownish-white, there being several along the margins of each feather; wings and rump somewhat lighter; upper tail-coverts and tail barred with dark brown and olivaceous grey; primaries and their coverts blackish-brown, all with transverse yellowish-grey markings on the inner web, the shaft of the first quill white, of the rest brown; breast and abdomen greyish-white, the sides tinged with cream-colour and barred with greyish-brown.

_Male_, 18, 33.

Passes from Texas northward, returning in autumn. Abundant in the middle districts at both periods. Breeds at Hudson's Bay, and farther north.

Esquimaux Curlew, Scolopax borealis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii.
p. 92.

Numenius hudsonicus, Bonap. Syn. p. 314.

Numenius hudsonicus, Hudsonian Curlew, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 377.

Esquimaux Curlew, Numenius hudsonicus, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p.
97.

Hudsonian Curlew, Numenius hudsonicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii.
p. 283; v. v. p. 589.

359. 3. Numenius borealis, Lath. Esquimaux Curlew.

Plate CCVIII. Male and Female.

Bill half as long again as the head, slender, brownish-black, the lower mandible flesh-coloured at the base; upper part of head brownish-black, streaked with pale yellowish-brown, and having an indistinct central and two lateral lines of whitish; upper parts brownish-black, marked with numerous spots of light brownish-yellow, there being several along the margin of each feather; wing-coverts and secondaries of a lighter tint, similarly spotted; alula, primary quills, and coverts, dark brown, the shaft of the first quill white, of the rest brown; inner webs not barred as in _N. Hudsonicus_; tail barred with light greyish-brown and dark brown; sides of head and neck all round pale yellowish-grey, striped with dark brown; breast and sides greyish-yellow, with longitudinal and transverse dark markings; lower wing-coverts and tail-coverts similarly barred, axillars of a rufous buffy tint, regularly banded.

_Male_, 14-1/2, 27-3/8.

Passes in spring from Texas along the coast eastward to the Fur Countries, returning in autumn. Abundant at times in the Middle Atlantic Districts. Rarely seen in the interior. Breeds in the northern barren grounds.

Numenius borealis, Bonap. Syn. p. 314.

Numenius borealis, Esquimaux Curlew, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 378.

Esquimaux Curlew, Numenius borealis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 101.

Esquimaux Curlew, Numenius borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii.
p. 69; v. v. p. 590.

FAMILY XXXVII. TANTALINÆ. IBISES.

Bill very long, arcuate, rather stout at the base, obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear or oblong. Head bare in front, rather large or of moderate size; neck long and slender; body ovate. Legs long and rather stout; tibia bare to a large extent; tarsus reticulate, sometimes scaly in front; toes four, articulated on the same level, the anterior webbed at the base, the first more slender. Claws arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Wings long and very broad, with the second quill longest. Tail short, of twelve feathers. Tongue triangular, extremely short, flat, and thin. Œsophagus wide; stomach large, muscular, broadly elliptical, with the epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestines generally of moderate length and width, cœca very small; cloaca globular. Trachea without inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. IBIS, Cuv. IBIS.

Bill very long, slender, higher than broad, compressed, tapering, arched, obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the ridge convex, broader towards the end, the sides at the base erect, towards the end very convex and narrow, separated in their whole length from the ridge by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp; lower mandible more slender, its angle very narrow, and protracted in the form of a groove to the tip. Nostrils basal, dorsal, linear. Head small, compressed, oblong, bare before the eyes; neck long and slender; body rather slender. Feet very long, slender; tarsi scutellate; anterior toes connected by membranes at the base. Claws rather small, slightly arched, pointed. Wings long, ample, with the second quill longest. Tail short, nearly even, of twelve feathers. Œsophagus wide, like that of a heron; stomach muscular.

360. 1. Ibis Falcinellus, Linn. Glossy Ibis.

Plate CCCLXXXVII.

Bill black, bare part of head greyish-blue, feet greyish-black; upper part and sides of head dark glossy green, with purplish reflections; neck, part of the back anteriorly, breast, abdomen, and tibiæ, deep rich brownish-red or dark chestnut; part of the breast shaded with green, the sides dusky, tinged with green, as are the lower wing-coverts and lower tail-coverts; except the anterior edge of the wing, and the anterior scapulars, which are deep brownish-red, the upper parts splendent dark green, glossed with purple; primaries black, shaded with green; tail glossy, with purple reflection. Young, in its second plumage, with the head, neck, and lower parts greyish-brown, the head and greater part of the neck marked with small longitudinal streaks of white, of which there are two on each feather; all the upper parts blackish-green, glossy in a less degree than those of the adult.

_Male_, 25, 42; wing, 11-1/4.

Rare or accidental in the Middle Atlantic Districts; more common in South Florida and Texas, where it breeds. Rarely seen far inland. Migratory.

Ibis Falcinellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 312.

Bay or Glossy Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 88.

Glossy Ibis, Ibis Falcinellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 608.

361. 2. Ibis rubra, Linn. Scarlet Ibis.

Plate CCCXCVII. Adult Male and Young.

Bill, feet, and bare parts of head, pale lake; plumage bright scarlet, excepting the quills, which are white, and the terminal portion of the outer four primaries, which are bluish-black. Young in first plumage with the bill and feet brownish-grey, the bare parts of the head pale flesh-colour; plumage of head, neck, and upper parts, brownish-grey, of lower, white.

_Adult_, 29; wing, 11-1/4.

Accidental. Three specimens seen by me in Louisiana.

Scarlet Ibis, Tantalus ruber, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 41.

Ibis rubra, Bonap. Syn. p. 311.

Scarlet Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 84.

Scarlet Ibis, Ibis rubra, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 62.

362. 3. Ibis alba, Linn. White Ibis.

Plate CCXXII. Adult and Young.

Bill and bare parts of the head light orange-red, feet paler; plumage pure white, excepting the ends of from three to five of the outer primaries, which are deep black, glossed with blue and green. Young with the bill greyish-yellow, the feet leaden-coloured, the plumage dull brown all over, excepting the rump, which is whitish, and the tail, which is tinged with grey. Young after first moult with the bill pale yellow, the feet pale blue; the plumage dull olivaceous brown, the quills dark, the tail lighter, the hind part of the back white, as are the breast and abdomen.

_Adult_, 24-1/2, 40.

Constant resident in South Florida, where it is abundant. Breeds along the coast to Texas, westward, and occasionally as far as New Jersey eastward, inland as far up the Mississippi as Natchez and Red River. Returns to the Floridas in autumn.

White Ibis, Tantalus albus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 43.

Ibis alba, Bonap. Syn. p. 312.

White Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 86.

White Ibis, Ibis alba, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 173; v. v.
p. 593.

GENUS II. TANTALUS, Linn. TANTALUS.

Bill long, stout, at the base as wide as the face, deeper than broad, compressed, tapering towards the end, which is decurved; upper mandible with the ridge rather broad and flattened at the base, narrowed at the middle, convex towards the end, the sides sloping at the base, convex toward the end, the edges inflected and sharp, the tip declinate, rounded, with a notch on each side; nostrils basal, close to the ridge, direct, oblong; lower mandible with the angle rather wide, with a bare dilatable membrane, the edges erect and sharp, the tip blunted. Head of ordinary size, and with part of the hind neck bare and scurfy. Feet very long, like those of the Herons; tibia and tarsus reticulate; hind toe rather large, third longest; claws small, arched, that of the third toe not serrate. Wings long, ample, with the third quill longest. Tail of twelve broad rounded feathers.

363. 1. Tantalus Loculator, Linn. Wood Ibis.

Plate CCXVI. Male.

Head all round, and hind neck half-way down, destitute of feathers, the skin wrinkled and covered with irregular scurfy scales; bill dusky yellowish-brown, sides of head dark bluish-purple, upper part of head horn-colour; legs indigo-blue; toes yellowish, with the scutella black; plumage white, tinged with yellow; alula, primary coverts, primary and secondary quills, excepting the inner, and tail, black, with green and purplish-blue reflections. Young dusky grey all over, the quills and tail brown and black, the head covered with down.

_Male_, 44-1/2, 62; bill, 9.

Resident from Texas to North Carolina, in deep woody swamps; or fresh-water lakes, not on the sea-shores; breeds on trees in swamps; moves in large flocks. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Abundant in Florida and Lower Louisiana.

Wood Ibis, Tantalus Loculator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
39.

Tantalus Loculator, Bonap. Syn. p. 310.

Wood Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 82.

Wood Ibis, Tantalus Loculator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 128.

GENUS III. PLATALEA, Linn. SPOONBILL.

Bill very long, excessively depressed, being, when viewed laterally, very slender; but, when seen from above, nearly as broad as the head at the base, considerably contracted in the middle, and at the end expanded into a large obovate disk much broader than the head; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, at the tip decurved, the ridge extremely broad and flat, gradually widening beyond the nostrils, at the end terminated by the very small, decurved, blunt unguis, the sides declinate at the base, horizontally flattened towards the end, separated in their whole length from the ridge by a narrow groove, their margins soft and blunt; lower mandible with the angle very long, narrow, rounded, the coma narrow, and gradually flattened, the extremity expanded into a flattened disk, as in the upper; both mandibles covered with soft skin, which, for half their length, is rough, with roundish plates, having their anterior margin somewhat prominent. Nostrils basal, oblong-linear, of moderate size. Head of moderate size, flattened above; neck long and slender; body compact, ovate; legs long and rather stout; tibia bare in its lower half, and reticulate; tarsus rather long, stout, roundish, covered all round with subhexagonal scales; toes rather long, moderately stout, scutellate, at the base reticulate; first more slender, articulated at the same level, second considerably shorter than third. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, rather obtuse. Head, gular sac, and a small part of neck, destitute of feathers. Wings long and very broad, the second quill longest. Tail short, even, of twelve rather broad feathers. Tongue extremely small, broader than long; gular sac dilatable; œsophagus wide, with a dilatation at the lower part of the neck; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach a powerful gizzard, roundish, with large muscular fasciculi not disposed into distinct muscles, the epithelium very thick, longitudinally fissured; intestine very long, of moderate width; cœca two slight knobs.

364. 1. Platalea Ajaja, Linn. Roseate Spoonbill.

Plate CCCXXI. Male.

Bill greyish-blue, at the base mottled with dusky; feet pale lake; head yellowish-green; space around the eye and gular sac orpiment-orange; a band of black from the lower mandible to the occiput; feathers of the neck white; back and wings rose-coloured; lower parts of a deeper colour; tuft of recurved feathers on fore neck, a broad band across the wing, along the cubitus, and the upper and lower tail-coverts, rich carmine, with silky lustre; shafts of quills and scapulars light carmine; on each side of the lower part of the neck a patch of pale ochre; tail-feathers ochre-yellow, but at the base roseate.

_Male_, 30-3/4, 53. _Female_, 28, 48.

Constant resident in the Texas, South Florida, and as far eastward as North Carolina, where it is however very rare. Occasionally in summer up the Mississippi to Natchez. Breeds in flocks on trees, low bushes, or cactuses.

Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea Ajaja, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p.
123.

Platalea Ajaja, Bonap. Syn. p. 346.

Roseate Spoonbill, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 79.

Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea Ajaja, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p.
188.

FAMILY XXXVIII. ARDEINÆ. HERONS.

Bill longer than the head, stout, tapering, compressed, pointed, its edges often irregularly serrate. Head oblong, compressed; neck very long; body much compressed. Eyes large or moderate. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal. Legs long, rather slender; tibia bare to a great extent; tarsus compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes rather long, the first on the same place, of moderate size, the outer toe a little longer than the inner, and with a slight web at the base; all compressed and scutellate. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe larger and more curved. Plumage blended. Wings long, very broad, with the outer four quills longest, secondaries very long. Tail very short, nearly even, of twelve rather weak feathers. Œsophagus very wide, without dilatation; stomach small, very thin, with the inner coat soft and smooth; intestine very long and extremely narrow; no cœcal appendages, but the large intestine forming a small sac at its commencement; cloaca very large, globular. Trachea simple, generally cylindrical, with the bronchi wide, and a single pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nests large, flat, widely constructed, placed on trees, bushes, sometimes on the ground; eggs from three to four, oval, light blue. Young remain in the nest until fledged.

GENUS I. ARDEA, Linn. HERON.

* Night Herons. Bill slightly longer than the head, stout,
tapering, compressed, with the upper outline somewhat curved;
legs of moderate length, bare part of tibia short; neck thick;
body full; feathers of the neck elongated and curved
backwards.

365. 1. Ardea Nycticorax, Linn. Black-crowned Night Heron.--Qua-Bird.

Plate CCXXXVI. Adult and Young.

Male with the feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated and loose, three or four very long linear, incurved occipital feathers, not present in winter; upper part of the head and back glossy blackish-green; anterior part of forehead and elongated occipital feathers white; neck anteriorly yellowish-white, on the sides and behind shaded into pale lilac, the lower elongated feathers tinged with cream-colour; breast and abdomen white; wings, rump, and tail light greenish-blue, tinged with lilac. Female similar. Young, when fledged, with the upper parts pale purplish-brown, streaked and spotted with yellowish-white; lower parts yellowish-white, streaked with light purplish-brown. Young after first moult purplish-brown, tinged with grey above, brownish-white beneath, the upper part of the head dull greenish-black.

_Male_, 25-7/12, 44.

Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it breeds. Migrates in spring eastward as far as Maine, up the Mississippi to Memphis. Occurs one hundred miles inland. Rather common. Returns southward early in autumn.

Night Heron or Qua-Bird, Ardea Nycticorax, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
vii. p. 3.

Ardea Nycticorax, Bonap. Syn. p. 306.

Qua-Bird or American Night Heron, Ardea discors, Nutt. Man. v.
ii. p. 54.

Night Heron, Ardea Nycticorax, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 275;
v. v. p. 600.

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_, 23-1/2, 43-1/2. _Young_ in October 23-1/2, 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.

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_, 26-1/2, 42-1/2.

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.

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, the upper 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_, 13-1/2, 17-3/4. _Female_, 12, wing 14-3/4.

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.

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_, 17-3/4, 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.

*** 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.

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.

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.

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_, 24-1/2, 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.

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.

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_, 22-1/2, 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.

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 the rest 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_, 45-1/2, 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.

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.

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

Plate CCLXXVII. Adult.

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

_Adult_, 25, 50.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCXCVI. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 27, 56. _Female_, 23-1/2, 52.

Accidental in North America.

Anser leucopsis, Bonap. Syn. p. 377.

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

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

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

Plate CCCXCI. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 24-1/2, 48. _Female_, 23, 44-1/2.

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

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

Anser Bernicla, Bonap. Syn. p. 378.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCLXXXVI. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 27-1/4, 60.

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

Anser albifrons, Bonap. Syn. p. 376.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCLXXXI. Adult Male and Young Female.

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

_Male_, 31-3/4, 62. _Female_, 26, 55.

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

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

Anser hyperboreus, Bonap. Syn. p. 376.

Snow Goose, Nutt. Man. p. 344.

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

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

GENUS III. CYGNUS, Meyer. SWAN.

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

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

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

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

_Adult_, 68; wing, 27. _Young_, 52-1/2, 91.

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

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCCXI. Male.

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

_Male_, 53, 84.

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

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

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

GENUS IV. ANAS, Linn. DUCK.

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

386. 1. Anas Borchas, Linn. Mallard.

Plate CCXXI. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 24, 36. _Female_, 22.

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

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

Anas Borchas, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCII. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 24-1/2, 38-1/2. _Female_, 22, 34-1/4.

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

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

Anas obscura, Bonap. Syn. p. 384.

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

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

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

Plate CCCXXXVIII. Male.

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

_Male_, 23, 39.

One specimen procured in Louisiana.

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

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

Plate CCCXLVIII. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 21-3/4, 35. _Female_, 19-1/4, 31.

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

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

Anas strepera, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCCXLV. Male and Female.

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

_Male_, 20-1/2, 34-1/2. _Female_, 18, 30.

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

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

Anas americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 384.

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

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

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

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

Plate CCXXVII. Male and Female.