Chapter II: Part 2

Range.--Coasts of northern Europe and North Atlantic; in America breeds from Knox Co., Maine north to southern Greenland; winters south to Quebec and Massachusetts; rarely to Toronto, Connecticut, and Long Island.

=28. Mandt Guillemot= (_Cepphus mandtii_). Similar to No. 27, but bases of greater wing-coverts _white_.

Range.--Arctic regions; breeds from Labrador and Hudson Bay north to northern Greenland and northern Alaska; in winter migrates but little southward; no satisfactory United States record.

=29. Pigeon Guillemot= (_Cepphus columba_). Similar to No. 27, but inner surface of wings _sooty gray_. _Notes._ A squealing, vibrant whistle.

Range.--North Pacific; breeds from Santa Catalina Island north to Bering Strait, west through Aleutian Islands to Kamchatka and northern Japan; winters in same region.

=30. Murre= (_Uria troile_). L. 16; B. 1.7. _Ads., summer._ Above and neck sooty brown; under parts and tips of secondaries white; sides with blackish streaks. _Winter._ Similar, but throat white washed with sooty. _Notes._ A hoarse _murre_ and squawking _a-r-r-r-r-r-rh_.

Range.--North Atlantic; breeds in North America from Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands, north to southern Greenland; winters south to Maine and, rarely, Ontario.

=30a. California Murre= (_U. t. californica_). Similar to No. 30 but larger, W. 8.2; B. 1.9.

Range.--North Pacific; breeds from Pribilof Islands south to Farallones; winters south to southern California.

=31. Brunnich Murre= (_Uria lomvia_). Similar to No. 30, but bill shorter, 1.2. In summer, head and throat browner, lower mandible swollen at sides and grayish at base.

Range.--North Atlantic and eastern Arctic; breeds in North America from Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands, north to Greenland; winters south to New Jersey and along St. Lawrence to Lakes Champlain and Ontario, rarely to Lake Michigan.

=31a. Pallas Murre= (_U. l. arra_). Similar to No. 31, but larger; W. 8.6; B. 1.5. _Notes._ "A peculiar growling or hoarse chattering note." (Nelson.)

Range.--North Pacific; south to Kadiak and Kamchatka.

=32. Razor-billed Auk= (_Alca torda_). L. 16.5. _Ads., summer._ Above sooty black, foreneck browner; tips of secondaries, line from bill to eye, and under parts, white. _Winter._ Similar, but foreneck white. _Yng._ Similar to winter ad. but without eye line. _Notes._ A hoarse grunt or groan.

Range.--North Atlantic; breeds from Bird Rock, Magdalen Islands, north to Greenland; winters south to Long Island and, rarely, to Ontario and North Carolina.

=33. Great Auk= (_Plautus impennis_). L. 29; W. 5.7. _Ads._ Above blackish; a large white spot before the eye; secondaries tipped with white; sides of neck and the throat seal brown; belly, white. Resembling No. 32 in general appearance but body much larger; wing, however, _shorter_.

Range.--Formerly, the coasts and islands of North Atlantic, south on American side to Florida (in winter?); now extinct.

Order II. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.

LONGIPENNES.

Family 1. SKUAS and JAEGERS. StercorariidA|. 4 species.

Family 2. GULLS and TERNS. LaridA|. 37 species, 1 subspecies.

Family 3. SKIMMERS. RynchopidA|. 1 species.

Skuas and Jaegers are pirates among the birds of the high seas. Bold and dashing, they pursue the swift flying Terns or much larger Gulls with equal success, forcing them to drop the fish they have captured and catching it ere it reaches the water.

Gulls (Subfamily _LarinA|_) are usually considered so characteristic of the sea that 'Sea Gull' is the name popularly applied to all members of the subfamily to which they belong. Several species, however, are equally at home, both in the winter and when nesting, on the larger bodies of water in the interior, and one species is rarely or never found on our sea coasts.

Gulls nest on the ground, on drifts of marsh-grass, on cliffs, and one species, at least, among American Gulls (the Herring Gull) has as a result of persecution, acquired the habit of nesting in trees.

Gulls feed from the surface of the water, picking up their food with their strongly curved bills in passing or while hovering, not by plunging into the water, as do the Terns. They are, in fact, the scavengers of the water, and perform a service of great value to mankind by devouring the bodies of various forms of aquatic animals which, in dying, come to the surface and, if cast ashore, might, in decaying, prove a source of disease.

For this reason it was especially unfortunate that the plumage of these birds became fashionable for millinery purposes, with the result that thousands of them were destroyed for their wings and breasts. In this country, however, through the efforts of the American Ornithologists' Union and the Audubon Societies, laws have been passed prohibiting the killing of these beautiful and useful birds, and wardens have been placed on their nesting grounds to protect them.

Gulls often rest in great flocks on the water, sitting high up and riding the waves buoyantly, but the Terns (Subfamily _SterninA|_), after they have acquired the power of flight, are rarely seen on the water. They are lighter, more active birds than the Gulls, with longer wings and tails, and sharper, more pointed bills. They feed largely on small fish (the species called silversides being a favorite) of no value to man, which they secure by darting from the air with great speed and directness. When looking for food, Terns usually fly with the bill downward, a habit which will aid in distinguishing them from the Gulls, whose bill is carried in a line with the body.

Terns usually nest in large colonies on the beach of some isolated islet either on our sea coasts or in the interior. The nest is generally composed of a few wisps of sea-weed or grass, or the two or three eggs are not infrequently laid in a slight hollow in the sand or among the shells and pebbles.

Like the Gulls, Terns have been slaughtered in enormous numbers for millinery purposes; but in this country, at least, effective efforts are now being made to preserve them.

Skimmers nest in numbers on our Atlantic Coast from Virginia southward, laying their four eggs in a slight depression in the sand. In feeding, their mouth is held open and the longer, thin, lower mandible is dropped beneath the surface of the water, when, flying rapidly, they readily pick up food.

In young Skimmers, however, the two mandibles are of equal length and the lower mandible does not become appreciably longer than the upper one until the birds begin to fly. During the flightless period of the bird's life, the bill may be used to pick up food along the shore, but when the power of flight is acquired and with it ability to feed in the characteristic Skimmer manner, then the peculiar bill of these birds becomes fully developed.

The young of all the Gulls and Terns are born covered with down and can leave the nest a few hours after birth. The Noddy, however, is said to be several weeks in its stick nest, which, unlike other members of its group, it often builds in bushes.

The young are colored to harmonize with their usual surroundings. Young Skimmers are pale, sandy brown, of the same color as the sand in which they are hatched. Young Terns are darker, and young Laughing Gulls born in nests of reeds or meadow grasses, are the darkest of the three.

All young Gulls and Terns have the habit of squatting low near the ground in the presence of danger and remaining motionless until actually touched when they seem to realize that they have been seen and trust to their legs for safety.

Skua and Jaegers

=35. Skua= (_Megalestris skua_). L. 22. _Ads._ Above dark, dirty brown; below paler. _Yng._ Similar, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on head and neck.

Range.--North Atlantic, chiefly eastern; breeds from Shetland Islands northward; winters south to Gibraltar, and rarely Long Island. One specimen from California coast.

=36. Pomarine Jaeger= (_Stercorarius pomarinus_). L. 20; B. 1.5. Middle tail feathers rounded. _Ads. light phase._ Cap black; throat, breast, and neck, all around, white tinged with straw; back, lower belly, upper and under tail coverts brownish slate. _Ads. dark phase._ Dark brown, paler below. _Yng._ Above blackish brown margined with rusty; below white margined with dusky and buffy. _Notes._ "A low, hoarse, chattering cry." (Nelson.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds north of Lat. 70A deg.; winters, mainly at sea, south to South America, southern Africa and Australia.

=37. Parasitic Jaeger= (_Stercorarius parasiticus_). L. 17; B. 1.1; its scaly shield _longer_ than distance from end of shield to tip of bill. _Ads._ Both phases similar in color to No. 36, but central tail feathers _pointed_, 8.6 long. _Yng._ Similar in color to No. 36 but smaller, bill shorter, middle tail feathers more pointed. _Notes._ "Loud wailing cries, interspersed with harsh shrieks." (Nelson.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in Arctic regions; winters mainly at sea, from California, Great Lakes, and Massachusetts south to South America.

=38. Long-tailed Jaeger= (_Stercorarius longicaudus_). L. 21; B. 1, its scaly shield _shorter_ than the distance from its end to the tip of bill. _Ads._ In both phases resembling No. 36 but central tail feathers pointed and 12 in. long. _Yng._ Like No. 36 and No. 37, but to be distinguished by differences in bill measurements. _Notes._ "A hoarse _qua_, a shrill _phAe•A"-phAe•A"-phAe•A"-pheo_, when flying; or a rattling _kr-r-r-r-_, _kr-r-r-r_, _kr-r-r_, _krAe"-krAe"-_, _krAe"-krAe"_, the latter syllables shrill and querulous." (Nelson.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in Arctic regions; winters mainly at sea, south to Gibraltar and Gulf of Mexico; one California record.

Gulls

=39. Ivory Gull= (_Pagophila alba_). L. 17. _Ads._ Pure white; bill yellow; feet black. _Yng._ Similar, but wings and tail tipped with blackish; throat dusky.

Range.--Breeds in Arctic regions; winters south to Great Lakes and British Columbia; rarely to Massachusetts.

=40. Kittiwake= (_Rissa tridactyla_). L. 16. Hind toe a knob. _Ads._ Head, neck all around, underparts, and tail white; 3 in. or less, of tips of primaries black. _Yng._ Tip of tail, ear-coverts, nape, and wing-coverts with black; bill black; inner web of primaries with white. _Notes._ A rapidly uttered _'kit-a-wake_, _'kit-a-wake_.

Range.--North Atlantic and eastern Arctic regions; breeds in America, from Gulf of St. Lawrence to Greenland; winters south to Great Lakes, Long Island and, rarely, Virginia.

=40a. Pacific Kittiwake= (_Rissa tridactyla pollicaris_). Similar to No. 40, but hind toe more developed; black tips to 3 outer primaries, 3 in. or more in length. _Notes._ "A shrill, harsh cry when disturbed and a low whistle when communicating with each other." (Nelson.)

Range.--"North Pacific and Bering Sea; south in winter, casually to southern California." (A.O.U.)

=41. Red-legged Kittiwake= (Rissa brevirostris). _Ads._ Similar to Ad. of No. 40, but legs red, back and inner web of primaries darker; bill shorter, 1.2. _Yng._ Similar to No. 40, but no black on tail or wings.

Range.--"Coasts and Islands of Bering Sea." (A.O.U.)

=54. Ring-billed Gull= (_Larus delawarensis_). L. 18. _Ads., summer._ Rill greenish yellow, a black band across tip; ends of primaries black, a white spot near tip of outer one. _Ads. Winter._ Similar, but head and neck streaked with grayish. _Yng._ Tail grayish with a broad black band; primaries black; back brownish gray and whitish; belly white; end half of bill black.

Range.--North America, coast and interior; breeds from Newfoundland, southern Minnesota, and British Columbia northward; winters from Nova Scotia and British Columbia south to Cuba and Lower California.

=55. Short-billed Gull= (_Larus brachyrhynchus_). L. 17; B. 1.50 _Ads., summer._ Head, neck, tail, and underparts white. Two outer primaries tipped with black, their white spaces followed by black; remaining primaries tipped with white. _Yng._ Grayish brown; basal half of tail pearl. _Notes._ "A sharp querulous _kwew-kwew_," (Nelson.)

Range.--North Pacific; breeds in Alaska and interior of northern British Columbia; winters on coast from British Columbia to southern California.

=42. Glaucous Gull= (_Larus glaucus_). L. 28; W. 17.1; B. 2.35. No black in plumage. _Ads._ Primaries white tinted with pearl; bill with red spot at end of lower mandible. _Yng._ Dirty white or gray, mottled with dusky and buffy, chiefly above; primaries white; outer webs brownish.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in America, from Labrador northward; winters south to middle California, Great Lakes and Long Island.

=42.1. Point Barrow Gull= (_Larus barrovianus_). Similar to No. 42, but bill through angle not so deep, (.8 as compared with .9 in _glaucus_); primaries more distinctly tipped with white. _Notes._ "_kA"-kA"-kA"_, _kA"-kA"-kA"_, _kA"-lAe"Ae"-A¨A¨_, _kA"-lAe"Ae"-A¨A¨_, _kA"-lAe"Ae"-A¨A¨_, _kA"-kA"-kA"_, _kA"-kA"-kA"_, the _kA"-kA"_ hoarse, the rest a shrill screaming." (Nelson.)

Range.--"Bering Sea and contiguous waters; northeast to Point Barrow, southwest to Japan." (A.O.U.)

=43. Iceland Gull= (_Larus leucopterus_). L. 25; W. 16; B. 1.75. Similar in color to Nos. 42 and 42.1, but smaller.

Range.--Atlantic; breeds in Greenland; winters south in America to Great Lakes, and rarely, Long Island.

=44. Glaucous-winged Gull= (_Larus glaucescens_). L. 27. _Ads., summer._ Head, tail, and underparts white; back pearl; primaries _pearl_, tipped with _white_. _Ads., winter._ Head and neck streaked with brownish. _Yng._ Brownish gray, more or less mixed with white, including wings and tail.

Range.--North Pacific; breeds from British Columbia to Bering Straits; winters south to southern California.

=45. Kumlien Gull= (_Larus kumlieni_). W. 16.2; B. 1.75. Similar to No. 43, but primaries with well defined ashy gray spaces; outer primary tipped with white, with ashy gray on outer web and shaft part of inner web; second primary ashy gray on only shaft part of outer web.

Range.--"North Atlantic coast of North America, breeding in Cumberland Gulf; south in winter to the coast of the Middle States." (A.O.U.)

=46. Nelson Gull= (_Larus nelsoni_). "Wing 18.25, culmen 2.35. _Ads._ In plumage exactly like _L. kumlieni_; depth of bill through angle .80; tarsus 3.05; middle toe (without claw) 2.40." (Ridgway.)

Range.--"Coast of Norton Sound, Alaska." (A.O.U.)

=47. Great Black-backed Gull= (_Larus marinus_). L. 29. _Ads., summer._ Back and wings slaty black; wing feathers tipped with white. _Ads., winter._ Similar, but head and neck streaked with dusky. _Yng._ Back grayish brown margined with buffy white; rump whiter; primaries black; below white more or less marked with dusky. _Notes._ "A braying _ha-ha-ha_, a deep _keow_, _keow_, a short barking note, and a long-drawn groan, very loud and decidedly impressive." (Brewster.)

Range.--North Atlantic and northern Europe; breeds in North America from Nova Scotia to Greenland; winters south to Great Lakes and South Carolina.

=48. Slaty-backed Gull= (_Larus schistisagus_). L. 26. _Ads., summer._ General appearance of No. 47; back lighter; primaries as figured. _Ads., winter._ Head and neck streaked. _Yng._ Above brown margined with buff and white; primaries brown; tail brown with little or no mottling; below brown.

Range.--"North Pacific, chiefly on the Asiatic side; Herald Island, Arctic Ocean, and Alaskan coast of Bering Sea." (A.O.U.)

=49. Western Gull= (_Larus occidentalis_). L. 24. _Ads., summer._ Head, neck, tail, and underparts white; back slaty gray; outer primaries black, a large white spot near tip of first one. _Ads., winter._ Crown and hind neck streaked with brownish. _Yng._ Grayish brown mixed with white; wings and tail fuscous. _Notes._ _OoAe"Ae"k_, _ooAe"Ae"k_, _ooAe"Ae"k_; _ca-ca-ca_, and other calls.

Range.--Pacific coast; breeds and winters from Lower California to British Columbia.

=57. Heermann Gull= (_Larus heermanni_). L. 17. _Ads., summer._ Bill red; head and throat white, shading into slate above and below; tail blackish, tipped with white; primaries black. _Ads., winter._ Head and neck streaked with grayish brown. _Yng._ Uniform grayish brown.

Range.--Pacific coast of North America; breeds from Mazatlan, Mexico, north to Lower California; occurs regularly north to Vancouver Island; winters south to Panama.

=51. Herring Gull= (_Larus argentatus_). L. 24. _Ads., summer._ White spaces at end of outer primaries sometimes joined. _Ads., winter._ Similar, but head and neck, streaked with grayish. _Yng._ Above ashy brown, margined and marked with buffy; wings brownish black; tail the same; sometimes margined with buffy; below ashy brown, sometimes lightly barred or streaked with dusky. _Notes._ _Cack-cack-cack_; _hah_, _hah_, _hah_, and other notes.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in America from Maine, Great Lakes, Minnesota, and British Columbia northward; winters south to Cuba and Lower California.

=52. Vega Gull= (_Larus vegA|_). Similar to No. 51, but back said to be darker; feet yellow.

Range.--"Bering Sea and adjacent waters; south in winter to California and Japan." (A.O.U.)

=53. California Gull= (_Larus californicus_). L. 20. _Ads._ Similar to No. 54 but larger; a red spot near tip of lower mandible; white spot on outer primary, larger and nearer end. _Yng._ Similar to No. 54 but darker; tail nearly uniform fuscous.

Range.--Western North America; breeds chiefly in interior, from Utah to Lat. 68A deg., 30'; winters from British Columbia to Mexico.

=58. Laughing Gull= (_Larus atricilla_). L. 16. _Ads., summer._ Head dark slate; tail white; bill with reddish. _Ads., winter._ Similar, but head and throat white with grayish on nape and behind eyes. _Yng._ Tail grayish with a broad black band; nape and back ashy brown; forehead and under parts white. _Notes._ A nasal _cow-ow_, also _cuk-cuk-cuk_, and a high, long-drawn laugh.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from Texas and Florida to Maine and Nova Scotia; rare in interior; winters from South Carolina to northern South America.

=59. Franklin Gull= (_Larus franklini_). L. 15. _Ads., summer._ Breast with a rosy tinge; outer primaries with wide black spaces near ends, bordered at base and tip with white. _Ads., winter._ "Head mainly white, with [its] sides and back grayish dusky." _Yng._ "Top and sides of head and back grayish brown; quills dusky, tipped with white; tail with subterminal band of dusky; rest of tail, under parts, forehead, and eyelids white." (Bailey.)

Range.--Interior of North America; breeds from Iowa and Minnesota northward to Great Bear Lake; winters from west Gulf States to South America.

=60. Bonaparte Gull= (_Larus philadelphia_). L. 14. _Ads., summer._ Outer web of outer primaries and tip black; inner web and shaft white; bill black. _Ads., winter._ Similar, but throat and head white, its back grayish. _Yng._ Tail white, tipped with black; outer primary black, inner two-thirds of inner web and space near tip white; rest of plumage much as in young of No. 58.

Range.--North America; breeds in interior from Hudson Bay and Manitoba west to the Yukon; winters from British Columbia and Maine to Lower California and Gulf of Mexico.

=61. Ross Gull= (_Rhodostethia rosea_) L. 13.5. Bill small, .7; middle tail feathers longest. _Ads., summer._ White areas tinged with pink; a black collar. _Ads., winter._ No collar; a black spot before eye. _Yng._ Lesser coverts black, margined with whitish; tail white, central feathers tipped with black; back pearl; ear spot and space about eye dusky; crown white, washed with pearl.

Range.--"Arctic regions; south in autumn and winter to Kamchatka, Point Barrow, Alaska and Disco Bay, Greenland." (A.O.U.)

=62. Sabine Gull= (_Xema sabinii_). L. 14. Tail slightly forked. _Ads., summer._ Head and throat slaty black, margined behind with black; bill black, tipped with yellow; outer primaries black, small tip and inner half of inner web white. _Ads., winter._ Similar, but head and throat white; nape region dusky. _Yng._ Tail white, tipped with black; crown and back ashy brown; forehead and underparts white. _Notes._ "A single harsh grating note." (Nelson.)

Range.--Arctic regions: breeds in America from St. Michaels, Alaska and Melville Bay, Greenland, northward; winters south on Atlantic coast, rarely to New York; casually to Texas, and on Pacific coast to Peru.

Terns

=64. Caspian Tern= (_Sterna caspia_). L. 21. T. 6., forked 1.5. Largest of our Terns. _Ads., breeding._ Bill red; cap black; above pearl; below-white; _primaries frosty black_. After breeding, crown streaked black and white; bill more orange. _Yng._ Similar to last but wings and tail with blackish. _Notes._ A loud, harsh "_kay-awk_" or "_key-rak_."

Range.--Cosmopolitan; breeds in North America, locally from Texas to Newfoundland and Great Slave Lake; winters mostly south of United States; three California winter records.

=65. Royal Tern= (_Sterna maxima_). L. 19; T. 7, forked 3.5; B. 2.5. _Ads., summer._ _Primaries frosty black_, _white on inner two-thirds of inner web except at tip_, _where frosty_; bill orange red; crown black; above pearl; below white. _Ads., winter._ The same, but head white with black streaks. _Yng._ Similar to winter ad. but wings and tail with grayish.

Range.--Middle America; breeds from southern Brazil and Peru to Gulf States, Virginia, and California; wanders north to Great Lakes and Massachusetts; winters from Gulf States and California southward.

=66. Elegant Tern= (_Sterna elegans_). L. 16.5; B. 2.7. Similar to No. 65, but smaller; bill longer and more slender. _Ads._ Tinged with shell pink below.

Range.--"Pacific coast of America from California to Chili." (A.O.U.)

=67. Cabot Tern= (_Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida_). L. 16; T. 5.5, forked 2.7. _Ads., breeding._ Bill black, _the tip yellow_; crown black; above pearl; below white; primaries much as in No. 65. After breeding, head white; nape with black streaks. _Yng._ Similar to last but with back and tail with blackish; tip of bill less yellow.

Range.--Tropical America; breeds on east side of Mexico north along Gulf Coast to Florida, and Atlantic coast to South Carolina; wanders to Massachusetts; winters south of United States to West Indies and Central America.

=63. Gull-billed Tern= (_Gelochelidon nilotica_). L. 14.5; T. 5.5. _Ads., summer._ _Bill thick, short, black; tail short, forked only 1.5_; crown black; above pearl; below white. _Ads., winter._ Head white, with black patch before and behind eye. _Yng._ Similar, but above edged with buffy; head and neck streaked with grayish. _Notes._ A high, thin, somewhat reedy _tee-tee-tee_, sometimes suggesting a weak-voiced katydid.

Range.--Cosmopolitan; breeds in North America from Mexico to Florida and north to Virginia; wanders north rarely to New Brunswick; winters from southern Texas southward.

=73. Aleutian Tern= (_Sterna aleutica_). L. 14. T. 6.7, forked 3. _Ads., summer._ Above _and below_ pearl gray, browner below; throat white; crown black; _forehead white; line from bill to eye black_. _Ads., winter._ "With rather more white on forehead." (Cat. B. M.) _Notes._ "A thin, clear, trilling whistle." (Nelson.)

Range.--Alaska from Kadiak to Bering Strait, southwest to Japan.

=74. Least Tern= (_Sterna antillarum_). L. 9; T. 3.5, forked 1.7. _Ads., summer._ Bill _yellow_, _black_ at tip; forehead _white_; _a black line_ from bill to eye; crown black; above pearl; below white. _Ads., winter._ Crown white; nape black; bill dark; tail shorter. _Yng._ Similar to last, but above with buffy or brownish. _Notes._ "A sharp squeak much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother."

Range.--Western hemisphere; breeds locally from northern South America northward to Massachusetts, Dakota, and southern California; winters south of United States.

=76. Bridled Tern= (_Sterna anA|thetus_). L. 15. _Ads._ Forehead and line _over_ eye white; _lores_ and crown black; nape whitish; back sooty gray or sooty brown; _outer_ tail feathers white, except at tip; inner ones grayish brown. _Notes._ A soft _qua_.

Range.--Tropical regions; north in Atlantic to the Bahamas; casual in Florida.

=69. Forster Tern= (_Sterna forsteri_). L. 15; T. 7, forked. 4. _Ads., summer._ _Inner_ web of outer tail feather dusky; below _pure white_; bill _orange_, blackish at end; crown black; back pearl. _Ads., winter._ Crown white or grayish; _a large black spot about eyes_; bill black. _Yng._ Similar to winter ad. but above with brownish. _Notes._ A long drawn, deep, reedy _cack_ and _tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet_.

Range.--North America; breeds locally north to California, and from Texas along coast to Virginia and in interior to Manitoba; wanders to Massachusetts; winters from southern California and Texas south to Brazil.

=70. Common Tern= (_Sterna hirundo_). L. 15; T. 5.5, forked, 3.2 _Ads., summer._ Outer web of outer tail feather dusky; below white, _washed with dusky_; bill _red_, blackish at end; crown black; back pearl. _Ads., winter._ Forehead and underparts white; bill black. _Yng._ Similar to last, but above with brownish; tail shorter. _Notes._ A vibrant, purring, _tearrr_, and other calls.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; in America, chiefly east of Plains; breeds locally on coast and in interior from Gulf States to Barren Grounds and Greenland; winters south of United States to Brazil.

=71. Arctic Tern= (_Sterna paradisA|a_). L. 15.5; T. 7.2 forked 4.5. Similar to No. 70, but _summer ad._ with bill _wholly bright red_; tail longer; tarsus shorter, .6 instead of .7. _Notes._ Like _tearr_ of No. 70, but shriller, ending in rising inflection, like squeal of a pig. (Brewster.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds from Massachusetts north to Greenland and northwest to Aleutian Islands and Alaska; winters south to California and Virginia.

=72. Roseate Tern= (_Sterna dougalli_). L. 15.5; T. 7.5, forked, 5.2. _Ads., summer._ _Bill black, reddish only at the base; below white tinged with shell pink_; tail wholly white; crown black; back pearl. _Ads., winter._ Forehead with white; no pink below. Notes. A reedy cack.

Range.--Temperate and tropical regions; breeds in North America on east coast only, from Florida north to Nova Scotia; rare north of Virginia; winters south of United States to Venezuela.

Terns and Skimmer

=75. Sooty Tern= (_Sterna fuliginosa_). L. 17. _Ads., summer._ _Above blackish_, forehead and underparts white; tail black, except outer feathers which are mostly white. _Yng._ Sooty slate; linings of wings white; scapulars, upper tail coverts, and tail feathers tipped with white. _Notes._ A squeaky _quack_, a nasal _ker-wacky-wak_, and other calls.

Range.--"Tropical and subtropical coasts of the globe. In America from Chili to western Mexico and the Carolinas, and casually to New England." (A.O.U.)

=77. Black Tern= (_Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis_). L. 10. _Ads., summer._ Head and underparts black; back, wings, and tail slate. _Ads., winter._ Forehead, nape, and underparts _white_; head gray. _Yng._ Similar to last, but above with brownish margins. _Notes._ A sharp _peek_.

Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds in interior from California, Kansas, and Illinois to Alaska; irregular migrant on Atlantic coast from New Brunswick southward; winters south of United States to Chili.

=79. Noddy= (_Anous stolidus_). L. 15. _Ads._ Crown silvery white; rest of plumage _sooty brown_. _Yng._ Similar, but all sooty brown except white line from bill to eye. _Notes._ A low reedy _cack_ increasing to a hoarse, guttural _k-r-r-r-r-r-r-r_.

Range.--"Tropical and subtropical regions; in America from Brazil and Chili north to the Gulf and South Atlantic States." (A.O.U.)

=80. Black Skimmer= (_Rynchops nigra_). L. 18. _Ads. Lower mandible longer than upper_; forehead, underparts, part of secondaries, and tail white; rest of plumage black. _Yng._ Plumage widely margined with buffy. _Notes._ Varied, nasal, penny-trumpet-like; also _ca-you_, _ca-you_, like a hound's voice.

Range.--North America, chiefly eastern; breeds from southern New Jersey southward; wanders rarely to Nova Scotia; winters from Gulf States to northern South America.

Order III. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.

TUBINARES.

Family 1. ALBATROSSES. DiomedeidA|. 4 species.

Family 2. FULMARS, SHEARWATERS, and PETRELS. ProcellariidA|.
26 species, 1 subspecies.

The Albatrosses, of which about ten species are known, are birds of far southern seas, where they nest on isolated islands. After the young are reared, several species migrate northward and are found off our Pacific coast. The largest known species, the Wandering Albatross, which has been made famous by Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," measures from twelve to fourteen feet in expanse of wing, and, like other members of this family, is a tireless ocean wanderer.

In the museum of Brown University, there is a mounted Wandering Albatross, killed off the coast of Chili by Capt. Hiram Luther, December 20, 1847. When captured, a small bottle was found tied around the bird's neck, containing a slip of paper from which it was learned that the bottle had been attached to the bird December 12, 1847, by Capt. Edwards of the New Bedford Whaler, "Euphrates," when about 800 miles off the coast of New Zealand, or about 3,400 miles from the point at which, eight days later, the bird was secured.

The Fulmars, (genus _Fulmarus_), are northern birds and nest in immense numbers on isolated islets, somewhat like certain Gulls.

Comparatively little is known of the nesting places of our Shearwaters, but it is believed that most of them breed on the islands of the South Atlantic and South Pacific, and pass their winter, (our summer) off our coasts.

One of the Petrels, (Wilson Petrel), is known to have this habit. It has been found nesting on Kerguelen Island, in S. Lat. 49A deg. 54', in February, and in May it appears off our coasts for the summer.

Petrels nest in holes in the ground, laying one white egg. They are never seen near their homes during the day, the bird then on the nest waiting until night to feed, when the one which has been at sea returns to assume its share of the task of incubation. Those birds are therefore both diurnal and nocturnal.

Albatrosses

=81. Black-footed Albatross= (_Diomedea nigripes_). L. 32. _Ads._ Sooty brown, lighter below; region about base of bill whitish; upper mandible _broad and rounded at its base_. _Notes._ A whining groan, uttered when contesting for food. (Turner).

Range.--North Pacific; north to Lat. 52A deg.; south at least to Lower California.

=82. Short-tailed Albatross= (_Diomedea albatrus_). L. 36. _Ads._ White; the head straw; tail and primaries gray brown; upper mandible broad and rounded at base.

Range.--North Pacific, north to Bering Strait; south, at least, to Lower California.

=82.1. Laysan Albatross= (_Diomedea immutabilis_). L. 32. _Ads._ Head, neck, rump, upper tail coverts, and whole under surface white; lores next to the eye sooty black; back, wings, and end of the tail dark sooty brown; interscapular region paler; base of the tail whitish. (Cat. B. M.)

Range.--Laysan Island, Pacific Ocean; casual off the coast of Lower California.

=83. Yellow-nosed Albatross= (_Thalassogeron culminatus_). L. 36. _Ads._ Above slate brown, grayer on head; rump white; below white; neck sometimes grayish; tail gray.

Range.--"Indian and southern Pacific Oceans; casual off the coast of Oregon; accidental in the Gulf of St. Lawrence." (A.O.U.)

=84. Sooty Albatross= (_PhA"betria fuliginosa_). L. 35. _Ads._ _Sides of lower mandible conspicuously grooved_; entire plumage sooty brown, except a white eye-ring.

Range.--"Oceans of southern hemisphere, north to the coast of Oregon." (A.O.U.)

Fulmars and Shearwaters

=86. Fulmar= (_Fulmarus glacialis_). L. 19; W. 13; B. 1.5. _Ads. Light phase._ Head, neck, and under parts white; back, wings, and tail slaty gray. _Dark phase._ Uniform dark slaty gray. _Notes._ Silent.

Range.--North Atlantic, breeds from Lat. 69A deg. northward; winters south to Lat. of Massachusetts, and rarely to Virginia.

=86b. Pacific Fulmar= (_F. g. glupischa_). Similar to No. 86, but nasal tubes light.

Range.--North Pacific; breeds from Bering Sea north; winters south to Mexico.

=86.1. Rodger Fulmar= (_Fulmarus rodgersii_). Similar to light phase of No. 86, but back with white feathers; no dark phase.

Range.--"Bering Sea and adjacent parts of North Pacific." (A.O.U.)

=87. Slender-billed Fulmar= (_Priocella glacialoides_). L. 18.5. _Ads._ Head and underparts white; back and tail pearl; primaries black, _white on inner web_.

Range.--Southern Seas; north on Pacific coast to Washington.

=94. Sooty Shearwater= (_Puffinus fuliginosus_). L. 17. _Ads._ Sooty gray, lighter below.

Range.--"Atlantic Ocean, breeding in the southern hemisphere; a summer visitor off our coast, from South Carolina northward." (A.O.U.)

=95. Dark-bodied Shearwater= (_Puffinus griseus_). L. 17. _Ads._ Above dusky black or brownish, paler below; under wing coverts _white_ and dusky; bill black.

Range.--South Pacific; north in summer on the American coast to California.

=96.1. Wedge-tailed Shearwater= (_Puffinus cuneatus_). L. 17. T. 5.4, pointed. _Ads._ Above brown; below white; sides of neck mottled with gray; middle tail feathers nearly 2. longer than lateral ones. (Cat. B. M.)

Range.--"North Pacific Ocean, from the Hawaiian Islands north to the Bonin Group and Lower California." (A.O.U.)

Shearwaters

=88. Cory Shearwater= (_Puffinus borealis_). L. 21. _Ads._ Above grayish brown; below, including under wing coverts and _under tail coverts, white_.

Range.--North Atlantic; recorded only off the coast from Massachusetts to Long Island.

=89. Greater Shearwater= (_Puffinus gravis_). L. 20. _Ads._ Above grayish brown or blackish; tips of longer upper tail coverts white; below white; _middle of belly and under tail coverts ashy gray_.

Range.--"Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope north to Arctic Circle." (A.O.U.)

=91. Pink-footed Shearwater= (_Puffinus creatopus_). L. 19.5. _Ads._ Above dusky gray or brown; below white; sides and lower belly with grayish; longer under tail coverts dusky brown; feet, flesh-color; bill yellowish.

Range.--Pacific Ocean north on the American coast in summer and fall to middle California.

=92. Audubon Shearwater= (_Puffinus lherminieri_). L. 12. _Ads._ Above black or brownish black; below white; _under tail coverts sooty_.

Range.--Middle Atlantic; breeds in West Indies and Bahamas; wanders north to Long Island.

=93. Black-vented Shearwater= (_Puffinus opisthomelas_). L. 15. _Ads._ Above dusky _black_; below white; sides of breast grayish; under tail coverts dusky brown; bill black.

Range.--"Pacific Ocean, chiefly southward; coast of Lower California north to Santa Cruz, Cal." (A.O.U.)

=93.1. Townsend Shearwater= (_Puffinus auricularis_). Similar to No. 93, but bill and feet smaller, B. 1.2; above darker, nearly black; black of head extending below eye. (Townsend.)

Range.--Pacific Ocean (Clarion Island, Lower California).

=96. Slender-billed Shearwater= (_Puffinus tenuirostris_). L. 13., bill slender 1.2 _Ads._ "Above dark sooty slate; beneath deep sooty gray, paler on throat where sometimes inclining to whitish." (Ridgw.)

Range.--North Pacific, from Japan and Kotzebue Sound south on the American coast to middle California.

Petrels

=98. Black-capped Petrel= (_A†strelata hasitata_). L. 15. _Ads._ Above sooty brown; back of neck and upper tail coverts _white_; base of tail _white_.

Range.--Tropical Atlantic; irregular in United States (Florida, Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Vermont, and Ontario.)

=103. Least Petrel= (_Halocyptena microsoma_). L. 5.7. _Ads._ Sooty blackish brown, lighter below.

Range.--"Coast of Lower California south to Panama." (A.O.U.)

=105. Forked-tailed Petrel= (_Oceanodroma furcata_). L. 8. 7. _Ads._ Tail forked; bluish gray, wings darker; a blackish space about eye.

Range.--North Pacific; breeds in Aleutian Islands; recorded north to Bering Strait; winters south to California.

=105.1. Kaeding Petrel= (_Oceanodroma kaedingi_). W. 6. _Ads._ Similar to _O. leucorrhoa_, but much smaller with much less deeply forked tail. (Anthony.)

Range.--Pacific Ocean; (Socorro Islands, Lower California.)

=108. Ashy Petrel= (_Oceanodroma homochroa_). L. 8.5. _Ads._ No white on rump; tail forked; sooty black above, browner below; wing coverts grayish.

Range.--"Coast of California; breeds on the Santa Barbara and Farallone Islands." (A.O.U.)

=104. Stormy Petrel; Mother Carey's Chicken= (_Procellaria pelagica_). L. 5.5. _Ads._ Sooty black, browner below; upper tail coverts white, _tipped with black_.

Range.--North Atlantic; winters south to western Africa and New Brunswick.

=106. Leach Petrel; Stormy Petrel= (_Oceanodroma leucorhoa_). L. 8., W. 6.2. _Ads._ Tail forked; above sooty brownish black; below browner; _lesser wing coverts grayish brown_; longer upper tail coverts _not_ tipped with black. _Notes._ An elfin-like crow of eight notes.

Range.--North Atlantic and North Pacific; breeds from Maine to Greenland and from Farallone to Aleutian Islands; winters south to Virginia and California.

=106.1. Guadalupe Petrel= (_Oceanodroma macrodactyla_). L. 8.4; W. 6.4; T. 3.9, fork 1 in. deep. _Ads._ Similar to _O. leucorhoa_, but with much longer and more deeply forked tail, larger feet, shorter bill, and very broad dusky tips to the upper tail coverts. (Ridgw. in Cat. B. M.)

Range.--Pacific Ocean; (Guadalupe Island, Lower California.)

=107. Black Petrel= (_Oceanodroma melania_.) L. 9. _Ads._ Sooty black, paler below; wing-coverts grayish, tail forked.

Range.--South Pacific, north to Santa Barbara Islands; breeds on Coronados Islands, southern California.

=108.1 Socorro Petrel= (_Oceanodroma socorroensis_). W. 5.5. _Ads._ Similar to No. 108, but wings longer; tail shorter and less deeply forked; sides of rump _whitish_; no white on under surface of wing. (Towns.)

Range.--Pacific Ocean; (Socorro Island, southern California.)

=109. Wilson Petrel; Stormy Petrel= (_Oceanites oceanicus_). L. 7. _Ads._ Webs of feet with yellow patch: tail not forked; longer upper tail coverts not tipped with black. _Notes._ A weak _weet_, _weet_, and a hoarse chattering _patret-tu-cuk-cuk-tu-tu_. (Wilson.)

Range.--Atlantic Ocean; breeds in Southern seas, (Kerguelen Island in February), and migrates north to Newfoundland, spending summer off coast of eastern United States.

Order IV. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS.

STEGANOPODES.

Family 1. TROPIC BIRDS. PhaA"thontidA|. 2 species.

Family 2. GANNETS. SulidA|. 6 species.

Family 3. DARTERS. AnhingidA|. 1 species.

Family 4. CORMORANTS. PhalacrocoracidA|. 6 species, 5 subspecies.

Family 5. PELICANS. PelecanidA|. 3 species.

Family 6. MAN-O'-WAR-BIRDS. FregatidA|. 1 Species.

The members of this Order agree in having all four toes connected by webs, but in other respects they differ widely in structure and, consequently, in habit. The young of all the Steganopodes are born naked, unlike the young of most of the other water birds, which, as a rule, are hatched covered with feathers and can swim or run about soon after birth. The nests of the Steganopodes are, of necessity, therefore, more complex structures than those of birds whose nests are merely incubators and not cradles as well.

Tropic Birds resemble the larger Terns, when in the air, but their wing strokes are more rapid. They usually nest in holes in the face of cliffs, and lay one whitish egg, marked with chocolate.

Gannets are true sea birds, but, as a rule, do not live very far from the land. When breeding, Gannets are usually associated in great numbers. Their nests, as a rule, are placed on the ground or on cliffs, and one or two chalky white eggs are laid. At this season the birds are exceedingly tame and in localities where they have not been much molested, one may walk about among the sitting birds without their taking flight. Gannets are powerful birds on the wing. Their vigorous wing strokes are interrupted at intervals by short sails. They feed on fish which they capture by diving from the air.

The Darters or Anhingas number four species, distributed throughout the tropical parts of the globe, only one species inhabiting America. This is generally called the Snakebird or Water Turkey in Florida, where it is a common species on the more isolated rivers and lakes. The name Snakebird is derived from the bird's habit of swimming with the body submerged, when the long, sinuous neck, appearing above the water, readily suggests a snake. At other times Snakebirds mount high in the air and sail about, like Hawks, in wide circles. They build a large, well-made nest in a bush or tree, generally over the water, and lay four bluish white, chalky eggs.

Cormorants nest in large colonies, generally on isolated islets, but sometimes in remote swamps. The nests are placed closely together on the ground, in bushes, and less frequently in trees, according to the nature of the bird's haunts.

Cormorants feed on fish which they catch by pursuing them under the water. They dive from the surface of the water like Ducks, or from a low perch, but not from the air, as do the Gannets.

Pelicans nest in colonies, generally on some small island, building their nests on the ground or in bushes, and laying two or three large, white, chalky eggs.

Brown Pelicans secure their food by plunging on it from the air, generally from about twenty feet above the water. The sides of the bill are then bowed outward, the opening widened, forming, with the pouch, an effective net in which fish, twelve and fourteen inches long, are captured.

White Pelicans, on the contrary, feed from the water, scooping up fishes as they swim. At times a flock of these birds may surround a school of small fish in shallow water and drive them shoreward, at the same time actively filling their pouches.

Young Pelicans are fed on fish which they take from the pouch of the parent bird by thrusting their bills and heads well into it and prodding actively about for the food to be found there. Young Cormorants secure their food in a similar manner.

Frigate Birds, of which only two species are known, have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their body than any other bird. Their power of flight is consequently unexcelled and they may spend days in the air without tiring. Their feet are as weak as their wings are strong, and are of use only in perching.

The food of Frigate Birds consists chiefly of fish, which they catch from near the surface of the water, or rob from Gulls and Terns by pursuing them, forcing them to disgorge their prey, and catching it ere it reaches the water.

Tropic Birds and Gannet

=112. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird= (_PhaA"thon americanus_). L. 30; T. 19. _Ads._ Bill yellow; no bars above; middle tail feathers lengthened. _Yng._ Above barred with black; middle tail feathers not lengthened.

Range.--Tropical coasts; breeds in West Indies, Bahamas and Bermudas; casual in Florida; accidental in western New York and Nova Scotia.

=113. Red-billed Tropic Bird= (_PhaA"thon A|thereus_). L. 30; T. 20. _Ads._ Bill red; above barred with black; long middle tail feathers pure white.

Range.--"Coasts of tropical America, north on the Pacific coast to Cape Colnett, Lower California; accidental on the Newfoundland Banks. Breeds on San Pedro Martir and other Islands in the Gulf of California." (A.O.U.)

=117. Gannet= (_Sula bassana_). L. 35. _Ads._ White; head and neck tinged with straw; primaries blackish. _Yng._ Grayish brown with white spots. _Notes._ A harsh _gor-r-r-rok_.

Range.--North Atlantic; breeds, in America, only on Bird Rock and Bonaventure Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence; winters off the coast, south to Florida.

Boobies

=114. Blue-faced Booby= (_Sula cyanops_). L. 28. _Ads._ Body and lesser wing coverts white; central tail feathers whitish, others dark brown. _Yng._ Above plain dark grayish brown with some grayish streaks; below white; flanks streaked with grayish.

Range.--Tropical seas; north in America to Lower California and Bahamas; casual in southern Florida.

=114.1. Blue-footed Booby= (_Sula nebouxii_). L. 33. _Ads._ Head, neck, and underparts white, the first two streaked with grayish; back dusky brownish, tipped with whitish; legs and feet bright blue. (Goss.)

Range:--Pacific coast of America, from Gulf of California to Galapagos and Chili. (Cat. B. M.)

=115. Booby= (_Sula sula_). L. 30. _Ads._ Breast and belly white; bill and feet yellow. _Yng._ Entirely brownish, lighter below; bill blackish; feet yellow. _Notes._ A harsh, guttural _bork_, _hork_. (Audubon).

Range.--"Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia. Also, West Pacific and Indian Oceans." (A.O.U.) Accidental on Long Island. No United States breeding record.

=115.1. Brewster Booby= (_Sula brewsteri_). L. 30. _Ads._ Similar to No. 115, but head and neck paler, bill blue, feet greenish.

Range,--"Coasts and Islands of the eastern south Pacific Ocean, north to Lower California; breeding as far north as Georges Island at the head of the Gulf of California." (A.O.U.)

=116. Red-footed Booby= (_Sula piscator_). L. 28. Feet _reddish_. _Ads._ White; head and nape straw color; primaries _hoary grayish brown_; tail _white_. _Yng._ Above sooty brown; head, neck, and lower parts light smoky gray. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Tropical seas, except Pacific coast of America (Cat. B. M.); north in Atlantic to Bahamas and, rarely, southern Florida.

Cormorants

=119. Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax carbo_). L. 36; T. 7.5, of 14 feathers. _Ads._ Chin and sides of throat whitish; back glossy brownish, _distinctly_ margined with black; below uniform shining black. _Breeding plumage._ Head and throat with white plumes; a white patch on flanks. _Yng._ _Belly white_; above olive grayish brown, margined with black; throat _whitish_; neck brownish.

Range.--North Atlantic; breeds from Nova Scotia to Greenland; winters south to Carolinas.

=120. Double-crested Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax dilophus_). L. 30; W. 12.5; T. 6.2, of 12 feathers. _Ads._ Back brownish with distinct black margins; below shining black. _Breeding plumage._ With tufts on either side of head black, sometimes mixed with white; throat pouch orange. _Yng._ Back browner; head, neck, and lower belly brown; breast whitish.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds locally from Bay of Fundy, Minnesota, North Dakota, northward; west to Assiniboia; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward.

=120a. Florida Cormorant= (_P. d. floridanus_). Similar to No. 120, but blacker and smaller. L. 25.

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; breeds north to North Carolina and southern Illinois.

=120b. White-crested Cormorant= (_P. d. cincinatus_). Similar to No. 120, but larger, L. 36; nuptial crests _white_.

Range.--Pacific coasts; breeds in Alaska; winters south to California.

=120c. Farallone Cormorant= (_P. d. albociliatus_). Similar to 120b., but smaller, L. 28.

Range.--Breeds on California coast and in interior, south to Socorro Island. (Ridgw.)

=121. Mexican Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax mexicanus_). L. 25. W. 10. _Ads._ Narrow border at base of pouch white. _Breeding plumage._ Neck with white plumes. _Yng._ Head and hindneck brownish; back grayish, margined with black; throat, foreneck and breast brownish white; belly black.

Range.--Breeds In West Indies and Central America to west Gulf States; north in summer rarely to Kansas and southern Illinois.

=122. Brandt Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax penicillatus_). L. 35; T. 6. Chin and sides of throat _buffy white or brownish_. _Ads._ Above blue black, _faintly_ margined with black; below green black. _Breeding plumage._ With white, hair-like plumes from back and neck; no white on flanks; throat pouch blue. _Yng._ Above dark brown; throat and belly whitish; breast and sides brown.

Range.--Pacific coast from Cape St. Lucas to Washington; resident.

=123. Pelagic Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax pelagicus_). L. 28; W. 10; T. 6.2. Forehead _feathered_; back feathers _not_ margined. _Ads._ Above glossy green and purplish black; below bottle green. _Breeding plumage._ With white plumes on neck and rump and white patches on flanks; nape and forehead, crested. _Yng._ Above greenish dusky brown, less green below.

Range.--"Aleutian and Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka, south to Japan." (A.O.U.)

=123a. Violet-green Cormorant= (_P. p. robustus_). Similar to No. 123, but larger; bill stouter, W. 10.8.

Range.--"Coast of Alaska, from Norton Sound south to Washington." (A.O.U.)

=123b. Baird Cormorant= (_P. p. resplendens_). Similar to No. 123, but smaller; bill slenderer; W. 9.5. _Notes._ A croaking, guttural note.

Range.--Pacific coast from Washington south to Mazatlan, Mexico.

=124. Red-faced Cormorant= (_Phalacrocorax urile_). L. 34. _Forehead_ as well as lores bare. _Ads._ Above green and purple; head and neck blue black; belly green. _Breeding plumage._ With forehead and nape crests and white patches on flanks. _Notes._ "A low, droning croak." (Nelson.)

Range.--"Pribilof, Aleutian, and Kuril Islands, and coast of Kamchatka. South in winter to northern Japan." (A.O.U.)

Anhinga, Pelicans, and Man-o'-War bird

=118. Anhinga; Snakebird; Water Turkey= (_Anhinga anhinga_). L. 36. _Ad._ [Male]. Black; grayish head and neck plumes which, in winter, are absent. _Ad._ [Female]. Resembles male but whole head, neck, and breast brownish. _Yng._ Similar to [Female] but black parts duller. _Notes._ A rasping, clattering croak, uttered when fighting or in coming to the nest.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds north to southern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from Gulf States southward.

=125. American White Pelican= (_Pelecanus erythrorhynchos_). L. 60. _Ads._ White; primaries black; bill in breeding season with a knob. _Yng._ With crown brownish.

Range:--North America; breeds in interior from eastern California, Utah, Yellowstone Park, Minnesota (?) northward to Lat. 61A deg.; winters from Gulf States and southern California, south to Central America.

=126. Brown Pelican= (_Pelecanus occidentalis_). L. 50; W. 19.5. _Ads._ Pouch greenish; head white, rarely yellowish; neck brown. In fall, no brown on neck. _Yng._ Brownish gray, white below. _Notes._ Adults as a rule silent; young before flying, very noisy.

Range:--Atlantic and Gulf coast of tropical and subtropical America; breeds from northern South America to South Carolina; has strayed to Illinois and Nova Scotia; winters from Gulf States southward.

=127. California Brown Pelican= (_Pelecanus californicus_). Similar to No. 126, but larger. L. 54; W. 21; pouch in breeding season, red.

Range.--Pacific coast from Galapagos north to British Columbia; breeds north only to Los Coronados Islands.

=128. Man-o'-War Bird; Frigate Bird= (_Fregata aquila_). L. 40. _Ad._ [Male]. Black, glossy above; pouch "scarlet or orange." _Ad._ [Female]. Browner; breast and belly white. _Yng._ Similar to [Female], but head and neck white. _Notes._ Usually silent; rarely a croaking note.

Range:--Tropical and subtropical coasts; in America north to Florida, Texas, and southern California; casually to Kansas, Ohio and Nova Scotia; winters from southern Florida and Lower California southward.

Order V. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS.

ANSERES.

Family 1. DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS. AnatidA|. 49 species, 6 subspecies.

The AnatidA| of North America are placed in five well-marked subfamilies, the Mergansers (_MerginA|_), River Ducks (_AnatinA|_), Sea Ducks (_FuligulinA|_), Geese (_AnserinA|_), and Swans (_CygninA|_).

The Mergansers, Saw-bills, or Shelldrakes are fish-eating Ducks and their rounded bills, set with tooth-like projections along the sides, are of evident use to them in holding their prey.

The River Ducks include such well-known species as the Mallard, Black Duck, and Widgeon. They differ from the Bay or Sea Ducks in not having a well-developed web or flap on the hind-toe. As a rule they feed in shallow water by tipping, standing on their heads, as it were, while reaching the bottom for food.

The Bay or Sea Ducks have the hind-toe webbed. They feed, as a rule, in deeper water than the River Ducks, sometimes descending to the bottom in water over one hundred feet deep. During the winter they gather in flocks often of several thousand individuals, and frequent the larger bodies of water.

With both the River and Bay Ducks the sides of the broad, flat bill are set with gutters which serve as strainers, retaining the mollusks, seeds and roots of aquatic plants on which these Ducks feed, while the mud or water taken in with the food is forced out the sides of the bill as it closes.

Geese are more terrestrial than Ducks and often visit the land to nip the grass. This is particularly true in the west where large flocks of, Geese, especially Snow Geese, may be seen feeding on the prairies. On the water they feed over shallows by tipping and probing the bottoms.

Swans also feed from the surface of the water either by simply immersing the head and neck or by half submerging the body, when, with the tail pointed to the zenith, the length of their reach is greatly increased.

In spite of their comparatively short wings the large muscles attached to them give to the AnatidA| great power of flight. Not only do they make extended journeys, when migrating, without a rest, but they attain a speed which is surpassed by but few birds. Some of the smaller species, when alarmed, doubtless flying at the rate of one hundred miles an hour.

In common with other diving water birds the Ducks, when molting, lose most of their wing feathers all at once, and for a time are therefore unable to fly. During this comparatively helpless period the brightly colored males assume in part the plumage of the females and are thereby rendered less conspicuous. With the return of the power of flight, however, they regain their distinctive, male plumage, which is usually brighter than that of the female. With our Geese and Swans there is no sexual difference in color.

Most of our Ducks and Geese breed in the north, some within the Arctic Circle, and winter from the southern limit of frozen water southward. The American Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Buffle-head, Golden-Eyes, Tree Ducks, and possibly Harlequin Duck nest in hollow trees, at times some distance from the water. The young of the American Golden-eye and of the Wood Duck have been seen to reach the water by jumping from the nest-hole and fluttering down in response to the calls of the parent below. It is said that they are also brought down in the bill of the old bird, but this statement apparently lacks confirmation.

The remaining species of our Ducks, Geese, and Swans, nest as a rule, on the ground generally near water. From five to fifteen and, in the case of the Fulvous Tree Duck, possibly as many as thirty eggs are laid. In color they vary from white to buffy and pale olive and are always uniformly colored. Incubation is performed by the female alone. The males at this period among most Ducks deserting their mate to undergo the partial molt before mentioned. While incubating the females surround their nest with soft down plucked from their bodies and when leaving the nest to feed, this down is drawn over the eggs with the double object, doubtless, of concealing them and of keeping them warm.

With Eider Ducks this down constitutes the larger part of, if not the entire nest. Saunders states that in Iceland the down in each nest weighs about one-sixth of a pound. This is gathered by the natives, who, however, are careful to afford the sitting bird an opportunity to raise her brood without further molestation.

The collection of Eider down thus furnishes an admirable illustration of proper economic relations between man and birds. The down is an important source of income to the natives of the comparatively barren, northern countries in which the Eiders nest. So long as man can remember it has been gathered annually. Still the Ducks continue to return in numbers year after year to the same region, perhaps the exact spot in which they nested the year before.

Less intelligent methods would perhaps rob the bird of its second, as well as of its first nest and, unable to reproduce its kind, the species would become extinct within a comparatively short period.

The evils which would follow such a course are, however, thoroughly understood. The Ducks, in the first place, are encouraged in every way. It is said that should one walk into a peasant's cabin and preempt his cot as a nesting-site, the peasant would gladly give up his bed to so valuable a visitor.

Ducks

=129. American Merganser= (_Merganser americanus_). L. 25; B. from nostril, 1.5; nostril midway between eye and tip of bill. _Ad._ [Male]. No band of streaks on breast; no crest. _Ad._ [Female]. and _Yng._ _Chin white_; crown and throat reddish brown; rest of underparts and speculum white; above and tail ashy.

Range.--North America; breeds from New Brunswick, rarely mountains of Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and mountains of Colorado and California northward; winters from Maine and British Columbia south to South Carolina and southern California.

=130. Red-breasted Merganser= (_Merganser serrator_). L. 22; B. from nostril, 1.8; nostril nearer to eye than to tip of bill. _Ad._ [Male]. Breast with a broad cinnamon band streaked with black; head feathers lengthened. _Ad._ [Female] _and Yng_. Crown grayish brown, washed with rusty. Chin and throat paler; rest of underparts and speculum white: back and tail ashy. _Notes._ When alarmed, several low, guttural croaks. (Elliot.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds, in America, from New Brunswick and northern Illinois north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from southern breeding limits, south to Cuba and Lower California.