Chapter III: Part 3

=131. Hooded Merganser= (_Lophodytes cucullatus_). L. 17.5. _Ad._ [Male]. A large, circular black and white crest. _Ad._ [Female] _Yng._ A small cinnamon crest, head, neck and breast grayish brown; back, blackish; belly white. _Notes._ "A hoarse croak, like a small edition of that of the Red-breasted Merganser." (Elliot.)

Range.--North America from Cuba and Lower California north to Labrador and Alaska; breeds locally throughout its range, chiefly in interior of British America; winters from British Columbia, Illinois, and Massachusetts southward.

=132. Mallard= (_Anas boschas_). L. 23. Speculum (patch in wing) purple bordered by black and _white_; under surface of wing pure white. _Ad._ [Male]. Head green; breast chestnut, a white neck-ring. _Ad._ [Female]. Above blackish and buffy, below rusty buff mottled with dusky grayish brown. _Notes._ The familiar _quack_ of the barn-yard Duck.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds, in America, from Labrador, Indiana, Iowa, and California north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from British Columbia, Kansas, and New Jersey to Central America and West Indies.

=143. Pintail= (_Dafila acuta_). L. [Male], 28; [Female], 22. _Ad._ [Male]. Central tail feathers black, 7.5 long, pointed. _Ad._ [Female]. Tail 3.5,; feathers _sharply pointed_; brownish black, with buff bars; under wing-coverts _dusky_ and _buff_; back blackish with _internal_ buff loops. _Notes._ A loud _quack_, less sonorous than that of the Mallard; a low mellow whistle, and a harsh rolling note. (Nelson.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds, in America, from New Brunswick, Iowa, Illinois, and British Columbia northward; winters from British Columbia, Illinois, and Virginia, south to Central America and West Indies.

=133. Black Duck= (_Anas obscura_). L. 22. _Ads._ Speculum bluish purple tipped with _black_; no white in wing; lining of wing white and _dusky_; crown _without_ paler margins; throat, usually, without markings; legs "olivaceous brown," bill "greenish black, dusky olive, or olive-green." _Notes._ A _quack_ resembling that of the Mallard.

Range.--Eastern North America; chiefly east of Mississippi; breeds locally from New Jersey and Illinois north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters from Maine to West Indies.

=133a. Red-legged Black Duck= (_A. o. rubripes_). Similar to No. 133 but larger; crown edged with buff or gray; throat spotted; legs red; bill yellow.

Range.--Summer range not definitely known, but breeding specimens have been taken in northern Labrador, James Bay, and west shore of Hudson Bay; in winter south to Virginia and Arkansas.

_134. Florida Duck_ (_Anas fulvigula_). L. 20. _Ads._ Throat and front of neck plain buff, usually unmarked; speculum sometimes tipped with white; belly rusty buff; broadly _streaked_ with black. _Notes._ A _quack_ similar to that of No. 133.

Range.--Florida to coast of Louisiana; resident.

=134a. Mottled Duck= (_A. f. maculosa_). Similar to No. 134, but underparts _mottled_ with black, the markings being _rounder_.

Range.--Eastern Texas; breeds (at least) from Corpus Christi north to Kansas; winters on west Gulf Coast.

=135. Gadwall= (_Chaulelasmus streperus_), L. 19.5. Under wing coverts and axillars _pure white_. _Ad._ [Male]. Wing-coverts chestnut; breast _ringed_ with white. _Ad._ [Female]. Head and throat as in [Male], back fuscous and buffy; breast and _sides_ ochraceous thickly spotted with blackish; speculum ashy gray and white. _Notes._ A _quack_ like that of the Mallard but shriller and more often repeated.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; in America, breeds in the interior from Kansas and California north to Manitoba and Assiniboia; winters from Maryland to Florida, rare in northeastern Atlantic States.

=136. Widgeon= (_Mareca penelope_). L. 18.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Head and neck reddish brown; crown buff; sides with wavy black and white lines. _Ad._ [Female]. Head and throat _rusty_, finely streaked and barred with black; breast and sides rusty; speculum blackish. _Notes._ Of male, a shrill, whistling _whee-you_; of female, a low, purring growl. (Saunders.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in America, only in the Aleutian Islands; casual in migrations and in winter in California and on Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Greenland.

=137. Baldpate= (_Mareca americana_). L. 19. No rusty on head. _Ad._ [Male]. Under tail-coverts black; streak from eye to nape glossy green. _Ad._ [Female]. Head and throat _whitish_ finely marked with black; breast and sides rusty washed with grayish. _Notes._ "A low, soft whistle." (Elliot.)

Range.--North America; breeds in the interior from Minnesota and British Columbia north to Alaska; winters from British Columbia and Virginia south to South America; only a migrant on northeast Atlantic coast to Labrador.

=139. Green-winged Teal= (_Nettion carolinensis_). L. 14.5. Wing-coverts gray, tipped with buff or white. _Ad._ [Male]. A white crescent in front of wing; speculum (wing-patch) green bordered by black tipped with white. _Ad._ [Female]. Wings as in [Male]; throat and sides of neck white, finely spotted with black; breast and sides washed with rusty, marked with black. _Notes._ A "peculiar chirping almost a twittering" as they fly. (Seton.)

Range.--North America; breeds from New Brunswick, Minnesota, and British Columbia north to Greenland and Alaska; winters from Virginia, Kansas, and British Columbia south to Central America and West Indies.

=140. Blue-winged Teal= (_Querquedula discors_). Wing-coverts blue. _Ad._ [Male]. Cheek patch white. _Ad._ [Female]. Resembles [Female] of No. 139, but wing-coverts blue; speculum greenish brown not distinctly tipped with white. L. 16.

Range.--North America; chiefly east of Rockies; breeds from New Brunswick, Kansas, southern Illinois and northern Ohio, north to Alaska, mainly in interior; winters from Virginia and Lower Mississippi Valley to northern South America, California, and Lower California.

=141. Cinnamon Teal= (_Querquedula cyanoptera_). _Ad._ [Male]. Head and neck, breast and sides reddish brown. _Ad._ [Female]. Resembles [Female] of No. 140, but the underparts, _including throat_, are usually suffused with rusty; the throat often being blackish or speckled with dusky. _Notes._ A rather thin, nasal _quack_. L. 16.

Range.--Western North America from British Columbia south to South America, east to Rockies and south Texas; rarely to Florida.

=142. Shoveller= (_Spatula clypeata_). L. 20. Bill much broader at tip than at base. _Ad._ [Male]. Belly chestnut; breast around to back white. _Ad._ [Female]. Wing-coverts blue; back conspicuously margined with buff. _Notes._ "Occasionally a few feeble quacks." (Elliot.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; in America chiefly in interior; breeds locally from Texas, and regularly from Minnesota and British Columbia north to Alaska and Barren Grounds; winters from British Columbia, Illinois, and Maryland south to northern South America.

=144. Wood Duck= (_Aix sponsa_). L. 18.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Head crested; green, blue, and purple with white stripes. _Ad._ [Female]. A white streak through and behind eye; crown glossy purplish brown; back olive-brown glossed with greenish. _Notes._ A frightened, plaintive, _oo-eek_.

Range.--North America; breeds locally from Florida to Labrador and British Columbia, winters from British Columbia, southern Illinois, and southern New Jersey, south to southern California and Cuba.

=146. Redhead= (_Aythya americana_). L. 19. _Ad._ [Male]. Head and _upper_ neck entirely bright reddish brown. _Ad._ [Female]. Throat white; back grayish brown without fine bars; speculum gray. _Notes._ "A hoarse guttural rolling sound." (Elliot.)

Range.--North America; breeds chiefly in interior from Maine, Minnesota, and California north to Labrador and British Columbia; winters from British Columbia and Maryland south to Lower California and West Indies.

=147. Canvas-back= (_Aythya vallisneria_). L. 21. _Ad._ [Male]. Head and _whole_ neck _dull_ reddish brown. _Ad._ [Female]. Head and neck _rusty_ grayish brown; back grayish brown, _finely barred with black and white_. _Notes._ "A harsh guttural croak." (Elliot.)

Range.--North America; breeds only in interior from Minnesota and Oregon north to Alaska and the Barren Grounds; winters from British Columbia and Maryland south to southern California, Mexico and West Indies.

=148. American Scaup Duck= (_Aythya marila_). L. [Male], 18.5; [Female], 17.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Head glossed with greenish; sides without distinct black bars. Ad. [Female]. Feathers about base of bill white; breast and back rusty grayish brown; speculum white. _Notes._ "Similar to the guttural sound made by the Canvas-back, Redhead and other diving Ducks." (Elliot.)

Range.--Northern parts of northern hemisphere; in America, breeds in the interior rarely from Minnesota, and regularly from North Dakota northward; winters from Long Island to northern South America.

=149. Lesser Scaup Duck= (_Aythya affinis_). L. [Male] 17; [Female], 16.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Head glossed with purplish; sides with distinct black bars. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to [Female] of No. 148, but smaller.

Range.--North America; breeds only in interior from Iowa rarely, North Dakota commonly, and British Columbia, north to Barren Grounds; winters from British Columbia and Virginia south to Guatemala and West Indies.

=150. Ring-necked Duck= (_Aythya collaris_). L. 16.5. _Ad._ [Male]. A chestnut neck-ring; chin _white_; back _black_; speculum _gray_. _Ad._ [Female]. Feathers about sides of base of bill and throat white, back and breast _rusty_ grayish brown; speculum gray. Resembles [Female] of No. 146, but is smaller and rustier.

Range.--North America: breeding only in the interior from Minnesota northward; winters from Maryland and British Columbia south to Guatemala and West Indies; rare on Atlantic coast north of Maryland.

=151. American Golden-eye= (_Clangula clangula americana_). L. 20. _Ad._ [Male]. Head _greenish_; white patch at base of bill _circular_. _Ad._ [Female]. Head and throat brown; breast and back gray, a white throat-ring; belly and speculum white. _Notes._ Rarely a low croak; a high whistling sound produced by wings in flight.

Range.--North America; breeds from Maine, northern Minnesota, and Alberta, north to Arctic Regions; winters from southern Alaska, the Great Lakes and Maine, south to Mexico and Cuba.

=152. Barrow Golden-eye= (_Clangula islandica_). L. 20. _Ad._ [Male]. Head _purplish blue_; white patch at base of bill _twice as high as wide_. _Ad._ [Female]. Resembles [Female] of No. 151. _Notes._ A high whistling made by wings in flight, probably also a low croaking as in No. 151.

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from Gulf of St. Lawrence, and mountains of Colorado north to southern Greenland; winters south to Virginia, Illinois, and California.

=153. Buffle-head= (_Charitonetta albeola_). L. 14.7. _Ad._ [Male]. Head blue, purple, and green; a white band from eye to eye across nape. _Ad._ [Female]. A whitish patch on either side of head; throat and upper parts grayish brown; belly and speculum white. _Notes._ A single guttural note like a small edition of the Canvas-back's roll. (Elliot.)

Range.--North America; breeds from Maine, Iowa, and British Columbia northward; winters from southern limit of breeding range to West Indies and Mexico.

=167. Ruddy Duck= (_Erismatura jamaicensis_). L. 15. Tail-feathers narrow and stiff; bill short (1.5) and broad. _Ad._ [Male]. Cheeks white, cap black, back reddish brown. _Ad._ [Female]. A whitish streak through dusky cheeks; back grayish brown with fine buffy bars; belly silvery whitish. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar, but cheeks all white or whitish.

Range.--Western hemisphere from northern South America to Hudson Bay; breeds locally throughout its range, but chiefly northward; winters from New Jersey, southern Illinois and California southward.

=168. Masked Duck= (_Nomonyx dominicus_). L. 14. Tail-feathers long, (4.5) narrow, stiff and pointed. _Ad._ [Male]. Front of head black; behind it reddish brown all around; white in wing. _Ad._ [Female]. A brownish streak through eye: buffy streaks above and below it; back blackish regularly _barred_ with buff; below washed with rusty.

Range--Tropical America north to Lower Rio Grande; accidental in Wisconsin, Lake Champlain, and Massachusetts.

=154. Old-squaw= (_Harelda hyemalis_). L. [Male], 21; [Female], 16; T. [Male], 8; [Female], 2.5. No colored speculum. _Ad._ [Male]. Central tail-feathers much lengthened; in winter, crown, nape, throat, and neck all around white. In summer, black, with rusty markings on back. _Ad._ [Female]. winter. Cheeks, neck all around, and underparts white; breast and sides of neck dusky. In summer, crown, cheeks and nape blackish, throat and breast dusky; a whitish patch back of eye. _Notes._ In spring, a rich, musical _a-leedle-a_, frequently repeated in deep, reed-like tones. (Nelson.) Also "_o-onc-o-onc-ough-egh-ough-egh_." (Mackay.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds from northern Labrador and Aleutian Islands north to Arctic Ocean; winters south to Virginia, Upper Mississippi Valley, and California, "rarely to Florida and Texas."

=155. Harlequin Duck= (_Histrionicus histrionicus_). L. 17. _Ad._ [Male]. Back and breast slaty blue; head darker. _Ad._ [Female]. Front half of cheeks and spot over ears whitish, above blackish brown; below dusky and whitish. _Notes._ "A confusion of low gabbling and chattering notes." (Nelson.)

Range.--"Northern North America, breeding from Newfoundland, the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevadas (latitude 38A deg.), northward; south in winter to the Middle States and California; eastern Asia, Iceland." (A.O.U.)

=156. Labrador Duck= (_Camptolaimus labradorius_). L. 20. _Ad._ [Male]. Primaries blackish; rest of wing white. _Ad._ [Female]. Ashy gray: speculum white. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female] but throat and ends of greater wing-coverts white.

Range.--Formerly North Atlantic coast; bred from Labrador northward; wintered south to New Jersey; believed to be extinct; last records, Grand Menan, New Brunswick, 1871; Long Island, 1875.

=157. Steller Eider= (_Eniconetta stelleri_). L. 18. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat and neck black nearly divided by a white ring; top and sides of head white, forehead and nape greenish; breast chestnut. _Ad._ [Female]. Above and below black and rusty, speculum purple bordered with white; tail feathers pointed.

Range.--"Arctic and subarctic coasts of the northern hemisphere, Aleutian Islands, east to Unalaska and Kadiak; Kenai Peninsula." (A.O.U.)

=158. Spectacled Eider= (_Arctonetta fischeri_). L. 21. _Ad._ [Male]. Front of head plush-like; cushiony pads around eyes; above largely white; breast slaty black; belly black.

Range.--"Alaskan coast of Bering Sea and north to Point Barrow." (A.O.U.)

=159. Greenland Eider= (_Somateria mollissima borealis_). L. 23. Feathers on sides of bill reaching to nostrils, bare spaces on either side of feathers on culmen _pointed_ at base (posteriorly.) _Ad._ [Male]. Crown black with a white wedge. _Ad._ [Female]. Brownish black above margined with rusty and buff; below dusky finely margined with buff. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to [Female] but more buffy. _Notes._ "A sort of cooing sound" in the breeding season. (Elliot.) A raucous, moaning, _'ha ho, 'ha ho_; female's like that of Mallard. (Brunnich.)

Range.--Northeastern North America; breeds from Labrador to Greenland; winters south to Massachusetts.

=160. American Eider= (_Somateria dresseri_). L. 23. Similar in color to No. 159, but bare spaces on either side of feathers of culmen _rounded_ at the base (posteriorly).

Range.--Northeastern North America; breeds from Isle au Haut, Maine, to Labrador; winters south to New Jersey and Great Lakes.

=161. Pacific Eider= (_Somateria v-nigra_). Similar to No. 159, but _Ad._ [Male] with a black =V= on throat; sides of bill more broadly feathered, distance from end of feathers to base of bare space on culmen less than distance from same place to end of bill. _Notes._ "A low guttural note." (Nelson.)

Range.--North Pacific from Aleutian Islands north to Arctic Ocean east to Great Slave Lake.

=162. King Eider= (_Somateria spectabilis_). L. 23. Feathers at side of bill _not_ reaching nostril. _Ad._ [Male]. White patch on either side of rump, crown ashy blue. _Ad._ [Female] in 1 _Yng._ Resembling same plumages of No. 159 and No. 160.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds from Labrador and St. Michaels, Alaska north to Greenland and Arctic Ocean; winters south to New Jersey (rarely Ga.), and Great Lakes; one California record.

=163. American Scoter= (_Oidemia americana_). L. 19. Feathers at base of bill not extending forward on sides or top. _Ad._ [Male]. Wholly black; bill black, yellow at base. _Ad._ [Female]. Brownish above, lighter below; no white on wing or on sides of head. _Notes._ A long musical whistle. (Elliot.)

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from Labrador and Alaskan shores of Bering Sea northward; winters south to Virginia, Great Lakes, Colorado, and California.

=166. Surf Scoter= (_Oidemia perspicillata_). L. 20. Feathers extending forward on top of bill. _Ad._ [Male]. Black, nape and crown white; bill orange, yellow, and white, a round black patch on its sides. _Ad._ [Female]. Above black, throat and breast paler; belly whitish; a whitish patch at base of bill. _Yng._ Similar but with white patches on ears.

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from Newfoundland northward; winters south to Virginia, Florida, Illinois, and Lower California.

=165. White-winged Scoter= (_Oidemia deglandi_). L. 22. A white patch on wing; feathers extending forward along _sides and top_ of bill nearly to nostrils. _Ad._ [Male]. Black, a white spot about eye; bill orange, black at base. _Ad._ [Female]. Dusky brown above; lighter below. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar but sides and front of head whitish.

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from Labrador and North Dakota northward; winters south to Virginia, southern Illinois, and Lower California.

=177. Black-bellied Tree Duck= (_Dendrocygna autumnalis_). L. 22. _Ads._ belly and tail coverts _black_: foreback and breast gray; greater wing-coverts whitish. _Notes._ A shrill whistle. (Elliot.)

Range.--Tropical America north to southern Texas.

=178. Fulvous Tree Duck= (_Dendrocygna fulva_). L. 22. _Ads._ Belly uniform rusty brown; upper tail coverts white; a black streak on hindneck; no white in wing. _Notes._ A squealing whistle.

Range.--Tropical America, north in summer to Texas, Louisiana, Nevada and central California. "Casual in North Carolina and Missouri." (A. O. U.)

Geese and Swans

=169. Lesser Snow Goose= (_Chen hyperborea_). L. 23-28, _Ads._ White, head sometimes rusty; primaries black. _Yng._ Head, neck, and above grayish.

Range.--"Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley, breeding in Alaska; south in winter to southern Illinois and southern California; casually to New England." (A.O.U.)

=169a. Greater Snow Goose= (_C. h. nivalis_). Similar to No. 169, but larger, L. 30-38.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds in Arctic regions; winters from Chesapeake, New Jersey (rarely) south to Cuba; rare on Atlantic coast north of Maryland.

=170. Ross Snow Goose= (_Chen rossii_). L. 21; B. 1.6. Similar in color to No. 169, but much smaller; bill particularly smaller.

Range.--Arctic America in summer; Pacific coast to southern California and east to Montana in winter.

=180. Whistling Swan= (_Olor columbianus_). L. 55. Nostril nearer to tip of bill than to eye. _Ads._ White, bill and feet black; a small yellow spot before the eye. _Yng._ Head and neck brownish, rest of plumage washed with grayish. _Notes._ _'whoogh_, _'whoogh_, very loud and shrill. (Nuttall.)

Range.--North America; breeds within Arctic Circle; winters from British Columbia (?) Lower Mississippi Valley, Chesapeake Bay, south to Gulf of Mexico; rare on Atlantic Coast north of Virginia.

=181. Trumpeter Swan= (_Clor buccinator_). L. 65. Nostril about in middle of bill. _Ads._ White, bill and feet black; _no_ yellow on lores. _Yng._ Head and neck brownish; rest of plumage washed with grayish. _Notes._ Loud and sonorous in tone like those of a French horn. (Elliot.)

Range.--"Chiefly the Interior of North America, from the Gulf Coast to the Fur Countries, breeding from Iowa and the Dakotas northward; west to the Pacific Coast; rare or casual on the Atlantic." (A.O.U.)

Geese

=169.1. Blue Goose= (_Chen cA|rulescens_). L. 28. _Ads._ Head and neck white; below brownish gray; foreback like breast; rump gray. _Yng._ Similar but head and neck grayish brown.

Range.--North America; breeds in Hudson Bay region; winters on west coast of the Gulf of Mexico; two California records; said to have occurred in New Jersey.

=171a. American White-fronted Goose= (_Anser albifrons gambeli_). L. 28. _Ads._ Forehead and rump white; below spotted with black. _Yng._ Similar but no white on head no black below.

Range.--North America; breeds in Arctic region; winters on Gulf Coast, California and Mexico; rare on Atlantic coast.

=176. Emperor Goose= (_Philacte canagica_). L. 26. _Ads._ Foreneck blackish; rest of head and neck white sometimes tinged with rusty; tail mostly white. _Yng._ Body less distinctly scaled; head and hindneck spotted with grayish. _Notes._ When flying, a deep, hoarse, strident _clAc-hAc, clAc-hAc, clAc-hAc_; when alarmed and about to fly, a ringing _A"-lA"gh_,_-A"lA"gh_. (Nelson.)

Range.--"Coast and islands of Alaska north of the Peninsula; chiefly about Norton Sound and Valley of the Lower Yukon; Commander Islands, Kamchatka; casually south to Humboldt Bay, California." (A.O.U.)

Geese and Brant

=172. Canada Goose= (_Branta canadensis_). L. 38. _Ads._ A white patch on cheeks and throat; rest of head and neck black; no whitish ring at base of black neck. _Yng._ Similar but with blackish on white of throat. _Notes._ A sonorous _honk_.

Range.--North America; breeds from Labrador, Minnesota and British Columbia, north chiefly in the interior, to Alaska; winters from Long Island, Illinois and British Columbia south to Mexico and southern California.

=172a. Hutchins Goose= (_B. c. hutchinsii_). Similar to No. 172, but smaller; L. 30; tail feathers, 14-16.

Range.--Western North America; breeds in Arctic regions; winters from British Columbia and Kansas south to Lower California and Mexico.

=172b. White-cheeked Goose= (_B. c. occidentalis_). Size of No. 172, but throat blackish, lower neck with white collar.

Range.--"Pacific coast region, from Sitka, south in winter to California." (A.O.U.)

=172c. Cackling Goose= (_B. c. minima_). Similar to No. 172b, but smaller, L. 24; tail feathers 14-16.

Range.--Western North America; breeds in Alaska; winters from British Columbia southward; east rarely to Wisconsin.

=173. Brant= (_Branta bernicla glaucogastra_). L. 26. _Ads._ Sides of neck with white markings; belly _whitish_. _Notes._ A guttural _car-r-rup_, or _r-r-r-rouk_. (Elliot.)

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in Arctic regions; winters in America, from Mississippi Valley east, and from Illinois and Massachusetts southward; rare in interior.

=174. Black Brant= (_Branta nigricans_). L. 26. _Ads._ _Sides_ and _front_ of neck with white markings; belly nearly as dark as back. _Notes._ A low guttural _gr-r-r-r-r_; on alarm repeated often with emphasis. (Nelson.)

Range.--Western North America; breeds in northern Alaska and eastward; winters from British Columbia to Lower California; occasional on Atlantic Coast.

Order VI. FLAMINGOES.

ODONTOGLOSSA†.

Family 1. FLAMINGOES. PhA"nicopteridA|. 1 species.

Flamingoes might be called long-legged Ducks. Their feet are webbed, and their bill is set with ridges, which serve as sieves or strainers, as do the 'gutters' on a Duck's bill. They are, however, wading birds and their webbed feet are of use in supporting them on the soft mud of shallow lagoons or bays where they search for the favorite food of small mollusks. In feeding the flat top of the bill is pressed into the mud when its tip points upward toward the bird's body. Flamingoes fly with the neck and legs stretched to the utmost presenting on the wing a picturesque, but by no means so graceful an appearance as do the Herons. Their voice is a vibrant _honking_ like that of a Goose.

Order VII. HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC.

HERODIONES.

Family 1. SPOONBILLS. PlataleidA|. 1 species.

Family 2. IBISES. IbididA|. 3 species.

Family 3. STORKS and WOOD IBISES. CiconiidA|. 1 species.

Family 4. BITTERNS, HERONS, ETC. ArdhidA|. 14 species, 3 subspecies.

The Roseate Spoonbill was formerly a common bird in Florida and along the Gulf coast, but so many have been killed for their plumage that in the United States the species is now exceedingly rare except in the most remote parts of southern Florida.

Spoonbills build a rude nest of sticks in mangrove bushes or small trees and lay three to five whitish eggs speckled with shades of brown.

Ibises are usually found in flocks along the shore of lagoons, lakes, etc., or in marshy places. They fly with the neck outstretched and are generally silent. Their nests of reeds, weed stalks, etc., are sometimes placed in low bushes, at others in grassy marshes. The eggs number from three to five. They are plain blue in the Glossy Ibis, greenish white with chocolate markings, in the White Ibis.

The Storks are largely Old World birds, only three of the some twenty known species inhabiting the Western Hemisphere. But one of these is found regularly north of the Rio Grande, the so-called Wood Ibis which is abundant in southern Florida. It lives in flocks and builds a nest of sticks usually in cypress trees, often forty feet from the ground, laying two or three white eggs. When flying the neck is extended. It progresses by alternate flapping and sailing and occasionally soars high overhead in circles, like a Vulture.

The Bitterns and Herons unlike our other long-legged wading birds, fly with a fold in the neck. They belong in two subfamilies, the _BotaurinA|_ and _ArdeinA|_, respectively. The Bitterns are usually solitary birds inhabiting grassy or reedy marshes where their colors harmonize with their surroundings and render them difficult to see. The American Bittern nests on the ground and lays three to five pale brownish eggs. The Least Bittern usually weaves a platform nest of reeds among rushes growing in the water and lays four or five bluish white eggs.

Herons feed along the shore and are consequently more often seen than Bitterns. With the exception of the Green Heron and the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which usually nest in isolated pairs, our species gather in colonies to nest. Several hundred pairs occupying a limited area in some wooded or bushy swamp to which, when undisturbed, they return year after year.

Herons build a rude platform nest of sticks, sometimes placing it in bushes, sometimes in the tallest trees, and at others on the ground or beds of reeds in marshes. The eggs are greenish blue in color and usually four in number. It is among those Herons, which in nesting time are adorned with delicate plumes or aigrettes, that the greatest ravages of the millinery hunter have been made. Attacking these birds when they have gathered on the nesting ground, they are not permitted to rear their young and the species is thus exterminated branch and root.

The voice of Herons is a harsh squawk varying in depth of tone with the size of the bird.

Flamingo, Spoonbill and Ibis

=182. Flamingo= (_Phoenicopterus ruber_). L. 45; from toe to bill, 60. _Ads._ Rosy red, lighter on back; primaries and secondaries black. _Yng._ Smaller, grayish brown; lighter below. _Notes._ A _honk_ resembling that of a Canada Goose.

Range.--Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America; resident (breeding?) in southwestern Florida (Monroe county); casual west to Texas, north to South Carolina.

=183. Roseate Spoonbill= (_Ajaia ajaja_). L. 32. _Ads._ Head and throat bare; sides of breast and end of tail rusty buff; lesser wing-coverts, upper and under tail-coverts carmine. _Yng._ Head feathered, buff and carmine replaced by pink.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; north to Gulf States.

=185. Scarlet Ibis= (_Guara rubra_). L. 24. _Ads._ Scarlet: tips of primaries black. _Yng._ Grayish brown, lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white; underparts dull white.

Range.--"Florida, Louisiana and Texas, southward to the West Indies and northern South America. No record of its recent occurrence in the United States." (A.O.U.)

Ibises

=184. White Ibis= (_Guara alba_). L. 25. _Ads._ White, tips of outer primaries black, face orange red. _Yng._ Grayish brown, rump, breast and belly white. _Notes._ When near nest, _crook_, _croc_, _croo_; when disturbed, a loud, hoarse, _bunk_, _bunk_, _hunk_. (Audubon).

Range.--Tropical America; breeds north to Lower California, southern Indiana, southern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from Gulf southward; accidental in South Dakota, Connecticut and Long Island.

=186. Glossy Ibis= (_Plegadis autumnalis_). L. 24. _Ads._ Front of head black with greenish reflections. _Yng._ Head and neck fuscous brown margined with white, rest of underparts fuscous brown; back with greenish reflections.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical regions in America; rare or local in southeastern United States; casual north to Massachusetts and Illinois.

=187. White-faced Glossy Ibis= (_Plegadis guarauna_). L. 24. _Ads._ Front of head _white_. _Yng._ Resembles young of No. 186.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; north to California, (rarely British Columbia), Texas, Kansas, east rarely to Florida; winters south of United States.

=188. Wood Ibis= (_Tantalus loculator_). L. 40. _Ads._ Head and neck bare; white, primaries, secondaries and tail blackish. _Yng._ Resembles ad. but head and neck feathered, grayish brown. _Note._ When alarmed, a rough, guttural croak. (Audubon.)

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds In Gulf States, (Lower California?), and later may stray as far north as New York, Wisconsin, and California.

Bitterns

=190. American Bittern= (_Botaurus lentiginosus_). L. 28. _Ads._ A glossy black streak on either side of the neck. _Yng._ Similar to ad. but colors much deeper, more rusty. _Notes._ Call, _quawk_; song, _pump-er-lunk_.

Range.--North America north to Labrador and British Columbia, breeding chiefly north of latitude 35A deg.; winters from about latitude 35A deg. southward.

=191. Least Bittern= (_Ardetta exilis_). L. 13. _Ad._ [Male]. Hindneck rufous, foreneck, underparts, and under tail-coverts white and buff. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but crown and back brown, below streaked with brownish. _Notes._ Call, an explosive _quab_; song, a soft _coo_ repeated four or five times.

Range.--North America; breeds from Gulf States to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters from Gulf States southward. "Less common west of Rocky Mountains; on the Pacific coast north to northern California." (A.O.U.)

=191.1. Cory Bittern= (_Ardetta neoxena_). L. 13. _Ad._ [Male]. Hindneck black, foreneck chestnut, belly mixed black and chestnut, under tail-coverts black. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but crown and back duller.

Range.--Eastern North America; recorded from Florida, Ontario, (breeding), Massachusetts, and Michigan; about 20 specimens known.

Herons

=192. Great White Heron= (_Ardea occidentalis_). _Ads._ White, no "aigrette" plumes. A white Heron about the size of a Great Blue Heron. What is supposed to be a gray-blue phase of this bird has been called _Ardea wuerdmanni_, a bird which resembles No. 194, but has the head and neck whitish.

Range.--Southern Florida, Cuba and Jamaica.

=196. American Egret= (_Herodias egretta_). L. 41. _Ads._ White, about 50 _straight_ "aigrette" plumes grow from the back between the wings; legs and feet _black_. Ads. when not breeding and Yng., the same, but no plumes.

Range.--Tropical and temperate America; breeds north to Virginia, southern Illinois, and California; later strays to New Brunswick, Minnesota, and Oregon; winters from southern California and Gulf States southward.

=197. Snowy Heron= (_Egretta candidissima_). L. 24. _Ads._ White, about 50 _recurved_ "aigrette" plumes grow from back between the wings; legs black, feet _yellow_. Ads. when not breeding and Yng. The same, but no plumes.

Range.--Tropical and temperate America; bred formerly north to Long Island, southern Illinois and California; now very rare in eastern North America; winters from Gulf States and southern California southward.

=194. Great Blue Heron= (_Ardea herodias_). L. 45; W. 18.5; B. 5.5; Tar. 7. _Ads._ Center of crown white, head crested; legs blackish. _Yng._ Similar, but no crest, crown wholly black, plumage more streaked.

Range--Northern South America north to Arctic regions; breeds locally throughout most of North America range; winters from about latitude 42A deg. southward.

=194a. Northwest Coast Heron= (_A. h. fannini_). Similar to No. 194 but much darker; upperparts bluish slate black; tarsus shorter, 5.3.

Range.--Pacific coast from Vancouver to Sitka.

=194b. Ward Heron= (_A. h. wardi_). Similar to No. 194 but whiter below, neck darker; legs olive; larger, L. 52; W. 20; B. 6.5; Tar. 8.

Range.--Florida; coast of Texas.

=202. Black-crowned Night Heron= (_Nycticorax nycticorax nA|vius_). L. 24. _Ads._ Crown and back greenish black lower back, wings and tail ashy; head with two or three rounded white plumes, except just after breeding season. _Yng._ Grayish brown streaked with white; below white streaked with blackish; outer webs of primaries, _pale rufous_. _Notes._ An explosive _qA"awk_.

Range.--Western hemisphere; breeds in North America north to New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, and Oregon; winters from California and Gulf States southward.

=203. Yellow-crowned Night Heron= (_Nyctanassa violaceus_). L. 23. _Ads._ Blue-gray; crown and ear-coverts whitish, rest of head black; scapulars streaked with black; head with two or three rounded, white plumes, except just after nesting season. _Yng._ Crown _black_, streaked with whitish; primaries _bluish slate, no rufous_; back brownish streaked with white; below whitish streaked with blackish.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds north to South Carolina, southern Illinois, and Lower California; strays to Massachusetts and Colorado; winters from Gulf States southward.

=198. Reddish Egret= (_Dichromanassa rufescens_). L. 29. Two color phases independent of age. _Ads._ _Dark phase_, Head and neck rufous; back slate; about 30 "aigrette" plumes. _White phase._ White, including plumes; tips of primaries sometimes speckled with gray. _Yng._ Rufous and gray, or white, without plumes.

Range.--West Indies and Central America north to coasts of Gulf States, Illinois (rarely), and Lower California.

=199. Louisiana Heron= (_Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis_). L. 26. _Ads._ "Aigrette" plumes, short, dirty gray; rump and belly white; legs blackish. _Yng._ Head and neck brownish; throat and line down foreneck white; above slaty washed with brownish, rump, and belly white.

Range.--West Indies and Central America north to Gulf States, casually to Long Island and Indiana.

=200. Little Blue Heron= (_Florida cA"rulea_). L. 22. _Ads._ Head and neck maroon; rest of plumage slaty blue. _Yng._ White, tips of primaries bluish, legs _greenish yellow_.

Range.--Tropical America and eastern United States; breeds north to Virginia and Illinois, later may stray north as far as Nova Scotia; winters from South Atlantic and Gulf States southward.

=201. Little Green Heron= (_Butorides virescens_). L. 17. Smallest of our Herons. _Ads._ Crown, glossy green-black; throat and line down foreneck buffy; rest of head and neck purplish chestnut; back green washed with bluish gray. _Yng._ Neck and below streaked with blackish; back-feathers not lengthened; duller. _Notes._ A rattling _oc-oc-oc-oc-oc_, a startling _scow_, and, more rarely, a deep, hollow groan. (Brewster.)

Range.--Tropical and temperate North America; breeds from Gulf States north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba; winters from Gulf States southward to northern South America.

=201a. Frazar Green Heron= (_B. v. frazari_). Similar to No. 201, but rather larger and darker, neck more purplish, light stripings on throat and foreneck more restricted. (Brewster.)

Range.--Lower Califorinia.

=201b. Anthony Green Heron= (_B. v. anthonyi_). Similar to No. 201, but slightly larger, and paler, light markings of wings, neck, and throat less restricted and whiter. (Mearns.)

Range.--Arid portions of southwestern United States, south into Mexico.

Order VIII. CRANES, RAILS, ETC.

PALUDICOLA†.

Family 1. CRANES. GruidA|. 3 species.

Family 2. COURLANS. AramidA|. 1 species.

Family 3. RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS. RallidA|. 12 species,
3 subspecies.

Cranes bear a general resemblance to Herons in that they are long-legged, long-necked birds, but when on the wing, they carry the neck fully extended, a habit which will readily distinguish them from the curved neck Herons. Cranes are less aquatic than Herons and are often found feeding on the prairies or pine-barrens where worms, grasshoppers, lizards, roots, etc., form their fare. They nest on the ground laying two buffy eggs thickly marked with brown. The young, unlike the nearly naked, helpless young of Herons, are born covered with down and can soon follow their parents. The Cranes have loud sonorous voices; the Herons raucous croaks.

The Limpkin is a singular inhabitant of the more retired Florida swamps. It feeds upon the ground largely upon a kind of land shell, but also perches in trees. Its nest of twigs is placed in a small tree or bush, and it lays from four to seven pale buffy eggs stained and speckled with cinnamon brown.

The Rails (Subfamily RallinA|) are inhabitants of grassy marshes where, trusting to their long legs, they more often escape observation by running than by flying. One may hear their characteristic notes coming from the dense growth only a few yards distant and still be unable to catch a glimpse of their maker.

Rails nest on the ground laying six to twelve or fifteen buffy eggs spotted with reddish brown. The young of all our species are born covered with a shining black down.

The Gallinules (Subfamily GallinulinA|) are more aquatic than the Rails and are consequently less difficult to observe.

The Coots (Subfamily FulicinA|) are still more aquatic than the Gallinules, as might be supposed from their lobed toes, in fact are as much at home in the water as though they were Ducks. Both Gallinules and Coots lay eight to sixteen buffy, thickly speckled eggs in a nest of reeds often built on a pile of rushes in the reeds.

Cranes and Limpkin

=204. Whooping Crane= (_Grus americana_). L. 50. _Ads._ White; skin of top of head dull red; primaries black. _Yng._ Head feathered, plumage more or less washed with rusty.

Range.--Interior of North America: breeds from northern Mississippi Valley north to Arctic regions; winters from Gulf States southward.

=205. Little Brown Crane= (_Grus canadensis_). L. 35. W. 18; B. 4. _Ads._ Skin of top of head dull red; plumage brownish gray. _Yng._ Head feathered, plumage with more or less rusty.

Range.--"Northern North America from Hudson Bay to Alaska, migrating south through western United States east of Rocky Mountains to Mexico." (Ridgway.)

=206. Sandhill Crane= (_Grus mexicana_). Similar to No. 205, but larger. L. 44: W. 20; B. 5. _Notes._ A loud, sonorous, grating, _krrrow_, repeated five or more times.

Range.--North America; breeds locally from Texas, Cuba, Florida north through Mississippi Valley to Manitoba, British Columbia, and Oregon; winters from northern California and Gulf States southward.

=207. Limpkin= (_Aramus giganteus_). L. 28. _Ads._ Glossy olive-brown, striped with white; wings and tail more bronzy. _Notes._ A loud _wah-ree-ow_, repeated and the last note prolonged into a wail.

Range.--Central America and West Indies north to southern Texas and Florida.

Rails

=208. King Rail= (_Rallus elegans_). L. 15. _Ads._ Above olive-brown, black, and olive-gray; wing-coverts reddish brown; neck and breast cinnamon; belly and sides _blackish_, _sharply_ and broadly barred with white. _Notes._ A loud _bup_, _bup_, _bup_, repeated and ending in a roll.

Range.--Eastern United States; breeds from Florida north to Connecticut and South Dakota; strays to Maine; winters from Virginia and Lower Mississippi Valley south to Gulf States.

=209. Belding Rail= (_Rallus beldingi_). Similar to No. 208, but paler; flank-bars narrower.

Range.--Lower California.

=210. California Clapper Rail= (_Rallus obsoletus_). L. 17. Above grayish olive-brown streaked with blackish brown; breast cinnamon; flanks dusky brown narrowly banded with white. Margins to back feathers much broader than in forms of _crepitans_.

Range.--Salt Marshes of Pacific coast north to Washington.

=212. Virginia Rail= (_Rallus virginianus_). L. 9.5; B. 1.5. _Ads._ Above blackish and grayish brown; wing-coverts reddish brown; below cinnamon, flanks black and white. Resembling a King Rail in color, but much smaller. _Notes._ Calls, _kep_ or _kik_; song, a grunting sound and _cut_, _cA"tta-cA"tta-cA"tta_. (Brewster.)

Range.--North America; breeds from Pennsylvania, Long Island, northern Illinois, and middle California north to Labrador, Manitoba, and British Columbia; winters from about its southern breeding limits south to Cuba and Guatemala.

=215. Yellow Rail.= (_Porzana noveboracensis_). L. 7; B. .5. _Ads._ Above black and buffy barred with white; breast buffy; sides brownish barred with white. Notes. An abrupt cackling, _'krA(C)k_, _'krek_, _'krek_, _'krek_, _kA"k_, _'k'k'k_. (Nuttall.)

Range.--Eastern North America north to New Brunswick, Quebec, and Hudson Bay, west to Manitoba and rarely California; probably breeds chiefly north; winters in southern States.

=211. Clapper Rail, Marsh Hen= (_Rallus crepitans_). L. 14.5; W. 5; B. 2.5. _Ads._ Above _pale_ olive bordered by _gray_; wing-coverts _pale_ grayish brown; breast _pale_ cinnamon; flanks barred _gray_ and white. _Notes._ _Gkak_, _gkak_, _gkak_, at first loud and rapid, ending lower and slower.

Range.--Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast; breeds from North Carolina to Connecticut; winters from Long Island (rarely) southward, north casually to Massachusetts; south casually to Louisiana.

=211a. Louisiana Clapper Rail= (_R. c. saturatus_). Similar to No. 211, but above rich brown edged with olive; breast darker cinnamon; bill more slender, 2.3.

Range.--Coast of Louisiana.

=211b. Scott Clapper Rail= (_R. c. scotti_). Similar to No. 211, but much darker; sooty brown or black above edged with olive-brown or olive-gray; breast and neck cinnamon, washed with brownish; flanks brown and white. Darkest bird of group.

Range.--Gulf coast of Florida.

=211c. Wayne Clapper Rail= (_R. c. waynei_). Similar to No. 211, but darker, back rich olive-brown edged with gray; breast more ashy.

Range.--Atlantic coast, North Carolina to eastern Florida.

=211.2. Caribbean Clapper Rail= (_Rallus longirostris caribA|us_). L. 14; W. 5.7; B. 2.4. _Ads._ Above olive-brown edged with olive-ashy, breast cinnamon; flanks _brown_ and white.

Range.--West Indies; coast of southeastern Texas (and northeastern Mexico?).

=214. Carolina Rail= (_Porzana carolina_). L. 8.5; B. 8. _Ads._ Region about base of bill black. _Yng._ Similar, but no black about base of bill; breast more cinnamon. _Notes._ Calls, _kuk_ or _peep_, song, _ker-wee_; and a high, rolling _whinny_.

Range.--North America; breeds from Long Island, Illinois, Kansas, and southern California, north to Newfoundland, Hudson Bay region, and British Columbia; winters from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and northern California south to South America.

=216. Little Black Rail= (_Porzana jamaicensis_): L. 5; B. 6. _Ads._ Head, breast, and belly slate; back blackish brown barred with white; nape reddish brown. _Notes._ Probably, _kik-kik-kik_, _quee'ah_, or _kik-ki-ki-ki_, _ki_, _quee'ah_, or variants. (Brewster.)

Range.--"Temperate North America north to Massachusetts, northern Illinois, and Oregon: south to West Indies and Guatemala." (A.O.U.) Probably breeds throughout its North American range (Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas).

Gallinules and Coot

=218. Purple Gallinule= (_Ionornis martinica_). L. 13. _Ads._ Crown-plate bluish, bill carmine tipped with greenish; back shining green; below purplish blue; under tail-coverts white. _Yng._ Above browner; below with white; no red on bill.

Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds only in eastern North America north to southern Illinois and South Carolina, strays to Maine and Wisconsin; winters from southern Florida south to South America.

=219. Florida Gallinule= (_Gallinula galeata_). L. 13.5. _Ad._ Crown-plate red, bill red tipped with greenish; legs green with a red ring; back olive-brown; flanks slate _streaked with white_. _Yng._ Crown-plate smaller with bill brownish; no red on legs; below grayish. _Notes._ An explosive _chuck_ and many loud and varied calls suggesting a disturbed brooding hen, the squawking of a struggling hen, etc.

Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds locally north to Maine, Montreal, Minnesota, and northern California; winters from Gulf States and California southward.

=221. American Coot= (_Fulica americana_). L. 15. Toes with scallops. _Ads._ Bill whitish; crown-plate and two spots on bill brownish; head and neck black; rest of plumage slate. _Yng._ Whiter below, browner above, crown-plate smaller. _Notes._ An explosive _cuck_ and noisy cackling notes.

Range.--North America; breeds in the interior (chiefly northward) north to the Mackenzie and on Pacific coast to British Columbia; winters from British Columbia and Gulf States south to Central America and West Indies.

Order IX. SHORE BIRDS.

LIMICOLA†.

Family 1. PHALAROPES. PhalaropodidA|. 3 species.

Family 2. AVOCETS AND STILTS. RecurvirostridA|. 2 species.

Family 3. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. ScolopacidA|. 33 species,
2 subspecies.

Family 4. PLOVERS. CharadriidA|. 9 species, 2 subspecies.

Family 5. SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. AphrizidA|. 4 species.

Family 6. OYSTER-CATCHERS. HA|matopodidA|. 3 species.

Family 7. JACANAS. JacanidA|. 1 species.

The Phalaropes are swimming Snipes. The Northern and Red Phalaropes, both of which have well-developed lobes or scalloped webs on their toes, except when nesting, live at sea a hundred miles or more off shore, where they find an abundance of food in small forms of marine life. The Wilson Phalarope is a bird of the interior and consequently, is far less aquatic than the remaining species of the family; nevertheless it readily takes to water, swimming buoyantly and gracefully.

Contrary to the general rule, the female Phalarope is larger and more brightly colored than the male and this difference in size and plumage is accompanied by similarly unusual habits; the female taking the place of the male in the Phalarope household. The female of necessity lays the eggs, but they are hatched by the male alone, who it is said, cares for the young, also without the assistance of his mate.

The Avocets and Stilts are wading Snipes. The Stilts secure their food by quick thrusts of the bill, but the Avocets use their singular, upturned member in a more interesting manner. When in water two or three inches deep, the bill is dropped below the surface, until the curved lower mandible evidently touches the bottom; then walking rapidly, or even running, the bill is swung from side to side and the bird thus explores the mud in its search for food, which, when it is felt, is picked up in the usual way.

Many of the members of the family ScolopacidA| are probing Snipe. The Woodcock, Wilson Snipe, and Dowitcher are good examples. Their bill is long and sensitive and they can curve or move its tip without opening it at the base. When the bill is thrust into the mud the tip may therefore grasp a worm and it thus becomes a finger as well as a probe.

Though not ranked as song birds, many of the Snipes and Plovers have pleasing calls and whistles and in the breeding season they become highly musical or indulge in singular vocal performances.

The song of the Bartramian Sandpiper would attract the attention of the least observant and the singular aA"rial evolutions of the Snipe and Woodcock lend an unusual interest to the study of these birds in the spring. The Pectoral Sandpiper was observed by Nelson in Alaska, in May, to fill its A"sophagus with air dilating the skin of the neck and breast and forming a sack as large as the body. Then in the air or on the ground the bird produced a series of hollow booming notes, constituting its love song.

The Plovers have shorter, harder bills than the true Snipe and several of our species frequent the uplands rather than muddy shore or tidal flats.

The Turnstones are true shore birds. Their home with us is on the seacoast where they feed along the beach turning over shells and pebbles in their search for food.

The Oyster-catchers are also strictly maritime. They frequent bars left bare by the tide and, it is said, use their stout bills to force open mussels; oysters, or other bivalves left exposed by the water. This belief, however, does not appear to rest on careful, definite observation.

The Jacana belongs to a small family of birds with representatives throughout the tropics. All its members are remarkable for the length of their toes, the wide extent of which enable these birds to walk over aquatic vegetation. So, for instance, I have seen them running over small lily leaves which, sinking slightly beneath the surface, made the birds appear to be walking on the water.

The LimicolA|, as a rule, nest on the ground. The Phalaropes, Snipes, and Plovers lay four eggs, the Oyster-catcher three, the Jacanas, it is said, four in some species to ten in others. The eggs of all are proportionately large and pointed or pear-shaped and are usually thickly marked with dark spots. The young are born covered with down and leave the nest just after hatching.

Shore Birds

=222. Red Phalarope= (_Crymophilus fulicarius_). L. 8.10; B. 9. Bill heavy, wider than deep. _Ad._ [Female]. Below entirely reddish brown; cap black, back black and buff. _Ad._ [Male]. Similar, but smaller; crown and back streaked with brown, black, and buff. _Yng._ Resemble [Male], but upper tail-coverts plumbeous, underparts _white_. _Winter._ _Crown_ and underparts white, hindneck black, back gray. _Notes._ A musical _clink_, _clink_. (Nelson.)

Range.--"Northern parts of northern hemisphere, breeding in the Arctic regions and migrating south in winter; in the United States south to the Middle States. Ohio Valley, and Cape St. Lucas; chiefly maritime." (A.O.U.)

=223. Northern Phalarope= (_Phalaropus lobatus_). L. 7.7; B. .8. Bill short, slender, sharply pointed. _Ad._ [Female]. Breast rufous; above slaty gray mixed with ochraceous on back. _Ad._ [Male]. Smaller, less rufous; on throat; above blackish streaked with rusty. _Yng._ Underparts and _forehead_ white; crown sooty; back blackish streaked with straw-color. _Winter._ Upperparts gray mixed with white; underparts white. _Notes._ A low chippering, clicking note.

Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds from Labrador and northern British America north to Greenland and Alaska; winters apparently south of United States where it is known as a migrant chiefly off the coasts.

=224. Wilson Phalarope= (_Steganopus tricolor_). L. 9.5; B. 1.3. Bill long. _Ad._ [Female]. Sides of neck black and chestnut; crown and back gray. _Ad._ [Male]. Smaller; chestnut and black much less and duller; crown and back blackish, latter sometimes with rufous. _Yng._ Below white; crown and back black margined with ochraceous; nape brownish gray. _Winter._ Above gray, upper tail-coverts white; below white. _Notes._ A soft, trumpet _yna_, _yna_.

Range.--North America, chiefly in the interior; breeds from northern Illinois (rarely), Minnesota and Central California, north to latitude 55A deg.; winters south of United States to southern South America.

=283. Turnstone= (_Arenaria interpres_). Similar to 283.1 but larger, W. 6., and upperparts in _ad._ with black prevailing. _Yng._ Blacker than young of 283.1.

Range.--Eastern hemisphere, in America, only in Greenland and Alaska.

=283.1. Ruddy Turnstone= (_Arenaria morinella_). L. 9.5; W. 5.7. _Ads._ Reddish brown prevailing in upper surface. _Yng._ Above and breast grayish brown margined with buffy, throat, abdomen, rump and long upper tail-coverts _white_ as in ad.; shorter upper tail-coverts black. _Notes._ When flying, a loud twittering note. (Nuttall.)

Range.--Nearly cosmopolitan; breeds in Arctic regions; winters in America south of United States to Patagonia.

=288. Mexican Jacana= (_Jacana spinosa_). L. 8. Toes over 1.5. _Ads._ Chestnut and black; wings mostly greenish. _Yng._ Forehead, line over eye, and below white. Above grayish brown, sometimes with rump chestnut, nape black. _Notes._ A harsh, rapidly repeated _eep_, _eep_, _eep_.

Range.--Central America and Mexico north to Lower Rio Grande Valley, Cuba and Haiti.

=225. American Avocet= (_Recurvirostra americana_). L. 16.5; B. 3.7. _Ads._ Head and neck rufous; belly white; wings black and white. _Yng. and Ads. in winter._ Similar, but head and neck grayish or whitish. _Notes._ A rather musical, loud _plAe"Ae"-Ae"Ae"k_ hurriedly repeated.

Range.--North America west of Mississippi; breeds from northern States, central California and rarely Texas, north in the interior to latitude 54A deg.: winters from southern California and western Gulf States to Central America and West Indies; casual on Atlantic coast.

=264. Long-billed Curlew= (_Numenius longirostris_). L. 24; B. 6., longest among our Snipe. _Ads._ Above black and buffy; tail barred buffy and black; below buffy, neck and breast finely streaked with dusky. _Yng._ Similar, but buff deeper.

Range.--North America; breeds on Atlantic coast from Florida to North Carolina; in interior north to Manitoba and British Columbia; later strays casually to Newfoundland and Ontario; winters from Gulf States and southern California southward.

=265. Hudsonian Curlew= (_Numenius hudsonicus_). L. 17; B. 3.7. _Ads._ Less buff than No. 264; above dark grayish brown and brownish gray; tail barred with same; below white, breast streaked; sides barred with blackish.

Range.--North America; breeds in Arctic region; winters south of United States to South America.

=266. Eskimo Curlew= (_Numenius borealis_). L. 13.5; B. 2. _Ads._ Tail barred with grayish brown and black; above blackish and buffy; below buffy, the breast thickly streaked; sides barred with blackish.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds In Arctic regions; winters south of United States to South America; migrates chiefly through interior.

=226. Black-necked Stilt= (_Himantopus mexicanus_). L. 15; Tar 4.10. _Ad._ [Male]. Forehead, lower back, and underparts white; crown, hindneck, upper back, and wings black. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but upper back and scapulars grayish brown. _Yng._ Similar to [Female], but brown and black feathers lightly margined with buffy. _Notes._ A sharp, rapidly uttered _ip-ip-ip_ when flying; a hoarse _k-r-r-r-r-ing_ note when on the ground.

Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds north to Gulf States, (locally and rarely in Mississippi Valley to Minnesota) and California; winters from southern California and West Indies to northern South America; rare east of Mississippi except in Gulf States.

=286. American Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus palliatus_). L. 19. _Ads._ Base of tail and longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter coverts and _all_ back blackish brown; white in wings conspicuous in flight. _Yng._ Similar but feathers above with buffy margins. _Notes._ A sharp _eep_, _eep_.

Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds on sea coasts only, north to Virginia and western Mexico; winters south of United States to South America; casual north to Nova Scotia.

=286.1. Frazar Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus frazari_). Similar to No. 286, but darker above, black breast passing into white belly through a mottled black and white band; upper tail coverts with brown markings.

Range.--"Lower California (both coasts), north to Los Coronados Islands." (A.O.U.)

=287. Black Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus bachmani_). L. 17. _Ads._ Black. _Yng._ Somewhat browner. _Notes._ A musical, piping whistle.

Range.--"Pacific coast of North America from Aleutian Islands to La Paz, Lower California."

=228. American Woodcock= (_Philohela minor_). L. 11. _Ads._ Below ochraceous-rufous; _no bars_; forehead slaty crown black with rusty bars; back mixed black, rusty and slaty. _Notes._ A nasal _peent_ or _paip_; a whistling of wings and a twittering whistle.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds locally from Florida to Labrador and Manitoba, but chiefly northward; winters from southern New Jersey and southern Illinois to Gulf States.

=230. Wilson Snipe= (_Gallinago delicata_). L. 11.2. _Ads._ Throat and belly white or whitish; breast rusty buff indistinctly streaked; sides _barred_; above streaked black and cream-buff; tail black and rusty; outer feathers barred black and white. _Notes._ When taking flight several sudden, hoarse _scaipes_; a tremulous, penetrating bleating, thought to be produced by air rushing through the birds wings; a _kA"k-kA"k-kA"k_. (Brewster.)

Range.--North America; breeds from northern New England (rarely Connecticut), northern Illinois and northern California north to Labrador, Hudson Bay, and Alaska; winters from California, southern Illinois, and South Carolina to northern South America.

=261. Bartramian Sandpiper= (_Bartramia longicauda_). L. 11.5. Outer primary barred black and white. _Ads._ Above black, ochraceous, and brownish gray; breast and sides with dusky arrowheads; throat and belly whitish. _Yng._ Similar, but more buffy. _Notes._ Call, a soft, bubbling whistle; song, a prolonged, mournful, mellow whistle, "_chr-r-r-r-r-ee-e-e-e-e-e-oo-oo-o-oo_."

Range.--North America chiefly interior; breeds locally from Kansas and Virginia to Alaska and Nova Scotia; winters south of United States to South America.

=262. Buff-breasted Sandpiper= (_Tryngites subruficollis_). L. 8.5. Inner border of inner web of primaries beautifully speckled with black and white. _Ads._ Above black widely margined with grayish brown; below ochraceous-buff; a few black spots. _Yng._ Above blackish brown, finely and evenly margined with whitish; below much as in adult.

Range.-"North America especially in the interior; breeds in the Yukon district and the interior of British America north to the Arctic coast; south in winter as far as Uruguay and Peru." (A.O.U.)

=281. Mountain Plover= (_Podasocys montana_). L. 9. No black on breast. _Ads._ Lores and crown-band black; above grayish brown washed with pale rusty. _Yng._ Similar, but no black, rusty wash deeper. _Winter._ Same as last but rusty paler.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from Kansas to North Dakota; winters westward to California, south to Lower California and Mexico; accidental in Florida.

=231. Dowitcher= (_Macrorhamphus griseus_) L. 10.5; B. 2.1, pitted at tip. _Ads._ _Rump_, _tail_, under wing-coverts, and axillars _barred_ black and white; above black margined with rusty; rump, white; below reddish brown, spotted and barred with black. _Yng._ Similar, but breast gray tinged with rusty; belly white. _Winter._ Above gray, breast gray mixed with dusky, belly white.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds chiefly north and northwest of Hudson Bay; winters from Florida to northern South America.

=232. Long-billed Dowitcher= (_Macrorhamphus scolopaceus_). B. 2.1 to 2.9. Similar to preceding but larger, bill longer; in adult spring plumage more barred below. _Notes._ A lisping, energetic musical, _peet-peet_; _pAe•e-ter-wAe•e-too_; _wAe•e-too_ repeated. (Nelson.)