Sh a ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HoME EcoNoMICS CORNELL UNIVERSITY euororyer FouTeKuneT Paiinars MANUAL OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. ILLUSTRATED BY 464 OUTLINE DRAWINGS OF THE GENERIC CHARACTERS. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 1887. Copyright, 1887, by J. B. Lippincott Company. PREFACE Tue object of the present volume is to furnish a convenient manual of North American Ornithology, reduced to the smallest com- pass, by the omission of everything that is not absolutely necessary for determining the character of any given specimen, and including, besides the correct nomenclature of each species, a statement of its natural habitat, and other concomitant data. Originally projected by Professor Spencer F. Baird, and based essentially upon the grand National cabinet of American birds which his energy, ability, and enthusiasm have developed from an unpre- tentious nucleus into a collection unrivalled in extent and wholly unique in scientific value, this work may be considered as, in a measure, the consummation of a plan conceived by that illustrious naturalist, whose works represent the highest type of systematic orni- thology, and have furnished the model from which the younger gen- eration of ornithologists have drawn their inspiration. Professor Baird’s great responsibilities and engrossing duties as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and Director of the United States National Museum precluded the possibility of his completing the work which he had so long cherished, and had even begun, when called to the high positions which he has filled with so much advantage to science and honor to himself. Honored with the privilege of continuing the work commenced by abler hands, the author has endeavored to fulfil his trust with careful attention to the hope of its originator that the Manual of iii iv PREFACE. North American Birds may serve as a handy book for the sportsman and traveller, as well as for the resident naturalist, and that all may find it a convenient and satisfactory means of identifying any North American bird in all its variations of plumage. ROBERT RIDGWAY. DEPARTMENT OF BIRbs, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MusEvM, April 11, 1887. Spencer F. Bard. Just as this book is about to be issued, information has been re- ceived of the death of Professor Baird, at Wood’s Holl, Massachusetts. It is unnecessary here to make more than passing reference to Professor Baird’s eminence as an ornithologist,—an eminence attained through the inherent excellence of his published works rather than their extent. His influence in the development of American ornithol- ogy has been greater than that of any other person, and no one else has commanded so fully the respect, admiration, and confidence due to his high attainments, the sterling qualities of his mind and heart, and the integrity of his character. Indeed, it may with truth be said that every naturalist of eminence in the United States owes much of his success to a personal acquaintance with Professor Baird, whose sound advice, ready sympathy, and uniform kindness are reverently and affectionately remembered by all who are so fortunate as to have enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance. Special reference has been made in the Preface and Introduction to Professor Baird’s intimate connection with the “ Manual of North American Birds,” a work planned by him many years ago, but which he was prevented, by engrossing public duties, from personally exe- cuting. In spite of physical suffering and harassing cares, he retained, almost to the last moment, a lively interest in the work, which was completed but a short time previous to his death. R. R. WASHINGTON, August 20, 1887. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION soc: a. aos, eR wR BOR Oe Oe ee vil KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS... 2. ce ee ee 1 Order PyaorpopEs—The Diving Birds . 2... ee 4 Family Podicipida—The Grebes. . 2 2. 1. , we ee 4 « ‘Urinatoride=The ‘Loons «3 a 5 2 ow Se ew Se eR ewe Se Re 6 « Alcide—The Auks,.Murvres,-ete: 4 2 «4 i eee eee HR Re 8 Order LoneippnnEs—The Long-winged Swimmers .. 2... 2... 7 ee ee eee 20 Family Stercorariide—The Skuas and Jaegers .. 1... 1.1 ee ee ee eee 20 « Laride—The Gullsand Terns . . 1.1. we eee ee ee ee 23 “© Rynchopide—The Skimmers 2... 1. eee ee ee ee 48 Order TuBrinarnEs—The Tube-nosed Swimmers. . 2... eee ee ee 50 Family Diomedeida—The Albatrosses . 2. 1. 1 1 De ee ee ee ee 50 « Procellariide—The Fulmars and Shearwaters ........-...00804 53 Order SrecanopopEs—The Totipalmate Swimmers... 1... 1. eee eee ee ee 73 Family Phethontide—The Tropic Birds... 2... 0 1. ee eee ee . 7 ec Subidw—The: Gannets . . ee ha Ss ee aC A a a we bata i JAnlitngida= The: Danersi os a a a A we ee ge wR A Sw 76 «© Phalacrocoracide—The Cormorants . 2... 2. eee ee ee ee 77 tit “Pelecanidwe— Ihe; Belicanisys: ec. x. ites wi ast i eG Bs leer cl a a SR) Be, Ge 81 « Fregatide—The Man-o’-War Birds... 1... 1. ee ee ee ee 82 Order Anserrs—The Lamellirostral Swimmers... . 1. 1. ee 84 Family Anatide—The Ducks, Geese, andSwans .... 0 2... 2 Dees 84 Order OponToaLoss#—The Lamellirostral Waders . 2... 0000 7 ee ee 121 Family Pheenicopteride—The Flamingoes ... ........, ie ee ~~ 121 Order Hzropionrs—The Herons, Storks, Ibises, ete. . 2... ee ee 122 Family Plataleide—The Spoonbills .........2... Rai He aa ha tees 122 Tbidide—The Tbises 24.6 05 4 & eS BA ew we ee we gm: 123 ¢ — Ciconiidee—The Storks and Wood Ibises ...... 2... 2 eee eee 124 «© Ardeide—The Herons and Bitterns ...........2-6 e480 8. 126 Order PaLupicoL“#—The Cranes, Rails, ete. 2... ee 184 Family.GruideTheé:-Cranes: «4 6 wa ee ses SR RS eR RS 134 « Aramide—The Courlans 5 5 sss 68 HH RR RR . 185 “© Rallide—The Rails, Gallinules, Coots, ete. .........04.% soa ew 186 Order LimicoLa—The Shore Birds .. 2... 1 ee ee . . 148 Family Phalaropodide—The Phalaropes. .... 1... 2.2.2 02s » . 143 et Recurvirostrida—The AvocetsandStilts .. 2... ...- 2 eeeay, 146 ‘« Scolopacida—The Snipes, Sandpipers, ete. ©... 0-1 e ee eee 147 «( Charadriide—The Plovers. . 2... 1. eee ee ee ee ee a Ane «© Aphrizide—The Surf Birds and Turnstones. . . 2... 1 eee ee ees 179 “« _Haematopodida—The Oyster-catchers. .......... a FR, Sigh aE Fem 181 ¢ Jacanide—The Jacanas . 2 1. 1 1 et tt th tee te 183 vi CONTENTS. PAGE Order GauLinm—The Gallinaceous Birds «2 1. ee et ee es BY oe fe a at we ASS: Family Tetraonide—The Grouse, Partridges, ete... 2 6 - eee 184 “« Phasianide—The Pheasants, Turkeys, ete. . 2... 1 ee eee ee es 205 ‘ Cracide—The Curassows and Guans .. , .. 1 eee ee ete ee le 207 Order Cotumpa#—The Pigeons . . 0... ke 210 Family Columbide—The Biewone Wie hy See Ae I otindy oh aease Bn GE OBE ob ER OR AS 210 Order Raprores—The Birds of Prey . 1... ee ee ee ee ee ee we 218 Family Cathartide—The American Vultures... 1. 6 ee ee ee ee ee es 218 “© Falconide—The Falcons, Hawks, etc... 2. 1. 2. ee ee ee ee 222 « Strigide—The Barn'Owls . . 6 & @ eH eee eee RD ORT Ee 255 “ Bubonide—The Horned Owls, ete... 2 2. 0 ee ee ee es 255 Order Psrrtact—The Parrots, Macaws, Paroquets, etc... . 2. 1 1 ee ee et ts 268 Family Psittacide—The Parrots, ete... 1... eee eee ee et et 268 Order Coccyaus—The Cuckoos, ete... 6 6 0 ee 271 Family Cuculide—The Cuckoos ........... 1 Ee ape nae Aden Hae aes 271 «« Trogonide—The Trogons . 2. 6 1 1 eh ee te ee es 275 b: Momopee— Who: Miclmetis 4 4 ae. a aw we ee ee ea Be = a 277 “¢ Alcedinide—The Kingfishers . . 2. 6 0 ce ee ee ee ee 278 Order Pict—The Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, ete... 2 0. ee ee 280 Family Picide—The Woodpeckers ... 1... 0... pete tee eee -, . 280 Order MacrocurrEs—The Goatsuckers, Swifts, ete... 6 6 ee ee 297 Family Caprimulgide—The Goatsuckers. . 1... 1 ee ep ee eee te 297 “ Micropodide—The Swifts... 2. 2 ee ee 302 “ Trochilide—The Hummingbirds... 1... 1 ee eee eee . . . 803 Order Passeres—The Perching Birds... 1... 2 ees ee ee et eee se a B21 Family Cotingide—The Cotingas . 2. 1 6 1 we ee ee eh es 323 « Tyrannide—The Tyrant Flycatchers . . 1. 6 0 eee ee ee ee es 826 te Al@udide—The barks ...... 4 6 0 ede we we ee ee ge ge we 846 “« Corvide—The Crows, J ays, Magpies, ete... 6 ee ee 350 « Sturnide—The Starlings ©... 0. ee eee ee ee 364 “ Teterida—The Blackbirds, Orioles, ete... 2... ee ee ee 865 “ Fringillide—The Finches, Sparrows, ete. . 2 6. 2 ee eee ee ee ee 382 “ Tanapride—The Tanager: » 2s 6 sa eee eee RR EO EE RB 453 « Hirundinidea—The Swallows. «2. 1 1s ee ee ee te te te 457 “© Ampelide—The Waxwings, ele... 2. 1 0 ee ee es 468 «© Taniide—The Shrikes 2 2 0 1 ee ee ee 465 “ WVireonide—The Vireos . 2 1 6. ee et ee ee es . 468 “ Coerebida2—The Honey Creepers . 1... 2. ee ee ee ee 479 «= ‘Mniotiltide—The Wood Warblers... 6... ee ee ee ee 480 & Motacillide—The Wagtails . 1. 2. we ee ee 5382 ‘© Cinclide—The Dippers . . 1. 6 1 ee ee et ee ee ee 538 “ 'Troglodytide—The Wrens, Thrashers, ete. 2... eee ee ee ees 538 « Certhiide—The Creepers... 2 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee 557 “ Paride—The Nuthatches and Tits... 1. 1 ee ee te ee +... 558 « Sylviide—The Warblers, Kinglets, and Gnatcatchers .. 1... +--+. 566 « Turdide—The Thrushes, Solitaires, Stonechats, Bluebirds, etc. ....... 571 APPENDIX 2) ¢6) ep Ge GR Re we eS e w ew 583 TINDER 5 BY Ah le we ee ae LR RB Be oS tee A ee a a we 595 INTRODUCTION. In CriassiFIcaTIoN, NoMENCLATURE, and Noumeration the present work corre- sponds strictly with the “Check List of North American Birds” published by the American Ornithologists’ Union,’ which represents the joint labors of a “ Commit- tee on Classification and Nomenclature” appointed.by the Union during its first Congress, held in New York City, September 26-29, 1883. During the year which has elapsed since the publication of the A. O. U. Check List several species have been added to the North American fauna, while others have been for the first time described. These are of course included in the present work, being interpolated in their proper places.? At the same time, it has been considered desirable, in the interest of the student of North American Ornithol- ogy, to include, for reasons stated farther on,’ certain extralimital species from contiguous countries. All such additional species have, however, been carefully distinguished typographically, in order that no confusion may arise, the method of discrimination being as follows: (1) All species which are undoubtedly North American, even though of doubt- ful validity, are in larger type, those given in the A. O. U. Check List proper being numbered as in that list, while eighteen of the twenty-six species composing the so-called “ Hypothetical List,”* and also those subsequently added to the fauna, are preceded by a dash (—) instead of a number. (2) All species which have not been established as North American (the majority never having been claimed as such) are printed in smaller type, and have neither a number nor a dash. The GzoorapnicaL Limrrs are also, so far as numbered species are concerned, those of the A. O. U. Check List ; but practically these limits have been enlarged so 1The Code of Nomenclature | and | Check List | of North American Birds | Adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union | Being the Report of the Committee of the Union on Classification and Nomenclature | (Motto) | —— | New York | American Ornithologists’ Union | 1886 | [8vo., pp. i-viii, 1-392.] 2 For lists of these additional species, see Appendix, pages 591-594. 3 See under “ Geographical Limits.” + “Consisting of species which have been recorded as North American, but whose status as North Ameri- can birds is doubtful, either from lack of positive evidence of their occurrence within the prescribed limits . . or from absence of satisfactory proof of their validity as species.” Of the twenty-six species constituting this list, eighteen are unquestionably North American (one of them having been recently established as such), while the remaining eight have very scant claims to a place in our fauna. vil viii INTRODUCTION. as to include all the species known to inhabit Socorro Island, off the coast of north- western Mexico, which is decidedly Mearctic, or North American, in its zodlogical affinities, while in many cases other extralimital species have been included, for the sake of comparison and also on account of the greater or less probability of their occurrence within the southern boundary of the United States. In most cases this ignoring of geographical limits has been confined to the inclusion of only the Mexi- can,’ Cuban, and Bahaman species of characteristically North American genera, or of genera from the same regions belonging to North American Families, the Euro- pean analogues of certain North American species, and species of northeastern Asia which have been ascribed to Alaska, or which may from the close proximity of their habitat be expected to occur there. A notable departure from this general rule has, however, been made in the Order Tubinares, consisting wholly of species inhabiting the “high seas,” whose more or less erratic or fortuitous wanderings render them specially liable to a place in the list of “accidental visitors” to any sea-girt country, for which reason it has been considered desirable, as an aid to future research, to include all known species belonging to genera of which repre- sentatives have been taken in North American waters. Marer1aL.—Although the unrivalled collection of American birds and their eggs forming part of the National Museum? has furnished by far the greater por- tion of the material upon which this work is based, several other public museums, as well as rich private collections, have been carefully studied. Thus, the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City ; the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; the Boston Society of Natural History ; the Museum of Compara- tive Zodlogy, in Cambridge, Mass.; and the splendid private collections of Messrs. George N. Lawrence, of New York City, William Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass., and H. W. Henshaw,’ of Washington, D.C., have furnished indispensable material in the way of extralimital species or more extensive series of certain North Amer- ican species, for comparison, than had yet been secured by the National Museum. It is not, however, the large number of specimens alone that has furnished the sub- stantial basis of the following synoptical tables; for, however much the proper dis- 1 Under the head of “ Mexican” are included not only Mexico itself, but also Guatemala and Honduras. (See page vii, regarding typographical distinction between extralimital and North American species.) ? The total number of specimens of American birds in the National Museum collection at the end of June, 1886, was about 36,000, exclusive of duplicates and mounted specimens; the North American “ study series” of Passeres and “ Picaria” (i.e., Macrochires, Pici, and Coccyges) alone aggregating nearly 13,000, counting only those obtained from North America proper, as defined in the A. 0. U. Check List. At the same time, the collec- tion of North American birds’ eggs numbered 38,400 specimens, constituting by far the most extensive and valu- able one in existence. Even before the addition of the magnificent private collection so generously donated by Captain Charles E. Bendire, U.S.A., no other was comparable to it, either in the number of species represented or in their careful identification, it having from the commencement been made a rule to destroy all specimens regarding which there appeared the least doubt or suspicion. Captain Bendire’s celebrated collection, while representing fewer species, included far more extensive series of a large number of species, showing extreme variations of size, contour, and coloration, all perfectly identified, while it was wholly unique in the exquisite preparation of the specimens. 8 Special mention should be made of Mr. Henshaw’s valuable collection (embracing more than 7000 speci- mens and unusually complete series of many species), which through the owner’s courtesy has been constantly accessible to the author. INTRODUCTION. ix crimination of species and subspecies may be a question of material, a great deal depends upon our knowledge of the birds in life, their natural surroundings, and other things which can be learned only out of doors. Fortunately, a very large number of accomplished field-naturalists have carefully observed the habits of our birds, and through their published records have together contributed a vast store of information which no single person could himself have gained. To the much that has been gleaned from this source have been added the author’s field-notes, col- lected during the period extending from a recent date back to the year 1863, and embracing many measurements of fresh specimens, notes on location of nests, fresh colors of bill, eyes, feet, etc., and various other useful memoranda. Mxasurements are in English inches and hundredths, except when otherwise stated! Whenever practicable, they have been taken from large series of speci- mens, and the extremes given, as well as the average, which follows in parenthesis. Thus, 5.75-6.50 (6.12) would indicate the minimum, maximum, and average, re- spectively, of the measurements taken. In the case of closely-allied forms, or where distinctive characters are largely a matter of dimensions or the proportionate meas- urements of different parts, care has been taken to measure, whenever possible, an equal number of specimens of the several forms to be compared; and specimens in abraded or otherwise imperfect plumage, as well as young birds, have been excluded. When there is any marked sexual difference in size, the number of males and females measured of allied forms has also been made as nearly equal as possible. Length is to be understood as meaning the total length (from end of bill to tip of tail) of the fresh specimen, before skinning, unless otherwise stated. This measurement is the least important of any for the purpose of determination of the species, being of any value at all only when taken from the fresh specimen, before skinning, and even then subject to much variation, according to the amount of stretching to which the bird is subjected. In a very large number of species the author’s measurements from freshly-killed specimens are given, but in perhaps a majority of cases it has been necessary to take measurements made by others. Owing to the fact that all our leading authorities have been consulted on this point and only the extremes given, it has been found impracticable (even if desirable) to distinguish the latter from the former, but it may be remarked that nearly all of those in which the range of variation between the extremes is very great belong to the latter category. Length of wing is from the “bend,” or carpal joint, to tip of longest primary, the rule being laid along the outer or convex side and the wing brought up close to it for its entire length. Length of tail is from tip of longest feathers to their apparent base, a point often very difficult to determine, and subject to more or less variation according to the method of preparing the skin, the amount of shrinkage to which the flesh at the base of the tail has been subjected, etc. Length of culmen is the chord of the curve, measured with dividers, from the tip of the upper mandible to the extreme base of the culmen (this often more or less concealed by feathers of the forehead)—unless the qualifying word “ exposed” is prefixed, in which case the measurement is similarly made to where the frontal feathers close 1 See foot-note on page x., as to conversion of inches and decimals into millimetres. x INTRODUCTION. over the base of the culmen. Depth of bill is also measured with dividers, and is a measurement requiring extreme care. Length of tarsus is measured with dividers, one point resting in the tibio-tarsal joint, on the outer side, the other on the lower edge of lowermost tarsal scutella, in front (in Passerine and certain Picarian and ‘Raptorial birds), or to the more or less obvious transverse depression marking the line of separation between tarsus and base of middle toe (in most water birds and some others). Length of middle toe is always measured with dividers from the last-mentioned point to the base of the claw, on top, and not including the claw, unless so stated. Measurements of eggs represent the average of six specimens (more or less, ac- cording to the extent of the series available for the purpose) which represent or approximate the average size and form as nearly as could be determined by the eye alone. THE NAMES OF COLORS used in the diagnoses are adopted from the author's “ No- menclature of Colors,”' in which may be found an elaborate though concise treatise on the subject, designed especially for the uses of the naturalist, and in which 186 colors, embracing all that are named in descriptive ornithology, are depicted, by hand-colored plates. Iutustrations.— With the exception of those which have already appeared in the Review of American Birds? History of North American Birds and Water Birds of North America,‘ the illustrations have been made specially for the present work by Mr. John L. Ridgway, under the author’s supervision, and engraved by the cele- brated “Jewett” process of Messrs. Matthews, Northrupp & Co., of Buffalo, N.Y. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS are specially due to Professor. Baird, not only for the 1A | Nomenclature of Colors | for Naturalists, | and | Compendium of Useful Knowledge | for Ornitholo- gists. | By | Robert Ridgway, | Curator, Department of Birds, United States National Museum, | With ten colored plates and seven plates | of outline illustrations. | Boston : | Little, Brown, and Company. | 1887. | [In this work is also embodied a “ Glossary of terms used in descriptive ornithology,” in which references are given to all the plates. The latter include, besides those representing the colors, three showing the exter- nal anatomy or “ topography” of a bird, with special reference to the names used in descriptions, one illus- trating various egg-contours, one showing a comparative scale of standard measurements, and two upon which are depicted the various forms or patterns of feather-markings. There is also, among other things useful to the naturalist, a series of tables for the easy conversion of inches and decimals into millimetres, and vice versa.] 2 Smithsonian Miscellanevus Collections. | —181— | Review | of American Birds, in the Museum of the | Smithsonian Institution. | By | 8. F. Baird. | —Part I. North and Middle America. | —[Medallion.] Wash- ington : | Smithsonian Institution. | One volume, 8vo; date of publication (by signatures), June, 1864, to June, 1866. 3 A | History | of | North American Birds | by | 8. F. Baird, T. M. Brewer, and R. Ridgway | Land Birds | Illustrated by 64 colored plates and 593 woodeuts | Volume I [—III]. [Vignette.] | Boston | Little, Brown, and Company | 1874. | [This is the most recent work on North American ornithology, giving, besides technical descriptions, synonymy, etc., a general account of the history and habits of each species, as known up to date of publica- tion. The size is small 4to, and the total number of pages nearly 1800.] 4 Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative ZoUlogy at Harvard College, Vols. XII. and XIII. The Water Birds of North America. By S. F. Baird, T. M. Brewer, and R. Ridgway. Issued in continuation of the pub- lications of the California Gaclogtial Survey. J.D. Whitney, State Geologist. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company, 1884, {Two volumes, uniform in general style, typography, etc., with the “History of North American Birds,” and in reality the conclusion of that work. Total number of pages 1104, embellished by numerous wood- cuts.] INTRODUCTION. xi privilege of consulting specimens and books so essential to the preparation of this work, but also for the friendly advice and valuable suggestions which have ren- dered comparatively easy the performance of a task which under less favorable auspices would have been far more difficult of accomplishment. For valuable aid, always most cordially rendered, the author is much indebted to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, whose well-known thorough bibliographical knowledge and excellent judgment have greatly facilitated the settlement of many vexatious questions of synonymy and difficult problems of relationship. To the authorities of the several public museums and the owners of the private collections already mentioned, the author is glad to have this opportunity of publicly expressing his sense of obliga- tion for many courtesies, including, besides unrestricted access to the collections in question, the loan of valuable and unique type specimens. R. RB. NortH AMERICAN BIRDS KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. a’. Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe. Order Steganopodes. (Page 73.) a, Hind toe not connected with inner toe. 6. Nostrils tubular...... papiides' soos agusibagwlctemened Order Tubinares. (Page 50.) bo. Nostrils not tubular. ce. Cutting-edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed or serrated. @'. Legs short, or but slightly lengthened; bill not abruptly bent downward from the middle........ Order Anseres. (Page 84.) @. Legs excessively lengthened; bill bent abruptly downward from the middle.........ccceee sees Order Odontoglossz. (Page 121.) ce. Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor serrated. @, Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which in standing position is more or less erect, the toes webbed or conspicuously LODO. seins cicuisnitvaseeceiseasesscans Order Pygopodes. (Page 4.) d’, Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which in standing posi- tion is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. e'. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, and tarsus shorter than tail. Order Longipennes. (Page 20.) e. Anteriorytoes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus decidedly longer than tail, or else bill extremely small, with gape very broad and deeply cleft. : fi. Lower portion of thighs naked, or else bill lengthened and grooved along each side, the outer and middle toes separated for their entire length. g'. Hind toe well developed and inserted at same level with anterior toes, the claws never excessively lengthened; loral or orbital regions, or both (some- times whole head), naked. Order Herodiones. (Page 122.) 1 bo NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. g’. Hind toe (if present) small and inserted above the level of the rest, or else size small or medium (never as much as 8 feet long); loral and orbital regions fully feathoyad, and middle claw with edge not pectinated. W. If more than 3 feet long, the hind toe short,and elevated ; if under 3 feet long, the hind toe on same level with anterior toes. Order Paludicolz. (Page 134.) i}, Never over 3 feet long (usually much less), the hind toe (if present) short and elevated, or else the claws excessively lengthened and wings spurred. Order Limicole. (Page 143.) J’. Lower portion of thighs feathered (or else middle and outer toes united for at least half their length), the bill if lengthened not grooved along the side. g. Bill strongly hooked, with a distinct naked cere at base of upper mandible; or if no naked cere, the toes 2 in front and 2 behind. i’. Toes 3 in front, or else outer toe reversible. Order Raptores. (Page 218.) i, Toes 2 in front, 2 behind (outer toe permanently reversed)... Order Psittaci. (Page 268.) g. Bill not strongly hooked, and without naked cere at base of upper mandible; or if with a cere, the latter swollen and the bill straight. f}, Hind toe small and elevated, or else bill with- out soft swollen cere. Order Gallinee. (Page 184.) i’. Hind toe (or toes) well developed and on same level with anterior toes. #, Bill with soft swollen cere at base of upper mandible. Order Columba. (Page 210.) ?, Bill without soft swollen cere. j. Wings very long, with 10 quills, tail of 10 feathers, and gape very wide and deeply cleft, or else bill long te and slender, tongue extensile, and e secondaries only 6 in number. Order Macrochires. (Page 297.) J. Wings not very long and gape not very wide nor deeply cleft, or else wing with only 9 quills and tail-feathers 12 in number. KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. 3 KY. Toes only 2 in front, or if 3, the. middle and outer toes con- nected for at least half their length. 0. Tail-feathers stiff and more or less pointed, and bill more or less chisel-like. Order Pici. (Page 280.) V. Tail-feathers neither stiff nor pointed, and bill not chisel- like. Order Coccyges. (Page 271.) 7. Toes 3 in front, 1 behind, the middle and outer toes not united for half their length, lower part of thighs feathered, and tarsus equal to or longer than lateral toes. Order Passeres, (Page 321.) 4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Orver PYGOPODES.—Tue Drvine Birps. (Page 1) Families. a, Tail-feathers wanting. Anterior toes fobad, the nails very broad, flat, and with rounded tips. (Sub- order Peaicineaes) ualeesinesa acticin each cessadaaienreseai Podicipidz. (Page 4.) a’. Tail-feathers present, but short. (eubonlae Cepphi.) bY. Hind toe present.......ccciccecsscsceressesenenseceneeeeees Urinatorida. (Page 6.) b?, Hind toe absent os: sscsacesuecnesiesssnecaicensicaencslesassensainsawense Alcidz. (Page 8.) Famity PODICIPIDAE.—TueE Greses. (Page 4.) Nest a thick matted platform of rushes, sedges, etc., usually floating upon the surface of the water in grassy or sedgy ponds or ees, Eggs 2-5, dull white, bluish white, or very pale bluish green, usually stained more or less (often quite . deeply) with light brown, by contact with decomposed vegetable matter. Genera. a}. Bill slender, the length of the culmen much more than twice the depth at the base. bt. Length of culmen five or more times as much as greatest depth of the bill; neck nearly as long as the body... ... 4echmophorus. (Page 4. ) b%. Length of culmen less than four dines as cael as greatest depth of the bill ; neck much shorter than the body..........ce0seeeee Colymbus. (Page 5. ) a, Bill very stout, the length of the culmen less than twice as much as the greatest depth of the Dill.......-.sseeseecseseeseseressessssssnoaes Podilymbus. (Page 6.) Genus AZACHMOPHORUS Couzs. (Page 4, pl. I, fig. 1.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Pileum and cervix slaty black ; rest of upper parts slaty, inner webs of remiges chiefly white; entire lower parts, including lower half of head and all of neck except stripe down the cervix, pure satiny white. Downy young: Above uniform brownish gray, lighter anteriorly ; lower parts uniform white. a', Length 24.00-29.00 inches; wing 7.45-8.50 (average 8.07); culmen 2.60- 3.05 (2.78). Eggs 2-5, 240 1.54. Hab. Western North America (chiefly the interior) from Mexico and Lower California to Manitoba. 1. AK. occidentalis (Lawz.). Western Grebe. a, Length about 22.00 inches; wing 6.70-7.75 (7.31); culmen 2.10-2.48 (2.25). Eggs 2-5, 2.16X1. at: Hab. Western North America, chiefly along Pacific COBBLsiessscsawesrescavonees endius abenl . —. 48. clarkii (Lawr.). Clark’s Grebe. COLYMBUS. 5 Genus COLYMBUS Linnavs. (Page 4, pl. L, figs. 2, 3.) Species. a!, Wing 5.00 inches or more. b. Bill about as long as the head. Wing more than 6.00 inches. (Subgenus Colymbus.) c Feathers of lower parts pure white to the extreme base. Nuptial - plumage: Throat and chin buffy white, passing posteriorly into rich ferruginous on the very prominent auricular frill, which is tipped with black; top of head and elongated tufts on each side of occiput glossy black. Length 22.00-24.00; wing 6.80-7.75; culmen 1.75- 2.30. Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan, but no authentic record for any portion of America. C. cristatus Linn. Crested Grebe.! c, Feathers of lower parts white only superficially, the concealed portion being distinctly grayish. Nuptial plumage: Top of head dull black, somewhat glassy ; rest of head ash-gray, bordered above and poste- riorly by whitish ; neck rufous. d', Length about 17.50 ; wing 6.45-7.00 (6.63) ; culmen 1.50-1.55 (1.53). Hab. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere. C. grisegena Bopp. Red-necked Grebe.” @’. Length 18.00-20.50; wing 7.30-8.10 (7.65) ; culmen 1.65-2.40 (2.02). Higgs 2-5, 2.23137. Hab. North America, including Green- land, breeding far northward; eastern Asia. 2. C. holbcellii (Reinu.). Holbeell’s Grebe. b?. Bill much shorter than head. Wing not more than 6.00 inches. (Subgenus Dytes Kaur.) c. Bill compressed (deeper than wide) at base. Nuptial plumage: Lower neck and chest rufous; sides of occiput with a very full dense tuft of soft, blended, ochraceous feathers. Downy young: Whole top of head dusky; sides of head whitish with two stripes and several irregular spots of dusky; a dusky streak on each side of throat; upper parts plain dusky grayish. Length 12.50-15.25 ; wing about 5.75. Eggs 2-7, 1.78 Xx 1.20. Hab. Northern portion of northern hemisphere, breeding in America chiefly north of the United States.....cccccccseeee ee 3. C. auritus Linn. Horned Grebe. ce. Bill depressed (wider than deep) atbase. Nuptial plumage: Head, neck, and chest black; sides of head, behind eyes, with a tuft-like or somewhat fan-shaped loose patch of slender ochraceous feathers. Downy young: Top of head dusky, with several white markings, the middle of the crown with a small naked, reddish space; no dusky 1 Colymbus cristatus Linn’, S.N. ed. 10, 1758, 135. 2 Colymbus grisegena Bovp., Tabl. P. E. 1783, 55. oO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. streak on side of throat, or elsewhere below level of eyes. Length 12.00-14.00 ; wing 5.20-5.50. d', Three or four inner quills mostly or entirely white. Hab. Central Europe and Asia. C., nigricollis (BREHM). Eared Grebe.! @. Inner quills with inner webs wholly dusky. Colors generally duller and bill more slender. Hyggs 4-8, 1.75 x 1.19. Hab. Western North America, north to Great Slave Lake, south to Guatemala, east to Mississippi Valley. 4. C.nigricollis californicus (Hzzrm.). American Eared Grebe. @. Wing less than 5.00 inches. (Subgenus Podiceps Lat.) Tarsus decidedly shorter than middle toe without claw. Nuptial plumage: Top of head dull greenish black; rest of head dark gray or dull plum- beous, the chin and throat dull black. Downy young: Top of head black, with a rufous spot in middle of crown, and various white markings; sides and underparts of head and neck white varied with black lines. Length 9.00-10.50; wing 4.00. Eggs 1.385 x .94. Had. Tropical America in general, north to southern Texas and Lower California. 5. C. dominicus Linn. St. Domingo Grebe. Genus PODILYMBUS Lesson. (Page 4, pl. L, fig. 5.) Species. Brownish above, silvery white beneath, the feathers dark grayish basally. Nuptial plumage: Chin, throat, and anterior portion of malar region.black; rest of head and neck brownish gray, darker above; lower parts spotted with dusky; bill whitish, crossed about the middle by a black band. Winter plumage: Black throat, etc., of nuptial plumage replaced by dull whitish, the rest of the head browner; lower parts without dusky spots; bill brownish (paler on lower man- dible) without black band. Young: Similar to winter adult, but sides of head more or less distinctly striped with brown. Downy young: Head and neck distinctly | striped with white and black, the crown with a rufous spot; a rufous spot on upper part of nape and on each side of occiput; upper parts blackish, marked with four strips of grayish white. Length 12.00-15.00; wing 4.50-5.00. Hggs 4-5, 1.72 x 1.99. Hab. The whole of America, except extreme northern and southern districts. 6. P. podiceps (Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. Famity URINATORIDAE,.—TuE Loons. (Page 4) Genus. (Characters same as those given for the family).......... Urinator. (Page 7.) 1 Podiceps nigricollis Brrnm, Vig. Deutschl., 1831, 963. Colymbue nigricollis Stesn., Auk, ii., Oct. 1885, 340. URINATOR. 7 Genus URINATOR Covizr. (Page 6, pl. II, fig. 1.) Species. Common Cuaracrers.—Above blackish or slaty, beneath white. Jn summer, upper parts spotted or speckled with white, the throat and fore-neck blackish or chestnut. Jn winter, and in young, upper parts without white markings, and throat and fore-neck white like rest.of lower parts. Downy young uniform.sooty grayish, the belly white. Vest built on ground at edge of marsh or lake. Eggs 2, elongate- ovate, deep brown or olive, rather sparsely speckled or spotted with dark brown and blackish. a. Tarsus shorter than middle toe without claw; fore-neck blackish in summer. b'. Distance from base of culmen to anterior point of loral feathers, above nostrils, greater than the distance from the latter point to anterior bor- der of nostrils. Summer plumage with head and neck black all round, the middle of the fore-neck and sides of lower neck each crossed by a bar or transverse series of white streaks. c’. Tarsus shorter than exposed culmen; bill in adult blackish (almost wholly deep black in summer) ; head and neck glossed with velvety green; white spots on scapulars broad as long; length 28.00-36.00; wing 13.00-15.25 (14.06); culmen 2.75-3.50 (3.07); depth of bill through base .90-1.05 (.96). Eggs 3.52 x 2.27. Hab. Northern part of northern hemisphere, breeding from northern United States NOYCH WAT oe seer sisnesseceesseccenearceseans 7. U. imber (Gunn.). Loon. ce. Tarsus longer than exposed culmen; bill in adult whitish (almost wholly yellowish white in summer); head and neck glossed with velvety violet-blue; white spots on scapulars decidedly longer than broad; length about 35.00-38.00 ; wing 14.85-15.45 (15.11); culmen 3.50-3.65 (3.59); depth of bill through base 1.00-1.20 (1.09). Had. Western Arctic America and northeastern Asia. &. 'U. adamsii (Gray). Yellow-billed Loon. b’. Distance from base of culmen to anterior point of loral feathers, not greater than distance from the latter point to anterior extremity of nostril. Summer plumage with upper part of head and hind part of neck gray- ish ; throat and fore-neck black, without white streaks, but several lon- gitudinal series of the latter down the side of the neck, between the black and the gray. c. Fore-neck and under side of neck glossed with velvety purple; occi- put and hind-neck deep gray, almost plumbeous. Length 26.00- 29.00; wing 12.15-13.20 (12.55); culmen 2.50-2.85 (2.60); depth of bill at base, .75-.80 (.78). Eggs 3.09 1.96. Hab. Northern por- tions of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic regions; in North America, south, in winter, to extreme northern United States, east of the Rocky Mountains. 9. U. arcticus (Linn.). Black-throated Loon. 8 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. c’, Fore-neck and under side of head glossed with dull bronzy greenish, sometimes inclining to purplish’; occiput and hind-neck very pale smoky grayish, sometimes nearly white. Wing 11.20-12.25 (11.54); culmen 2.00-2.35 (2.15); depth of bill at base .55-.65 (.62). Lyggs 3.11 « 1.92. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to Lower California, breeding far northward. 10. U. pacificus (Lawr.). Pacific Loon. a. Tarsus longer than middle toe with claw. Fore-neck rich chestnut in summer ; head and neck plumbeous gray, the top of head and hind-neck streaked with white; upper parts speckled with white. Summer plumage: Throat and fore-neck plumbeous, like rest of head and neck, but marked down the mid- dle with a wedge-shaped patch or stripe of rich chestnut. Winter plumage and young: Throat and fore-neck white. Downy young: Above uniform dusky, or sooty slate; lower parts paler and more grayish. Length 24.00- 27.00; wing 10.00-11.50; culmen 2.25; tarsus 2.75. Eggs 2.82 xX 1.76. Hab. Northern portions of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic regions; in North America, south, in winter, nearly across the United States. 11. U. lumme (Gunn.). Red-throated Loon. Famity ALCIDAL.—TueE Auxs. (Page 4.) Nest a cavity among rocks, usually on face of cliffs. gg single, variable as to form and color. Genera. a..Inner claw much larger and more strongly curved than the others; corner of mouth with a thick naked skin, or “rosette ;” bill excessively compressed, nearly as deep as long, the terminal portion transversely grooved (except in young), the basal portion with several accessory deciduous pieces, cast at end ‘of breeding season. (Subfamily Fraterculine.) b'. Basal outline of permanent (terminal) portion of upper mandible convex; lower mandible wholly destitute of grooves, in all stages; grooves of upper mandible with concave side toward tip of bill. Nuptial ornaments : Deciduous nasal shield or saddle widest toward culmen, where forming an arched and much thickened ridge; eyelids without horny append- ages; on each side of head a large pendent tuft of lengthened, silky, straw-colored feathers ........:sssecccecssessesseceenesreanes Lunda. (Page 10.) b?, Basal outline of permanent (terminal) portion of bill concave, or nearly straight and very oblique; permanent (terminal) portion of lower man- dible grooved (except in young); grooves of the upper mandible with concave side toward base of the bill. Nuptial ornaments: Deciduous nasal shield widest toward nostril; basal outline of upper mandible con- cave; eyelids furnished with horny appendages; head without orna- mental tufts or PlUMES........ceceeeerrcesecseereeeees Fratercula. (Page 11.) ALCIDA. 9 a. Inner claw not obviously different in size or shape from the others; corner of mouth without thickened naked skin or “ rosette.” b'. Angle of chin much nearer to nostril than to tip of bill. c’. Nostrils exposed, overhung by a more or less distinct horny scale, and feathers of lores never reaching to anterior end of nostrils; second- aries without white tips. (Subfamily Phalerine.) d@. Gonys occupying more than half the total length of the lower mandible, or else tip of upper mandible not abruptly decurved from a long, straight culmen. é'. Distance from anterior border of nasal hollow to nearest loral feathers equal to one half or more than one half the dis- tance from the same point to the tip of the bill. (Phaleree.) f?. Bill about as long as the head (culmen about 1.00); wing more than 6.50........cecsseees Cerorhinca. (Page 11.) J’. Bill much shorter than head (culmen less than .75); wing less than 6.50. g. Upper mandible broader than deep at base; culmen nearly straight. (Wing about 5.00.) Ptychoramphus. (Page 12.) g. Upper mandible higher than broad at base; culmen decidedly curved. i}, Lower mandible very narrow, strongly and very regularly recurved, the tip acute; edge of upper mandible very regularly convex. (Wing 5.25-6.00.)....... Cyclorrhynchus. (Page 12.) #?, Lower mandible more than half as deep as the upper, not recurved, or else tip not acute; upper mandible with edge nearly straight or else not regularly convex. (Wing 5.25 or 1e83.)......eesseee Simorhynchus. (Page 12.) e*. Distance from anterior border of nasal hollow to nearest loral feathers equal to not more than one-fourth the distance from the same point to the tip of the bill. (Brachyramphee.) ji. Tarsi scutellate in front, much longer than the horny portion of the commissure. Synthliboramphus. (Page 13.) J. Tarsi reticulate in front, not longer than horny portion of : COMMISSULE.......s0eees Brachyramphus. (Page 14.) d*, Gonys occupying less than half the total length of the lower man- dible ; culmen straight to near the tip, where abruptly decurved. (Cepphece.) Loral feathers forming an acute angle. (Wing 6.50-7.50; culmen 1.00 or MOTE.).......:esceeeeees Cepphus. (Page 16.) c. Nostrils completely concealed or enclosed within a dense, velvety feathering, which extends from the lores to or beyond their an- 2 “10 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. terior end; secondaries sharply tipped with white. (Subfamily Alcine.) d', Bill narrow, the culmen slightly or gently curved, both mandibles destitute of grooves; tail rounded, the feathers not pointed. ( OTIC.) aecceccseeceenseeeesnssennenenearerseeseanaees Uria. (Page 17.) d, Bill very deep, much compressed, culmen strongly curved, and one or both mandibles transversely or obliquely grooved (except in young); tail graduated, the feathers pointed. (Alcew.) é. Size medium (culmen less than 1.50); bill much shorter than head, the lower mandible with not more than two grooves, or none; wings well developed, admitting of sustained flight. Alca. (Page 18.) @. Size very large (culmen more than 3.00); bill as long as the head, the lower mandible with numerous grooves; wings rudimentary, not admitting of flight.. Plautus. (Page 19.) b» Angle of chin much nearer tip of bill than to nostril. (Subfamily Aline.) Bill very short and broad, the culmen much curved; size very small (wing less than 5.00); secondaries sharply tipped with white. Alle. (Page 19.) Genus LUNDA Pattas. (Page 8, pl. III, fig. 1.) Species. Above uniform sooty black, lower parts sooty grayish, the feathers of breast and belly grayish white beneath the surface, this color sometimes showing through, and breaking the continuity of the dusky. Nuptial plumage: Anterior portion of side of head white; springing from each side of the crown, immediately above the eye, a thick pendent tuft of lengthened, silky, straw-colored feathers; terminal half of bill bright red, basal portion olive-yellowish; feet bright scarlet (in life). Winter plumage: Side of head wholly dusky, but lighter in region of insertion of the nuptial tufts, which are wholly absent; basal deciduous horny covering of bill replaced by soft, dusky brown skin; feet flesh-color (in life). Young, first winter : Similar to winter adult, but upper mandible destitute of grooves, and nuptial tufts present in a rudimentary condition but of a light brownish color; terminal portion of bill inclining to brownish orange-red. Young, first summer or autumn: Bill smaller, narrower, and browner in color; nuptial tufts wanting. Downy young: Uniform dark sooty grayish, or blackish. Length 14.40-15.60; wing 7.75; culmen 1.30-1.45. Egg 2.86 X 1.92, more or less ovate, white (sometimes tinged with pale buffy, pinkish, or brownish), usually more or less marked round larger end with faint spots, splashes or streaks of pale brown, or lavender-gray, or both. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from southern California to Alaska, and from Bering’s Strait to Japan; accidental in Bay of Fundy and Kennebec River, MAIN Gs. csccsegocsbatas ooeteaacareenateeeserevemenerernen’ 12, L. cirrhata Pann. Tufted Puffin. 1 Alle Linx, Beschr. Nat. Samml. Univ. Rostock, i. 1806, 46 (not p. 17, as given in A, 0, U. Check List), FRATERCULA. 11 Genus FRATERCULA Brisson. (Page 8, pl. III,, fig. 2.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Upper parts, together with a band across fore-neck, uniform blackish ; sides of head grayish or white; lower parts pure white. Downy young, uniform sooty blackish, or dark sooty slate, the belly white. Egg shaped and colored like that of Lunda cirrhata. a’, Grooves of the bill very oblique, broad, and distinct, the deciduous basal shields occupying less than the basal half of the bill. Nuptial plumage: Chin and whole throat grayish, the sides of the head gray; horny process on upper eyelid short, subconical; length 11.50-13.75. b'. Bill and general size smaller: Culmen 1.60-1.90, gonys 1.40-1.50, depth of upper mandible at base .75-.90, of lower, .40-.50. Egg 2.46-1.74. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, from southern Greenland south, in winter, in North America, to New Jersey, breeding as far south as the Bay Of WUNAY sanesveur deseavseassoesessiesessauecvecs 13. F. arctica (Linn.). Puffin. b’. Bill and general size larger: Culmen 2.00-2.30, gonys 1.40-1.60, depth of upper mandible at base .85-1.00, of lower, .70.-80. Egg 2.65-1.82. Hab. Coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean, from Spitzbergen to northern and western Greenland. 13a. F. arctica glacialis (Trmm.). Large-billed Puffin. a. Grooves of the bill nearly vertical, narrow, and rather indistinct; deciduous basal shields occupying much more than the basal half of the bill. Muptial plumage: Whole throat blackish, the chin, only, gray; sides of head white ; horny process on upper eyelid elongated, horn-like. Downy young: Uniform sooty blackish, the belly, abruptly, white. Length about 12.50-14.00; culmen 2.00-2.25, gonys 1.60-1.70, depth of upper mandible 1.15-1.25, of lower, .70- 80. Hyg 2.74-1.84. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from British Columbia to the Kurile Islands. ‘ 14. F. corniculata (Navum.). Horned Puffin. Genus CERORHINCA Bonaparrs. (Page 9, pl. IV., fig. 1.) Species. Bill much compressed, longer than deep, the culmen regularly curved, but gonys nearly straight; upper parts uniform dusky; under portion and sides of head and neck, down to the chest, together with sides, smoky plumbeous; rest of lower parts white, usually clouded with smoky gray; a row of narrow, pointed, white feathers along each side of occiput, commencing just above and behind the eye; another row of similar but larger feathers across cheeks, from near corner of mouth. Wuptial plumage: Base of upper mandible surmounted by a compressed upright horn, the base of which clasps the mandible as a saddle, down to, and en- closing the nostrils. Winter plumage: Similar to nuptial dress, but breast more 12 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. uniformly gray, the belly more uniform white, and the horn-like process at base of upper mandible entirely absent. Young: Similar to winter adult, but white fila- mentous feathers of head wanting, and bill smaller and darker in color. Downy young : Uniform sooty grayish brown, very similar to corresponding stage of Lunda cirrhata, but rather lighter in color and with more slender bill. Length 14.00- 15.50, wing 7.25, culmen, from cere, or anterior edge of horn, 1.00. Egg 2.70 x 1.82, similar in form, color, etc., to those of Lunda and species of Fratercula. Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Lower California (resident) to Japan. 15. C. monocerata (PaLL.). Rhinoceros Auklet. Genus PTYCHORAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VI, fig. 3.) Species. Above uniform slaty blackish, changing gradually into plumbeous on sides of head and neck, throat, and fore-neck; a white spot on lower eyelid; lower parts white, the sides (beneath wings) plumbeous; length 8.00-9.50, wing 4.75-5.25, cul- men .75. Hgg 1.83 X 1.34, ovate, pure white. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from Aleutian Islands to Lower California. 16. P. aleuticus (PALL.). Cassin’s Auklet. Gzxus CYCLORRHYNCHUS Kavp. (Page 9, pl IV., fig. 5.) Species. Above uniform blackish slate, beneath white; bill orange-red. Nuptial plu- mage: Throat, fore-neck, and sides dusky; a line of narrow pointed white feathers starting just below the eye, and extending back across the ear-coverts. Winter plumage: Similar to summer dress, but throat, fore-neck, and sides partly or en- tirely white; white feathers behind eyes wanting? Young(?): Similar to winter adult, but bill duller red (or inclining to brownish), and entire lower parts, including throat and fore-neck, continuous white ;' length 9.00-10.40, wing 5.40-6.00, culmen about .60. Egg 2.12 x 1.46, clear bluish white. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific from Sitka to the Kurile Islands.... 17. C. psittaculus (PauL.). Paroquet Auklet, Genus SIMORHYNCHUS Merrem. (Page 9, pl. IV., figs. 2 to 4.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Upper parts blackish, the scapulars sometimes mixed with white. Adults with a series of slender, pointed white feathers commencing beneath the eye and extending backward across the ear-coverts. ygs ovate, pure white, sometimes faintly tinged with bluish. a. Wing more than 4.00; adult with a recurved frontal crest; lower parts uniform sooty gray, the belly sometimes whitish ; no white on scapulars. 1 The seasonal and other changes of plumage in this species are not well understood, and we have not the material with which to determine them. The above may, therefore, be not quite correct in some particulars, : d SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS. 13 ob. Wing 5.00 or more; adult in breeding season with several conspicuous de- ciduous plates on basal portion of bill, including a roundish or semicir- cular piece at corner of mouth; no white feathers between bill and eye; belly never whitish. (Subgenus Simorhynchus.) Breeding plumage: Bill bright orange-red, the tip horn-colored. Winter plumage: Bill horn- colored, much smaller, through loss of the deciduous pieces. Young: Frontal crest and white feathers beneath eye wanting, or but slightly developed; bill much smaller, dusky brownish. Length 8.50-10.80; wing about 5.25. Hgg 2.14-1.49. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific from Kadiak, Unalashka, and the Prybilof Islands through the Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 18. S. cristatellus (Patt.). Crested Auklet. b?. Wing less than 4.50; adult in breeding season without conspicuous deciduous plates on basal portion ; belly whitish ; a more or less distinct patch of narrow, pointed, white feathers between bill and eye (indistinct or ob- solete in young). (Subgenus Phaleris Temmincx.) Breeding plumage: Bill dull purplish red, the tip whitish. Winter plumage not materially different. Young: Frontal crest and white feathers on sides of head wanting or barely indicated; bill dusky. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate, lighter beneath. Length 7.10-8.30, wing 4.10-4.25, culmen .35-.40. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Unalashka through the Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka... 19. S. pygmzeus (GmMEL.). Whiskered Auklet. a?, Wing not more than 4.00; adult without frontal crest ; lower parts white, some- times blotched with dusky; scapulars with more or less white; base of bill with a small compressed knob on top. (Subgenus Ciceronia Reicu.) Breed- ing plumage: Lower parts white, more or less spotted or blotched with dusky, this often forming a distinct band across the chest. Winter plumage : Lower parts, including sides of neck, entirely white; white ornamental feathers of forehead, etc., usually less developed. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but bill smaller, scapulars more extensively white, and white orna- mental feathers of forehead, ete., wanting. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate, paler and grayer on lower parts. Length 5.50-7.20, wing 3.50-4.00, culmen .35-.40. Eggs 1.58 X 1.10. Hab. Coasts] of the North Pacific, from Japan and southern Alaska to the Aleutian and Prybilof Islands. 20. S. pusillus (Pat..). Least Auklet. Gznus SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VI., fig. 1.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Above plumbeous, beneath white. Breeding plumage : Chin and part, or whole, of throat dusky ; top of head with a broad white stripe along each side ; sides, from neck to flanks, uniform sooty blackish. Winter plumage : Whole throat white, the chin plumbeous; no white stripes on top of head; sides and flanks white, striped with slaty. 14 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. a. Never crested. Breeding plumage: Chin, throat, and fore-neck, with top and sides of head, sooty black ; sides of neck and a broad stripe along each side of occiput, pure white; white stripes on side of occiput not extending forward of the eye ; upper back streaked laterally with white. Winter plumage: Whole “ throat white; stripes on sides of occiput and streaks on upper part of back wanting. Length 9.50-10.80, wing 5.25-5.50, culmen .60. Hyg 2.42 x 1.55, elongate-ovate, buffy (variable in shade from nearly white to almost an isabella-color), speckled or otherwise marked all over with deep brown and lavender-gray. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan and southern Alaska (Sitka) northward...... 21. S. antiquus (GmeL.). Ancient Murrelet. a’, Crested in the breeding season. Breeding plumage: Fore part of crown with a loose crest of slender, lengthened feathers slightly curved or nearly straight ; upper half of throat velvety plumbeous, with a truncated posterior outline; ear-coverts deep plumbeous; white stripes on sides of top of head extending forward far beyond the eye; upper back not streaked with white. Winter plumage: Whole throat and malar region white, the chin, only, plumbeous; no white on top of head, and no crest. Downy young: Above brownish gray, the back and rump indistinctly streaked with grayish white; lower parts, including chin, entirely pure white. Length about 9.50-11.00, wing 5.10- 5.50. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan (and Washington Ter- ritory ?) northward. (Very doubtfully American.) 22. S. wumizusume (Tremm.). Temminck's Murrelet. Genus BRACHYRAMPHUS Branpr. (Page 9, pl. VI, fig. 2.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Size small (wing less than 5.50); bill small and slender, much shorter than head (not longer than the short tarsus), compressed, and pointéd ; culmen gently curved, gonys nearly straight; plumage very plain, with- out ornamental feathers about head at any season. a‘, Tarsus shorter than middle toe, without claw. 6. Exposed culmen about equal to inner toe, without claw; secondaries and outer tail-feathers entirely dusky. c’. Culmen .70 or less. Summer adult: Above dusky, barred more or less with deep rusty ; beneath mixed white and sooty brown, in varying relative proportion. Winter plumage : Above, interrupted by a white 2 collar across nape; scapulars mixed with white, and feathers of back, etc., tipped with plumbeous; entire lower parts pure white, the orbital and superciliary regions dusky, like top of head, and outermost feathers of flanks striped with dark grayish. Young: Above uniform dusky, with indistinct white collar and scapular patches; lower parts white, transversely mottled with dark sooty ; bill much smaller and weaker than in adult. Length 9.50-10.00, wing about 5.00, culmen .60-.70, tarsus .70, middle toe .92-1.00. Egg BRACHYRAMPHUS. 15 2.14 < 1.42, ovate, ground-color buffy, speckled or otherwise marked with various shades of brown. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from southern California to western Alaska. 23. B. marmoratus (GMEL.). Marbled Murrelet, ce. Culmen .75. Summer adult: Similar to corresponding stage of B. mar- moratus, but markings of upper parts buffy and dull whitish, instead of deep rusty. Wing 5.50, culmen .75, tarsus .70, middle toe .95. Hab. Coasts of northeastern Asia, from Japan to Kamtschatka. B. perdix (PaLu.). Partridge Murrelet.! 6%. Exposed culmen not more than two-thirds as long as inner toe without claw ; secondaries broadly tipped with white, and outer tail-feathers partly or wholly white. c. Tarsus .60 or more. Summer adult: Above plumbeous, thickly marked with irregular, mostly longitudinal, spots of buff; lower parts chiefly white, the chest and sides washed with buff and irregularly spotted and barred with dusky ; belly more faintly marked with more regular crescentic bars. Winter plumage: Above glossy plumbeous, the back and rump very narrowly and indistinctly barred with white; scapu- lars chiefly white; sides of head (including lores and superciliary region), a narrow collar round hind-neck, and entire lower parts, pure white, the sides of the breast crossed by a broad band of slate- gray, narrowing toward the middle of the chest. Wing 5.10-5.80, culmen .35-.45, depth of bill at base .20-.22, tarsus .60-.65, middle toe .85-.95. Hab. Unalashka, through Aleutian chain to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 24. B. kittlitzii (Branpt). Kittlitz’s Murrelet. ce’. Tarsus 50. Wing 5.25, culmen .50, tarsus .50. Summer plumage: Above grayish brown, head and neck spotted with white; beneath white, waved and spotted with brown. Hab. San Blas, western Mexico. B. brevirostris (Vic.). Short-billed Murrelet.? a, Tarsus as long as or longer than middle toe without claw. b. Lining of wing white; above plain dark slaty, beneath entirely pure white; length 9.60-10.50, wing 4.50-5.25, culmen .70-.80, tarsus .90-.95, middle toe .85. Hab. Southern California to Cape St. Lucas. 25. B. hypoleucus Xanrus. Xantus’s Murrelet. b’. Lining of wing smoky gray, or slaty ; in plumage otherwise like B. hypo- leucus; length about 10.25, wing 4.60, culmen .78-.80, tarsus .88-.90, middle toe .80-.88. Hyg 2.03 < 1.40, ovate, ground-color buffy, isabella- color, or fawn-color, thickly sprinkled, speckled, or otherwise marked with dark brown. Hab. Lower California (vicinity of Cape St. Lucas). : 26. B. craveri (SatvapD.). Craveri’s Murrelet. * 1 Cepphus perdix Pauuas, Zoog. Rosso-As. ii. 1826, 351, pl. 80. Brachyramphus perdix Stesn. Zeitschr. Ges. Orn. iii. 1886, 213, p. 7. 2 Uria brevirostris Via., Zool. Jour. iv. 1828, 357. Possibly the same as B. hittlitzii Branvr. 16 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Gunus CEPPHUS Pattas. (Page 9, pl. II, fig. 3.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Summer adults uniform black, with or without white on wings. Winter specimens white, varied above (sometimes below also) with black, the wings and tail as in summer. Young similar to winter adults, but white of _ Wings varied with dusky, the quills marked at tips with white. Bill black ; feet bright red in summer, pinkish in winter. Egg varying from ovate to elongate- ovate, greenish white or buffy white, heavily spotted or otherwise conspicuously marked with dark brown and lavender-gray. a. A large white patch on outer surface of wing. b'. Under wing-coverts pure white. c'. Greater wing-coverts white to the extreme base, sometimes a little dusky along the basal portion of the shafts. Adult in summer: Uni- form blackish, except a large roundish or oval patch of pure white on the wing, including the greater, middle, and posterior lesser coverts, these feathers all white to the base; axillars, under wing- coverts, and basal half, or more, of inner webs of quills, pure white. - Winter plumage: Wings as in summer; rest of the plumage pure white, the upper parts varied with black. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but white wing-patch broken by blackish tips to all the feathers; secondaries and primary coverts marked with white at ends, and lower parts indistinctly barred with dusky. Downy young : Uniform sooty blackish, paler and more grayish below. Length about 12.50-13.50, wing 6.25-7.20, culmen 1.00-1.20, gonys .50, depth of bill at nostril 35-40. gg 2.38 x 1.36. Hab. Circumpolar sea- coasts, south in North America, in winter, to New Jersey and Norton Sound, Alaska. (Breeding south to Hudson’s Bay and coast of Labrador.) ......... 28. C. mandtii (Licut.). Mandt’s Guillemot. ce. Greater wing-coverts with at least their basal half black, this often showing as a narrow bar beyond tips of middle coverts; plumage otherwise as in C. mandtii, and measurements nearly the same, but bill larger and stouter; length 12.00-13.80, culmen 1.20-1.30, gonys .55-.60, depth of bill at nostril .40-.45. Egg 2.25 x 1.55. Hab. Coasts of northern Europe; also from southern Greenland along Labrador coast and south, in winter, to New Jersey ; breeding from Newfoundland and southern Labrador to vicinity of Eastport, MAING CP) sinew sean sicave iecceys 27. C. grylle (Linn.). Black Guillemot. b*, Under wing-coverts smoky gray. Greater wing-coverts black basally, this increasing in extent toward edge of the wing, where occupying almost the whole extent of the ‘ outermost feather, thus producing a broad black “‘ wedge” between the two white areas; plumage otherwise as in C. grylle, with similar seasonal changes, etc.; length 13.00-14.00, wing 6.90-7.30, culmen URIA. . 17 1.20-1.40, gonys .55-.60, depth of bill at nostril 40-42. Egg 2.41 x 1.64. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific, from southern California to the Aleutian Islands, and across to Kamtschatka and northern Japan. 29. C. columba Pau. Pigeon Guillemot. a, No white on wings. b.. A whitish area surrounding the eye; plumage otherwise dark sooty. (Winter plumage and young unknown.) Length about 14.50, wing about 7.75, culmen 1.55-1.70, gonys .75-.80, depth of bill at nostril .50. Hab. Coasts of northeastern Asia, from northern Japan to Sea of Okhotsk, Kurile Islands, and Bering Island (accidental ?) ; Unalashka?? C. carbo Pati. Sooty Guillemot. b?. No white anywhere, the plumage entirely dark sooty ; about the size of C. carbo. Hab. High north Atlantic (Iceland, Greenland, and west side of Cumberland Gulf). —. C. motzfeldi Brnicx. Black-winged Guillemot. Genus URIA Brisson. (Page 10, pl. IL, fig. 2.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Culmen as long as or longer than the tarsus; bill much compressed, the gonys more or less concave, and nearly as long as the culmen; cutting- edge of upper mandible notched near tip, its basal portion more or less thickened or swollen; a distinct longitudinal furrow in the feathering behind eyes; upper parts uniform dusky, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts white. Summer plumage: Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, uniform velvety brown. Winter plumage: Chin, throat, fore-neck, and sides of head and neck white, with a dusky stripe behind eye. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but no white on side of occiput, and that of fore-neck faintly mottled with dusky ; bill smaller. Downy young : Head, neck, and upper parts smoky grayish brown, the head and neck finely streaked with dingy whitish; lower parts whitish centrally. qq as large as that of a goose, elongate or ovate pear-shaped, and excessively vari- able in color, the ground-color varying from white to cream-color, pinkish, pale blue, and yellowish green (the last two colors probably most common), and varie- gated with variously-formed marks of black and brown. a’. Depth of bill at angle less than one-third the length of the culmen; top of head and hind-neck smoky brown; basal portion of cutting-edge of upper mandible always dusky or similar in color to rest of the mandible. Summer plumage : Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, velvety smoky grayish brown, sometimes marked with a narrow white postocular line, connected with a white ring around eye.’ (Length 15.00-18.00.) 6. Wing 7.75-8.30 (7.99), culmen 1.70-1.90 (1.81), gonys 1.05-1.20 (1.14), depth of bill through angle .50-.60 (.52), tarsus 1.40-1.60 (1.51), middle toe 1.60-1.75 (1.70). gg 3.26 x 1.99. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, 1§uch specimens constitute the U. ringvia Brinn., by some authors considered a distinct species, and pos- sibly entitled to such rank. Its proper status is a matter of doubt, and is a fit subject for special investigation. Such specimens are only known from the North Atlantic. 3 18 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. south, in winter, to New England, on American side; breeding from Nova Scotia northward. .......csssseeeceeeees 30. U. troile (Linn.). Murre. b*, Wing 7.85-8.80 (8.30), culmen 1.60-2.50 (1.86), gonys 1.15-1.40 (1.27), depth of bill through angle .55-.62 (.57), tarsus 1.35-1.60 (1.50), middle toe 1.65-1.85 (1.74). Egg 3.24 x 2.01. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, south to southern California. 30a. U. troile californica (Bryant). California Murre. a’. Depth of bill at angle more than one-third the length of the culmen ; top of head and hind-neck sooty black ; basal portion of cutting-edge of upper mandible thickened, and conspicuously light-colored in adult. Summer plumage : Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and fore-neck, velvety snuff-brown. (Length 14.50-18.50.) b'. Wing 7.45-8.80 (8.24), culmen 1.40-1.50 (1.45), gonys .75-.90 (.83), depth of bill through angle .52-.58 (.55), tarsus 1.40-1.55 (1.45), middle toe 1.65- 1.75 (1.70). Egg 3.16 x 2.03. Hab. Arctic Ocean and coasts of the North Atlantic, south, in winter, to New Jersey ; breeding from Gulf of St. Lawrence northward...... 31. U. lomvia (Linn.). Briinnich’s Murre. b. Wing 8.15-9.25 (8.71), culmen 1.45-1.75 (1.65), gonys .85-1.00 (.92), depth of bill through angle .55-.60 (.58), tarsus 1.45-1.60 (1.51), middle toe 1.70- 1.90 (1.81). Egg 3.21 x 2.01. Hab. Coasts and islands of Bering’s Sea, and Aleutian chain, from Kadiak to Kamtschatka. 3la. U. lomvia arra (PALL.). Pallas’s Murre. Genus ALCA Linyavs. (Page 10, pl. V., fig. 2.) . Species. Upper parts uniform black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts pure white. Summer plumage: Head and neck (except top of head and hind- neck) uniform velvety snuff-brown ; a white line from the base of the culmen to the eye; bill black, both mandibles crossed about the middle by a white bar. Winter adult: Whole under portion of head, fore-neck, and space behind ear-coverts, white ; no white line between bill and eye; bill as in summer, but without basal lamina. Young: Similar in plumage to winter adult; but bill smaller, without grooves, and lacking the white bar. Downy young: Head, neck, and lower parts plain dull whitish, usually more or less tinged above with brownish buff; back, rump, and flanks varying from pale brownish buff (the down dusky immediately beneath the surface), more decidedly brownish posteriorly, to dark sooty brown; posterior and lateral lower parts more or less tinged with sooty brownish or brownish buff. Length 15.00-18.00, wing 8.00-8.50, tail 3.50, culmen 1.25, greatest depth of bill .90. Egg 3.06 X 1.89, ovate or elongate pear-shaped, buffy, buffy whitish, pure white, or white faintly tinted with bluish or greenish, very heavily spotted with dark brown round larger end, and marked with smaller spots elsewhere, of brown and lavender- gray. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, south, in winter, to southern New Eng- land ; breeding from eastern Maine northward. 32. A. torda Linn. Razor-billed Auk, PLAUTUS. 19 Genus PLAUTUS Bnrinnicu. (Page 10, pl. V., fig. 1.) Species. Upper parts uniform black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white; lower parts pure white. Summer plumage: Chin, throat, fore-neck, and sides of head and neck, velvety dark snuff-brown, or soft blackish brown; a large oval patch of white covering the greater part of the space between bill and eyes; bill black, its grooves whitish. Length about 28.00-30.00, wing 5.75, culmen 3.15-3.50, greatest depth of bill about 150. Hgg (average size) 4.67 x 2.91, pyriform-ovate, pale olive-buffy, variously marked with brown and black. Had. Believed to be now extinct; for- merly (previous to 1844), coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, chiefly on the ‘American side; south to Massachusetts Bay, north to the Arctic circle. 33. P. impennis (Linn.). Great Auk. -Genus ALLE Linx. (Page 10, pl. VI, fig. 4.) Species. Head, neck, and upper parts black, the secondaries sharply tipped with white, and scapulars streaked with the same; lower parts white, the flanks striped with dusky. Summer plumage: Sides of head and neck, with chin, throat, and chest, uniform dark sooty brown. Winter adult: Chin, throat, etc., white, this color ex- tending upward toward occiput; feathers of chest dusky at base only. Young: Similar to winter adult, but bill smaller and weaker, and colors duller. Downy young: Uniform sooty slate-color, paler or more grayish below. Length 7.25-9.15, wing 4.50-4.75, culmen .50. Hgg 1.90 x 1.29, ovate, very pale bluish green or green- ish white. Hab. Arctic Ocean and coasts of the North Atlantic; on the American side south, in winter, to New Jersey; accidental on Detroit River. 34. A. alle (Liny.). Dovekie. 20 NORTH AMERICAN ‘BIRDS. Orper LONGIPENNES.—Tue Lonc-wincep ’ SwImMMERs. (Page 1.) Families. a. Bill with the lower mandible not longer than the upper, and not excessively compressed. 6. Covering of the upper mandible composed of three distinct pieces—a ter- minal unguis, or hook, a lateral piece, and a cere-like piece saddled upon the culmen, its edge overhanging the nostril. Stercorariidz. (Page 20.) b*. Covering of upper mandible consisting of a single piece, through which the nostrils are pierced........... cc ccc ec eee eecceeeeeneeeeeeeees Laridz. (Page 23.) a, Bill with lower mandible much longer than the upper, both mandibles excessively compressed, like a thin knife-blade, for terminal portion. Rynchopidez. (Page 48.) Famity STERCORARIIDAZ.—Tue Sxuas anv JAEcErS, (Page 20.) Genera. a\. Size large (in bulk equal to the largest gulls), and form robust; depth of bill at base equal to not less than half the length of the upper mandible, measured along the side; tarsus shorter than middle toe with claw; tail short, nearly even, the middle pair of feathers scarcely projecting beyond the rest; color dull brownish, sometimes streaked (never barred) with paler, the base of the primaries with a whitish patch ...........cc:cccceeeres Megalestris. (Page 20.) a?, Size medium or rather small (not exceeding the medium-sized gulls), and form more slender and graceful; depth of bill at base less than half the length of the upper mandible, measured along the side; tarsus decidedly longer than middle toe with claw; middle rectrices in the adult projecting far beyond the rest; color plain slaty or dusky, often varied with white or yellowish, in the adult, dusky barred with paler in young; no white at base of primaries. Stercorarius. (Page 21.) Grnus MEGALESTRIS Bonaparte. (Page 20, pl. VIL., fig. 1.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—General color nearly uniform grayish brown or sooty, usually indistinctly streaked with light rusty, or cinnamon, especially around neck and on back; quills whitish at base. Eggs olive, spotted with brown. STERCORARIUS. 21 a. Axillars and under wing-coverts sooty, with little or no rufous. b. Below grayish brown, with more or less distinct lighter, more cinnamon- colored, spots or dashes on fore-neck and chest. Adult: Dull brown, the scapulars, interscapulars, and wing-coverts striped medially with pale cinnamon, the neck streaked with the same; lower parts indistinctly striped with grayish brown and pale cinnamon, the former prevailing (sometimes uniform). Sometimes (in melanistic specimens?) uniform dusky or sooty brown, except white wing-spot. Young: Similar to adult, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on head and neck. Downy young (of M. skua): Uniform “brownish or cinnamon-gray .. . rather darker in color on the upper parts than on the under surface of the body.” (Dresszr.) Length about 22.00, wing 15.75-16.15 (15.91), cul- men 2.05-2.10 (2.06), depth of bill at base .80-.88 (.82), tarsus 2.40-2.75 (2.63), middle toe 2.15-2.55 (2.40). Hggs 2-3, 2.74 xX 1.96, ovate or short-ovate, light brown or olive, rather sparsely blotched and spotted with deep brown. Hab. Coasts and islands of North Atlantic, south to Spain and (casually) Massachusetts ; California ? 35. M. skua (Brtwy.). Skua., 6%. Darker colored, larger, and with stouter bill; under parts uniform dark sooty, the neck however sometimes streaked with yellowish; wing 16.05-16.90 (16.29), culmen 2.20-2.85 (2.38), depth of bill at base .95-1.00 (.98), tarsus 2.70-3.20 (2.95), middle toe 2.55-2.80 (2.67). Hab. Antarctic seas, north to Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. M. antarcticus (Lzss.). Antarctic Skua.! a, Axillars and under wing-coverts chiefly deep cinnamon. Lower parts uniform dull rusty or cinnamon. M. chilensis (Bonap.). Chilian Skua.? Genus STERCORARIUS Brisson. (Page 20, pl. VIL, fig. 2.) iggs 2-3, ovate or short-ovate, ground-color varying from pale greenish olive and pale brown to very deep olive, relieved by a greater or less amount of spotting of deep brown, usually mixed with stone-grayish. Species. a, Culmen 1.45 or more, tarsus 2.00 or more, wing usually more than 13.50; length- ened middle tail-feathers broad and rounded at ends. Light phase, adult : Top and sides of head, with upper parts, sooty slate or dusky; rest of head and neck, including nape, together with lower parts, white, the ear-covert region tinged with straw-yellow, and the lower tail-coverts slaty. Young: Head, neck, and lower parts dull buff, everywhere barred with dusky; upper parts brownish dusky, the feathers of back, etc., tipped with buff, the rump and upper tail-coverts spotted with same. Dark phase, adult: Entirely dark sooty 1 Lestris antarcticus Less., Traité Orn. 1831, 616. Megalestris antarcticus Gouup, P. Z. S. 1859, 98. 2 Lestrie antarcticus, var. b. chilensis BonAP., Consp. ii, 1857, 207. 22 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. slate, with a plumbeous cast in certain lights. Young: Entirely sooty slate, the lower parts more or less barred with buff. [Norz.—The above so-called light and dark “ phases” represent the normal extremes of coloration. These extremes, which are represented in comparatively a small number of speci- mens, are connected by every possible intermediate condition of plumage, specimens approximating to the lighter extreme, but differing in having the lower parts (especially chest and sides) and nape more or less barred with dusky, being most numerous.] Length about 20.00-23.00, wing 13.50-14.00, middle tail-feathers 8.00-9.00, culmen 1.45~-1.75, tarsus 2.00—2.10, middle toe 1.60-1.75. Eggs 2.35 x 1.63. Hab. Northern portions of northern hemi- sphere, along sea-coasts and larger inland waters, breeding far northward; in America, south, in winter, to New Jersey and the Great Lakes. 36. S. pomarinus (Trmm.). Pomarine Jaeger. a, Culmen less than 1.45, tarsus less than 2.00, wing usually less than 13.50; lengthened middle tail-feathers narrow and pointed at ends. b. Length of nasal shield, from base of unguis to frontal feathers, decidedly ‘greater than from the former point to tip of upper mandible. In freshly- killed or living specimens, tarsi black, like the feet. Light phase, adult: Top of head and lores grayish brown; rest of head, neck, and lower parts white, the lower tail-coverts grayish, the head and neck tinged with straw-yellow ; upper parts uniform slaty. Young: Head and neck streaked with dusky and buffy, the latter usually predominating ; lower parts barred or spotted with the same; upper parts dusky, the feathers bordered terminally with pale fulvous or buff. Dark phase, adult: En- tire plumage uniform sooty slate-color, the quills darker. Young: Pre- vailingly dark brownish slate, wings and tail darker, the middle of neck, all round, indistinctly streaked with whitish, and lower parts, except chest and upper breast, barred with the same; feathers of upper parts narrowly tipped with buffy. Downy young (dark phase?): Uniform silky grayish brown, lighter on lower parts. Length about 15.50-21.00, wing 11.80-13.50 (12.67), longest tail-feathers 4.90-6.25 (5.40), culmen 1.15-1.40 (1.27), tarsus 1.50-1.85 (1.70), middle toe 1.20-1.45 (1.34). Eggs 2.30 x 1.64. Hab. Northern portions of northern hemisphere, breeding toward Arctic regions ; south, in winter, to New York, Illinois, Colorado, and even coast of Brazil..37. S. parasiticus (Liny.). Parasitic Jaeger. ?. Length of nasal shield, measured from base of unguis to frontal feathers, not greater than the distance from the former point to the tip of the upper mandible. In freshly-killed or living specimens, tarsi light bluish, in marked contrast with black of feet! Adult:? Top and sides of head sooty black; rest of head and neck, including ear-coverts and nape, straw-yellow, paler on throat; upper parts uniform smoky plumbeous or 1 In dried skins this color usually changes to a light olive or yellowish, or in very rare instances becomes so darkened that the line of demarcation cannot be detected. 2 So far as known, this species has no dark phase like S. parasiticus, LARIDZ. 23 slate-color, more ashy on back; quills and tail-feathers blackish toward tips; chest (sometimes breast also), and more rarely the belly, white, shading into grayish, the under tail-coverts, sides, and flanks (usually belly also) uniform slate-gray. Length 20.00-23.00, wing 11.55-12.85 (12.25), longest tail-feathers 10.50-14.50 (12.89), culmen 1.10-1.30 (1.19), tarsus 1.50-1.80 (1.66), middle toe 1.08-1.30 (1.20). Hygs 2.16 x 1.54. Hab. Northern parts of northern hemisphere, breeding in Arctic regions; south, in winter, to northern United States. 38. S. longicaudus Vizity. Long-tailed Jaeger, Famity LARIDAZ.—TuE Guts anp TERNS. (Page 20.) Genera. a’. Depth of bill decidedly greater at the angle than at the nostril; terminal por- tion of culmen decidedly curved; angle of lower mandible always distinct, often very prominent; tail usually even, but sometimes slightly emarginate (Rissa), deeply emarginate or forked (Xema), or graduated (Rhodostethia). Size extremely variable (wing 8.75-20.00). (Subfamily ZLarine.) b.. Tarsus roughened or serrate behind. Tail even; tarsus shorter than middle toe, with claw; hind toe perfectly developed, but small; size medium (wing about 13.25); color entirely white, the young scantily spotted with dusky..... Gavia. (Page 24.) b*, Tarsus not roughened or serrate behind. ce. Hind toe rudimentary or altogether absent. Tail slightly emarginate; tarsus shorter than middle toe, without claw; size medium (wing about 12.00-13.00); adult white, with bluish gray mantle ;' young, similar to adult, but hind neck with a blackish patch, and lesser wing-coverts sometimes (in one spe- cies) also with a black patch... Rissa. (Page 24.) ce’. Hind toe perfectly developed, though small. @..Culmen decidedly more than two-thirds as long as tarsus. ée'. Tail even; size, color, and all other characters extremely vari- ADCs eeseocaueuvara Westen et owevassse ties vesebeas Larus. (Page 25.) e. Tail deeply emarginate or forked............ Xema. (Page 37.) a, Culmen decidedly less than two-thirds as long as tarsus. Tail graduated, the lateral feathers .75-1.25 shorter than the Middle: pairs .iis vseeseservewasencerees Rhodostethia. (Page 37.) a’, Depth of bill at angle less than at middle of nostrils ; terminal portion of culmen straight, or but slightly curved, the bill being narrow and pointed; angle of lower mandible seldom prominent ; tail more or less forked (except in Anous). Size extremely variable (wing 6.50-17.50). (Subfamily Sternine.) 1 This is a special term used, chiefly in descriptions of birds of this family, to designate the back, scapu- lars, and wings, when together colored differently from the head, neck, rump, tail, and lower parts. 24 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. b'. Tail more or less forked, the outer feather longest. c. Tail much more than one-third as long as wing, usually (except in sub- genus Thalasseus) forked for more than one-fifth its total length, the outer feathers narrow and pointed at tips; webs of feet occu- pying more than half the interdigital space. @. Depth of bill at base equal to one-third the length of the exposed culmen; gonys shorter than outer toe, without claw. Gelochelidon. (Page 38.) @. Depth of bill at base less than one-third the length of the exposed culmen; gonys longer than inner toe, without claw. Sterna. (Page 39,) ce. Tail little more than one-third as long as wing, forked for less than one- fifth its total length, the outer feathers broad and rounded at tip ; webs of feet occupying less than half the interdigital space. Hydrochelidon. (Page 46.) B.. Tail praduated sivesscecsossisseviecsss wv ecssesinaveoserseervenrees Anous. (Page 47.) Genus GAVIA Bors. (Page 23, pl. VIIL, fig. 1.) Species. Adult: Entirely pure white, the shafts of the primaries pale yellowish ; bill yel- lowish ; feet black. Young: Similar to adult, but quills, primary coverts, and tail- feathers each marked with a spot of dusky at tip, the lesser wing-coverts spotted with. same. Length 15.00-19.50, wing about 13.25, culmen 1.40. Hab. Arctic Ocean, south, in winter, along Atlantic coast of North America to Newfoundland and New Brumnswick............cc0scccseceseecenseeseues 39. G. alba (Gunn.). Ivory Gull. Gents RISSA Lezacu. (Page 23, pl. VIII, fig. 2.) Species. Common CHaractErs.—Adults with head, neck, rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, tips of secondaries, and entire lower parts pure white; mantle bluish gray, the quills varied with white and black; bill yellowish, feet blackish or bright red in life. Young similar to adults, but hind-neck crossed by a blackish collar or patch, and sometimes (in R. tridactyla) a blackish patch on lesser wing-coverts and black band across tip of tail. Downy young white, tinged above with buffy and yellowish gray, but without spots or other distinct markings. Eqs 2-5, ovate, or short-ovate, olivaceous-white, grayish white, brownish white, or buffy, blotched and spotted with brown and lavender-gray. a. Legs and feet black, or dusky. Summer adult: Pure white, the mantle deep pearl-gray ; five outer quills with terminal portion black, this decreasing from about 3.25 on the outer quill to .75 (more or less) on the fifth, the outer web of the first almost wholly black; the fifth, and sometimes the fourth, tipped with white. Winter adult: Similar, but hind part of head and neck washed LARCS. 25 with gray, and a dark plumbeous suffusion before and behind eyes. Young: Somewhat like winter adult, but lower part of hind-neck crossed by a black patch, the antcrior lesser wing-coverts black, and tail with a broad black band at tip. Downy young : Head, neck, wings, and lower parts immaculate white, the hind-neck and basal portion of wings more or less tinged with buff; back, rump, and flanks yellowish gray, the down darker at base. Length about 16.00-17.70, wing about 12.25, culmen 1.40-1.50, tarsus 1.30, middle toe, with claw, 1.80. b. Hind toe absent, or very rudimentary. Eggs 2.26 x 1.61. Hab. North Atlantic, south, in winter, to middle Atlantic States and Great Lakes. 40. R. tridactyla (Liny.). Kittiwake. b?. Hind toe well developed, though minute, and usually armed with a distinct nail. Eggs 2.36 < 1.63. Hab. Bering’s Sea and North Pacific. 40a. R. tridactyla pollicaris Steyn. Pacific Kittiwake. a’. Legs and feet bright red (becoming yellowish in dried skins). Summer adult : Pure white, the mantle dark bluish gray, or plumbeous; five innermost quills plumbeous, the inner webs broadly edged with white, the outer tipped with the same; five outermost quills black toward ends, the third, fourth, and fifth tipped with plumbeous. Winter adult: Similar, but hind-neck and auriculars washed with plumbeous. Young: Similar to winter adult, but hind-neck crossed by a blackish band, ear-coverts crossed by a smaller black band, and a suffusion of same in front of eye. (Vo black or dusky on wing- coverts or tail.) Downy young: Not distinguishable from corresponding stage R. tridactyla(?). Length about 14.00-15.80, wing about 13.00, culmen 1.20, tarsus 1.25, middle toe, with claw, nearly 2.00. Eggs 2.28 x 1.66. Hab. Coasts and islands of Bering’s Sea. 41. R. brevirostris (Brtcu). Red-legged Kittiwake. Genus LARUS Linnavs. (Page 23, pl. VIII, figs. 3,4; pl. IX., fig. 3.) Species.* West a rudely constructed platform of rubbish (sticks, dried grass, etc.—the materials varying according to the locality and the species), slightly hollowed, placed among rocks, in marshes, or other localities near the sea-shore or other large bodies of water. Eggs 2-4, ovate, their ground-color some shade of pale brownish, olive, light bluish, greenish, or buffy, irregularly spotted or blotched with brown and lavender-grayish. a. Head entirely white in summer. b'. Under wing-coverts entirely pure white; head, neck, entire lower parts, tips of secondaries, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail uniform pure white; mantle (i.e., back, scapulars, and wings, except primaries) uniform gray- ish, varying in shade from pale pearl-gray to deep slate. ce. Primaries uniform pale pearl-gray, fading gradually into white at tips. 1 The young birds of this genus seldom offering very obvious distinctive characters, this analysis is based on the adults alone. 4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. da, Wing 16.25 or more, and not more than 2.36 times as long as the tail; exposed culmen 1.88 or more. Adult in summer: Mantle very pale pearl-gray. Adult in winter: Similar, but head and neck streaked with pale brownish gray. Young: Grayish white, tinged with brownish gray on lower parts, the upper parts transversely mottled with same. Immature (second year?): Entirely white, including mantle and primaries. Downy young: Grayish white, paler below; head and neck irregularly marked with scattered large spots of dusky, the back, wings, and rump irregularly clouded with dark grayish. é. Length 26.00-32.00, wing 16.75-18.75 (17.99), tail 7.40-8.50 (8.07), culmen 2.30-2.70 (2.52), depth of bill through angle 80-95 (.88), through base .83-1.00 (.93), tarsus 2.60-3.05 (2.85), middle toe (with claw) 2.68-3.00 (2.84). Eggs 3.13 x 2.14. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic, and Arctic seas from Cumberland Gulf to Spitzbergen; south, . in winter, to Long Island and the Great Lakes. 42. L. glaucus Brinn. Glaucous Gull. &. Length about 25.00-28.00, wing 16.25-18.00 (17.12), tail 7.00- 7.50 (7.28), culmen 1.88-2.30 (2.06), depth of bill through angle .72-.85 (.79), through base .70-.80 (.75), tarsus 2.40- 2.78 (2.57), middle toe (with claw) 2.85-2.75 (2.55). Eggs 3.05 x 2.03. Hab. Bering’s Sea and adjacent waters, northeastward to Point Barrow, southwest (in winter) to Japan.... —, L. barrovianus Ripew. Point Barrow Gull. @. Wing not more than 17.00 (usually less than 16.00), and nearly 2.50 (averaging 2.41) times as long as the tail; exposed culmen not more than 1.70. In plumage exactly like D. glaucus and LL. barrovianus. Length 24.00-26.00, wing 14.75-16.50 (15.41), tail 6.00-6.70 (6.41), culmen 1.60-1.70 (1.67), depth of bill through angle .62, through base .55-.62 (.59), tarsus 2.10-2.40 (2.22), mid- dle toe (with claw) 2.10-2.35 (2.21). Eggs 2.79 x 1.89. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic; south, in winter, to Massachusetts and the Great Lakes. 48. L. leucopterus Fazer. Iceland Gull. ce. Primaries marked with distinct white tips and darker subterminal spaces. d'. Darker spaces of primaries gray. e'. Second quill very pale pearl-gray, or bluish white, very broadly tipped with white, the outer web with an elongated space of gray, everywhere very sharply defined against the paler ground-color. 1 Larus barrovianus Ripew., Auk, iiisJuly, 1886, 330, LARUS. 27 J’. Wing 17.00, or less; culmen 1.90, or less. Adult: Exactly like ZL. leucopterus, except in the coloration of the pri- maries; length about 23.00-24.00, wing 15.00-17.00, culmen 1.60-1.90, depth of bill through angle .55-.66, tarsus 2.10-2.40, middle toe (with claw) 2.15-2.30. Hab. Western coasts of North Atlantic, from Cum- berland Gulf south, in winter, to New York. 45. L. kumlieni Brewst. Kumlien’s Gull. f?. Wing 18.25, culmen 2.35, Adult: In plumage exactly like L. kumlieni ; depth of bill through angle .80, tarsus 3.05, middle toe (without claw) 2.40. Hab. Norton Sound, Alaska........0005 46. L. nelsoni Hensu. Nelson’s Gull. e*. Second quill deep ash-gray, either to the extreme tip, or else with very small white tip and small white spaces some distance from the tip, on one or both webs. Adult: Mantle pearl-gray, darker than in any of the pre- ceding. In winter, head and neck clouded (not streaked) with sooty gray. Young: Prevailing color deep ash- gray, nearly uniform, and inclining to plumbeous, be- low, but above relieved by a coarse irregular spotting of grayish white or pale dull buff, the head and neck indistinctly streaked with the same. Immature (second year ?): Similar, but mantle mixed with pearl-gray, and lower parts with whitish. Length 23.70-27.75, wing 16.25-17.30, culmen 2.20-2.60, depth of bill through angle .80-.90, tarsus 2.35-2.90, middle toe (without claw) 2.05-2.45. Eggs 2.88-2.03. Hab. Coasts of the North Pacific and Bering’s Sea, from Japan northward, across through Aleutian chain, and south, in winter, to California. 44. L. glaucescens Naum. Glaucous-winged Gull. d’?, Darker spaces on primaries black. é’. Shafts of primaries, in black subterminal spaces, white. Adult: Mantle dark slate, the primaries mostly black, with white tips and spots near end; rest of plumage pure white. In winter, top of head and hind-neck streaked with dusky. Young: Above dusky, the feath- ers bordered with pale buffy; quills blackish, with narrow whitish tips; tail dusky, crossed by a narrow subterminal band of grayish, or brownish, white ; head, neck, and lower parts white, the top of head and hind-neck streaked, the lower parts clouded or irregu- larly spotted with grayish brown. Downy young: Grayish white, the upper parts marbled or irregu- larly spotted with dull grayish; head with numerous NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. irregular spots of blackish, the principal of which are two on the crown (one behind the other), four across the occiput, about three (small ones) on lores, the rest irregularly distributed. Length 28.00-31.00, wing 17.60-19.50, culmen 2.40-2.60, depth of bill through angle .98-1.05, tarsus 2.70-3.10, middle toe 2.10-2.50. Eggs 3.05 X 2.12, the ground-color averaging deeper brownish and the spots larger than in L. glaucus. Hab. Coasts of the North Atlantic; in America, south, in winter, to Long Island. 47, L. marinus Linn. Great Black-backed Gull. é. Shafts of primaries black, except within the white spaces. f. Two outer primaries without distinct gray “ wedges” on inner webs. g. Angle of lower mandible very prominent, the depth of the bill through the angle being decidedly greater than at base; middle toe, with claw, as long as tarsus. Summer adult: Mantle deep plum- beous. Winter adult: Top of head and hind-neck streaked with dusky; otherwise as in summer. Young: Above brownish slate, irregularly varied with grayish white; quills and tail-feathers uni- form dull black, narrowly tipped with white; lower parts brownish gray, clouded or irregularly spotted with grayish white, the breast and belly nearly uniform grayish. Downy young: Grayish buffy white, the head with distinct black blotches of indefinite arrangement ; upper parts clouded or irregularly blotched with brownish dusky; lower parts, except throat, immaculate. Length 24.00- 27.00, wing 15.75-17.00, culmen 2.00-2.35, depth of bill at angle .85-.95, tarsus 2.45-2.65, middle toe (without claw) 2.00-2.45. Eggs 2.87 x 1.94. Hab. Pacific coast of United States, south to Cape St. Lucas... 49. L. occidentalis Aup. Western Gull. g. Angle of lower mandible not very prominent, the depth of the bill at angle being little if any greater than through base. In plumage not essentially different from L. occidentalis, but feet yellow, instead of flesh- colored, in life ; wing 16.00-17.00, culmen 2.00-2.10, depth of bill through angle .60-.68, through base 60-72, tarsus 2.18-2.68, middle toe 1.65-1.95. Hab. Northern Europe, south, in winter, to Africa. L. fuscus Linn. Lesser Black-backed Gull. 1 Larus fuscus Linn., 8. N. ed. 10, i, 1758, 136. LARUS. 29 J’. Second primary with a distinct gray wedge on inner web. g. Depth of bill through angle contained less than four and a half times in the length of the tarsus; lower mandible with a red subterminal spot. i. Mantle deep plumbeous-gray, inclining to slate- color. z'. Culmen 2.22 or more; depth of bill at base 75 or more; third quill with a distinct white “mirror” or large spot on inner web between the black and the gray; mantle nearly the same color as in L. occidentalis, but averaging alittle darker ; rest of plumage (except primaries) pure white; feet dull purplish flesh-color in life ; length about 26.50, wing 16.75-18.00, culmen 2.15-2.35, depth of bill through angle .75-.90, at base .75-.82, tarsus 2.60- 2.75, middle toe (without claw) 2.08-2.40. Hab. Coast of northeastern Asia, from Japan (?) to Kamtschatka and north- ward to Arctic Ocean north of Bering’s Strait... 48. L. schistisagus Srzgn. Slaty-backed Gull. #. Culmen 2.15 or less; depth of bill at angle 65; third quill without white spot on inner web between black and gray; mantle same color as in J. occidentalis, but apparently averaging a little paler; rest of plumage (except primaries) pure white; feet yellow in life; length about 20.00, wing 16.50-17.25, culmen 2.00-2.15, depth of bill at angle .62-.65, at base .65- .70, tarsus 2.60-2.72, middle toe 1.78-2.10.1 Hab. Northern Asia; accidental in south- ern Greenland. 50. L. affinis Reinu. Siberian Gull. l?, Mantle light plumbeous-gray, or lighter. @, Bill without black spots in adult. j. Mantle plumbeous-gray, or very deep pearl-gray ; eyelids (in life) orange- red, and feet yellow; otherwise ex- actly like argentatus and smithso- nianus, with the markings of the 1 The specimens measured are all females. Males would somewhat exceed these dimensions, NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. primaries averaging intermediate ; length about 26.00, wing 15.15-18.30, culmen 1.90-2.20, depth of bill through angle .60-.80, tarsus 2.15- 2.20, middle toe (without claw) 1.60- 2.15. Hab. Southern Europe and central Asia, from the Mediterranean to Bering’s, China, and Japan Seas, and down the North American coast to California, in winter......... 52. L. cachinnans Paty. Pallas’s Gull. j. Mantle delicate pearl-gray, decidedly paler than in LD. cachinnans; eyelids (in life) yellow, and feet pale flesh- color. Young: Brownish gray, nearly uniform on lower parts, the head and neck streaked, and the upper parts irregularly varied with pale grayish buff or dull whitish; quills, their coverts, and tail-feathers, dusky blackish ; bill blackish, paler basally. Downy young: Grayish white, the lower parts (except throat) immacu- late; head marked with irregular spots of black ; back, wings, and rump clouded with dusky grayish. i. White near end of outer quill usu- ally extending to extreme tip, without interruption by a sub- terminal black bar ; the latter, if present at all, usually very small and rarely continuous; length about 23.00, wing 15.75-17.90 (16.38), culmen 1.85-2.20 (2.07), depth of bill through angle .72- ‘80 (.77), tarsus 2.30-2.72 (2.50), middle toe 1.90-2.25 (2.07). Eggs 2.91 X 1.98. Hab. Europe, ete.; casual in eastern North America? 51. L. argentatus Brin. Herring Gull. kK’, White near end of outer quill always separated from the white tip by a distinct subterminal bar or spot of black, this rarely less LARUS. 31 than .50 of an inch wide, and often extending to the extreme tip; length 22.50-26.00, wing 16.25-17.50 (17.24), culmen 1.95- 2.50 (2.24), depth of bill through angle .68-.85 (.79), tarsus 2.30- 2.80 (2.57), middle toe (without claw) 1.85-2.25 (2.10). Eggs 2.85 xX 2.01. Hab. Whole of North America, south, in win- ter, to Cuba and Lower Califor- nia; breeding from Maine, etc., northward...... 5la. L. argen- tatus smithsonianus Covzs. American Herring Gull. @, Lower mandible with a black spot near end, the upper also sometimes with a black spot. Adult: Mantle deep plumbeous-gray, as in LD. cachinnans; bill yellow, with red spot near end of lower mandible, this enclosing, or adjacent to, a smaller black spot; iris deep brown, and feet (in life) pale pea-green or sage-green. Young: Above coarsely spotted with brownish gray and pale grayish buff, or dull whitish, the quills and tail-feathers dull blackish ; head, neck, and lower parts mottled or clouded with grayish white or brownish gray ; bill dusky with black tip. Downy young: Grayish white, the head with irregular black spots, most numerous above; upper parts clouded with dusky grayish. Length 20.00-23.00, wing 15.00-16.75, culmen 1.65-2.15, depth of bill at angle .60- .75, tarsus 2.00-2.60, middle toe (with- out claw) 1.70-1.95. Eggs 2.61 x 1.80. Hab. Western North America, chiefly in the interior, from Mexico to Alaska......... 53. L. californicus Lawr. California Gull. g. Depth of bill through angle contained at least four and a half times in the length of the tarsus. NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. }. Bill with a black band near tip. Adult: Mantle pale pearl-gray (much as in LZ. argentatus); bill greenish yellow, crossed near end by a very distinct black band, the tip sometimes tinged with orange; iris pale yellow, eyelids vermil- ion-red; feet (in life) pale yellow, some- times tinged with greenish. Young: Above brownish dusky, the feathers broadly bordered and otherwise varied with pale grayish buff or dull whitish; quills blackish, the shorter ones bluish gray basally and tipped with white; tail with basal half (or more) pale grayish, the subterminal third (or more) blackish, the tip narrowly white; lower parts white, spotted along sides with grayish brown; bill blackish, paler toward base. Length 18.00-20.00, wing 13.60-15.75, cul- men 1.55-1.75, depth of bill at angle 50- 65, tarsus 1.90-2.45, middle toe (without claw) 1.30-1.60. Hogs 2.39 x 1.71. Hab. Whole of North America, breeding far northward ; south, in winter, to Cuba and Mexico.......... 54. L. delawarensis Orv. Ring-billed Gull. F?, Bill without black in adult. J. Gray “wedge” on inner web of third quill never tipped with white, and not carried definitely farther than tip of sixth, usually not much beyond tip of seventh, quill. Adult: Mantle pearl-gray (about intermediate in shade between that of L. californicus and L. argentatus); rest of plumage, except quills, pure white. Young: Head and neck soiled whitish, striped with grayish brown ; back, scapulars, and wing-coverts dull grayish brown, margined with grayish white; basal half of tail white, terminal half blackish or dusky, narrowly tipped with white; lower parts dull white, spotted and otherwise marked with dull brown. Downy young: “Cov- LARUS. 33 ered all over with soft yellowish gray down, whiter in tint on the face, throat, and abdomen; forehead blackish brown ; entire upper parts spotted here and there with large blackish spots, one or two spots be- ing also on the throat, under parts generally unspotted, except that on the flanks there are some irregular black marks. It may be distin- guished from the young of other Gulls by a large black spot which touches the base of the upper man- dible, and which is never absent, though often varying in size.” (Dresser.) Length 17.00-18.50, wing 14.00-14.50 (14.30), culmen 1.35-1.60 (1.45), depth of bill through angle .38-.50 (.44), tarsus 1.90-2.25 (2.02), middle toe 1.32-1.65 (1.43). Eggs 2.29 % 1.59. Hab. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere ; ac- cidental in Labrador? 56. L. canus Linn. Mew Gull. Jj’ Gray wedge on inner web of third quill an always terminated with white, and this carried beyond tip of the sixth —often even beyond the tip of the fifth —quill; even the second quill often with a white spot at end of the gray “wedge” on inner web; plu- mage of adult otherwise as in L. canus, but black of primaries much more restricted. early adult: Sim- ilar to the adult in every respect except coloration of the primaries, which have the dark spaces slaty or very dull blackish, instead of deep black, and more extended, the white tips of some of the quills wanting; tail sometimes (in younger individu- als) more or less blotched with dusky at tip, and upper coverts sometimes (in still younger birds) faintly barred with grayish brown. Young: Above 84 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. grayish brown, the feathers bordered with pale grayish buff; rump and upper tail-coverts pale grayish buff or dull buffy white, marked more or less distinctly with irregular grayish brown spots; basal half of tail gray- ish white, or pale grayish, trans- versely mottled with darker, the terminal portion dusky grayish brown, forming a well-defined broad band, the extreme tip whitish ; head, neck, and lower parts nearly uniform light brownish gray. Older: Similar, but light borders to feathers of back, etc., purer white; basal half of tail uniform grayish white; lower parts white, the breast and sides spotted with light grayish brown; upper parts more or less tinged with the pearl- gray of the adult plumage. Length 16.50-18.00, wing 13.20-14.50 (13.93), culmen 1.25-1.70 (1.45), depth of bill through angle .40-.50 (.45), tarsus 1.70-2.10 (1.94), middle toe 1.30-1.55 (1.44). Hggs 2.29 x 1.61. Hab. Northwestern North America, breeding far north; south, in winter, along Pacific coast to southern Cali- fornia...... 55. L. brachyrhynchus Ricu. Short-billed Gull. b?. Under wing-coverts entirely uniform brownish gray, like outer surface of wings; under parts, rump, etc., brownish gray, and tail black, at all seasons and ages. Summer adult: Head and upper neck white; tail black, tipped with white; quills black; upper parts, uniform plumbeous-slate, the secondaries broadly tipped with white; lower parts uniform deep ash-gray ; bill bright red in life. Winter adult: Similar, but head dusky (darker than body). Young: Sooty grayish brown, the feathers of the upper parts bordered with grayish white or pale buff. Immature (second year?): Entire plumage uniform sooty grayish brown, the tail and quills dusky. Length 17.50-21.00, wing 13.50, culmen 150. Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia to Panama. 57. L. heermanni Cass. Heermann’s Gull. a, Head uniform black or dusky in summer. (Lower neck, entire under parts, LARUS. 35 rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, uniform pure white, more or less rose- tinted in breeding season; mantle some shade of gray.) b'. Tarsus much longer than middle toe, with claw. Summer adult: Head sooty slate-color; mantle plumbeous-slate; five outer primaries entirely black, or sometimes with a small terminal spot of white; rest of quills plumbeous, tipped with white, the sixth sometimes with a subterminal black spot; bill and feet (in life) dark brownish red. Winter adult: Head and neck white, the oc- ciput and ear-coverts spotted or mottled with brownish gray, the eyes more or less surrounded by the same; otherwise as in summer. Young : Head, neck, breast, and sides nearly uniform brownish gray, darker on occiput and hind-neck, tinged with buff beneath; mantle grayish brown, the feathers broadly bordered with pale grayish buff; centre of rump light brownish gray; rest of rump, with upper tail- coverts and posterior lower parts, white; basal half of tail light gray, subterminal portion black, the tip narrowly white. Downy young: Above grayish fulvous, varying to umber-brown, the head irregularly striped or spotted, the back, wings, and rump marbled, with dusky; lower parts paler, the breast and belly more ochreous, the fore-neck, sides, flanks, and ventral region faintly mottled with darker. Length 15.00-17.00, wing 13.00, tail 5.00, culmen 1.75, tarsus 2.00, middle toe, with claw, 1.50. Eggs 2.18 x 1.55. Hab. Atlantic coast of United States, south, in winter, through West Indies and along both coasts of Middle America, and as far as the lower Ama- ZOM vi sis dandosannecenansaaranes she ee 58. L. atricilla Linn. Laughing Gull. B. Tarsus not longer than middle toe, with claw. ce’, Wing more than 10.00; culmen more than 1.00. d', Bill brownish or reddish, its depth through the angle more than one-fourth the culmen. Summer adult: Bill bright red (in life), with more or less distinct darker subterminal band; head deep plumbeous-black, with a white spot on each eyelid; mantle deep plumbeous; quills bluish gray, the shafts white, all broadly tipped with white, and the five outer ones marked with a sub- terminal space of black; lower parts deeply tinted (in fresh specimens) with rose-pink, and middle tail-feather tinged with pearl-gray. Winter adult: Similar, but head white, the occi- put, region round eyes, and ear-coverts, grayish dusky ; bill and feet duller red. Young: Top and sides of head (except forehead and lores), with back and scapulars, grayish brown, the longer scapulars bordered terminally with pale grayish buff; quills dusky (inner webs more plumbeous), tipped with white; centre of rump bluish gray; rest of rump, with upper tail-coverts, entire lower parts, forehead, lores, and eyelids, white. Length 13.50-15.00, wing 11.25, culmen 1.30, depth of bill at nostrils .25, tarsus .60, middle toe, with claw, 1.60. Zggs 2.11 X 153. Hab. NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Interior of North America, breeding from Iowa northward ; in winter, south through Middle America and western South America, to Peru. 59. L. franklinii Sw. & Ricn. Franklin’s Gull. d?, Bill deep black, its depth through the angle less than one-fourth the length ofthe culmen. Summer adult: Head dark plumbeous; mantle delicate pale pearl-gray ; three outer quills chiefly white, the outer web of the first and terminal portion of all, black ; rest of quills pale pearl-gray, tipped with white, the fifth and sixth marked with a subterminal black space; rest of plumage pure white; feet rich orange-red in life. Winter adult: Head white, the occiput tinged with grayish, the ear-coverts marked with a dusky spot; otherwise, as in summer, but feet (in life) pale flesh-color. Young: Sides of head and neck; with entire lower parts, upper tail-coverts, and basal two-thirds of tail, white; top of head and upper back brownish gray; a dusky spot on ear-coverts; scapulars and feathers of back grayish brown, tipped with pale buff; central lesser wing-coverts dusky brownish gray; rest of wing-coverts, greater part of inner primaries, with upper part of rump, bluish gray; band across end of tail black or dusky, the tip narrowly white. Length about 12.00-14.00, wing 10.25, culmen 1.20, depth of bill at nostrils .25, tarsus 1.40, middle toe, with claw, 1.40. Hggs 1.95 xX 134. Hab. Whole of North America, breeding far north- ward ; in winter, not yet recorded from south of the United States, though reported from Bermudas. 60. L. philadelphia Orp. Bonaparte’s Gull. ce. Wing much less than 10.00; culmen less than 1.00. Summer adult : Head deep black ; mantle delicate pale pearl-gray, the quills similar, tipped with white and usually without black markings. Winter adult: Head white, the occiput tinged with gray, and ear-coverts with a dusky spot; otherwise as in sum- mer. Young: Forehead, lores, cheeks, entire lower parts, upper tail-coverts, and greater part of tail, white; occiput, ear-coverts, and most of upper parts sooty blackish, the feathers (except on head and neck) bordered terminally with pale buff. Length 10.40-11.50, wing 8.75-9.00, culmen .90, tarsus 1.00, middle toe (without claw) .90. Hab. Europe and parts of Asia and Africa; accidental in Bermudas and eastern Arctic America? Larus minutus! PALL. Little Gull. 1 Larus minutus Pauu., Reis. Russ. Reichs, iii. App. No. 35, 1771, 702. XAEMA, 37 Genus RHODOSTETHIA Maceitiivray. (Page 23, pl. VIL, fig. 3.) Species. Summer adult: Mantle and under surface of wing uniform pale pearl-gray, the secondaries and innermost quills very broadly tipped with pinkish white, and outer web of first quill chiefly black ; rest of plumage white, usually more or less (sometimes very strongly) tinged with delicate peach-blossom pink, the middle of the neck encircled by a narrow black collar. Winter adult: Similar, but black col- lar absent, a blackish spot immediately in front of eye, and top of head tinged with pearl-gray. Young, second summer? Similar to summer adult (including collar), but smaller wing-coverts, inner secondaries, primary-coverts, alule, and adjacent small feathers, together with three outer quills, blackish, the inner web of the latter, how- ever, with marginal half pearl-gray ; remaining quills pearl-gray, becoming white on innermost quills, and all of them tipped with black; third, fourth, and fifth tail- feathers broadly tipped with black. Young: Back and scapulars heavily spotted or clouded with dusky or sooty blackish, this color prevailing on lower back, where the feathers have buffy tips; top of head and hind-neck also clouded with dusky ; middle tail-feathers with the end sooty black for about .85, the succeeding feathers on each side tipped with black in decreasing extent to the third, which has but a slight mottling of dusky at extreme tip; wing-coverts dusky, or sooty, tipped with pale buffy; two innermost quills pure white, the rest parti-colored; head, neck, and lower parts chiefly white, marked anteriorly (except on chin and throat) with narrow bars of dusky. Length 11.50-14.00, wing 9.50-10.50, tail 4.00-5.50 (gradu- ated for .75-1.25), culmen .65-.75, tarsus 1.20-1.25, middle toe 1.00-1.05. Egg (single specimen) 1.90 1.30, in color like that of Xema sabinii (fide SrrBoum, P. Z. 8. 1886, 82). Hab. Arctic Ocean, south, in autumn or winter, to northern Alaska, Kamtschatka, Disco Bay, Faroes, Heligoland, and (accidentally) England. 61. R. rosea (Macait.). Ross’s Gull. Genus XEMA Leacu. (Page 23, pl. IX., figs. 1, 2.) Species. a. Culmen much shorter than tarsus; tail forked for not more than the length of the tarsus; wing not more than 11.25; legs and feet black. (Subgenus ema.) Summer adult: Head and upper neck uniform plumbeous, bordered below by a black collar; mantle deep bluish gray; quills black, the five in- nermost ones varied with white and plumbeous; rest of plumage white; bill black, tipped with yellowish. Winter adult: Similar, but head and neck white, except ear-coverts and back of head and neck, which are dull dusky plumbeous. Young: Mantle brownish gray, each feather darker subtermi- nally, and margined at tip with pale fulvous or buffy ; tail white, with a broad black band near end, this again narrowly tipped with white; upper tail- coverts and entire lower parts white. Downy young (side MippENDoRFF) : 38 : NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Upper parts rusty yellow, spotted with black; lower parts whitish gray. Length 13.00-14.00, wing 10.10-11.15, tail 4.50-5.00 (forked for about .60- 1.00), culmen 1.00, tarsus 1.25, middle toe, with claw, about 1.25. Eggs 2-5, 1.78 X 1.26, ovate, or short-ovate, deep olive (varying in intensity, however), rather indistinctly spotted or blotched with brown. Hab. Arctic regions; in North America south, in winter, to New York, the Great Lakes, and Great Salt Lake (casually to Bermudas and Peru). 62. X. sabinii (Sas.). Sabine’s Gull, a’. Culmen nearly as long as tarsus; tail forked for at least one and a half times the length of the tarsus; wing about 16.00; legs and feet red. (Subgenus Creagrus Bonap.). Summer adult: Head and upper part of neck sooty slate, with a whitish patch at base of bill; mantle pearl-gray, the wing-coverts and outer webs of scapulars whitish; quills black, the shorter ones tipped with white; rest of plumage white; bill black, with yellowish tip; legs and feet bright red. Young: Plumage generally, including head and neck, white; hind-neck, back, and scapulars, ashy brown, the tips of the feathers margined with white; tail-feathers (except outermost) with a black subter- minal spot; a dusky space immediately in front of eye, and another on ear- coverts. Length about 23.00, wing 16.00, tail 8.00 (forked for about 3.30), culmen 1.85, tarsus 1.90, middle toe, with claw, 2.00. Hab. Pacific coast of South America; Monterey, California ? —. X. furcata (NzEB.). Swallow-tailed Gull. Genus GELOCHELIDON Bren. (Page 24, pl. IX., fig. 4.) Species. Summer adult: Top of head and hind-neck deep black ; upper parts pale pearl- gray, rest of plumage pure white; bill deep black, feet blackish. Winter adult : Similar, but head and neck white, the hind-neck tinged with grayish, the ear- coverts and spot in front of eye darker grayish. Young: Similar to winter adult, but upper parts washed with buff or clay-color, the top of head, hind-neck, back, and scapulars sometimes streaked with dusky. Downy young: Above light gray- ish buff, with several large and tolerably well defined dusky spots on hinder half of head, a distinct dusky stripe down each side of hind-neck and upper back, the wings, rump, and flanks with rather distinct large spots of dusky; lower parts white, tinged with grayish on sides of throat ; bill brownish, inclining to orange (in life) on lower mandible; feet dull brownish orange (in life). Length 13.00-15.25, wing 11.75-12.25, tail 5.50 (forked for 1.50-1.75), culmen 1.40, depth of bill at base 45. West along sea-beach, in sand or shingle. Hygs 1.84 x 1.33, ovate, light buffy, varying to pale olive-buffy, distinctly spotted and blotched with deep brown and lavender-grayish. Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan; in America, Atlantic side, from Brazil north to Long Island, casually to Massachusetts; very rare inland; both coasts of southern Mexico and Central America in winter. 63. G. nilotica (Hasse1q.). Gull-billed Tern. STERNA. 39 Genus STERNA Lixyazts. (Page 24, pl. X., figs. 1-3; pl. XI, figs. 1, 2.) Species. a, Wing more than 9.00. 6. Wing more than 12.00. c. Tail much less than half as long as wing, forked for less than one-fifth its total length ; feathers of occiput short, blended ; depth of bill at base equal to nearly one-third the exposed culmen; inner webs of quills entirely gray, or slaty. (Subgenus Thalasseus Kate.) Adult in spring: Above pale pearl-gray, becoming white on tail, and more silvery gray on quills; whole top of head, and nape, uniform glossy black ; rest of plumage pure white; bill coral- red (drying orange-red) with dusky tinge near tip; feet black. Adult immediately after pairing season: Similar to spring plu- mage, but black on top of head mixed with white. Winter adult: Similar to summer adult. but black of crown, etc., streaked, instead of speckled or flecked, with grayish white. Young: Above pale grayish, marked with a few roundish and more or less hastate spots of dusky, largest on tertials; top of head grayish white, the crown flecked with black, this color increasing in extent posteriorly, until nearly uniform on occi- put; tail-feathers marked with a dusky subterminal spot; rest of plumage white; bill dull orange-reddish. Downy young: Above grayish white, the down of the head dusky gray beneath the surface; back and rump finely and indistinctly mottled with grayish; throat and fore-neck uniform pale grayish, rest of lower parts white. Length 19.00-22.50, wing 15.00-17.40, tail 5.30-6.75 (forked for about .75-1.60), culmen 2.48-3.10, depth of bill through base .75-.95, tarsus 1.60-1.90, middle toe 115-140. est (usually solitary) a depression in sand near sea-shore. Eggs 2-3, 2.66 X 1.77, ovate or elliptical-ovate, pale grayish buff, varying to olive-buff or dull whitish buff, more or less spotted with brown and stone-gray or lavender-gray. Hab. North America in general, but rare on Pacific coast; breeding in isolated and widely separated localities throughout its range. (Also occurs in various portions of eastern hemisphere, includ- ing Australia.)...... 64. S. tschegrava Lepecu. Caspian Tern. e. Tail more than half as long as wing, forked for at least half its total length; feathers of occiput lengthened, lanceolate, forming a dis- tinct crest ; depth of bill at base much less than one-third the length of the exposed culmen; inner webs of quills with inner margin ab- ruptly and broadly white. (Subgenus Actochelidon KatpP.) d@. Bill deep orange, or orange-red. é. Depth of bill at base more than one-fourth the length of the exposed culmen. Adult in spring: Above pale pearl-gray, NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. paler (nearly white) on upper tail-coverts and tail; whole top of head, including occipital crest, glossy black; rest of plumage pure white; bill deep orange, feet blackish. Adult just after pairing season: Similar, but forehead and forepart of crown white, only the occipital crest and hinder part of crown being uniform black. Winter plumage: Similar to summer plumage, but black of occiput also mixed more or less with white, and bill paler orange. Young: Somewhat like winter adult, but upper parts sparsely spotted with dusky brown, these spots largest on tertials; tail-feathers brownish or dusky near tips; top of head speckled white and dusky, the occipital crest but slightly developed; bill dull orange. Length 18.00-21.00, wing 14.00-15.00, tail 6.00-8.00, forked for about half its total length; culmen 2.40-2.75, depth of bill at base .65-.75, tarsus 1.35-1.45. Nest (usually many together) a depression in sand, near sea-shore. Eggs 1-3 or 4, 2.61 X 1.78, ovate, clongate- ovate, or subacute-ovate, buffy, cream-color, or whitish, handsomely spotted (sometimes lined) with dark brown or black, these markings usually suffused exteriorly with light brown and purplish gray. Hab. Coasts and larger inland waters of United States, and southward, breeding north to about 40°........:ceecceee 65. S. maxima Bopp. Royal Tern. é. Depth of bill at base less than one-fourth (about one-fifth) the length of the exposed culmen; plumage same as that of S. maxima, but lower parts very deeply tinged with rose-, or peach-blossom, pink, and occipital crest more developed ; length about 16.00-17.00, wing 12.40-12.50, tail 6.60-7.30, forked for about 2.60-3.50 ; culmen 2.25-2.55, depth of bill through base .45-.50, tarsus 1.05-1.25. Eggs 2.15 x 1.45, ovate, creamy white, boldly spotted (chiefly round larger end) with black and various shades of rich warm brown. Hab. Pacific coast of Middle America, north to San Fran- cisco, California...... 66. S. elegans Gams. Elegant Tern. d, Bill deep black, usually with yellowish or whitish tip; plumage the same as in S. maxima and S. elegans, but usually less pinkish beneath than the latter; length 14.00-16.00, wing about 12.50, tail 6.00 (forked for about 2.35), culmen 2.25, depth of bill at base 48, tarsus 1.00. Mest a depression in sand by sea-shore. Eiggs 1.99 X 1.88, ovate, white, buffy, or rich cream-color, handsomely but variously marked (often with zigzag lines) with different shades of rich brown, black, ete. Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of United States, north to southern New England; south, in winter, to West Indies and Middle America (both coasts). 67. S. sandvicensis acuflavidus (Cazor). Cabot’s Tern. STERN. Al . Wing less than 12.90; occipital feathers short and blended. ¢é. Mantle bluish gray. the tail chiefly white; inner webs of quills largely white. (Subgenus Sferna.) ad, Top of head without any black at any season. Adult in summer: Head, axillars, lining of wing. and tail- coverts, white, the first with a dusky stripe along each side, entirely surrounding eve. and extending back over ear-coverts ; rest of plumage pale pearl-gray, the quills inclining to silvery white; bill black in middle portion, the base and tip yellowish. Winter plumage : Similar, but lower parts white; bill dusky. tipped with yellowish. Length 15.00-16.00, wing 9.70-10.60, tail 4.60-6.00 (forked for about 1.60-2.60), culmen 1.50-1.70, tarsus .92-.96. Hab. Atlantic coast of South America; casual on Atigntie coast of United States (New Jersey). 68. S. trudeaui Atp. Trudeau's Tern. ad. Top of head chiefly or entirely uniform black in summer. é. Top of head entirely black in summer. f'. Only one web of outer tail-feather entirely white. g. Inner web of outer tail-feather grayish or dusky toward end, the outer web entirely white. Sum- mer adult: Above pale pearl-gray, lower parts pure white; entire top of head and nape uniform deep black ; bill (in life) dull orange, dusky at tip, feet fine orange-red. Winter plumage: Similar, but whole top of head white, tinged on occiput and nape with grayish, the side of the head with a dusky stripe surrounding eyes and extending across ear-coverts; tail shorter and less deeply forked than in summer, the exterior feathers broader and less elongated ; bill duller orange, and feet much less intense red; bill dusky or dull brownish orange, darker at tip. Young: Similar to winter plumage, but top of head, hind-neck, back, scapulars, tertials. and wing-coverts over- laid by a wash of umber-brown, nearly uniform on back and crown; sides of head tinged with same; tail-feathers all distinctly dusky terminally, especi- ally on inner webs. Downy young: Light brown- ish buff, the breast and belly whitish ; upper parts coarsely and irregularly marbled with black, the sides of the head with a few scattered small mark- ings of the same. Length about 14.00-15.00, wing 9.50-10.30, tail 5.00-7.70 (forked for 2.30-5.00), eulmen 1.50-1.65, tarsus .90-1.00. Nest of dead 6 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. grasses, etc., in marshes (fresh- or salt-water), often upon “ windrows” of sea-weed. Higgs 1.78 x 1.23, ovate or short-ovate, varying from olive-buff to olive-brown, coarsely spotted or blotched with dark brown or blackish. Hab. Temperate North America, north to Manitoba, south, in winter, to Brazil. 69. S. forsteri Nurr. Forster's Tern, g. Inner web of outer tail-feather entirely white, the outer web dusky, in abrupt contrast. i. Summer adult: Lower parts pale lavender-gray, or grayish white ; whole top of head and nape deep black; rest of upper parts deep pearl- gray, the rump, upper tail-coverts, and greater part of tail pure white; bill bright vermilion- red, blackish at tip; feet (in life) rich orange- vermilion. Winter adult: Similar, but fore- head, crown, and anterior part of lores white, mixed with black on crown; entire lower parts pure white; bill and feet less intensely red. Young: Orbital region, occiput, and nape, dull black; crown mixed blackish and grayish white; forehead, lores, entire lower parts, upper tail-coverts, inner webs of rectri- ces, and tips of secondaries, white; rest of upper parts pale pearl-gray, the scapulars, interscapulars, and tertials, tipped with pale buff, and marked with a subterminal cres- centic spot, or lunule, of dusky brown; an- terior lesser wing-coverts dusky, forming a distinct bar across wing; bill brownish dusky, the base of mandible paler and more reddish ; feet pale reddish. Downy young: Above pale fulvous or grayish buff (the precise shade very variable) coarsely and irregularly mar- bled with dusky, except on forehead; lower parts white, more or less tinged with buff or pale fulvous on sides and flanks, the throat and cheeks distinctly dusky, or grayish. Length 13.00-16.00, wing 9.75-11.75, tail 5.00~ 7.00 (forked for 3.50, more or less), culmen 1.25-1.50, depth of bill at base about .33, tar- sus .66-.85. West usually a depression in sand or gravel near sea-shore. Eggs 2-4, 1.57 X 1.17, averaging a little paler in ground- STERNA. 43 color and less heavily blotched than those of S. Jorsteri. Hab. Hastern temperate North Amer- ica, and various parts of eastern hemisphere. 70. S. hirundo Linn. Common Tern. i}. Summer adult: Lower parts deep lavender-gray, changing to white only on lower tail-coverts and on sides of head adjacent to the black cap; upper parts deep pearl-gray, the tips of secondaries, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail pure white, in marked contrast; bill rich car- mine, usually without distinct blackish tip; feet intense carmine. Winter adult: Similar, but lower parts white (sometimes tinged with grayish), and forehead, crown, and fore part of lores white, the crown streaked or mixed with black. Young: Orbital region, occiput, and hind part of crown dull black; forehead, anterior part of lores, and crown white, the latter stained with brown and mixed with blackish ; feathers of dorsal region and wings tipped with pale buff and marked with a sub- terminal crescent or lunule of brownish dusky, these markings larger on tertials and longer scapulars, and smaller on back; lower rump, upper tail-coverts, and entire lower parts, white, the chin, throat, and sides of jugulum and breast, stained with pale dull brownish ; basal half of bill dull orange-red, terminal portion blackish ; feet light reddish. Downy young: Similar to that of S. hirundo, but usually darker colored. Length 14.00-17.00, wing 10.00-10.75, tail 6.50-8.50 (forked for 4.00-5.00), culmen 1.08-1.40, depth of bill through base 30, tarsus .55-.65, middle toe, with claw, .80-.85. Hggs 1.62 x 1.15, not distinguishable with certainty from those of S. hirundo, but usually with darker ground- color and heavier spotting. Hab. Circum- polar regions, south, in winter, to Middle States and California; on Atlantic coast breeding south to Massachusetts. 71. S. paradiszea Briinn. Arctic Tern. g’. Both webs of outer tail-feathers entirely white. Summer adult: Above delicate pale pearl-gray, fading into silvery white on upper tail-coverts NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. and tail; lower parts exquisitely delicate pale peach-blossom pink, fading into pure white in dried skins; entire top of head, with nape, uni- form deep black; bill black, tinged at base (in life) with reddish; feet bright red in life, Winter adult: Similar, but forehead and anterior part of crown white, the latter tinged. with grayish and indistinctly streaked with blackish. Young: Pileum and nape pale buffy grayish, finely mottled or sprinkled with darker, and streaked, especially on crown, with dusky; or- bital and auricular regions dusky blackish; remainder of head, and entire lower parts, white, the nape and sometimes side of breast finely mottled with buffy gray; pale pearl-gray of back and scapulars overlaid by pale buff, irregu- larly mottled with dusky, each feather with a submarginal dusky U-shaped mark; bill brown- ish dusky; feet dusky (in dried skins). Length 14.00-17.00, wing 9.25-9.75, tail 7.25-7.75 (forked for 3.50-4.50), culmen 1.50, depth of bill at base .35, tarsus .85, middle toe .75. Hggs 2-4, 1.66 x 1.21, similar to those of S. paradisea, but ground- aeloe averaging lighter and markings smaller. Hab. Atlantic coast of United States; West Indies, and various parts of Old World. 72. S.dougalli Montag. Roseate Tern. e. Top of head black, with a broad white patch on forehead, ex- . tending backward on each side of crown to above eyes; a black stripe across lores. Summer adult: Above deep plumbeous-gray, beneath paler, more lavender-gray ; tips of secondaries, upper and lower tail-coverts, tail, sides of head, chin, under wing-coverts and axillars pure white; bill and feet entirely deep black. Winter adult, unknown. Young: Forehead, lores, crown, and entire nape, smoky gray- ish brown, deepening on occiput into dark sooty, this color extending laterally nearly or quite to eye; the smoke-color of nape extending laterally over side of neck and breast, or sometimes even tingeing the jugu- lum and fore-neck ; back, scapulars, inner wing-coverts, and tertials dull slate-blackish, broadly and sharply bordered terminally with yellowish ochraceous; upper rump dark brownish slate, feathers narrowly tipped with pale fulvous, this preceded by a dusky subter- STERNA. 45 minal bar; lower rump and upper tail-coverts plum- beous-gray, the longer feathers tipped with buff; rec- trices pale bluish gray, the feathers becoming dusky subterminally ; lower parts, except as described, white; maxilla dusky, mandible light reddish (brownish in dried skins), the terminal third or fourth dusky ; legs and feet light reddish. Length 13.25-15.00, wing 9.75-10.75, tail 6.50-7.00 (forked for 2.40-3.75), culmen 1.25-1.40, depth of bill at base .38, tarsus, .60-.75, middle toe .80-.85. Hggs 1.69 x 1.12, similar to those of S. paradisca, but averaging rather deeper in ground- color, with larger markings. Hab. Eastern Aleutian Islands and northward along coast to or beyond Norton Sound. 73. S. aleutica Bartrp. Aleutian Tern. c’, Mantle and six to ten middle tail-feathers slaty or blackish; inner webs of quills entirely dusky. (Subgenus Haliplana WaGLER.) ad. Adult: Upper parts, including hind-neck, continuously uniform sooty black, the outer pair of tail-feathers chiefly white; fore- head, sides of head, and entire lower parts white, sometimes faintly tinged with bluish gray posteriorly ; bill and feet deep black. Young: Entirely dark sooty brown, more grayish on lower parts, the anal region and under wing-coverts white; scapulars and wing-coverts narrowly but distinctly tipped with white. Downy young: “ Head, neck, throat, and entire upper parts, dark gray with a silvery tinge, closely dotted with gray- ish white; rest of under parts white.” (Dresser.) Length 15.00-17.00, wing 12.00, tail 7.00-7.50 (forked for about 3.00- 3.50), culmen 1.80, tarsus 1.00. Eggs (deposited on rocks or ground, usually without nest) 2.02 x 1.40, white, creamy white, or cream-color spotted with rich chestnut, usually mixed with fainter spots of purplish gray. Hab. Tropical and subtropical sea-coasts of both hemispheres; in North America, north to the Carolinas and western Mexico, casually to New England. 75. S. fuliginosa Gur. Sooty Tern. @, Adult: Lower hind-neck and upper back grayish white, deepening into brownish slate on wings, etc., and deep black on top of head; forehead, sides of head, and entire lower parts pure white; two outer pairs of tail-feathers white; bill and feet black. Young: Entire lower parts, with cheeks, forehead, and sides of crown, white, as in adult; nape, occiput, and middle of crown brownish dusky; the last streaked with grayish white; upper parts grayish brown; the scapulars, interscapu- . lars, and tertials margined terminally with grayish white. Length about 14.00-15.00, wing 10.50, tail 6.00-7.00, culmen 46 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 1.40-1.60, depth of bill at base .35-.40, tarsus .85. Hab. Tropi- cal sea-coasts in general ; accidental on Florida coast. 76. S. anzthetus Scop. Bridled Tern, a’, Wing less than 7.00. Tail about half as long as wing, forked for about half its length. (Subgenus Sternula Bots.) Summer adult: Above uniform pale pearl-gray ; lower parts, with forehead and stripe on each side of crown, back and above eyes, pure white; stripe from bill to eye, with crown, occiput, and nape, uniform deep black ; bill bright yellow, usually with blackish tip; feet bright orange- yellow (in life). Winter adult: Similar to summer plumage, but lores, forehead, and crown grayish white (pure white anteriorly); bill dull yellowish, or dusky; feet pale yellow. Young: Somewhat like winter adult, but lesser wing-coverts chiefly dusky slate (forming distinct patch), scapulars and interscapulars with submarginal V- or U-shaped marks of dusky, and quills darker. Downy young: Above grayish white, varying to delicate buff-yellow, sometimes immaculate, but usually finely mottled with dusky grayish, the head distinctly marked with irregular dots of blackish ; lower parts wholly immaculate white. Length 8.50- 9.75, wing 6.60, tail 3.50 (forked for about 1.75), culmen 1.20, tarsus .60. Nest a depression in shingly beach. Eggs 2-4, 1.28 x 0.91, white, buffy white, or buff, spotted with brown and purplish gray. Hab. United States (rather southerly) south, in winter, through Middle America (both coasts) to northern coasts of South America. 74. S. antillarum Less. Least Tern. Gznus HYDROCHELIDON Bors. (Page 24, pl. XII, fig. 2.) Species. a, Wing less than 9.00. Head wholly dusky or black in summer adult. b'. Tail and upper coverts deep gray or plumbeous. Summer adult: Head, neck, and lower parts uniform black or plumbeous, the lower tail-coverts, however, white; upper parts uniform plum- beous. Winter adult : Head, neck, and lower parts white, the orbits and ear-coverts dusky; above as in summer. Young: Similar to winter adult, but feathers of back, etc., tipped with dull brownish, anterior lesser wing-coverts dusky, and sides washed with plumbe- ous. Downy young: Above umber-brown, with a few coarse, irreg- ular mottlings of black; forehead, crown, throat, and chest plain sooty brown; side of head, including lores, dull whitish; belly white centrally, sooty gray exteriorly. ce, Summer adult with lower parts (sometimes head also) plumbeous, little if any darker than upper surface. Hab. Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa. H. nigra (Linn.). Black Tern. 1 Sterna nigra Linn,, 8. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 137. Hydrochelidon nigra Bors, Isis, 1822, 563, ANOUS. 47: c’. Summer adult with lower parts always black or very dark plumbeous, much darker than upper surface ; length 9.00-10.25, wing 8.25, tail 3.75 (forked for .90), culmen 1.10, Nest in marshes. Eggs 1.35 x 0.98, brownish buff or olive-buff, heavily spotted and blotched with dark brown. Hab. Temperate North America, south, in winter, to South America, as far as Brazil and Chili. 77. H. nigra surinamensis (Gmet.). American Black Tern. b*. Tail and upper coverts white, sometimes tinged with gray. Summer adult: Head, neck, and lower parts black, the under tail- coverts white; upper parts plumbeous, more silvery on wings, the anterior lesser coverts being white; legs and feet bright red (drying brownish). Young: “ Posterior portion of the crown, a patch on the side of the head, and one on the hind-neck dark sooty gray, the feathers with lighter margins, the patch on the hind-neck with brownish markings; rest of the head, neck, and entire under parts pure white; back and scapulars blue-gray, broadly tipped with blackish gray; wings as in the adult in winter, but the wing- coverts tipped with light reddish brown; rump and upper tail- coverts white; tail light French gray, becoming darker towards the tip.” (Drzssrr.) Downy young: “Upper parta warm reddish buff, boldly marked with black on the crown, nape, back, wings, and rump; under parts grayish buff with a sooty tinge, marked with sooty gray on the upper throat; space round the eye nearly white.” (Dressrr.) Length about 9.50, wing 7.60-8.20, tail 2.80- 3.25, culmen .90-.95. West in marshes. Eggs 1.36 x 0.99, essen- tially similar in coloration to those of H. nigra surinamensis. Hab. Europe, etc.; accidental (?) in North America (Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin). 78. H. leucoptera (Temm.). White-winged Black Tern. a’, Wing more than 9.00. Head with a broad white stripe on each side, in summer adult. Summer adult: Top of head and hind-neck black; broad stripe on side of head (from chin and corner of mouth to behind ear-coverts), lower tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts white; rest of plumage uniform plum- beous. Hab. Europe, etc.; accidental in West Indies. H. leucopareia (Natr.). Whiskered Tern.! Genus ANOUS Leacn. (Page 24, pl. XII., fig. 1.) Species. Common CuaractErs.—Plumage uniform sooty brownish, becoming hoary on forehead or top of head. Nest on trees or bushes around borders of oceanic islands, rather bulky, composed of sticks, etc. gg single (usually, at least), buffy or buffy 1 Sterna leucopareia Natt., in Temm. Man. 1820, 726. Hydrochelidon leucopareta Goutp, Handb. B. Austr. ii, 1865, 406. 48 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. whitish, sparsely speckled or spotted, chiefly round larger end, with brown and purplish gray. a}, Lores dusky, in abrupt and marked contrast with the hoary of the forehead. b'. Only the forehead distinctly whitish. Uniform sooty brown, becoming gradually grayer on neck, and pass- ing gradually through intermediate shades to white on forehead ; quills nearly black. Young (?): Similar, but head uniform grayish brown, the frontlet hoary grayish. Length 13.00-16,35, wing 10.00- 10.50, tail 6.00, culmen 1.75, depth of bill at base .38. Egg averaging 2.06 X 1.37. Hab. Intertropical seas generally, also coast of south- ern Atlantic and Gulf States...... 79..A. stolidus (Liny.). Noddy. b%. Whole top of head distinctly whitish. ; ce. White of crown changing gradually into ashy on hind-neck; plumage of body, ete., sooty brown. Hab. Intertropical seas and coasts generally, including Gulf coast of Mexico. A. melanogenys Gray. Black-cheeked Noddy! ce. White of crown abruptly defined against sooty brown of hind-neck ; plumage of body, etc., sooty black. Hab. Southwestern Pacific. A. leucocapillus GouLp. White-crowned Noddy? a. Lores hoary whitish, like forehead. Hoary ash of occiput and hind-neck changing gradually into sooty brown on chin and throat, the cheeks being grayish. Hab. Indian Ocean. A. tenuirostris (TrEMM.). Slender-billed Noddy. Famity RYNCHOPIDAL.—Tue Sximmers. (Page 20.) Genera. (Characters same as given for the Family)............... Rynchops. (Page 48.) Genus RYNCHOPS Linnaus. (Page 48, pl. VI, fig. 5.) Species. a', Secondaries very broadly tipped with white; tail white, only the middle pair of feathers grayish or dusky; under wing-coverts white. Summer adult: Forehead, sides of head, and entire lower parts, white ; upper parts, including hind-neck, top of head, and ear-coverts, black, the secondaries and inner pri- maries broadly tipped with white; tail white, the middle feathers chiefly grayish brown; basal half of bill, with legs and feet, bright vermilion-red in life (changing to dull whitish in dried skins); terminal portion of bill 1 Anous melanogenye GRAY, Gen. B. iii. 1849, 661, pl. 182. 2 Anous leucocapillus Goun, P. Z. 8. 1845, 103; Birds Austr. pt. vii. 1848, pl. 35. 3 Sterna tenuirostria TemM., Pl. Col. 202 (1838). Anous tenuirostria SaunpeERs, P. Z. S. 1876, 670, pl. 61, fig, 1. RYNCHOPS. 49 black. Winter adult: Similar as to plumage, but the black more brownish, and interrupted by a white collar across hind-neck. Young: Above light buff, each feather with a central spot of black, these largest on scapulars; lores and beneath eye uniform pale buff; lower parts white. Downy young: Above pale grayish buff, irregularly and sparsely mottled with blackish ; lower parts plain white. (Lower mandible not longer than upper in very young birds.) Length 17.00-20.00, wing 14.75-15.75, tail 5.50 (forked for about 1.20), culmen 2.20-2.80, lower mandible 2.90-4.10. Nest a depression in sand, near sea-shore. Hggs 2-5, 1.74 % 1.32, ovate, or short-ovate, white, buffy white, or pale buff, marked with large bold spots of rich dark or deep brown, and smaller, fainter spots of purplish gray. -Hab. Sea-coast of warmer parts of America; on the Atlantic side, north, regularly, to New Jersey, casually to Nova, Scotia.........cccssececcseescsceesees 80. R. nigra Linn. Black Skimmer. a’. Secondaries without white tips; tail dusky, the feathers with paler edges; under wing-coverts brownish gray; otherwise similar to R. nigra, but averaging larger, with longer bill and wing especially. Hab. Coasts of South America (Peru; Demerara, etc.). ‘ R. melanura Borz. Black-tailed Skimmer. 1 Rynchops melanurus “ Borz,” Swans, Anim. in Menag. 1838, 340. 50 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Orver TUBINARES.—Tue Tvse-nosep Swin- MERS, (Page 1.) Families. a', Wings very long; nostrils opening in anterior end of horizontal nasal tubes. b'. Nasal tubes widely separated by the intervening culmen; size very large (equal to a large goose or larger); wing very narrow, with very nu- merous (39-50) remiges.........ssesseeereeeeesees Diomedeidz. (Page 50.) 6%. Nasal tubes united, and resting upon the basal portion of the culmen; size and other characters extremely variable, but usually medium-sized or small, and remiges never more than 39 (usually 30, or less). Procellariide. (Page 53.) a*, Wings very short, and general appearance decidedly Auk-like; nostrils opening upwards, as parallel longitudinal slits, at very base of culmen. Halodromide, (Hxtralimital.) Famity DIOMEDEIDAL.— Tue ALBatrossEs. (Page 50.) Nest a mound-like heap of grasses, etc., with depressed top, built upon the ground in open situations, on oceanic islands. gg single, ovate, or elliptical ovate, white, sometimes speckled or sprinkled on larger end with reddish brown. Genera. a‘, Sides of lower mandible without longitudinal groove; wing three or more times as long as the short, rounded tail. b. Upper division of the bill much broadest at base, where joined closely to the lateral Givision.........ccccccescssscssccssssnseseessensnens Diomedea. (Page 50.) 6%. Upper division of the bill narrow, and of equal width from the middle of the culmen to the base, where widely separated from the lateral division by the interposition of a strip of naked skin extending from the nasal tubes to the forehead...............ccseecseeees Thalassogeron. (Page 52.) a’, Sides of lower mandible with a distinct longitudinal groove, extending the entire length of the lateral division; wing only about twice as long as the gradu- ated or wedge-shaped tail.........cccccessescsstseesenneees Pheebetria. (Page 53.) Gzenus DIOMEDEA Linnavs. (Page 50, pl. XIII, figs. 1, 2.) Species. a'. Culmen very concave; feathers at base of upper mandible extending in an angle nearly or quite to the base of the nasal tube, those at the base of the lower mandible forming a still more decided angle. (Subgenus Diomedea.) DIOMEDEA. 51 Wing 26.50-29.00 inches; total length, 44.00-55.00, extent, 125.00-130.00. Adult : White, the remiges blackish. Young: Dusky, with fore part of the head whitish (older individuals with more white, according to age). gg 4.95 X 3.15, white, minutely sprinkled over large end with brownish (adventitious stain in pores of shell?). Hab. Southern seas in general, north, casually or very irregularly, to Florida (Tampa Bay) and coast of Washington Territory. —.D.exulans Linn. Wandering Albatross. @. Culmen slightly concave, the bill more compressed ; feathers at base of maxilla extending in a nearly straight obliquely transverse line far back of the nasal tube, those at the base of the lower mandible also extending nearly straight across. b. Lateral division of the bill narrower at base than in the middle. (Sub- genus Phebastria REicu.’) c. Length 28.50-36.00, wing 18.50-20.50, culmen 4.00-4.25, depth of bill at base 1.45-1.60, tarsus 3.50-3.70, middle toe 4.05-4.40. Adult: Uni- form dusky, more grayish below, the tail-coverts, base of tail, and anterior portion of the head white ; bill dusky purplish brown; feet black. Young: Similar to adult, but upper tail-coverts dusky, and white of head more restricted (sometimes almost obsolete). Hab. North Pacific; on the American side, from coast of California (very abundant) to Alaska, 81. D. nigripes Avup. Black-footed Albatross. ce. Length 33.00-37.00, wing 22.00-23.00, culmen 5.50-5.60, depth of bill at base 1.95-2.05, tarsus 3.80-4.00, middle toe 4.65-4.90. Adult: White, becoming straw-yellow on head and neck; tail-feathers, remiges, etc, slaty brown, the primaries with yellow shafts. Young: Uniform sooty or dusky, the head and neck nearly black; shafts of primaries straw-yellow; bill and feet pale brownish. Hab. North Pacific; on the American side occurring from California to Alaska, but chiefly northward. 82. D. albatrus PaLL. Short-tailed Albatross. b°. Lateral division of bill broader at base than in middle. (Subgenus Thalas- sarche Reicu.') c’. Lower parts white ; upper parts plain dusky. @. Under wing-coverts chiefly, or in large part, white. Adult (and young ?): Head, neck, rump, upper tail-coverts, and entire lower parts white, the sides of the head with a more or less distinct grayish stripe, darkest near the eye; back and scapu- lars brownish slate, more ashy anteriorly, the wings plain dusky ; color of bill varying from pale yellowish in adult to dark horn-color in young; wing 19.50-20.50, tail 8.00-8.50,. 1 Diomedea exulana Linn., S. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 182. 2 Phebastria Retcu., Syst. Av. 1852, p. v. Type, Diomedea brachyura TewM., = D. albatrus Paty. 3 Thalassarche RetcuH., Syst. Av. 1852, p. v. Type, Diomedea melanophrys Borg. 52 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. culmén 4.50-4.60, tarsus 3.05-3.38, middle toe 3.90-4.32. Hab. Southern seas, especially South Pacific, casual off coast of Cali- fornia....... —.D. melanophrys Bors. Spectacled Albatross. @’. Under wing-coverts uniform dark slaty or grayish brown. Similar in plumage to D. melanophrys, except under wing-coverts, which are uniform dusky instead of partly white; bill olive-brownish, the nails dusky; wing 20.00, tail 9.00, culmen 5.00, depth of bill at base 1.75, tarsus 3.00, middle toe (with claw) 4.75. Hab. (Unknown.) D. gilliana Covzs, Gill’s Albatross.? ce. Lower parts partly grayish brown ; upper parts varied with dusky and white. Adult (?): Head and neck white, washed with yellow; belly grayish brown, freckled with white; upper back and rump transversely varied with dusky and white. Hab. Pacific coast of South America (Callao Bay, Peru). D. irrorata Satvin. Speckled Albatross.’ Gzenus THALASSOGERON Ripeway. (Page 50, pl. XIV., fig. 1.) Species. Common CuHaracters.—Adult: Upper parts chiefly uniform dark brownish slate, more plumbeous on back, especially anteriorly ; ramp and upper tail-coverts white; tail grayish, the feathers with yellowish white shafts; lower parts white; head and neck sometimes white shaded with plumbeous on top of former and hinder part of latter, sometimes entirely light ash-gray, always with a darker space immediately in front of and behind eye, with a white spot on lower eyelid. a, Culmen 4.50 or less; wing 21.00, or less; bill blackish, with yellowish culmen. b'. Culmen continuing broad and flat to the extreme base, which is broad and slightly rounded ; tarsus more than 3.00; lower mandible with a yellow- ish stripe along lower edge, from base nearly to the nail; culmen pale yellowish or greenish; length about 35.00-37.00, wing 17.75-21.00, tail 8.00-9.00, culmen 4.35-4.50, depth of bill at base 1.70-1.75, tarsus 3.25, middle toe (without claw) 4.30-4.35. Hgg 4.18 x 2.63. Hab. Southern oceans (except South Atlantic ?), north, casually, to coast of Oregon. 83. T. culminatus (GovLp). Yellow-nosed Albatross. b. Culmen much compressed, narrowing to an acute angle at extreme base; tarsus less than 3.00; lower mandible without yellow along lower edge, 1 Diomedea melanophrys “Bors,” Tema. Pl. Col. No. 456 (1838). Gouup, B. Austr. pl. 43. B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii. 1884, 357. 2 Diomedea gilliana Couxs, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. May, 1866, 181. Type in mus, Philadelphia Academy Natural Sciences. (Possibly young of D. melanophrys.) 8 Diomedea irrorata SALVIN, P. Z, S, 1883, 430. PH@BETRIA. 53 but with a transverse bar of yellow (orange in life) across the base; culmen orange-yellow in life; wing about 19.00, tail 7.00, culmen 4.50, depth of bill at base 1.50, tarsus 2.75, middle toe (with claw) 4.25. Hab. Indian, Antarctic, and South Pacific Oceans. T. chlororhynchus (GMEL.). Green-billed Albatross.1 a. Culmen 4.75 or more; wing 22.00; bill light-colored (pale grayish, with pale yellowish culmen and nails in life), with black line across base of upper man- dible and yellow bar at base of lower. (“Clouded with dark gray” in young.) Culmen 4.75-4.90, depth of bill at base 1.90-2.00, tail 10.00, tarsus 3.25, middle toe (with claw) 5.00. Hab. South coast of Van Diemen’s Land. T. cautus (GouLD). Cautious Albatross,? Genus PHCEBETRIA Reicuenpacn. (Page 50, pl. XIV., fig. 2.) Species. Adult (?): Neck, back, and lower parts pale smoky gray; sides of head, chin, and throat deep sooty, nearly black around eyes; eyelids whitish; wings and tail dark sooty slate, the shafts of primaries and tail-feathers yellowish toward base; bill deep black, the grooves whitish ; feet pale reddish or yellowish. Young (?) : Entire head deep sooty blackish, fading gradually into deep smoky gray on lower parts, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail sooty slate, the shafts of the quills and tail-feathers yellowish white; eyelids conspicuously white, except anteriorly ; bill and feet as in supposed adult. Length 34.00-37.00, extent 78.00- 84.00, wing 20.00-21.50, tail 10.50-13.00, the outer feathers 3.00-5.50 shorter. Egg 3.96 X 2.63, white, minutely sprinkled with brown on larger end. Hab. South Pacific, north (casually ?) to coast of Oregon. . 84. P. fuliginosa (Gm=L.). Sooty Albatross. Famity PROCELLARIIDE.—The Petrets, (Page 50.) Nest a hole among rocks (usually on face of cliffs). Hgg single, white (unless adventitiously stained). Genera. a. Secondaries 13, or more. (Subfamily Procellariine.) b'. Size very large (wing 17.00 or more); tail-feathers 16; bill longer than GRADS US sctie sicaida socd es a also veoh duencladawau sv Maa Secs Ossifraga. (Page 57.) b%. Size medium or small (wing 15.00 or less) ; tail-feathers 12-14; bill shorter than tarsus. ce. Wing more than 7.00. d', Culmen more than half as long as middle toe, with claw. e. Inner side of edge of upper mandible without distinct fringe- like processes. 1 Diomedea chlororhyncha GuzL., 8. N. i. 1788, 568. 2 Diomedea cauta Gout, P. Z. S. viii. 1840, 177; B. Austr. pl. 40. 54 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. f'. Bill cylindrical or compressed at base, where not broader * * °° than deep. g. Partition between nostrils very thin (very much nar- rower than width of a single nostril), entirely within the nasal tubes. i}. Gonys very slightly or not at all concave, the tip not distinctly decurved ; nasal tubes decidedly longer than gonys... Fulmarus. (Page 57.) h®. Gonys very strongly concave, the tip distinctly de- curved ; nasal tubes not decidedly longer (usu- ally shorter) than gonys (except in Bulweria). ?. Depth of bill at shallowest part more than one-fourth the length of the lower man- dible, measured along the side. j. Tail more or less graduated, and without white tip. #. Tail less than half as long as wing, and graduated for less than one- third its length ; cutting-edge of lower mandible decidedly con- cave; nail of lower mandible oc- cupying at least one-third the total length of the mandible, measured along its side; plu- mage and size very variable. /Sstrelata. (Page 63.) #. Tail more than half as long as wing, and graduated for more than one-third its length; cutting- edge of lower mandible straight, or very slightly concave; nail of lower mandible occupying de- cidedly less than one-third the total length of the mandible, measured along its side; color uniform dusky ; wing about 8.00. Bulweria. (Page 69.) #. Tail slightly rounded, and with a distinct white tip. Cutting-edge of lower mandible straight, and nail of lower man- dible occupying less than one- third its total length, as in Bul- weria; plumage bluish above, and on sides of chest, the lower PROCELARIUDZ. 55 parts, forehead, tips of longer scapulars and of tail white; wing about 8.00......... dees Halobena. ?. Depth of bill at shallowest part decidedly less than one-fourth the length of the lower mandible, measured along its side; plumage bluish gray above, becoming white on forehead and blackish on wings; beneath entirely white; rere Cookilaria. wing about g. Partition between nostrils very thick (as wide as or wider than nostril), ending anteriorly “flush” with, or but little behind, the anterior rim of the nasal tubes. i}, Space between nasal tubes and base of unguis not greater than length of the latter; nostrils not visible from above; color uniform sooty black (browner below), with or without white mark- ings on head ; wing 13.50 or more.. Majaqueus.® W?, Space between nasal tubes and base of unguis decidedly greater than length of the latter; nostrils partly (usually entirely) visible from above; color and size very variable, but wing never more than 15.00 (usually much less). Puffinus. (Page 58.) f?. Bill flattened, broader than deep at base. Branches of lower mandible bowed widely apart, the space between mostly unfeathered ; plumage spotted white and dusky above, entirely white beneath. Daption. (Page 69.) e'. Inner side of edge of upper mandible with distinct fringe-like processes ; color bluish above, the tail tipped with black- ish; beneath white; wing about 7.00-7.50. f'. Culmen concave ; lateral outlines of bill straight. Pseudoprions f?. Culmen straight; lateral outlines of bill decidedly convex. Prion® @. Culmen less than half as long as middle toe, with claw; tail even; hind claw very large, equal in length to the nasal tubes, measured along the top ; color entirely pure white... Pagodroma.® 1 Halobena “Is. Georrr. 1836,” Bonar. Consp. ii. 1857, 193. Type, Procellaria exrulea GMEL. 2 Cookilaria Bonav., Compt. Rend. xliii. 1856, 994. Type, Procellaria cookii GRAY. 3 Majaqueus Retcu., Av. Syst. 1852, p. iv. Type, Procellaria equinoctialis Linn. * Pseudoprion Couzs, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 164. Type, Prion turtur GouLp. 5 Prion Lac&PEDE, Mém. de I’Inst. 1800-1801, 514. Type, Procellaria vittata GMEL. 6 Pagodroma Bonap., Consp. ii. 1856, 192. Type, Procellaria nivea GMEL. 56 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. c’. Wing less than 7.00. @. Tarsus decidedly longer than middle toe, with claw; tail much rounded, or slightly graduated; plumage wholly dusky. Halocyptena. (Page 69.) @. Tarsus not longer than middle toe, with claw; tail emarginate, even, or at most only very slightly rounded. e’. Tail even, or very slightly rounded; tarsus twice as long as the culmen; color uniform dusky, with white upper tail- COVELEE.......ceseeesseeceeseeessesseeereee Procellaria. (Page 69.) é. Tail emarginate or slightly forked; tarsus less than twice as long as the culmen; color variable. Oceanodroma. (Page 70.) a’. Secondaries 10. (Subfamily Oceanitine.) b'. Tarsus exceeding middle toe, with claw, by less than the length of the bill (measured from forehead); basal division of middle toe shorter than rest of toe, including nail. @, Culmen (from frontal feathers) less than half as long as middle toe, with claw. ad. Front of tarsus distinctly scutellate; distance from tip of tail to end of longest upper coverts shorter than middle toe ; first quill shorter than third; lower parts white, forward to the chest; no white ON Upper PALts........c.cccseeccecceeceseseeneeerees Garrodias ad. Front of tarsus not scutellate; distance from tip of bill to end of longest upper coverts much greater than length of middle toe with claw; lower parts dusky, or striped with dusky; upper tail-coverts white. é. Claws narrow, pointed; first quill much shorter than third; belly and flanks uniform dusky... Oceanites. (Page 71.) e*. Claws broad, flat, blunt; first quill longer than third; belly and flanks white striped with dusky...........cecc08 Peatlea? c, Culmen (from frontal feathers) more than half as long as middle toe, with claw; tarsus 23 times as long as culmen, appreciably scutel- late in front; nails broad, flat, and blunt; first quill much shorter than third..........:::ssssssccesseneeseeeerenee Pelagodroma. (Page 72.) b?. Targus exceeding middle toe by more than the length of the culmen; basal division of middle toe longer than rest of toe, including nail; culmen (from frontal feathers) more than half as long as middle toe, with claw; tarsus 23 times as long as culnien, the anterior scutellea sometimes ap- preciable, sometimes obsolete ; nails excessively broad (nearly as broad as long), flat, triangular ; first quill decidedly shorter than third. Cymodroma. (Page 71.) 1 Garrodia Forszs, P. Z. 8. 1881, 736. Type, Procellaria nerets Gov. 2 Pealea Ripaw.; Auk, iii., July, 1886, 334. Type, Thalassidroma lineata PEALE. FULMARUS. 57 Grnvs OSSIFRAGA Homsron & Jacquinor. (Page 53, pl. XV, fig. 1.) Species. Light phase: Head, neck, and lower parts white; upper parts dusky, the feathers (especially scapulars) sometimes tipped with paler; bill light yellowish. (Sometimes entirely white, relieved only by scattered brown feathers.) Dark phase: Uniform dark sooty brown, sometimes with whitish feathers round base of bill; bill olive-yellowish or grayish white; length, about 30.00-36.00, extent 72.00-84.00, wing 17.00-21.00, culmen 3.50-4.00. Hab. Southern seas, north on Pacific coast of America (casually) to coast of Oregon. 85. O. gigantea (GmEL.). Giant Fulmar. Genus FULMARUS Leacu. (Page 54, pl. XVI, figs. 1, 2.) Species. a‘. Bill short and stout, its greatest depth very nearly half the total length (meas- ured from frontal feathers) ; nasal tubes separated from the unguis by a very narrow space, measuring much less than half as much in length as the former; tail-feathers 14. (Subgenus Fulmarus.) b'. Nasal tubes distinctly dusky, the whole bill sometimes olive-brownish. cl. Light phase: Head, neck, and lower parts white; upper parts bluish gray, the quills darker. Dark phase: Entirely smoky gray. Length 18.00-20.00, wing 12.50-13.75 (13.04), culmen 1.45-1.58 (1.50), depth of bill at base .65-.80 (.75). Egg 2.85 x 2.01. Hab. North Atlantic. 86. F. glacialis (Linn.). Fulmar. c. Similar in color to F. glacialis, but much smaller; wing 11.80-12.00 (11.90), culmen 1.30-1.38 (1.33), depth of bill at base .60-.70 (.63). Hab. North Atlantic, south on American side to coast of New England....... 86a. F. glacialis minor (Kyarnrs.). Lesser Fulmar. b%. Nasal tubes light-colored ; bill never dark-colored. c. Light phase: In plumage not with certainty distinguishable from the corresponding phase of F. glacialis. Dark phase: Much darker than the corresponding phase of F. glacialis, the color being a uniform deep sooty plumbeous in living and freshly-killed birds, changing to deep sooty brownish in very oldskins. Length 17.00-19.00, wing 11.90-12.35 (12.06), culmen 1.35-1.65 (1.48), depth of bill at base .65-.70 (.68). Egg 2.82 x 1.95. Hab. North Pacific, south along American coast to western Mexico. 86. F. glacialis glupischa Srzsn. Pacific Fulmar. ec. Light phase: Similar to corresponding phase of the preceding, but the bluish gray of the upper parts broken by a more or less extensive admixture of white. Wo dark phase known. Wing 12.10-12.90 (12.46), culmen 1.40-1.60 (1.49), depth of bill at base .65-.75 (.72). 8 58 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Egg 2.83 X 1.91. Hab. Bering’s Sea and portions of the North Pa- CifiC,....ea 86c. F. glacialis rodgersii (Cass.). Rodgers’s Fulmar. a. Bill long and slender, its greatest depth much less than half the total length (measured from frontal feathers); nasal tubes separated from the unguis by a space measuring much more than half as much in length as the former. b'. Bill cylindrical at base, or measuring as much in width as in depth; space between nasal tube and base of unguis about equal to the length of the former; upper parts plain; head white; tail-feathers 14. (Subgenus Priocella Homsrr. & Jaca.). Head, neck, and lower parts white; upper parts pale pearl-gray, the quills darker, with inner webs chiefly white; length 18.00-18.50, wing 13.00, culmen 1.75-2.10, depth of bill at base .65. Hab. South- ern seas, north along Pacific coast of America to coast of Washing- ton Territory... 87. F. glacialoides (Smita). Slender-billed Fulmar. b*. Bill compressed, or higher than broad, at base; space between nasal tube and base of unguis less than the length of the former ; upper parts parti- colored; head dusky; tail-feathers 12. (Subgenus Thalassoica Reicu.") Head and neck sooty grayish, darker on top; back, scapulars, rump, tip of tail, primary-coverts, lesser wing-coverts, and greater part of primaries, sooty slate ; lower parts, secondaries, greater wing-coverts, inner webs of primaries, tail (except terminal band), and upper tail- coverts, white; wing 12.50, culmen 1.40. Hab. Antarctic seas. F. antarcticus (GMEL.). Antarctic Fulmar.? Genus PUFFINUS Brisson. (Page 55, pl. XVI., figs. 3, 4.) Species. a. Nostrils only partially visible from above, the nasal tubes elevated and inflated anteriorly, where broader than at base; under wing-coverts dusky, and lower parts white. (Subgenus Priofinus Homsr. & Jaca.) b'. Above ash-gray, more or less tinged with brown, darker on top of head, quills, and tail-feather ; lower parts white, except under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts, which are deep smoky grayish; bill light yel- lowish, with deep black culmen and nasal tubes, the side of lower man- dible also mostly black; wing 12.25-13.50, culmen 1.75-1.85, depth of bill in front of nostril 50-55, tarsus 2.25-2.30, middle toe, with claw, 2.90. Hab. South Pacific, north, casually, to coast of California. 97. P. cinereus (GmEL.). Black-tailed Shearwater. b% Above brown, the upper tail-coverts tipped with white; wings and tail blackish; lower parts white, including under wing-coverts and tail- coverts; bill yellowish, passing into dusky at tip; wing 15.00, tarsus 2.35, middle toe, with claw, 3.15. Hab. Antarctic seas. - P. gelidus (GMEL.). Ice Petrel.3 1 Thalassoica Retcu., Syst. Av. 1852, p. iv. Type, Procellaria antarctica GMEL. 2 Procellaria antarctica GMEL., S. N. i. pt. ii. 1788, 565. Thallasoiea antarctica Retcu., Syst. Av. 1852, p. iv. 8 Procellaria gelida GuzL., 8. N. i. 1788, 564. PUFFINUS. 59 a’, Nostrils completely visible from above, the nasal tubes depressed and bevelled anteriorly, where narrower than at base; under wing-coverts white, or else lower parts also dusky. 6. Tail much less than half the wing, slightly rounded, or moderately gradu- ated (the graduation not more than two-thirds the length of the tarsus). (Subgenus Puffinus.) c!, Lower parts white. d'. Wing more than 12.00. é. No distinct line of demarcation between white of throat, etc., and smoky gray of top and sides of head and neck; bill yellowish ; above brownish gray, feathers of back, etc., tipped with paler; sides of head and neck transversely undulated with ash-gray and white. f’. Lower tail-coverts entirely white. g. Length about 18.00, wing 13.00-14.00, culmen 1.80- 2.00, depth of bill through base .65-.70, tarsus 1.85- 2.00, middle toe 2.10-2.25. Downy young: Uni- form sooty grayish brown. Hab. Middle eastern Atlantic; a specimen from Greenland said to be in Leyden Museum (cf. Scutea. Mus. P.-B., Pro- cellaric, 1863, p. 24). P. kuhlii (Borz), Cinereous Shearwater.! g. Length about 20.00-22.00, wing 13.75-14.50, culmen 2.10-2.25, depth of bill at base .75-.80, tarsus 2.20- 2.25, middle toe 2.45. Hab. Western North At- lantic (off coast of Massachusetts). 88. P. borealis Cory. Cory’s Shearwater. f?. Lower tail-coverts uniform dark sooty grayish. Length 19.00, wing 12.50-13.25, culmen 1.60-1.70, depth of bill through base .65-.75, tarsus 2.05-2.12, middle toe 2.15-2.40. Hab. Eastern Pacific Ocean from California to Chili. 91. P. creatopus Cours. Pink-footed Shearwater. e. White of throat, etc., separated very abruptly from the dusky color of top and sides of head and neck; bill blackish. Above smoky grayish brown, feathers of back, etc., with paler tips; longer upper tail-coverts mostly white; belly more or less clouded with smoky gray, the flanks and lower tail-coverts mostly grayish brown; length 19.00-20.00, wing 11.50-13.00, culmen 1.80-1.85. Hab. Atlantic Ocean generally. 89.-P. major Faner. Greater Shearwater. d?, Wing less than 10.00. é}. Above sooty slate, without white tips to wing-coverts, ete. 1 For references, see A. 0. U. Check List, p. 350. 60 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. fi. Tarsus 1.75, or more. g. Tail 3.10, or less. Above uniform sooty blackish, the head and neck not perceptibly paler; lower tail-coverts mixed white and dusky, in greatly varying relative amount; length 13.00-15.00, wing " 8.50-9.25, tail 2.60-3.10, culmen 1.35-1.40, depth of bill at base .40-.45, tarsus 1.70-1.80, middle toe 1.65-1.70. Downy young: Sooty brownish gray above, grayish white below. Figg 2.36 X 1.62. Hab. Northern Atlantic (chiefly the eastern side) and Mediterranean Sea.......00 90. P. puffinus (Briny.). Manx Shearwater. g’. Tail 3.25, or more. Above uniform sooty slate, appreciably paler on head and neck; lower tail-coverts wholly sooty grayish; length 12.25-15.00, wing 9.00-9.10, tail 3.25-3.80, culmen 1.30-1.40, depth of bill at base .35, tarsus 1.75, middle toe 1.70~1.75. Egg 1.799 X 1.27. Hab. Pacific Ocean, from Lower California to New Zealand...... 93. P. gavia (Forsr.). Black-vented Shearwater. f*. Tarsus 1.65, or less. g'. Lower tail-coverts with more or less of dusky. h. Above uniform sooty black; white of under side of head extending upward nearly or quite to the eye, sometimes involving part of the lores; length about 11.00, wing 7.60-8.40, tail 3.50, culmen 1.20-1.25, depth of bill at base .35, tarsus 1.50-1.65, middle toe 1.45-1.60. Egg 2.05 X 1.45. Hab. Warmer parts of Atlantic Ocean, north, casually, to coast of New Jer- sey..... 92. P. auduboni Finscu. Audubon’s Shearwater. fh’. Similar in color to P. auduboni, but smaller, the bill shorter and more slender, the wing longer; wing 7.00, tail 3.25, culmen .98, tarsus 1.44, middle toe 1.42. Hab. Pacific Ocean? (“King George’s Sound”?). P. tenebrosus Petz. Pelzeln’s Shearwater. 1 Laraam (“ Synopsis,” iii. pt. ii. p. 417) says “ King George’s Sound, on the American coast”; but von PELZELN (Ibis, 1873, p. 47) thinks that this is a mistake, King George’s Sound on the west coast of Australia being meant instead. 7 2 Puffinus tenebrosus Prwz., Ibis, 1873, 47. PUFFINUS. 61 g. Lower tail-coverts entirely white. i. Dusky of head extending far below the eye, the white being almost confined to throat and fore-neck ; wing 8.30, culmen 1.25, tarsus 1.55, middle toe, with claw, 1.85. Hab. Indian Ocean, and southeastward to New Zealand. P. obscurus (GMEL.). Dusky Shearwater.! i?, Dusky of head not descending below the eye, the ear-coverts and greater part of lores being white; wing 6.50, culmen about 1.00, tarsus 1.25. Hab. Australian seas. P. assimilis GouLp. Allied Shearwater. é’. Above plumbeous, the larger wing-coverts, scapulars, etc., nar- rowly tipped with whitish. Lower parts entirely white ; wing 7.30, tail 2.70, culmen 1.07, tarsus 1.70, middle toe, with claw, 1.95. Hab. South Atlantic. P. elegans Gia, & Satvap, Elegant Shearwater.® c’. Lower parts uniform dusky, or sooty gray (the chin and throat some- times whitish). d@. Bill black or dusky. e'. Culmen much longer than the combined length of the first two divisions of the outer toe. f’. Wing more than 11.00; bill horn-gray or dusky brownish ; under wing-coverts mottled with white and smoky gray, and with dusky shaft-streaks. g. Under wing-coverts gray, transversely mottled with white at tips; length about 16.00, wing 11.15- 12.00, culmen 1.60-1.75, depth of bill at base .50- .55, tarsus 2.05-2.15, middle toe 2.05-2.20. Egg 2.58 X 1.78. Hab. North Atlantic, from the New- foundland Banks to South Carolina on the Ameri- can side. 94. P. stricklandi Ripcw. Sooty Shearwater. g. Under wing-coverts white, transversely mottled with gray at tips; wing 11.15-12.00, culmen 1.55-1.70, depth of bill at base 45-55, tarsus 2.12-2.35, middle toe 2.05-2.25. Hab. South Pacific, north, on American side, to California..... 95. P. griseus (GMEL.). Dark-bodied Shearwater. 1 Procellaria obscura GMEL., S. N. i. pt. ii. 1788, 559. Pufinus obscurus Retcu., Novit. Synop. Av. Natat. Dec. 1850 (second page). 2 Puffinus assimilis Goud, P. Z. §. 1837, 186; B. Austr. vii. pl. 59. 3 Puffinus elegans GIa@LIoLI & SALVADORI, Ibis, 1869, 67,68. Sanvin, Rowley’s Orn. Mise. pt. iv. 1876, 256, pl. 34. ’ 62 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. J. Wing less than 10.00; bill deep black; under wing-coverts uniform deep sooty black. Uniform sooty black, the lower parts much darker and browner than in stricklandi and griseus ; wing 9.80, tail 3.50, culmen 1.25, tarsus 1.70, middle toe, with claw, 1.98. Hab. Pacific Ocean (Christmas Island). P, nativitatis Streets, Christmas Island Shearwater.’ e*, Culmen less than the combined length of the first two divisions of the outer toe. Above dark sooty slate, beneath deep sooty gray, paler on throat, where sometimes inclining to whitish; wing 10.00-11.10, tail 3.20-3.60, culmen 1.20-1.28, depth of bill at base .35-.50, tarsus 1.90-2.00, middle toe, with claw, 2.18-2.42. Hab. Pacific Ocean, from Alaska and — Kamtschatka to Australia.......... 96. P. tenuirostris (Temm.). Slender-billed Shearwater. d. Bill light-colored (pinkish or fleshy white in life), the nails black- ish. Hab. Off western coast of Australia. P. carneipes GouLD, Flesh-footed Shearwater.? b, Tail nearly or quite half as long as the wing, graduated for about as much as the length of the tarsus. (Subgenus Theillus GLOGER.*) c. Lower parts uniform sooty grayish. d', Bill dusky or brownish, with flesh-colored or reddish tinge in life; wing 10.50-11.25, tail 5.00-6.00 (graduated for about 2.00), cul- men 1.60, tarsus 1.90, middle toe, with claw, 2.35. Hab. Aus- tralian seas......... P. sphenurus GouLp. Wedge-tailed Shearwater.‘ d@. Bill “ greenish orange,” with black tip and culmen; rather larger than P. sphenurus. Hab. Indian Ocean, from western Australia to Cape of Good Hope. P. chlororhynchus Lzss. Green-billed Shearwater.5 c. Lower parts white. Top and sides of head white, spotted and streaked with blackish ; wing 11.25-12.50, tail 5.85 (graduated for about 1.80), culmen 1.85, tarsus 1.85, middle toe, with claw, 1.30. Hab. Japanese seas. P. leucomelas (TzmMM.). Streaked Shearwater.® 1 Puffinus (Nectris) nativitatie Srrezrs, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. No. 7, 1877, 29. 2 Puffinue carneipes Gouxn, P. Z. 8. 1844, 57. 8 Theillus Guoe., “v. Fror. Notiz. 1827, xvi. 279.” Type, Puffinus chlororhynchus Luss. (?). 4 Puffinus aphenurus Gouup, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1st ser. xiii. 1844, 365; B. Austr. vii. pl. 58. 5 Puffinue chlororhynchus Lxss., Traité, 1831, 613. 6 Procellaria leucomelas TeMM., Pl, Col. livr. 99, pl. 587 (1838). Puffinus leucomelas Bonar., Consp. ii. 1856, 203. S4ESTRELATA. 63 Genus AESTRELATA Bonapartz. (Page 54, pl. XVI, fig. 6.) Species. a’. Inner webs of primaries wholly dusky, except sometimes toward base. b'. Plumage largely or chiefly white beneath. c. Upper tail-coverts same color as back. d', Wing more than 9.00. e'. Tail ash-gray, the exterior feathers whitish, mottled with gray; back, scapulars, rump, etc., plain ash-gray or light plumbeous; wings much darker; lower parts white, the sides of the chest and neck waved or barred with ash- gray. f*. Wing 11.50-12.00, tail 5.00-5.90, culmen 1.45-1.50, tarsus 1.65-1.70, middle toe, with claw, 2.40-2.45; top of head almost entirely white. Hab. South Pacific and Indian Oceans. 7B. lessoni (GARN.), Lesson’s Petrel.l J?. Wing 9.50-10.50, tail 4.50, culmen 1.10, tarsus 1.33, middle toe, with claw, 1.75; top of head deep ash-gray, except anteriorly. Hab. South Pacific and Antarctic Oceans. E. mollis (GouLD). Downy Petrel.? e’. Tail uniform dusky, the exterior feathers sometimes mottled with whitish. f*. Axillars and under wing-coverts uniform smoky gray or dusky. g'. Culmen 1.25, or more. i}, Width of upper mandible at base equal to the height of the closed bill at base. Head, neck, and chest uniform sooty grayish ’ brown, darker above, where nearly the same shade as the uniform dark sooty color of the upper parts generally ; entire sides, flanks, and outer webs of exterior lower tail-coverts sooty grayish brown, like under surface of wing; rest of lower parts white; wing 11.10, tail 4.70 (gradu- ated for 1.40), culmen 1.28, width of bill at base .65, depth .65, tarsus 1.75, middle 1 Procellaria lessoni Garnot, Ann. Sc. Nat. vii. 1826, 54, fig. 4. Aetrelata lessoni Cass., Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1862, 327, ? Procellaria mollis Goutp, Ann. & Mag. N. H. xiii. 1844, 363; B. Austr. vii. pl. 50. etrelata mollis Couss, Proc, Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 150. 64 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. toe, with claw, 2.15. Hab. South Pacific (Tahiti). . 8. rostrata (PEALE). Thick-billed Petrel2 i?, Width of upper mandible at base decidedly less than height of closed bill at base. ?. Under tail-coverts dusky. Head, neck, and chest smoky grayish brown, paler on chest (where feath- ers are white immediately beneath the surface), still paler on throat, where almost white ; sides and top of head, hind-neck, back, and scapulars deeper smoky brownish gray, the dorsal feathers with paler narrow tips; wings, rump, and tail dusky ; breast and belly soiled white; wing 12.17-12.50, tail 5.15-5.40 (graduated for 1.60), culmen 1.42-1.60, tarsus 1.65, middle toe, with claw, 1.95-2.42. Hab. Southern oceans, including vi- cinity of Tierra del Fuego. E. incerta (ScHLEG.). Schlegel’s Petrel.? ?, Under tail-coverts white. Otherwise, much like . incerta, but throat and a superciliary space more distinctly white; wing 12.00-12.21, tail 5.00-5.50, tarsus 1.49-1.60, mid- dle toe, with claw, 2.20. Had. South Pacific. 4E. magente GieL. & Satvap. Magenta Petrel.3 g Culmen, 1.14, or less. h’. Tail 4.75, or more; culmen 1.12, or more. Above uniform dusky, more grayish an- teriorly, especially on forehead; chest, entire sides, and under surface of wing dusky sooty brown, more gray across chest; throat whitish ; breast, belly, and greater part of under tail-coverts white; wing 11.20-11.41, tail 4.75-5.50, culmen 1.12-1.14, tarsus 1.30-1.35, middle toe, 1 Procellaria rostrata PzAus, Zool. U. 8. Expl. 1848, 296, atl. pl. 41. etrelata rostrata Cougs, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 144. 2 Procellaria incerta Scutuc., Mus. P.-B., Procellarie, 1863, 9. strelata incerta. Couxs, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 147. 8 Hetrelata magent# Git. & Saivap., Ibis, 1869, 61. Savin, Rowley’s Orn. Misc, pt. iv. 1876, 251, pl. 30. ZISTRELATA. 65 with claw, 1.83-1.90. .Hab. South At- lantic (island of Trinidad). 48. arminjoniana Giet. & Satvap. Ar- minjon’s Petrel,! h?. Tail 4.60, or less; culmen 1.10, or less. Similar in color to 4. arminjoniana, but much darker above, the color inclining to uniform sooty black throughout, the fore- head and chest more brownish; wing 10.50-11.10, tail 4.40-4.60, culmen 1.08- 1.10, tarsus 1.28-1.35, middle toe, with claw, 1.70-1.78. Hab. South Pacific (Hondon and Christmas Islands). 4E. parvirostris (PEALE). Small-billed Petrel.? j’. Axillars and under wing-coverts white. Upper parts, including hind-neck and upper tail- coverts, uniform brownish slate, darker on wings and tail and nearly black on head, the feathers of hind-neck and the upper tail-coverts (the latter very abruptly) white beneath the surface; fore- head, lores, cheeks, and entire lower parts white, the sides and longer lower tail-coverts sometimes irregularly barred with dusky; wing 11.80-12.00, tail 5.50-5.75 (graduated for about 2.40), culmen 1.22, tarsus 1.40, middle toe, with claw, 1.78. Hab. Middle Pacific, from Sandwich Islands to the Galapagos. 4E. pheopygia Satv. Dark-rumped Petrel.? @. Wing less than 9.00. Plumage much as in 4. pheopygia, but back, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts decidedly plumbeous, the latter not white beneath surface; wing 8.40-8.60, tail 3.80-4.00 (graduated for about 1.40), culmen .95-.98, tarsus .95-1.00, middle toe, with claw, 1.30-1.32. Hab. Southern oceans generally. ZE. leucoptera (GoULD). White-winged Petrel.t c. Upper tail-coverts plain white, in marked contrast with color of back. 1 Metrelata arminjoniana Giei. & SALvaD., Ibis, 1869, 62. Saxvin, Rowley’s Orn. Mise. pt. iv. 1876, 252, pl. 31. 2 Procellaria parvirostris Prax, Zool. U. 8. Expl. 1848, 298, atl. pl. 40. Mstrelata parvirostris Cours, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 146. 8 Gistrelata pheopygia SALVIN, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. ix. pt. ix. 1875, 507, pl. 88, fig. 1. (Galapagos.) ? Getrelata sandwichensis Ripaw., Water B. N. Am. ii. 1884, 395, in text. (Sandwich Islands.) 4 Procellaria leucoptera Gouxp, P. Z. S. 1844, 57; B. Austr. pl. 51. (= strelata cookii Coves et Avct.; but, having compared specimens, I am able to say that Procellaria leucoptera Goutp and P. cookii Gray are not only specifically distinct but belong to entirely different genera, the latter being the type of Cookilaria Bonap., distinguished from Zstrelata, among other characters, by its lengthened, slender, Shearwater-like bill, ag noted on page 55.) 9 66 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Top of head, and upper parts generally, except upper tail-coverts, uniform dusky, the back and scapulars paler, with perceptibly still paler terminal margins to the feathers; upper tail-coverts, basal half (approximately) of tail, head and neck, except top of the former (and sometimes the hind-neck also), together with lower parts, including axillars and under wing-coverts, pure white; the sides of the chest sometimes with a brownish pray wash; length 14.00-16.00, wing 11.40-11.75, tail 4.80-5.30 (graduated for 1.25-2.00), culmen 1.22-1.38, tarsus 1.40-1.45, middle toe, with claw, 1.98-2.10. Hab. Middle Atlantic, strag- gling to coasts of North America (Florida and Long Island) and Europe.... 98. A&. hasitata (Kus). Black-capped Petrel. b?. Plumage of lower parts chiefly or entirely dusky. c. Upper tail-coverts pale smoke-gray or grayish white, in marked contrast. Entirely (except upper tail-coverts) uniform sooty brownish, rather paler and grayer below ; wing 10.80-11.00, tail 4.95-5.00 ‘(graduated for 1.18-1.20), tarsus 1.38-1.40, middle toe, with claw, 1.95-2.00. Hab. Jamaica and adjacent portions of Carib- bean Sea. 4E. jamaicensis (BANCROFT). Jamaican Petrel. c. Upper tail-coverts dusky, like rest of plumage. d'. Wing more than 9.50. é. Plumage sooty black above. Lower parts very dark sooty slate, the feathers white beneath the surface; wing 10.75-12.00, tail 4.50-5.60 (graduated for about 1.20), culmen 1.35, tarsus 1.55- 1.60, middle toe, with claw, 2.20-2.40. Hab. Southern Atlantic, and Antarctic Ocean in vicinity of Kerguelen Island. 4£. atlantica (GouLD). Atlantic Petrel.? e. Plumage slaty or dark sooty grayish or plumbeous above. f'. Larger (wing more than 11.00); wing 11.20, tail 4.55, culmen 1.10, tarsus 1.25, middle toe, with claw, 1.80. Hab. South Atlantic (vicinity of Trinidad Island). #E. trinitatis Giet. & Satvap. Trinidad Petrel. f?. Smaller (wing less than 11.00) ; wing 9.68-10.20, tail 4.17- 4.35, culmen 1.05-1.08, tarsus 1.35-1.46, middle toe, with claw, 1.69-1.78. Hab. Southern oceans. 4E. brevirostris (Lzss.), Short-billed Petrel.t 1 Procellaria jamaicensis Bancnort, Zool. Jour. v. 1828, 81. Mstrelata jamaicensie A. & E, Newron, Handb. Jam. 1881, 117. 2 Procellaria atlantica Goutp, Ann. Mag. N. H. xiii. 1844, 362. 8 Zetrelata trinitatis Sarvav. & Grex., Ibis, 1869, 65. Sanvin, Rowley’s Orn. Misc. pt. iv. 1876, 253 pl. 32. 4 Procellaria brevirostris Luss., Traité, 1831, 611. Cistrelata brevirostrie SAuvin, Rowley’s Orn. Mise. pt. ZESTRELATA. 67 @. Wing less than 9.50. Plumage sooty blackish ; wing 9.15, tail 3.82 (graduated for about .44), culmen 1.10, tarsus 1.46, middle toe, with claw, 1.55. Hab. West coast of Africa; vicinity of Bourbon Island. #E. aterrima (ScHLEG.). Black Petrel.! a, Inner webs of primaries abruptly white for at least the inner half. 6. Wing more than 9.00. ce. Back uniform grayish, brownish, or dusky. a. Top of head, back, ete., plain dusky. é. Shafts of quills whitish ; head, neck, and upper parts plain dark brownish gray, paler (nearly white) on throat and fore-neck ; breast, flanks, and under tail-coverts brownish gray; rest of lower parts sometimes white, sometimes entirely dusky ; wing 11.19-11.64, tail 3.91-4.17, culmen 1.20. Hab. South Pacific, from Sunday Island to Juan Fernandez. E. neglecta (ScHLEG.). Neglected Petrel.? é. Shafts of quills dark brown ; head, neck, and upper parts plain dark slaty (feathers of head and neck white beneath sur- face, those of back, etc., white at base); upper tail-coverts and tail brownish ash-gray ; lores, chin, throat, and under tail-coverts white, the first mixed with blackish; breast, belly, sides, and flanks plain brownish plumbeous, the feathers pure white immediately beneath surface; thighs and chest white irregularly barred or vermiculated with deep grayish; wing 10.00, tail 4.00 (graduated for .90) culmen 1.02, depth of bill at base .50, tarsus 1.20, middle toe, with claw, 1.55. Hab. Antarctic Ocean. 4®. guiaris (PEALE), Peale’s Petrel® @, Top of head white, spotted with grayish. Back and scapulars fine bluish gray, or plumbeous; lesser wing-coverts slaty blackish; greater and middle coverts slate-gray, broadly margined with white; tail mostly white, irregularly barred and vermiculated with gray; lores, cheeks, chin, throat, middle of chest, and under tail- coverts immaculate pure white; a blackish spot imme- diately beneath eye; sides of neck and chest densely v. 1876, 235 (in text). -Hetrelata grisea Couzs, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1866, 148 (ex Procellaria grisea Kunt, nec Latu.), Matrelata kidderi Cours, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 2, 1875, 28 (Kerguelen Island). 1 Procellaria aterrima “ VERREAUX,” ScHLEG. Mus. P.-B., Procellarix, 1863, 9. dstrelata aterrima Covss, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 158. ; 2 Procellaria neglecta ScuLEG., Mus. P.-B., Procellarix, 1863, 10. -dstrelata neglecta Cours, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 147. 3 Procellaria gularis Prats, Zool. U. 8. Expl. Exp. 1848, 299. Cistrelata gularis Brewst., Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. 1881, 94 (part). 68 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. mottled and vermiculated with ash-gray and white, but the former prevailing; lower breast, belly, sides, and flanks smoky plumbeous superficially, but the feathers all pure white immediately beneath the surface; wing 10.15, tail 4 (graduated for .90), culmen 1.00, tarsus 1.25, middle toe, with claw, 1.70. Hab. North Pacific, in vicinity of Alaska (Kadiak). 100. AE. fisheri Ripew. Fisher’s Petrel. c. Back plumbeous or plumbeous-black, the feathers bordered with gray- ish, or whitish, producing a scaled appearance. a, Above plumbeous-black, the feathers of back and scapulars mar- gined with gray; hind-neck white, with tips of the feathers pale gray; forehead and lower parts white; wing 11.50, tail 5.00, tarsus 1.40, middle toe, with claw, 1.90. Hab. Eastern South Pacific (island of Masafuera) . externa Saty, Salvin’s Petrel.1 @, Above, including whole top of head, dark bluish gray, the feathers of back and scapulars broadly bordered terminally with ashy white, the middle and greater wing-coverts similarly marked ; chin, throat, chest, centre of breast, and under tail-coverts plain white; rest of lower parts vermiculated and irregularly barred with slate-gray or plumbeous, this becoming uniform and some- what darker:on belly; tail chiefly plain light brownish gray; wing 9.88, tail 3.95, culmen 1.03, depth of bill at base .46, tarsus 1.37, middle toe, with claw, 1.70. Hab. Unknown; the single specimen obtained having been taken in Livingston Co., New York, in April, 1880. 99. AZ. scalaris Brewst. Scaled Petrel.? b. Wing not more than 9.00. Above slate-gray or plumbeous, becoming more ashy anteriorly, this changing to white on forehead and over eyes; outer surface of wings uniform; lower parts entirely white, except sides of breast, which are ash-gray, like hind-neck; wing 8.70-9.00, tail 3.80-4.00 (graduated for about 1.00), culmen 1.04-1.05, tarsus 1.07-1.12, middle toe, with claw, 1.40. Hab. Eastern South Pacific. #E. defilippiana Gia, & Satvap. De Filippi’s Petrel.? 1 @strelata externa Sauv., Ibis, July, 1875, 373. 2(—“#, gularie” of the A. 0. U. Check List, but not Procellaria gularis Prauz.) strelata scalaris Brewst., Auk, iii, July, 1866, 300. 3 Metrelata defilippiana Giay, & SALvAD., Ibis, 1869, 63, eheeenk BULWERIA. ; 69 Gzunus BULWERIA Bonaparrs. (Page 54, pl. XIV., fig. 5.) Species. Common Cuaracrers.—Plumage entirely dusky sooty brownish darker on upper parts. a’, Greater wing-coverts rather light sooty grayish brown, like lower parts; above dark sooty brown, paler on greater wing-coverts, nearly black on lesser wing- coverts and quills; lower parts uniform sooty grayish brown. Downy young : Uniform dark sooty brown. Length about 10.00, wing 7.70-8.00, tail 4.50- 4.75, graduated for 1.45-1.75, culmen .85-1.00, tarsus .90-1.10, middle toe .95. figg 1.73 X 1.22, Hab. Hastern Middle Atlantic, chiefly in the vicinity of the Canaries and Madeira; accidental at Bermudas and near coast of Green- lat ois ccceceacislanswedenasne 101. B. bulweri (Jarp. & SeBy). Bulwer’s Petrel. a’, Greater wing-coverts blackish, like rest of wings. (“Like 7. bulweri, but with bill rather larger; and it is without the sooty brown on the wings.”— GRAY.) B. macgillivrayi (Gray). Macgillivray’s Petrel.t Genus DAPTION Srzpuens. (Page 55, pl. XII, fig. 3.) Species. Lower parts (except chin and throat), rump, upper tail-coverts, and basal two- thirds of tail, together with greater portion of scapulars and secondaries, white; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, marked with triangular spots of dark sooty plumbeous ; wing, except as described, chiefly sooty plumbeous, as is also the terminal third of the tail; bill deep black; length about 15.00, wing 10.25-11.00, culmen about 1.25. Hab. Southern seas in general, north, on Pacific coast of America (accidentally only ?) to California ..........ccceecseeseees 102. D. capensis (Linn.). Pintado Petrel. Genus HALOCYPTENA Covzs. (Page 56, pl. XII, fig. 4.) Species. Plain sooty blackish, lighter and more brownish on lower parts, middle and greater wing-coverts, and fore part of head; bill and feet uniform black; length about 5.75, wing 4.80, tail 2.50, the outer feathers .40 shorter; culmen .45, tarsus .85, middle toe .60. Hab. Coast of Lower California. 103. H. microsoma Cougs. Least Petrel. Genus PROCELLARIA Linnaus. (Page 56, pl. XVII, fig. 4.) Species. Common Craracters——General color sooty blackish, paler or more sooty grayish below, the upper tail-coverts white; bill and feet wholly black. 1 Thalassidroma (Bulweria) Macgillivrayi G. R. Gray, Cat. Birds Isl. Pacific, 1859, 56. 20 g NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. a', Longer upper tail-coverts broadly tipped with black; under side of wing with more or less of white; tail even, or slightly rounded ; length 5.50-5.75, wing 4.50-4.90, tail 2.40-2.60, culmen .40-.50, tarsus .90, middle toe .60-.65. Egg 1.09 x .83. Hab. North Atlantic, south to Newfoundland Banks and western coast of Africa..............000 104. P. pelagica Linn. Storm Petrel. a. Longer upper tail-coverts entirely white; no white on under side of wing; tail emarginated ; wing 5.20, tail 2.40, the middle feathers .20 shorter; tarsus .85, middle toe (with claw?) .70. Had. Vicinity of the Galapagos Islands. P. tethys Bonar, Galapagos Storm Petrel.! Genus OCEANODROMA BReicuenBacu. (Page 56, pl. XVIL, figs. 1, 2.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Above dusky or grayish, with or without white on upper tail-coverts; lower parts uniform bluish gray or sooty, or white interrupted by a grayish band across chest. a’, No white on upper tail-coverts. b'. A white collar round hind-neck. Lower parts white, with a grayish collar across chest; upper parts grayish, the quills blackish, the forehead and sides of head white; length about 8.25, wing ——?, tail 3.75, tarsus 1.00. Hab. North Pacific (“ Northwest coast of America”). —.O.hornbyi (Gray). Hornby’s Petrel. b%. No white collar round hind-neck. ce Color bluish gray, above and below. Uniform bluish gray, fading to white on chin, throat, and under tail-coverts; orbital region, longer scapulars, innermost wing- coverts, anterior and outer lesser wing-coverts, together with quills, dusky; other lesser coverts, middle and greater coverts, and tertials, broadly edged with ashy white; length 8.00-9.20, wing 5.90-6.40, tail 3.75-4.00 (forked for about 1.00). Egg 1.37 < 1.03. Hab. North Pacific, south on the American side to Oregon.........008. 105. O. furcata (GmeL.). Fork-tailed Petrel. c. Color sooty brownish or dusky, above and below. d', Wing more than 6.50; tarsus 1.00, or more. é. Sooty blackish, lighter and browner beneath, the greater wing- coverts and outer webs of tertials light grayish brown; wing 6.80, tail 3.90 (forked for about 1.20), tarsus 1.20. Hab. Coast of Mexico, north to Lower California. 107. O. melania (Bonap.). Black Petrel. e. Sooty slate-color, the head, including throat, appreciably paler and more plumbeous; greater wing-coverts light grayish ; 1 Procellaria tethys Bonar., Comp. Rend. xxxviii. 1854, 662; Consp, ii. 1857,197. Saxv. Trans, Zool. Soc. Lond. ix. pt. ix. 1875, 507, pl. 88, fig. 2. OCEANITES. 71 wing 6.90, tail 3.80 (forked for about 1.20), tarsus 1.00. Hab. Coast of Peru. O. markhami (Saty.), Markham’s Petrel,! @. Wing less than 6.00; tarsus less than 1.00. Smoky plumbeous, the wing-coverts lighter and more brown, quills and tail dusky, rump and upper tail-coverts ashy plumbeous; wing 5.30-5.40, tail 3.30-3.50 (forked for .70- -90), tarsus 80-90. Hab. Coast of California. 108. O. homochroa (Cours). Ashy Petrel. a’. Upper tail-coverts white. 6. Upper tail-coverts without black tips; tail-feathers grayish at base; uni- form sooty, darker above; upper tail-coverts white, usually more or less mixed with grayish; length 7.50-8,90, wing 6.00-6.30, tail 3.50-4.00 (forked for .80-.90), tarsus .90-.95; feet (including webs) entirely black. gg 1.33 x .97. Hab. Seas of the northern hemisphere. 106. O. leucorhoa (Vierut.). Leach’s Petrel. b’. Longer upper tail-coverts broadly tipped with black ; tail-feathers exten- sively pure white at base; bill and feet Gncluding webs) entirely black ; wing 5.80-6.0, tail 3.00-3.15 {forked for .20-.30), tarsus .85-.90. Hab. Sandwich Islands. O. cryptoleucura Rrip¢w. Sandwich Island Petrel.? Genus OCEANITES Kevseniine & Buasius. (Page 56, pl. XVIL,, fig. 3.) Species. Common Cuaracrers.—Sooty blackish, lighter beneath, the tail and quills nearly or quite black; upper tail-coverts white. a’. Belly entirely dusky ; webs of feet mostly yellowish ; tail even or very slightly emarginated ; length about 7.00-7.25, wing 5.70-6.20, tail 3.00-3.25, tarsus 1.30-1.35. Hab. Cosmopolitan (on the high seas). 109. O. oceanicus (KuHL). Wilson’s Petrel. a’, Belly white ; webs of feet apparently wholly dusky ; tail distinctly emarginated; wing 5.20, tail 2.30 (forked for about .30), tarsus 1.15. Hab. Coast of Chili. O. gracilis (ELLIoT). Graceful Petrel.3 Gznus CYMODROMA Riveway. (Page 56, pl. XV., fig. 3.) Species. Common CHAractTEers.—Head, neck, breast, and upper parts dusky, varying from brownish black to plumbeous, the feathers of back and scapulars sometimes (in fresh plumage) margined terminally with ashy whitish. 1 Cymochorea markhami Saty., P. Z. 8. 1883, 430. . 2 Cymochorea eryptoleucura Ripew., Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iv. 1882, 337; Water B. N. Am. ii. 1884, an6. 3 Thalassidroma gracilis Exuiot, Ibis, Oct. 1859, 391. Oceanites gracilis Cours, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1864, 85. 72 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. a’. Lower tail-coverts and belly white. b'. Throat and collar round hind-neck white ; length 8.75-9.00 ; tail emarginated for about .75; tarsus 1.65-1.75, middle toe, with claw, 1.25, or more. Hab. Intertropical seas. C. tropica (GouLD). ‘Tropical Petrel.! 6%. Throat usually with only concealed white, and without white on hind-neck ; length 7.50-8.00, wing 6.00-6.50, tail 3.00-3.30, even; tarsus 1.40-1.60, middle toe, with claw, 1.05-1.10. Hab. Intertropical seas, north, casually, to coast of Florida. 110. C. grallaria (VIEILL.). White-bellied Petrel. a, Lower tail-coverts and belly dusky. No white on hind-neck, but throat sometimes white, and feathers of forehead white beneath surface; dusky of belly usually connected with that on chest; length 8.50-8.75; tail usually emarginated for about .75; wing 6.25-6.75, tarsus 1.60-1.70, middle toe, with claw, 1.05-1.15. Hab. South Pacific. C. melanogaster (GouLD). Black-bellied Storm Petrel.? Genus PELAGODROMA ReicHEnzgacn. (Page 56, pl. XV., fig. 2.) Species, Forehead, superciliary stripe, and lower parts, pure white; top of head, broad stripe behind eye, and upper parts generally, slate-color, sometimes inclining to plumbeous; upper tail-coverts light ash-gray; quills and tail-feathers blackish ; bill black; tarsi deep black; feet black, the webs mostly yellowish ; wing 5.90-6.40, tail 2.90-3.30 (forked for .25-.35), tarsus 1.52-1.70, middle toe, with claw, 1.37-1.40. Hab. Southern seas, accidental off coast of Massachusetts. 111. P. marina (Latu.). White-faced Petrel. 1 Thalassidroma tropica Goun, P. Z. S. 1837, 366. 2 Thalassidroma melanogastra Goup, Ann. Mag. N. H. xiii. 1844, 367; B. Austr. vii. 1848, pl. 62. STEGANOPODES. 73 Orver STEGANOPODES.—Tue Torpat- MATE SWIMMERS. (Page 1.) Families. a’. Nostrils distinct ; lateral toes nearly equal, and nearly as long as the middle one; whole head feathered. Bill conical, compressed, pointed, without terminal hook, or unguis; culmen curved; edge of upper mandible very concave; tail short, gradu- ated, the middle pair of feathers, in adults, very narrow and greatly ClOU BALE eis. snsekieeseuins dusnseonnieasbexaaneures Phaéthontidz. (Page 73.) a. Nostrils not perceptible; lateral toes unequal, and one or the other of them much shorter than the middle one; head partly naked. 6. Bill conical, the tip of the upper mandible without distinct hook, or unguis. c’. Bill very thick through the base, the tip slightly curved; tail about half as long as the wing, graduated or cuneate, the feathers narrow- ing toward the rather pointed tips............... Sulidz. (Page 74.) ec’, Bill slender, the outlines (culmen especially) nearly straight; head very small, the neck extremely long and slender; tail nearly as long as the wing, rounded (fan-shaped when spread), the feathers very broad, the middle pair transversely corrugated in the adult. Anhingidz. (Page 76.) b. Upper mandible terminated by a distinct hook, or unguis. c. Tarsus moderately lengthened, much longer than the hind toe, including its claw. d', Bill shorter than middle toe, compressed ; gular sac small, scarcely distensible ; outer toe much longer than middle. Phalacrocoracida. (Page 77.) a’, Bill much longer than middle toe, much flattened ; gular pouch very large, and greatly distensible; outer toe shorter than middle. Pelecanide. (Page 81.) c’. Tarsus excessively short, hardly equalling the hind toe (including its claw) in length. Wings and tail excessively lengthened, the latter deeply forked; middle toe much longer than the outer, its claw flattened and fringed on inner edge; webs very small, occupying less than half the space between the toes........ Fregatidz. (Page 82.) Famiry PHAETHONTIDA.—Tue Troric Birps. (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters same as those of the Family).............. Phaéthon. (Page 74.) 10 74 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Genus PHAETHON Linnavs. (Page 73, pl. XVIIL,, fig. 1.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Plumage very compact, satiny ; color white (sometimes tinged with pink or salmon-color), varied with blackish on upper parts; bill red, orange, or yellow in adults; tarsi and base of toes yellowish, rest of feet black. Vest | a cavity among rocks on sea-shore of oceanic islands. gg ovate, dilute claret- brown or whitish speckled, sprinkled, spotted, or blotched with deep claret-brown. a, Elongated middle tail-feathers with their webs very much broader than the moderately rigid shaft. 6. Bill yellow or orange. Adult: lengthened tail-feathers pinkish or salmon- colored, with black shafts; no black bars on upper parts, the black being in form of patches on scapulars, ete. Young: Upper parts irregularly barred with black; tail-feathers marked with a black spot near the end, the middle pairs not elongated. Length (of adult, including lengthened tail-feathers) 25.00-32.00, wing about 11.00, elongated tail-feathers 20.00, or less, culmen 2.25. Egg 2.21 x 1.54. Hab. Intertropical seas, chiefly middle western Atlantic, especially in vicinity of the Bermudas and throughout West Indies, north to Florida; South Pacific (Samoan Islands) ; accidental in western New York. ; 112. P. flavirostris Branpr. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. &?. Bill coral-red. Adult: Lengthened middle tail-feathers pure white, with white shafts (except toward base); upper parts irregularly barred with blackish. Young: (Not seen.) Length (of adult with perfectly devel- oped middle tail-feathers) 30.00-35.00, wing 11.75-12.50, elongated tail- feathers 22.00, or less, culmen about 2.50. Egg 2.22 * 1.59. Hab. Coasts of tropical America (both sides), north to Lower California and West Indies ; casual at the Newfoundland Banks. 113. P. ethereus Linn. Red-billed Tropic Bird. a. Hlongated middle tail-feathers with their webs much narrower than the very rigid shaft. Bill yellowish. Adult: Lengthened middle tail-feathers dull reddish, with ” black shafts; wing 13.00, or more, culmen about 2.50. Hab. South Pacific. P. rubricaudus Bopp. Red-tailed Tropic Bird.! Famity SULIDAE.—TuE Gannets. (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters same as for the Family)..........sesssceesereseneees Sula. (Page 75.) 1 Phaeton rubricauda Bopp., Tabl. P. EB. 1783, 57 (ex Burr. Pl. Enl. 979). SULA. 75 Gznus SULA Brisson. (Page 74, pl. XIX., figs. 1, 2.) Nest a rude platform of sticks, etc., on rocks, trees, or bushes by sea-shore. Eggs 1-2, elliptical or elongate-ovate, chalk-white superficially, but beneath the calcareous crust pale greenish blue. Species. sed a’. Whole lower jaw, together with chin and entire throat, naked. (Subgenus Sula.) b'.. Young with upper parts variegated. Young (?): Head, neck, and lower parts white; upper parts dark grayish brown, the feathers with white tips; bill purplish, the upper mandible grayish horn-color; feet dusky (in dried skins); wing 14.60, tail 7.75, culmen 3.60, depth of bill at base 1.20. Hab. Coast of Peru. S. variegata (TscuuDI), Peruvian Booby.! b%, Young with upper parts unicolored. c’, Naked skin of face and throat blackish (dark bluish in life). Adult: White, the remiges, greater wing-coverts, primary coverts, and alule dark sooty brown; middle tail-feathers hoary whitish, dusky at tips; rest of tail-feathers dark sooty brown, whitish basally; feet reddish (drying pale brownish or yellowish). Young: Head, neck, and upper parts plain dark grayish brown, part of the back and rump streaked with white; lower parts white, the flanks streaked with grayish; length 25.50-29.00, wing 16.15-17.80, tail 7.75-9.10, culmen 3.95-4.15, depth of bill at base 1.40-1.60. Eggs 2, 2.46% 1.74. Hab. Intertropical seas, especially the South Pacific and in West Indies, breeding north to the Bahamas; southern Florida. 114. S. cyanops Sunp. Blue-faced Booby. ce. Naked skin of face and throat light colored (yellowish or reddish in life). @. Feet greenish or yellowish. Adult; Head, neck, breast, and upper parts dark sooty brown, the head and neck hoary grayish, in older (?) specimens, sometimes nearly white anteriorly; lower parts, from breast backward, white. Young: Nearly uniform sooty brown, paler beneath. Length 30.00-31.00, wing 14.15- 16.60 (15.72), tail 6.50-9.70 (8.23), culmen 3.25-3.95 (8.74), depth of bill at base .95-1.40 (1.24). Eggs 2, 2.24 1.58. Hab. Tropical and subtropical coasts of America, north to Georgia and northwestern Mexico.......... 115. S. sula (Linn.). Booby. 1 Dysporus variegatus Tscuupl, Weigm. Archiv. 1843, 390. Sula variegata Scu. & Satv., Nom. Neotr. 1873, 124, 76 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. d’. Feet always reddish. Adult: White, the head and neck tinged with buff, the shafts of the tail-feathers yellowish; remiges hoary slate. Young: Above sooty brown, the quills and tail- feathers more hoary ; head, neck, and lower parts light smoky gray. (Plumage extremely variable, scarcely two specimens being alike.) Length about 27.00-30.00, wing 14.00-16.10 (15.04), tail 7.75-10.65 (8.93), culmen 3.05-3.50 (3.26), depth of bill at base .95-1.20 (1.07). Eggs 2, 2.56% 1.80. Hab. Intertropical seas, north to Florida and Lower California. - _ 116. S. piscator (Linn.). Red-footed Booby. a’. Lower jaw (i.e., malar region), together with sides of chin and throat, densely feathered. (Subgenus Dysporus.) Legs and feet blackish. Adult: White, the remiges dusky brown, the head and neck above washed with buff. Young: Dusky, everywhere streaked or speckled with white. Downy young: Entirely covered with fluffy yellowish white down. Length 30.00-40.50, wing about 19.50, tail 10.00, culmen 4.00. Eggs 1, 3.00 x 1.92. Hab. Coasts of the North At- lantic, south, in winter, to the Gulf of Mexico and northern Africa; breeding from Nova Scotia and British Islands northward. 117. S. bassana (Linn.). Gannet, Famity ANHINGIDAZ.—Tue Anuineas. (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters as given for the Family)................cc00e Anhinga. (Page 76.) Genus ANHINGA Brisson. (Page 76, pl. XIX., fig. 3.) Species. Adult male in summer: Head, neck, and body glossy greenish black; other parts deep black, the scapulars and lesser wing-coverts beautifully spotted (longitu- dinally) with light silvery gray; exposed surface of middle and greater wing- coverts light silvery gray; tail broadly tipped with pale brown, passing into whitish terminally ; sides of neck and hinder part of head, ornamented with length- ened, loose-webbed, or hair-like feathers of a dirty whitish or pale grayish lilac color ; feathers of hind-neck also elongated and hair-like, forming a sort of mane, but black. Adult male in winter: Similar, but lacking all the elongated feathers of head and neck. Adult female in summer : Head, neck, and breast grayish buff, darker on top of head, lighter on breast, where bordered below by a band of chestnut next to the black of the belly; sides of upper neck with a few whitish loose-webbed feathers; otherwise, colored like the male. Adult female in winter: Similar to sum- mer plumage, but lacking entirely any ornamental, or lengthened, feathers on head or neck. Young in second year (?): Similar to adult female, but lower parts duller PHALACROCORAX. 77 black, the chestnut chest-band wanting, and upper parts ‘much duller black, or dusky grayish brown, with the light markings indistinct. Young in first year: Similar to the preceding, but lower parts dull grayish buff, darker posteriorly ; transverse corrugations on tail-feathers obsolete. Downy young: Entirely uniform buff. Length 32.25-36.00, wing about 14.00, tail 11.00, culmen 3.25. Nest a rude structure of sticks, etc., in trees or bushes overhanging or near fresh-water rivers, ponds, or lakes. Hggs 2-4, 2.12 x 1.34, ovate or elongate-ovate, pale bluish green, with a more or less continuous white calcareous superficial covering. Hab. The whole of tropical and subtropical America, north to South Carolina, southern Illinois (vicinity of Cairo), and western Mexico. 118. A. anhinga (Linn.). Anhinga. Famity PHALACROCORACIDZ.—Tue Cormorants. (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters same as for the Family)............. Phalacrocorax. (Page 77.) Genus PHALACROCORAX Brisson. (Page 77, pl. XX., figs. 1, 2; pl. XXII, fig. 1.) Nest a rude structure of sticks, etc., placed on trees, bushes, or rocks, near water. Eggs 2-5, elongate-ovate, pale bluish green, with a more or less continuous white chalky crust. Species.’ a'. Bill stout, with decidedly curved upper outline, the middle portion of the cul- men being appreciably concave, the terminal nail, or unguis, more or less arched, strongly hooked, and occupying one-third, or more, of the entire length of the upper mandible, measured to the base of the culmen. (Sub- genus Phalacrocorax.) b. Tail-feathers 14. | Adult: A whitish patch adjoining base of gular pouch; rest of head, neck, and lower parts blue-black ; back and wing-coverts grayish brown, each feather bordered with black. Nuptial plumage: Head ornamented with white filamentous feathers, occiput with a short mane-like crest, and flanks with a large white patch. Young in sec- ond year (?): Head, neck, and chest dull grayish brown, becoming dusky on top of head and hind-neck, and brownish white on throat; rest of lower parts brownish dusky, mixed with white along the median line. Young in first year (?): Upper part of throat, chest, breast, and middle of belly, white, streaked, except on throat, with grayish brown; top of head, and greater part of neck,. grayish brown. Nestling: Naked skin dull livid slate, feet purplish dusky, with yellowish brown legs, the gular sac and inside of mouth flesh- color. Length 34.00-40.00, wing 12.90-14.00, tail 7.25-7.75, culmen ‘ 738 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 2,.30-2.85. Eggs 2.50 x 1.61. Hab. Europe, together with portions of Asia and Africa; Atlantic coast of North America, south, in winter, to coast of New Jersey. 119. P. carbo (Linn.). Cormorant. b%. Tail-feathers 12. c. Wing more than 11.00. Adult: Greenish black; back and wings slaty brown, the feathers bordered with black. Nuptial plumage: On each side of the crown, behind eye, a tuft of lengthened, narrow, curved, somewhat loose-webbed feathers; gular pouch bright orange (in life). Young in first year(?): Head and neck grayish brown, lighter next to gular sac, darker on top and behind; lower parts brownish, darker laterally and posteriorly; gular sac yel- lowish. Young, before moulting (?): Similar to the preceding, but throat, fore-neck, chest, and breast paler, sometimes quite white, or much mixed with this color. a. Nuptial crests chiefly or entirely black. é, Length 29.00-33.50, wing 12.00-13.00 (12.50), culmen 2.00-2.45 (2.25). Eggs 252% 1.59. Hab. Northeastern North America, south, in winter, to Gulf coast, breeding from northern United States northward........ 120. P. dilophus (Sw. & Ricw.). Double-crested Cormorant. é’*. Length 21.25-30.00, wing 11.20-12.50 (11.75), culmen 2.00-2.40 (2.17). Eggs 2.36 1.48. Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States, and lower Mississippi Valley, north to southern Illinois. 118a. P. dilophus floridanus (Avp.). Florida Cormorant. @. Nuptial crests chiefly or entirely white. e. Length about 36.00, wing 12.50-14.00 (13.70), culmen 2.25-2.55 (2.40). Hab. Northwest coast of North America, from Alaska south (in winter) to California... 118. P. dilophus cincinatus (Branpr). White-crested Cormorant. e’. Length about 25.00-31.00, wing 11.75-13.00 (12.23), culmen 1.90-2.35 (2.15). Eggs 2.40 1.47. Hab. Coast of Cali- fornia, south to western Mexico (Socorro Island).. 118¢. P. dilophus albociliatus Ripaw. Farallone Cormorant. ce. Wing less than 10.50. Adult: Brownish black, with a white line bordering the base of the gular sac ; mantle dull brownish slate, the feathers bordered with black. Muptial plumage: Head, neck, and ventral region ornamented with scattered, small, short, white filamentous feathers; pouch brownish in life. Young: Head, neck, and lower parts grayish brown, darker on top of head, hind-neck, sides, and under tail-coverts, much paler (sometimes whitish) on upper part of throat (adjacent to gular sac). Young, before moulting (?): Similar to the preceding, but throat, fore-neck, PHALACROCORAX. 79 chest, and breast much paler, sometimes nearly white, or much mixed with this color. Length 23.00-28.75, wing 9.95-10.40, culmen 1.70-2.00. Eggs 2.21% 1.42. Hab. Mexico, Cuba, Gulf States, and lower Mississippi Valley north to southern Illinois (vicinity of Cairo) and eastern Kansas. 121. P. mexicanus (BRanpr). Mexican Cormorant. a’. Bill slender, with upper outline nearly or quite straight, the nail small, not arched, and occupying not more than one-fourth the total length of the upper mandible, measured to the base of the culmen (except in P. perspicil- latus, in which, however, other characters than the last mentioned are as above). o. Tail very short (less than half as long as the wing), slightly rounded, com- posed of 14 feathers; bill decidedly higher than broad at base; no crests or tufts on head or white patch on flanks in nuptial plumage. (Subgenus Compsohalieus Ripew.) Adult: Head and neck glossy blue-black, with a patch of light brown or brownish white adjoining base of gular sac; lower parts soft dark bottle-green; scapulars and wing-coverts dark dull greenish, bordered narrrowly with black. Nuptial plumage: Uppermost scapulars and sides of neck ornamented with long, white or pale straw-colored bristly filaments; gular sac blue. Young: Head, neck, and rump silky dark brown, nearly black on hind-neck ; upper part of throat and median lower parts paler brown ; chest, breast, sides, and flanks, brown. Length about 35.00, wing 10.50-11.75, tail 5.50- 6.50, culmen 2.60-2.95. Eggs 2541.53. Hab. Pacific coast, from Cape St. Lucas to the Columbia River. 122. P. penicillatus (Branpr). Brandt’s Cormorant. &. Tail much longer than wing, graduated, composed of 12 feathers (except in perspicillatus); bill broader than high at base; nuptial plumage orna- mented with double crests, or tufts (one on crown, the other on nape), of broad soft feathers, and flanks with a large white patch. (Subgenus Urile Bonap.) ec. Culmen less than 2.50; tail-feathers 12. d'. Feathering on side of lower jaw forming a deep projecting angle, the point of which advances forward to beyond the anterior angle of the eye. Adult: Feathers of forehead advancing to base of culmen ; gular sac and naked lores dull coral-red, or reddish brown ; head and neck rich, glossy, silky violet-black, more purplish toward head, the lower part of the neck inclining to steel- blue, changing gradually to silky dark green on lower parts; rump also silky dark green; scapulars and wing- coverts bottle-green, tinged more or less with bronzy purplish. Nuptial plumage: Neck and rump ornamented with narrow, pure white filamentous feathers, and flanks 80 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. with a large patch of pure white. Young: Uniform brownish dusky, lighter and inclining to brownish gray on head, the upper parts darker and more glossy, with a faint greenish reflection. Nestling: Covered with down of a uniform dark sooty gray color. Length 25.00-29.00. é. Wing 9.50-10.60 (10.10), tail 6.00-6.75 (6.30), culmen 1.70-2.00 (1.85). Hab. Coast of Kamtschatka, and Aleutian Islands; south, in winter, to Kurils and northern Japan. 123. P. pelagicus Paty. Pelagic Cormorant. e’, Wing 10.00-11.40 (10.80), tail 6.25-8.50 (7.00), culmen 1.70-2.10 (1.95); bill much stouter than in pelagicus. Figgs 2.34 X 1.48. Hab. Coast of Alaska, from Norton Sound south to Washington Territory......... 123a. P. pelagicus robustus Ripew. Violet-green Cormorant. é. Wing 9.30-10.50 (9.79), tail 5.80-7.00 (6.30), culmen 1.65-2.00 (1.81); bill more slender than in pelagicus. Eggs 2.29149. Hab. Pacific coast, from Washing- ton Territory to western Mexico (Mazatlan and Cape St. Lucas)...123d. P. pelagicus resplendens (Avp.). Baird's Cormorant. @. Feathering on side of lower jaw forming a slight or very obtuse angle, the point of which does not advance farther forward than beneath the middle of the eye (usually not nearly so far). Adult: Feathers of forehead separated from the nase of the culmen by a strip of bare skin, connecting the naked lores ; gular pouch blue, bordered behind by purplish red corru- gations ; lores, orbits, and naked frontal skin bright orange (in life); plumage very similar to that of P. pelagicus, but neck decidedly more blue, the scapulars and wing-coverts decidedly purplish. Young: Uniform brownish dusky, with a faint purplish cast, the upper parts darker and more glossy. Downy young: Covered with down of a uniform sooty grayish brown color. Length 31.00-35.00, wing 10.50-11.60, tail 6.30-8.00, culmen 2.05-2.30. Eggs 2.44149. Hab. Prybilof, Aleutian, and Kuril Islands, and coast of Kamtschatka, south, in winter, to northern Japan......... 124. P. urile (Guuz.). Red-faced Cormorant. c. Culmen 3.75, or more; tail-feathers 14. Nuptial plumage: Head rich, glossy, silky violet-purple, neck glossy greenish blue, body rich dark green; head and neck ornamented with slender straw-yellow filamentous feathers, and flanks with a large patch of white; scapulars and wing-coverts deep purplish; quills and tail-feathers black, the latter with PELECANUS. 81 white shafts. (In life, eye surrounded by a broad white ring of naked skin; naked skin round base of bill, and gular sac mixed red, white, and blue.) Length about 36.00; weight about 12-14 lbs.; wing 13.00, tail 9.00, culmen 3.75. Hab. Formerly, Bering Island, but now extinct there ; possibly still existing in some of the westernmost Aleutian Islands. —. P. perspicillatus Patz. Pallas's Cormorant. Famiry PELECANIDA2.—Tue PELICANS, (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters same as for the Family)............cc008 Pelecanus. (Page 81.) Genus PELECANUS Lyyavs. (Page 81, pl. XXII, figs. 1, 2.) 99s 1-4, oval, ovate, or elongate-ovate, with rough chalky shell, pure white, but usually much blood-stained. * Species, a. Tail-feathers 24; lower jaw densely feathered; color white, with blackish remiges. (Subgenus Cyrtopelicanus Reicu.’) Adult: Entirely white, with quills entirely black, the secondaries also chiefly black. Nuptial plumage: Culmen with a median elevated horny ridge, situated a little forward of the middle portion ; a pendent occipital crest of white or pale straw-yellow; lanceolate lesser wing-coverts and similarly formed feathers of chest, pale straw-yellow, or, rarely, purplish buff; pouch and bill chiefly reddish (in life), the former paler terminally ; feet intense orange-red. Post-nuptial plumage: Similar in all respects to the preceding, except that the appendage to culmen and the occipital crest are wanting (having been shed), the latter replaced by a patch of short grayish feathers. Winter adult : Plumage as in the preceding, but gray occipital patch wanting, yellowish color of chest and lesser wing- coverts paler, and colors of bill, face, pouch, and feet much less intense, a clear lemon-yellow being the prevailing tint. Young: Plumage white, but lesser wing-coverts and feathers of top of head brownish gray cen- trally, chest-feathers short, blended, and pure white, the bill, pouch, face, and feet pale yellowish. Length about 44-nearly 6 feet, extent 83- nearly 10 feet, weight about 17 lbs, wing 20.00-25.25, culmen 11.05-15.00. Nest a rude mound or heap of gravel and rubbish, flattened or slightly hollowed on top, on beach or bench usually of island in some lake or large 1 The typical subgenus (Pelecanus proper), having for its type the P. onocrotalus of southern Europe, is not represented in America, 11 82 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. inland body of water. Eggs 1-3 or 4, 3.34 x 2.22. Hab. Whole of tem- perate North America, north in the interior to about 61°, south, in winter, as far as Guatemala; rare along Atlantic coast of the United States ...... 125. P. erythrorhynchos Gmex. American White Pelican. a. Tail-feathers 22; lower jaw entirely naked; color chiefly grayish mixed with dusky. (Subgenus Leptopelicanus Retcu.) Nuptial plumage: Head, and feathers bordering base of gular pouch, all round, white, the top of the former sometimes straw-yellowish; rest of neck rich velvety reddish brown, varying from light reddish chestnut to seal-skin brown, or nearly black; upper part of hind-neck with a more or less distinct crest of chestnut; upper parts silvery gray, the feathers of back, rump, lesser wing-coverts, etc., edged with dark brown, producing a striped or streaked appearance ; lower parts dark brownish gray, the sides, etc., streaked with silvery white. Winter adult : Similar, but whole head and neck white, except for a straw-yellow tinge on the former and on the lower part of the fore-neck. Young: Head and neck light brownish gray, somewhat mottled with paler tips to the feathers ; back, wing-coverts, etc., dull brown, the feathers tipped with pale ful- vous; lower parts white, tinged with brownish gray laterally and pos- teriorly. : b.. Smaller, with pouch always dull greenish dusky or olive-dusky ; length about 4-43 feet, wing 18.50-21.00, culmen 9.40-12.20. West a slight heap or mound of gravel, etc., on or near sea-beach. Eggs 3.01 x 1.95. Hab. Coasts and islands of Gulf of Mexico and Carib- bean Sea, including West Indies; north, regularly, to North Caro- lina, accidentally (blown by storm ?) to Illinois. 126. P. fuscus Linn. Brown Pelican. b%. Larger, with pouch red during pairing season; length 43 feet, or more, wing 20.50-23.25, culmen 12.25-14.75. Hab. Pacific coast from Washington Territory to western Mexico (perhaps to Panama, or farther).. 127% P. californicus Rinew. California Brown Pelican. Famity FREGATIDA.—Tue Man-o’-War Birps. (Page 73.) Genera. (Characters same as for the Family)............ iiapaehe Sie Fregata. (Page 82.) Genus FREGATA Covizr. (Page 82, pl. XVIII, fig. 2.) Species. a. Culmen more than 4.15. Adult male: Entirely black, the lanceolate scapulars and interscapulars glossed with metallic bottle-green and reddish purple. Adult female: FREGATA. 83 Dull black, the central lesser wing-coverts light grayish brown, the scapulars, etc., only slightly metallic, and not lanceolate; breast and sides whitish. Young: Head, neck, breast, and belly, white ; otherwise, much as in the adult female. Downy young: Covered with very fluffy pure white down. Length 37.50-41.00, wing 22.00-27.10 (24.90), tail 14.25-19.25 (17.73), forked for more than half its length; culmen 4.25-— 5.15 (4.62). Mest a rude structure of sticks on trees or bushes (usually mangroves) along sea-shore. Eggs (usually only 1), 2.70 x 1.83, pure white, oval, ovate, or elongate-ovate. Hab. Tropical and subtropical seas, chiefly north of the equator; north regularly to Florida, Texas, and California, accidentally to Nova Scotia, Ohio, and Kansas. 128. F. aquila (Linn.). Man-o’-War Bird. a. Culmen less than 4.15. In plumage not very obviously different from F. aquila. Wing 20.50-25.25 (21.53), tail 15.75-17.10 (16.27), culmen 3.65-4.10 (3.90). Hab. Tropical parts of the South Pacific. F. minor (QMEL.). Lesser Man-o’-War Bird.! 1 Pelecanus minor Guut., 8. N. i. 1788, 572. Fregata minor Ripew., in B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii. 1884, 128, 84 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Orver ANSERES.—Tue Lame iirosTRAL SWIMMERS. (Page 1) Families. (Characters same as for the Order)........ssesssssereeees Anatide. (Page 84.) Famiry ANATIDA®.—Tue Ducks, GEESE, AND SWANS. (Page 84.) Eggs numerous, always unmarked, with a hard and usually smooth shell. Genera. a. Neck shorter than body. b. Tarsus shorter than middle toe, without claw. c. Lower mandible without trace of lamellm along the side, but with a series of distinct, tooth-like serrations along the upper edge. (Subfamily Mergine.) @, Culmen longer than tarsus, and three times, or more, the depth of bill at base. e. Serrations of both mandibles very conspicuously tooth-like, and strongly inclined backward at tips. Merganser. (Pago 88.) é. Serrations of both mandibles short, blunt, and not distinctly inclined backward at tips......... Lophodytes. (Page 89.) ad, Culmen shorter than tarsus ........cccsscesseeees Mergus. (Page 90.) ce. Lower mandible with a very distinct series of lamelle along the side, in addition to the series along upper edge. (Subfamily Anatine.) d'. Lower portion of tarsus in front with a row of transverse scutelles. e'. Lores entirely densely feathered; wing less than 12.00. fi. Tail normal. g'. Hind-toe without a distinct membraneous lobe. A’. Bill not spatulate. @. Tail-feathers narrow and pointed at tip. Jj. Tail graduated for less than one-third its total length, or else consisting of only 14 feathers, and culmen shorter than middle toe without tarsus. Anas. (Page 90.) J. Tail graduated for more than one-third its total length, consisting of 16 ANATID. 85 feathers, and culmen longer than middle toe, without claw. Dafila. (Page 97.) ?, Tail-feathers broad and rounded at tips. Aix. (Page 98.) h?. Bill spatulate (very broad near end and narrow At DASC)....ccecesces essere Spatula. (Page 96.) g’. Hind toe with a broad, membraneous lobe. }, Feathering on lores or forehead not reaching beyond posterior border of nostril. @, Graduation of tail less than length of bill from nostril. j'. Loral feathering with a decidedly convex anterior outline; nail less than one- third as wide as width of bill across middle portion. Aythya. (Page 101.) 7. Loral feathering with straight or even slightly concave anterior outline; nail more than one-third as wide as bill across middle portion. Netta. (Page 100.) #, Graduation of tail much more than length of bill from nostril. j. Distance from tip of bill to loral feather- ing less than graduation of tail. k. Distance from anterior end of nos- tril to loral feathers equal to or greater than width of bill at base. f. Distance from anterior end of nostril to tip of bill much less than from same point to loral feathers; tail less than twice as long as tarsus. Glaucionetta. (Page 104.) ?, Distance from anterior end of nostril to tip of bill much greater than from same point to loral feathers; tail more than twice as long as tarsus. Charitonetta. (Page 106.) #2. Distance from anterior end of nos- tril to loral feathering much less than width of bill at base. 86 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. I. Distance from posterior end of nostril to loral feathers equal to or greater than length of nostril; anterior outline of loral feathering strongly convex. Histrionicus. (Page 107.) 2, Distance from posterior end of nostril to loral feathers less than half the length of the nostril; anterior outline of loral feathering forming a nearly straight line, run- ning obliquely backward and downward from near nostril to corner of mouth. Clangula. (Page 106.) j. Distance from tip of bill to loral feather- ing greater than graduation of tail. kK. Distance from posterior border of nostril to angle of mouth much less than half the distance from anterior border of nostril to tip of upper mandible. P, Width of bill at base equal to one-half the length of cul- men ; speculum plain white. Camptolaimus. (Page 107.) @ Width of bill at base much less than one-half the length of the culmen ; speculum dark- colored (steel-blue or violet in male), bordered before and behind by a white bar. Enicenetta. (Page 107.) F, Distance from posterior border of nostril to angle of mouth equal to or greater than distance from anterior end of nostril to tiv of upper mandible. — Oidemia. (Page 110.) W?. Feathering of forehead or lores reaching anteri- orly to or beyond posterior end of nostril. ?, Feathering of forehead continuous with that ANATID. 87 of lores, and advancing quite to the nostril.......... Arctonetta. (Page 108.) ?. Feathering of forehead separated from that of lores by the interposition of a more or less extensive naked angle, or prolonga- tion of naked skin of the bill. Somateria. (Page 108.) f*. Tail more than half as long as wing, much graduated, the feathers with narrow webs and very stiff shafts, their bases scarcely hidden by the short coverts. g. Nail of bill very small, hardly visible from above, and bent abruptly backward beneath the tip of the upper mandible; outer toe longer than middle. Erismatura. (Page 113.) g. Nail of bill normal (i.e. large, almost wholly visible from above, and not bent abruptly backward at tip); outer toe shorter than middle. Nomonyx. (Page 114.) e. Lores wholly or partially naked; wing more than 12.00. Cairina.’ (Page 100.) @. Lower portion of tarsus in front without transverse scutelle. Dendrocygna. (Page 118.) 6°. Tarsus longer than middle toe, without claw. (Subfamily Anserine.) c'. Serrations on cutting-edge of upper mandible visible from outside for greater portion of the tomium, the latter decidedly sinuated, or concave. @. Bill very stout, its depth through base equal to much more than half the length of the culmen; color of adults white, with blackish primaries, or else with head and part of neck white, the wing-coverts plain bluish gray........... Chen. (Page 114.) d’, Bill weaker and more depressed, its depth through base less than half the length of the culmen; color of adults never white, or with white head, or bluish gray wing-coverts. Anser. (Page 115.) ce. Serrations on edge of upper mandible visible only near angle of mouth, the tomium very slightly or not at all sinuated. d', Nostril near middle of nasal fosse ; cutting-edge of upper mandible not appreciably or regularly sinuated; bill and feet always entirely black; head partially or entirely black; tail-coverts and Crissum WHite........ceccssessessscessees Branta. (Page 116.) ad’, Nostril at lower anterior extremity of nasal fosse; cutting-edge of upper mandible appreciably and regularly sinuated, or con- eave ; bill and feet light-colored ; head white (sometimes stained 1 Catrina FLEMING, Phil. of Zool. 1822, 260. Type, Anas moschata Linn. 88 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. with rusty) in adult; tail-coverts and crissum grayish, barred with dusky and whitish............6.scee Philacte. (Page 118.) a. Neck as long as or longer than body. (Subfamily Cygnine.) Largest of American Anatide (length more than three feet) ; color entirely pure white, with black bill and feet, in adult, grayish in young. Olor. (Page 120.) ! Gznus MERGANSER Brisson. (Page 84, pl. XXI., fig. 4.) Species. Common Cuaracters.—Adult male with head and upper neck greenish black, the occiput crested ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, plain ash-gray ; rest of upper parts mainly pied black and whitish ; lower parts rich creamy white or pale salmon- color. Adult female, with head and upper neck cinnamon-brownish (occiput crested, as in the male), chin and part of throat white; upper parts grayish, with some white on wings; lower parts buffy white. a. Distance between nostril and nearest feathering at base of upper mandible much greater than height of upper mandible at base; feathering at base of upper mandible, on sides, projecting very slightly forward, and not forming a distinct angle. b'. No visible black bar across white of wing-coverts. Adult male: Head and upper neck greenish black, the top of the latter with a soft “bushy” crest, conspicuous only when erected; chest and other lower parts rich creamy white, or (especially in freshly-killed specimens) delicate pale salmon-color; wing 10.70-11.00, culmen 2.05-2.30, tarsus 1.90-2.00, middle toe 2.35-2.60. Adult female: Head and upper neck tawny brown or cinnamon, the chin and throat whitish, the occiput with a conspicuous pointed crest; upper parts chiefly ash-gray, with white on secondaries and greater wing-coverts; wing 9.75-10.25, culmen 1.80-1.90, tarsus 1.65-1.80, middle toe 2.35. Hab. Northern parts of the eastern hemi- sphere, from western Europe to Kamtschatka. M. merganser Linn. Merganser.! b'. A very conspicuous black bar across white of wing-coverts. (Plumage not otherwise essentially different from that of M. merganser, but feath- ering at base of bill having a quite distinct outline.) Downy young: Upper half of head, and hind-neck, rusty brown, more reddish on the latter, where encroaching on sides of neck; remaining upper parts hair- brown, relieved by four white spots; lower parts, including rest of head and neck, white; a stripe on lower half of lores, white; beneath this, a narrower stripe of deep brown, and a similar, but broader, brown stripe on upper half of lores. Male: Length 25.00-27.00, wing 10.50-11.25, culmen 1.90-2.20, tarsus 1.90-2.00, middle toe 2.40-2.50. Female: Length 1 Mergue merganser Linn., S, N, ed. 10, i. 1758, 129. Merganser merganser Stusy., Bull, U. S. Nat. Mus, No. 29, 1885, 176. LOPHODYTES. 99 21.00-24.00, wing 9.60-9.75, culmen 1.80-2.00, tarsus 1.85-1.90, middle toe 2.25-2.40. Eggs 2.63 X 1.82, ovate, or elliptical-ovate, pale buff, or buffy white. Hab. Whole of North America, breeding south to northern border of United States.. 129. M. americanus (Cass.). American Merganser. a. Distance between nostril and nearest feathering on sides of base of upper man- dible decidedly less than height of upper mandible at base; feathering on sides of base of upper mandible projecting far forward, and forming a very decided, though obtuse, angle. Adult male: Head dull greenish black, the occiput with a long pointed crest; neck and sides of chest dull brownish buff, or light cinnamon, streaked with black; other lower parts mainly white, usually tinged with cream- or salmon-color. Adult female: Very similar in coloration to the same sex of M. americanus, but smaller, and very readily distin- guishable by the different position of the nostrils, etc., as noted above. Downy young: Above hair-brown, the posterior border of each wing and a large spot on each side of the rump, yellowish white; lower parts, including cheeks, yellowish white; sides of head and neck rusty cinna- mon, paler on lores, which are bordered above by a dusky stripe, and beneath by a dark rictal stripe; lower eyelid whitish. Length about 20.00-25.00, wing 8.60-9.00, culmen about 2.50, tarsus 1.80-1.90, middle toe 2.40. Eggs ovate or elliptical-ovate, 2.57 x 1.79, light olive-buff. Hab. Northern portion of northern hemisphere, breeding northward. 130. M. serrator (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. Genus LOPHODYTES Retcuenpacu. (Page 84, pl. XXL, fig. 3.) Species. Adult male: Head (except crest), neck, and most of upper parts black; crest pure white with a sharply defined black border or rim; lower parts white, the sides of the chest crossed by two black crescentic bars (projected from the black of the back), the sides light cinnamon, finely waved with black. Adult female: Head (except crest), neck, chest, and upper parts grayish brown, darker above ; crest reddish hair-brown or dull cinnamon, smaller and of looser texture than in the male; chin and upper throat, belly, ete., white. Young: Similar to adult female, but crest rudimentary, the sides and under tail-coverts more distinctly brown. Downy young: Above deep hair-brown, darkest on back and rump; hinder border of arm-wing, a small spot on each side of back, and one on each side of rump, grayish white; lower half of head brownish buff or light fulvous, paler on chin and throat; chest light dingy brownish, sides darker ; belly white. Length about 17.25-19.25, wing 7.50-7.90, culmen 1.50. Nest in holes in trees, usually at a considerable height. Eggs 6-10, 2.09 x 1.75, broadly oval, white. Hab. North America in general; north to Alaska and (accidentally) Greenland; south to Mexico and Cuba; casual in Europe. 131. L. cucullatus (Linn.). Hooded Merganser. 12 90 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Genus MERGUS Linnaus. (Page 84.) Species. Adult male: Prevailing color pure white, but this relieved as follows: A patch covering lores and narrowly surrounding eyes, deep black with a greenish reflec- tion; under portion of crest glossy greenish black; back, rump, some of the wing- coverts, secondaries, and two narrow crescentic bars across sides of chest, deep black; upper tail-coverts and tail ash-gray; length about 16.50, wing 7.75, culmen 1.10. Adult female: Upper part of head, including lores, reddish brown; rest of head, with neck (except behind), and lower parts, white; upper parts, sides, and flanks ash-gray, darker on back; chest tinged with pale ashy; smaller than the male, and crest less developed. Downy young: “Upper parts, including sides of the head below the eye, but only.on the back of the neck, dark blackish brown, darkest on the crown and the lower part of the back; at the base of the wing-joint a white spot, and another close to it, but rather lower down the back, and on each side of the rump another white spot; below the eye a very small white spot; underparts white; breasts and flanks pale grayish or sooty brown.” (Drusszr.) Hab. Europe, etc.; accidental or occasional in eastern North America (?). M. albellus Linn. Smew.! Genus ANAS Linnavs. (Page 84, pl. XXII, figs. 2-5; pl. XXIII, fig. 1.) Species. a', Culmen longer than middle toe, without claw. b'. Width of upper mandible near tip more than one-third the culmen, the upper and lateral outlines of upper mandible more or less convex for terminal half. c. Wing more than 8.00; scapulars and larger tertials broad, and without light-colored median stripes in adult male. (Subgenus Anas.) d'. Smaller wing-coverts uniform grayish brown or brownish slate ; tertials without light edgings; sexes very different in plumage; wing with two distinct white bands. Adult male: Head and neck soft, brilliant metallic green; chest rich dark chestnut, separated from green of neck by a collar of pure white; speculum rich metallic violet, bor- dered anteriorly by a black bar, this preceded by a white bar, and posteriorly by a black subterminal and white terminal band. Adult female (and male in breeding season) : Wings as above; elsewhere varied with dusky and ochra- ceous or buffy, the former on central or median portion of the feathers, and predominating on upper parts, the latter on edges, and prevailing on lower parts. Downy young: 1 Mergus albellus Linn., 8, N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 129. ANAS. 91 Above olivaceous, relieved by two pairs of yellowish spots, one pair on the back, just behind the wings, the other on each side of the base of the tail; lower parts, including sides of head and broad superciliary stripe, yellowish buff, deepest on head, paler and duller posteriorly ; side of head marked by a narrow but very distinct stripe of dark brown, extending from upper basal angle of the maxilla to the eye, and thence to, and confluent with, the oliva- ceous of the occiput; beneath this stripe an auricular spot of dusky; sides crossed by two olivaceous patches, con- fluent with the olive of the back. Length about 20.00- 25.00, wing 10,.25-12.00, culmen 2.00-2.40, tarsus 1.50-1.80, middle toe 1.90-2.15. Hggs 2.32 x 1.67, pale olive-buff, pale greenish buff, or pale buffy pea-green. Hab. Whole of northern hemisphere. 132. A. boschas Linn. Mallard. @. Smaller wing-coverts distinctly bordered or margined with buff or ochraceous, and tertials edged with same; sexes alike in plumage. e. Wing without any white bands. ji. Cheeks, chin, and entire throat distinctly streaked with dusky; dusky markings largely predominating in ex- tent over the lighter (buffy or ochraceous); lower basal corner of upper mandible without black spot; speculum usually deep violet. Downy young: Above olive-brown, slightly relieved by three pairs of light dull buff spots, as follows: One on posterior border of arm-wing (this sometimes indistinct), one on sides of back, just behind wing, and one on sides of rump, near base of tail; top of head and hind-neck olive- brown, like back, etc.; rest of head and neck, with lower parts, pale dingy buff, paler on belly; sides of head marked with a narrow dusky streak, from upper basal angle of bill to eye and thence back to occiput ; a dusky auricular spot, continued less distinctly back to nape. Length 21.00-24.50, wing 10.50-11.50, cul- men 2.00-2.35, tarsus 1.70-1.80, middle toe 1.90-2.10. Eggs 2.43 X 1.75, pale dull buff or pale greenish buff. Hab. Eastern North America, breeding from more northern United States to Hudson’s Bay, including whole of Labrador. (Western and southern limits imperfectly determined.) 133. A. obscura GME. Black Duck. f?. Cheeks, chin, and throat plain buff; ochraceous or buff markings predominating in extent over the darker je] bo NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. markings; lower basal angle of upper mandible with a triangular black spot; speculum usually bluish green; about the size of A. obscura. Eggs 2.15 x 1.61, pale dull buff or pale grayish buff. Hab. Southeastern United States, from Florida to Kansas. 134. A. fulvigula Ripew. Florida Duck. e’*. Wing with one or more white bands. Ff. Wing more than 8.75, with two white bands. Chin, throat, and lower part of cheeks plain buffy ; dusky prevailing on upper parts, lower parts with dusky and ochraceous in about equal proportion ; wing 8.90-10.00, culmen 1.85-2.05, tarsus 1.60, middle toe 1.95. Hab. Southern Mexico (Puebla, etc.). A. diazi Ripaw. Mexican Duck.! f?. Wing less than 8.75, with only one white band. Only the chin and upper part of throat unstreaked buff; dusky and ochraceous markings nearly equal in extent, the latter, however, rather pre- dominating on lower parts; speculum dark metal- lic green, followed, successively, by a velvety black subterminal and a pure white terminal bar, each about .35 wide; wing 8.50, culmen 1.65, tarsus 1.30, middle toe 1.70. Hab. Western Mexico (vicinity of Mazatlan). A. aberti Ripaw. Abert’s Duck.? c. Wing less than 8.00; scapulars and tertials lanceolate, and marked with buffy or whitish median stripes in adult males. (Lesser wing- coverts plain light bluish, last row of middle coverts white spotted or blotched with dusky, speculum bronzy greenish.) (Subgenus Querquedula STEPHENS.) d@. Culmen usually less than 1.65. Adult male: Head and neck dull plumbeous, with a large crescent-shaped patch of white in front of eye, faint gloss of metallic lavender-purple on sides of occiput, the crown dusky; lower parts pale chestnut, spotted with black. Adult female (and adult male in breeding season) : Above dusky, varied with dull buffy; head, neck, and lower parts dull brownish white, or pale dull buff, the head and neck streaked with dusky (except on chin and upper throat), the lower parts more or less spotted with same, the belly sometimes (especially in younger birds) immaculate. Young: Similar to adult female, but whole belly immaculate, and speculum dull grayish brown, without metallic gloss. Length 14.50-16.00, wing 1 Anas diazi Riwew., Auk, iii. July, 1886, 332, 1 Anas aberti Ripaw., Proc, U. 8. Nat. Mus, i, 1878, 250. ANAS. 93 7.00-7.50, culmen 1.40-1.65, tarsus 1.20-1.30, middle toe 1.40_ 145. Eggs 1.84 x 1.34, pale buff. Hab. North America in general, but chiefly east of Rocky Mountains; in winter, whole of West Indies and Middle America, south to Ecuador. 140. A. discors Linn. Blue-winged Teal. @, Culmen usually more than 1.65. Adult male: Head, neck, and lower parts uniform rich glossy chestnut, the top of head blackish, the belly duller (sometimes blackish). Adult female (and male in breeding season) : Similar to corresponding stage of A. discors, but averaging larger (the bill especially), the plumage darker, only the upper throat (sometimes chin only) unstreaked, the belly usually heavily spotted and the breast deeply tinged with light brown. Young: Similar to adult female, but mark- ings of lower parts much narrower, streak-like. Downy young: Above dark olivaceous, varied by a spot of deep greenish buff on each side of back (behind wings), and a spot of clearer yel- lowish on each side of rump, at base of tail; top of head and hind-neck similar to back, but darker; forehead, broad super- ciliary stripe, sides of head and neck, and lower parts generally, deep buff-yellow, the sides of the head marked with a distinct narrow stripe of dark brown. Length about 15.50-17.00, wing 7.20-7.75, culmen 1.65-1.85, tarsus 1.25-1.35, middle toe 1.40- 150. ggs 1.87 x 1.41, pale buff. Hab. Western America, from the Columbia River to Chili, Argentine Republic, and Falkland Islands; east, casually or irregularly, to Mississippi Valley (Louisiana, Illinois, Nebraska, etc.). 141. A. cyanoptera VizILu. Cinnamon Teal. b%. Width of upper mandible near tip less than one-third the length of the cul- men, the upper and lateral outlines straight for terminal half. (Wing less than 8.00.) (Subgenus Wettion Kaur.) c. Adult male: A broad white bar across side of breast; inner webs of outermost scapulars vermiculated with dusky and whitish, the outer webs with a longitudinal spot of black, bordered internally by a white line; head and upper neck chestnut-rufous, varied by a broad patch of bright metallic green from eye backward, this bordered beneath by a line of pale buffy or whitish ; a similar line on each side of forehead, continued backward, less distinctly, along upper edge of the green patch; a short tuft or “ mane” of bluish black on upper hind-neck ; chin and upper throat dull black ; lower neck, upper back, scapulars, sides, and flanks, delicately waved with black and white; speculum bright metallic green, the lower feathers black, tipped with white; lower tail-coverts black medially, with a cream-colored patch on each side. Adult female: Wing much as in adult male; upper parts grayish dusky, varied by dull buffy edgings and bars; head, neck, and lower parts brownish white, 94 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. the head and neck speckled with dusky, the markings enlarged and aggregated on pileum so as to form the prevailing color, and also along upper border of auricular region, producing a more or less distinct postocular stripe; crop, sides, and flanks heavily spotted with dusky; belly sometimes plain whitish, but usually (?) speckled. Young male: Similar to adult female, but entire belly and sides immaculate white. Downy young: Above grayish brown, with a light grayish buff spot on each side of back and a similar pair on rump; wings crossed near end by a light grayish buff bar; head, neck, and lower parts dull light buff, the pileum and nape grayish brown, darker on top of head, where scarcely reaching the forehead ; a dusky postocular streak, and an oblong dusky auric- ular spot. Length 12.50-15.00, wing 6.25-7.40, culmen 1.40-1.60, tarsus 1.25, middle toe 1.30-1.35. .Hggs 1.75 x 1.28, pale dull buff. Hab. Whole of North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States, in winter, south to Honduras and Cuba. 139. A. carolinensis GuzL. Green-winged Teal. ce. Adult male: Similar to corresponding stage of A. carolinensis, but no white bar on side of breast, black and whitish undulations of sides, etc., much coarser, inner webs of outermost scapulars wholly and outer webs partly white, the exposed portion of outer webs mostly black ; other plumages not distinguishable with certainty from cor- responding stages of A. carolinensis (?); size about the same as A. carolinensis. Eggs 1.76 X 1.30, pale dull buff. Hab. Northern por- tions of eastern hemisphere ; occasional in eastern North America. 138. A. crecca Linn. European Teal. a. Culmen shorter than middle toe, without claw. b'. Distance from anterior border of nostril to tip of upper mandible more than three times the distance from same point to nearest loral feathers; lamella numerous, fine, more than 30 being visible from outside; tail- feathers 16. (Subgenus Chaulelasmus Bonaparte.) Adult male: Head and neck pale brownish or whitish, thickly speckled with black; top of head sometimes plain light brown; crop varied with crescentic bars of white and black, the latter predominating ; sides, back, and scapulars finely undulated with slate-color and white; many of the longer scapulars plain brownish gray, broadly edged with paler; middle wing-covert region bright chestnut, the anterior lesser coverts brownish gray, and the posterior ones deep black, the last row deep velvety black; speculum white, the lower feathers ashy, narrowly tipped with white; crissum and upper tail- coverts deep velvety black; bill bluish black, iris brown, legs and feet dull orange-yellow, the webs dusky. Adult male in breeding season: Similar to the winter male, but colors duller, crown dusky, rump and breast tinged with rusty, and under parts more spotted with dusky. Adult female: Colors chiefly brownish dusky and ANAS. 95 brownish white, in longitudinal streaks on head and neck and in irregular transverse spots and bars on other portions; the dusky predominating above, the white below; wing nearly as in the male, but the chestnut absent or barely indicated, and the gray of the wing-coverts more or less barred and tipped with white; belly and lower part of breast pure white, throat finely streaked with dusky. Downy young: Above dull dark brownish, with a spot of sulphur- yellow on each side of rump and back of each wing, the wings also marked with this color; “forehead, space round the eye, throat, and chest pale sulphur-yellow; abdomen white, shaded with sul- phur-yellow, on the lower part sooty gray.” (DressEr.) Male: Length 19.25-21.75, wing 10.25-11.00, culmen 1.60-1.75, tarsus 1.45- 1.70, middle toe 1.80-1.90. Female: Length about 18.00, wing 10.00-10.25, culmen 1.55-1.65, tarsus 1.60, middle toe 1.75-1.80. eggs 2.09 x 1.57, pale buff or buffy white. Hab. Northern hemi- sphere in general, breeding in temperate regions. 135. A. strepera Linn. Gadwall. 6. Distance from anterior border of nostril to tip of upper mandible less than three times the distance from the same point to nearest feathers of lores; lamelle coarser, less than 15 being visible from outside; tail- feathers 14, the tail much graduated. (Adult males with forehead and fore part of crown, posterior half of middle wing-covert region, and belly, plain white; speculum metallic green anteriorly, velvety black posteriorly ; crop plain vinaceous; sides, flanks, scapulars, and back, delicately waved with dusky upon a paler ground; under tail-coverts plain black.) (Subgenus Mareca STEPHENS.) ce. Adult male in winter: Head and upper neck plain rufous, the forehead varying from white to ochraceous; crop and sides of breast vina- ceous; sides, flanks, and whole back white, waved with blackish. Male after breeding season: “ Head and neck as in the old female; back, scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, and wing dark ashy blackish gray; the fore parts of the back with indistinct whitish vermic- ulations, the rest of the back and scapulars edged with fulvous ; wings as in winter dress; but the larger coverts are ashy blue- gray, not white, the median coverts being darker with rather lighter edges; tail as in the winter dress; underparts white; the upper part of the breast and flanks rusty brown; under tail-coverts white with a grayish tinge, and having large blackish brown central blotches.” (Dresszr.) Adult female: Head and upper neck pale rusty, speckled and barred with dusky, especially on crown ; upper parts dusky brown, the feathers edged and more or less barred with pale brown and whitish ; white patch on wing-coverts merely indi- cated by white tips to feathers; speculum grayish, without lustre ; crop, sides, and flanks indistinctly barred with grayish brown, and dull light rufous, or fulvous; rest of lower parts white, the lower 96 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. tail-coverts barred with brown. Young male: Similar to adult female, but more richly colored. Length 18.00-20.00, wing 10.00- 11.00, culmen 1.35-1.45, tarsus 145-160. Hyggs 2.23 x 1.53, pale buff. Hab. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere; occasional in eastern North America, and frequent in Alaska. 136. A. penelope Linn. Widgeon. ce, Adult male: Head and upper neck whitish, thickly flecked (except on forehead and part of crown) with blackish, the former ornamented on each side by a broad space of bright metallic green, extending from eye to occiput; crop, sides, and flanks vinaceous, all except the first waved with black; back and scapulars grayish white (usually tinged with vinaceous) waved with black. Adult female : Head and neck dull whitish, streaked with dusky ; crop, sides, and flanks dull vinaceous ; upper parts dusky grayish brown, irregularly and coarsely barred with dull white, or buffy; smaller wing-coverts dull dark grayish, tipped and edged with white. Young male: Similar to adult female, but colors more pronounced and pattern better defined, especially the wing-markings. Downy young: Above dark olive-brown, relieved by a spot of greenish buff on posterior border of each wing, one on each side of back, and one on each side of rump; top of head and hind-neck, dark olive, like back ; rest of head and neck, with lower parts, pale olive-buff or fulvous, the side of the head with a dusky streak, extending from bill, through eye, to occiput. Length 18.00-22.00, wing 10.25-11.00, culmen 1.30-1.50, tarsus 1.45-1.65. Eggs 2.06 x 1.48, pale buff. Hab. North America in general, breeding chiefly north of the United States; south, in winter, to Guatemala and Cuba. 137. A. americana GmeL. Baldpate. Gznus SPATULA Bots. (Page 85, pl. XXIII, fig. 3.) Species. Adult male: Head and neck dark metallic bluish green; breast and outer scapulars white, the former sometimes spotted with dusky; rest of lower parts uniform chestnut, the crissum dark metallic bluish green, bordered anteriorly by a band of finely undulated grayish white; wing-coverts light grayish blue, the last row tipped with white, forming a narrow band across the wing; speculum bright metallic green, very narrowly tipped with white; bill deep black, iris bright yel- low, and feet rich orange-red in life. Adult female: Wings as in the male, but colors rather duller; rest of plumage grayish brown, varied with brownish white, above, the head and neck brownish white, streaked with dusky, the lower parts similar but spotted instead of streaked; bill brown, the mandible orange; iris and feet as in the male. Young male: Similar to the adult female, but colors richer, the abdomen tinged with chestnut. Young female: Similar to the adult, but wing-cov- erts dull slate-gray with little or no blue tinge, the speculum dusky, faintly glossed DAFILA. 97 with green, and rather broadly tipped with brownish white. Downy young: Above grayish brown, with a brownish white spot on each side of back, and a correspond- ing pair on the rump; pileum darker brown than nape; rest of head and neck, with entire lower parts, pale grayish fulvous, or dull pale buff, shaded with grayish across jugulum ; side of head with a dark brown stripe, from upper posterior angle of bill to eye, and thence back about half way to occiput; beneath this a similar stripe crossing auriculars and extending back towards nape. Length 17.00-21.00, wing 9.00-10.00, culmen 2.60-2.90, width of bill at end 1.10-1.20, at base .60, tarsus 1.40-1.50. Eggs 2.12 x 1.48, pale olive-buff’or brownish buff. Hab. Northern hemisphere in general, breeding chicfly northward. 142. S. clypeata (Linn.). Shoveller. Genus DAFILA SrepHens. (Page 85, pl. XXIII, fig. 4.) Species. a‘, Lower half of head plain brown (male) or dull whitish streaked with dusky (female); tail dusky or grayish, the feathers (except middle pair) with paler edges; lower parts white, sometimes streaked, but never spotted, with dusky ; secondaries narrowly tipped with white or buffy; bill lead-color with black stripe on culmen (in male) or entirely dusky (female). (Subgenus Dafila.y Adult male: Head and upper neck plain hair-brown, darker on crown, and faintly glossed on sides of occiput with metallic green and purple; upper half of hind-neck black, with a white stripe on each side, confluent with the white of the crop and other lower parts; back, sides, and flanks finely waved with white and dusky; longer scapulars velvety black, edged with whitish; tertials silvery gray, marked with a velvety black median stripe; speculum varying from dull metallic green to bronzy purple, tipped with white, and crossed by a subterminal bar of velvety black ; wing-coverts uniform brownish gray, the last row broadly tipped with cinnamon, producing a distinct bar; length about 26.00-30.00, wing 10.25-11.20, middle tail-feathers 7.25-9.50, culmen 1.85-2.15, tarsus 1.55-1.85. Adult female: Above grayish dusky, varied with irregular bars of yellowish white or pale ochraceous, these markings often U- shaped; wing much as in the male, but colors duller, the smaller cov- erts tipped with whitish; head and neck dingy whitish, every where streaked, except sometimes on throat, with blackish ; lower parts chiefly white, the flanks and under tail-coverts streaked with dusky; length 21.00-23.50, wing 9.60-10.10, middle tail-feathers 4.50-5.00, culmen 1.80- 2.10, tarsus 1.65. Male in breeding plumage : Similar to adult female, but wings as in spring and winter plumage. Young male: Similar to adult female, but markings on upper parts more transverse, and belly some- times (always ?) streaked with dusky. Young female : Similar to young male, but speculum pale brownish, more or less marked with dusky an- teriorly ; lower parts everywhere thickly streaked with dusky. Downy 13 98 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. young: Above grayish olive, with a dull white stripe along each side of back, a white space on wing, and a yellowish white superciliary stripe ; below grayish white tinged with sulphur-yellow (this deeper in younger individuals); a brown stripe behind each eye, and an indistinct spot of same over ears. Eggs 2.21 x 1.47, varying from pale brownish buff to pale grayish green. Hab. Northern hemisphere in general; in North America, breeding from northern United States northward, and winter- ing south to Cuba and Panama........... 143. D. acuta (Linn.). Pintail a. Lower half of head, with upper fore-neck, plain white; tail creamy buff, fading into white at tip; lower parts buff, marked everywhere with roundish spots of black, largest on sides; secondaries very broadly tipped with buff; basal half of bill, on sides, pale-colored (rose-red in life); sexes alike. (Subgenus Poecilonetta Exton.) D. bahamensis (Lisy.). Bahama Pintail.? Gexts AIX Bore. (Page 85, pl. XXIIL, fig. 5.) - Species. Common CuHanacters.—Adult males with the plumage strikingly variegated with boldly contrasted and brilliant colors; head varied with rich metallic green and purple and pure white; chest rich purplish chestnut; sides of breast crossed by a broad bar of pure white immediately followed by one of velvety black; sides and flanks buffy, delicately waved with black, the tips of the broad outermost feathers broadly barred with purest white and most intense black; belly white; upper parts varied with velvety black and various metallic hues, the outer webs of the primaries hoary, passing into white at tips. Adult females with head plum- beous or brownish gray, varied with white; chest brownish, spotted with white; upper parts without black, but with much metallic purple. a. Feathering at base of upper mandible extending much farther forward below than above, the upper basal portion of the mandible forming a very deep angle between the feathering of the forehead and that of the lores; depth of bill at base much greater than its width; feathers on sides of head and neck short and velvety ; innermost tertial of normal form ; tail half as long as the wing, graduated, the feathers very broad, and extending far beyond the coverts. (Subgenus Air.) Adult male: Head metallic green, purple, and violet relieved by a pure white line extending backward from the angle of the upper mandible along each side of the crown and upper border of the crest; another from behind the eye backward along the lower edge of the crest, and two much broader transverse bars crossing the cheeks and side of neck, respectively, and confluent with a white throat-patch ; upper parts chiefly velvety black, varied with metallic tints of bronze, purple, blue, and 1 Poecilonetta Extos, Monog. Anat. 1928, 116. Type, Anas bahamensia Lisx. 2 Anas bahamensis Lisx., 8. N. ed. 10, 1. 1758, 224. Dajila bahamensis Gray, Gen. B. iii. 1849, 615. : 99 green; chest rich chestnut glossed with reddish purple, and marked with triangular white spots; sides of breast crossed with a broad pure white bar and a broad deep black one immediately behind it; sides and flanks delicately waved with black on a buff or pale fulvous ground, the outermost feathers beautifully ornamented with broad crescentic bars of pure white and velvety black; belly white; bill (in life) beautifully varied with jet-black, milk-white, lilac, red, orange. and yellow ; length about 19.00-20.50, wing 9.00-9.50, culmen 1.40. Adult female: Feathers round base of bill, around eye (and extending thence back to the occi- put), chin, and whole throat, white ; rest of head leaden gray, the crown and slightly developed occipital erest glossed with greenish; chest brownish, spotted with buit or whitish; remaining lower parts chiefly white; upper parts chiely gravish brown, richly glossed on wings, scapolars. ete.. with reddish purple and other metallic tints; length about 17.00-19.50. Diwny young: Above dark hair-brown, darker, or approaching clove-brown, on top of head and tail; a dingy whitish bar along posterior edge of arm-wing. and a roundish spot of same on each side of rump; lores. superciliary stripe. and sides of head cenerally, bright sulphury buff, crossed by a broad stripe of blackish brown. from eye to occiput ; lower parts dingy white, the sides more brownish, crossed on flanks by a whitish bar. Vest in holes in trees. often at a great heizht from the ground. £ggs 2.03 X13. pale buff, or buffy white. Hud. Whole of temperate North America; Cuba; accidental in Europe. 144. A. sponsa (Lryy.). Wood Duck. a’. Feathering at base of bill extending farther forward above than below, and forming a siraight line from the side of the forehead to the lower basal cor- ner of the mandible; depth of bill at base not greater than its width; feathers on side of neck (in adult male) much elongated, forming a conspicu- ous ruff of soft narrow feathers ; innermost tertial with the shart much bent, giving the outer web of falcate form, the inner (upper) web widened into an excessively broad sail-like ornament ; tail much less than half as long as wing. nearly even, and shorter than the lower coverts. (Subgenus Dendronessa Swaryson.') Adult male: Smaller than 4. sponsa ; similar in general style of coloration, but middle upper portion of crest chestnut. lengthened feathers or sides of neck tawny chestnut, streaked with ochraceous. whole loral region bus. ete. Hab. Eastern Asia (domesticated extensively in China and Ja e Pan A. galericulata ( Lry.). Mandarin Duck.? 1 Dendronessa Swarss., F. B. A. ii. 1531, £97. Type, inas galericulata Liss. sees 2 4rav galerieulata Liss. §. VN. ed. 10, 1.1755, 125. Aix galer‘ewlata © Ervos, Mon. Anat. 1838. 100 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Genus CAIRINA Fizmine.’ (Page 87.) Species. Adult male: Head, neck, and lower parts, uniform glossy brownish black ; upper parts brilliant metallic blackish green, glossed with purple anteriorly and on rump; wing-coverts, above and below, entirely pure white; caruncles along sides of forehead, etc., bright pinkish red, or roseé-red, in life; bill varied with blackish and pinkish white or light rose-color; length nearly 3 feet, wing about 16.00, tail 9.00, tarsus 2.00, or more. Adult female: Entirely brownish black, except some of the upper greater wing-coverts, which are white; upper parts glossed with metallic green and purple; length about 2 feet, wing 12.50, tail 5.50, tarsus 2.00. Hab. Tropical America, from Paraguay and southern Brazil to Mexico; Louisiana? C. moschata (Liny.). Muscovy Duck.” Genus NETTA Kavp. (Page 85, pl. XXIII, fig. 2.) Species. Adult. male: Head and upper neck vinaceous-rufous, the full, soft, “bushy” crest paler, and more ochraceous; lower neck, stripe along hind-neck, most of the lower parts, and rump, uniform brownish black; back and scapulars light brown, with a broad transverse bar, or patch, on outer portion of scapular region ; specu- lum chiefly white; anterior border and under side of wing, and a very large patch on flanks, white; bill and feet bright vermilion-red in life; length about 21.00, wing 10.20, culmen 2.00. Adult female: Crest much smaller than in male; upper half of head and stripe down hind-neck, light hair-brown; rest of head and neck, with lower parts in general, pale grayish, the chest and sides more brownish; rump dark brownish; no white scapular patch, and white anterior border to wing indistinct; bill dusky or brownish, the tip paler (pinkish in life); wing 9.90, cul- men 1.90. Immature male: Much like the adult female, but crest still less devel- oped, and more reddish ; under part and sides of head interspersed with cinnamon- colored feathers; breast, etc., mixed with black feathers; white scapular patch distinctly indicated. Downy young: Upper parts dull olive-gray, lower parts and scapular spot pale yellowish gray ; lores with two olive-gray stripes, one ascending over eye, and bordering a yellowish gray superciliary stripe, the other passing below the eye, across cheeks and ear-coverts. Hggs 2.19 X 1.68, pale olive-buff. Hab. Southern and eastern Europe, together with portions of Africa and Asia; accidental in eastern United States (Fulton Market, New York City). 145. N. rufina (Patt.). Rufous-crested Duck. 1 Oairina “ Fremine, Phil. of Zool. 1822, 260.” Type, Anas moschata Linn. 2 Anas moschata Linn., 8. N. ed. 10, i, 1758, 124. Catrina moschata “ Fiem., Philos, Zool. 1822, 260.” AYTHYA. 101 Genus AYTHYA Bors. (Page 85, pl. XXIV., figs. 1-3.) Species. Common CHaracters.—Adult males with the head and part of the neck uni- form chestnut or black, the lower neck uniform black (except in a few exotic species); back and scapulars waved with white and black; speculum bluish gray, or white, tipped with black; lower parts white. Adult females with head, neck, chest, and upper parts plain brownish, the head paler or whitish next the bill; speculum as in the male. a. Culmen longer than inner toe, with claw; bill not wider near end than at base; head and neck reddish in adult males. b'. Bill much shorter than middle toe without claw, its greatest width nearly half the length of the culmen, the end moderately depressed, and the nail decidedly hooked. (Subgenus Aythya.) ec. Adult male: Head and upper half of neck rich chestnut-red, glossed with reddish purple; lower neck, chest, upper back, rump, and tail- coverts (above and below) black; back, scapulars, sides, and flanks waved or vermiculated with white and black, in nearly equal pro- portion; belly immaculate white. Adult female: Head and neck grayish brown, darker above, the fore part of the former lighter, almost white on chin and upper throat; back, scapulars, chest, sides, and flanks dull grayish brown, the feathers tipped with paler, or fulvous. Downy young: Above ochraceous olive-brown, with an indistinct yellowish spot behind each wing, another on the hind border of the arm-wing, and a third on each side of the rump; whole sides of head and neck, with lower parts in general, deep buff-yellow, paler and duller on belly and ventral region; no dark markings on side of head. Length 17.00-21.00, wing 8.50-9.25, culmen 2.05-2.25, greatest width of bill .75-.85. Eygs 2.42 X 1.73, pale olive-buff or pale dull greenish buff. Hab. Whole of North America, breeding from Maine and California northward. 146. A. americana (Eyrt.). Redhead. ce, Adult male: Wead and whole neck chestnut-rufous, without distinct purple gloss; back, scapulars, and whole lower parts, except chest and under tail-coverts, white, everywhere finely waved or vermic- ulated with dusky; otherwise like A. americana, but upper man- dible (in life) pale blue only between nostril and end, the basal por- tion being dusky. Adult female: Differing from the same sex of A. americana chiefly in the color of the bill (hardly appreciable in dried specimens) and in the different proportions. Wing 8.00-8.50, culmen 2.20-2.40, greatest width of bill .70-.78. Hab. Europe, with portions of Africa and Asia. A. ferina (Linn.). Pochard.t 1 Anas ferina Linn,, 8. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 126. Aythya ferina Bors, Isis, 1822, 564. 102 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. b?. Culmen as long as middle toe, without claw, its greatest width not more than one-third the length of the culmen; the end much flattened, and nail very slightly hooked. (Subgenus Aristonetta BarrpD.") Adult male; Head and neck reddish brown, the former blackish on top; chest, upper back, lower rump, and upper and under tail-coverts, black ; rest of plumage (except quills, etc.) white, the upper parts, sides, flanks, and ventral region, finely waved or vermiculated with dusky. Adult female: Head, neck, chest, and upper back, raw- umber brown, the fore part of the head and fore-neck whitish ; scapulars, sides, and flanks similar, but tips of the feathers vermicu- lated with whitish. Length about 20.00-23.50, wing 8.75-9.25, culmen 2.10-2.50, greatest depth of bill .75-.80. Eggs 2.48 X 1.76, pale grayish drab or very pale grayish olive-green. Hab. Whole of North America, bréeding far northward. 147. A, vallisneria (Wits.). Canvas-back. @. Culmen as long as outer toe, with claw; bill wider at end than at base; head and neck black in adult males. (Subgenus Fuligula STEPHENS.) b'. Speculum white, tipped with black. c. Back and scapulars in adult male grayish white irregularly waved or zigzagged with black; no pendent crest on occiput. d', Flanks immaculate white. e. Six inner quills with a distinct white space on the inner web. Adult male: Head, neck, and chest uniform black, the first with a greenish gloss; wing-coverts dusky, “ grizzled” with grayish white; bill (in life) pale grayish blue, or bluish white, with black nail. Adult male at end of breeding sea- son: “Plumage resembling that of the female, but the brown on the head and neck is blackish brown, the back is more barred with dirty white, the beak is lighter blue, and the eyes richer yellow.” (DrezssEr.) Adult female: Head and neck snuff-brown, the former white round base of bill; chest, ventral region, and lower tail-coverts pale grayish brown, fading into white on belly, etc.; sides and flanks deeper brown; upper parts nearly plain brownish dusky, the wings much as in the male. Downy young: “Crown, nape, and upper parts uniform dark olive-brown; throat, sides of the head, and fore part of the neck, yellowish white; a dull grayish band crosses the lower neck, rest of the under parts dull yellowish, the flanks grayish yellow.” (Dresser.) Length 18.00-20.00, wing 825-850 (8.42) culmen 1.95-2.05 (2.00), greatest width of bill .90-1.00 1 Aristonetta Barnv, B. N. Am. 1858, 793. Type, Anas valliseneria Wits, This subgenus, which was unani- mously accepted by the A. 0. U. Committee, was accidentally omitted from the Check List, AYTHYA. 108 (.95), least width .70-.85 (78). Hab. Northern portions of Old World, from western Europe to Kamtschatka. A. marila (Liny.). Scaup Duck. e’. Six inner quills without distinct white spaces on inner webs; otherwise not appreciably different from A. marila ; length 18.00-20.00, wing 8.25-9.00 (8.63), culmen 1.85-2.20 (2.03), greatest width of bill .85-1.05 (.97), least width .70-.90 (79). Eggs 2.54 x 1.71, pale buffy olive-gray. Hab. North America in general, breeding far northward; south, in winter, to Guatemala. 148. A. marila nearctica Srzyn. American Scaup Duck. @. Flanks vermiculated or zigzagged with blackish. é. Similar to A. marila nearctica (including absence of distinct white spaces on six inner quills), but black of head in male glossed with purplish instead of green; length 15.00-16.50, wing 7.50-8.25 (7.81), culmen 1.58-1.90 (1.75), greatest width of bill .80-.95 (.89), least width .60-.78 (.69). Eggs 2.25 X 1.58, same color as in F. marila nearctica. Hab. North America in general, breeding northward; south, in winter, to Guatemala and West Indies. 149. A. affinis (Eyr.). Lesser Scaup Duck. e*. Similar to A. affnis, but six inner quills with a distinct white space on inner webs, as in A. marila. Hab. Eastern Asia (Japan and southward). A. affinis mariloides (Via.). Chinese Scaup Duck. c’. Back and scapulars, in adult male, black, sometimes minutely sprinkled with whitish ; a long, pendent occipital crest. Otherwise, in color, much like A. marila; wing 7.60-8.10, culmen 1.85-1.90, greatest width of bill .75-.85. Hab. Northern parts of Old World, from western Europe to Kamtschatka. A. fuligula (Liny.). Crested Scaup Duck.? b*%. Speculum bluish gray. Adult male : Head, neck, chest, under tail-coverts, and upper parts black, the head with a violet-purple gloss, and middle of neck with a more or less distinct collar of chestnut ; chin with a triangular white spot; bill trans- versely banded with black, grayish white, and plumbeous. Adult female :* 1 Anas marila Linn., Faun. Suec. 2d ed. 1761, 39. Aythya marila Bory, Isis, 1822, 564. 2 Fuligula mariloides Via., Zool. Blossom, 1839, 31 (in text).