DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 69 



to dark slaty ; anal region white. Young : white collar indistinct or 

 wanting ; larger wing- coverts and secondaries broadly tipped with white. 

 Luifith: 22-29, \vinj-- 12.70-1:1.50, bill 1.20-1.35. 



Distribution. - -Western and arctic America, breeding at Point Barrow; 

 south in winter along the coast to Lower California. Rare in eastern United 

 States. 



Nest . A depression in marshy ground, lined with down. Eggs : 4 to 6. 



GENUS PHILACTE. 



176. Philacte canagica (Sevast.). EMPEROR GOOSE. 



Bill small and not much elevated at base, mainly light colored, bluish 

 or pinkish white above ; pit of nostrils reaching feathers of forehead ; feet 

 orange. Adults : head and back of neck white or stained with rusty 

 orange ; chin and throat dusky or brownish black ; rest of plumage, except 

 white tail, bluish gray, each feather with a black bar and white tip. 

 Young : similar to adult, but whole head dusky, specked with white on 

 top. Length: 26, wing- 14.30-15.75, bill 1.40-1.65. 



Distribution. Coast of Alaska, chiefly in the region of Norton Sound 

 and the lower Yukon ; south in winter to Butte County, California. Rare 

 in the United States. 



GENUS DENDROCYGNA. 



General Characters. Feet and legs long- and larg-e for a duck ; legs 

 covered with small hexagonal plates ; neck long and slender ; head not 

 crested ; sexes similar. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Feet and legs pinkish, bill yellow autumnalis, p. 69. 



1'. Feet, legs, and bill black fulva, p. 69. 



177. Dendrocygna autumnalis (Linn.). BLACK-BELLIED TREE 



DUCK. 



Adults. Crown, neck, breast, and back bright cinnamon brown ; sides 

 of head ashy gray ; belly, rump, tail, and end of wing- black ; base of 

 wing and quills with large white patches ; under tail coverts white, spotted 

 with black. Young: colors duller, bill and feet dusky. Length: 19.75- 

 24.00. wing 9.20-9.70, bill 1.90-2.15, tarsus 2.25-2.60. 



Distribution. Middle America and north to the Rio Grande Valley 

 and Nueces River, Texas. 



Nest. In hollow trees, often at considerable distance from water. 

 Eggs : 12 to 16. 



178. Dendrocygna fulva (Gmel.). FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. 

 Under parts, head, and shoulders plain buffy brown or tawny, darkest on 



crown ; back of neck with black stripe ; back and wings blackish, feathers 

 of middle of back broadly tipped with tawny ; upper and lower tail cov- 

 erts and stripes along sides creamy white. Length : 20-21, wing 8.10- 

 8.90, bill 1.65-1.95, tarsus 2.10-2.40. 



Distribution. Mexico and north to central California, Nevada, and 

 Louisiana ; also in South America, southern Asia, Africa, and Mada- 

 gascar. 



N es t. In hollow trees or more commonly on ground in marsh or near 

 water, a well built and often well concealed nest. Eggs : numerous, 15 to 

 30 or more. 



