316 [April, 



TANTALUS. 



135. T. loculator. A few seen along the Rio Grande, during the months of 

 September and October. More common on the sloughs near El Paso del Norte, 

 where I saw a moderately large flock in August '54. 



ARDEA. 



136. A. nycticorax. Quite common in summer. 



137. A. lkntiginosa. Not very common. A few seen every summer, but 

 only on the Del Norte. 



138. A. exilis. Four or five seen during the summer of 1854, near Fort 

 Thorn. Two specimens obtained. 



139. A. virescens. Not very rare in summer. 



140. A. herodias. Quite common throughout the year. Resident. 



141. A. candidissima. Common along the Rio Grande in summer only. 



ANSER. 



142. A. Canadensis. Resident. Breeds on the Rio Grande. Found in tolerable 

 abundance throughout the winter. Not so common in summer. A few breed 

 along the river. 



143. A. albifrons. I have never seen but three of this species, of which I 

 shot two at Fort Thorn in the fall of 1854. Said to be quite common a hundred 

 and fifty miles higher up the Rio Grande del Norte. 



144. A. hvperboreus. About as common as the albifrons. Few seen below 

 Albuquerque. 



ANAS. 



145. A. boschas. Extremely common everywhere in winter. Many resident 

 throughout the year. Breed in greater or less number. 



146. A. obscura. Rare. A few seen on the Rio Grande every spring, on 

 their passage north. 



147. A. strepera. This beautiful duck is even more common than the Mal- 

 lard in ponds adjoining the Rio del Norte, but only during the spring and winter 

 months. Never observed after April till the last of October. Rare on the Rio 

 Mimbres. 



148. A. Americana. Not rare, both along the Del Norte and Mimbres in fall 

 and winter. 



149. A. acuta. Much rarer than the last. A few seen every spring and fall 

 on the Del Norte. 



150. A. sponsa. But two or three ever met with, and only on the Rio Mimbres. 



151. A. Carolinensis. Quite common during the spring and fall along the 

 Del Norte. Many winter on the Munbres. Not met with in the summer. 



152. A. discors. Not as common as the last. 



153. A. Rafflesii. This beautilul duck is the most common summer duck 

 found between latitudes 31 and 33. Rarely seen in winter. Probably breeds 

 in the section where it abounds in summer. Very common on the Mimbres and 

 Del N Tte. it is usua ly lound among the sedge that borders sloughs near a water- 

 course, where its plumage, so closely resembling the reddish brown of the withered 

 sedge of last year's growth, renders it observed vvith difficulty, thus carrying out 

 that admirable rule in nature's handiwork that so generally prevails, viz., as- 

 similation of the plumage of birds to the color of the haunts they affect. 



154. A. clypeata. Rather rare. Occasionally seen in fall and spring on the 

 Del Norte and Mimbres. 



