72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Aix sponsa. The Summer Duck (very rare.) 



157. Nettion Carolinensis. The Green Wing Teal ; sometimes in autumn, 

 but generally iu the spring. 



156. Chaulelasmits stbefebus. The Gadwall; sometimes abundant, but 

 not annual. 



Anas obscura. The Dusky Duck (rare.) 



263. Anas eo.-ciias. The Mallard (rare.) 



GSdemia perspicillata. Surf Duck (very rare.; 



161. Aythya Americana. The Pochard (not uncommon.) 



Folix collaeis. The Tufted Duck (rare.) 



Nyroca leucopthalma. White-eyed Duck (very rare.) 



160. Aytuya valisneria. The Canvass Back is sometimes found in com- 

 pany with the Pintail. 



The Muscovy is the species commonly kept in poultry yard?, and in some 

 localities the English Duck is also kept. The two are often crossed. The 

 mongrels are held in higher estimation, as the young have the advantage of 

 arriving at maturity much earlier than those of either parent, and are con- 

 sidered of superior flavor to either, particularly when raised on the duck ant 

 and guinea corn. 



Note by Mr. Hill. The habitat of the Muscovy Duck is the Lake of Nica- 

 ragua. There all travellers see them at all times, either in small breeding 

 coteries or large flocks. In the wild state their plumage is dark without any 

 admixture of white. They were originally procured from the Mosquito shore. 

 the country of the Muysca Indians, (see Humboldt's researches,) and hence 

 is derived the name of Musco Duck, corrupted into Muscovy Duck. The 

 West Indian Islanders had early naturalized them, for, on the discovery of 

 Columbus, they speak of " ducks as large as geese," that they found among 

 the Indians. 



A critical Review of the Family PROd-LLARIBiE : Part I., embracing the 

 PRUCELLARIES, or Stormy Petrels. 



(Based principally on specimens in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.) 



BY ELLIOTT COUE3, M. D. 



Having occasion to publish descriptions of several new species of Pro- 

 cellaridae. which I find in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution, the 

 present seems a fitting opportunity to embody in a review of the family the 

 results arrived at in an investigation in which I have been for some time 

 engaged. The present paper is the first of a series in which will be con- 

 sidered the entire family. It embraces the section Procellarieae, an interest- 

 ing and somewhat extensive group of which the common " Mother Carey's 

 Chicken" Prooellaria pelagiea may be considered as typical. I have at- 

 tempted to elucidate the specific characters of the components of the group, 

 as well as their most natural generic disposition ; and to discuss fairly such 

 questions of synonymy as may arise. It will be perceived that in my generic 

 arrangement, I have closely followed Prince C. L. Bonaparte, whose ideas of a 

 genus, as set forth in his later writings, agree most nearly with my own. I have 

 derived most assistance, as regards specific characters, from tin very valuable 

 monograph recently published by Dr. II. Schlegel, though of course it is 

 quite impossible for me to agree with him on any points of systematic 



[March 



