324 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE CREEK BROADBILL. 



FuLIGTJLA MINOR. 



Fuligula marila. Audubon, Birds of America, Vol. 6, p. 316, pi. 397 (male and female). 

 F. minor. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 323. 



Characteristics. Closely allied to the preceding. Mirror white, and restricted to the 

 secondaries alone. Head subcrested. Length, 17'0. 



Description. Bill broad and flattened as in the preceding, 2 - long. Tarsus 1 • 13. 

 Head with its feathers more elongated. 



Color. Head and neck deeply tinged with purple. In all other respects, the markings in 

 both sexes are so nearly identical with the preceding as scarcely to be distinguished. 



Length, 17-0. 



The sportsmen on the seacoast of New-York have long been accustomed to consider as 

 distinct two kinds of Broadbill, which they term the Black-headed or Big Broadbill, and the 

 Green-headed or Little Creek Broadbill. It is this latter which has been well described by 

 Mr. Audubon, but referred to the larger species. 



Several eminent ornithologists have been struck by the great discrepancy in the dimensions 

 assigned to the Broadbill, varying no less than from 16*5 to 20 inches; but, until recently, 

 no one has suspected that they might possibly be two closely allied species. Mr. Audubon, 

 who is very familiar with these birds, appears to entertain the opinion that this is but a mere 

 variety of the preceding ; at least he will not pronounce it to be specifically distinct.* 



I have received, through the attention of Mr. Bell, many specimens of this Creek Broadbill, 

 and agree with him and Mr. Giraud in considering it as distinct from the F. marila. It is 

 very common on the coast of this State, appearing simultaneously with the larger broadbill ; 

 and it appears to prefer the creeks and smaller streams of the interior, while the large broad- 

 bill is usually seen in the open bays. Mr. Audubon describes this species {F. minor) as 

 abundant during autumn on the Ohio and its tributaries, as well as those of the Missouri and 

 Mississippi. Its history is yet incomplete. 



r * Whilst these pages are passing through the press, I perceive that Mr. Audubon has found a species identical with the above, 

 described by Mr. Vigors in the appendix or illustrations of Beechy's Voyage, a work which I regret not being able to find in any 

 of our libraries. Mr. Vigors has described it under the name of mariloides, and Mr. Audubon no longer hesitates to adopt it as 

 a new species. 



