North American Birds Eggs. 



87 



[175.] Barnacle Goose, linnifa Inmijisis, 



This Old World species occurs fivi]ucntly in (ireenlaml iind very larcly is 

 found on the mainland of this continent. 



176. Emperor Goose. Philartr raii(i</ir(i . 



Range. — Ahiska, .south in winter casually to California. 



This handsome species is twenty-six inches in lenu:th; it may he known from 

 the mottled or "scaly" aj)pearance of the body, and the white head with a Idack 

 chin and thrt)at. W'liile not uncommon in restricted localities, this may he con- 

 sidered as one of the most rare of North American Geese. Their nests are l)uilt 

 upon the ground and do not differ from tliose of other g^-ese. They lay from 

 three to seven eggs of a dull buff color. Size 8.10 x 2.15. Data. — Stuart Island, 

 Alaska, June IH, 1900. Six eggs laid in a slight hollow in the ground, lined 

 with a few feathers and some down. Collector, Cajit. II. H. Bodtish. 



177. Black-bellied Tree Duck. DciKlronjgiKi autumiKilis. 



Range. — Tropical America, north in the Rio Grande Valley to southern Texas. 



These peculiar long-leggetl Ducks are very abundant in southern Texas during 

 the summer months. They build their nests in hollow trees, often quite a dis- 

 tance from the water. They lay their eggs upon the bottom of the cavity with 

 only a scant lining, if any, of feathers 

 and down. They are very prolific breed- 

 ers, raising two broods in a season, each 

 set of eggs containing from ten to twenty. 

 These eggs are creamv or pure white. 

 Size 2.05 x 1.50. The first set is laid dur- 

 ing the latter part of April or early in 

 May, and fresh eggs may be fountl as 

 late as July. They are especially aliund- 

 ant about IBrownsvilleand Corpus Christi, 

 Texas. Data. — Hidalgo, Mexico, May 

 29, 1900. Ten eggs in a liole in an old 

 elm tree on side of lake in big woods near 

 town. Eight feet from the ground. Col- 

 lector, F. B. Armstrong. 



[White. 





178. Fulvous Tree Duck. Dfiiflnicijfinn fiilra. 



Range.— This species is tropical like the last. l>ut the summer range is 

 extended to cover, casually, the whole southwestern border of the United States. 



This l)ird is long-legged like the last, liut the plumage is entirely different, 

 being of a general rusty color, inckuling tlie entire under parts. The nesting 

 habits and eggs are the same as those of the Black-bellied Duck, the white eggs 

 being laid at the bottom of a cavity in a tree. They numl)er from eight to (in 

 one instance) tliirty-two eggs in one iiest. This species is nearly as al)un(lant 

 as the preceding in southern Texas. 



