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. 

 Length : 22-2i), wing 12.70-18.50. bill 1.20-1.:^"). 



Distribution. — AVestern 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 PHIIiACTE. 



176. Philacte canagica (Sevast.). Empkkor 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 Avith a black bar and white tip. 

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

 top. Length: 20, wing 14.80-1.J.75, bill 1.40-1.05. 



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 large 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 auturanalis. p. 09. 



r. Feet, legs, and bill black fulva. p. 09. 



177. Dendrocygna autumnalis (X/««.). Black-hellied Tkee 



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 ftM;t dusky. Length: 19.75- 

 24.00. wing 0.2()-'.>.70, bill 1.90-2.15, tarsus 2.25-2.00. 



Distribution. — Middle America and noith to the Kio (trande Valley 

 and Nueces River, Texas. 



Ne.tt. — In hollow trees, often at considerable distance from water. 

 Eggs : 12 to 10. 



178. Dendrocygna fulva idmrl.). Filvoi s Tree-duck. 



Under parts, head, and shoulders ])W\n Imlly brown or tawny, <l;irkp.st on 

 crown ; back of neck witli black stri))r ; l)ack .iiid wings l)lacki.sli. fc.-ithci-s 

 of middle (»f back broadly tii)i)ed with tawny ; upper and lower tail cov- 

 erts and stiipes along sides creamv white. Length: 20-21, wing 8.10- 

 8.JM), bill 1.05-1.05. tarsns 2.10-2.40.' 



Distribution. — Mexico and n«)rth to central California. Nevada, and 

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

 gascar. 



Nest. — In hollow trees or more commonly «»n ground in ni:irsli or near 

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

 80 or more. 



