DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 69 



to dark slaty ; anal reg-ion white. Young : white collar indistinct or 

 wanting- ; larger wing- coverts and secondaries broadly tipjied with white. 

 Length: 22-29, wing- 12.70-1:5.50, bill 1.20-1.35. 



Distribution. — Western 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.). Emperor 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 

 orang-e ; chin and throat dusky or l)rownish black ; rest of plumage, except 

 white tail, bluish gray, each feather with a black bar and white tip. 

 Young : similar to adult, but wbole head dusky, specked with white on 

 top. Length: 26, wing- 14.:)0-15.75, bill 1.40-1.(55. 



Distribution. — Coast of Alaska, chiefly in the reg-ion 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 larg-e for a duck ; leg's 

 covered with small hexag-onal plates ; neck long- and slender ; head not 

 created ; sexes similar. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Feet and leg's pinkish, bill yellow autumiialis, p. 09. 



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



177. Dendrocygna autumnalis (Linn.). Black-hellikd Tree 



Duck. 



Adults. — Crown, neck, breast, and back l)vight cinnamon brown ; sides 

 of head a.shy gray; belly, rump, tail, and end of wing- black; base of 

 wing and (juills with laigc white ])atfhes ; under tail coverts wliite, spotted 

 with black. Yohikj : colors duller, bill and feet dusky. Length: l'J.75- 

 24.00, wing- !».20-0.to, bill 1.00-2.15, tarsus 2.25-2.00. 



Distribution. — Middle Anu-rica and north to the Kio Grande Valley 

 and Nueces River, Texa.s. 



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

 Eggs : 12 to 1(>. 



178. Dendrocygna fulva {(inuL). Filvois Trek-du'Ck. 



Under parts, head, and shotdders \)\.\\n bufFy brown or tawny, darkest on 

 crown ; l)ack of lu-ek with black stripe ; back and wings blackish, feathera 

 of middle of l):uk broadly tipped with tawny ; upi)er and lower tail cov- 

 erts and stnj)es along sides creamv white. Length: 20-21, wing- 8.10- 

 S.IM), bill l.f;,-,-1.05, tarsus 2.10-2.40." 



Distribution. — Mexico and north to central California, Nevada, and 

 Louisiana; also in Sonth America, southern Asia. Africa, and Mada- 

 pasear. 



Nest. — In hollow trees or more commonly <tn grotind in marsh or near 

 water, .-i well built and often well concealed nest. Eggs: numerous, 15 to 

 iiO or more. 



