BIRDS. 15 



SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA, Hartlaub, (p. 729.) Willet. 



Scolopax semipalmatus, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659. 



SP. CH. The largest American species of this genus. Bill longer than the head, straight, rather thick, and strong ; groove 

 in the upper mandible extending about half its length, in the lower mandible nearly obsolete ; wings long ; legs long, strong ; 

 toes moderate, united at base by membranes, the larger of which unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; tail short. 

 Adult. Entire upper parts dark ash colr, (without spots;) the shafts of the feathers brownish black; rump and upper tail 

 coverts white. Under parts white, tinged with ashy on the neck and sides ; axillaries and under wing coverts brownish black ; 

 primary quills white at base, and tipped with brownish black ; secondaries white, spotted with brownish black ; tail ashy white, 

 the two middle feathers strongly tinged with ashy ; others spotted with dark ashy brown. Bill dark bluish brown, lighter at 

 base ; legs light blue. Younger. Entire plumage spotted, and transversely banded with brownish black. 



Total length about 15 inches ; wing, ; tail, 3^ ; bill about 2&amp;lt;| ; tarsus about 2 inches. 



No. 9818. Great Basin, Utah. 



NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, Wilson, (p. 743.) Long-billed Curlew. 



SP. CH. The largest American species of this genus. Bill very long, much curved; upper mandible longer than the under, 

 somewhat knobbed at the tip ; wing rather long ; legs moderate ; toes united at base. Entire upper parts pale rufous, tinged 

 with ashy ; every feather with transverse and confluent bands of brownish black, most numerous and predominating on the back 

 and scapulars ; secondary quills, under wing coverts, and axillaries, bright rufous ; primaries with their outer webs brownish 

 black and their inner webs rufous, with transverse bands of black. Under parts pale rufous, with longitudinal lines of black on 

 the neck and sides ; tail rufous, tinged with ashy, transversely barred with brownish black Bill brownish black ; base of under 

 mandible reddish yellow; legs bluish brown. Specimens vary to some extent in the shade of the rufous color of the plumage, 

 and very much in the length of the bill. The rufous color is probably more distinct in the young. Total length about 25 inches ; 

 wing, 10 to 11 ; tail, 4; bill, 5 to 8; tarsus, 2 inches. 



Great Salt Lake, May 15, 1854. (No. 2.) 



FULICA AMERICANA, Gmelin, (p. 751.) Coot; Poule d Eau ; Mud Hen. 



Fulica americana, GM., Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 704. 



SP. CH. Head and neck glossy black, with a tinge of ashy ; under tail coverts white. Entire other plumage dark bluish 

 cinereous or slate color, with a tinge of olive on the back and darker on the rump. Edge of wing at shoulder and edge of first 

 primary white; secondary quills tipped with white; rump frequently tinged with brownish. Bill very pale yellow or nearly 

 white, with a transverse band of brownish black near the end ; tip white ; legs dull grayish green. Female similar, but with 

 the tints lighter. Young like the adult, but with the under parts lighter ; abdomen frequently ashy white ; back and rump dark 

 olive brown ; head and neck lighter. 



Total length about 14 inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 2 inches. 



9984. Great Salt Lake City. 



CYGNUS AMERICANUS, Sharp] ess, (p. 758.) American Swan. 



Cygnus americanus, SHA.KPLESS, Doughty s Cab. N. H. I, 1830, 185, pi. xvi. 



SP. CH. Bill as long as the head, broad, high at the base ; the feathers ending on the forehead in a semicircular outline. 

 Nostrils far forward, the anterior extremity considerably more forward than half the commissure. Tail of 20 feathers. 



Adult pure white ; bill and legs black ; the former with an orange or yellowish spot in front of the eye. Less mature 

 specimens with the head above tinged with reddish brown. Length, 55 inches ; wing, 22. 00 ; tarsus, 4. 25 ; bill above, 4. 20. 



Hub. Continent of North America. 



9978. Salt Lake City. 



ANAS BOSCHAS, L. (p. 774.) Mallard. 



Anas loschas, LINN. Syst. Nat. T, 1766, 205. 



SP. CH. Male. Head and neck bright grass green, with violet gloss, the top of the head duller; a white ring round the 

 middle of the neck, below which and on the fore part and sides of the breast the color is dark brownish chestnut. Under parts 



