NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



87 



[175.] Barnacle Goose. Branta leucopsis. 



This Old World species occurs frequently in Greenland and 

 found on the mainland of this continent. 



very rarely is 



176. Emperor Goose. Philacte canagica. 



Range. Alaska, south in winter casually to California. 



This handsome species is twenty-six inches in length; it may he known from 

 the mottled or "scaly" appearance of the body, and the white head with a black 

 chin and throat. While not uncommon in restricted localities, this may be con- 

 sidered as one of the most rare of North American Geese. Their nests are built 

 upon the ground and do not differ from those of other geese. They lay from 

 three to seven eggs of a dull buff color. Size 3.10 x 2.15. Data. Stuart Island, 

 Alaska, June 16, 1900. Six eggs laid in a slight hollow in the ground, lined 

 with a few feathers and some down. Collector, Capt. H. H. Bodfish. 



177. Black-bellied Tree Duck. Dendrocygna autumnalis. 



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



These peculiar long-legged 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 creamy 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 found as 

 late as July. They are especially abund- 

 ant about Brownsville and Corpus Christi, 

 Texas. Data. Hidalgo, Mexico, May 

 29, 1900. Ten eggs in a hole 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. 





78. Fulvous Tree Duck. Dendrocygna fulva. 



Range. This species is tropical like the last, but the summer range is 

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



This bird is long-legged like the last, but the plumage is entirely different, 

 being of a general rusty color, including the entire under parts. The nest in- 

 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 number from eight t< 'in 

 one instance) thirty-two eggs in one nest. This species is nearly as abundant 

 as the preceding in southern .Texas. 



