BIRDS OF A'J-V.S.l.S. 87 



I 



with grayish; bill deep black; iris bright yellow; feet orange yellow, with 

 dusky webs. Adult female: Similar to that of C. islandica, but head and neck 

 hair brown or grayish brown, rather than purplish sepia or snuff brown, aiid 

 white on the wing usually not interrupted by a distinct black bar. Downy 

 youny: Upper parts generally, including the whole upper half of the head, to 

 the rictus, and considerably below the eyes, the jugulum, sides and thighs, deep 

 sooty brown, lighter and more grayish on the jugulum; the brown of the upper 

 parts relieved by about eight spots of grayish white, as follows: one on the pos- 

 terior border (secondary region) of each wing; One on each side the back, one 

 on each side the rump, at the base of the tail, and one on each flank just before 

 the brown of the thighs; chin, throat and cheeks pure white, in abrupt and 

 decided contrast to the brown, which entirely surrounds it; remaining lower 

 parts grayish white; bill brownish; nail yellowish." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 20.00 31.50 9.10 4.00 1.60 1.40 



Female... 18.00 28.50 8.25 3.60 1.50 1.30 



This species has been found breeding at Lake Umbagog, 

 New Hampshire, Calais, Maine, Manitoba, and north to New- 

 foundland and the Yukon River, Alaska. I have met with the 

 birds upon both coasts, and in the interior, but nowhere in 

 abundance, or very common. They are at home on the water, 

 and when approached usually escape by diving. In leaving 

 the water they run for some distance upon its surface, striking 

 vigorously with their wings and feet, making with their wings 

 a whistling noise, that in flight can be heard a long distance. 

 Their food is procured almost wholly by diving; it consists of 

 small bivalves, Crustacea, fishes, etc. I have never found any 

 grasses or seeds in their crops, but they undoubtedly do occa- 

 sionally feed on vegetable matter. 



Their nests are placed in holes and hollow cavities in stumps 

 and trees, and lined with feathers and down; sometimes a foun- 

 dation is made of leaves and grass. Eggs usually nine or ten. 

 A set taken May 15th, 1882, from a hole in a tree, at Umbagog 

 Lake, New Hampshire, are in dimensions: 2.45x1.75, 2.45x 

 1.78, 2.48x1.79, 2.38x1.74^2.45x1.77; and of a uniform light 

 grayish pea green; in form, ovate. 



GENUS CHARITONETTA STEJNEGEB. 



Distance from anterior end of nostril to tip of bill much greater than from 

 same point to loral feathers; tail more than twice as long as tarsus. (Ridgway.} 



