ANSERINE — THE GEESE — DEXDROCYCNA. 



485 



Wing, 8.10-8.90 inches ; culmen, 1.65-1.95 ; tarsus, 2.10-2.40 ; middle too, 2.30-2.80. 

 The chief variation noticed in this species is a slight one in the precise shade of the tints. 

 Specimens from Buenos Ayres are hirger than those from Mexico, but are otherwise similar. 



The Brown Tree Duck lia.s a vory different geographical distribution IVoni that of 

 the D. autuvmalis, as it is not known to oc'cur in the northern portions of South 

 America (excepting Trinidad), Central America, or the West India Islands. It is 

 found, however, in Mexico, and extends northward near the raeihe coast of the 

 United States through portions of California aud jS'evada, and has also been met 

 with in Texas and Louisiana. 



-Mr. J. Hepburn met with this species breeding in the extensive marshes near the 

 junction of the Sacramento and the Sau Joaquin rivers, in the summer of 1SG4; Dr. 

 Cooper also mentions seeing a tlock of this species flying over the Sacramento east- 



ward, in .Tune, 1865 ; and Mr. H. D. Jlorse procured an example near San Francisco. 

 which is now in the museum of the Boston Natural History Society. 



A single individual of this species was killed near Xew Orleans on the 22d of 

 January, 1870, by Mr. N. B. Moore, and was by him pre.sented to the Smithsonian 

 Institution. This is the first, and at present the only, recorded instance of the occur- 

 rence of this species so far to the east, although it has been known for some time 

 as an inhabitant of California. Tlie first instance on record of its occurrence in that 

 State was the capture of a specimen near Fort Tejon by Mr. Hunter. 



Mr. Dresser refers to this as the "Rufous Long-legged Duck," stating that he 

 observed it occasionally near Brownville, in Texas. In June he found it in great 

 abundance on Galveston Island. A German whom he saw carrying one told him that 

 birds of this species were found there, and afterward took him to their chief place 

 of resort, a lake in the middle of the island, and told him also that it bred there, but 

 very late in the season. This was in the month of June, and breeding had not then 

 begun. Dr. J. C. ]\Ierrill states that this Duck is about as common as the D. autum- 

 nalis in the vicinity of Fort Brown, Texas. Like that species, it is only a summer 

 visitor, and both species frequent the same localities ; but their notes while flying 

 are quite different. Dr. Finley did not meet with this species at Hidalgo. 



This Duck is spoken of as occurring sparingly in Southern South America. Bur- 



