The Oologist. 



Vou XXVIII. No. 2. Albion, N. Y. Feb. 15, 1911. Whole No. 283 



Published Monthly, by R. M. Barnes, Albion, N. Y., and Lacon, Illinois. 



NORTH AMERICAN WILDFOWL. 



The wild fowl of North America included in the American Ornithologists' 

 Union list; that is, birds which are native to or have been found within that 

 part of the North American continent North of the Mexican border and adjacent 

 islands, including Greenland and Lower California, comprises sixty-four species 

 and subspecies. Of ducks, there are forty-three, all of which breed within this 

 territory except the Smew, European Widgeon, European Teal, Ruddy Shel drake, 

 and the Velvet Scoter — Old World forms which have been taken as stragglers 

 at various times within North America. One variety, the Labrador Duck, has 

 become extinct within modern times; and the Wood Duck is supposed to be 

 rapidly reaching the same condition. 



Sixteen species and sub-species of geese are, or have been, likewise found 

 within this same territory, all of which are native except the European White- 

 fronted goose, the Bean goose, and the Pink-footed goose, which are merely 

 Old World stragglers and seen only occasionally. 



Two species of semi-tropical Tree ducks are included within the list, and 

 three species of Swan, one of which is an Old World variety and found only as 

 a straggler within our territory. 



These sixty-four varieties represent the vast army of wild fowl that swarms, 

 or did, at one time, over all the waters of North America. 



In the hope of awakening an interest among our legislators, sportsmen, orni- 

 thologists and people generally in this wonderful family of birds, that they may 

 be saved from complete destruction, we are devoting most of this issue of THE 

 OOLOGIST to them. 



Many of these birds are easily brought within a state of semi-domestication, 

 and others may be as completely domesticated as any of our barn yard poultry. 

 Unless something is done to bring about this result, the day is not far distant 

 when many of these species will follow the Wild Pigeon out of this world and 

 into the unknown. One, the Labrador Duck, is already gone. 



