114 



SMEW, WHITE NUN, WHITE-HEADED GOOSANDER— GREAT AUK. 



migrating northward, although the young and the old start at the 

 same time, they keep in separate flocks, and continue so to do even 

 when approaching the higher latitudes. They also remain divided 

 during the winter whilst they are living in the same localities; 

 and Audubon informs us that, although the young and old are 

 often seen to repose on the same sand-bar, the flocks keep at as 

 great a distance as possible from each other. " Dispersed," says 

 Coues, " over all of North America, the Snow Goose is nowhere 

 a permanent resident ; its migrations are extensive, and performed 

 with the utmost regularity ; the maximum variation depending upon 

 the advance or retardation of the season — less strictly speaking 

 upon the weather — is slight. It is never seen in the United States 

 in summer, for it returns to high latitudes to breed. Along the 

 Atlantic coast, and, indeed, through the whole Eastern provinces, 

 it may be called rare, at least in comparison with its great abun- 

 dance in various parts of the West. Those found in Texas, 

 and anywhere about the Gulf of Mexico, undoubtedly migrate 

 inland, following the course of the larger rivers; while those 

 that pass along the Atlantic seaboard generally hug coast, and 

 are hardly to be met with beyond maritime districts. . . . 

 On the Pacific coast itself, particularly that of California, the 

 birds are probably more abundant in winter than anywhere else. 

 Upon their arrival in October, they are generally lean and poorly 

 flavored, doubtless with the fatigue of a long journey ; but they 

 find abundance of food and soon recuperate. At San Petro, in 

 Southern California, in November, I saw them every day, and in 

 all sorts of situations — some on the grassy plain, others among 

 the reeds of little streams or the marshy borders of the bay, others 

 on the bare mud-flats or the beach itself. Being much harassed, 

 they had grown exceedingly wary, and were suspicious of an ap- 

 proach nearer than several hundred yards. Yet, with all their 

 sagacity and watchfulness — traits for which their tribe has been 

 celebrated ever since the original and classic flock saw Rome, as 

 it is said — they are sometimes outwitted by very shallow strata- 

 gem. ... A Wild Goose of any species is a good example 

 of wariness in birds, as distinguished from timidity. A timid bird 

 is frightened at any unusual or unexpected appearance, particu- 

 larly if it be accompanied by noise ; while a wary one flies from 

 what it has learned to distrust or fear through its acquired percep- 

 tions or inherited instincts." Dr. Heerman says: "They often 

 cover so densely with their masses the plains in the vicinity of the 

 marshes, as to give the ground the appearance of being clothed 

 with snow. Easily approached on horseback, the natives some- 

 times near them in this manner, then suddenly putting spurs to 

 their animals, gallop into the flock, striking to the right and left 

 with short clubs, and trampling them beneath their horses' feet. I 

 have known a native to procure seventeen birds in a single charge 

 of this kind through a flock covering several acres." " The eggs," 

 says Sir John Richardson, in the " Fauna Boreali Americana," 

 " are of a yellowish white color, and regularly oval form, are a 

 little longer than those of an Eider Duck, their length being three 

 inches, and their greatest breadth two. The young fly in August, 

 and by the middle of September all have departed to the southward. 

 The Snow Goose feeds on rushes, insects, and in autumn on ber- 

 ries. When well fed it is a very excellent bird, far superior to the 

 Canadian Goose in juiciness and flavor. It is said the young do 

 not attain their full plumage before their fourth year. . . . 

 The Snow Geese make their appearance in spring, a few days 

 later than the Canada Geese, and pass in large flocks both 

 through the interior and on the coast." This species is about 

 twenty-seven inches long, and from fifty-two to fifty-six broad ; the 

 wing measures sixteen and the tail six inches. 



Smew, White Nun, White-headed or Dwarf Goosander. (Mergellus al- 



belhis.') 



Fig. 5- 



We give this species a representation in the work, although 

 it is not positively known to be a native of North America. Dr. 

 Brehm says the real habitat of the White-headed or Dwarf Goos- 

 ander, as it is sometimes called, seems to be in Northern Asia, 

 from whence it extends westward into Northern Europe, and 

 eastwardly into the northern parts of America. During the 

 winter months, however, it wanders far southward. It is 

 then to be met with in considerable numbers throughout the 

 whole of China, being more especially abundant in the north- 

 ern provinces of the Celestial Empire. It is, moreover, a regular 

 visitant to Northern India, and is not unfrequently seen in Cen- 

 tral and Southern Europe. It seems to be more scarce in the south- 

 ern provinces of the United States of North America ; for Audubon 

 informs us that in the Western division, at least, it was a bird ol 

 unusual occurrence. In very hard winters it makes its appearance 

 in Germany as early as the month of November, but more usu- 

 ally not until the middle of December, returning again to the 

 north in February or March. It is likewise a winter visitor to the 

 shores of Great Britain, large numbers being sometimes seen on 

 the eastern or southern coasts of England. It is rarely found 

 north of the Humber, and is comparatively rare in Scotland and 

 Ireland. In some parts of Switzerland it may be met with even 

 so late as the beginning of May. This species is generally only 

 to be found in the neighborhood of fresh-water lakes ; sometimes, 

 but only casually, it may be seen in quiet bays upon the sea-coast, 

 more especially in such as are at the mouths of rivers. Unlike 

 the divers, it seems to prefer flowing streams to stagnant water, 

 and often wanders along the course of rivers, from which it only 

 makes excursions to such lakes and ponds as may be free from 

 ice. When walking, this species holds its body in a horizontal po- 

 sition, with its head retracted ; it walks with a waddling gait, but 

 better than the generality of its near allies. When swimming, it 

 keeps itself about half submerged, and when it dives it stretches 

 itself out to its full length, and disappears in an instant. Its flight, 

 which very much resembles that of the smaller Ducks, is rapid, 

 straight, accompanied by a slight whirring of the wings, and is 

 generally but little elevated above the surface of the ground or of 

 the water. It is remarkably lively in its disposition, and even during 

 the bitterest cold weather is sprightly and active. The length of 

 this species is nineteen inches ; the breadth thirty inches ; the 

 length of wing eight inches and a half, and the length of tail three 

 inches. 



PLATE LXXV. 



Great Auk. (Alca zmfiennis.) 



Fig. i. 



The Great Auk is a very rare bird. There are said to be but 

 four specimens in North America — in the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, Philadelphia, the Cambridge Museum, another in the 

 Girard Cabinet in Vassar College, and the fourth in the Smithson- 

 ian Institution. Mr. R. Deane makes record of a specimen 

 " found dead in the vicinity of St. Augustine, Labrador, in No- 

 vember 1870." It was sold for $200, and was forwarded to Eu- 

 rope. 



Professor James Orton (American Naturalist, III, 539,) says, 

 " It was an arctic bird, dwelling chiefly in the Faroe Islands, Ice- 

 land, Greenland, and Newfoundland." Degraded, as it were, fron? 



