64 



These extraordinary birds are of too rare occurrence in eastern Canada 

 to be specifically dealt with here. There are two species that have been 

 occasionally taken, the White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, a western 

 form, that may be looked for towards the Manitoba boundary and west- 

 ward, but in the east only as stragglers; the Brown Pelican Pelicanus 

 occidentalis, a southern bird of only accidental occurrence in Canada. The 

 descriptive names are sufficiently explanatory to differentiate them. The 

 White Pelican is practically pure white with black wing-tip in all plum- 

 ages; any other pronounced colours are indications of other species. 



Order — Anseres. Lamellirostral Swimmers. 

 Sieve-billed Swimmers. 



General Description. Swimming birds with four toes but only two webs, having bills with 

 a hooked or flat nail at the tip and furnished with tooth-like projections or thin laminae 

 on the sides (Figures 7-10, p. 19) through which they strain the water from their food. 



Distinctions. As above. 



Field Marks. The outstretched neck, obvious tail, and rapid wing beats of the Ducks 

 and Geese are familiar to most of us. In the water some species bear superficial resem- 

 blance to the Divers, but the straight, narrow bills of the latter, the obvious tails of the 

 Ducks and their general readiness to fly instead of dive when disturbed should make differ- 

 entiation easy. 



Nesting. Usually on the ground, sometimes in hollow trees, and rarely in deserted Crows' 

 and other large nests, but seldom far from water. The young are able to run about and 

 take to water as soon as hatched, but how they are brought to the ground from a tree nest 

 20 or 30 feet in the air is a subject upon which a considerable difference of opinion exists. 



Distribution. The Anseres are of world-wide distribution. In America the great 

 majority of the species breed north of the International Boundary. They can, therefore, 

 be regarded as birds of northern distribution. In winter a few remain in Canada as long 

 as there is open water and others journey south, even to the warm waters of the Carolinas, 

 the gulf of Mexico, or beyond. 



The order Anseres contains but one family — Anatidce composed of 

 the Mergansers, Ducks, Geese, and Swans, and comprises, therefore, the 

 great bulk of the larger wild fowl pursued by sportsmen. One of the 

 greatest sources of confusion in distinguishing the various species is the 

 occurrence of what is called the eclipse plumage. Contrary to the rule that 

 generally governs plumage changes, many of these species moult all their 

 wing quills at once and are, therefore, flightless until refledged. During 

 the period of comparative helplessness of this midsummer wing moult, 

 many males assume a peculiar body plumage of less conspicuous character 

 than that normally worn, usually approaching that of the female, that is 

 known as the eclipse plumage. During this time the birds withdraw to 

 the innermost recesses of their habitats and hide so closely as to be seldom 

 seen by the casual observer. By the time the shooting season opens 

 most have come out of the eclipse, but the few that still retain traces 

 of it are sufficiently numerous to increase the number of plumages to be 

 recognized and to complicate their differentiation. 1 



Economic Status. Anseres is, economically, one of the most important 

 orders of birds; not, as is the case with other birds, so much on account 

 of their food habits, for these are largely of negative influence in human 

 affairs, as in other ways. In the early days of settlement of the country 

 they furnished a most important food supply to the struggling inhabitants 

 and even now the total annual number killed by sportsmen is an impressive 

 addition to our food resources. 



1 Another common source of confusion ia the prevalence of a red rust coloration that often occurs on various parts 

 of the head or body and is common to many species of A riser es. It is due to an iron deposit from the water the birds 

 inhabit, and should not be regarded as normal plumage coloration. 



