23 



125. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin — White Pelican. 



A common migrant throughout the state, breeding from northern 

 states northward. Seen from late in March or early in April to early in 

 May and from late in September to the end of October. Three were 

 seen by Wolcott on. Dewey lake, Cherry county, daily during a visit 

 there from May 28 to June 8, 1903. 



126. Pelecanus occidentalis (Linnaeus) — Brown Pelican. 



Rare ; a subtropical species which has Strayed north to Illinois and 

 Wyoming as well as to Nebraska. One definite record, a male taken at 

 St. Paul, Howard county, Oct. 10, 1885, and reported by D. H. Talbot. 

 L. Skow reports having seen "fragments of six specimens in a hog- 

 pen where they had been thrown by the man who shot them'' at 

 Honey Creek lake near Omaha, in spring, but there is considerable 

 chance for error in this record. 



Order IV. ANSERES 

 Family ANATID.3£ — Ducks, Geese, and Swans 



1. Neck as long as body; tarsus 4 inches or more; wing 20 inches, or 

 more long; adult entirely white; the young dirty grayish white. . .(2) 



1. Neck shorter than the body; tarsus under 4 inches long (3) 



2. Bare skin in front of eye marked with yellowish; back end of nos- 

 tril much nearer tip of bill than to eye Whistling Swan. 



2. Bare skin in front of eye without yellow; back end of nostril 



about midway from eye to tip of bill Trumpeter Swan. 



3. Tarsus, 2 to 4 inches long and longer than middle toe without claw ; front of 



tarsus with rounded scales instead, of square scutellae (4) 



3. Tarsus not over 2 inches long and shorter than the middle toe without 



claw; front of tarsus with distinct scutellse, (11) 



.4.. Serrations on the cutting edge of the upper mandible visible from 



the side for more than half length of bill ; bill and feet pale . . . . (5) 



4. Serrations scarcely visible from the side at all; if visible then only 



at the base; bill, feet, and portions of the head black (8) 



5. Depth of bill at base about £ the length of culmen; forehead white in 



mature bird White-fronted Goose. 



5. Depth of bill at base much greater than \ the length of culmen. ... (6) 

 6. General plumage gray, grayish. brown, or brown without con- 

 spicuous white margins to wing-coverts Blue Goose. 



6. General plumage of adult white; young grayish brown with the 



wing-coverts widely margined with white (7) 



7. Length 23 to 28 inches, middle toe 2 to 2J inches. . . Lesser Snow Goose. 



7. Length 30 to 38 inches; middle toe. 2|. .to 2| inches Greater Snow Goose. 



8. Head black; neck at sides and in front white streaked; belly 



white '. Brant. 



8. Head partly white (9) 



9. Lower. parts deep grayish brown; white cheek patches generally sepa- 



