WILDLIFE OF THE ATLANTIC COAST SALT MARSHES tf 



as seen in flight, white. The bill, its most peculiar feature, is much 

 longer than the head, flattened from side to side like a knife, with the 

 lower part projecting considerably beyond the upper. The bird often 

 flies close to the surface, with the narrowed bill plowing through the 

 water, a habit that has suggested the names "cutwater" and "shear- 

 water." The food is small fishes, so far as known, of kinds not used 

 by man. Skimmers are wonderfully good fliers, and flocks carry on 

 elaborate maneuvers in swift unison. One is tempted to call the 

 flocks "packs," as a common call of the birds sounds like the yelping 

 of dogs. 



WATERFOWL 



In addition to the breeding black duck, and the blue-winged teal 

 (p. 8), a large number of migratory species of waterfowl may be 

 seen on the salt marshes, though in this circular it is hardly practi- 

 cable to detail their recognition marks. The ducks can be recog- 

 nized as such even by those with the least ornithological experience. 

 They are the precious survivors of a very important group of 

 American birds, now so greatly reduced in numbers that some of 

 the species are in danger of being exterminated and all need earnest 

 and sympathetic attention. 



The mergansers, or fish ducks, not being hunted, have held their 

 numbers better than other ducks. The red-breasted merganser 

 (Mergus serrator) is the species most likely to be seen in salt water. 

 Its narrow saw-toothed bill and crested head are characteristics 

 shared with other mergansers. The male has a greenish-black head 

 and back, white neck and wings, a reddish-brown and spotted upper 

 breast, and finely' barred black-and-white sides. The female and 

 young are much plainer, with the head and neck cinnamon and the 

 back grayish brown. It may occur in winter anywhere along the 

 coast, but in the East does not breed south of Massachusetts. 



Three of the goose tribe should be mentioned : The Canada goose, 

 the brant, and the snow goose. The Canada goose (Branta canaden- 

 sis) (pi. 4, B) is mostly brownish-gray, the underparts paler, and the 

 head and neck black, with a well-marked white throat patch. This 

 is our most common goose, and because it breeds mostly far to the 

 north away from man's influence and has great natural sagacity 

 and wariness, it has held its numbers very well. It is the species 

 usually seen flying in V-formation, as it migrates more by day than 

 do the others. Its well-known call has given it the name of "honker." 

 Canada geese usually weigh 8 to 12 pounds. They may be seen along 

 the whole coast in winter, though they are rare at the extreme south. 



Any goose other than the Canada is likely to be called brant, 

 and the name is therefore heard in all parts of the country. The 

 true sea brant or American brant {Branta bernicla), however, is 

 closely confined to the coast from North Carolina northward and is 

 so maritime in habit that it is often remarked that the birds will 

 go out of their way rather than fly over land. In general coloration 

 they are much like the Canada goose, but have only a few touches 

 of white on the side of the neck, and the breast is black. They are 

 considerably smaller, being about one-third of the bulk of the honker. 

 When eelgrass was abundant, brant fed chiefly upon it, but now that 

 it is scarce they take more seaweeds and other foods. The decline 



