438 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
ANAS CRECCA Linn. 
European Teal. 
Description. 
Similar in size and general appearance to Anas carolinensis (see pages 37-38). 
No white on side of body in front of wing; the long scapular feathers are creamy 
white internally, and black externally. A. carolinensis has white crescent on side 
of body just anterior to the wing flexure, and the long scapulars are plain grayish- 
brown or dusky. 
Habitat .—Europe. Casual in eastern North America and the Aleutian Islands. 
I have seen two of these birds in the Philadelphia markets; possibly they were 
killed, as it was asserted by the dealer, near Philadelphia. Prof. August Koch, of 
Williamsport, Pa., has a young male in his collection that he obtained from Mr. 
Chas. H. Eldon. This bird, Mr. Eldon states, was captured in May, 1887, in Lycom¬ 
ing county. 
NYCTICORAX VIOLACEUS (Linn.). 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 
Description. 
Adult .—The bill is somewhat shorter and much thicker than in the black-crowned 
species to which it is very similar in size. General color grayish-lead, lighter below 
than above. Head and upper part of cervix bluish-black ; top of the head, most of 
the long occipital plumes, and a well-defined patch on side of head below the eye, 
white, tinged more or less with pale brownish-yellow. Large wing and tail feathers 
dark lead color; the feathers on middle and upper part of back quite dark with 
grayish-lead colored edges. Bill black ; eyes yellowish or reddish-yellow ; legs 
black and yellow. 
“ Young. —Above, grayisli-brown, with an olive shade, streaked and spotted with 
brownish-yellow ; below, streaked with brown and whitish ; sides of head and neck 
yellowish-brown, streaked with darker ; top of head and neck above behind black¬ 
ish, variegated with white. Bill blackish, with much of the lower mandible, and the 
lores, greenish-yellow; legs the same, obscured on front of tarsus; iris yellow.”—. 
Coues. 
Habitat. —Warm-temperate eastern North America, from the Carolinas and the 
Lower Ohio Valley south to Brazil; casually north to Massachusetts and west to 
Colorado. 
Until quite recently I was not aware that any birds of this southern species * had 
for many years past been captured, and positively identified, within our borders. 
I have, however, during the last two months had the pleasure of examining two 
immature birds, one taken in the early autumn, 1889, in the vicinity of Harrisburg, 
is in the cabinet of Mr. W. W. Stoey ; the other, in the possession of Mr. Charles H. 
Eldon, was captured in the fall, about three years ago, in Lycoming county. 
GRITS MEXICAN A (Mull.). 
Sandhill Crane. 
Description. 
Adult .—Entire plumage grayish-slate color, more or less tinged, especiallv on 
upper parts with rusty. Top of head and lores covered with a bare and granulated 
skin, reddish in color, with few blackish hairs, a point from occipital feathers extends 
towards the crown. Bill, legs and feet blackish. “Length, 44 inches; extent, 80 
inches.” 
Young .—Head feathered, plumage very much same in color as adult, but much 
more brownish. 
* See page 6*! for additional information relating to this species. 
