69 
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 
to dark slaty; anal region white. Young: white collar indistinct or 
wanting ; larger wing coverts and secondaries broadly tipped with white 
Length ; 22-29, wing 12.70-13.50, bill 1.20-1.35. 
Distribution. — Western and arctic America, breeding at Point Barrow; 
Stat 1U Winter al ° ng the COast to Lower California. Rare in eastern United 
Nest. — A depression in marshy ground, lined with down. Eggs: 4 to 6. 
GENUS PHILACTE. 
176. Philacte canagica (Sevast.). Emperor Goose. 
Bill small and not much elevated at base, mainly light colored, bluish 
or pinkish white above ; pit of nostrils reaching feathers of forehead; feet 
orange. Adults: head and back of neck white or stained with rusty 
orange ; chin and throat dusky or brownish black ; rest of plumage, except 
white tail, bluish gray, each feather with a black bar and white tip. 
Young: similar to adult, but whole head dusky, specked with white on 
top. Length: 26, wing 14.30-15.75, bill 1.40-1.65. 
Distribution. Coast of Alaska, chiefly in the region of Norton Sound 
and the lower Yukon ; south in winter to Butte County, California. Rare 
in the United States. 
GENUS DENDROCYGNA. 
General Characters .—Feet and legs long and large for a duck; legs 
covered with small hexagonal plates; neck long and slender; head not 
crested; sexes similar. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Feet and legs pinkish, bill yellow. autumnalis, p. 69. 
l'.Feet, legs, and bill black. fulva, p. 69. 
177. Dendrocygna autumnalis {Linn.). Black-bellied Tree 
Duck. 
Adults. — Crown, neck, breast, and back bright cinnamon brown; sides 
of head ashy gray; belly, rump, tail, and end of wing black; base of 
wing and quills with large white patches ; under tail coverts white, spotted 
with black. Young: colors duller, bill and feet dusky. Length: 19.75- 
24.00, wing 9.20-9.70, bill 1.90-2.15, tarsus 2.25-2.60. 
Distribution. — Middle America and north to the Rio Grande Valley 
and Nueces River, Texas. 
Nest. — In hollow trees, often at considerable distance from water. 
Eggs : 12 to 16. 
178. Dendrocygna fulva ( Gmel .). Fulvous Tree-duck. 
Under parts, head, and shoulders plain buffy brown or tawny, darkest on 
crown ; back of neck with black stripe ; back and wings blackish, feathers 
of middle of back broadly tipped with tawny ; upper and lower tail cov¬ 
erts and stripes along sides creamy white. Length: 20-21, wing 8.10- 
8.90, bill 1.65-1.95, tarsus 2.10-2.40. 
Distribution. — Mexico and north to central California, Nevada, and 
Louisiana; also in South America, southern Asia, Africa, and Mada¬ 
gascar. 
Nest. — In hollow trees or more commonly on ground in marsh or near 
water, a well built and often well concealed nest. Eggs: numerous, 15 to 
30 or more. 
