. Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland and lower California, with which are incorporated General ornithology: an outline of the structure and classification of birds; and Field ornithology, a manual of collecting, preparing, and preserving birds. Birds; Birds; 1887. ANATID^ — CYGNIN^ : SWANii. 681 notice. Tbey are salacious to a degree remarkable even in the hot-blooded, passionate class of birds; a circumstance rendering th
. Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland and lower California, with which are incorporated General ornithology: an outline of the structure and classification of birds; and Field ornithology, a manual of collecting, preparing, and preserving birds. Birds; Birds; 1887. ANATID^ — CYGNIN^ : SWANii. 681 notice. Tbey are salacious to a degree remarkable even in the hot-blooded, passionate class of birds; a circumstance rendering the production of hybrids frequent, and favoring the study of this subject. If we recall the peculiar actions of geese nipi)ing herbage, and of ducks "dab- bling " in the water, and know that some species, as the mergansers, pursue fish and other live prey under water, we have the principal modes of feeding. Nidificaticjn is usually on the ground; sometimes in a hollow tree; the nest is often warmly lined with live feathers; tlie eggs are usually of some plain pale color, as greenish, drab, or creamy; the clutch varies in number, commonly ranging from half a dozen t(j a dozen and a half. The young are clotlied with stiffish down, and swim at once. Among the ducks and mergansers, marked sexual diver- sity in color is the rule; the reverse is the case with swans and geese. A noteworthy color- ation of many species, especially of ducks, is the sxieculum; a brightly colored, generally iridescent, area on the seccmdary quills. Most of the species are migratory, particularly thcjse of the northern hemisphere; tlie fhght is performed in bands, that seem to preserve discipUue as well as companionship; and with such regularity, that no birds are better entitled to the claim of weather-prophets. There are upward of 175 species of this family, inhabiting all parts of tlie world. They difl(!r a good deal in minor details, and represent a number of peculiar genera aside from the o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1887
