. 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. ANATID^ — CYGNIN^ ; SWANS. 681 notice. They are salacious to a degree remarkable even in the hot-blooded, passionate class of birds; a circumstance rendering the produ
. 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. ANATID^ — CYGNIN^ ; SWANS. 681 notice. They 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 nipping hei'bage, 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. Nidification is usually on the ground; sometimes in a hollow tree; the nest is often warmly lined with live feathers; the eggs are usually of some plain pale color, as greenish, drab, or creamy; the clutch varies in number, commonly ranging from haK a dozen to a dozen and a half. The young are clothed 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 speculum; a brightly colored, generally iridescent, area on the secondary quiUs. Most of the species are migratory, particularly those of the northern hemisphere; the flight is performed in bands, that seem to preserve discipline 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 the world. They differ a good deal in minor details, and represent a number of peculiar genera aside from the ordinary types,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1894
