Birds that hunt and are hunted- life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls (1904) (14752888294)

Identifier: cu31924090299755 (find matches)
Title: Birds that hunt and are hunted: life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water-fowls
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, Doubleday, Page & company
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
n straight, strong, and rapid flight,toward distant shelter. The adult male in his nuptial dress is a conspicuously beauti-ful fellow, with his dark, glossy green head, rich salmon-col-ored breast, and black and white wings, set off by a black back.But this attire is not worn until maturity, in the second year; andin the intervening time, as well as after the nesting season is over,he looks much like his mate and their young. Birds whose upperparts show the grajfish brown that predominates when we seethem in winter are called dun divers in many sections. It isthe male bird in spring plumage that the taxidermist mounts todecorate the walls of dining-rooms and shooting lodges. Mergansers build a nest of leaves, grasses, and moss, linedwith down from their breasts, in a hole of a tree or cliff, wherefrom six to ten creamy-buff eggs are laid in June, and tendedexclusively by the mother, even after they have evolved intofluffy duckhngs. At this time the drake is undergoing a thoroughmoult.
Text Appearing After Image:
Mergansers Red-breasted Merganser (Merganser Serrator) Called also.-SW^UDKKK.^; SAWBILL; WHISTLER; PIEDSHELLDRAKE; GARBILL Length—22 to 24 inches. Male—Head and throat greenish black; more greenish above, andwith long, pointed crest over top of head and nape; whitecollar around neck; sides of lower neck and the upper breastcinnamon red, with black streaks; lower breast, underneath,and the greater part of wings white; other feathers black.Back black; lower back and sides finely barred with black andwhite; a white patch of feathers, with black border, in frontof wings, and two black bars across them. Bill long, saw-toothed, red, curved at end, and with nostrils near the base;eyes red; legs and toes reddish orange. Female and Young—Similar to the American merganser. Head,neck, and crest dull, rusty brown; dark ashy on back and tail;throat and under parts white, shaded with gra) along sides;white of wing restricted to a patch (mirror or speculum); nopeculiar feathers in front of win