A. Segetum, - - - - - Bean Goose.
A. Albifrons, - - - - - White-fronted Goose.
A. Leucopis, - - - - - Bernacle Goose.
A. Bernicla, - - - - - Brent Goose.
A. Mollissima, - - - - Eider Duck.
A. Spectabilis, - - - - King Duck.
A. Strepera, - - - - - Gadwall.
A. Nigra, - - - - - - Scoter.
A. Fuligula, - - - - - Tufted Duck.
A. Clangula, - - - - - Golden Eye.
A. Glacialis, - - - - - Long-tailed Duck.
A. Histrionica, - - - - Harlequin Duck.
Several of the birds above-enumerated have been described under different names,
occasioned by remarkable variations in the plumage of the sexes, or of the young
birds from their parents ; but it is believed that the above twenty-one species are all
which can correctly be considered as common to Europe and America.
Of the birds belonging to the genus which are found in Hudson’s Bay and its vicinity,
but which do not visit or live in any part of Europe, there are eight species ;
specimens of six of these were brought home by Captain Franklin, and are subsequently
particularized ; the remaining two are:—
A. Canadensis,' - - - - - Canada Goose.
A. Labradoria, - - - - - Pied Duck.
These are both described and figured by Wilson ; the former is well known in menageries
in Europe, and is often kept in a half-domesticated state, on large pieces
of water and lakes, but though frequently shot when apparently wild, has probably
in all such cases strayed from its adopted home; since none of the species have been
traced in a state of migration.
Exclusive of the birds above-mentioned, and described below, there are other
species known in America ; but as they do not go so far north as the countries visited
by the Expedition, it is not considered necessary to include them in these notices.
Anas Perspicillata. Black or Surf Duck.
M. Temminckhas introduced this bird into his Manuel, as having been occasionally
though very rarely seen in the Orkneys and in high latitudes in Europe. As it has
not, however, been mentioned as a British bird by any English author, nor included
in any published list of the visiters of the British Islands, the circumstance of its ever
having been obtained in the Orkneys seems to require confirmation, and therefore it has
not been here considered as one of the species common to Europe and America. The
Black Duck is frequent in the northern parts of the New World; it is smaller than
the Velvet Duck, but, like that bird, is chiefly black, with the exception of two conspicuous
triangular white spots on the front and back of its head, separated from each other
by a space more than an inch and a half broad, which is black; the bill is remarkably
irregular in shape, of an orange colour, much elevated at the base, with black patches
on each side near the head. The specimen received is that of a male, and measures
twenty-four inches in length, which is considerably more than has been assigned as its
length by any writer. The female is said to be dark brown, and not to have the
markings on the head, though that part of its plumage is lighter than the rest, and
the bill has no prominences similar to those of the male.
Anas Vallisneriana. Canvas-back Duck.
A male specimen of the celebrated Canvas-back Duck was received. It is represented
by the American epicures as being much: superior in flavour to any other known
duck. Wilson has given descriptions of both the male and female,and his figure, though
small, is tolerably correct., It comes to the waters connected with the Chesapeake
in October, and continues within the tides, but not in the salt waters, feeding on the
Vallisneriana Americana which is abundant there. It continues in these quarters
during the winter, and returns to the north to breed. It is also called in America the
White-backed Duck and the Sheldrake. Before Wilson noticed the bird we had no
distinct account of it. It has probably been confounded with the Anas Ferina, or
Pochard, which it resembles, but is considerably larger, being on an average two
feet long, whilst the Pochard never exceeds twenty, inches. Thé bill of the A.
Vallisneriana is two inches and a half long, of the A. Ferina two inches ,; the head
and neck of the Pochard are all bright chestnut; the upper part of the head in the
other bird is dark brown, and the chestnut colour is confined to the lower part of the
head, cheeks, and neck; the black on the breast, which extends round the neck
next the back, is the same in both species; the upper and under parts of the body
have the same beautiful fine undulation of dark grey, but the whole pencillings, as
well as the ground-colour, are darker in the Pochard than in the Canvas-back; on the
whole, the two birds are so very much alike, that a comparison of specimens can
alone establish a distinction between them, which must, however; be considered as
certain if it depended only on the difference in the bills. The Pochard being native of
America puts the matter further beyond question. Wilson, in describing this latter
bird was uncertain whether he was correct in referring it to the European Pochard,
but a comparison of a British specimen with the American has made the identity
unquestionable.