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Show APPENDIX C.- BIRDS, 828 The Bed- breasted Teal appears to be a common bird in Utah, three having been shot in Jordan River. As the species has never been described from a North American specimen, we subjoin the following, taken from those brought by the expedition. MALE.- Head, neck, anterior part of body, sides, flanks, bar across the vent, rich purplish chestnut, deepest and most lustrous across the breast, faintest across the vent. Upper part of the head to occiput, the chin, and lower tail- coverts, dull- brownish black. Lower part of breast, belly, and abdomen, ( encircled by the chestnut just mentioned,) obscure brown, and faintly glossed with grayish and chestnut. Lower wing- coverts, subscapulars, and tips of primary coverts, white, showing on the latter as a conspicuous white patch. Shoulders, loader coverts, and greater part of two of the longest scapulars on each side, bright blue, ( darkest on the latter.) Speculum, grass green. Longest scapulars with a central streak of yellowish white, and variously margined and mottled with chestnut. Back, rump, * nd upper tail- coverts, margined with dull chestnut. Bill black, ieet yellow*. Bill long, narrow, somewhat wider towards the tip; nostrils pval, lamellar) rather long. Tarsi short, and feet small. Outer toe, without its claw, about equal to the inner with claw. Tail rather long, wedge-shaped, of fourteen feathers. Total length ( skin much stretched) , 20 inches. Bill above 2 " From rictus 2yV " Tarsi 1,\ " Middle toe and claw... ljj " 1 Wing, from flexure u , 8 " Tail...... 8J " FEMAM.- Similar in general pattern of colouration, the chestnut, however, replaced by the mottled yellowish and brown characterising the female ducks. This pervades the whole inferior portions, not excepting the tail coverts. The black of the head, and the blue on the shoulders, ( not on the scapulars,) are retained. 26. DAFILA ACUTA, Bp.- Sprig- tail Duck. Amu tcuta, L. I. 202, 28- And. Biog. IIL 214, pL - Salt Lake* Found across the continent. |
