OCR Text |
Show 1314 BEPORT OP THE CHIEF OP ENGINEERS. 81. Fuligula marila ( L.), var. affinie, Eyton.- Lesser Blackhead. Like the preceding. 82. Fuligula collaris ( Donovan).- Ring- necked Duck. Breeds abundantly in the various lakes. I found the young as late as September 3 still unable to fly. 83. Fuligula ferina ( L.), var. americana ( Eyton).- Redhead. Present in the fall, but never, I think, in great numbers. 84. Fuligula vallieneria ( Wils.).- Canvas- back. Yfa& told by Mr. Parker that he had shot quite a number of this species about Washoe Lake. 85. Bucephala albeola ( L.).- Baffle- headed Buck. In considerable numbers in fall. 86. Mergus serrator ( L.).- Red- breasted Merganser. Numerous. 87. Mergus cucullatus ( L.).- Hooded Merganser. Quite abundant, but occurring late in fall. 88. Erismatura rubida ( Wils.).- Ruddy Duok. Apparently not very common. PELECANID^ l. x 89. Pelecanu* trachyrynohus Lath.- White Pelican. Only appearing on Washoe Lake in fall, and in small numbers. Said to breed in great numbers on Pyramid I^ ake, to the north. GRACULIDJE. 90. Graculus dilophus ( Sw.).- Double- crested Cormorant. This cormorant is found on the various lakes in summer. LARID. E. 91. Larus delawarensis Ord.- Ring- billed Gull. This gull was found in great numbers on Washoe Lake in September and October. During the fall its distribution throughout this region is very general, and wherever found it is abundant. 92. Larus californicus Lawr.- Californian Gull. Mingled with the preceding were a few of this species or variety. The relationship of these two birds appears not to be thoroughly established yet, and in a series of eight specimens from Washoe and Tahoe Lakes, I find several in the immature plumage which I assign with difficulty. In adult plumage the present bird is said to have a larger bill than the preceding species, and to present some distinctive points of coloration, especially in its darker mantle. The only adult bird I have agrees well with the diagnosis, bat in the case of the immature plumage there appear to be no thoroughly reliable distinctive characteristics which will serve to distinguish the two species. 93. Sterna regia Gambel.- Royal Tern. Found on Washoe Lake in small numbers late in the fall. 94. HydrocMidon fissipes ( L.).- Black Tern. Seen in small numbers on Washoe Lake in August. None were present in November. COLYMBID^ E. 95. Colymbw torquatu* Br an n.- Great Northern Diver. Present on Washoe Lake in November, where I saw two individuals. Was informed, however, that its occurrence here was unusual. Its dispersion over ail portions of the west in fall and winter appears to be general. |