File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14564224147).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeVGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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the beak and legs, is of a beautiful rich vermilion ; a narrow line of black velvet-like feathers forms theoutline of the upper mandible; beneath the throat are arrow-shaped lines of the same colour pointed towardsthe base of the beak; the top of the head and the occiput are of a beautiful blueish grey ; cheeks white, witha delicate tint of fine sea-green ; neck and upper part of the back white, gradually assuming a delicate salmoncolour at the breast; the other parts of the plumage, both above and below, deep blackish brown, with theexception of a white spot in the centre of the wing, and another of the same colour behind the thigh; thesecondaries are sickle-shaped, and bend gracefully over the quill-feathers. So closely does the female of this species resemble the female Eider, that it is almost impossible to distin-guish them, being of a uniform rusty brown with irregular bars and arrow-shaped markings of black. We have figured a male and female three fourths of their natural size.
Text Appearing After Image:
3Q02 ;^ * nf SI1 * l-H ■ Genus OIDEMIA, Flem, Gen. Char. Bill swollen or tuberculated at the base, large, elevated, and strong; the tipmuch depressed and flattened, terminated by a large flat dertrum or nail, which has itsextremity rounded and slightly deflected; mandibles laminated, with the plates broad,strong, and widely set. Nostrils lateral, elevated, oval, placed near the middle of the bill.Wings of mean length, concave, acute. Tail short, graduated, acute. Legs far behindthe centre of gravity. Tarsi short. Feet large; of four toes, three before and one behind;outer toe as long as the middle one, and much longer than the tarsus j hind toe with alarge lobated membrane. SURF SCOTER. Anas perspicillata, Linn.Oidemia perspicillata, Flem.Le Canard Marchand. This curious Duck should rather be considered as an American species than as strictly indigenous to theEuropean Continent; it has, however, frequently occurred in the northern seas of this portion of the globe,and occasionally a

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