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Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Tadornini (Sheldgeese And Shelducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The tribe includes the 16 species of sheldgeese and shelducks ("Lophonetta" and Tachyeres are here excluded from the tribe) which provide such a smooth transition from the true geese to the true ducks that it is difficult to establish a dividing line between the two groups. I believe that the line is best placed between Cereopsis on the anserine side and Cyanochen on the anatine side. Cyanochen is clearly a sheldgoose, but the plumages and voices of the sexes are practically alike, as are also their displays. Cyanochen and the other Tadornini are characterized by a downy plumage that is …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Tachyerini (Steamer Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

I consider the three species of steamer ducks of the genus Tachyeres to constitute a separate tribe. These authorities agree that although steamer ducks are perhaps most closely related to the true shelducks, the steamers are sufficiently different to warrant removing them from the shelduck tribe. Their downy young lack the strongly contrasting coloration typical of shelducks, and the adult plumage pattern is distinct both from that of the shelducks and from that of the other anatine groups. There is a slight sexual dimorphism in bill color, head color, and possibly in the degree of tail-feather curling. Pair bonds appear …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Cairinini (Perching Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

Delacour and Mayr (1945) placed the perching duck tribe after the pochards (Aythyini) and adjacent to the sea ducks (Mergini), but hybridization evidence (Johnsgard, 1960a) clearly indicates that the group belongs between the shelducks and the dabbling ducks and closely adjacent to the latter. There is other evidence to support this arrangement. The tracheae of shelducks, perching ducks, and dabbling ducks are all very similar, possessing bullae which in most species are osseous and rounded, and lacking enlargements of the tracheal tube. The downy young of perching ducks and dabbling ducks are very similar, and are usually patterned with dark …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Anatini (Surface-Feeding Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The tribe of surface-feeding, or dabbling, ducks is the largest single tribe in the family. There are 40 species in the tribe as it is constituted here. Contrary to the arrangement of Delacour (1956), the ringed teal is included in the Cairinini; and the crested duck, included in the Tadornini by Delacour, is here considered a typical dabbling duck. In addition, the pink-headed duck has been removed from the Anatini and placed in the Aythyini with the pochards, and the freckled duck has been removed from the tribe and is considered a primitive species having anserine relationships. The marbled teal …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Aythyini (Pochards), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The dabbling ducks grade almost imperceptibly into the pochard group considered here, and whether Marmaronetta and Rhodonessa should be included in one tribe or the other may be open to some question. As here constituted, the tribe includes 16 species of almost world-wide distribution which differ from the preceding group in several minor details. The hind toe has a larger lobe than occurs in the dabbling ducks, and it presumably aids in diving. The feet are also correspondingly larger and are set farther apart and more to the rear than in Anas. One of the most clear-cut differences is …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Mergini (Sea Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The tribe includes 20 species of which two are extinct. Except for two Southern Hemisphere species, the group is of northern and arctic distribution. All species consume a high proportion of animal material, although they are by no means all "sea" ducks. All dive extremely well, although the manner of diving varies in that some species usually open their wings when diving and others never do. All the species except the isolated Southern Hemisphere forms exhibit considerable sexual dimorphism in plumage, voice, and behavior, and there is much sympatry of ranges. Some genera (Somateria, Polysticta, Clangula, …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Tribe Oxyurini (Stiff-Tailed Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The stiff-tailed ducks constitute a unique section of the Anatidae that is possibly the most isolated of all the tribes with the exception of the Anseranatini. There are eight species which almost certainly belong in the group, plus one more that is only very tentatively included. The tribe is of worldwide occurrence. Seven of the species have long, narrow, and stiffened tail feathers that function as rudders in underwater swimming, at which all species are very adept. These species also have a dense and shiny body plumage much like that of grebes, but lack metallic coloration altogether. The typical species …

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Summary And Synopsis Of The Family Anatidae, Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

The major sexual behavior patterns of the species of Anatidae may now be reviewed and summarized, for the purpose of clarifying evolutionary relationships in the family, tracing the evolution of behavior patterns through various taxa, and evaluating the importance of certain behavior patterns as potential isolating mechanisms.

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Works Cited, Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

Approximately 150 works cited. (7 pages)

Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior: Indexes, Paul A. Johnsgard

Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior by Paul A. Johnsgard

General index: The principal page reference for each species or group is indicated by boldface type. Subordinate page references for each species are listed only under the standardized English names used in this book, as shown in the Appendix. Commonly used alternate names, or names referring to certain races or species groups, are included in the index but only principal page references are listed under these names. Page references to illustrations of species or of specific displays are indicated by italics. The Appendix and Summary have not been indexed.

Scientific Names: This index provides a reference only to the page …

The Starling, John L. Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Despite their pretty colour and their song, starlings cannot be considered beneficial, especially in the fruit and grain-growing areas of W.A. where they are declared vermin.

MILLIONS of starlings inhabit the settled parts of eastern and south-eastern Australia, but so far they have not reached Western Australia.

A Method Of Slide-Making For Early Nervous System Study In The Chick Embryo, Roger L. Pscherer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.