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"Mocking-Birds. Bill much shorter than head, scarcely curved as a whole, but with gently-curved commissure, notched near the end. Rictal vibrissae well developed. Tail rather longer than wings, rounded, the lateral feathers being considerably graduated. Wings rounded. (Tarsal scutella sometimes obsolete.) Tarsi longer than the middle toe and claw. Of this genus there are two well marked sections (represented by the mocking-bird and cat-bird respectively), which ay be distinguished by color:" Elliot Coues, 1884

Mockingbird

"Mocking-Birds. Bill much shorter than head, scarcely curved as a whole, but with gently-curved commissure,…

"Cat-Bird. Slate-gray, paler and more grayish-plumbeous below; crown of head, tail, bill, and feet black. Quills of the wing blackish, edged with the body-color. Under tail-coverts rich dark chestnut or mahogany-color" Elliot Coues, 1884

Catbird

"Cat-Bird. Slate-gray, paler and more grayish-plumbeous below; crown of head, tail, bill, and feet black.…

"Upper parts uniform rust-red, with a bronzy lustre. Concealed portions of quills fuscous. Greater the median wing-coverts blackish near the end, then conspicuously tipped with white. Bastard quills like the coverts. Tail like the back, the lateral feathers with paler ends. Under pars white, more or less strongly tinged, especially on the breast, flanks, and crissum, with tawney or pale cinnamon-brown, the breast and sides marked with a profusion of well-defined spots of dark brown, oval in front, becoming more linear posteriorly. Throat immaculate, bordered with a necklace or spots; middle of belly and under tail-coverts likewise unspotted. Bill quite straight, black, with yellow base of the lower mandible; feet pale; iris yellow or orange." Elliot Coues, 1884

Brown Thrasher

"Upper parts uniform rust-red, with a bronzy lustre. Concealed portions of quills fuscous. Greater the…

"Above, grayish-brown, nearly uniform; wing- coverts and quills with slight whitish edging, the edge of the wing itself white; tail feathers with slight whitish tips; below; a paler shade of the color of the upper parts, the throat quite whitish, the crissum slightly rufescent, the breast and belly with obscure dark gray spots on the grayish-white ground; no obvious maxillary streaks, but vague speckling on the cheeks; bill black; feet blackish-brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Bow-Billed Thrasher

"Above, grayish-brown, nearly uniform; wing- coverts and quills with slight whitish edging, the edge…

"Bill shorter than head, comparatively stout at base, very acute at tip, the culmen quite convex, the gonys just appreciably concave, Tarsus a little longer that the middle tow an claw. 3d and 4th primaries about equal and longest, 5th and 6th successively slightly shorter, 2 d equal to 7th, 1st equal to penultimae secondary in the closed wing. Entire upper parts, including surfaces of wings and tail, uniform dull pale grayish-brown, with narrow, faintly-rusty edge of the wing-coverts and inner quills, and equally obscure whitish tipping of the tail-feathers. No maxillary nor auricular streaks; no markings about the head except slight speckling on the cheeks. Under parts brownish-white, palest (nearly white) on the belly and throat, more numerous small arrow-head spots on the color of the back. Bill light-colored at base below." Elliot Coues, 1884

Arizona Thrasher

"Bill shorter than head, comparatively stout at base, very acute at tip, the culmen quite convex, the…

"Upper parts uniform ashy-brown; wings and tail similar, but rather purer and darker brown, the former crossed with two white bars formed by the tips of the coverts, the latter tipped with white. Below dull white, often tinged with rusty, especially behind, and thickly marked with small, sharp, triangular spots of dark brown or blackish. These spots are all perfectly distinct, covering the lower parts excepting the throat, lower belly, and crissum; becoming smaller anteriorly, they run up each side of the throat in a maxillary series bounding the immaculate area. Sides of the head finely speckled, and auriculars streaked; bill black, lightening at base below, little longer than that of H. rufas, though decidedly curved." Elliot Coues, 1884

St. Lucas Thrasher

"Upper parts uniform ashy-brown; wings and tail similar, but rather purer and darker brown, the former…

"No spots anywhere; wings and tail without decided barring or tipping. Bill as long as the head or longer, bow-shaped, black. Wings very much shorter that the tail. Above, dark oily olive-brown, the wings and tail similar, but rather purer brown. Below, a paler shade of the color of the upper parts, the belly and crissum strongly rusty-brown, the throat definitely whitish in marked contrast, and not bordered by decided maxillary streaks. Cheeks and auriculars blackish-brown with sharp whitish shaft streaks." Elliot Coues, 1884

California Thrasher

"No spots anywhere; wings and tail without decided barring or tipping. Bill as long as the head or longer,…

"Brownish-ash, with a faith olive shade, the wings and tail purer and darker fuscous, without white edging or tipping. Below, a paler shade of the color of the upper pats. Throat and side of the lower jaw white, with sharp black maxillary streaks. Cheeks and auriculars speckled with whitish. Under tail-coverts rich chestnut, in marked contrast with the surrounding parts. Bill black, at the maximum of length, slenderness, and curvature; feet blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Crissal Thrasher

"Brownish-ash, with a faith olive shade, the wings and tail purer and darker fuscous, without white…

"Adult, in summer: Slaty-plumbeous, paler below, inclining on the head to sooty-brown. Quills and tail-feathers fuscous. Eyelids usually white. Bill black; feet yellowish." Elliot Coues, 1884

American Dipper

"Adult, in summer: Slaty-plumbeous, paler below, inclining on the head to sooty-brown. Quills and tail-feathers…

Wheatear male has a bluish-gray back, black patch on ear, a white rump and sides of tail, and black wings. Female is buffer with a brown back.

Wheatear

Wheatear male has a bluish-gray back, black patch on ear, a white rump and sides of tail, and black…

"in full plumage: Rich azure-blue, the ends of the wing-quills blackish; throat, breast, and sides of the body chestnut; belly and crissum white or bluish-white. The blue sometimes extends around the head on the sides and often fore part of the chin, so that chestnut is cut off from the bill." Elliot Coues, 1884

Eastern Blue-Bird

"in full plumage: Rich azure-blue, the ends of the wing-quills blackish; throat, breast, and sides of…

Color flag of American Samoa. Blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa.

Flag of American Samoa, 2009

Color flag of American Samoa. Blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side…

Black and white outline flag of American Samoa. Blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa

Flag of American Samoa, 2009

Black and white outline flag of American Samoa. Blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based…

Color flag of Morocco. Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912.

Flag of Morocco, 2009

Color flag of Morocco. Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's)…

Black and white outline flag of Morocco. Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Flag of Morocco, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Morocco. Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known…

Color flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands.

Flag of Slovenia, 2009

Color flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian…

Black and white outline flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Flag of Slovenia, 2009

Black and white outline flag of Slovenia. Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red,…

"Upper parts olive-green, more or less bright, sometimes rather olive-ashy, always brightest on the rump; under parts dull ashy-white or yellowish-white. Wings and tail dusky, strongly edged with yellowish, the inner wing-quills with whitish. On the secondaries, this yellowish edging stops abruptly in advance of the ends of the coverts, leaving a pure blackish interval in advance of the white tips of the greater coverts: this, and the similar tips of the median coverts, form two white bars across the wings; inner webs of the quills and tail feathers edged with white. Supercilary line and extreme forehead hoary-whitish. Crown black, enclosing a large space, the middle of which is flame colored, bordered with pure yellow. The black reaches across the forehead; but behind, the yellow flame-color reach the general olive of the upper parts. Or, the top of the head may be described as a central bed of flame-color, bounded in front and on the sides with clear yellow, this similarly bounded by black, this again in the same manner by hoary-whitish. Smaller than R. calendula; overlying nasal plumes larger." Elliot Coues, 1884

Golden Crested Kinglet

"Upper parts olive-green, more or less bright, sometimes rather olive-ashy, always brightest on the…

"Grayish-blue, bluer on the crown, hoary on the rump, the forehead black, continuous with a black superciliary line. Edges of eyelids white, and above these a shade on the breast. Wings dark brown, the outer webs, especially of the inner quills, edged with hoary, and the inner webs of most bordered with white. Tail jet-black, the outer feather entirely or mostly white, the next one about half white, the third one tipped with white. Bill and feet black." Elliot Coues, 1884

Blue-gray Gnat-catcher

"Grayish-blue, bluer on the crown, hoary on the rump, the forehead black, continuous with a black superciliary…

"- a, head of a (Polioptila nigriceps) Black-capped Gnat-catcher. b, head of a(Polioptila caerulea) Blue-gray Gnat-catcher. c, tail of (Polioptila nigriceps) Black-capped Gnat-catcher. d, tail of (Polioptila plumbea) Plumbeous Gnat-catcher" Elliot Coues, 1884

Black-capped Gnat-catcher

"- a, head of a (Polioptila nigriceps) Black-capped Gnat-catcher. b, head of a(Polioptila caerulea)…

"Entire upper parts ashy, the back usually with a slight olivaceous shade, the wings and tail rather purer and darker plumberous, the latter sometimes showing obsolete transverse bars. Sides of the head and entire under parts dull whitish, washed with chestnut-brown on the sides. A black frontlet at the base of the crest. Bill plumbeous-blackish; feet plumbeous." Elliot Coues, 1884

Tufted Titmouse

"Entire upper parts ashy, the back usually with a slight olivaceous shade, the wings and tail rather…

"Upper parts olivaceous-ash, wings and tail darker, edged with the color of the back, or even a brighter tint, sometimes nearly as yellowish as in Regulus. Under parts sordid ashy-white. Crest-black, with a central field like the back. Whole throat black, as in species of parus. A black line runs behind the eye and curves down over the auriculars, distinguished from the black of the crest and throat by the white of the side of the head and white superciliary stripe; a half-collar of black on the nape, descending on the sides of the neck, there separated from the black crescent of the auriculars by a white crescent, which latter is continuous with the white on the superciliary line; considerable whitish speckling in the black of the forehead and lores. Bill blackish-plumbeous; feet plumbeous." Elliot Coues, 1884

Bridled Titmouse

"Upper parts olivaceous-ash, wings and tail darker, edged with the color of the back, or even a brighter…

Color illustration of a 13 Star United States flag. The original 13 stars represent the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. This flag was in use from June 14, 1777 until May 1, 1795.

13 Star United States Flag, 1776

Color illustration of a 13 Star United States flag. The original 13 stars represent the states of Delaware,…

Color illustration of a 43 Star United States flag. The additional stars represent the states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. This flag was in use from July 04, 1890 until July 3, 1891.

43 Star United States Flag, 1890

Color illustration of a 43 Star United States flag. The additional stars represent the states of Idaho,…

Black line illustration of a 13 Star United States flag. The original 13 stars represent the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. This flag was in use from June 14, 1777 until May 1, 1795.

13 Star United States Flag, 1776

Black line illustration of a 13 Star United States flag. The original 13 stars represent the states…

Black line illustration of a 43 Star United States flag. The additional stars represent the states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. This flag was in use from July 04, 1890 until July 3, 1891.

43 Star United States Flag, 1890

Black line illustration of a 43 Star United States flag. The additional stars represent the states of…

"Dull lead-color, frequently with a brownish or olivaceous shade, the top of the head abruptly darker - clove brown or hair-brown. Below sordid whitish, or brownish-white. Wings and tail dusky, with slight hoary endings. Bill and feet black." Elliot Coues, 1884

Two Least Bush-Tit Sitting on their Nest

"Dull lead-color, frequently with a brownish or olivaceous shade, the top of the head abruptly darker…

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape, and back of the neck, glossy black. Under parts, including sides of neck and head to above eyes, dull white, more or less marked on the flanks and crissum with rusty-brown. Wings and their coverts blackish, much edged as already said, and with an oblique bar of white on the outer webs of the primaries white; under wing-coverts mostly blackish; bold bluish and black variegation of the inner secondaries. Tail, excepting the two middle feathers, black, each feather marked with white in increasing amount, the outer web of the lateral feather being mostly white. Bill blackish-plumbeous, pale at the base below. Feet dark brown. Iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

White-Breasted Nuthatch

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape,…

"Upper parts leaden-blue the central tail-feathers the same; wings fuscous, with slight ashy edgings and concealed white bases of the primaries. Entire under parts rusty-brown, very variable in shade, from rich fulvous to brownish-white, usually palest on the throat, deepest on the sides and crissum; tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the lateral marked with white. Whole top and side of head and neck glossy black, that of the side appearing as a broad bar through the eye from bill to side of neck, cut off from that of the crown by a long white superciliary stripe, which meets its fellow across the forehead. Bill dark plumbeous, paler below; feet plumbeous-brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Red-breasted Nuthatch

"Upper parts leaden-blue the central tail-feathers the same; wings fuscous, with slight ashy edgings…

"No black cap or white stripe on head. Upper parts dull ashy-blue; under parts sordid or muddy whitish. Cap clear hair-brown. A decided spot white on the middle of the nape, in the brown cap, which on the sides of the head includes the eyes, and is bordered with dusky. Middle tail-feathers like back, without black, and with little or no white." Elliot Coues, 1884

Brown-headed Nuthatch

"No black cap or white stripe on head. Upper parts dull ashy-blue; under parts sordid or muddy whitish.…

"Picea, Silver Fir. Fig. 60. Tree, 100-200 ft: trunk 6-8 ft. in dia.: lvs. flat, distichously spreading, dark green and lustrous above, silvery white below: cones slender, cylindrical, light green to dark purple, 5-6 in. long; bracts slightly longer than their scales. Mts. of Cent. and S. Eu., often gregarious.- Wood esteemed and much used; yields Strasburg turpentine. Dwarf forms, with erect and pendulous and with much abbreviated branches, are common in gardens. Not perfectly hardy in New England." L.H. Bailey, 1917

Silver Fir Tree Cone

"Picea, Silver Fir. Fig. 60. Tree, 100-200 ft: trunk 6-8 ft. in dia.: lvs. flat, distichously spreading,…

"Common Brown Creeper. Upper parts dark brown, changing to rusty-brown on the rump, everywhere streaked with ashy-white. An obscure whitish superciliary stripe. Under parts dull whitish, sometimes tinged with rusty on the flanks and crissum. Wing-coverts and quills tipped with white, the inner secondaries also with white shaft-lines, which, with the tips, contrast the blackish of their outer webs. Wings also crossed with white or tawny-white, the anterior bar broad and occupying both webs of the feathers, the other only on the outer webs near their ends. Tail grayish-brown, darker along the shaft and at the ends of the feathers, sometimes showing obsolete transverse bars. Bill blackish above, mostly flesh-colored or yellowish below; feet brown; iris dark brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Common Brown Creeper

"Common Brown Creeper. Upper parts dark brown, changing to rusty-brown on the rump, everywhere streaked…

"Upper parts pale brownish-gray, minutely dotted with blackish and whitish points together, and usually showing obsolete wavy bars of dusky. Rump cinnamon-brown; a whitish superciliary line. Beneath, soiled white, shading behind into pale cinnamon, the throat and breast obsoletely streaked, and the under tail-covers barred, with dusky. Quills of the wings rather darker than the back, with similar markings on the outer webs. Middle tail-feathers like the back, with many dark bars of equal width with the lighter ones; lateral tail-feathers similarly marked on the outer webs, plain on the inner webs, with a broad subterminal black bar on both webs, and cinnamon-brown tips, the latter usually marbled with dusky; outer feathers with several blackish and cinnamon bars on both webs. Bill and feet dark horn color, the former paler at base below." Elliot Coues, 1884

Rock Wren

"Upper parts pale brownish-gray, minutely dotted with blackish and whitish points together, and usually…

"Carolina Wren. Upper parts uniform reddish-brown, brightest on the rump, where are concealed whitish spots; a long whitish superciliary line, usually bordered with dusky streaks; upper surfaces of wings and tail like back, barred with dusky, the outer edges of the primaries and lateral tail-feathers showing whitish spots. Below, rusty or muddy whitish, clearest anteriorly, deepening behind, the under tail-coverts reddish-brown barred with blackish. Wing-coverts usually with dusky and whitish tips. Feet livid flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Carolina Wren

"Carolina Wren. Upper parts uniform reddish-brown, brightest on the rump, where are concealed whitish…

"Winter Wren. Above brown, darker before, brighter behind, most of back, together with tail and inner wing quills, banded with dusky, the markings obsolete on the back, where usually accompanied by whitish specks, strongest on the wings and tail. Outer webs of several primaries regularly barred with brownish-white, in marked contrast with the other bars of the wings. An inconspicuous whitish superciliary line. Below brownish, paler or whitish anteriorly, the belly, flanks, and crissum heavily waved with dusky and whitish bars. Bill slender, straight, decidedly shorter than the head. Tail much shorter than the wings." Elliot Coues, 1884" Elliot Coues, 1884

Winter Wren

"Winter Wren. Above brown, darker before, brighter behind, most of back, together with tail and inner…

"Long-billed Marsh Wren. T. palustris. Above clear brown, unbarred, the middle of the back with a large black patch sharply streaked with white (these white stripes sometimes deficient). Crown of head usually darker that the back, often quite blackish, and continuous with the black interscapular patch. a dull white superciliary line. Wings fuscous, the inner secondaries blackish on the outer webs, often barred or indented with light brown. Tail evenly barred with fuscous and the color of the back. Under parts white, usually quite pure on the belly and middle line of the breast and throat, but much shaded with brown on the sides, flanks, and crissum. Bill blackish above, pale below; feet brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Long-billed Marsh Wren

"Long-billed Marsh Wren. T. palustris. Above clear brown, unbarred, the middle of the back with a large…

"Short-billed Marsh Wren. Cistothorus platensis. Upper parts brown, the crown and most of the back blackish, streaked with white. below, whitish, shaded with clear brown across the breast and along the sides, and especially on the flanks and crissum, the latter more or less indistinctly barred with dusky (often inappreciable). A whitish line over the eye. Wings and tail marked as in the last species. Upper tail-coverts decidedly barred. Bill blackish above, whitish below, extremely small, scarcely half as long as the head; feet brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Short-billed Marsh Wren

"Short-billed Marsh Wren. Cistothorus platensis. Upper parts brown, the crown and most of the back blackish,…

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous tint brightest on the nape, lesser wing-coverts, and tail-coverts, the rest of the upper parts being duller and more grayish-brown, boldly variegated with dark brown streaks; middle pair of tail-feathers and several of the inner secondaries rufous-brown, with darker centres. Under parts, from the breast backward, white; the sides strongly washed with the color of the upper parts, and mottling of same across the lower part of the breast. A large, distinct, shield-shaped black area of the breast. Tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the outermost edged with whitish. Wings quills, except the innermost, plain fuscous, the outer web of the 1st primary whitish. Lesser wing-coverts usually tipped with grayish-white. Top of head like nape; bar across front of vertex, thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a tuft, or "horn" black; front and line over eye, also somewhat produced to form part of the tuft, white or yellowish; a broad bar from nostrils along the lores, thence curving below the eye and widening as it descends in front of the auriculars, black; rest of the sides of the head and whole throat white or sulphury-yellow. Bill plumbeous-blackish, bluish-plumbeous at base below (sometimes there yellowish); feet and claws black; iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Shore Lark

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous…

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous tint brightest on the nape, lesser wing-coverts, and tail-coverts, the rest of the upper parts being duller and more grayish-brown, boldly variegated with dark brown streaks; middle pair of tail-feathers and several of the inner secondaries rufous-brown, with darker centres. Under parts, from the breast backward, white; the sides strongly washed with the color of the upper parts, and mottling of same across the lower part of the breast. A large, distinct, shield-shaped black area of the breast. Tail-feathers, except the middle pair, black, the outermost edged with whitish. Wings quills, except the innermost, plain fuscous, the outer web of the 1st primary whitish. Lesser wing-coverts usually tipped with grayish-white. Top of head like nape; bar across front of vertex, thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a tuft, or "horn" black; front and line over eye, also somewhat produced to form part of the tuft, white or yellowish; a broad bar from nostrils along the lores, thence curving below the eye and widening as it descends in front of the auriculars, black; rest of the sides of the head and whole throat white or sulphury-yellow. Bill plumbeous-blackish, bluish-plumbeous at base below (sometimes there yellowish); feet and claws black; iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

Shore Lark

"Shore Lark or Horned Lark. Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous or liliaceous…

"Two stars in the Big Dipper opposite the handle indicate the direction toward the North Star, which, though not very bright, is the first very noticeable star in line." -Wiswell, 1913

Finding the North Star

"Two stars in the Big Dipper opposite the handle indicate the direction toward the North Star, which,…

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on June 21, the summer solstice. Summer and long days north of the Equator; winter and short days south of it." -Wiswell, 1913

Summer Solstice

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on June 21, the summer solstice. Summer and long days north…

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on December 21, the winter solstice. Winter and short days north of the Equator; summer and long days south of it. 1, North Frigid Zone; 2, North Temperate Zone; 3, Torrid Zone; 4, South Temperate Zone; 5, South Frigid Zone." -Wiswell, 1913

Winter Solstice

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on December 21, the winter solstice. Winter and short days…

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on March 21 (spring equinox) and September 21 (autumn equinox) as seen from the position occupied by the earth on June 21 (summer solstice). Rays of light and heat meet the earth vertically on the Equator, and the days and nights are everywhere of equal length." -Wiswell, 1913

Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on March 21 (spring equinox) and September 21 (autumn equinox)…

Lophelia pertusa is a species of cold-water coral which grows in the deep waters throughout the North Atlantic ocean. L. pertusa reefs are home to a diverse community, however the species is extremely slow growing and may be harmed by destructive fishing practices, or oil exploration and extraction.

Cold-water Coral

Lophelia pertusa is a species of cold-water coral which grows in the deep waters throughout the North…

Maja squinado (the European spider crab, spiny spider crab or spinous spider crab) is a species of migratory crab found in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. It feeds on a great variety of organisms, with seaweeds and molluscs dominating in winter, and echinoderms such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers in summer. Females can produce up to 4 broods per year. Migrations generally take place in autumn, with some crabs covering over 100 miles (160 km) in eight months.

European Spider Crab

Maja squinado (the European spider crab, spiny spider crab or spinous spider crab) is a species of migratory…

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (where it is currently the most common duck species), and Australia. It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. For example, in North America it winters south to Mexico, but also regularly strays into Central America and the Caribbean between September and May

Mallard Duck

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling…

he Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41-49 cm long with a 65-75 cm wingspan. The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill

Mandarin Duck

he Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related…

An illustration of a flowering branch of common mare's tail; a, flower before athesis; b, flower after athesis; c, fruit. The Common Mare's tail, Hippuris vulgaris, is a common aquatic plant of Eurasia and North America. The species is also sometimes called Horsetail, a name which is better reserved to the Horsetails of genus Equisetum. These are unrelated to the water plant, though there is some resemblance in appearance.

Common Mare's Tail

An illustration of a flowering branch of common mare's tail; a, flower before athesis; b, flower after…

The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called Long-billed Marsh Wren to distinguish it from the Sedge Wren, also known as Short-billed Marsh Wren. Adults have brown upperparts with a light brown belly and flanks and a white throat and breast. The back is black with white stripes. They have a dark cap with a white line over the eyes and a short thin bill.

Marsh Wren

The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is…

Four leaf clover is found in central and southern Europe, Caucasia, western Siberia, Afghanistan, S.W. India, China, Japan and North America. Considered a weed in some parts of the United States where it has been well established in the north eastern States for over 100 years.

Four Leaf Clover

Four leaf clover is found in central and southern Europe, Caucasia, western Siberia, Afghanistan, S.W.…

An illustration of a four leaf clover sporocarp with valves opened. Four leaf clover is found in central and southern Europe, Caucasia, western Siberia, Afghanistan, S.W. India, China, Japan and North America. Considered a weed in some parts of the United States where it has been well established in the north eastern States for over 100 years.

Four Leaf Clover Sporocarp with Valves Opened

An illustration of a four leaf clover sporocarp with valves opened. Four leaf clover is found in central…

"Bladder-nut. a.-- Flower. b.-- Fruit. Bladder-nut, a name of shrubs or small trees, natives of Europe, Asia, and North America, the fruits of which consist of an inflated bladdery capsule containing the seeds." -Vaughan, 1906

Bladdernut

"Bladder-nut. a.-- Flower. b.-- Fruit. Bladder-nut, a name of shrubs or small trees, natives of Europe,…

The American marten (Martes americana) is a North American member of the Mustelidae family, sometimes referred to as the Pine Marten. The term Pine Marten is also used to refer to a separate Martes species from Europe. It differs from the fisher (Martes pennanti) in that it is smaller in size, has a pelage which is usually brown with an irregularly shaped chest-patch that is lighter in color.

American Marten

The American marten (Martes americana) is a North American member of the Mustelidae family, sometimes…

The House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the Northern House Martin or Common House Martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation.

House Martin

The House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the Northern House Martin or Common House Martin,…

"Sky-Lark. Upper parts grayish-brown, the feathers with darker centers; under parts whitish, tinged with buff across breast and along sides, and there streaked with dusky; a pale superciliary line; wings with much whitish edging; outer tail-feather mostly white, the next one or two with white borders." Elliot Coues, 1884

Skylark

"Sky-Lark. Upper parts grayish-brown, the feathers with darker centers; under parts whitish, tinged…

A (Motacilla alba) or White Wagtail (upper) and a (Motacilla flava) Yellow Wagtail (lower) sitting on the rocks in a grassy area. "The White Wagtail - Head black, with a broad mask of white across forehead and along side; the black extending on the fore-breast; wings blackish, with much white edging and tipping of the quills and greater coverts; tail black, the two lateral feathers on each side mostly white; back and sides ashy; lower parts mostly white; bill and feet black. In winter black more restricted, in part replaced by gray. The Yellow Wagtail has characters of the Motacilla alba; tail shorter, not exceeding the wing length; hind claw lengthened and straightish; hind toe and claw nearly as long as the tarsus. Coloration chiefly yellow and greenish." Elliot Coues, 1884

A White and Yellow Wagtail Sitting on the Rocks

A (Motacilla alba) or White Wagtail (upper) and a (Motacilla flava) Yellow Wagtail (lower) sitting on…

"The Yellow Wagtail or Motilla flava has characters of the Motacilla alva; tail shorter, not exceeding the wing length; hind claw lengthened and straightish; hind toe and claw nearly as long as the tarsus. Coloration chiefly yellow and greenish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Yellow Wagtail Head and Foot

"The Yellow Wagtail or Motilla flava has characters of the Motacilla alva; tail shorter, not exceeding…

"Meadow Pipit or Anthus pratensis. Upper parts greenish-brown distinctly marked with blackish-brown centres of the feathers; wing-quills and coverts clove-brown, edged with greenish-gray. Tail-feathers dark brown, edged with the greenish shade of the back, the outer one obliquely white for nearly half its length, and others with white at the end. Cheeks olivaceous, speckled with dusky. Under parts brownish-white with a tinge of green, marked on the breast and sides with brownish-black streaks running forward as a maxillary chain; chin, belly, and under tail-coverts unmarked. Bill dusky above and at end, the rest livid flesh-color; feet obscure flesh-color; iris blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Meadow Pipit

"Meadow Pipit or Anthus pratensis. Upper parts greenish-brown distinctly marked with blackish-brown…

"Black Throated Green Warbler or Dendroica virens. Back and crown clear yellow-olive; forehead, superciliary line, and whole sides of head rich yellow (in high plumage, middle of back with dusky marks, and dusky or dark olive lines through eyes and auriculars, and even bordering the crown); chin, throat, and breast jet black, prolonged behind as streaks on the sides; other under parts white; usually yellow-tinged; wings and tail dusky, former with two white bars and much whitish edging, latter with outer feathers nearly all white; bill and feet blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black Throated Green Warbler

"Black Throated Green Warbler or Dendroica virens. Back and crown clear yellow-olive; forehead, superciliary…

"Black and White Creeper or Mniotilta varia. Black; edges of feathers of upper parts, coronal, superciliary, and maxillary stripes, tips of greater and median wing-coverts, outer edges of inner secondaries and inner edges of quills and tail-feathers, and spots on inner webs of lateral tail-feathers, white; under parts mostly white with black streaks on sides and crissum; bill and feet black. Similar: less black in proportion to the white, being mostly white below." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black and White Creeper

"Black and White Creeper or Mniotilta varia. Black; edges of feathers of upper parts, coronal, superciliary,…