Chapter XLV: Colymbinæ. Divers and Grebes, 351 (12)

Tail tapering, of fourteen tapering feathers, of which the two middle project far beyond the rest. Male with the bill black, the sides of upper mandible pale blue; feet greyish-blue; head, throat, and upper part of neck anteriorly greenish-brown, faintly margined behind with purplish-red; a small part of hind neck dark green; the rest and the upper part in general beautifully undulated with very narrow bars of brownish-black and yellowish-white, smaller wing-coverts, alula, and primary quills grey, the latter dark brown toward the end; speculum coppery-red, changing to dull green, edged anteriorly with light brownish-red, posteriorly with white; inner secondaries and scapulars black and green with broad grey margins; upper tail-coverts cream-coloured, the outer webs blackish and green; tail light grey, the middle feathers dark brown glossed with green; on each side of the neck an oblique band of white, of which colour are the lower parts in general, but the sides undulated like the back, the lateral feathers of the rump cream-coloured, the lower tail-coverts black, and those at the sides edged with white. Female with the upper parts variegated with brownish-black and light yellowish-brown, the margins of the feathers, and a mark on each side of the shaft being of the latter colour; the speculum dusky green, margined behind with white; primary quills greyish-brown; lower parts light brownish-yellow, sides variegated with brown.

_Male_, 29, 36. _Female_, 22-1/2, 34.

From Texas, throughout the interior, to the Columbia River, and along the Atlantic coast to Maine, during winter, and early spring. Breeds in the Arctic regions. Abundant.

Pintail Duck, Anas acuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 72.

Anas acuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 383.

Anas caudacuta, Pintail Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 441.

Pintail or Winter Duck, Anas acuta, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 386.

Pintail Duck, Anas acuta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 214; v.
v. p. 615.

392. 7. Anas Sponsa, Linn. Wood Duck.--Summer Duck.

Plate CCVI. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and upper and hind part of neck elongated and incurved, inner secondaries very broad, tail much rounded, of sixteen feathers; bill bright red at the base, yellow on the sides, ridge and unguis black; feet greenish-yellow; upper part of head and loral space deep green; below the eye a patch of dark purple, behind it a larger patch of the same colour; sides of neck, its hind part under the crest, and the middle all round, very dark purple; a narrow line along the base of the upper mandible and over the eye, meeting on the occiput, pure white, as are some of the feathers of the crest; another from behind the eye meeting below the occiput, and including several of the lower elongated feathers; throat pure white, with a process on each side a little beyond the eye, and another nearly half-way down the neck; sides of the neck and its lower part anteriorly reddish-purple, each feather on the latter with a triangular white tip; middle of the neck behind, back and rump, very dark reddish-brown, the latter deeper, and tinged with green; upper tail-coverts and tail greenish-black; some of the lateral tail-coverts dull reddish-purple, a few on either side with their central filaments light red; smaller wing-coverts, alula, and primaries dull greyish-brown, most of the latter, with part of the outer web greyish-white, and the inner toward the end darker and glossed with green; secondary quills tipped with white, the outer webs green, with purple reflections, those of the inner secondaries and scapulars velvet-black, their inner webs partially glossed and changing to green; the broad feathers anterior to the wings white, terminated with black; breast and abdomen greyish-white; feathers under the wings yellowish-grey, minutely undulated with black, and tipped with a white and two black bands; lower wing-coverts and axillar feathers white, barred with greyish-brown; lower tail-coverts dull greyish-brown. Female with the bill blackish-brown, the feet dull green; upper part of head dusky glossed with green, sides of head and neck, with hind part of latter, light brownish-grey; throat white, but without the lateral processes; fore part of neck below and sides light yellowish-brown, mottled with dark greyish-brown, as are the sides under the wings; breast and abdomen white, the former spotted with brown; hind neck, back, and rump dark brown, glossed with green and purple; wings as in the male, but the speculum less, and the secondaries externally faint reddish-purple, the velvet-black of the male diminished to a few narrow markings; tail dark brown, glossed with green; lower tail-coverts pale greyish-brown, mottled with white.

_Male_, 20-1/2, 28. _Female_, 19-1/2.

Breeds throughout the country from Texas to the Columbia, and eastward to Nova Scotia. Fur Countries. Accumulates in the Southern Districts in winter.

Summer Duck or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. viii. p. 97.

Dendronessa sponsa, Summer Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer.
v. ii. p. 446.

Summer or Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 394.

Wood Duck, Anas sponsa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 52; v. v.
p. 618.

393. 8. Anas Carolinensis, Steph. American Green-winged Teal.

Plate CCXXVIII. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and upper part of hind neck elongated; tail short, acuminate, of sixteen feathers; bill black, feet light bluish-grey; head and upper part of neck chestnut-red; a broad band, narrowing backwards, from the eye, down the back of the neck, deep shining green, edged with black below, under which is a whitish line, meeting before the eye another that curves forward and downward to the angle of the mouth; chin brownish-black, as are the feathers at the base of the upper mandible; upper parts and flanks beautifully undulated with brownish-black and white lines; anterior to the wings a short broad transverse band of white; wings brownish-grey; speculum in its lower half velvet-black, the upper bright green, changing to purple, and edged above with black, behind margined with white, before with reddish-white; tail brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler; upper coverts brownish-black, edged with light yellowish-grey; lower part of neck partly barred as behind, yellowish-white and spotted with black, as is the fore part of the breast; abdomen white, faintly barred with grey; a patch of black under the tail; lateral tail-coverts cream-coloured, the larger black, with broad white margins and tips. Female with the head and neck streaked with dark brown and light red, the fore neck whitish, the upper parts mottled with dark brown, the anterior feathers barred, the posterior margined with yellowish-white; the speculum less extensive; the lower part of fore neck tinged with yellowish-red, and mottled with dark brown, as are the sides; the rest of the lower parts white. This species differs from _Anas Crecca_ chiefly in having a white band before the wing, which the European bird has not, while the latter has the greater part of the outer webs of most of the scapulars white, there being none of that colour on those of our bird.

_Male_, 14-3/4, 24. _Female_, 13-3/4, 22-1/2.

Dispersed throughout the country during autumn and spring. Extremely abundant during winter in all the Southern States and Texas. Breeds sparingly along the Great Lakes, and far north.

Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
101.

Anas Crecca, Bonap. Syn. p. 386.

American Teal, Anas Crecca, var. Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 400.

Anas Crecca, Green-winged Teal, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer.
v. ii. p. 400.

Green-winged Teal, Anas Crecca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
218; v. v. p. 616.

394. 9. Anas discors, Linn. Blue-winged Teal.

Plate CCCXIII. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head and hind neck slightly elongated, the tail rounded, acuminate, of fourteen feathers; bill bluish-black; feet dull yellow; upper part of head black; a semilunar white patch on the side of the head before the eye, margined before and behind with black, the rest of the head and the anterior parts of the neck purplish-blue, with purplish-red reflections; lower hind neck and fore part of back brownish-black, glossed with green, each feather with a curved band of pale reddish-buff, and a line or band of the same in the centre, the hind part of the back greenish-brown, the feathers edged with paler; smaller wing-coverts light blue; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills greyish-brown, edged with pale bluish; outer secondaries of the same colour, those of the speculum duck-green, changing to blue and bronze, with a narrow line of white along their terminal margin; the inner greenish-black on the outer web, greenish-brown on the inner, with a central line and narrow external margin of pale reddish-buff; the more elongated scapulars similar, but some of them margined with greenish-blue; secondary coverts greenish-brown, the outer tipped with white, the inner with blue; tail-feathers chocolate-brown, slightly glossed with green, their margin buffy; lower parts pale reddish-orange, shaded on the breast with purplish-red, and thickly spotted with black, the number of spots on each feather varying from eight to twenty-five, those on the upper and hind parts of the sides running into transverse bars; axillar feathers, some of the lower wing-coverts, and a patch on the side of the rump pure white; lower tail-coverts brownish-black. Female with the upper parts blackish-brown, the lower lighter, the feathers edged with greyish-white, the throat and lore whitish; the smaller wing-coverts light blue, but the scapulars without that colour.

_Male_, 16, 31-1/4. _Female_, 15, 24.

Breeds in Texas and westward. Great Lakes. Fur Countries. Columbia River. Very abundant in autumn and spring in the Middle Atlantic Districts, as well as in the interior. Abundant also in all the Southern States.

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
74.

Anas discors, Bonap. Syn. p. 385.

Anas discors, Blue-winged Teal, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer.
v. ii. p. 444.

Blue-winged Teal, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 397.

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 111.

395. 10. Anas clypeata, Linn. Shoveller Duck.--Micoine.

Plate CCCXXVII. Male and Female.

Male with the bill longer than the head, depressed and much widened towards the end, where its breadth is doubled; laminæ of the upper mandible very numerous, prolonged beyond the edges and tapering to a point, unless at the commencement of its broadest part; tail rounded, of fourteen acute feathers; bill greyish-black; feet vermilion; head and upper part of neck deep green with purple reflections; a longitudinal band on the hind neck and the back, greyish-brown, the feathers edged with paler; rump and upper tail-coverts greenish-black; anterior scapulars white, posterior light blue on the outer web, longitudinally banded with white and greenish-black on the inner; smaller wing-coverts light blue; alula, primary coverts and quills blackish-brown, their shafts white; outer secondaries greyish-brown, eight of them externally of a rich duck-green, the inner greenish-black, with a longitudinal white streak; secondary coverts broadly tipped with white; tail-feathers greyish-brown, margined with reddish-white; lower part of neck pure white; breast and middle part of abdomen dull purplish-chestnut; a large patch of white on each side of the rump, with a band of the same towards the tail; lower tail-coverts greenish-black; axillaries and lower wing-coverts pure white. Female with the bill much less dilated, and the laminæ less elongated; the bill dull green; feathers of the upper parts blackish-brown, edged with light reddish-brown; throat and sides of the head light reddish-brown, which is the prevailing colour over the lower part of the neck, part of the breast, and the sides, of which, however, the feathers are edged with dusky, middle of breast whitish; smaller wing-coverts dull brownish-grey; alula and primaries as in the male; inner secondaries brownish-black, speculum as in the male but paler, and changing to blue.

_Male_, 20-1/2, 31-1/2. _Female_, 17, 29-1/2.

Breeds abundantly in the Texas, westward to the Columbia, and Fur Countries. During winter from the Middle Atlantic Districts to Texas. Common.

Shoveller, Anas clypeata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 45.

Anas clypeata, Bonap. Syn. p. 382.

Anas clypeata, Shoveller, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii.
p. 439.

Shoveller, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 383.

Shoveller Duck, Anas clypeata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 241.

GENUS V. FULIGULA. SEA-DUCK.

Bill about the length of the head or shorter, higher than broad at the base, depressed toward the end, the margins parallel, slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded, the frontal angles rather pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line generally declinate, but various at the base, being often prominent, the ridge broad at the base, narrowed at the middle, enlarged and convex at the end, the sides nearly erect at the base, gradually more declinate, the edges soft and internally lamellate, the unguis oblong and decurved; lower mandible flattened, being but slightly convex, with the angle very long and rather narrow, the dorsal line very short and straight, the edges internally lamellate, the unguis flat, obovato-elliptical. Nostrils submedial, linear-oblong, rather large, near the ridge, in an oblong depression covered with the soft membrane of the bill. Head rather large, compressed, convex above; neck of moderate length, rather thick; body full, depressed. Feet very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly with narrow scutella continuous with those of the middle toe, and having another series commencing half-way down and continuous with those of the outer toe; hind toe small, with an inner expanded margin; middle toe nearly double the length of the tarsus, outer a little shorter, all scutellate. Claws small, compressed, that of the first toe very small and curved. Plumage dense, firm, blended. Wings shortish, narrow, pointed, first and second quills longest; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. Tail very short, rounded or cuneate, of fourteen or more feathers. Œsophagus rather wide, considerably dilated at the lower part of the neck; stomach an extremely muscular, roundish gizzard; intestine long and wide; cœca long. Trachea of the males with a transverse, bony, unsymmetrical dilatation at the inferior larynx.

* Bill of ordinary length, broad, without enlargements at the
base, unguis small, decurved.

396. 1. Fuligula Valisneriana, Wils. Canvass Back Duck.

Plate CCCI. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill black; upper part of head and a space along the base of the bill dusky, a small transverse band of white on the chin; the rest of the head and the neck all round for more than half its length, rich brownish-red; a broad belt of brownish-black occupying the lower part of the neck and the fore part of the body; upper parts white, minutely undulated with dark grey or blackish; primary quills brownish-black, tinged with grey towards the base; secondaries ash-grey, toward the end whitish and undulated, five of them also having a narrow strip of black along their outer margin; rump and tail-coverts above and below brownish-black; tail brownish-grey; lower parts white, the sides and abdomen marked with five undulating grey lines. Female with the upper parts greyish-brown, the top of the head darker, the chin whitish, the neck greyish-brown, as are the sides and abdomen; breast white; wing-coverts brownish-grey; primary quills greyish-brown, dusky at the end, secondaries ash-grey, five of the inner with an external black margin; the innermost greyish-brown, like the back, and with some of the scapulars faintly undulated with darker; tail greyish-brown, paler at the end; axillars and smaller under wing-coverts white.

_Male_, 22, 33. _Female_, 20-1/4, 30-3/4.

Abundant during winter from the mouth of the Delaware to New Orleans, in all the estuaries. Columbia River. Breeds on the Rocky Mountains and northward.

Canvass-backed Duck, Anas valisneria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
viii. p. 103.

Fuligula valisneria, Bonap. Syn. p. 392.

Fuligula valisneria, Canvass-back Duck, Swains. &. Rich. F.
Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.

Canvass-backed Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 430.

Canvass-back Duck, Fuligula valisneriana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
iv. p. 1.

397. 2. Fuligula Ferina, Linn. Red-headed Duck.--Dos-gris.

Plate CCCXXII. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head, tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill light greyish-blue, with a broad band of black at the end, and a dusky patch anterior to the nostrils; head and neck all round, for more than half its length, of a rich brownish-red, glossed with carmine above; a broad belt of brownish-black occupying the lower part of the neck and the fore part of the body; back and scapulars pale greyish-white, being minutely traversed by dark brownish-grey lines; sides and abdomen similar, the undulations gradually fading away into the greyish-white of the middle of the breast; upper wing-coverts brownish-grey, the feathers faintly undulated with whitish toward the end; primary quills brownish-grey, dusky along the outer web and at the end; secondaries ash-grey, narrowly tipped with white, four or five of the inner of a purer tint tinged with blue, and having a narrow brownish-black line along the margin; the innermost like the scapulars, but more dusky; tail brownish-grey; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts white; rump above and below brownish-black. Female with the head and upper part of the neck dull reddish-brown, darker above; the rest of the neck all round, and the upper parts in general, dull greyish-brown, the feathers paler at their tips; flanks and fore part of the neck dull reddish-brown, the feathers broadly tipped with pale greyish-brown; wings as in the male, but of a darker tint, and without undulations; tail as in the male; lower wing-coverts light grey, those in the middle white; middle of breast greyish-white, hind part of abdomen light brownish-grey.

_Male_, 20, 33. _Female_, 21, 32-1/2.

Breeds throughout the Fur Countries, from which it migrates southward in early autumn. Abundant on the Chesapeake, New York Bay, Ohio, and Mississippi, with their tributaries. None seen westward of the Mississippi.

Red-headed Duck, Anas Ferina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
110.

Fuligula Ferina, Bonap. Syn. p. 392.

Fuligula Ferina, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 452.

Red-headed Duck or Pochard, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 434.

Red-headed Duck, Fuligula Ferina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p.
198.

398. 3. Fuligula Marila, Linn. Scaup Duck.--Flocking Fowl.

Plate CCXXIX. Male and Female.

Bill as long as the head, enlarged toward the end; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers. Male with the bill light greyish-blue, the unguis blackish; head, neck, and fore part of the back and breast black, the head and neck glossed with purple and green, the rest tinged with brown; hind part of back, rump, abdomen, and upper and lower tail-coverts brownish-black; middle of back, scapulars, inner secondaries, anterior part of abdomen, and sides greyish-white, beautifully marked with undulating black lines; wings light brownish-grey; alula, primaries, at the base and end, brownish-black; speculum white, as are the middle of the breast, the axillars, and some of the lower wing-coverts. Female with the head, neck, and fore part of the back and breast, umber-brown; a broad patch of white along the fore part of the forehead; upper parts in general blackish-brown, the middle of the back and the scapulars faintly undulated with whitish dots and lines; primary quills greyish in the middle; speculum dull white; the greater part of the breast and abdomen white, the sides and parts under the tail umber-brown.

_Male_, 16-1/2, 29. _Female_, 16-1/2, 28.

Abundant during autumn on the Ohio and its tributaries, as well as those of the Missouri and the Mississippi. Rather common also along the Middle Atlantic Districts. Breeds far north.

Scaup Duck, Anas Marila, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 84.

Fuligula Marila, Scaup Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 456.

Scaup Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 437.

Scaup Duck, Fuligula Marila, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 226;
v. v. p. 614.

399. 4. Fuligula rufitorques, Bonap. Ring-necked Duck.

Plate CCXXXIV. Male and Female.

Bill about the same length as the head, a little enlarged toward the end; tail much rounded, of sixteen feathers; occiput slightly crested. Male with the bill black, with a basal and subterminal line bluish-white; head and upper part of neck greenish-black, with purple reflections; a very narrow brownish-red collar; lower part of neck all round, as well as the back, scapulars, smaller wing-coverts, and rump above and below, brownish-black; inner secondaries of the same colour, outer bluish-grey on the outer web, light brown on the inner, as are the primaries, of which the outer webs and tips are dark brown; tail brownish-grey; chin white; breast greyish-white; sides and abdomen greyish-white, minutely undulated with grey. Female with the bill dusky, the neck umber-brown, upper part of head darker, back blackish-brown, speculum bluish-grey as in the male; breast brownish-white; loral space and chin pale brown; sides and abdomen dark umber-brown.

_Male_, 18, 28. _Female_, 16.

Abundant on the Ohio during autumn, winter, and early spring; rather rare along the coasts of the Middle Atlantic Districts. Breeds far north.

Fuligula rufitorques, Bonap. Syn. p. 393.

Tufted Duck, Anas Fuligula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 60.

Ring-necked Duck, Anas (Fuligula) rufitorques, Swains. & Rich.
F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 453.

Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufitorques, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p.
439.

Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufitorques, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
iii. p. 259.

** Bill very broad, much flattened, the unguis abruptly curved
backwards.

400. 5. Fuligula rubida, Wils. Ruddy Duck.

Plate CCCXLIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail short, much graduated, of eighteen stiff, narrow feathers; plumage of lower parts stiff and glossy. Male with the bill light greyish-blue; upper part of head and nape deep bluish-black; a large white patch on each side of the head, from the bill to behind the ear; neck all round, all the upper parts, and sides glossy chestnut-red; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with brown, and marked with transverse interrupted bands of dusky; wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers blackish-brown. Female with the bill darker, the crown, and all the upper parts dark reddish-brown, minutely dotted and undulated with dusky; lower parts duller, but similarly marked; throat, and a band from the base of the upper mandible to beneath the eye, brownish-white. Young, in second plumage, reddish-brown above, barred with dusky; wings and tail dark greyish-brown; cheeks, fore part and sides of neck, and all the lower parts dull yellowish-white, undulated with dusky, as in the rump above; lower tail-coverts white.

_Male_, 14-3/4, 21-1/2.

Ruddy Duck, Anas rubida, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 137.

Fuligula rubida, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Fuligula rubida, Ruddy Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 455.

Ruddy Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 426.

Ruddy Duck, Fuligula rubida, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 326.

*** Bill semicylindrical, at the end enlarged by soft
membranous expansions, the unguis broadly obovate and
incurved.

401. 6. Fuligula Labradora, Lath. Pied Duck.

Plate CCCXXXII. Male and Female.

Bill nearly as long as the head; tail much rounded, of fourteen tapering feathers. Male with the bill pale greyish-blue at the base above, dull orange on the sides, black toward the end; head and upper half of neck white, except an elongated patch of black on the crown and nape; below the middle of the neck a black ring, from the hind part of which proceeds a longitudinal band of the same colour, gradually becoming wider on the back and rump; below the black ring anteriorly, a broad band of white, including the scapulars; all the under parts black, excepting the axillaries and lower wing-coverts, which are white, as are the upper wing-coverts and secondary quills, some of the inner secondaries having a narrow external black margin; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills brownish-black; tail brownish-black, tinged with grey; upper tail-coverts dusky, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. Female brownish-grey, darker on the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, lighter on the throat, breast, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries, which latter are margined externally with black; seven or eight of the secondaries white, as are the sides of the forehead.

_Male_, 20, 30. _Female_, 18-1/4, 29.

Along the shores of the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to New Jersey, rather rare, in winter. Breeds from Labrador northward. Never seen in the interior.

Pied Duck, Anas labradora, _Wils._ Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 91.

Fuligula labradora, Bonap. Syn. p. 391.

Pied Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 428.

Pied Duck, Fuligula labradora, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 271.

**** Bill about the length of the head, very broad; upper
mandible with a prominence at the base above, and two lateral
protuberances; unguis very large, slightly arched.

402. 7. Fuligula fusca, Linn. Velvet Duck.

Bill with an abrupt prominence in front, the lateral protuberances covered with feathers; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff, narrow feathers. Male with the basal prominence and sides at the base black, toward the end bright red; unguis flesh-coloured, with a black line on each side; feet carmine on the outer, orange-red on the inner side, webs greyish-black; plumage brownish-black, glossed with blue above, lighter beneath; outer secondary quills and a spot beneath the eye white. Female with the bill dusky, its basal prominence slight; plumage sooty-brown, breast and abdomen lighter; two whitish spots on each side of the head; outer secondary quills white, as in the male.

_Male_, 22, 39. _Female_, 22, 38.

From the coast of Georgia eastward to Nova Scotia, during winter, when it is extremely abundant in all the estuaries and bays. Breeds from Labrador northward.

Velvet Duck, Anas fusca, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 137.

Fuligula fusca, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Oidemia fusca, Velvet Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 449.

Velvet Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 419.

Velvet Duck, Fuligula fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 354.

403. 8. Fuligula perspicillata, Linn. Surf Duck.

Plate CCCXVII. Male and Female.

Bill with a gently sloping prominence in front, the lateral protuberances bare; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff narrow feathers. Male with the bill deep reddish-orange, bluish-white on the sides, with a black patch, the unguis greyish-yellow; tarsi and toes orange-red, webs dusky; plumage deep black, glossed with blue; a white patch on the top of the head, and another on the nape. Female with the bill greenish-black; the plumage brownish-black, darker on the top of the head, back, wings, and tail.

_Male_, 20, 33-1/2. _Female_, 19, 31-1/2.

Abundant from Nova Scotia to Maryland during winter, and removing southward to the mouth of the Mississippi in severe weather. Never seen in the interior. Breeds from Labrador northwards.

Black or Surf Duck, Anas perspicillata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
viii. p. 49.

Fuligula perspicillata, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Oidemia perspicillata, Surf Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 449.

Black or Surf Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 416.

Surf Duck, Fuligula perspicillata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p.
161.

404. 9. Fuligula Americana, Swains. American Scoter Duck.

Plate CCCCVIII. Male and Female.

Bill a little shorter than the head, with an obtuse prominence at the base of the upper mandible; tail graduated, acuminate, of sixteen pointed feathers; first quill with the inner web extremely attenuated. Male with the bill black, the basal prominence rich orange; feet brownish-black; the general colour of the plumage black, on the lower parts tinged with brown, the inner webs of the quills brownish-grey. Female with the bill brownish-black, and having scarcely any protuberance at the base; the upper parts light sooty-brown, the lower light brownish-grey.

This species differs very little from _Fuligula nigra_, being nearly of the same size, proportions, and colours. The male differs from that of the other species in having the sides of the unguis narrowed, and the orange patch on the upper mandible less extended beyond the nostrils, and destitute of the median black line and lateral streak.

_Male_, 19, 33-1/2. _Female_, 17, 29-1/2.

In winter abundant in the Bays of Boston, New York, and Chesapeake, and as far south as the mouth of the Mississippi. Never inland. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic seas.

Scoter Duck, Anas nigra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 135.

Fuligula nigra, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Oidemia americana, Swains. American Scoter, Swains. & Rich. F.
Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.

American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p.
422.

American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
v. p. 117.

***** Bill shorter than the head, with a basal protuberance
above, the inner secondaries curved outwards.

405. 10. Fuligula spectabilis, Linn. King Duck.

Plate CCLXXVI. Male and Female.

Upper mandible with a soft tumid compressed substance at the base, extending perpendicularly upon the forehead, and by a medial band of feathers divided into two broad lobes; tail much rounded, of fourteen stiff feathers. Male with the bill flesh-coloured. The sides of the upper mandible and soft frontal lobes bright orange; band of feathers separating the frontal lobes and margining their upper and posterior edges, lower eyelid, and a forked patch on the throat, black; upper part of head ash-grey; hair-like feathers on the sides of the head pale bluish-green; fore neck cream-coloured; sides and hind part of neck, a patch on the wings, and another on each side of the rump, white; hind part of back, scapulars, large wing-coverts, and secondary quills, brownish-black, the latter glossed with green; primary quills and tail blackish-brown; breast and abdomen blackish-brown; lower wing-coverts white, the outer brown. Female with the bill shorter, pale greenish-grey, with the tumid basal lobes scarcely apparent, so that the forehead is low; head and neck pale greyish-yellow, with small lines of brownish-black; feathers of the back brownish-black towards the end, with yellowish-grey edges; the scapulars brownish-red on the margins; quills and tail-feathers deep greyish-brown; fore part of neck, breast, sides, and lower tail-coverts, with a central mark and submarginal band of brownish-black, the middle of the breast scarcely spotted, being of the general colour of the lower parts, which is pale yellowish-brown.

_Male_, 25; wing, 11-1/4. _Female_, 20; wing, 10-1/2.

Rare in Massachusetts during winter. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Seas.

Fuligula spectabilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Somateria spectabilis, King Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 447.

King Duck, Fuligula spectabilis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 414.

King Duck, Fuligula spectabilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
523.

406. 11. Fuligula mollissima, Linn. Eider Duck.

Plate CCXLVI. Male and Female.

Male with the bill nearly as long as the head, greyish-yellow, the upper mandible with a soft tumid substance at the base, extending upon the forehead, and deeply divided into two narrow rounded lobes, its whole surface marked with divergent oblique lines; tail much rounded, of sixteen narrow feathers; the upper part of the head bluish-black, with the central part white; the hair-like feathers on the upper part and sides of the neck of a delicate pale green; sides of the head, throat, and neck white; fore neck at its lower part cream-coloured; the rest of the lower surface brownish-black, as are the upper tail-coverts, and the central part of the rump; the rest of the back, scapulars, smaller wing-coverts, and inner curved secondary quills white, the scapulars tinged with yellow; secondary coverts and outer secondaries brownish-black; primaries and tail-coverts greyish-brown. Female with the bill shorter, pale greyish-green, its tumid basal part much less and narrower; head and neck all round light brownish-red, with small lines of brownish-black; lower part of neck all round, the whole upper surface, the sides and lower tail-coverts light brownish-red, with transverse brownish-black markings; secondary quills and coverts greyish-brown, tipped with white; primaries brownish-black; tail-feathers greyish-brown; breast and abdomen greyish-brown, obscurely mottled.

_Male_, 25, 42. _Female_, 24, 39.

Breeds in Maine, on the Bay of Fundy, in Labrador, Newfoundland, as far northward as travellers have proceeded. Common in winter from Nova Scotia to Massachusetts; rarely seen in New York.

Eider Duck, Anas mollissima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 122.

Fuligula mollissima, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Somateria mollissima, Eider, Swains. &. Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 448.

Eider Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 406.

Eider Duck, Fuligula mollissima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
344; v. v. p. 611.

****** Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at
the base, narrowed toward the end.

407. 12. Fuligula Clangula, Linn. Golden-eye Duck.

Plate CCCCIII. Male in summer.

Plate CCCXLII. Male and Female in winter.

Bill shorter than the head, very high at the base; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers. Male in summer with the bill black, feet orange-yellow, webs dusky; head and upper part of neck deep greenish-blue, changing to deep dusky purple; back, posterior scapulars, inner secondaries, edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer four secondaries black; an oblong curved or semilunar patch of white between the bill and eye; lower part of neck all round, sides of the body anteriorly, lower parts generally, scapulars, excepting their margins, which are black, a broad band across the wing formed by the first row of small coverts, and several of the others, of which the base only is black, and a large patch formed by the tips of some of the secondary coverts, and six of the secondary quills, pure white; the two patches on the wings separated by an intervening band of black; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts dusky; elongated feathers of the sides with the inner, some of them also the outer margins, and many with a large portion of the tip black, that colour on those of the innermost covering the whole inner webs; tail brownish-grey. Male in winter similar, but with the white patch on the side of the head elliptical, and the black band separating the white patches on the wing not apparent, although seen on turning aside the tips of the smaller coverts. Female with the bill dusky, but having a portion toward the end yellow; head and upper part of neck dull reddish-brown; lower part of the neck and sides of the body brownish-grey, the feathers margined with pale grey, the rest of the lower parts white; upper parts greyish-brown, much darker behind; wings brownish-black, seven of the coverts, unless at the base, white; the small coverts lighter and tipped with grey; tail brownish-grey.

_Male_, 20, 31-1/2. _Female_, 16, 28.

Abundant during winter on all the running streams of the interior, as well as along the Atlantic coast, as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high northern latitudes. Accidental in the North-eastern Districts. Rocky Mountains, and Columbia River.

Golden-eye, Anas Clangula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 62.

Fuligula Clangula, Bonap. Syn. p. 393.

Clangula vulgaris, Common Golden-eye, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 456.

Clangula Barrovii, Rocky-mountain Garrot, Swains. & Rich. F.
Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 453.

Common Golden-eye, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 441.

Golden-eye Duck, Fuligula Clangula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p.
318; v. v. p. 105.

408. 13. Fuligula dispar, Gmel. Western Duck.

Plate CCCCXXX. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, greyish-blue; tail rather short, pointed, of fourteen feathers; upper part of head and broad band surrounding the neck, white; throat and some feathers around the eye black; a light green patch in the loral space, and a transverse patch of the same on the nape, margined behind and laterally with black; a broad band on the neck and the whole of the back velvet-black, with green reflections; smaller wing-coverts white; secondary coverts bluish-black, terminating in a broad white band; elongated secondaries and scapulars with the inner web white, the outer black, with blue reflections; primaries and coverts brownish-black; tail black, as are the lower tail-coverts and abdomen; the breast and sides reddish-buff, fading towards the shoulders and neck into pure white; a bluish-black spot on each side of the lower part of the neck anterior to the wing.

_Male_, 16; wing, 8-3/4.

North-west coast.

Anas dispar and Anas Stelleri, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 535,
518.

Fuligula Stelleri, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Western Duck, Fuligula dispar, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 253.

409. 14. Fuligula Albeola, Linn. Buffel-headed Duck.--Spirit Duck. Butter-box. Dipper. Die-dipper. Marrionette.

Plate CCCXXV. Male and Female.

Bill much shorter than the head, light greyish-blue; feet pale flesh-colour; feathers of head and upper part of neck elongated; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers; fore part of head of a deep rich green, upper part rich purplish-blue, as are the elongated feathers on the fore part and sides of the neck; the hind part of the latter deep green; a broad band of pure white from one cheek to the other over the occiput; rest of the neck, lower parts, outer scapulars, and a large patch on the wing, including the greater part of the small coverts, and some of the secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars narrowly margined with black, as are the inner lateral feathers; axillars brownish-black, some of them white on the margin and towards the end; lower wing-coverts brownish-black, the smaller tipped with white; back, inner scapulars, and secondary quills velvet-black; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills deep black; rump gradually fading to greyish-white; tail-feathers brownish-grey, with the tips whitish. Female much smaller, with the feathers of the head not elongated, unless in the median line; bill darker, feet greyish-blue; head, upper part of neck, hind neck, back, and wings, greyish-brown; a short transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a slight speck of the same on the lower eyelid; six of the secondary quills white on the outer web; lower parts white, shaded into light greyish-brown on the sides.

_Male_, 14-1/2, 23. _Female_, 13, 22-1/4.

Distributed throughout the country and along the Atlantic shores during autumn, winter, and spring. Texas, Upper California, Columbia River. Breeds very far north.

Buffel-headed Duck, Anas albeola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
51.

Fuligula albeola, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Clangula albeola, Spirit Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer.
v. ii. p. 458.

Spirit Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 445.

Buffel-headed Duck, Fuligula albeola, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv.
p. 217.

410. 15. Fuligula histrionica, Linn. Harlequin Duck.

Plate CCXCVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill much shorter than the head, comparatively narrow, light yellowish-olive; feet light greyish-blue, the webs dusky; a broad median band from the base of the bill to the occiput bluish-black, margined behind with light yellowish-red, before with white, that colour forming a broad triangular spot on the cheek anterior to the eye; sides of the head and neck all round purplish-blue; a spot of white behind the ear, a curved line on the side of the neck, and a complete ring below the middle of the neck, with a curved band of the same anterior to the wing, all broadly edged with black; fore part of back light purplish-blue, hind part gradually deepening in tint, so as to become almost black, of which colour is the rump all round; scapulars chiefly white; wing-coverts purplish-blue, as are the alula and primary coverts; the quills dark greyish-brown; tail greyish-black; a band of white across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondaries, of which the inner have their outer webs principally of the same colour; fore part of breast purplish-blue, hind part and abdomen greyish-brown, sides light red, generally undulated with dusky; a lateral spot of white near the root of the tail. Female greyish-brown, deeper on the head and rump, lighter on the fore neck, and mottled with greyish-white on the breast; quills dark brown, edged with lighter, tail blackish-grey; a large whitish spot mottled with grey before the eye, and another of a purer white behind the ear; bill and feet dull bluish-grey.

Harlequin Duck, Anas histrionica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
139.

Fuligula histrionica, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Clangula histrionica, Harlequin Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 459.

Harlequin Duck, Fuligula histrionica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii.
p. 612; v. v. p. 617.

411. 16. Fuligula glacialis, Linn. Long-tailed Duck.

Plate CCCXII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the bill black in its basal half, orange-yellow towards the end; the scapulars much elongated and tapering, the tail very long, acuminate, of fourteen feathers; a large oblong greyish-white patch on each side of the head from the bill to behind the ear; the upper part of the head and nape black, that colour being narrowed in front by the encroachment of the white patches; neck all round, and anterior half of the breast, dark chocolate; back and wing-coverts brownish-black; scapulars broadly margined with light reddish-brown; quills chocolate, secondaries externally margined with lighter, primaries internally; middle four feathers of the tail brownish-black, the outer two of these margined with white, all the rest white, but the inner with a longitudinal patch of dusky on the outer webs. Male in winter with the head, neck, fore part of back, and scapulars, white; space about the eye pale greyish-red, and a large oblong patch of chocolate-brown on the side of the neck; upper parts including the middle four tail-feathers, brownish-black, but the secondary quills tinged with reddish-brown, and having paler margins; anterior half of breast chocolate-brown, the rest of lower parts and the four lateral tail-feathers white. Female considerably smaller, with the scapulars not elongated, and the tail short and rounded; bill dusky green; head dark greyish-brown, with a patch of greyish-white surrounding the eye, but not extending to the bill; a large patch of the same colour on the side of the neck, the hind part of which is dusky brown, the fore part greyish-brown, the feathers broadly margined with whitish; the upper parts dark greyish-brown, the two lateral tail-feathers edged with white; lower parts white, the feathers under the wings slightly tinged with grey.

_Male_, 23, 29-1/2. _Female_, 15-3/4, 26.

Breeds from Labrador northward to the Arctic Seas. Abundant during winter along the coasts of the Atlantic Districts to the mouth of the Mississippi. Never in the interior.

Long-tailed Duck, Anas glacialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p.
93.

Fuligula glacialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 395.

Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 460.

Long-tailed Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 453.

Long tailed Duck, Fuligula glacialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv.
p. 103.

FAMILY XL. MERGINÆ. MERGANSERS.

Bill rather long, straight, rather slender but strong, tapering, higher than broad at the base, nearly cylindrical toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping gently to the middle, then straight, along the unguis suddenly decurved; the ridge broad and flattened at the base, then convex, the sides sloping, toward the end convex, the edges serrate internally with oblique dentiform lamellæ, the unguis oblong, much curved, abruptly rounded at the end; nasal groove elongated, covered by the soft skin of the bill; lower mandible with the angle very narrow and extended to the unguis, which is obovate, the sides nearly erect, with a long narrow groove, the edges internally serrate, the unguis convex, thick-edged. Head rather large, compressed, oblong; neck of moderate length; body full, depressed, rather elongated. Feet placed far behind, stout; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with small scutella, and another series on the lower half externally. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior toes half as long again as the tarsus, second shorter than the fourth, which is almost as long as the third, all scutellate, and connected by anteriorly concave webs. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, acute. Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy, blended beneath. Wings of moderate breadth, convex, acute; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. Tail short, much rounded, of more than twelve feathers. Upper mandible with an internal series of small papillæ or laminæ on each side, besides those on the margin. Tongue long, fleshy, emarginate and papillate at the base, tapering, with a double row of slender reversed papillæ along the upper surface, and two lateral series of filaments on each side, the tip lacerated; œsophagus very wide, of nearly uniform diameter; stomach a strong gizzard of moderate or small size, with the lateral muscles thick; epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine long, rather narrow; cœca rather long; cloaca globular. Trachea with one or two extensive dilatations, besides the enormously developed tympanum at the bifurcation; no inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in hollow trees. Eggs numerous.

GENUS I. MERGUS, Linn. MERGANSER.

Character as above.

412. 1. Mergus Merganser, Linn. Buff-breasted Merganser or Goosander.

Plate CCCXXXI. Male and Female.

Male with a short longitudinal crest, eighteen tail-feathers, the bill and feet of bright vermilion; the head and upper part of neck greenish-black, splendent, with bright green reflections; lower part of neck all round, and all the under parts of a delicate reddish-buff; sides of rump and part of abdomen greyish-white, finely undulated and dotted with dark grey; some of the lower wing-coverts dusky, the larger coverts grey; fore part of back and inner scapulars glossy black; hind part ash-grey, becoming lighter, and finally undulated on the rump; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers deep grey; outer scapulars white; a transverse band of black at the base of the wing concealed by the scapulars; wing-coverts white; alula, primary coverts and quills, and a band formed by the base of the first row of large coverts black; secondaries white, six of them margined externally with a black line. Female much smaller, with the crest much longer; the head and upper part of neck brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, the breast and abdomen tinged with buff; upper parts and sides ash-grey; smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries grey; bases and tips of secondary coverts black, the intermediate part white; middle secondaries white, outer and primaries greyish-black.

_Male_, 27, 36. _Female_, 24, 34.

In winter dispersed over the United States, and westward as far as Texas. Breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 68.

Mergus Merganser, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Mergus Merganser, Goosander, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v.
ii. p. 461.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 460.

Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 261.

413. 2. Mergus Serrator, Linn. Red-breasted Merganser.

Plate CCCCI. Male and Female.

Male with an elongated longitudinal double crest, eighteen tail-feathers, bill and feet deep carmine; head and upper part of neck glossy greenish-black, with bright green reflections along the sides, and purplish on the crest; a broad collar of white, succeeded by another of light brownish-red, longitudinally streaked with dusky; lower parts white, except the sides of the body and rump, which are transversely undulated with greyish-black, and the larger wing-coverts, which are ash-grey; fore part of back, and inner scapulars deep black; feathers anterior to the wing white, with a broad margin of black; some of the anterior wing-coverts ash-grey, the rest, the outer scapulars, and the terminal half of the secondary coverts, pure white; basal portion of the latter, primary coverts, and primary quills, black, the latter tinged with brownish-grey; secondaries white, with the base and the outer margin of most black, which colour predominates on the inner; middle and hind part of back ash-grey, undulated with white and dusky; tail brownish-grey. Female with crest shorter, the bill and feet paler; head and fore part of neck light reddish-brown; throat and under part white, excepting the sides and larger wing-coverts, which are brownish-grey; hind neck, back, tail-coverts, tail, scapulars, and wing-coverts brownish-grey; wings greyish-black, with a large white patch, formed by the terminal portions of the secondary coverts, and the greater part of some of the outer secondaries. Young, when fledged, resemble the female. Young, in down, with the head and hind neck reddish-brown, the back greyish-brown, with three white spots on each side, the lower parts greyish-white; a white band from the bill to the eye, a reddish-brown band under the eye, and along the side of the neck; the lower parts greyish-white.

_Male_, 24-1/2, 33. _Female_, 24, 34-1/2.

From Texas westward to the Columbia River and northward. Common during autumn and spring. Also throughout the United States, and along the Atlantic shores. Breeds from New York to Labrador and the Fur Countries, as well as along the Great Lakes, and on the Rocky Mountains.

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus Serrator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
viii. p. 91.

Mergus Serrator, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Mergus Serrator, Red-breasted Merganser, Swains. & Rich. F.
Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 462.

Red-breasted Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 463.

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus Serrator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v.
p. 92.

414. 3. Mergus cucullatus, Linn. Hooded Merganser.

Plate CCXXXIII. Male and Female.

Male with an elongated, compressed, rounded crest, the tail with eighteen feathers; bill black, feet yellowish-brown; upper part of the head, back, smaller wing-coverts, quills, and tail brownish-black; sides of the head, upper half of neck all round, the broad extremities of the large feathers on the shoulders, the scapulars, inner secondaries, and larger wing-coverts, greenish-black; a broad patch of white behind the eye, very conspicuous in the erected crest; lower part of neck and breast also white, as are the speculum and the central part of the inner secondaries; sides beautifully marked with undulated transverse lines of yellowish-brown and brownish-black; lower tail-coverts whitish, similarly undulated. Female much smaller, with the crest less elongated, and of looser texture; bill brownish-black, towards the base orange; upper part of head, including the crest, yellowish-brown; chin whitish; upper part of neck all round, and sides of head greyish-brown; general colour of the back, upper surface of wings, tail, and sides, blackish-brown, the feathers edged with paler. Young, when fledged, like the female, but with the crest shorter.

_Male_, 19, 26. _Female_, 17-1/2, 24.

Breeds sparingly in South Carolina, along the Mississippi, Ohio, and the Great Lakes, as well as further northward. Abundant, during autumn and winter, on all the western and southern waters; rarer in the Middle Atlantic Districts.

Mergus cucullatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.

Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii.
p. 79.

Mergus cucullatus, Hooded Merganser, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor.
Amer. v. ii. p. 463.

Hooded Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 465.

Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii.
p. 246; v. v. p. 619.

415. 4. Mergus Albellus, Linn. White Merganser.--Smew. White Nun.

Plate CCCXLVII. Male and Female.

Male with a longitudinal crest; tail graduated, of sixteen feathers; bill black, feet livid blue; head, neck, lower parts, scapulars, and a patch on the wing, white; a short band on each side of the hind neck bordering the crest, duck-green; a broad patch on the lore and below the eye, a narrow band across the lower part of the hind neck, formed by single bars near the tips of the feathers, the middle of the back in nearly its whole length, a short transverse bar under the fore edge of the wing, the anterior margin to beyond the carpal joint, the outer edge of the scapulars, the primary coverts, secondary coverts, and outer secondary quills, excepting the tip of both, deep black; quills also black, of a less deep tint; hind part of back tinged with grey; rump and tail-feathers dusky grey; sides of body and rump white, finely undulated with blackish-grey. Female much smaller, similarly crested; all the lower parts white, excepting a belt across the lower fore part of the neck, and a narrow portion of the sides, which are pale grey; a patch of brownish-black on the lore and beneath the eye; upper part of head and half of hind neck light reddish-brown; the rest of hind neck and all the upper parts bluish-grey, darker behind, and in the middle of the back approaching to black; tail dusky grey; wings, bill, and feet as in the male.

_Male_, 17-1/2, 27. _Female_, 15-1/2, 25.

Exceedingly rare in America, one specimen only having been procured at New Orleans.

Smew or White Nun, Mergus Albellus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii.
p. 126.

Mergus Albellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 398.

Smew or White Nun, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 467.

Smew or White Nun, Mergus Albellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p.
350.

FAMILY XLI. PELECANINÆ. PELICANS.

Bill longer than the head, rather slender, straight, upper mandible with the ridge separated from the side by a groove, and terminated by a narrow, generally decurved, pointed unguis; lower mandible with the crura elastic and extensile, the angle very long and narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, small, or obsolete. Space around and before the eye generally bare, as is a portion of the gular sac. Head generally of moderate size, but various; neck long; body elongated, rather slender. Feet short and stout; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus short, very stout, compressed, scaly or scutellate in front; toes four, all connected by webs, and scutellate; first small, fourth longest. Claws short, strong, curved, rather blunt, that of the third toe generally pectinate. Plumage soft, blended, on the back compact and imbricated. Wings long; tail of moderate length, narrow, rounded or tapering. Tongue extremely small, triangular, fleshy; œsophagus excessively wide; a gular sac, sometimes of enormous capacity; proventricular belt generally discontinuous; stomach very small, slightly muscular, epithelium smooth; a globular pyloric lobe; intestine very long and slender; cœca small, cylindrical; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, flattened; no inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. PHALACROCORAX, Briss. CORMORANT.