428 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



Subgenus. — Fuligula. Bonap. 



With the bill long, broad, flat, scarcely gibbous at base, and some- 

 what dilated at the extremity. " Nostrils suboval, at the base of the 

 bill. The tail short consisting of 14 feathers, the lateral ones grad- 

 uated. The first quill feather longest. 



The trachea dilating to the left into a somewhat membranous 

 capsule, sustained by an osseous ramified framework. — These are 

 also chiefly inhabitants of the sea or saline bays and estuaries. 



PIED DUCK. 



(Fuligula labradora, Bonap. Synops. No. 337. Jlnas labradora, 

 Wilson, viii. p. 91. pi. 69. fig. 6. [male.] Pied Duck, Penn. 

 Arct. Zool. ii. p. 282. No. 488. Lath. Synops. iii. p. 497. Phil. 

 Museum, No. 2858.) 



Sp. Charact. — A broad white speculum; the bill membranous at 

 the extremity ; the cere-like base and posterior edges orange 

 colored. — JlfaZc black ; head, neck, breast, scapulars, wing-cov- 

 erts and secondaries, white ; crown, and a collar round the neck, 

 black. Female ashy-grey. 



The Pied Duck, though an inhabitant of the northern 

 parts of America, is not found in the fur countries of Hud- 

 son's Bay. It is probably a mere straggler on the coasts of 

 the whole Atlantic, and chiefly inhabits the western side of 

 the continent. It was not observed by Mr. Audubon in his 

 late summer tour to Labrador where it has been said to 

 breed. The gunners of New Jersey and Pennsylvania call 

 it the Sand-Shoal Duck, from its habit of frequenting sand- 

 bars in quest of minute shell-fish which constitute its prin- 

 cipal food, and which it procures by diving like the other 

 Sea Ducks. Its visits occur in the Middle States in winter, 

 and early in the month of March, in spring. Its flesh is 

 dry and unsavory. 



