FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 277 



They spend much less of their time in the water than ducks 

 do, and the food of most species is almost entirely vegetable. 

 The legs being longer, they are better walkers than ducks. In 

 water they obtain their food by tipping up the tail and thrust- 

 ing the head and neck as far into the water as possible. In 

 this habit they are like the swans and the river ducks, but 

 unlike the sea ducks and the fish ducks. The hissing, when 

 they are interfered with, is a trait common to both geese and 

 swans. ]^os. 3-10. 



(3) The Sea Ducks are the largest of the subfamilies (nearly 

 100 species), and they are found in the largest flocks. These 

 are the ducks of the open and deeper waters of 

 large lakes, bays, and coasts ; many of the species 

 are found only in salt water. They do not, as a rule, 

 *'tip up" like the river ducks, but dive, often to 



great depths, for their food. This consists mainly of animal 

 matter, such as snails, crustaceans, etc., but not including 

 fish. These ducks have the hind toe bordered with a 

 rounded membrane or lobe-like web.^ They are generally day 

 feeders, while most of the river ducks feed at night. With 

 the exception of the canvas-backs, considered the best of all 

 ducks for food, the sea ducks are not so palatable as the 

 river ducks. Some species have very rank, coarse flesh, 

 while the river ducks are all good table food if well cooked. 

 Nos. 11-28. 



(4) The River Ducks (50 species) include most of the ducks 

 of rivers and ponds, and differ from the last subfamily in not 

 diving for their food. They are mere " tip ups," spending a 



good portion of their time with their tails in air and 

 heads and necks immersed, probing the bottom of 

 shallow places for their food, which consists of both 

 vegetable and animal matter, such as roots, seeds, 

 snails, insects, etc. The hind toe is simple ; ^ that is, it has 

 no such lobed membrane as is found on the sea ducks. These 

 ducks are found in the United States, chiefly as migrants, 

 and visit mainly quiet and shallow and usually fresh waters. 



