ANATID.E — FULIGULIN.E: SEA DUCKS. 921 



is present in FHlignlince, as a rule, and differs from its ordinary type in Anatince by greater 

 irregularity of figure as well as by the imperfection of its solid walls, which may present sev- 

 eral fenestra} or vacuities closed up only by membrane. A large majority of the species in- 

 habit the Northern Hemisphere ; there are rather more than 50 in all, exhibiting a good deal 

 of diversity in minor details, and thus requiring recognition of many genera, most of \vhich are 

 well represented in North America. Among notable exotics are the soft-billed Hymenolcemus 

 malacorlujnchus of New Zealand, and the sliort-winged Tachyeres cinereits of South America, 

 related to our genus Cumptolamus. The latter is the Logger-head or Steamer Duck, notable 

 for losing tlie power of flight. Thei-e are but few others. Erismatura is type of a small group 

 remarkable for the character of the tail, as described beyond, and sometimes considered as a 

 subfamily apart. Bizinra lohata of Australia, with a fleshy appendage under the bill, the 

 African Thalassornis leitconota, and several species of our genera Erismatura and Nomonyx, 

 compose the Erismaturirue. The South American Torrent Ducks, about six species of the 

 genus Mcrganetta, resemble Mergansers in some respects, and appear to be a link between the 

 Fuliguluuc and Mergincr ; but the wing is ."^purred, the bill is of peculiar character with regard 

 to the laminre, the tail is long and stiff, and altogether these birds are so peculiar that a sub- 

 family Merganettince has been provided for their accommodation ; to which the remarkable 

 Papuan Salvadorina loaigionensis, together with the above-named Hymenolcemus malacorhyn- 

 cJiHS have been doubtfully referred. 



Anrili/sis of Genera and Subgenera. 



Tail-feathers rigid, narrow, linear, exposed to their bases by shortness of coverts. (Erismaturin.e.) 



Nail of bill ordinary Xomont/z 



Nail of bill narrow above, overhangins; and widened beneath tip of bill Erismatura 



Tail-feathers and their coverts ordinary (central pair very long in ITaielda (}). (FuLiouLiNiE proper.) 

 Bill variously gibbous, or appendaged, or featliered beyond nostrils. 



Bill gibbous at base, then broad, depressed, with large fused nail, without frontal processes. 

 Gibbosity of bill superior, circumscribed ; feathers not projected on culmen. 



Tail IG-feathered. (J : Color entirely black (Oidemia) 



Gibbo.sity of bill superior, circumscribed ; feathers projected on culmen. Tail 14-feathered. . 



(f : Color black or dark, with white wing-patch (Melanetta) 



Gibbosity lateral as well as superior ; feathers projected on culmen. 

 Tail H-feathered. ^f : Color black, with white head-patches (Pelionetta) .... 

 Bill gibbous at base, with large frontal processes. , 



Frontal processes in line with culmen (Somateria proper) C„ . 



Frontal processes bulging out of line with culmen (Erionetta) ' 



Bill not gibbous, but feathered on culmen beyond nostrils . -I rclonetta 



Bill not gibbous, but appendaged with leathery expansion of side of upper mandible, cheeks not bristly 



lleniconetta 



V.ill not gibbous, but appendaged with a lobe at base of commissure Jfislrionicus 



Bill not gibbous, but appendaged w ith a leathery expansion of side of upper mandible ; cheeks bristly 



Caniplol<rmus 

 Bill ordinar}'. 



Nail of bill large, fused. Tiiil (of (f) about as long as wing Ilnvelda 



Nail of bill narrow, distinct. Tail of ordinary length and shape. 



Hill shorter tlian head, higli at base. Head of ^ puffy or crested, iridescent, with white patches; cri»- 



suni white ; colors black and white, in ma.sses Clangula 



(f, white spot before eye. (Clangula proper.) 

 (f, white patch behind eye. (Charitonetta. ) 

 Bill about as long as head. Head of (f black, red, or brown, without spots ; crissnm dark. 



Bill bluish or blackish. Head of ^f black Fiiliffiila 



Head of (f reddish .Klhtria 



Bill reel. Hi-ad red, crested. (European.) Xetta 



NKT'T.V. ((ir vrjTTn, nelln, or vrjaira, nissa, :i duck: cijuivahMit to ]A\t. anas.) General 

 diaracters of .Kythyd and FitJigula, as noted beyoml. IJill nf ordiuary shape, much as in 

 Scaups and I'ochards, but witli more prominent lamell.r, and wider nail, occupying more than 



^j width nf Iiili ; fcathirint,' nf sides nf u|iit( r mandible nearly straight, rather concave than 



