386 ' ZOOLOGY. 



The origin of the common domestic duck is the mallard, Anas boschas 

 (pi. 92, fig. 8), a species which inhabits both Europe and America. It is 

 very abundant in some districts of the United States in the winter, and is 

 shot and otherwise captured in large numbers. It has been domesticated 

 for many centuries, and is now in the western United States frequently 

 taken young and reared in the farmyard. The other species of North 

 America are the dusky duck (A. ohscura), the gadwall (^A. strepera), the 

 widgeon {A. americana), the pintail duck (^4. acuta), the shoveller (A. cly- 

 peata), the green-winged teal {A. carolinensis), the blue-winged teal {A. 

 discors), and the summer or wood duck {A. sponsa). The latter is the 

 most beautiful of the American ducks, and has no superior in its class 

 except the mandarin duck of China, A. galericulata {pi. 92, fig. 9). The 

 summer duck inhabits the whole of North America, and unlike any other 

 species makes its nest in a hollow tree, sometimes at considerable eleva- 

 tion. Nearly all the American species are found in Europe, though a few 

 are peculiar to the latter continent, as the European teal, A. crecca {pi 91, 

 fig. 10). 



The musk duck or Muscovy duck, as it is mostly called {A. moschata), 

 belongs here. It is a native of South America, and is extensively domes- 

 ticated^ 



Suh-fam. 5. Fuligulince, or Sea Ducks. Bill rather lengthened, some- 

 times short, elevated at base ; wings moderate, pointed ; tail generally 

 short ; tarsi short ; toes long and fully webbed. Size various, colors often 



gay. 



About forty species are arranged here, which live almost exclusively in 

 salt water, subsisting on shell fish, Crustacea, fishes, and marine plants. 

 The most celebrated species is the canvas-back duck {Fuligula valis- 

 neria), which is esteemed as a great delicacy for the table. It inhabits the 

 whole of North America. There are several other North America^ spe- 

 cies, such as the pochard or red-headed duck {F. ferina) ; the scaup or 

 black-headed duck {F. marila) ; the ring-necked duck {F. rufitorques) : the 

 ruddy duck (F. ruhida) ; the velvet duck {Oidemia velvetina), which iuis its 

 entire plumage of fine black resembling velvet ; the surf duck (O. perspi- 

 cellata) ; the scoter, O. americana {pi. 91, fig. 9) ; the king duck {O. spec- 

 tahilis) ; a large species, the eider duck {O. molissima), remarkable for the 

 softness of its feathers ; the golden eye {Clangula americana) ; the western 

 duck {C. dispar) ; the buffel-headed duck {C. albeola) ; a very handsome 

 and common small species, the harlequin {C histrionica) ; the long-tailed 

 duck or south southerly {Harelda glacialis), and some others. 



Nearly all the species here mentioned are also found in Europe. 



Suh-fam. 6. MergincB, or Mergansers. Bill straight, slender, elevated 

 at base and covered towards the tip, lateral margins serrated ; wings mode- 

 rate, pointed ; tail short; tarsi short; toes moderate. Size various; colors 

 generally rather gay and agreeable. 



About ten species only constitute this group. They are birds of very 

 singular appearance, being apparently ducks in all respects except their nar- 

 row and lengthened bills. They inhabit the northern portions of both 

 590 



