The Water Fowl. 23 



Wigeon ; the outer web of the primaries 

 blackish, the inner web drab, with a 

 blackish tip ; axillaries uniformly blackish 

 or brown ; the middle secondaries en- 

 tirely white. Of wide distribution. P. 357. 



Stiff-tailed Ducks. — Rather larger 

 than a common Teal ; primaries uni- 

 form drab brown, with darker tips ; 

 axillaries white ; under tail-coverts cross- 

 barred ; base of the upper mandible much 

 swollen ; tail composed of narrow, stiff 

 feathers, projecting fully three inches 

 beyond the coverts. Of wide distribution. 

 JP- 373- 



Mergansers. — ^ Varying in size from 

 that of a common Teal to that of a 

 domestic Duck ; the outer web of the 

 primaries blackish, the inner web drab, 

 with a blackish tip ; axillaries white ; 

 under tail-coverts plain white ; margins 

 of the bill furnished with close-set saw- 

 like teeth. Of wide distribution. P. 386. 



