DIVING DUCKS. 



SUB-FAMILY FuUguUnCB. 



Under this head are included what are commonly 

 known as the sea ducks, deep water ducks, or diving 

 ducks, birds more fitted for a continuous life on the 

 water than those heretofore described, and which, as a 

 rule, derive their sustenance from water deeper than 

 that frequented by the shoal-water ducks. 



As pointed out in another place, these birds have 

 larger feet than the shoal-water ducks, while the legs 

 are placed further back. These characters make pro- 

 gression on land more difficult, but assist markedly in 

 swimming and diving. All the birds of this sub-family 

 may be known by having a web or lobe hanging down 

 from the hind toe. This web or lobe is absent in all 

 the fresh-water ducks. The sea ducks or diving ducks 

 are supposed to spend most of their time on the salt 

 water, but this is a rule to which there are a multitude 

 of exceptions, and many of the species of this sub- 

 family resort to inland waters to rear their young. 

 Some birds commonly regarded as exclusively marine 

 are found at all seasons of the year on great bodies of 

 fresh water, as the Great Lakes and Yellowstone Lake 

 in Wyoming. 



As stated, most of the members of this sub-family 

 procure their food by diving, and bring up from the 

 depths of water fish, mollusks and grasses of one kind 



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