of the United States. 387 



Macreuses, Garrots, Eiders, Millouins, Cuv. Clangula, Me- 

 lanilta, Somateria, Aythya, Boie. 



Bill broader than high at base, not of equal breadth 

 throughout, somewhat flattened, much depressed towards 

 the point, obtuse; upper mandible convex, curved and un- 

 guiculated at tip, nail slender ; lower narrower, flat : nostrils 

 basal or medial, oval, open, pervious, covered by a mem- 

 brane ; tongue fleshy, thick, broad, fimbriated on the sides, 

 obtuse. Head thick, wholly feathered ; neck stout, much 

 shorter than the body : body plumpish. Feet placed very 

 far back, large and stout ; tibia partly covered by the skin 

 of the belly, furnished before with an acute prominence ; tarsi 

 much shorter than the middle toe, extremely compressed ; 

 toes rather long, middle one longest ; inner shorter than the 

 outer ; webs full, entire, very broad ; hind toe equal to a 

 phalanx of the middle one, furnished with a membrane, touch- 

 ing the ground at tip. Wings shortish; quills very stiff; 

 first and second primaries subequal. Tail stiff, of from 

 twelve to eighteen feathers. 



Female very different from the male. Male hardly chang- 

 ing from season. Young similar to the female, not assuming 

 their adult dress before the second or third year. Moult 

 twice a year without changing their colors. Plumage short, 

 not so light, but closer and thicker than in the preceding 

 genus. Capsule of the windpipe of the male much larger. 



Migrate in large flocks. Found mostly in the north, affect- 

 ing in autumn and winter, the sea shore and brackish water ; 

 fond of deep water, enjoying even the most boisterous sea. 

 Swim and dive with great agility, and make long distances 

 under water, diving for food or in sport. Somewhat noctur- 

 nal ; feed and travel by night. Food chiefly animal, espe- 

 cially mollusca, also a few vegetables, after which they dive. 

 Strictly monogamous : build chiefly on fresh water : nest 

 downy within : eggs numerous. Female only sits, and 

 leads her young to the water as soon as hatched, after food. 



