NATATORES: ANATID^. 2J\ 



half inches ; a broad patch on each side of the head, 

 lower neck, and under parts, white. 



The Genus Histrionicus has the bill very small, and a 

 membranous lobe at its base ; the tail pointed, and with 

 fourteen feathers. 



The Harlequin Duck, H. torquatus, Bonap., of Northern 

 North America, is seventeen and a half inches long, and 

 the wing nearly seven and three quarters inches ; general 

 color bluish, under parts dull brownish. There are two 

 white spots on the side of the neck, two on the wings, 

 one on each side of the base of the tail, and the scapulars 

 and tertials are marked with white, and the secondaries 

 have a violet-blue speculum. 



The Genus Harelda has the bill shorter than the head, 

 and the tail pointed, with fourteen feathers. 



The Long-Tail, or Old- Wife, H. glacialis, Leach, of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, and of Eu- 

 rope, is about twenty-one inches long, the wing nearly 

 nine inches ; general color blackish ; under parts whitish ; 

 tail eight inches in length. . 



The Genus Camptolcemus has the bill broad, feathers 

 of the cheek stiffened, and tail rather pointed. It is rep- 

 resented by the Labrador Duck, C. labradorius, Gray, of 

 the northeastern coast of North America, which is about 

 twenty-four inches long, and the wing nearly nine inches. 



The Genus Melanetta is represented by the White- 

 winged Coot, or Velvet Duck, M. velvetina, Baird, which 

 is twenty-one and a half inches long, and the wing about 

 eleven and one third inches ; color black, with a small 

 white patch round the eye, and a large white speculum 

 upon the wing. The female is brown. 



The Genus Pelionetta contains two American species. 



The Sea Coot, or Surf Duck, P. perspicillata, Kaup, is 

 nineteen inches long, and the wing nearly nine and a 

 half inches ; color black, a triangular white patch on the 



