155 



STIRPS IV. 



Rostrum basi latius quam ahum, /ateribusserrato-fleiitatis: pollex 



lobo instructus. 

 Beak broader than high at its base, its sides serrate-dentate : the 



hind toe furnished with a lobe. 



THIS stirps contains two genera only, which are 

 characterised by the slender and cylindric form of 

 the beak, the sides of which are armed with saw-like 

 denticulations, and not with laminae, or plates, as in 

 the rest of the Ducks : the hinder toe is furnished 

 with a membrane. They live in lakes and ponds, and 

 swim with great address, dive admirably, and at times 

 submerge their entire body, leaving only the head 

 and part of the neck exposed, and proceed with great 

 rapidity, in which they are assisted by their wings : 

 they fly well, but walk indifferently : their chief sub- 

 sistence consists of fishes and amphibia, to the former 

 of which they are very destructive : they reside and 

 incubate in the frigid regions, but visit more tem- 

 perate climates during the severity of the weather 

 in winter : they are usually very wild, and have not 

 hitherto been kept in confinement. 



