Plate-billed Swimmers 



preceding group, the transverse scales on the front of the foot 

 being common to both subfamilies. The toes and webs of these 

 sea ducks are noticeably larger than those of the river ducks, 

 owing to their greater exercise; and the feet are also placed a 

 little farther back, which increases their facility in diving and 

 swimming. Several of the species associate with the river 

 ducks in still waters, the subfamily not being so exclusively 

 maritime as its name would imply. Indeed, there seem to be 

 notable exceptions to almost every general rule that might be 

 applied to it except the one that relates to the formation of the toes. 

 It is often said that the flesh of sea ducks, that feed more on 

 mollusks, crustaceans, and other marine food, although not on 

 fish, and less upon grain and other vegetable matter, is coarser, 

 less palatable, and even sometimes inedible; but what of the can- 

 vasback duck, that peerless delicacy of the epicure ? 



Red-headed Duck. 



Canvasback. 



Greater Scaup Duck, or Broadbill. 



Lesser Scaup, or Creek Broadbill. 



Ring-necked Duck. 



Golden-eye, or Whistler. 



Barrow's Golden-eye. 



Buffle-head, or Butter-ball. 



Old Squaw, or South Southerly. 



Harlequin Duck. 



American Eider Duck. 



King Eider. 



American Scoter, or Black Coot. 



White-winged Scoter. 



Surf Scoter. 



Ruddy Duck. 



Geese 



(Subfamily Anserince) 



Cheeks, or lores, completely feathered where the swans are 

 naked ; tarsus, or lower part of leg, generally longer than the 

 middle toe without the nail; scales on its front rounded: these 

 are the purely scientific distinctions of the birds of this sub- 

 family. Neck is midway in length between that of the ducks 



85 



