382 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



yards. Their flesh is juicy, tender, and highly 

 savoury. The Tame Duck, or Mallard, (A. Bos- 

 chas,) the Muscovy, or (more properly) Musk Duck, 

 (A. Moschata,) of South America, the lovely little 

 Summer Duck, (A. Sponsa,) and the still smaller 

 Teal, (A. Crecca,) belong to this division. 



The second division has the hind toe broadly 

 bordered by a membrane : their proportions are 

 heavier, the legs are placed more behind, the toes 

 are longer, and more completely webbed. They 

 are peculiarly Sea Ducks, and swim and dive with 

 great facility. To this section are referred the re- 

 nowned Eider Duck, (A. Mollissima,) and the Wi- 

 geons, (A. Riifina, &c.) From their feeding almost 

 wholly on fish, the flesh of these acquires a rank, 

 oily flavour, very disagreeable ; but of some, as the 

 American Canvass-back, (A. Valisneria,) which oc- 

 casionally feeds on vegetable diet, the flesh is highly 

 esteemed. 



Mergusj* the Merganser. 



This genus consists of birds which again connect 

 the Ducks with the Divers ; their beak is long and 

 slender, and, being armed along its edges with 

 small sharp teeth pointing backwards, is well adapt- 

 ed for securing the scaled and slippery prey for which 

 they hunt. They seem to prefer the mouths of 

 rivers and inland lakes, breeding, however, on inac- 



* Mergo, to plunge. 



