ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — ENICONETTA. 



65 



Duck" — so called from tho similarity of its markings to those of that animal. On 

 thf coast of New Jersey it was known as the " Sand-shoal Diu-k." It is said to 

 subsist on small shells and other fish, which it procures by diving. Its flesh is not 

 considered a delicacy, although this bird is said to be seen from time to time in the 

 New York markets during every season. 



Mr. George A. IJoardman, writing to the "Naturalist" (III. 383), states that 

 not many years ago this was a common bird all talong our coasts from Delaware to 

 Labrador ; and that in the New York market there Avovdd at times be dozens of tliem, 

 and tlien not one for several years. It would, he adds, be very interesting to know 

 wliere they have gone. So good a flier and diver cannot, like the clumsy Alra iiiipen- 

 7i!.i, have become extinct. That it has not entirely disappeared Mr. 13oardman has 

 himself received evidence, single individuals of this species having been occasionally 

 l)rocui'ed iu the Bay of Fundy. 



Genus ENICONETTA, Gkay. 



Macropits, Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 450 (ncu Srix, 1824). 



I'lilijdida, EvToN, Brit. BiixLs, 183(5 (type, Aiuis Stdlcri, Omki..) ; iinti'dated by Pohjstide, Smith, 



1835. 

 atellarUi, BoxAi". Comp. List, 1838, 57 (sumo tyin;) ; err. typ. I'or Ulctkria, preoccupied in Zoology. 

 Sklkria, Bonap. Cat. ilct. 1842, 74. 

 Enkonclln, GiiAV, Geiicru B. 1840, 75 (same type), 

 Uoikonctla, Auams. Ind. Univ. 1846, 178 (iioin. ctnend.). 



Char. Bill a little longer tlmu the tarsus, ami about iutiMiuediate iu form between that of 

 C(imptol(enius and that of llistrioiiicKS, coniprL'sstMl, and tapering' toward the eml, with a broad, 

 depressed, and indistinctly delined nail, as in the latter, but with tlie maxillary toniiuni very 

 convex busuUy uiid siuuuted terminally, as in the latter ; edges of the maxilla turned inmml 







.1.. ,,"'■• Vie;, ■ 



n,!,'ainst, and partly enclosing, the niandiide ; feathers of the head and neck peculiarly soft and 

 velvety, except on the lores ami occiput . where stiffened, on the latter elongated, and forming a 

 short transverse, erescent-shaiu'd tuft. Tertials ^'reatly decurved or falcate, b\it broad to the tip. 

 Tail graduatwl, of fourteen ])ointed feathei-s. Colors of the mah; beautifully varied. 



This genus is tpute iuterniediate Ixjtween Cumpiolcmus and Hisfrionicu^ in the form of the bill 

 VOL. II. — 9 



