108 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMEUS — ANSERES. 



and then hiding in tho grass, if there is any accessiWo. This bird is generally 

 regarded as being ex(!ellent eating, as its food consists chiefly of the roots and leaves 

 of idants found at tho bottoms of ponds. 



In Southern Wisconsin — as I'rofessor Kumlien informs me — this species is a 

 regular visitant in spring and in fall. It is not abundant, but is by no means rare. 

 A few of these birds — mostly those wliose plumage is immature — remain all sum- 

 mer about Lake Koskonong — where, however, this species is not known to breed ; 

 but I am assured by Mr. tioss that it does this — in limited numbers — in the 

 neighborhood of rewaukee. 



This Duck was found breeding near Fort Resolution by Mr. Kennicott in June. 

 It was taken in July, with its eggs, in the same neighborliood, by Mr. J. Loekhart ; 

 and also at Shoal Lake, in the summer ,of 1805, by JNlr. Donalil Gunn, who states 

 that he has sometinu's seen as many as twenty eggs in a single nest. 



Eggs of this species from Guatemala and from 81ioal Lake are in the Smithsonian 

 Collection. The latter (No. 127-7) — ludlectcd by j\Ir. (.huiu — are of a dull white, 

 witli a slight sliade of cream-color. They vary in their length from 2.35 to 2.55 inidies, 

 and in their breadth from 1.80 to 1.85. The specimen from Duenas, obtained by Mr. 

 Salvia (No. 13434), measures 2.65 by 1.85. 



Genus NOMONYZ, Ridgway. 



ErisriMtura, ArcT. noc RosArAiiTE. 



Nomonyx, IlindW. I'roc. U. S. Nat. Miis. II. Mar. 27, 1880, p. 15 (type, Anna dnminica , Linn.). 



Chau. Similar to Erisnuitiira, but difTering from all the species of that genua in the form of 

 tile maxillary unguis, which is .similar to that of Fulix and allied genera, the same being in Erls- 

 viatura the most peculiar iuul important generic character. 



Altogether the most distinctive feature of the genus Erismatum consists in the reninrkaljly 

 peculiar conformation of the maxillary unguis, or nail of the upper mandible. This, viewed from 



N. dominicus, 



above, is extremely small, narrow, and linear, the broader terminal half being bent very abruptly 

 downward and backward, so as to be visible only from in front or below. With the sole excep- 

 tion of Aims dominica, Linn., all the sjiecies usually referred to this genus agree strictly with the 

 type, A nas leiimcephala, Scop., iu)twithstanding other chai'actei-s are more or less variable. Anas 

 dominica, Linn., has the nail of normal form, or very nuich like that prevailing among the Ducks 

 generally, and on this account should be separated geiierically from Erismalura. 



SkL 



