612 



THE SMEW. 



velvety, like the other ••Coots," but it has no white, excepting a square patch on the nape, 

 and on the crown. The bill is beautifully variegated with vermilion, orange shading to lemon, 

 and a delicate blue with a spot of black in its midst. Fresh specimens of these birds, as well 

 as the Scoters, are delightful objects. The female is a uniform plain umber-brown; bill the 

 same. Sexes are about alike in size. It is a common winter resident in the Middle States, 

 arriving late in September. A few are said to remain all summer around Falkner's Island, 

 Connecticut coast. 



Hritnv Duck [Chrismatura rubidd). It inhabits North America at large, southward to 

 Guatemala, where it breeds. It also inhabits Cuba in the season. In the Missouri region it 

 occurs during the migrating season, and breeds in the same limits. During Audubon's day 

 this Duck was abundant on the New England coast, and as far south as Florida. It accom- 

 panies several other birds in its migrations. It is a small bird, measuring fourteen and three- 

 quarter inches in length. The female is about the same in size, and is very plain in color, 

 differing greatly in this respect from the male. Giraud says it is rare in the vicinity of Long 

 Island, though in Massachusetts Bay and Chesapeake Bay it is common, where it is called 

 Salt-water Teal. 



A Duck, named Black-masked Duck {Nomonyx dominions), is enumerated as a North 

 American species by Ridgway. 



The Racehorse, or Steamer Duck {Micropterus brachypterus), is a very remarkable 

 species, having very short wings, so that it cannot fly, and leys so formed that it scuds over 

 and drives through the water with amazing speed. While passing over the surface it sends 

 the water living behind it like a paddle-steamer, and has thereby earned its name. It is a 



very large species, 

 forty inches in 

 length, and its color 

 is leaden -gray above, 

 and white below. It 

 is found in the Falk- 

 land Islands and 

 Patagonia. 



Want of space 

 compels us to omit 

 the Scoter Ducks 

 (Oidemia), and to 

 pass at once to the 

 next sub - family, 

 represented by two 

 species. 



The Goosander 

 is one of the winter 

 visitors of the north, 

 making its appear- 

 ance about Novem- 

 ber, and departing 



in March. Some few birds, however, remain throughout the year. It is generally to be found 

 on the northern coasts, where it may be observed diving after fish with great address, and 

 bringing them to the surface in its long, slender, deeply-notched beak, which is so plentifully 

 provided with so-called teeth, that the bird in some places goes by the name of Jacksaw. 



The pretty little Smew is another of the winter visitors of the temperate climates of 

 Europe, and is a very common bird, being found not only upon the sea-shore, but frequenting 

 inland lakes and ponds. 



GOOSANDER.— Mergux in, lytwxtr 



