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Genus ERISMATURA. 



Anas apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 65 (1769). 



Platypus apud C. L. Brehm, Lehrb. eur. Vog. ii. p. 824 (1824). 



Aythya apud C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 909 (1831). 



Erismatura, Bonaparte, Sagg. Distrib. metod. Agg. e Correz. p. 143 (1832). 



Cerconectes apud Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 282. 



Undina apud Gould, B. of Eur. v. pi. 383 (1837). 



Fuligula apud Degland, Orn. Eur. ii. p. 476 (1849). 



Erimistura apud Bonaparte, Compt. Rend, xliii. p. 652 (1856). 



Biziura apud Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Anseres, p. 11 (1866). 



This genus consists of a few species, which are found in the Paleearctic, Ethiopian, Australian, 

 Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, one species inhabiting the Western Palaearctic Region. They 

 are rather peculiar in their appearance, owing to their thick swollen bills and stiff tails, and form 

 a very distinct group. They are essentially freshwater Ducks, usually frequenting the larger 

 lakes, where they obtain their food by diving, being most expert divers ; and when close pressed 

 they prefer, like the Grebes, to seek safety by diving rather than by taking wing and flying 

 away. Their flight is short and rapid ; and they soon pitch again after being disturbed. They 

 make their nest amongst the aquatic herbage on the borders of lakes, and deposit numerous 

 white eggs, which are peculiar in having very coarse and rough shells. 



Erismatura leucocephala, the type of the genus, has the bill rather longer than the head, 

 broad, much swollen at the base and to beyond the nostrils ; unguis rather small, elongated, 

 oval, sharply hooked; the upper mandible overlaps the under one considerably; but the ends of 

 the lamella; are just visible ; wings short, rather pointed, the first quill longest ; tail long, 

 rounded, the feathers very stiff, and each one separated from the next ; tibia feathered to the 

 joint ; tarsus short, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe moderately long, broadly lobed ; anterior toes 

 long; interdigital membrane emarginate ; claws rather long, curved, acute. 



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