BIRDS OF THE NORTHERN STATES 285 
Pelican Family. — These are very large birds, the White Pelican being 
five feet in length. Their most striking feature is their long bill with its 
peculiar pouch, that is used as a dip-net 
to catch fish. They have a long neck 
and short legs and tail. 
125 American White Pelican. M. and occa- 
sional S.R. 
Duck Family.— A large group of popu- 
lar game birds which includes about 200 
North American species and is divided into 
five subfamilies. 
1. The Mergansers — live on fish which 
they dive for and catch under water. Only 
the Hooded Merganser is good to eat; 
the rest are too “fishy.” (Nos. 129-131 
in the list which follows.) 
2. River Ducks or Pond Ducks — do 
not dive for food but merely “tip up” 
the body and probe with the bill at the 
bottom of shallow water. All are good 
table food. Most of the ducks in our 
section belong here. (Nos. 132-146.) 
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 
HoopED MERGANSER MALLARD CANVAS-BACK 
3. Sea Ducks— dive, often to great depths, for their food, consisting 
mainly of animal matter such as snails, crustaceans, etc., but not in- 
