790 U. S. p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPOET. 



FULIX, Sundevall. 



Fulix, Sundevall, Kong. Vet. Ak. Hand. 1835, (as restricted.) 



Fuligula of authors, but not of Stephens. 



Marila, Bonaparte, not of Reichenbach. 

 Ch. — Bill longer than the tarsus, and about equal to the head, and to the middle toe without the nail. Feathers of cheeks, 

 chin and forehead advancing but slightly, and to about the same distance. Nostrils open, situated in the anterior portion 

 of the basal two-fifths of the bill, not reaching the middle. Edges of bill about parallel, or widening to the tip ; profile gently 

 concave to the nail, which is decurved. Nail not one-third the width of the bill, and forming only the central portion of its tip'. 

 Tarsus about half the middle toe and claw. Bill as long as the feet. Tail short, rounded, of 14 feathers. Head and neck black. 



The name Fuligula, usually applied to this genus, cannot be employed, as it was based ' by 

 Stephens (1824) upon the Anas rufina of Pallas, (not on Anas crisiata, L., as given by Gray,) for 

 which Branta had been proposed by Boie in 1822 ; but as this name is anticipated by Oken in 

 1815, Fuligula will precede Gallichen, Brehm, 1830. Jfanfa of Eeichenbach, 1851, has for type 

 Anas ferina, L., for which Boie also, in 1822, had proposed Aythya. 



Fulix of Sundevall, (Kong. Sv. Vet. Ak. Hand, for 1835, 1836, 129,) assigned here by Gray, 

 is merely used as a name for one group of the ducks with lobed hind toe, Somateria, his genera 

 being Somateria, Fulix, and Mergus. Still, as he gives no type and names no species, it may be 

 admissible to assign the name to a particular genus, and I shall therefore retain it for the 

 present division. Should this be considered inadmissible^ I would propose the name of Nettarion 

 for the same genus. 



The Fuligula colla/ris of North American species appears most to resemble the type. The 

 common red head duck of the United States, Aythya americana, is excessively similar in general 

 form, differing merely in having the legs a little further back and the feet proportionally longer, 

 being, without the claw, longer than the bill, instead of nearly equal. The head and neck are 

 red, instead of black. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



Common characters. — Head, neck and body anterior to the shoulders, tail, tail coverts, rump 

 and lower part of back, black. Beneath white, finely waved with black behind and on the 

 sides. 



Bill blue, the nail black ; widening slightly to the tip, which is broad and much rounded. 

 No collar on neck. Interscapulars and scapulars white, finely waved with black. Speculum 

 white. Head, with a green gloss in all lights F_ marila. 



Similar to preceding, but much smaller. Head with a purplish violet gloss. Sides of body 

 less waved F. affinis. 



Bill with sides parallel, th"e tip more pointed; its color bluish black, with basal and subterminal 

 bar of whitish. A chestnut collar round middle of neck. Back nearly plain greenish black. 

 Speculum grayish plumbeous p collaris. 



