63 



of what is called the eclipse plumage. Contrary to the rule that generally 

 governs plumage changes, many of these species moult, all their wing quills 

 at once and are, therefore, flightless until refledged. During this period of 

 comparative helplessness many males assume a peculiar plumage of less 

 conspicuous character than that normally worn, usually approcahing that 

 of the female. During this time the birds withdraw to the innermost 

 recesses of their habitats and hide so closely as to be seldom seen by the 

 casual observer. By the time the shooting season opens most have come 

 out of the eclipse, but the few that still retain traces of it are sufficiently 

 numerous to increase the ^number of plumages to be recognized and to 

 complicate their differentiation.^ 



Economic Status. Anseres is, economically, one of the most important 

 orders of birds; not, as in the case of other birds, so much on account of 

 their food habits, for these are largely of negative influence in human 

 affairs, as in other ways. In the early days of settlement of the country 

 they furnished a most important food supply to the struggling inhabitants 

 and even now the total annual number killed by sportsmen is an imposing 

 addition to our food resources. 



FAMILY — ^ANATIDiB. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



General Description. As this is the only family included vmder the order Anseres the 

 descriptive matter xmder the previous heading appUes here and need not be repeated. 



The family is divided into five subfamilies : the Merginoe or Mergansers ; 

 Anatidce or River Ducks; Fuligulinoe or Sea Ducks; Anserin(B or Geese; 

 and the Cygnince or Swans. For the characters of these see under proper 

 headings following. 



Subfamily — Mergince. Mergansers. Fishing Ducks. Saw-bills. 



General Description. Fish-eating ducks with a more cylindrical, tapering, and less 

 spatulate or flattened bill, than the other ducks (Figure 7, p. 19). The cutting edges of 

 the mandibles have a series of serrations giving foundation for the popular name "Saw- 

 biU". The nail on the tip of the bill forms a small but evident hook. The hind toe is 

 developed into a flat paddle or fin-shaped lobe similar to that of the Sea Ducks but quite 

 different from the hind toe of the River Ducks which follow. The males are brightly and 

 strikingly coloured, mostly in black and white. The females are dull coloured with reddish 

 heads and necks. Most plumages have crests. In the females and young birds the crests 

 are ragged and without well-defined shape. 



Distinctions. The bill is always dia^ostic and easily distinguishes the Mergansers 

 from the Sea Ducks which resemble them in the character of the hand toe. 



Field Marks. Evident duck-like form combined with the long, slender, cyUndrical, 

 and slightly hooked biU. 



Nesting. Mergansers are mostly river haunters in the breeding seasons, nesting either 

 on ground or in hollow trees. 



Distribution. A small family, most of its species inhabit the northern hemisphere. 



Mergansers feed upon fish and shell-fish captured under water by 

 diving; for this method of feeding their hooked and serrated bills are admir- 

 ably adapted. They are, during the breeding season, mostly freshwater 

 frequenters though they visit the sea sometimes in large numbers. They 



^Another common source of confusion is the prevalence of a red rust coloration that often occurs on various parts 

 of the head or body and is common to many species of Anseres. It is due to an iron deposit from the water the birds 

 nhabit, and should not be regarded as normal plumage coloration. 



