SUBFAMILY ERISMATURIMJE. 295 



SUBFAMILY ERISMATURIN^. 



SPINE-TAIL DUCKS. 



This subfamily is represented throughout the world 

 by many species comprised in about four genera, two of 

 which are represented by only one species each in North 

 America. One of these has a wide distribution within 

 our limits, but the other can only be regarded as a 

 straggler from more southern latitudes. They are 

 peculiar little Ducks, with large heads, and very broad 

 bills and feet, and the tail is composed of 18 to 20 stiff, 

 pointed feathers, frequently carried directly upward. 

 The males of both species have a brilliantly colored 

 plumage, of red and black hues mainly, but this is only 

 assumed by the resident bird during the breeding season. 

 Both kinds are skillful divers, and fly with great rapidity, 

 buzzing throvigh the air more in the manner of insects 

 than of birds. The flesh of these Ducks is fairly good, 

 and of late years, probably from the growing scarcity of 

 more desirable varieties, the Ruddy Duck has taken a 

 rather prominent position in the markets of our land. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 

 i^For North American Species.) 



A. Tail feathers stiff, narrow, pointed. 



a. Nail of bill with the point bent down- ) ruddy duck. 

 ward and backward. ) Erismatura. 



b. Nail of bill with the point perpendicular. \ masked duck. 



) Nomonyx. 



GENUS ERISMATURA 



(Greek ipiajm, eristna, a prop -|- oipA, oura, tail). 



Erismatura. Bon. Sagg. Distr. Met. Agg. e Corr., 1832, p. 143. 

 Type Anas jamaicensis, Gmel. 



