296 WATER FOWL. 



Bill about as long as head, broad, widening toward the tip and 

 turned slightly upward; nail small, narrow, curved, and turned 

 backward. Nostril about middle of bill, placed near culraen. 

 Head moderately large; neck vei-y large, permitting the skin to 

 pass over the head of the dead bird. Tail of eighteen feathers, 

 stiff, narrow, and pointed, with large shafts. Tarsus half as 

 long as middle toe and claw. Feet very large, outer toe longer 

 than middle. Wings short. 



Only one species of this genus, out of the twelve or fourteen 

 recognized by ornithologists, is found in North America, the well- 

 known Ruddy Duck, with many aliases in different localities. It 

 is generally distributed throughout our Continent, going at times 

 as far south as northern South America. It is a sprightly little 

 bird with some rather comical habits. 



GENUS NOMONYX 

 (Greek vhfuii, nomas, law + ivi%, onux, nail). 



Nomonyx, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. iii., 1880, p. 15. 

 Type Anas dominica, Linn. 



Characters similar to Erismatura, but the nail nearly all seen 

 from above, and, although hooked, does not bend backward. 

 Tail composed of narrow graduated pointed feathers with stif- 

 fened shafts, and more than half as long as wing. Bill narrower 

 for its length than is that of the allied genus. Outer toe shorter 

 than the middle toe. 



There is only one species included in this genus, a native of 

 tropical America straggling into eastern North America, within 

 whose boundaries a few examples have been captured. In full 

 plumage the male is a very handsome bird, and rather smaller in 

 size than the common Ruddy Duck. 



SUBFAMILY MERGING. 



THE MERGANSERS. 



This subfamily possesses three genera, and about nine 

 species, and is represented in nearly every part of the 

 world. They are generally known as the Saw-bill, or 



