LABRADOR DUCK— SMEW 45 



flyers, rising from the water instantly and flying 

 straight ahead at very great speed. When migrating, 

 they rise to a great height above the earth, and travel 

 for many hours without resting. The wing-beat is 

 so fast as to be almost invisible, and it is difficult to 

 imagine how such speed can be kept up for so long 

 a time without the birds becoming exhausted. They 

 are gregarious, flying in large flocks, and are usually 

 very noisy, quacking and calling almost continuously. 

 Many species are common to both the Old and the 

 New World, and seem to travel with ease between the 

 northern parts of the two continents, such forms as 

 the Scoters, Pintails, Widgeons, in particular, being 

 found in both countries. In fact, Ducks are spread 

 over almost the entire surface of the earth, some spe- 

 cies living in the far North, while others inhabit tropi- 

 cal and subtropical regions. Some are confined to 

 fresh water, others seem to prefer the shores of the 

 ocean. The latter may be distinguished by the lobe 

 on the hind toe. See Plate 35, Figs. 204, 205. 



One species, known as the Labrador Duck, of which 

 only a few skins are preserved in museums, has be- 

 come exterminated within recent times. In the early 

 part of this century it was common in the Arctic re- 

 gions, but for some unexplained reason these birds 

 suddenly disappeared, so far as is known not one ex- 

 isting at the present time. 



The Goosander, found in the northern parts of both 

 continents, and the Smew, are typical examples of the 

 Saw-bill Duck. In them the bill is rounded, instead 

 of flattened, as in most other species, and is provided 

 with tooth-like spines. It also has a hook at the tip. 



