OF ORNITHOLOGY 123 



for the Canvas-back a new genus, the name of Aristonetta would he very 

 appropriate, on account of the great superiority of its flesh as an article of 

 food." It is significant, however, that the Professor himself does not use 

 the name (save as a synonym perhaps), but uses Aythya. 

 Clangula and Bucephala appear to be used about equally for the Golden 

 Eye, though preference seems to favor the former, at present. [Histrion- 

 icus was formerly a clangula, — but did not remain so long]. 

 The Eider Ducks seem to be curiously synonymed. Somateria is really 

 the standby for all of them : yet the Steller's Eider has received, respec- 

 tively, the names of Eniconetla, [Heniconetta ?], and Polysticta, as well 

 as Somateria ; The Spectacled Eider, the names of Lampronetta and Arc- 

 tonetta, besides Somateria; four others have been classed as Somateria 

 proper — yet even here we are not allowed to rest in peace, as the name of 

 Erionetta is fnrther suggested for the King Eider. All of these names ap- 

 pear to have been used as of generic rank formerly. The hosts of old 

 synonyms, besides these, now of no sort of practical use save as a matter 

 of reference merely, is legion. 



The Surf Ducks have been styled both (Edemia and Oidemia ; the syno- 

 nym Melanetta is distinct from Melanitta used by Boie for perspicillata. 



Sub-family e MERGING Mergansers 



The Mergansers are evidently distinct from either the Sea 

 Ducks or the River Ducks ; but whether they combine the 

 characteristics of the former with the habits of the latter, or 

 vice veksa, is not at first so apparent. A careful examina- 

 tion of these birds leads us to believe that they are more Sea 

 Ducks with the habits of inland Water Ducks. As a sub- 

 family they are at once distinguished from their neighbors by 

 the shape and character of the bill ; the saw-like rows of 

 sharp-pointed teeth at once proclaiming the position of the 

 bird. They are carnivorous ducks. They live upon fish, it 

 is true ; yet they are rather scavengers than birds refined in 

 their tastes and food. They were formerly classed with the 

 Sea Ducks. The Mergansers, with their toothed bills, bear a 

 not distant resemblance to recently discovered toothed fossil 

 forms. There is but a single genus. 



Genus, Mergus, The Mergansers (3 species). 



Sub-genera. Lophodytes is a sub-genera of mergus, and is used for the 

 Hooded Merganser — it is often accorded generic rank even. 



Merganser was an old-fashioned generic name, but it is seldom met with in 

 modern writers. 



