326 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE HAELEQiriN DUCK. (See p. 325. ' 
United States ; accidental in Europe. This is the Spirit-Duck of Nuttall ; and is so called by 
__ the Indians, on acconnt of its ex- 
, - pertness in diving; for the same 
:^J^^m^^.: :^ -^--xS^*^ reason the whites call it Liitle 
-W-f"'^^^^ _jz Di'p'per. It is also named Biit- 
—..-zi T:-. _ ter-Box Butte7'-Ball. 
J - The RuDDT Duck, F. ruhida, 
is fifteen inches long ; abund- 
ant throughout the interior of 
North America; more rare on 
the coast ; is known by the 
names of Scdt-water Teal, Dun- 
Bird, jOiin-Diver., and Looby. 
In addition to these, the Smith- 
sonian Catalogue has the fol- 
lowing : Little Black-He ad, 
F. ajfinis ; Ring-Neck Duck, 
F. collaris ; Black-masked 
Duck, Frismatura Dominica, 
&c. ; all known in American 
waters. 
Genus MERGUS : Mergus. — 
This includes the Mergansers^ 
which are noted for a thin, 
roundish bill, with a hooked nail 
at the point. They inhabit cold, 
northern regions ; are very act- 
ive on the water, swimming and 
diving with the utmost facility, 
and feeding voraciously on fishes 
and aquatic insects. The nest 
is composed of roots, grass, &c., 
and is placed near the water, 
concealed among bushes and 
herbage. 
The Hooded Merganser, JSf. 
cucuUatus, a very handsome bird, 
is nineteen inches long; the 
head ornamented with a half-cii-- 
cular crest ; common in North 
America ; accidental in Europe. 
This is the Hooded Sheldrake- 
of De Kay, and is popularly 
called Hairy-Head and JVuter- 
Phcasant along our coast. 
The Smew or White Nun, M, 
albellus^is seventeen and a half inches long; common in Europe; accidental in the United 
States. 
The Red-breasted Merganser, M. serrator, is twenty-one inches long ; found in Europe and 
North America. This is the Red-hreasted Sheldrake of De Kay, and is popularly called Saw- 
Bill, Whistler, and Pied Sheldrake. 
The Goosander, M. merganser — Harle of the French, Gansen-Sdger of the Germans, and Mergo 
of the Italians — is a large species, twenty-six and a half inches long ; fonnd in Europe and 
THE BUFFLE-HBADED DCCK. 
