BLACK, OR SURF DUCK. 
215 
271 . AXAS PERSnCILLATAj LINNiEUS AKD WILSON. 
JiLACK, OR SURF DOCK. 
WILSON, PLATE LXVIl. FIG. I. 
I^Hls duck is peculiar to America, and altogctlier 
'““tilled to the sliores and bays of the sea, particularly 
"here the waves roll over the saudy beach. Their food 
'[’“iiists priiieipally of tho.se small bivalve shell fish 
^ ®ady described, spout fish, and others that lie in the 
.“il near its surface. For these tliey dive almost 
^Wstautly, hoth in the sandy bays ami amidst the 
'““ibliiiff surf They seldom or never vi.sit the salt 
!'*?''shes" They continue on our shores diirin^r the 
j!'“ter, and leave us early in May for their breeding 
!'*“tcs in the north. Their skins are remarkably strong, 
p'ti their flesh coarse, tasting of fish. They are shy 
j{'''ls, not easily approached, and arc common in winter 
the whole coast from the river St Lawrence to 
''•“Hda. 
o Tile length of this species is twenty inches, extent 
tty-tHo inches; the hill is yelloivisli red, elevated at 
T base, and marked on the side of the upper mandible 
, tih a large square patch of black, preceded by another 
*I>ace of a pearl colour ; the part of the bill thus marked 
;.'''tlLs or ju'ojects considerably from the common surface ; 
i:“ nostrils are large and pervious; the .sides of the 
f 1 broadly serrated or toothed ; hoth mandibles are 
“'■'fished nith a nail at the extremity; irides, uhite, 
' ''cry pale cream; whole ])lumage, a shining black, 
^“tked on the crown and hiudhoad with two triangular 
jl'''ces of pure « hite ; the jrluraage on both these spots 
u “I'orter and thinner than the rest; legs and feet, 
tijod red; membrane of the webbed feet, black; the 
"•■"aary (juills arc of a deep dusky brown. 
“U dissection the gullet was found to be gradually 
"lai-ged to the gizzard, which was altogether filled with 
I'nkcu shell fish. There was a singuhu' bard expansion 
‘ the commencement of tlie windpipe, and another 
