296 
MERGINjE. 
Breeds from Labrador northward to the Arctic Seas. Abundant 
during winter along the coasts of the Atlantic Districts to the mouth 
of the Mississippi. Never in the interior. 
Long-tailed Duck, Anas glacialis, Wins. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 93. 
Fuligula glacialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 395. 
Long-tailed Duck, Harelda glacialis, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 460. 
Long-tailed Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 453. 
Long tailed Duck, Fuligula glacialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 103. ' 
FAMILY XL. MERGIN.E. MERGANSERS. 
Bill rather long, straight, rather slender but strong, taper- 
ing, higher than broad at the base, nearly cylindrical toward 
the end ; upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping 
gently to the middle, then straight, along the unguis sud- 
denly decurved ; the ridge broad and flattened at the base, 
then convex, the sides sloping, toward the end convex, the 
edges serrate internally with oblique dentiform lamellae, the 
unguis oblong, much curved, abruptly rounded at the end ; 
nasal groove elongated, covered by the soft skin of the bill ; 
lower mandible with the angle very narrow and extended to 
the unguis, which is obovate, the sides nearly erect, with a 
long narrow groove, the edges internally serrate, the unguis 
convex, thick-edged. Head rather large, compressed, ob- 
long ; neck of moderate length ; body full, depressed, rather 
elongated. Feet placed far behind, stout ; tibia bare for a 
short space ; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly co- 
vered with small scutella, and another series on the lower 
half externally. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free 
membrane ; anterior toes half as long again as the tarsus, 
second shorter than the fourth, which is almost as long as 
the third, all scutellate, and connected by anteriorly con- 
cave webs. Claws rather small, moderately arched, com- 
pressed, acute. Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy, 
blended beneath. Wings of moderate breadth, convex, 
acute; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. Tail 
short, much rounded, of more than twelve feathers. Upper 
