388 
Synopsis of ihe Birds 
Hardly able to walk, standing with the body erect, the 
feet wide apart, and turned out : run rather rapidly, but 
awkwardly, appearing to fall at every step. Swim very deep 
in the water. Flight heavy, rapid, whistling. 
Spread all over the globe ; chiefly Arctic. Species nume- 
rous. Deserve generic separation, as is proved by their 
form, habits, and especially their skeleton, the best test of 
genera. We divide the North American species into five 
subgenera. 
SUBGENUS I. SOMATERIA. 
Les Eiders , Cuv. Anser , Briss. Somateria, Leach,. 
Boie. Steph. 
Bill small, elevated at base, extending up the forehead, 
and divided by a triangular projection of feathers, towards the 
point narrow and blunt: nostrils medial. Secondaries gene- 
rally curved outwards, overlapping the primaries. Tail of 
fourteen feathers.* 
Plumage remarkably thick and close : down of an exqui- 
site softness, valuable. Size large. 
Exclusively pelagic : breeding near the sea : eggs com- 
paratively few. Connects this genus with Anser. 
» 331 . Fuligula mollissima, Nob. Branches of the bill narrow, 
linear : no mirror. 
Male black, head and back white ; crown black. 
Female, wholly reddish-drab, spotted with black ; two 
white bands across the wings. 
* It is lamentable to find authors generally attribute twelve feathers to 
the tail of all the Geese, Ducks, &c. We have made use of this charac- 
ter in our specific phrases, more to excite inquiry on that point than for 
any thing else, for we are well aware that the number is variable in some 
cases, and for that reason left out by authors : we think, however, that in 
most cases the character is excellent, and at all events, we have constantly 
given it as additional. 
