PIET) DUCK. 
41 
unless urged by stress of weather. It procures its food by diving amidst 
the rolling surf over sand or mud bars ; although at times it comes along the 
shore, and searches in the manner of the Spoonbill Duck. Its usual fare 
consists of small shell-fish, fry, and various kinds of sea-weeds, along with 
which it swallows much sand and gravel. Its flight is swift, and its wings 
emit a whistling sound. It is usually seen in flocks of from seven to ten, 
probably the members of one family. 
Pied Duck, Anas labrador a, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 91. 
Fuligula labradora, Bonap. Syn., p. 391. 
Pied Duck, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 428. 
Pied Duck, Fuligula labradora , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 2 Yl. 
Male, 20, 30. Female, 18i, 29. 
Along the shores of the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to New Jersey, rather 
rare, in winter. Breeds from Labrador northward. Never seen in the 
interior. 
Adult Male. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, rather broader than high at the base, the 
sides nearly parallel, but at the end enlarged by soft membranous expansions 
to the upper mandible. The latter has the dorsal outline at first straight and 
declinate, then direct and slightly convex, at the extremity decurved ; the 
ridge broad at the base, convex toward the end ; the sides sloping at the 
base, then convex, the extremity broad and rounded, the unguis broadly 
obovate ; the margins soft, expanded toward the end, and with about 50 
lamellae, of which the anterior are inconspicuous. Nasal groove oblong, 
nostrils linear-oblong, sub-basal near the ridge. Lower mandible flattened, 
curved upwards, with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line very 
short, and nearly straight, the nearly erect edges with about 80 large and 
prominent lamellae ; the unguis very broad. 
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Eyes small. Neck rather 
short and thick. Body full, depressed. Feet very short, strong, placed 
rather far behind ; tarsus very short, compressed, with two anterior series of 
rather small scutella, the sides and back part reticulated with angular scales. 
Hind toe very small, with a free membrane beneath ; outer anterior toes 
double the length of the tarsus, and nearly equal, the inner much shorter, 
and with a broad marginal membrane. Claws small, slightly arched, com- 
pressed, rather acute. 
Plumage dense, soft, blended ; feathers of the head and neck small, oblong; 
toes on the lower part of the cheeks very stiff, having the terminal fila- 
ments more or less united into a horny plate. Wings short, of moderate 
breadth, concave, acute ; primary quills curved, strong, tapering, the second 
Vol. VII.— 6 
