790 
U. S. P. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
FULIX, Sundevall. 
Fulix, Sundevall, Kong. Vet. Ak. Hand. 1835, (as restricted.) 
Fuligula of authors, but not of Stephens. 
Marila, Bonaparte, not of Reichenbach. 
Cii.—B ill longer than the tarsus, and about equal to the head, and to the middle toe without the nail. Feathers of cheeks, 
chin and forehead advancing but slightly, and to about the same distance. Nostrils open, situated in the anterior portion 
of the basal two-fifths of the bill, not reaching the middle. Edges of bill about parallel, or widening to the tip ; profile gently 
concave to the nail, which is decurved. Nail not one-third the width of the bill, and forming only the central portion of its tip. 
Tarsus about half the middle toe and claw. Bill as long as the feet. Tail short, rounded, of 14 feathers. Head and neck black. 
The name Fuligula , usually applied to this genus, cannot he employed, as it was based by 
Stephens (1824) upon the Anas rujina of Pallas, (not on Anas cristata, L., as given by Gray,) for 
which Branta had been proposed by Boie in 1822; but as this name is anticipated by Oken in 
1815, Fuligula will precede Callichen, Brelim, 1830. Marila of Reichenbach, 1851, has for type 
Anas ferina, L., for which Boie also, in 1822, had proposed Aythya,. 
Fulix of Sundevall, (Kong. Sv. Yet. Ak. Hand, for 1835, 1836, 129,) assigned here by Gray, 
is merely used as a name for one group of the ducks with lobed hind toe, Somateria, his genera 
being Somateria, Fulix, and Mergus. Still, as he gives no type and names no species, it may be 
admissible to assign the name to a particular genus, and I shall therefore retain it for the 
present division. Should this be considered inadmissible, I would propose the name of Nettarion 
for the same genus. 
The Fuligula collaris of North American species appears most to resemble the type. The 
common red head duck of the United States, Aythya americana, is excessively similar in general 
form, differing merely in having the legs a little further back and the feet proportionally longer, 
being, without the claw, longer than the bill, instead of nearly equal. The head and neck are 
red, instead of black. 
SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 
Common characters. —Head, neck and body anterior to the shoulders, tail, tail coverts, rump 
and lower part of back, black. Beneath white, finely waved with black behind and on the 
sides. 
Bill blue, the nail black ; widening slightly to the tip, which is broad and much rounded. 
No collar on neck. Interscapulars and scapulars white, finely waved with black. Speculum 
white. Head, with a green gloss in all lights. F. marila. 
Similar to preceding, but much smaller. Head with a purplish violet gloss. Sides of body 
less waved..•. F. affmis. 
Bill with sides parallel, the tip more pointed; its color bluish black, with basal and subterminal 
bar of whitish. A chestnut collar round middle of neck. Back nearly plain greenish black. 
Speculum grayish plumbeous. ,F. collaris. 
