Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/299

 DUCK 291 of head white. This species, called the skunk and sand-shoal duck, does not seem to go further south than Chesapeake bay ; it is essentially marine, rarely entering rivers ; it procures by diving over sand bars shell- fish and small fry; its flesh is not consider- ed a delicacy. The genus somateria (Leach) contains the eider and the king duck, which will be described under the former title. The genus oidemia (Flem.) includes those sea ducks which are erroneously called coots in New England. The velvet duck (O.fusca, Sw.) has the plumage generally black, with a spot under the eye and a large patch on the wings, formed by the secondaries, white ; hence the name white- winged coot; the base and sides of the bill black, the sides bright red, and the nail orange or flesh-colored ; iris bright yellow ; the length is 22 in., extent of wings 39, and weight about 3 Ibs. ; the female is sooty brown, the lower parts lighter. These birds are seen in large flocks in autumn along 1. Pied Duck (Camptolemus Labradorius). 2. Euddy Duck (Erismatura rubida). b. Surf Duck (Oidemia perspicillata). the Atlantic coast, when they are shot in great numbers from boats near the shore ; on account of the density of the plumage they require a heavy charge to kill them ; though breeding in lakes and rivers, they are rarely seen during migration away from the sea. The flesh is dark, with a fishy flavor. The surf duck (0. perspicillata, Linn.) has a bill of a reddish orange color, paler on the sides, with a black patch at the side of the base of the upper man- dible; the plumage is black, except a white patch on the crown and hind neck ; the eyes white ; legs and feet reddish orange ; the length is 20 in., extent of wings 33, and the weight 2| Ibs. ; the female has a brownish tinge to the black plumage. This also is called coot, and associates with the preceding species, which it resembles in its habits ; it is frequently called black duck ; it is shy, and difficult to shoot ex- cept on the wing ; the flesh is tough and fishy. The American scoter, or butter-bill coot (0. Americana, Sw.), has a bill of a deep orange color at the base and black at the end; the general color of the plumage is black, bluish on the hind neck, the scapulars tinged with green ; tail graduated ; the length is 19 in., and the extent of wings about 32. This associates with the other species of the genus. The 0. nigra (Flem.) is a European bird. It is prob- able that the American scoters, like other birds breeding in the far north, are occasionally seen in Europe. III. The spiny-tailed ducks, eris- maturince, have the bill elevated at the base and depressed at the tip, with a nail ; the wings are short and concave, with the ends of the quills incurved ; the tail is lengthened, of nar- row, rigid feathers, slightly protected with cov- erts above and below ; the tarsi are shorter than the middle toe, compressed ; the toes long, united by a full web, the hind toe long, with a broad web. These ducks are short fliers from the smallness of their wings, and their geo- graphical distribution is not extensive. In the genus biziura (Leach), peculiar to Australia, a large compressed wattle hangs from the lower mandible; the wings are very short, and fur- nished with two blunt tubercles at the shoul- der. The best known species is B. lolata (Shaw). The ruddy duck (erismatura rubida, Bonap.) has a grayish blue bill, the iris hazel, and the eye situated very high up ; upper part of the head black, terminating in a point be- hind; sides of the head white; chin with a yellowish brown tinge ; upper parts and sides reddish brown ; lower parts white, with dusky bars ; the tail black, short, and rounded ; wings blackish brown; the length is 15 in., extent of wings 22, and weight If lb. The plumage varies much at different ages. It is common in Chesapeake bay, where it is called salt-wa- ter teal ; it is found all along the coast and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. It is an ex- cellent diver, but is by no means shy ; when young and fat the flesh is tender and of good flavor. The saw-bill ducks will be described under MERGANSER, to which subfamily they belong. The domestic duck is derived princi- pally from the mallard, mixed in some cases with the musk duck and the gadwall, and per- haps the black duck. The variety considered the best here is the Aylesbury duck, from the town of that name in Buckinghamshire, Eng- land; many thousand pounds sterling worth of ducks are sent annually to London from this place, and almost all the broods are hatched under hens, as being more certain sitters ; the most prized are pure white, with pale bill and legs. The advantages of this breed are their great size and productiveness ; they are early layers and good hatchers, and easily raised; besides they are ornamental, with fine, white, downy feathers, pure skin, and white, delicate, and savory flesh ; at the age of 8 months a pair should weigh from 10 to 12 Ibs. The large Rouen duck, originally from France, very prolific in eggs, is about 30 in. long ; the back is sooty black ; it is generally believed to be a half domesticated species escaped from man's restraint, and again subjected to him ; it breeds readily with the