500 Mr. N. A. Vigors on the Natural Affinities 



and most typical group of the family, which accords with M. Tem- 

 minck's first section of *^ Canards proprement dits," still approaches 

 more closely to the land-birds than the birds which follow : the 

 species swim with ease, and even dive, but the latter faculty they 

 seldom exercise unless when pursued. Their food is also less ex- 

 clusively marine than that of the succeeding groups, being com- 

 posed of vegetables, grains, and insects, in addition to fish*. This 

 division, consisting of many prominent forms, of which A . orbo- 

 rea before mentioned, A.tadorna, boschas, ch/peata, penelope, and 

 querquedula may be considered types, is distinguished from the 

 remainder of the '^ Canards proprement dits" of M. Temminck, by 

 the hind toe being entire, or free from the lobated membrane which 

 is attached to the hind toe of these last. This character of the lo- 

 bated membrane, which is of considerable importance as pointing- 

 out the approach of the birds in which it is found to the more typi- 

 cal oceanic families, prevails in all the remaining groups of the 

 present family. It is strongly conspicuous in Mergiis, Linn., the 

 next division that appears to follow : and we consequently find 

 that the species of that genus carry the powers of swimming and 

 diving to the greatest extent, making use of their wings also in 

 their progress through the water; and at the same time exhibiting 

 a constrained and embarrassed mode of walking, in consequence 

 of the backward position of the legs. It thus forms the passage to 

 the succeeding family of Colymbidce. In the shape of its bill, which 

 is slender and partially compressed, it exhibits a distinct form in 

 its own family : but still, by means of the bill of an intervening 



* " Les Canards dont le pouce n'est point borde d'une membrane, ont la 



tfite plus mince, les pieds moins larges, le cou plus long, le bee plus egal, le corps 

 moins epais; ils marchent mieux; recherchent les plantes aquatiques et leur graines, 

 autant que les poissons et autres animaux." Cuv. Regne Anim. i. p. 536. — "Ceux 

 se submergent rarement dans d'autres cas que lorsqu'ils sont poursuivis. — Leur nour- 

 riture se compose indistinctement de vegetaux, de graines ou d'insectes et de poissons." 

 Temm.Man. p. 831-2. 



species, 



