ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS. 487 



Mr. L. Belding informs us that this species arrives in the vicinity of Stockton, 

 Cal., from April 1 to May 9; his latest fall record of its occurrence there being 

 November 1, " when two immature birds or young of the year were noticed in the 

 market." 



Sub-family ANATIN^. — The Ducks. 



The Anatinoi differ from the Anserince in having the tarsus shorter than the middle toe, instead 

 of longer, and scutellate, instead of reticulate, in front. Most of the Ducks are of smaller size than 

 the Geese ; in many species the males are adorned with a very beautiful plumage, with a metallic 

 Aving-speculum, the sexual difference in plumage being usually well marked. The North Ameri- 

 can genera may be defined as follows ^ : — 



A. Hind toe without a membraneous lobe (Anatem). 



1. Anas. Bill broad, about as long as the head, the edges parallel, the middle of the culmen 



concave, the terminal part (behind the nail) convex ; lamella" scarcely exposed ; scapu- 

 lars, tertials, and rectrices broad, not acuminate ; speciilum brilliant. 



2. Chaulelasmus. Bill rather narrow, shorter than the head, the edges nearly parallel, cul- 



men gently concave in the middle, straight before and behind ; lamellfe distinctly exposed ; 

 scapulars, etc., as in Anas ; speculum dull-colored — black and white. 



3. Mareca. Bill as in Cliaulelasmus, but lamellae scarcely exposed ; scapulars, etc., lanceo- 



late, the middle rectrices slightly elongated ; speculum chiefly black ; a white patch on 

 the lesser wing-covert region. 



4. Dafila. Sinular to Mareca, but neck very long, bill longer than the head, narrow, the 



edges nearly parallel, the terminal two-thirds of the culmen quite straight and nearly 

 horizontal, the basal portion rapidly ascending. In the adult male, scapulars, etc., elongated 

 and lanceolate, and the middle rectrices projecting far beyond the rest. 



5. Nettion. Size very small (wing less than six inches) ; in form nmch like Dafila, but 



neck much shorter, scapulars and middle rectrices broader and less elongated, bill shorter 

 than tlie head, the lamellte completely concealed ; nape with a small mane-like tuft. 



6. Querquedula. Small, like Nettion, but bill longer (longer than the head), broader, less 



depressed, the culmen decidedly convex anteriorly ; lesser wing-coverts pale dull blue 

 (in North American species) ; nape without a tuft. 



7. Spatula. Bill much longer than the head, compressed at the base, very broad toward the 



1 Some South American genera of Ducks, wliicli for present purposes it is unnecessary to include in 

 the above synopsis, are the following : — 



1. Genus Heteronetta, Salvadori. 



Heterondta, Salvad. Atti de la Soc. Ital. d. Sci. Nat. VIII. 1865, 574 (type, Anas melanocephala, 

 ViEiLL.).— ScL. & Salv. p. Z. S. 1876, 382. 



2. Genus Metopiana, Bonaparte. 



Mdopiana, Boxap. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1856, 146 (type, Anas peposaca, ViEiLL.). — ScL. k Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1876, 398. 



3. Genus Cairina, Fleming. 



Cairina, Fleming, Phil, of Zool. 1822, 260 (type, Anas moschata, Linn.). 

 Moschata, Less. Traite, I. 1831, 633 (same type). 

 GymnathuSf Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 403 (same type). 



4. Genus Tachyeres, Owen. 



" Micropfrrus," Less. Traite, II. 1831, 630 (type, Anas cinerea, Gmel.). (Preoccupied in Ichthy- 

 ology.) 

 Tachyeres, Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. IX. 1875, 254 (same type). 



5. Genus Meroanetta, Goidd. 



Merganetta, GouLD, P. Z. S. 18il, 95 (type, M. annata, Gould). 



EapMpferus, Gay, Fauna Chil. 1848, 459 (type, " B. cUlensis, Gay," = if. armata, Gould). 



