FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 297 



RIVER DUCKS (SUBFAMILY AXATINiE) 



Characteristics given on p. 277 



Key to the Species 



* Bill decidedly broadened toward tip, being nearly twice as wide as at 



basei 38. Shoveller. 



* Bill little if at all widened toward tip. (A.) 



A. Tail feathers broad and rounded at tip ; head more or less crested ; 



crown green or greenish with purple reflections ; throat white 



40. Wood Duck. 



A. Head not crested. (B.) 

 B. Central tail feathers very much lengthened, making tail over 7 long 

 (male), or central feathers broad and sharp-pointed (female) ; neck 



unusually long 39. Pintail. 



B. Tail and neck not lengthened. (C.) 



C. Bill decidedly shorter than the head; wing, 9|-1U 



long ; belly white. (I.) 

 C. Bill about as long as the head, or longer. (D.) i 



D. Wing less than 8| long. (H.) 

 D. Wing over 9| long. (E.) 



E. Speculum-^ white or grayish white 32. Gadwall. 



E. Speculum a rich purple with a black border. (F.) 2 



F. Speculum bordered at both ends with narrow black and white bands. 



29. Mallard Duck. 



F. Speculum with only a black border, no white. (G.) 



G. Throat blackish or buffy, without streaks 31. Florida Duck. 



G. Throat finely streaked with black 30. Black Duck. 



H. Wing coverts leaden gray without blue 35. Green-winged Teal. 



H. Wing coverts sky blue. .36. Blue-winged Teal. 37. Cinnamon Teal. 



I. Head and throat mainly buffy, finely barred with black 



34. Baldpate. 



I. Head and throat with much brown or reddish brown 



33. Widgeon. 



29. Mallard (132. Anas bdschas). — A large, brilliantly 

 colored, bright-green-headed, chestnut-breasted duck, with a 

 white ring around the lower neck. The belly and sides are 

 nearly white, barred with many fine, wa\y lines of black ; the 

 back is brown ; upper tail coverts black and some of them 

 recurved. The speciihxm is rich purple, bordered by both black 

 and white bands. Female very different except the speculum ; 

 the colors peculiarly mottled buffy and brownish blacks. This 



