93 



FULIGULIN^. 



SCA UP-D UCKS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



As between the Anserinse and Anatinee, so between 

 the latter and the Fulignlinse there are no precise limits, 

 although the three groups present peculiarities of form and 

 habits sufficient to give countenance to their separation. The 

 Fuligulinfe, popularly designated as Sea Ducks, have the 

 body of a less elongated form, fuller, and more depressed ; the 

 neck shorter, and generally much thicker ; the head larger ; 

 and the hind toe with a conspicuous membranous lobe. 



Bill about the length of the head, or shorter, nearly as 

 broad as high at the base, gradually depressed toward the end, 

 where it is rounded ; the tipper mandible with the basal 

 lateral sinuses and frontal angles various, the ridge flattened 

 at the base, the sides convex toward the end, the unguis 

 obovate, or roundish, decurved. Mouth rather narrow ; the 

 upper mandible internally concave, with a median prominent 

 line, and on each side a series of transverse thin lamellae. 

 Similar, but smaller, and more numerous lamellpe on the 

 sides of the lower mandible. Tongue fleshy, with a deep 

 medial groove above, lateral series of bristles, and a thin 

 broadly-rounded tip. Oesophagus of moderate width, or 

 rather narrow ; stomach a very large, transversely elliptical 

 gizzard, placed obliquely, with very large muscles, thick and 

 rugous epithelium, and somewhat concave grinding surfaces ; 

 intestine very long, and of moderate width ; coeca long, and 

 rather wide. Trachea often with dilatations ; the lower 

 larynx with a very large osseous or partly membranous dila- 

 tation, bulging more on the left side. 



Nostrils moderate or small, oblong, in the fore part of the 



