45 



QUERQUEDULA. TEAL. 



If we compare together the common Teal, Anas Crecca 

 of Linnseus ; the Garganey, Anas Circia ; the Gad wall, Anas 

 strepera ; and the Pintail, Anas acuta, we find that, although 

 there are slight differences in the form of the bill, in the elon- 

 gation of the lamellae of the upper mandible, in the length of the 

 neck and tail, they are all so intimately connected that, unless 

 each species be converted into a genus, there can be no 

 reason fer separating any two of them for that purpose. 

 Anas Crecca, having the neck shorter and the head rather 

 larger, seems to come nearest to the Mallard ; while, as 

 having the neck and tail most elongated, xlnas acuta, seems 

 most removed from it. Anas strepera differs in scarcely any 

 character of importance from the Pintail, for the elongation 

 of the laminae of its bill is not greater nor more worthy of 

 consideration than that of the laminae of the Grey Lag 

 Goose, compared with other Geese. Even those who, for 

 this very reason, consider the Gadwall as entitled to generic 

 distinction, make no account of the elongation or abbre- 

 viation, protrusion or concealment of the laminae, in their 

 genus Anser, which contains, for example, Anser palustris 

 and Anser leucopsis, birds which differ from each other 

 more than any two of the four Ducks mentioned above, as 

 entering into the genus Querquedula, as here constituted. 

 These birds have the body elongated, elliptical, slightly de- 

 pressed, and moderately full ; the neck long and slender ; the 

 head oblong, much compressed, moderately arched above. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, considerably higher than 

 broad at the base, gradually depressed toward the end, but 

 scarcely widened, it being comparatively slender, with the 

 margins nearly parallel; upper mandible with the lateral 

 basal sinuses broadly rounded, the dorsal line gently sloping 



