EHYNCHASPIS. SHOVEL-BILL. 73 



and thick grinding plates. Intestine extremely long and 

 slender ; coeca long, rather narrow ; rectum very short. 



Trachea slowly enlarging from the top ; the inferior 

 larynx with a rounded bony expansion, comparatively small 

 on the left side. Bronchi large, with numerous rings. 



Nostrils rather small, elliptical, in the fore part of the 

 nasal membrane ; eyes small ; ears very small. Legs very 

 short ; tarsus compressed, with small anterior scutella ; hind 

 toe very small, with a very narrow membrane ; outer toe a 

 little shorter than the third, which is longer than the tarsus ; 

 interdigital membranes emarginate ; claws slender, com- 

 pressed, acuminate, moderately arcuate. 



Plumage dense, soft, and glossy ; feathers of the head and 

 upper neck short and blended ; of the other parts moderate, 

 ovate, or oblong ; scapulars elongated and acuminate. Wings 

 of moderate length, narrow, pointed, of twenty-five quills ; 

 primaries narrow, the first and second longest; inner secon- 

 daries elongated and tapering. Tail small, much rounded, of 

 fourteen stiffish, tapering feathers. 



In this genus, of which very few species are known, the 

 lamellae of the mandibles receive their highest degree of 

 development as to elongation, but are much inferior to those 

 of several other genera in actual size and strength. They 

 appear to be thus modified to be adapted to the separating 

 from the mud of insects, mollusca, worms, and the like, on 

 which, more than on vegetable substances, the Shovel-Bills 

 feed. Some writers have assumed this form of bill as typical, 

 and give the generic name Anas to the group ; but I think 

 the truly typical bill of a Duck, or that which combines all 

 the essential qualities of a bill answering the ordinary pur- 

 poses to which Ducks apply that organ, is to be seen in our 

 common Mallard, to which and its brethren, therefore, I 

 would prefer giving the ancient generic name. 



The male has the scapulars, inner secondaries, and tail- 

 feathers, more elongated and acuminate than the female, 

 which it also greatly excels in the beauty of its plumage. 

 Toward the end of summer the male becomes similar in 

 plumage to the female, but resumes his gaudy livery in the 

 besdnninff of winter. 



