ANATID.E — ANATIN^: RIVER DUCKS. 909 



the world. They are split into a large number (about 15) of uiodern genera, some of which 

 indicate little more than specific characters; the leading types are represented in this country. 

 Of those here following, Casarca, Cairina, JEx, and Spatula represent decided structural pecu- 

 liarity; Dafila is also fairly well marked; hut Mareca, Chaulelasmus, Nettium, and Querquedula 

 miglit all be referred to Anas, type of the group, as subgenera. 3Ialucorhynchus memhrana- 

 ceus, of Australia, is a notable exotic form. 



AnahjsU of Genera. 

 Wiiig over 12.00, its coverts white. 



Sides of head closely feathered, no crest. (Straggler.) ... Casarca 



Sides of head extensively naked ; base of bill caruuculate ; crested. (Domesticated.) Cairina 



Wing under 12.00. 



Head crested ; bill narrow, tip formed widely by nail y^x 



Head not crested ; bill greatly wider at end than at base Spatula 



Head not created ; bill not spoon-shaped. 



Tail cuneate, with narrow central feathers more than half as long as wing cf Dafila 



Tail not cuneate, not half as long as wing. 



Bill shorter than head ; tail-feathers lance-acute ; head not white ; belly white . . yg. and 9 I>atila 



Bill shorter than head ; tail-feathers not acute ; crown and belly white Mareca 



Bill about as long as head, or longer. 



Wing-speculum white ; wing-coverts chestnut ; bill dark ; feet orange Chaulelasmus 



Wing-speculum green ; bill dark. Very small. 



Lesser coverts blue Querquedxda 



Lesser coverts gray Settium 



Wing-speculum violet ; black-bordered ; bill greenish, or dusky and orange ; feet orange . Anas 



Obs. — Old males of all our species are unmistakable, having strong marks of color, size, and form ; but females 

 and young may not always be recognized at a glance. In examining any " Duck " of which you are in doubt, first notice 

 the bill ; if it is narrow and cylindrical, with sharp saw-like teeth, very conspicuous, the bird is one of the Mergansers, 

 or "Fishing Ducks," scarcely fit for food. Next, examine the hind toe; if it has a flap or lobe hanging free, the bird 

 i.s one of the Fuligulinw, which may or may not be good for the table ; if the hind toe is simple and slender, the bird 

 is one of the Analin(e, and sure to make a good di.sh, if in order. All our red- or orange-footed species are AnatincB 

 (efcfplhif/ Mergansers) ; but not all Anatince have the feet thus colored. In determining 9 and young Analino', look to 

 w ing-niarkings rather than body-colors. The species of Querquedula and Nettium are very small " teal " Ducks, 10 inches 

 or less in length. 



CASAR'CA. (Russian cacharka, name of the following species or some other bird.) Shikl- 

 DRAKES. Bill of moderate length, not widening from base to lip, the culmen nearly straight ; 

 the lamelhe ])rominent, those of the lower mandible projecting outward, those of upper man- 

 dible all alike. Size large; wing over 14.00. Sexes dissimilar. Wing with speculum, its 

 upper coverts white. An Old World genus of probably 4 species, one of which is a straggler 

 to our fauna. 



C. casar'ca. Rudoy Siiikldrakr, Siiiklo-drakk, Sheldrake, or Sheld-drake. 

 Adult ^: Head huff, passing on neck, back, and under parts to ruddy-brown or foxy; a 

 black ring amuud nock ; upper tail-coverts, tail, and quills black ; rump variegated with black 

 and fulvous. Wing-coverts white; speculum green and purjjle ; inner secondaries more or less 

 tawny or foxy. Bill and feet blackish; iris brown. 9 •'^iniilar ; lacking the black collar; 

 yiiNui,' like 9; duller; white of wings impure or grayish; inner socomlaries and scapulars 

 bmuii, marked with tawny. ^ in winter said to lack the bl:ick collar. Europe, Asia. Afric.i ; 

 only Xortii America as accidental in Greenland. See J. f. O. Oct. 18!>5; Auk, July. If^lKI, 

 p. 24:} ; A. 0. IT. Suppl Li.st, Jan. 1897, p. 118, No. [141.1.]. 



CAIIII'XA. (Name supi)os('d to be derived from Cairo in Egypt; if so, it is as mtu'h i>f a 

 misnomer for this American t,'enus as Hfuscor)/ is for its species.) Mi:.sK DrcKS. Bill caruu- 

 culate at base (as in I'lpcfrnplents, but no spurs on wini,'s). Sides of head more or less exten- 

 sively naked on the lores. Of large size; jiluma^ie metallic; head crested; .sexes subsimilar. 

 One s|)ecies. 



<^'. nioselia'ta. (Eat. musky; mosrhtis, musk.) MlsK DfCK. Mrscovv. .\dnlt ^ : 

 (Jlossy black, with green and purple iridescence on upper parts; n|iper and under wiiii.'- 



