INTRODUCTION. XXVll 



toe small and elevated ; claws small, that on the middle toe broadly rounded. 

 Sexes alike in plumage (p. 407). 



Cygnits, Beclistei)!. — Bill of equal breadth throughout its length, higher than 

 wide at the base, depressed at the point ; both mandibles furnished along the 

 sides with transverse lamellae. Lores chiefly naked. Nostrils oblong, 

 lateral, near the middle of the beak. Neck slender and very long. Legs 

 short, the tarsus reticulated ; the three front toes fully webbed ; the hind toe 

 small, free, and without lobe. Sexes alike in plumage (p. 413). 



Tadorna, Fleming. — Bill about the length of the head, higher than broad at the 

 base, depressed or concave in the middle, breadth nearly equal throughout ; 

 under mandible much narrower than the upper, and the latter grooved near 

 the tip ; nail decurved, forming a hook ; both mandibles furnished with thin 

 transverse lamella;. Nasal groove near the base of the beak ; nostrils oval, 

 lateral, pervious. Wings of moderate length, the second quill the longest. 

 Legs moderate ; the tibiae naked for a short space above the tarsal joint ; three 

 toes entirely webbed in front, and one behind free. Sexes nearly alike in 

 plumage (p. 419). 



Anas, Brisson. — Bill about as long as the head, broad, depressed, sides parallel, 

 sometimes partially dilated ; both mandibles furnished on the inner edges with 

 transverse lamellffi. Nostrils small, oval, lateral. Wings rather long, pointed. 

 Tail wedge-shaped. Legs rather short, placed under the centre of the body ; 

 tarsus somewhat rounded ; three toes in front, connected by membranes ; 

 hind toe free, without pendant lobe or membrane. The sexes differ in 

 plumage (p. 423). 



Spatula, Boie. — Bill much longer than the head, compressed at the base, widen- 

 ing towards the end ; lamellte projecting conspicuously from the base to near 

 the broadest part. Wing pointed, the first and second quills the longest. 

 Tail short, graduated, of fourteen pointed feathers. Legs very short ; hind 

 toe small, free, without a lobe. The sexes differ in plumage (p. 427). 



Dafila, Stephens. — Bill about as long as the head, the edges nearly parallel, but 

 widening a trifle towards the end ; lamellae not very strongly defined. Neck 

 long and slender. Wings long and pointed, the first and second quills sub- 

 equal and longest, the rest rapidly graduated. Tail sharply pointed, the central 

 feathers considerably elongated in the male. Legs rather short ; hind toe 

 small ; margin of web to anterior toes slightly emarginate. The sexes differ 

 in plumage (p. 429), 



Nettion, Kaiip. — Bill moderate ; not gradually tapering towards the tip, where 

 it is somewhat broad and rounded, no crest, nor any falcate inner secondaries. 

 Otherwise similar to Qnerqueditla. 



QuERQUEDULA, Stephens.— 'Wi], about as long as the head, wider towards the 

 end ; nail broad and large. Nostrils small and oblong. Wings rather long, 

 pointed, the first and second quills sub-equal and longer than the rest ; 

 scapulars and inner secondaries elongated and pointed. Tail of sixteen 

 feathers, short and rounded. Legs short ; tarsus compressed, anteriorly 

 scutellated ; hind toe very small, outer toe much shorter than the third, 

 middle toe rather long ; interdigital membrane emarginated ; claws small, 

 somewhat curved. The sexes differ in plumage (p. 434). 



