XXVlll INTRODUCTION. 



Mareca, Stephens. — Bill considerably shorter than the head, higher than broad 

 at the base, gradually depressed and narrowed towards the point ; culmen 

 slightly concave ; lamella: only just visible. Wings rather long and pointed ; 

 the first and second quills longer than the rest. Tail short and pointed. 

 Legs short, the lower part of the tibia bare ; hind toe with a very narrow 

 lobe ; feet rather small. Sexes differ in plumage (p. 437). 



Netta, Kaiip. — Bill long, tapering ; the upper mandible indentated ; lamellce 

 broad, prominent and distant. Nostrils about one-third of the distance from 

 the base to the tip. Wings of moderate length, pointed. Male with a well- 

 developed occipital crest. Otherwise as in Fiiligitla (p. 441). 



Fuligula, Stephens.— WA not longer than the head, luit slightly elevated at the 

 base, depressed towards the tip, sides parallel ; both mandibles laminated, 

 lateral edges of the upper mandible enclosing the edges of the under one. 

 Nostrils at a short distance from the base. Wings rather short, pointed. 

 Legs with the middle and outer toes longer than the tarsus, which is 

 flattened laterally ; feet large, webbed ; the hind toe with a broad lobe. 

 Sexes differ in plumage (p. 443). 



Clangula, Leach. — Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at the 

 base, depressed towards the nail, which is elliptical and decurved at the tip ; 

 lamella hidden by the overhanging edge of the upper mandible. Nostrils 

 near the middle of the bill. Wings rather short, pointed ; the first quill the 

 longest. Tail of sixteen feathers, moderately long, rounded. I^egs short, 

 placed far back ; tarsi scutellated in front ; hind toe small, slender, broadly 

 lobed ; webs full. Sexes differ in plumage (p. 451). 



Harelda, Stephens. — Bill much shorter than the head, its outlines tapering 

 rapidly to the tip, which has a broad, prominently decurved nail ; lamellce 

 slightly exposed along the gape-line. Nostrils oblong, sub-basal. Feather- 

 ing at the base of the bill forming an oblique line, advancing furthest 

 forward on the forehead, and scarcely interrupted by the re-entrant angle so 

 prominent in most Ducks. Wings rather short, pointed ; scapulars much 

 elongated and lanceolate in the adult male. Tail of fourteen feathers, short 

 and graduated, except the two central feathers, which are very long and 

 tapering in the adult male. Legs short, placed far back ; hind toe small 

 but broadly lobed. Sexes differ in plumage (p. 455). 



CosMONETTA, Kaiip. — Bill rather short, narrowing rapidly to the tip, which is 

 occupied by a large decurved nail ; a small lobe on each side at the base of 

 the upper mandible; lamella; concealed. Nostrils oblong, median. Wing 

 short, pointed, the first and second quills nearly equal in length. Tail of 

 fourteen rather pointed feathers, much graduated. Legs short and placed 

 far back ; hind toe slender, with a large lobe ; anterior toes fully webbed. 

 Sexes differ in plumage (p. 457). 



SOMATERIA, Leach. — Bill swollen and elevated at the base, which extends far up the 

 forehead, where it is divided by an elongated, descending, angular projection 

 of feathers down the surface. Nostrils lateral, oval, smaH. Wings moderate, 

 with the first and second quills sub-equal. Tail short, of fourteen feathers. 

 Legs short ; three anterior toes broadly webbed ; hind toe with a deeply 

 lobated membrane. Sexes differ in plumage (p. 459). 



