358 



ANSERES. 



AN ATI DTE. 



ANATIDjE 



Anas boscas, Linnaeus.* 

 THE MALLARD, 



OR WILD DUCK. 



Anas hoschas. 



Anas, Brissonj". — Bill about as long as the head, broad, depressed, sides 

 parallel, sometimes partially dilated ; both mandibles fiirnished on the inner 

 edges with transverse lamelke. Nostrils small, oval, lateral, anterior to the 

 base of the beak. Legs rather short, placed under the centre of the body ; 

 tarsus somewhat rounded ; toes, three in front, connected by intervening mem- 

 brane ; hind toe free, without pendent lobe or membrane. Wings rather long, 

 pointed. Tail pointed, or wedge-shaped. The sexes differ in plumage. 



The first division of the Ajiatina or Freshwater Ducks, 

 as here arranged, will contain the Mallard or Wild Duck, 



* Anas BosscJifis, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 205 (1766). Aristotle 

 uses the name jBocrKas for some small species of Duck, and there appears to be 

 no adequate reason for Latinizing it as boscJtas. Cf. H. T. Wharton, ' Ibis,' 

 1879, p. 4.^2. 



t Ornithologie, vi. p. -307 (17C0). 



