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CHAPTER II. 
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 
WILLOUGHBEY distributes the Palmipedes into such as have the back 
toe, and those in which it is absent; the former, again, into such 
as have the four toes webbed together, and such as have the back | 
toe separated from the others. These latter he again subdivides 
into narrow-billed and broad-billed; the former having their bills 
either hooked at the end or straight and sharp-pointed. The hook- 
billed have them either even or toothed on the sides. The broad- 
billed are divided into Ducks and Geese. ‘The Ducks are either sea 
or pond Ducks. ‘The Ducks,” he adds, “have shorter necks and 
larger feet, in proportion to their bodies, than Geese. They have 
shorter legs than Geese, and situated more backward, so that they go 
waddling ; a broader and flatter back, and so a more compressed 
body ; and, lastly, a broader and flatter bill. Their tongue is pec- 
tinated, or toothed, on each side, which is common with them and 
the Geese.” 
“The Ducks are of two sorts, either wild or tame. The wild, 
again, are of two sorts :—1. Sea Ducks, which feed mostly in salt 
waters, dive much in feeding, have a broader bill (especially the 
upper one), and bend forward to work on the stem; a large hind 
toe, and then, likely for a rudder, a long train, not sharp-pointed. 
2. Pond Ducks, which haunt plashes, have a straight and narrower 
bill, a very little hind toe, a sharp-pointed train, a white belly, speckled 
feathers, black, with glittering green on the middle wing, with a white 
transverse ring on either side.” 
According to Mr. Yarrell, the first division of Ducks comprises 
the Wild Duck, Shieldrake, Muscovy Duck, Gadwall, Shoveller, 
Pintail, Widgeon, Bimaculated Duck, Garganey, and Teals, all of 
. which exhibit length of neck, wings reaching to the end of the tail, 
tarsi somewhat round, hind toe free or without pendent lobe. They 
generally frequent fresh water, but pass much of their time on land, 
feeding on aquatic plants, insects, worms, and sometimes fish, The 
