248 INDIAN DUCKS 



Sub-family FULIGULINiE. 



This sub-family is divided from those already written about by 

 having the hind-toe broadly lobed, whereas the latter have the hind 

 toe either with no lobe at all or else with only a narrow one. 

 Blanford does not divide the Ftdigiilinw from the Anatinse, but the 

 division seems to be a natural one, the members of this sub-family 

 differing from those of others, not only in construction, but con- 

 siderably in habits as well. 



The separation of the genus Oxyura is by no means so distinct, 

 and the genus, in my opinion, is hardly worthy of separation from 

 the FuUguUnas and the honour of a sub-family to itself, but for the 

 present I retain it in this position. 



Oxyura differs from the ducks included by Salvadori in his 

 sub-family FiiUgulinee in certain external structural particulars, 

 principally in the swollen base to the upper mandible and in its 

 remarkable tail, which, as Blanford remarks, looks as if it might be 

 that of a woodpecker. 



The Merginse are separated from all other ducks, by the shape 

 of their bill, which is long, narrow, and pointed, altogether most 

 un-duck-like in its appearance. 



The Fuligiiliux comprise thirteen genera, of which three only are 

 represented in India ; but it is worthy of notice that whilst Nefta 

 is one of the most common forms and Glanclonctta one of the most 

 rare, Nyroca and FuUgiila contain some forms which are extremely 

 common, and others again of the greatest rarity. 



Key to Genera. 



a. Primaries with the bases more or less white. 



a. LamelliB long and prominent Netta, p. 249. 



b' . Lamellae short, well apart, not very prominent. 



a" . Bill very nearly the same width throughout . Nyroca, p. 258. 

 [//'. Bill distinctly wider at the tip than at the base . Fiiligiila, p. 258.] 

 I). Primaries without any white or whitish at the base Glaucionetta, p. 291. 



