aOH INDIAN DUCKS 



Sub-fiiniily MERGIN.^:. 



This sub-family is at once distinguishable from all others by its 

 bill, which differs very greatly from the shape most generally con- 

 sidered typical of a duck. Instead of being considerably depressed 

 in the ordinary manner, it is actually compressed, and instead of 

 having the usual lamellse along the sides, has regular tooth-like 

 serrations on the edges of both upper and lower mandible. This 

 last characteristic suffices to distinguish the Merginw from the 

 Mergancttinse, a sub-family which has neither teeth nor serrations, 

 but which is not represented in India. 



The Mergina- consist of two genera only, as represented in India, 

 with one other {Lnpiindyfe>^) confined to North America. 



h'cg to (iencra. 



(I. CJuliuen shorter than tarsus, under l';j inches ; winj" 



about 7 to 8 inches l/c/y/^.s, p. 2(il. 



/). Culmen longer than tarsus, over 1!) inches : wing 



about 9 to 11 inches Merganser, p. 268. 



