322 the animals of new zealand 



Order Lamellirostres. 

 Bill straight with a distinct nail at the tip of the upper 

 mandible, and with a series of thin plates on each side. Tarsus, 

 moderate, reticulated behind and generally in front ; the anterior 

 toes fully webbed. 



Key to the Families. 



1. Hind toe narrowly lobed- Anatidse. 

 Hind toe broadly lobed. 2 



2. Bill decidedly depressed. Fuligulidae. 

 Bill more or less depressed. 3 



3. Edges of mandible not serrated. Merganettidffi. 

 Edges of mandible serrated. Mergidse. 



Family Anatidae. 



Bill Hat and broad. Wing w^ith a metallic speculum. Hind toe 

 very narrowly lobed. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Outer webs of the tertials chestnut. Casarca. 



Outer webs of tertials not chestnut. 2 



•i- Bill much wider at the end than at base. Spatula. 



Bill not much wider at end than at base. 3 



3. Bill as long as the head. Anas. 

 Bill shorter than the head. 4 



4. Bill without membrane near the tip. Nettion. 

 Bill with a narrow membrane near the tip. 5 



5. Wings well developed. Elasmonetta. 

 Wings short. Nesonetta. 



In April, 1903, the Akaroa Mai! published an interesting- 

 article dealing with some members of this order on Banks 

 Peninsula. "Our native water fowl, unlike those of Britain," 

 the Mail said, "are not migratory, but live with us all the year 

 round. The grey and paradise ducks, spoonbill duclvs, and black 

 and brown teal, all used to go inland to breed. The young were 

 reared in the creeks, running in every part of the Peninsula, and, 

 in the autumn, when they grew strong enough on the wing, the 

 parents led them to Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth, and other 

 lagoons and marshes bordering on the sea, for it is in these salt 

 marshes that these birds get the food they love, and grow to that 

 plump perfection which renders them so delicious. When the 

 bush covered the Peninsula, the creeks were well sheltered and 

 little disturbed. In those days vast numbers of the birds were 



