ANATID, DUCKS.—GEN. 252. 285 
a large white wing-patch; bill and legs reddish. Size of the last. South 
and Central America and Mexico, to Texas (Scholt). Lawr., Ann. Lye. 
em Soames eseClO. a 6 6: ee ve owe  LAUTUMINAETS: 
Subfamily ANATINA. River Ducks. 
Tarsi scutellate in front; hind toe simple. This expression separates the present 
group from all the North American examples of the foregoing and succeeding sub- 
families, although not a perfect diagnosis. The neck and legs are shorter than 
they average in geese, while the feet are smaller than in the sea-ducks, the toes and 
their webs not being so highly developed. None of the Anatine are extensively 
maritime, like most of the Muliquline ; yet they are not by any means confined to 
fresh waters, and some species constantly associate with the sea-ducks. They feed 
extensively, like most geese, upon succulent aquatic herbage, but also upon various 
animal substances; their flesh is, almost without exception, excellent. They do 
not dive for their food. The moult is double; the sexes are almost invariably 
markedly distinct in color; the young resemble the 9 ; the wing has usually a 
brilliant speculum, which, like the other wing-markings, is the same in both sexes. 
Unlike geese, these and other ducks are not doubly monogamous, but simply so if 
not polygamous ; the male pays no attention to the young. Excluding the shield- 
rake group, already mentioned as pertaining rather to the geese than the ducks, 
there are about fifty species, generally distributed over the world. They are split 
into a large number of modern genera, most of which indicate little more than 
specific characters; the majority are represented in this country. Of those here 
following, only two, Spatula and Aix, represent any decided structural peculiarity ; 
the rest might all be referred to Anas, type of the group. The Mulacorhynchus 
membranaceus, of Australia, is a notable exotic form. 
252. Genus ANAS Linneus. 
Mallard. % with the head and upper neck glossy green, succeeded by a 
white ring; breast purplish-chestnut; tail feathers mostly whitish ; greater 
wing coverts tipped with black and white, the speculum violet, black- 
bordered ; bill greenish-yellow; feet orange-red; @ with the wing as in the 
3; head, neck and under parts pale ochrey, speckled and streaked with 
dusky. Length about 24; wing 10-12. N. Am., abundant; rare or casual 
in New England and further eastward. Wu1s., viii, 112, pl. 70, i (he i haptatye 
Hipsios AuD.. vi, 206, pl. doo; BD. (74. . . . « « ~ = BOSCHAS: 
Oss. This is the well-known original of the common tame duck. An anoma- 
lous duck, with the general aspect of this species, but nearly as large as a goose, 
is occasionally taken on the Atlantic coast. It is unquestionably part mallard, but 
the balance of its parentage is unknown—supposed to be muscovy. (A. maxima 
Gossr, Birds of Jamaica, 399; Fuligula viola Beit, Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1852, 219%) 
A. glocitans or A. breweri of Aup., vi, 252, pl. 387 (A. audubonii of Bonar.) is 
supposed to be a hybrid between the mallard and gadwall. The mallard is known 
to cross with various other species. Upwards of fifty kinds of hybrid ducks are 
recorded; some of them have proved fertile, contrary to an assumed rule. 
Dusky Duck. Black Duck. Size of the mallard, and resembling the ¢ 
of that species, but darker and without decided white anywhere except under 
