WATER FOWL OF INDIA AND ASIA. 41 
longer than the middle, and the hind toe with a deep 
lobe or flap, so as to be leaf-like in outline, as in the 
Mergansers. 
All the others have the outer toe markedly shorter 
than the middle, and the hind toe with a narrow lobe 
or none at all. 
The goose-like, or walking and perching Ducks have 
either a short bill or long shanks, or both, the bill being 
about the length of the shank ; other Ducks have it 
noticeably longer than the shank. 
All of the rest, the ordinary surface-feeding Ducks, 
have rather short shanks and moderate-sized feet, with 
the outer toe shorter than the middle, and the bill longer 
than the shank. Most of the species belong to the 
sub-division of the sub-family. 
To take the diving Ducks first : in addition to the 
peculiarity in the formation of their feet, which is 
manifestly designed to increase the effect of the outward 
and backward stroke in diving, they are noticeable for 
their squat form and short necks, wings, legs and tails; 
the shank 1s much shorter than the middle toe, and the 
wings are pointed, and bear a white bar or none at all. 
They are fine divers, and get their food largely by 
plunging for it ; they do not come ashore much, and walk 
clumsily, the feet being set far astern. They usually 
show less difference between the sexes than most sur- 
face-feeders do; the bulb in the male’s windpipe is 
partly of bone and partly of membrane. They are 
often poor eating. They number eight species, divided 
into four genera, which are very easily distinguished as 
follows :— 
The Golden-eye is marked off at once by its forwardly 
placed nostrils, these being actually nearer to the tip of 
the bill than to the root. 
The Sttff-tail by its peculiar wiry tail-feathers, scanty 
tail-coverts, and very short wings, the primaries not 
