382 Synopsis of the Birds 



SUBGENUS I. RHYNCHASPIS. 



Rhynchaspis, Leach. Steph.* Spatula, Bote. Les Sou- 

 chets, Cuv. 



Bill long, without fleshy protuberance ; upper mandible 

 semi-cylindric, broad and sub-orbicular at the end, nail small, 

 much incurved ; lamelliform teeth very long, fine and slender. 

 Head wholly feathered. 



Female differing greatly from the male. 



Feed chiefly on small aquatic animals, which they obtain 

 by sifting the mud between their teeth. Bill very sensible, 

 as appears by the desiccation of the nervous apparatus. 



322. Anas ci.ypeata, L. Mirror green, margined above with 

 white, below black ; wing-coverts light bluish. 



Male brown ; head and neck green; belly chesnut. 



Female and young wholly brownish, varied with yellowish 

 and blackish. 



Shoveller, Anas clypeata, JVils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 65. pi- 67° 



Inhabits the north of both continents, extending its periodi- 

 cal migrations far to the south : not uncommon during winter 

 throughout the United States and Mexico. 



SUBGENUS J I. ANAS. 



Anas, Dajila, Marcca, Querquedula, Steph. 



Bill moderate, subequal in breadth throughout, without 

 fleshy protuberance ; teeth small, comparatively coarse. 

 Head wholly feathered. 



* Stephens, however, in his genus Rhynchaspis, includes species belong- 

 ing to our genus Fuligula, as well as to our Anas. According to his sys- 

 tem they even belong to different stirpes, and the common character being 

 one of analogy simply, he must form a new genus, for which names enough 

 may be found. Spatula might be applied to the present, Rhynchaspis to 

 the latter. 



