ANATIN^. RHYNCHASPIS. 171 



839. Querquedula caudaciita, Pintail Teal, MacGillivray, 

 Brit. Birds, v. 



GENUS CXXVIL RHYNCHASPIS. SHOVEL-BILL. 



In this genus, which differs little from Querquedula, un- 

 less in the expanded form of the bill toward the end, and the 

 remarkable elongation of the extremely attenuated lamellae, 

 the body is elongated, elliptical, slightly depressed, and 

 moderately full ; the neck rather long and slender ; the head 

 oblong, much compressed, little elevated above. Bill longer 

 than the head, much higher than broad at the base, gradually 

 depressed and widened toward the end, the breadth of which 

 is double that of the base ; upper mandible with the dorsal 

 line gently sloping and nearly straight to the unguis, which 

 is small, oblongo-obovate, decurved at the end, the ridge 

 broad and concave at the base, gradually narrowed, the sides 

 at the base erect, toward the end spreading and convex, the 

 edges sinuate, the very numerous, elongated, slender lamellae 

 projecting conspicuously from the base to near the broadest 

 part, beyond which they are incurved ; lower mandible less 

 dilated. Mouth rather narrow ; tongue fleshy, with margi- 

 nal slender lamellae and bristles, its breadth increasing to 

 the end, where it is abrupt, but with a semicircular flattened 

 tip ; oesophagus of moderate width ; proventriculus oblong ; 

 stomach a very muscular, roundish gizzard, .placed obliquely, 

 with longitudinally rugous epithelium, and thick grinding 

 plates ; intestine extremely long and slender ; cceea long, 

 rather narrow. Trachea slowly enlarging from the top ; 

 inferior larynx with a rounded bony expansion, compara- 

 tively small, on the left side ; bronchi large. Nostrils rather 

 small, elliptical. Eyes small. Aperture of ear very small. 

 Legs very short ; tarsus compressed, with small anterior 

 scutella ; hind toe very small, with a very narrow membrane ; 

 outer toe a little shorter than the third ; interdigital mem- 

 branes emarginate ; claws slender, compressed, acuminate, 

 moderately arcuate. Plumage dense, soft, glossy ; scapu- 

 lars elongated and acuminate ; wings of moderate length, 

 narrow, pointed, of twenty-five quills ; first and second quills 



