190 FULIGULIN.E. AYTHYA. 



rate ; the head rather large, oblong, compressed, and rounded 

 above. Bill as long as the head, higher than broad at the 

 base, becoming depressed toward the end, of nearly equal 

 breadth throughout ; upper mandible with the basal lateral 

 sinuses short and wide, the upper sinus rather narrow, the 

 frontal angles acute, the dorsal line declinate for half its 

 length, then direct to the unguis, which is small, oblong, 

 flattened, and decurved, the ridge broad and flat at the base, 

 .gradually narrowed, the sides gradually more spreading and 

 convex, the edges soft, margin ate, concealing the ends of the 

 numerous, little elevated lamellae ; lower mandible with the 

 intercrural space very long, rather narrow, the outer lamellae 

 small, the unguis obovate, rather small, and little convex. 

 Mouth rather narrow ; anterior palate broadly concave, with 

 a median prominent line, and slender, little elevated, late- 

 ral lamellae ; tongue fleshy, with a deep median groove, 

 papillate at the base, lamelloso-filamentous on the margins, 

 with the tip thin, and somewhat semicircular ; oesophagus 

 rather wide ; stomach a very muscular gizzard, of a trans- 

 versely elliptical form, with longitudinally rugous epithelium, 

 and thick, circular grinding plates ; intestine very long and 

 wide ; cceca of moderate length. Nostrils small. Eyes 

 small. Ears very small. Legs very short, placed rather 

 far behind ; tarsus compressed, with small anterior scutella ; 

 hind toe very slender, with a narrow lobiform membrane ; 

 outer toes about equal, and double the length of the tarsus ; 

 interdigital membranes emarginate ; claws small, slender, 

 little arched, rather pointed. Plumage dense, firm, glossy ; 

 feathers of the head and neck soft, blended, silky or vel- 

 vety ; wings short, convex, narrow, pointed, of twenty-six 

 quills, the first longest ; tail very small, much rounded, of 

 fourteen stiffish, tapering feathers. 



Brown, grey, white, and brownish-red, are the prevailing 

 colours of the plumage. This genus is one of those which 

 approach nearest to the Anatinae, and the species are by no 

 means exclusively marine. When fed on vegetable sub- 

 stances they aiford good eating, the flesh of one species, 

 Aythya valisneriana, being in America celebrated above that 

 of every other duck. Three species occur in Britain. 



