The True Ducks. 171 



nearly so; otherwise the duck differs 

 considerably from the drake, The latter 

 has the scapulars and inner secondaries 

 lengthened and pointed. 



THE WILD DUCKS (Anas). The bill 

 is of equal width throughout. The sexes 

 differ greatly, except in respect to the 

 wing and speculum. The male has the 

 four middle tail-feathers curled up. The 

 scapulars and inner secondaries are not 

 much developed. 



The True Ducks get their food at or 

 near the surface of water ; they do not 

 dive, except when wounded or pursued. 

 When searching for food in shallow water, 

 they immerse the head, neck, and front 

 half of the body, showing only the hinder 

 part of the body above the surface of 

 the water, in a vertical position. 



The wing of the True Ducks is long 

 and pointed. They fly with great speed, 

 and they are able to launch themselves 

 into the air at once from the land or 

 from the surface of the water without 

 running or splashing. 



