*\ AV. 



^MV^ 



THE SUMMER DUCK. 



AyAs SPONSA. Linn. 



Although it is not always easy to determine the pre- 

 cise limits of the divisions that have been attempted by 

 various authors in the Linnean genus Anas, those of 

 its species which are commonly known by the name of 

 Ducks may for the most part be readily distinguished 

 from the Geese and Swans by several striking charac- 

 ters. Thus their bills are broader at the base than 

 deep, and of nearly equal breadth throughout, with the 

 upper mandible hooked at the tip ; their nostrils are 

 placed nearer to the base and more on the upper sur- 

 face ; their cheeks are entirely covered with feathers ; 

 their necks are only of moderate length ; their legs are 

 short and placed behind the centre of gravity ; and the 

 first and second quill-feathers of their wings are the 

 longest. The species thus characterized, amounting to 



