ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS. 487 



Mr. L. Belding infoniis us that this species arrives in the vicinity of Stockton, 

 Cal., from Ajiril 1 to May 9 ; his hitest fall record of its occurrence there being 

 Xoveniber 1, •' when two immature birtls or young of the year were noticed in the 

 market." 



Sub-family ANATINjE. — The Ducks. 



The AnatincE differ from the Anserina; in having the tarsus shorter than the middle toe, instead 

 of longer, and scutellate, instead of reticidate, in front. Most of tlie Ducks are of smaller size than 

 the Geese ; in many species the males are adorned with a very beautiful plumage, with a metallic 

 wing-speculum, the sexual difference in plumage lieing usually well marked. The North Ameri- 

 can genera may be defined as follows ' : — 



A. Hind toe without a membraneous lol)e (Anatece). 



t. Anas. Bill broad, about as long as the head, the edges parallel, the middle of the cuhnen 

 concave, the terminal part (behind the nail) convex ; lumelhe scarcely exposed ; scapu- 

 lars, tertials, and rectrices broad, not acuminate ; speculum brilliant. 



2. Chaulelasmus. Bill rather narrow, shorter than the head, the edges nearly parallel, cul- 



nien gently concave in the middle, straij^dit before and behind ; lamella; distinctly exposed ; 

 sca]iulars, etc., as in Anas; speculum dull-colored — black and white. 



3. Mareca. Bill as in Cliauldasmus, but lamella scarcely exposed ; scapulars, etc., lanceo- 



late, the middle rectrices slightly elongated ; speculum chiefly black ; a white patch on 

 the lesser wing-covert region. 



4. Dafila. Similar to Mareca, l)ut neck very long, bill longer than the head, narrow, the 



edges nearly parallel, the terminal two-thirds of the culmen quite straight and nearly 

 horizontal, the basal portion rapidly ascending. In the adult male, scapulars, etc., elongated 

 and lanceolate, and the middle rectrices projecting far beyond the rest. 



5. Nettion. Size very small (wing less than six inches) ; in form nmoh like Dafila, but 



neck much shorter, scapulars and middle rectrices broader and less elongated, bill shorter 

 than tlie bead, the laraellte completely concealed ; nape with a small mane-like tuft. 



6. Querquedula. Small, like Nettion, but bill loni;er (longer than the head), broader, less 



depressed, the culmen decidedly convex anteriorly ; lesser wing-coverts pale dull blue 

 (in North American species) ; nape without a tuft. 



7. Spatula. Bill nuich longer than the head, compressed at the base, very broad toward the 



' Some Soutli American genera of Ducks, wliicli for present purposes it is unnecessary to include in 

 the above synopsis, are the following : — 



1. Genus Heteronetta, Salvador!. 



ffeieronetla, S.\lvad. Attl de la Soc. Ital. d. Sci. Nat. VIII. I860, 574 [type, Anas melanocephala, 

 ViEiLL.).— ScL. & Salv. p. Z. S. 1876, 382. 



2. Genus Metopiana, Bonaparte. 



Metopiana, BoxAP. Compt. Kend. XLllI. 1S:.6, 146 (type. Alias pcposaca, Vieill.). — Sol. & Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1876, 398. 



3. Genus Cairixa, Fleming. 



Cairina, Fleming, Phil, of Zool. 182-2, 260 (type, Anas moschata, Lixx.). 

 Mosclmta, Less. Traite, I. 1831, 633 (same type). 

 GymiuithuSy'SviT. Man. II. 1834, 403 (same type). 



4. Genus T.ichyeres, Owen. 



" Microplerus," Less. Traite, 11. 1831, 630 (type. Anas cinerca, Gmel.). (Preoccupied in Ichthy- 

 ology.) 

 Tachyeres, Owen, Trans. Zool. Sue. IX. 1875, 254 (same type). 



5. Genus Meroaxetta, Gould. 



ihrcjanetta, Gould, P. Z. S. 1841, 95 (type, M. armala, Gould). 



BaphiptcriiS, Gav, Fauna Cliil. 1848, 459 (type, "11. chilensis, GxY," = Jr. armala, Gould). 



