ORDER PALMIPEDES. 6()7 



The Ducks, properly so called, Anas, Meyer. 



Have the bill less high than wide at its base, and as 

 large, or larger, at its extremity than toward the 

 head ; the nostrils are nearer its back and base. 

 Their legs, shorter, and more behind than in the 

 geese, render their walking less easy than in these 

 birds ; their neck is less elongated, their trachea 

 enlarges at its bifurcation into cartilaginous cap- 

 sules, of which the left side is generally the largest. 



The species proper to the first division are those 

 whose thumb is edged with a membrane, have the 

 head thicker, the neck shorter, the feet more behind, 

 the wings smaller, the tail stifFer, the tarsi more 

 compressed, the toes larger, and the palmations more 

 entire. They walk much worse, feed more exclu- 

 sively on fish and insects, and dive more frequently. 



This division forms the genera Platypus, Brehm. 

 (not Platypus, Shaw,) Hydrobates, Tem., not T^ieil. 

 nor Boie. and Fuligula, of Ray, and Ch. Bonap. 



Among these we may distinguish, by the size and 

 enlargement of the bill, 



Macreuse.* 



Scoter Duck. Anas Nigra. Lin. Enl. 972. Naum. 

 Sup. 14, f. 28 and 9- Brit. Zool. pi. 2, 6. Wil- 

 son Am. viij. 72. 



Entirely black ; greyish when young ; the bill very 



* This name comes probably by the bird being considered meagre food. 

 Mr. Fleming translates it OioEMrA. 



