WHITE-HEADED DUCK. 123 



PALMIPEDES. 



Famili/ ANATID^. (Bonaparte.) 



Genus Fuliqula. {Stephens.) 



Generic Characters. — Beak of a form and length very variable, more or 

 less elevated at the base and depressed towards the point. Nostrils a short 

 distance from the base. Legs more behind the centre of gravity than in 

 the genus Aitas, and the tarsi more compressed; toes long, the two outer 

 ones being larger than the tarsus; hind toe with distinct depending mem- 

 brane. Wings rather short; tail more or less stiff. Trachea dilated and 

 ossified at its bifurcation. 



WHITE-HEADED DUCK. 



Fuligula mersa. 



FuUgula mersa, Degland; Ornith. Europ., 1849. 



Alias mersa, Pallas; Voy., 1776. Schlegel. 



" Iciicocephala, Scopoli, according to Gmelin, Syst., i' 



" " Latham. Temminck. 



Erismatura leucocepliala, Bonaparte; 1838. 



Undina mersa, Keyserling et Blasius; 1840. 



" leucocephala, Gould. 



Fultgule couronne. Canard 



couronne, or Canard Nympe, Of the French. 



Europdische Nymphenente, Of the Germans. 



Gohho rugi?iosa, Savi. 



Specific Characters. — Beak very thick; wings very short; tail very long, 

 conic, with the quills very stiff and pointed, forming a series of furrows; no 

 speculum. Length seventeen inches; carpus to tip six inches and a fifth; 

 tarsus one inch and a half; middle toe and claw three inches; beak from 

 forehead two inches; beak from rictus two inches; circumference at swollen 

 base of beak three inches and four fifths. 



