FULIGULIN^. 207 



Subfamily FULICIULIN^. 



This subfamily is divided from those already written about by havino- 

 the hind toe broadly lobed, whereas the latter have the hind toe either 

 with no lobe at all or else with only a narrow one. Blanford does not 

 divide the Fuligulina? from the Anatina?, but the division seems to be a 

 natural one, the members of this subfamily difFerino- from those of others, 

 not only in construction, but considerably in habits as well. 



The separation of jErismation is by no means so distinct, and the genus 

 is not, in my opinion, worthy of separation from the Fuligulina^ and the 

 honour of a subfamily to itself. Having, however, consistently so far 

 followed Salvadori in his classification, it is better, perhaps, for the sake of 

 uniformity, not to differ from it here. 



Erisrnatura differs from those ducks included by Salvadori in his 

 subfamily Fuligulintu in certain external structural particulars, principally 

 in the swollen base to the upper mandible and in its remarkable tail, 

 the which, as Blanford remarks_, looks as if it might be that of a 

 Woodpecker. 



The Merginfe are separated from all other ducks by the shape of their 

 bill, which is long, narrow, and pointed, altogether most unduck-like in 

 its appearance. 



The Fuligulinte contain thirteen genera, of which four only are 

 represented in India ; but it is worthy of notice that whilst Netta is one of 

 the most common forms and Glangiila one of the most rare, Nyroca and 

 FiiUrpila contain some forms which are extremely connnon and others 

 again of the greatest rarity. 



Key to Genera. 



a. Primaries with the bases more or less white. 



a'. LaiwelliiB lout? and prominent Netta, p. 208. 



h' . Lamella) short, well apart, not very prominent. 



a". Bill very nearly the same width thi'oughout . . . Nyroca, p. 216. 



//'. Bill distinctly wider at the tip than at the base . . Fulujula, p. 233. 



h. Primaries without auy white or whitish ou the bases . . C'langula, p. 24(3. 



