7% BIRDS OF INDIA. 



part, a considerable dilatation of the oesophagus, and very long 

 coeca. The trachea is almost always inflated at its bifurcation 

 into cartilaginous labyrinths, of which the left is generally the 

 larger. 



They are divisible into two distinct groups or sub-families. 



1. Anatinae, True Ducks with the hind toe small and not 

 webbed. 



2. Fuligulince, Pochards or Sea Ducks, with the hind toe larger 

 and bordered with a distinct web. 



To these some add the Erismaturince, by others considered a 

 group of the Fidigulince . 



Sub-fam. Anatin^e. 



Hind toe not bordered by a membrane ; head of moderate size ; 

 neck long and more or less slender ; bill usually of even width 

 throughout, or wider at the tip, not raised at the base ; lamellaa 

 numerous, fine ; legs set a little more forward than in the next 

 group, and they can walk tolerably well. The wings of most are 

 long, and they fly rapidly. 



The first genus has the bill much dilated at the tip. 



Gen. Spatula, Boie. 



Syn. — Rhynchaspis, Leach — Clypeata, Lesson. 



Char. — Bill long, the upper mandible wide, flattened in front of 

 the nostrils and much dilated at the tip, or spatulate ; the nail 

 small ; lamellae very fine, like cilise, and projecting ; tail slightly 

 cuneate, of fourteen feathers ; tarsus short. Cosmopolite. 



In this genus, the lamelke are developed to their greatest 

 extent, and it is considered by some to be the type of the group. 



957. Spatula clypeata, Linn. 



Anas apud Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 1770— Jerdon, Cat. 382 — 

 Sykes, Cat. 217 — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 360 — Tidari, H. 

 of some— -Alipat in Sindh. 



The Shoveller. 



Descr. — Male, head and upper part of the neck deep brown, 

 with glossy green reflections ; back dark umber-brown : scapulars 



