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Genus DAFILA. 



Anas apud Linneeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 202 (1766). 

 Dafila, Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xii. p. 127 (1824). 

 Trachelonetta apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 115 (1829). 

 Phasicmurus apud Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1235. 

 Querqueclula apud Selby, Brit. Orn. ii. p. 311 (1833). 



This genus is represented in the Palsearctic, the northern portion of the Ethiopian, the Oriental, 

 Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, only one species inhabiting the Western Palsearctic Region. 

 In many respects they are so closely allied to the Teal that they have by some authors been 

 included in the same genus. They differ chiefly in having a much longer and more slender 

 neck and a longer tail, the central rectrices being much elongated. They are freshwater Ducks, 

 resembling the other freshwater species in general habits ; but they are more often found on 

 large sheets of water. They swim with ease, and are graceful in their carriage ; but they do not 

 walk well on land. Their note is softer than that of the Mallard; and they are not noisy 

 birds. They place their nest on the ground, under a bush, or amongst the grass, constructing it 

 of a few grass-straws and down, and deposit numerous pale greenish-grey rather elongated eggs. 



Dafila acuta, the type of the genus, has the bill about as long as the head, higher than 

 broad at the base, gradually depressed toward the end, where it is rather wider than at the 

 base ; unguis small, broadly oblong, decurved ; lamellae continued to the edge of the bill ; 

 nostrils placed near the base of the culmen, large, oval ; trachea with the tube equal, slightly 

 contracted towards the inferior larynx, which has a medium-sized bulb on one side ; wings long, 

 pointed, the first quill longest, the inner secondaries and scapulars elongated and pointed ; tail 

 long, the central rectrices much elongated ; legs moderate, the tibia bare for a short distance ; 

 tarsus anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe moderate, with a very narrow membrane ; anterior toes 

 moderate, joined by a membrane, which is slightly emarginate; claws moderate, slender, rather 

 acute, slightly arched. 



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