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Genus MARECA. 



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



Mareca, Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xii. pt. ii. p. 130 (1824). 



Penelops apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 31 (1829). 



This genus, which contains only four species, is represented in the Palsearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, 

 Australian, Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, only one species being found in the Western 

 Palsearctic Region. A second species, Mareca americana (Gmel.), has been included in the 

 British list ; but as foreign Waterfowl are so frequently kept on ornamental water, it appears 

 to me that the specimens obtained were probably escaped birds, and I have therefore not 

 deemed it advisable to include it. This species may be recognized by its greyish head and neck, 

 the former being spotted, and the latter banded with black, the top of the head, however, being 

 nearly white ; it has also a broad patch of green around and behind the eye. 



The Wigeons frequent both fresh and salt water, but are more marine in their habits than 

 most of their allies, and usually affect the mouths of rivers and streams when they resort to the 

 sea-coasts. In their choice of habitat they resemble the Teal more than any of the other fresh- 

 water Ducks. Their flight is swift and strong ; and when on the wing they frequently utter a 

 whistling sound. They feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and more especially on various 

 vegetable substances. They do not dive in search of food, but reach down below the surface 

 like the Mallard, and usually feed in shallow water where they can reach to the bottom. They 

 nest on the ground, either close to or at some little distance from water, their nest being a mere 

 depression in the ground well cushioned with down intermixed with moss and grass-straws ; and 

 they deposit numerous creamy white eggs. 



Mareca penelqpe, the type of the genus, has the beak considerably shorter than the head, 

 higher than broad at the base, depressed, and slightly narrowed towards the tip ; unguis large, 

 ovate, decurved at the tip; gape-line nearly straight, the ends of the lamellae jnst visible; 

 nostrils elliptical, placed in the anterior part of the nasal depression ; trachea nearly uniform, 

 the lower larynx slightly dilated, and bulged out into a rounded sac on the left side ; bronchi 

 moderate ; wings rather long, pointed, the first and second quills longest ; tail short, tapering ; 

 legs short, the tibia bare for a short distance ; tarsus anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe small, with 

 a narrow lobe, anterior toes moderate ; outer interdigital membrane slightly emarginate ; claws 

 small, curved, compressed, acute. 



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