ANATID^, DUCKS. GEN. 252. 285 



a large white wing-patch ; bill and legs reddish. Size of the last. South 

 and Central America and Mexico, to Texas (Schoit). Lawr., Ann. Lyci 

 N. Y. 1851, 117; Bd., 770 autumnajlis. 



Subfamily ANATIN^. River Ducks. 



Tarsi scutellate in front; hind toe simple. This expression separates the present 

 group from all the North American examples of the foregoing and succeeding sub- 

 families, although, not a perfect diagnosis. The neck and legs are shorter than 

 they average in geese, while the feet are smaller than in the sea-ducks, the toes and 

 their webs not being so highly developed. None of the Anatiiue are extensively 

 maritime, like most of the FuUgulinoi ; yet they are not by any means confined to 

 fresh waters, and some species constantly associate with the sea-ducks. They feed 

 extensively, lilie most geese, xipon succulent aquatic herbage, but also upon various 

 animal substances j their flesh is, almost without exception, excellent. They do 

 not dive for their food. The moult is double ; the sexes are almost invariably 

 markedly distinct in color ; tlie young resemble the ■$ ; the wing has usually a 

 brilliant speculum, wliich, like the other wing-markings, is the same in both sexes. 

 Unlike geese, these and other ducks are not doubly monogamous, but simply so if 

 not polygamous ; the male pays no attention to the j'oung. Excluding the shield- 

 rake group, already mentioned as pertaining rather to the geese than the ducks, 

 there are about fifty species, generally distributed over the world. They are split 

 into a large number of modern genera, most of which indicate little more than 

 specific characters ; the majority are represented in this country. Of those here 

 following, only two. Spatula and Aix, represent any decided structural peculiarity ; 

 the rest might all be referred to Anas, tj'pe of the group. The Malacorhynchus 

 membranaceus, of Australia, is a notable exotic form. 



252. Genus ANAS Linnaeus. 



A^gK ' Mallard. $ with the head and upper neck glossy green, succeeded by a 

 white ring ; breast purplish-chestnut ; tail feathers mostly whitish ; greater 

 wing coverts tipped with black and white, the speculum violet, black- 

 bordered ; bill greenish-yellow ; feet orange-red ; $ with the wing as in the 

 (J ; head, neck and under parts pale ochrey, speckled and streaked with 

 dusky. Length about 24; wing 10-12. N. Am., abundant; rare or casual 

 in New England and further eastward. Wils., viii, 112, pi. 70, f. 7 ; Nutt., 



ii, 378; AuD., vi, 236, pi. 385; Bd., 774 boschas. 



Obs. This is the well-known original of the common tame duck. An anoma- 

 lous duclv, with the general aspect of this species, but nearl}^ as large as a goose, 

 is occasionally taken on the Atlantic coast. It is unquestionably part mallard, but 

 the balance of its parentage is unknown — supposed to be muscovy. {A. maxima, 

 GossE, Birds of Jamaica, 399 ; Fuligula viola Bell, Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1852, 219.) 

 A. glocitans or A. breioeri of Aud., vi, 252, pi. 387 {A. audubonii of Bonap.) is 

 supposed to be a hybrid between the mallard and gadwall. The mallard is known 

 to cross with various other species. Upwards of fifty kinds of hybrid ducks are 

 recorded ; some of them have proved fertile, contrary to an assumed rule. 



IL^i^j Dusky Duck. Black Duck. Size of the mallard, and resembling the ? 

 of that species, but darker and without decided white anywhere except under 



