204 ANATIDiE. 



Subfam. ANATIFM 



This subfamily comprises most of the Ducks, including the Tree-Ducks {Dendro- 

 cycna), the Sheld-Ducks {Tadorna and Casarca), the typical Ducks [Anas), and several 

 other well-known forms, such as the Wigeon [Mareca), the Teal (Nettium), &c. All 

 these birds have the hind toe very narrowly lobed, and usually show a metallic speculum 

 on the wiugs, according to Count Salvadori, who also states that the males have a bulla 

 ossea on the larynx. 



Nearly every genus belonging to this subfamily is represented within the Central- 

 American area, which is visited by numerous migrants from the high north after the 

 breeding-season. Few of the species appear to be resident. 



DENDEOCYCNA. 



Dendrocygna, Swains. Class. Birds, ii. p. 365 (1837). 



Dendrocycna, Scl. P. Z. S. 1880, p. 508 (nomen emend.) ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. ilus. xxvii. 

 p. 144 (1896) J Gates, Man. Game-Birds Brit. Ind. ii. p. 110 (1899). 



The Whistling-Ducks {Bendrocycna) differ from all other genera of the Anatinas 

 in having the tarsus rather elongated, and its lower portion covered in front with small 

 reticulate scales in place of the row of transverse scutellae. The general tint of the 

 plumage is rufous, and the primary-quills, axillaries, and under wing-coverts are 

 black. 



The sexes are similar in plumage and do not differ much in size. The only moult 

 takes place in autumn. Of the nine known species of the genus, live occur in America, 

 but only two are found within our limits. 



1. Dendrocycna ftdva. 



Anasfulva, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 530 ' ; Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 532 ^ 



Dendrocygna fulva, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 313'; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, 



p. 372*; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 187', 329' ; A. O. U. Check-1. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd 



ed. p. 64 \ 

 Dendrocycna fulva, Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 484 ^ ; Salvad. Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 149 ". 



Supra brunnescenti-nigra, plamis dorsalibus et scapulaiibus cinnamomeo late marginatis ; tectricibus alarum 

 minoribuB castaneis ; remigibus, cum axillaribus et subalaribus, nigris ; supracaudalibas albicanti-fulvis • 

 pileo rufescenti-brunneo ; capite et coDo reliquo rufesoenti-cinnamomeis ; corpora reliquo subtas pallide 

 castaneo, hypochondriis longioribus fascia longitudinaU flavescenti-alba, fusco marginata, ornatis • fascia 

 nigra ab ocdpite per collum posticum producta ; coUo medio albo, fusco striolato ; subcaudalibus albescenti- 

 fulvis : rostro et pedibua saturate plumbeis ; iride brunnea. Long, tota circa iOO, alse 9-0, caudse 2-3 

 culm. 1*95, tarsi '2-i. (Descr. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi, Texas. Mus. nostr.) 



5 mari similis. Long, tota circa 20-0, alee 8-1, culm. 1-65, tarsi 2-1. 



Juv. adultis similis, sed subtus paUidior, supracaudaUbus anguste bronueo marginatis; tectricibus alarum vix 

 castaneis. 



