SYSTEMATIC ANNANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xix 



8s Mareca (Widgeon). Bill shorter than bead, higher than broad at 

 base, depressed and narrowed towards point ; tail short, pointed ; 

 tibia bare for short distance ; hind toe with very narrow lobe 



Page 1 92 



SUB-FAMILY FULIGUUNM 

 Hind toe with lobated membrane ; tarsi compressed. 



86. FuLiGULA (Pochard, Tufted Duck, Scaup). Bill not longer than 



head, slightly elevated at base, broader towards tip ; edges of upper 

 mandible enclosing edges of lower ; nostrils near base. Page '93 



87. Clangula (Goldeneye). Bill much shorter than head, depressed to- 



wards nail, which is elliptical and decurved at tip ; lamellae hidden ; 

 nostrils near middle of bill. Page 195 



88. Harelda (Long-tailed Duck). Bill'much shorter than head, taper- 



ing rapidly to broad, decurved nail at tip. Lamellae slightly ex- 

 exposed ; nostrils sub-basal. Feathering at base of bill forming 

 oblique line, advancing furthest forward on forehead. Wings 

 rather short, pointed ; scapulars elongate and lanceolate in adult 

 male ; tail short, graduated except for two central feathers, which 

 are long and tapering in adult male. Page 196 



89. SoMATERiA (Eider Duck). BiU swollen and elevated at base, extend- 



ing up the forehead, there divided by angular projection of feathers ; 

 nostrils medial. Page 197 



90. CEdemia (Scoters). Bill short, broad, with an elevated knob at the 



base, the tip much flattened ; nail large, flat, obtuse, slightly de- 

 flected , lamellas coarse, widely set ; nostrils oval, medial ; tail short, 

 graduated, acute. Page 199 



SUB-FAMILY MERGANINM 



91. Mergus (Smew, Merganser, Goosander). BiU straight, slender, nar- 



row, approaching to cylindrical ; upper mandible hooked ; edges 

 of both mandibles armed with sharp teeth directed backwards ; legs 

 short, placed far backward. Page 201 



ORDER COLUMB^ 

 (Pigeons and Doves) 



Bill swoUen at tip, convex ; the upper mandible covered at the base with a 

 soft membrane in which lie the nostrils, with a valve over them ; tarsi covered 

 fore and rear with hexagonal scales. 



The birds of this order have considerable powers of flight, and perch freely 

 on trees or rocks. Their food consists principally of grain, seeds, and the 

 leaves of herbaceous plants. The young are fed on a milky fluid secreted 

 in the crop of the old birds. 



FAMILY COLUMBID^ 



Tail with twelve feathers ; hind toe with the skin prominently expanded 

 on the sides. 



92. CoLUMBA (Wood-pigeon, Stock-dove, Rock-dove). Bill moderate, 



straight at base, compressed, point deflected ; tail nearly even ; 

 first primary much larger than sixth. Page 203 



93. TuRTUR (Turtle-dove). Bill rather slender, tip of upper mandible 



gently deflected, that of lower scarcely exhibiting the appearance 

 of an angle; tail rather long, graduated. Page 2og 



