ORDER ANSERES. 



FAMILY ANATID^. 

 Bill usually flat, broad, sometimes long and narrow, provided 

 with lamellae, or tooth-like projections on sides and with a nail at 

 the tip. Toes, four; the three anterior ones webbed, hind toe 

 normal or lobed. Tarsus, flattened. 



KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES. 

 {For North American Species.) 

 A. Bill not compressed; no tooth-like serrations. 



a. Hind toe not lobed. 



a'. Neck very long, sometimes as long 

 as the body. Size large. Skin cover- 

 ing bill extending to the eyes. 

 b' . Neck moderate. Bill strong, higher 

 at base than at side; cutting edges more 

 or less beveled, sometimes exposing the 

 prominent lamellae. 

 c' . Neck, short, 

 a". Tail feathers long, broad, rounded 



at tip. Upper coverts very long, 



nearly reaching end of tail. Bill 



rather narrow, high at base, tapering 



to a point. 

 b" . Tail feathers moderate, median 



pair sometimes elongated. Bill flat, 



frequently very broad. 



b. Hind toe broadly lobed. 

 a' . Tail feathers normal. 



THE SWAN. 



Cygnina. 



THE GEESE. 



AnserincE. 



WOOD DUCK. 



Plectropte- 



b' . Tail feathers narrow, stiff, pointed. 



B. Bill greatly compressed; serrations, tooth- ) 

 like. f 



263 



FRESH-WATER 

 DUCKS. 



Anatince. 



SEA-DUCKS. 



FuligulincB. 



SPINE-TAIL 

 DUCKS. 



Erismaturince . 



MERGANSERS. 



Mergince. 



