SUBFAMILY PLECTROPTERIN^. 273 



of these Geese is apparently much more to be relied upon than is 

 the presence or absence of the white ring around the neck, and as 

 this Puckaway example is unquestionably 3. c. hutckinsi, from 

 the coloring of the under parts, it is therefore evident that, 

 occasionally, at all events, this subspecies assumes the white 

 ring, as it does not seem at all necessary that the question of 

 hybridism in this case should be considered, although it is true 

 the bird was associating, at the time it was killed, not with its 

 own fellows, but with a flock of Canada Geese. The white 

 collar, however, would appear to be a rather doubtful 

 character. 



SUBFAMILY PLECTRO PTERINS. 



This subfamily comprises what I may call the Geese- 

 like Ducks, with moderately short necks, rather long 

 hind toe, not lobed, long tail, the feathers broad and 

 rounded and with long upper coverts, and some like 

 those in the following genus having short narrow bills 

 high at base, tapering to the tip. It includes several 

 genera but not all of them particularly related, some 

 of the species having a rather brilliant plumage, with 

 considerable metallic coloring. They are scattered all 

 over the world ; only one, however, being found in North 

 America. 



GENUS yEX 



(Greek oij, a.x, a. water bird). 



Aix, Boie (misspelling for .^x). Isis, 1828, p. 329. Type Anas 

 galericitlata, Linn. 



Bill high at base, tapering toward tip, shorter than head or 

 tarsus. Basal portion of maxilla forming a sharp angle between 

 feathers of lores and forehead. Lamellse small^and few. Nos- 

 trils large, oval. Head crested. Tail feathers very broad and 

 rounded at tip; rectrices sixteen, upper coverts very long. 

 Tarsus shorter than middle toe. 



Two species only are contained in this genus, the most beauti- 

 ful of the Family, one of which, the Wood Duck, is a native of 



