172 THE GREY OR SPOT-BILL DUCK. 
I may take this opportunity of noting that I have no hope 
even that the manner in which I have arranged our Indian 
Ducks in genera will be generally approved. Nor am I even 
prepared to assert that it is correct. The questions of the 
number of genera that should be accepted amongst the Azatine, 
and the manner in which the several species should be dis- 
tributed amongst these, are very difficult ones, in regard to 
which no two ornithologists are at all agreed. I have neither 
had the time, nor have I the materials, for such a study of the 
group as a whole as would enable me to form any indepen- 
dent opinion on which I could rely, and I have therefore been 
compelled to follow the views of others, accepting those that 
seemed to me most to accord with what I know of the limited 
number of species which occur within our limits. As it is, 
I have grave doubts as to whether I ought to have accepted 
the genus Chaulelasmus, and I am by no means sure that it 
would not have been best to retain streperus under the generic 
name Anas. I am inclined to suspect that Azas Jleucoptera 
should become the type of a separate genus, and I think it 
probable that /aligula nyroca should be generically separated 
from the rest of the Aulgulas. Still I have altered the 
arrangement over and over again without being able to satisfy 
myself ; and at last, faute de mieux, have fallen back on that 
which I originally adopted, and must crave the indulgence of all. 
who differ from or disapprove this, 
