266 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



twenty in some places (c/. F. M. Ogilvie, Zool, 1892, pp. 392-8). 

 Others recorded from time to time Dorset, Hants., Kent, Norfolk, 

 Essex, Caithness, and elsewhere, including Sule Skerry (Orkneys), 

 June, 1909, Elgin, July, 1913, Inverness-shire, July, 1914, Somerset- 

 shire, Nov., 1915. Some recorded examples no doubt escaped from 

 semi-captivity (e.g. Cheshire, 1913). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds south Russia and Balkan Penin- 

 sula, east through middle Asia to China and Japan. Has bred Algeria 

 and perhaps south Spain. Winters in India and south China to 

 Formosa, also in north Africa. Casual in Iceland, Greenland, 

 Scandinavia, Denmark. 



Genus ANAS L. 



Anas Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 122 (1758 — Type by subsequent, 

 determination A. boschas =platyrhyncha). 



Anas comprises all British surface -feeding Ducks with excep- 

 tion of Spatula. Almost every species has been generically separated, 

 on account of slight differences in structure of bill and of coloration. 

 Bill nearly straight, wide, height at base considerably less than 



Foot of the Mallard (Anas platyrhyncha) on left and the Common Pochard (Nyroca 

 ferina) on right, to show difference in hind toe of surface feeding and diving Ducks. 



length from end of feathering to nail ; both mandibles with distinct 

 but short lamellae ; nostrils oval, near base. Wings long and 

 pointed, 2nd and 3rd primaries longest. Sexes as a rule very 

 different, sometimes alike in plumage (American and Pacific 

 species, A. angustirostris, etc.). About 50 species in all parts of 

 Globe. 



Key to species of genus Anas. 



Wing-speculum purple -blue 

 Wing-speculum not purple -blue . 2 



Chestnut patch on middle wing-coverts . 

 No chestnut patch on median wing- 

 coverts ...... 3 



A. platyrhyncha, <$ $, p. 267 

 A. strepera, <$ ad., p. 272 



