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CHAPTER II. 



DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



Willoughby distributes the Palmipedes into such as have the back 

 toe, and those in which it is absent ; the former, again, into such 

 as have the four toes webbed together, and such as have the back 

 toe separated from the others. These latter he again subdivides 

 into narrow-billed and broad-billed ; the former having their bills 

 either hooked at the end or straight and sharp-pointed. The hook- 

 billed have them either even or toothed on the sides. The broad- 

 billed are divided into Ducks and Geese. The Ducks are either sea 

 or pond Ducks. " The Ducks," he adds, " have shorter necks and 

 larger feet, in proportion to their bodies, than Geese. They have 

 shorter legs than Geese, and situated more backward, so that they go 

 waddling ; a broader and flatter back, and so a more compressed 

 body ; and, lastly, a broader and flatter bill. Their tongue is pec- 

 tinated, or toothed, on each side, which is common with them and 

 the Geese. ' ; 



" The Ducks are of two sorts, either wild or tame. The wild, 

 again, are of two sorts : — i. Sea Ducks, which feed mostly in salt 

 waters, dive much in feeding, have a broader bill (especially the 

 upper one), and bend forward to work on the stem; a large hind 

 toe, and then, likely for a rudder, a long train, not sharp-pointed. 

 2. Pond Ducks, which haunt plashes, have a straight and narrower 

 bill, a very little hind toe, a sharp-pointed train, a white belly, speckled 

 feathers, black, with glittering green on the middle wing, with a white 

 transverse ring on either side." 



According to Mr. Yarrell, the first division of Ducks comprises 

 the Wild Duck, Shieldrake, Muscovy Duck, Gadwall, Shoveller, 

 Pintail, Widgeon, Bimaculated Duck, Garganey, and Teals, all of 

 which exhibit length of neck, wings reaching to the end of the tail, 

 tarsi somewhat round, hind toe free or without pendent lobe. They 

 generally frequent fresh water, but pass much of their time on land, 

 feeding on aquatic plants, insects, worms, and sometimes fish. The 



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