AXATIN.K. 
lateral,  and  placed  near  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  nearly  as 
long  as  the  second,  which  is  the  longest.  Tail  moderate,  and  moderately  rounded.  Tarsi  rather  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  long,  united  by  a  full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  moderate,  slightly  elevated,  and 
lobed. 
Of  the  two  species,  one  is  peculiar  to  the  American  continent  and  the  West  Indies,  the  other  to  China.  The 
American  species  is  rarely  found  on  the  sea  shore  or  in  salt  marshes,  its  favourite  haunts  being  the  solitary  deep,  and 
muddy  creeks,  ponds,  and  mill  dams  of  the  interior.  Those  of  the  northern  parts  of  that  vast  continent  migrate  to 
the  more  temperate  districts  until  the  approach  of  summer,  when  they  again  return  to  their  old  haunts.  Their  food 
consists  principally  of  acorns,  seeds  of  the  wild  oats,  and  insects.  Sometimes  the  eggs  are  placed  on  a  few  sticks  laid  in 
a  fork  of  the  branches,  usually,  however,  in  the  inside  of  a  hollow  tree,  on  the  soft  decayed  wood,  to  the  number  of 
thirteen.  Wilson  further  states  that  the  female  carries  the  young,  one  by  one,  in  her  bill,  by  the  wing  or  back  of  the 
neck,  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  whence  she  afterwards  leads  them  to  the  water. 
1.  A.  sponsa  (Linn.)  Boie,    PI.  enl.  980,  981.,  Wils.  Amer.  j      2.  A.  galericulata  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  805,  806. 
Ornith.  pi.  70.  f.  3.,  Voy.  I'lle  <le  Cuba,  Ois.  t.  30.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  206. 
Mareca  Steph.* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  of  equal  breadth,  but  depressed,  and  much 
rounded  at  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  strong  and  broad  nail ;  the  lamella?  of  the  upper  mandible 
prominent,  especially  in  the  middle  of  the  lateral  margins,  slender,  and  rather  Avidely  set  ;  the  nostrils 
situated  near  the  base  and  culmen,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  and 
second  quills  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  wedge-shaped.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes 
united  by  a  full  web  ;  and  the  hind  toe  moderate  and  lobed. 
They  inhabit  various  parts  of  the  world,  performing  periodical  migrations  in  vast  flocks  during  the  night,  from  the 
northern  latitudes  to  the  more  temperate  countries,  and  vice  versa.  They  seek  the  margins  of  lakes  and  mouths  of 
rivers,  as  well  as  the  sea  shores,  wherever  their  peculiar  vegetable  food  is  to  be  found.  The  species  of  America,  says 
Wilson,  are  seen  in  great  flocks,  taking  short  flights  from  one  rice  field  to  another  during  the  rainy  season.  They  are 
extremely  fond  of  the  tender  roots  of  that  peculiar  species  of  aquatic  plants  on  which  the  canvass-back  feeds,  and  for 
which  that  bird  is  in  the  constant  habit  of  diving.  The  widgeon,  who  never  dives,  watches  the  moment  of  the  canvass- 
back's  rising,  and,  before  he  has  his  eyes  well  opened,  snatches  the  delicious  morsel  from  his  mouth,  and  makes  off!  It 
is  in  the  northern  regions  that  the  female  lays  her  eggs,  which  arc  usually  six  or  eight  in  number. 
1.  M.  Penelope  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  825.,  Gould's  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  366. 
—  Anas  fistularis  Briss.  ;  Mareca  fistularis  Steph. ;  Anas  melanura 
Gmel.  ?  ;  A.  Kogolka  Gmel. 
2.  M.  americana  (Gmel.)  Steph.  PI.  enl.  955.,  Wils.  Amer. 
Ornith.  pi.  6().  f.  1.  — Anas  Wigeon  Bonn.  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.pl. 
345. 
3.  M.  chiloensis  (King),  Eyton's  Anat.  pi.  p.  117- 
4.  M.  castanea  Eyton,  Anat.  pi.  p.  1 19- 
5.  M.  gibberifrons  Mull.  &  Schl.  Verh.  Nat.  Gesch.  Nederl.  p. 
159- 
6.  M.  capensis  (Gmel.)  Steph. 
7  M.  brasiliensis  (Gmel.)  Steph. 
*  Mr.  Stephens  established  this  genus  (Gen.  Zool.  xii.  p.  130.)  as  far  back  as  1824 ;  yet,  in  1829,  M.  Kaup  proposed  for  it  the  name  of 
Penelope. 
