A  N  All  N  V. 
Dafila  Leach.* 
Hill  longer  than,  or  a^  long  as,  tho  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  narrowed,  but  slightly  widening 
towards  the  tip,  which  is  depressed  and  armed  with  a  strong  nail  ;  the  lamella)  of  the  upper  mandible 
l»r«>ad.  widely  set,  and  not  projecting  below  the  lateral  margins;  the  nostrils  large  oval,  and  placed  near 
i he  i admen  at  the  base.  Wings  long,  with  the  first  two  quills  the  longest.  Tail  wedge-shaped,  with  the 
two  middle  feathers  much  lengthened.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  united  by  a  full  web, 
and  the  hind  toe  rather  long  and  lobed. 
Tlu'v  are  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  performing  periodical  migrations  to  the  more 
temperate  regions  for  the  winter.  The  shallow  fresh-water  marshes  arc  their  principal  places  of  resort,  as  well  as  fresh- 
watt  r  lakes  :  and  they  are  rarely  found  on  the  sea  shores.  They  seldom  dive,  hut  arc  very  noisy.  Their  nest  is  made 
of  herbage,  and  usually  found  in  marshes,  and  in  it  the  female  deposits  from  eight,  to  ten  eggs. 
1.  D.  acuta  (Linn.)  Pr.  Bonap.  PL  enl.  954.,  Wils.  Amer.  Otn. 
pi.  68.  f.  3. — Anas  caudacuta  Bag;  A.  longicauda  Briss. ;  A. 
Tsitzihoa  VieiU.  Gould's  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  36*5. 
2.  D.  bahameruit  (Linn.)  Catesby's  Carol,  i.  t.  93.,  By  ton's  Anat 
pi.  p.  112.,  Zool.  Beechey's  Voy.  pi.  14.  —  Anas  Ilathera  Bonn.; 
A.  Uropliasianus  Vigors ;  Phasianurus  Vigorsii  Wagl.  ;  Type  of 
Popcilonetta  Eyton  (1838). 
3.  I).  ?  cucullata  (Fisch.)  Mem.  l'Acad.  de  Mosc.  ix.  t.  10. 
Anas  Linn.f 
/////longer  than  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  nearly  of  equal  breadth  throughout;  the 
culmeri  nearly  straight,  and  depressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  strong  broad  nail ;  the  lamella) 
of  the  upper  mandible  hardly  visible  beyond  the  lateral  margin,  strong,  and  widely  set,  especially  near 
the  middle  ;  the  nostrils  placed  near  the  base  of  the  culmen,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  moderate  and 
pointed,  with  the  tertials  lengthened  and  acute,  and  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and 
wedge-shaped.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed.  Toes  united  by  a  full  web ;  and 
the  hind  toe  small  and  somewhat  lobed. 
Most  parts  of  the  ( )ld  and  New  Worlds  are  inhabited  by  these  birds,  which  migrate  from  the  colder  regions  where  they 
retire  to  breed  on  the  approach  of  summer,  to  the  more  temperate  parts  on  the  return  of  winter.  They  are  generally 
observed  on  the  margins  of  fresh-water  rivers  and  lakes,  while  others  only  frequent  the  seashores  or  salt  marshes.  All, 
however,  possess  great  power  of  flight,  and  are  capable  of  swimming  with  great  rapidity.  Their  food  consists  of  grains, 
worms,  slugs,  and  insects,  w  hich  they  seek  for  by  means  of  their  bills  from  among  the  herbage,  &c.  The  nest  is  usually 
placed  in  the  most  solitary  places  of  the  marshes  or  bogs,  amidst  coarse  grass,  reeds,  and  rushes,  and  instances  have 
been  remarked  of  their  occupying  the  nests  of  other  birds.    They  generally  deposit  from  twelve  to  sixteen  eggs. 
1.  A.  Boschas  Linn.  PI.  enl.  776,  777m  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  70.         3.  A.  specularis  King,  Jard.  &  Selby's  111.  Orn.  n.  s.  pi.  40. — 
f.  7-  —  Anas  fera  Briss.  ;  A.  domestica  Linn. ;  A.  adunca  Linn.  ;  ,  Anas  specularoi'des  King  ;  A.  chalcoptcra  Kittl.  Vogel  Chili,  t.  5. 
A.  curvirostra    Pull.  ;    A.  purpureo-viridis    Schinz  ;     A.  Breweri         4.  A.  superciliosa  Gmel.  —  Anas  leucophrys  Forst.  Desc.  Anim. 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  338.  p.  93.,  and  Icon.  ined.  77. 
2.  A.  pcecilorhyncha   Penn.  Ind.Z00l.pl.  13.,  Gray's  111.  Ind.         5.  A.  obscura  Gmel.  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  72.  f.  2. 
Zool.  pi.  67. 
*  Proposed  by  Leach  previously  to  1824,  when  it  was  adopted  by  Stephens  (Gen.  Zool.  xii.  p.  126.).  In  1829,  M.  Kaup  gave  the 
r.ame  of  Trachelonetta  ;  and  Waaler,  in  1832,  that  of  Phasianurus.     It  embraces  Paecilonctta  of  Mr.  Eyton  (1838). 
t  Established  by  Linnseus  (Systetna  Natural)  in  1735.     Mr.  Swainson,  in  1831,  used  the  name  of  Boschas  for  this  division. 
