A  N  A  l  l  \  1 .. 
The  speoies  inhabit  lCurope,  Asia,  and  America,  performing  the  usual  migrations  from  the  south  towards  their 
breeding-places  in  the  more  northern  parts,  on  the  approach  of  Bummer.  They  are  usually  seen  on  the  muddy  hanks 
of  the  fresh-water  rivers,  sifting  the  mud  with  their  hills  for  their  food,  which  consists  of  insects,  the  seeds  of  reeds  or 
other  water  plants  and  wild  oats.     They  fly  rapidly,  and,  when  they  alight,  drop  down  suddenly,  like  the  snipe  or 
woodcock,  among  the  reeds  or  on  the  mud.    Their  nests  are  formed  among  the  rank  herbage  on  the  sides  of  lakes  and 
pools. 
1.  P.  lirrin  (  Linn.)  I'l.  cnl.  pit).  —  Anas  Querquedula  Linn, ; 
A.  BaHcu]  Forth, 
2.  P.  macuUrottrit  (Licht.)  —  Anas  fretensis  Kin;;,  .lard.  & 
Belby'i  LlLOrn.  n.  s. pi.  29-  ;  A.  versicolor  Fteitt.  Azara  No.  440. 
8.  P.  discors  (Linn.)  PI.  enL  966.  403.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  68. 
f.  4.  — Querquedula  americana  ct  Q.  virginiana  Brits. 
4.  P.  cwruleata  (Licht.)  —  Anas  cyanoptcra  Vioill.  Azara 
No.  434. ;  A.  Raffleaii  King,  Zool.  Journ.  Suppl.  pi.  20.,  Jard.  & 
Selby's  111.  Orn.  n.  s.  pi.  23. 
5.  P.  Nova  Hitpaniee  (Gincl.) — Querquedula  mexicana  Bfitt. 
Chaplelasmus.* 
Bill  the  length  of  the  head,  of  nearly  equal  breadth  throughout,  as  high  as  broad  at  the  base  ;  the 
culmer  nearly  straight  and  depressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  narrow  hooked  nail ;  the  lamella? 
of  the  upper  mandible  very  prominent  near  the  middle,  slender,  and  widely  set;  the  nostrils  placed 
near  the  base  and  culmen,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  lengthened  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  nearly 
as  long  as  t he  second,  which  is  the  longest.  Tail  rather  short  and  wedge-shaped.  Tarsi  much  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe.    Toes  united  by  a  full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  very  small  and  slightly  lobed. 
This  form  is  distributed  in  various  parts  of  the  globe,  undertaking  the  usual  periodical  migrations  of  the  Anatince. 
They  frequent  the  lakes,  rivers,  and  marshes,  especially  those  overgrown  with  reeds  and  rushes,  rarely  resorting  to  the 
sea  coast.  Their  flight  is  performed  with  great  rapidity,  and  they  generally  conceal  themselves,  when  disturbed,  by 
diving,  at  which  they  arc  very  expert,  more  so  than  is  usual  with  the  birds  of  this  subfamily.  Seeds  of  aquatic 
plants  and  insects  compose  their  food,  which  they  seek  for  during  the  day.  The  nest  is  placed  in  the  most  retired  part 
of  the  marshes. 
1.  C.  strepera  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  958. —  Anas  platyrhynchos  Ray;  A.  Kekuscha  Gmel. ;  Chauliodus  capensis  Swains. 
Spatula  Boie.\ 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  narrowed  at  the  base ;  the  culmen  straight,  depressed,  and  the  side  much 
dilated  for  nearly  half  its  length  from  the  tip,  which  is  furnished  with  a  small  hooked  nail  ;  the  lamellae 
of  the  upper  mandible  very  slender  and  long,  especially  near  the  middle,  those  of  the  lower  mandible 
concealed  by  the  lateral  margins  of  the  upper,  but  also  very  slender  and  lengthened  ;  the  nostrils 
placed  near  the  base,  small,  and  oval.  Wi?iys  lengthened  and  pointed,  with  the  first  two  quills  of 
nearly  equal  length.  Tail  moderate  and  somewhat  pointed.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe. 
Toes  united  by  a  full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  short  and  slightly  lobed. 
*  The  original  name  of  this  genus  was  given  by  Mr.  Swainson  in  1831  {Journ.  Roy.  Inst.)  as  Chauliodus,  which,  having  been  previously 
used  in  Zoology,  was  changed  by  me  to  the  above  in  1838,  and  by  Mr.  Eyton  in  the  same  year  to  Ktinorhynchus. 
f  M.  Boie  proposed  this  division  in  1822  (Isis,  p.  564.),  and  in  1824  Mr.  Stephens  used  Rhynchaspis  (from  Leach's  MSS.);  while  in 
1831  M.  Brehm  gave  the  name  of  Clypeuta,  and  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Swainson  considered  this  division  as  the  Anas  proper. 
M  M 
