AXATLVE. 
These  shy  birds  are  inhabitants  of  most  parts  of  the  world,  migrating  to  the  temperate  portions  on  the  approach  of 
winter.  They  are  usually  seen  on  the  muddy  shores  of  lakes  and  rivers,  as  well  as  on  the  marshes,  where  they  sift  the 
watery  mud  through  the  slender  and  prominent  lamellas  of  their  curious  broad  bills,  searching  for  minute  insects, 
worms,  and  small  seeds,  which  constitute  their  principal  food.  The  nest  is  formed  in  tufts  of  coarse  herbage,  wherein 
they  deposit  from  ten  to  twelve  eggs. 
1.  S.  clypeata  (Linn.)  PL  enl.  971,  972.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.pl. 
57,  f.  7.  —  Anas  rubens  Gmel. ;  A.  mexicana  Lath.  ;  A.  platalea 
Vieill.  Azara  No.  431. 
2.  S.  rhynchotis  (Lath.)  Lamb.  Icon.  ined.  i.  78.  —  Rhynchaspis 
maculatus  Gould,  Jard.  &  Selby's  Ill.Orn.pl.  147- 
3.  S.  capensis  (A.  Smith),  Eyton's  Anat.  p.  13/5.,  111.  S.  Afr. 
Zool.  Birds,  pi.  98. 
Malacorh ynchus  Swains.* 
Bill  much  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  compressed  at  the  base,  depressed  and  slightly  enlarging 
towards  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  small  and  hooked  nail  ;  the  sides  furnished  with  a  loose, 
membranous,  angular  skin  ;  the  lamellae  of  the  upper  mandible  very  long  and  slender,  especially  near 
the  middle  of  the  margin ;  the  nostrils  near  the  base  and  culmen,  small,  and  rounded.  The  other 
characters  like  those  of  Spatula. 
The  type  of  this  division  is  peculiar  to  Australia. 
M.  membra nareus  (Lath.)  Swains.  Shaw's  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  6'97. —  Anas  fasciata  Sltaw. 
Cairina  Flem.f 
Bill  lengthened,  straight,  higher  at  the  base  than  broad,  and  of  equal  width  throughout,  with  a 
rounded  tubercle  placed  on  the  base  of  the  culmen,  which  is  nearly  straight  to  the  tip,  and  there 
furnished  with  a  strong  nail ;  the  lamellae  of  the  upper  mandible  broad  and  widely  set ;  the  nostrils 
placed  near  the  base  and  culmen,  large,  and  oval.  Wings  moderate,  with  the  third  and  fourth  quills 
the  longest.  Tail  long,  broad,  and  rounded.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  united  by  a 
full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  short  and  lobed.    The  sides  of  the  head  naked  and  carunculated. 
It  is  found  in  the  warmer  parts  of  South  America,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  either  in  vast  flocks 
or  in  pairs,  generally  on  the  rivers  and  lakes.  They  are  constantly  seen  resting  on  the  high  trees  during  the  heat  of  the 
day,  and  they  also  seek  such  places  at  night.  The  nest  is  formed  in  hollow  trees,  of  feathers  picked  off  their  own 
breasts.    The  female  deposits  from  ten  to  fourteen  eggs. 
C.  moschata  (Linn.)  Flem.  Pi.  enl.  989.  —  Cairina  sylvestris  Steph.  ;  Anas  Meriana  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.pl.  69. 
*  The  above  name  was  established  by  Mr.  Swainson  in  1831  (Journ.  Roy.  Inst.  p.  18.),  and  by  Wagler  in  1832. 
t  This  genus  was  established  by  Dr.  Fleming  (Phil.  Zool.  p.  260.)  in  1822.  M.  Lesson,  in  1828,  proposed  Moschatus;  and,  in  1834,  Mr. 
Nuttall  added  Gymnathus.    These  are  all  founded  on  the  same  species. 
March,  1845. 
