Order  VIII.  ANSERES. 
Family  J.  Anatid^e. 
The  sixth  Subfamily, 
FULIGULINjE,  or  Sea  Ducks, 
have  the  Bill  of  various  lengths,  elevated  at  the  base,  and  more  or  less  broad  and  depressed  towards  the 
tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  broad  strong  nail ;  the  Wings  moderate  and  pointed ;  the  Tail  generally 
short,  and  more  or  less  wedge-shaped ;  the  Tarsi  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed ; 
the  Toes  long  and  united  by  a  full  web,  the  outer  as  long  as  the  middle  toe,  the  hind  toe  short 
and  deeply  margined  with  a  broad  membranous  web. 
Branta  Boie.* 
Bill  as  long  as  the  head,  broader  at  the  base  than  high,  with  the  culmen  gradually  sloping  to  the 
depressed  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  broad  nail  ;  the  lamella?  of  the  upper  mandible  large  and  prominent ; 
and  the  nostrils  large,  oval,  and  placed  near  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the 
first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and  slightly  rounded.  7am  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and 
compressed.    Toes  lengthened,  and  united  by  a  full  web. 
The  species  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  north-eastern  portions  of  Europe,  and  of  Northern  Asia,  migrating  to  the  tem- 
perate parts  on  the  approach  of  winter.  It  is  frequently  seen  on  the  fresh-water  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  interior,  rarely 
visiting  the  sea  coast.    Its  food  consists  of  aquatic  plants,  seeds,  and  molluscous  animals. 
1.  B.  rufina  (Pall.)  Boie,  PI.  enl.  928.,  Pall.  Zoogr.  t.  79'  —  Callichen  ruficeps  Brehm  ;  Anas  erythrocephala  Gmel.  jun.  Nov.  Com. 
Petrop.  xv.  465.  t.  20. ;  A.  cinerea  Gmel.  jun.  It.  11.  184.  t.  1 8. 
Fuligula  Steph.f 
Bill  nearly  as  long  as  the  head,  broader  at  the  base  than  high,  the  culmen  gradually  sloping  to  the 
tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  broad  and  strong  nail ;  the  sides  dilated,  especially  anteriorly,  where  it 
is  rounded,  the  lateral  margins  straight  and  curved  upwards  to  the  nail ;  the  lamellae  of  the  upper 
mandible  not  prominent,  and  widely  set  ;  and  the  nostrils  small,  oblong,  and  near  the  middle  of  the  bill. 
Wings  moderate  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  half  the 
length  of  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed.    Toes  lengthened,  and  united  by  a  full  web. 
These  birds  are  inhabitants  of  the  northern  regions  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  migrating  to  the  temperate  parts 
on  the  return  of  winter.    One  species,  however,  is  peculiar  to  New  Zealand.    They  frequent,  in  pairs  or  small  societies, 
*  Established  by  M.  Boie  (7*/*)  in  1822.  Three  other  names  have  been  established  on  the  same  type,  viz.  Netta  Kaup,  1829  J  Cal- 
lichen Brehm,  1830;  Mergoi'des  Eyton,  1836. 
t  In  1824  Mr.  Stephens  (Shaw's  Zool.xii.  11.  p.  187.)  adopted  this  name  from  Ray  ;  but  in  1831  M.  Brehm  proposed  Platypus  ;  while 
M.  Sundeval,  in  1835,  used  Fu/i.v  for  this  division. 
