ANATINJE. MARECA. 
173 
GENUS CXXYIII. MARE C A. WIGEON. 
The Wigeons are in all respects similar to the Teals, with 
the exception of having the bill shorter, proportionally 
broader, and rather narrowed, instead of becoming broader, 
toward the end. They have the bill considerably shorter 
than the head, higher than broad at the base, gradually de- 
pressed and a little narrowed toward the end ; upper man- 
dible with the dorsal line gently sloping at first, then slightly 
concave and still sloping to the unguis, which is rather large, 
obovate, decurved at the end, the ridge broad and flattened 
at the base, the edges slightly sinuous, the extremities of 
the numerous lamellae narrow but rounded, and about the 
middle of the mandible projecting a little ; lower mandible 
almost straight, with the unguis large, roundish, and little 
convex. Mouth rather narrow ; tongue fleshy, with mar- 
ginal slender lamellae and filaments, its tip thin and rounded ; 
oesophagus of moderate width, considerably enlarged before 
entering the thorax ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach a very 
large, transversely elliptical gizzard, placed obliquely, with 
very large muscles, and thick rugous epithelium, forming 
two roundish, flat, grinding surfaces ; intestine very long, 
rather wide, enlarging toward the coeca, which are very long 
and of moderate width. Trachea nearly uniform ; the lower 
larynx with several rings united so as to form an irregular 
dilatation, bulging into a rounded sac on the left side ; 
bronchi of moderate length and width. Nostrils elliptical, 
subbasal. Eyes small. Legs very short ; tibia bare for a 
short space ; tarsus compressed, with small anterior scutella ; 
hind toe very small, with a narrow lobe ; outer toe con- 
siderably shorter than the third ; interdigital membranes 
full ; claws small, well-arched, compressed, acute. Plumage 
dense, soft, and blended ; feathers of the head and upper 
neck softer ; scapulars elongated and acuminate ; wings ra- 
ther long, narrow, pointed, of twenty-five quills ; the first 
and second primaries longest ; inner secondaries elongated, 
and acuminate ; tail small, short, tapering, of sixteen stiffish, 
acuminate feathers. 
The male is larger and more highly coloured than the 
