ANATlNili. 
^^iteral,  and  placed  near  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  nearly  as 
as  the  second,  which  is  the  longest.  Tail  moderate,  and  moderately  rounded.  Tarsi  rather  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  long,  united  by  a full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  moderate,  slightly  elevated,  and 
lobed. 
Of  the  two  species,  one  Is  peculiar  to  the  American  continent  and  tlie  West  Indies,  the  other  to  China.  The 
“^oierican  species  is  rarely  found  on  the  sea  shore  or  in  salt  marshes,  its  favourite  haunts  being  the  solitary  deep,  and 
*»uddy  creeks,  ponds,  and  mill  dams  of  the  interior.  Those  of  the  northern  parts  of  that  vast  continent  migrate  to 
® more  temperate  districts  until  the  approach  of  summer,  when  they  again  return  to  their  old  haunts.  Their  food 
^'^nsists  principally  of  acorns,  seeds  of  the  wild  oats,  and  insects.  Sometimes  the  eggs  are  placed  on  a few  sticks  laid  in 
^ of  the  branches,  usually,  however,  in  the  inside  of  a hollow  tree,  on  the  soft  decayed  wood,  to  the  number  of 
^''teen.  Wilson  further  states  that  the  female  carries  the  young,  one  by  one,  in  her  bill,  by  the  wing  or  back  of  the 
to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  whence  she  afterwards  leads  them  to  the  water. 
Q ^^onsa  (Linn.)  Boie,  PI.  enl.  980,  981.,  Wils.  Amer. 
muh.  pi.  f 3 ^ ^ j.jjg  jg  ^ 3Q_^  Audub.  B.  of 
Pl.  206. 
2.  A.  yalericulata  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  80.'5,  806. 
Makeca  Stepli* 
shorter  than  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  of  equal  breadth,  but  depressed,  and  much 
*^'ibded  at  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a strong  and  broad  nail ; the  lamellae  of  the  upper  mandible 
b^*^niinent,  especially  in  the  middle  of  the  lateral  margins,  slender,  and  rather  widely  set  ; the  nostrils 
near  the  base  and  culmen,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  and 
®*^ond  quills  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  wedge-shaped.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes 
^ited  by  a full  web  ; and  the  hind  toe  moderate  and  lobed. 
^ mhabit  various  parts  of  the  world,  performing  periodical  migrations  in  vast  flocks  during  the  night,  from  the 
latitudes  to  the  more  temperate  countries,  and  vice  versa.  They  seek  the  mai'gins  of  lakes  and  mouths  of 
as  well  as  the  sea  shores,  wherever  their  peculiar  vegetable  food  is  to  be  found.  The  species  of  America,  says 
6xt  ™ great  flocks,  taking  short  flights  from  one  rice  field  to  another  during  the  rainy  season.  They  are 
'■emely  fond  of  the  tender  roots  of  that  peculiar  species  of  aquatic  plants  on  which  the  cairvass-back  feeds,  and  for 
that  bird  is  in  the  constant  habit  of  diving.  The  widgeon,  who  never  dives,  watches  the  moment  of  the  canvass- 
is  ■ ^ and,  before  he  has  his  eyes  well  opened,  snatches  the  delicious  morsel  from  his  mouth,  and  makes  oft.  It 
the  northern  regions  that  the  female  lays  her  eggs,  which  are  usually  six  or  eight  in  number. 
^mpi  9 Sriss, ; Mareca  fistularis  Steph,;  Anas  melanura 
Penelope  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  825.,  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pl.  366. 
2.  M 
’ A.  Kogolka  Gmel. 
Or,ijjh  ' (Gmel.)  Steph.  Pl.  enl.  955.,  Wils.  Anaer. 
S4, 
pl-  69.  f.  1.  — Anas  Wigeon  Bonn.  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.pl. 
.3.  M.  chiloensis  (Kmg),  Eyton’s  Anat.  pl.  p.  1 1 7. 
4.  M.  castanea  Eyton,  Anat.pl.  p.  119- 
.5.  M.  gihherifrons  Mull.  & Schl.  Verb.  Nat.  Gesch.  Nederl.  p. 
159. 
6.  M.  capensis  (Gmel.)  Steph. 
7 M.  brnsiliensis  (Gmel.)  Steph. 
* M 
®*'®Pbens  established  this  genus  {Gen.  Zool.  xii.  p.  130.)  as  far  back  as  1824 ; yet,  in  1829,  Itl.  Kaup  proposed  for  it  the  name  ot 
