ANATINJ2. 
Dafila  Leach.* 
Bill  longer  than,  or  as  long  as,  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  narrowed,  but  slightly  widens  K 
towards  the  tip,  which  is  depressed  and  armed  with  a strong  nail ; the  lamellfe  of  the  upper  man 
broad,  widely  set,  and  not  projecting  below  the  lateral  margins ; the  nostrils  large  oval,  and  placed  nea 
the  culmen  at  the  base.  Wings  long,  with  the  first  two  quills  the  longest.  Tail  wedge-shaped,  with 
two  middle  feathers  much  lengthened.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  united  by  a fuU  ’ 
and  the  hind  toe  rather  long  and  lobed. 
They  are  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  performing  periodical  migrations  to 
temperate  regions  for  the  winter-.  The  shallow  fresh-water  marshes  are  their  principal  places  of  resort,  as  well  as  i 
water  lakes  ; and  they  are  rarely  found  on  the  sea  shores.  They  seldom  dive,  but  are  very  noisy.  Their  nest  is 
of  herbage,  and  usually  found  in  marshes,  and  in  it  the  female  deposits  from  eight  to  ten  eggs. 
1.  D.  acuta  (Linn.)  Pr.  Bonap.  PI.  enl.  954!.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn. 
pi.  68.  f.  3. — Anas  caudacuta  Ray;  A.  longicauda  Briss, ; A. 
Tsitzihoa  VieUl.  Gould’s  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  365. 
2.  D.  ba/mnensis  (Lirm.)  Catesby’s  Carol,  i.  t.  93.,  Eyton’s  Anat. 
pi.  p.  112.,  Zool.  Beechey’s  Voy.  pi.  14-.  — Anas  llatliera  ^ 
A.  Urophasianus  Vigors ; Phasianurus  Vigorsii  Wagt-  > * 
PoBcilonetta  Eyton  (1838). 
3.  D.  ? cucullata  (Fisch.)  Mem.  I’Acad.  de  Mosc.  ix-  ^ 
Anas  Linn.\ 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  nearly  of  equal  breadth  throughout , 
the 
culmen  nearly  straight,  and  depressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a strong  broad  nail ; the  laui®  ^ 
of  the  upper  mandible  hardly  visible  beyond  the  lateral  margin,  strong,  and  widely  set,  especially  u 
1 rate  auU 
the  middle ; the  nostrils  placed  near  the  base  of  the  culmen,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  modern 
pointed,  ivith  the  tertials  lengthened  and  acute,  and  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  sho 
edge-shaped.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed.  Toes  united  by  a full  ’ 
Wi 
the  hind  toe  small  and  somewhat  lobed. 
Most  parts  of  the  Old  and  N ew  W orlds  are  inhabited  by  these  birds,  which  migrate  from  the  colder  regions  w ® 
retire  to  breed  on  the  approach  of  summer,  to  the  moi-e  temperate  parts  on  the  return  of  winter.  They  are  g 
. observed  on  the  margins  of  fresh- water  rivers  and  lakes,  while  others  only  freipient  the  sea  shores  or  salt  mars  ^ 
however,  possess  great  power  of  flight,  and  are  capable  of  swimming  with  great  rapidity.  Their  food  consists  ^ 
worms,  slugs,  and  insects,  which  they  seek  for  by  means  of  their  bills  from  among  the  herbage,  &c.  The  nest  is^^^ 
placed  in  the  most  solitary  places  of  the  marshes  or  bogs,  amidst  coarse  grass,  reeds,  and  rushes,  and  ms  a 
been  remarked  of  their  occupying  the  nests  of  other  birds.  They  generally  deposit  from  twelve  to  sixteen  ego 
pi. 
1.  A.  Boschas  Linn.  PI.  enl.  776,  777-,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  70.  3.  A.  specitlaris  King,  Jard.  & Selby’s  111.  Orn,  5- 
f.  7-  — Anas  fera  Briss. ; A.  domestica  Linn. ; A.  adunca  Linn. ; Anas  specularoldes  King  ; A.  chalcoptera  Kittl.  Vogel  ^ 
A.  curvirostra  Pall. ; A.  purpureo-viridis  Achinz  ; A.  Breweri  4.  A.  superciliosa  Gmel.  — Anas  leucophrys  Forst. 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  338.  p.  93.,  and  Icon.  ined.  77. 
2.  A.  pcecilorhyncha  Penn.  Ind.Zool.pl.  13.,  Gray’s  111.  Ind.  5.  A.  obscura  Gme\.  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  72.  f 2- 
Zool.  pi.  67. 
they 
* Proposed  by  Leach  previously  to  1824,  when  it  was  adopted  by  Stephens  {Gen.  Zool.  xii.  p.  126.).  In  1829,  ^ 
name  of  Traehelonetta  ; and  Wagler,  in  1832,  that  of  Phasianurus.  It  embraces  Pcecilonetta  of  Mr.  Eyton  (1838).  . . - „ 
t Established  by  Linnteus  {Systema  Naturm)  in  1735.  Mr.  Swainson,  in  1831,  used  the  name  of  Boschas  for  this  divjsio 
the 
