Order  VIII.  ANSERES. 
Family  I.  Anatid^. 
The  seventh  Subfamily, 
ERISMATURINiE,  or  Spiny-tailed  Ducks, 
have  the  Bill  elevated  at  the  base,  and  the  anterior  half  much  depressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  furnished 
1 a nail ; the  Wings  short  and  concave,  with  the  ends  of  the  quills  incurved ; the  Tail  lengthened,  and 
^oniposed  of  narrow  rigid  feathers,  which  are  but  slightly  protected  with  coverts  both  above  and 
the  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed  ; the  Toes  lengthened,  the  anterior  ones 
ed  by  a full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  long,  and  furnished  with  a broad  web. 
Thalassioknis  Eyton.* 
th^t’^  the  length  of  the  head,  more  elevated  at  the  base  than  broad,  the  culmen  sloping  to  near 
iiear/^’  depressed,  and  armed  with  a strong  broad  hooked  nail ; the  width  of  the  iqiper  mandible 
^^iddf  throughout,  and  the  sides  somewhat  compressed  ; the  nostrils  small,  oval,  and  placed  in  the 
Com  short,  with  the  second  and  third  quills  longest.  Tail  rounded,  and 
the  slightly  rigid  feathers.  Tarsi  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.  Toes  lengthened ; 
nearly  as  long  as  the  middle  toe,  and  all  the  anterior  ones  united  by  a full  web  ; the  hind  toe 
c^ate,  and  strongly  lobed. 
Xh' 
southern  portions  of  Africa,  and  Dr.  Andrew  Smith  has  kindly  obliged  me  by  the  follow- 
Jakes  of  thp  regarding  it.  “ It  is  always,  or  at  least  generally,  observed  swimming  on  the  smface  of  the  fresh-water 
winrrs  colony,  it  flics,  but  never  very  far,  nor  at  any  great  height  above  the  surface  of  the  water:  indeed 
tiino  progress,  often  disturb  the  fluid,  and  occasion  a ripple  behind  it.  It  dives  most  vigorously,  stops  a 
tfro  4.  water,  and  reappears  at  a considerable  distance  from  where  it  descends.  Its  - - - - 
aj-enf.  u at  <i  t^uusiu^rauie  uistance  irom  wiiere  it  aescends.  Its  power  ot  sight  is 
^he  ®kot,  owing  to  its  commonly  being  under  water  before  the  deadly  lead  can  reach 
**  finds  in  succeed  in  kilhng  it  by  concealing  themselves  and  their  arms  from  its  observation.  It  feeds  upon  what 
tne  water,  and  is  to  be  seen  actively  employed  in  filling  its  stomach  as  it  advances  from  place  to  place.” 
T.  kuconotus  (A.  Smith)  Eyton,  Monogr.  Anat.  1.  I68.,  A.  Smith,  111.  S.  Afr.  Zool.  pi. 
Riziuka  Leach.^ 
tip^*^i  l^roader  than  elevated  at  the  base,  of  nearly  equal  breadth,  and  suddenly  narrowed  at  the 
Hicb  ^ moderate-sized  nail ; the  sides  sloping  from  the  culmen  to  the  lateral  margins 
Wer  “membranous,  and  the  interior  margined  with  short  and  very  fine  lamellm  ; from  beneath  the 
the  hangs  a large  compressed  caruncle ; the  nostrils  lateral,  oval,  and  placed  in  the  middle 
tv  f f“““ished  at  the  shoulder  with  two  blunt  tubercles ; the  second 
nearly  equal  and  longest.  Tail  short,  and  composed  of  rigid  and  narrowed  feathers, 
'"hes  compressed,  and  two  thirds  the  length  of  the  middle  toe.  Toes  lengthened,  the  anterior 
mted  with  a full  web  ; the  hind  toe  elevated,  short,  and  strongly  lobed. 
Xh 
held  constitutes  this_  division  is  peculiar  to  Australia.  Lieutenant  Breton,  R.  N.,  remarks  that  “ He  has 
any  instance  in  which  more  than  two  were  seen  together.  They  are  met  with  only  on  the  rivers^  and  in 
Eyto"  {Monogr.  Anat.  i.  70.)  in  1838. 
noticed  by  Mr.  Stephens  {Gen.  Zool.  xii.p.  221.)  in  1824. 
lor  the  same  type. 
M.  Temminck  had  about  the  same  time  proposed 
