BIRDS—ANATINAE—A1X SPONSA. 
785 
Florida. The present description is based on a Florida skin, presented by Mr. Geo. N. Law¬ 
rence to the Smithsonian Institution. 
It is hardly necessary to repeat the common characters of this species and the American Bald- 
pate, the chief difference being in the head and neck. This is of a reddish brown or cinnamon color, 
not barred at all; the cheeks and chin with small spots of dusky. The forehead and crown are 
creamy white ; the region near the base of the bill laterally quite similar, but spotted. The 
region immediately around the eye is greenish, most prominent on the posterior edge, but, 
except in the immediate vicinity of the orbit, there are only a few spots of green on the side of 
the head behind. The sides of the head below are paler cinnamon or chestnut than on the neck ; 
the chin is blackish. I am unable to detect any other differences of importance. According to 
Mr. Lawrence, (Giraud, Birds L. Island, 309,) “the bill is much higher at the base, and with¬ 
out the black line where it joins the head ; the nail black, with minute punctures. The frontal 
feathers extend on the bill a quarter of an inch, forming an acute angle, (not the case in ours ;) 
the under wing coverts are ash gray intsead instead of white.” 
AIX, B o i e. 
Aix, Boie, Isis, 1828, 329. Type Anas galericulata, L. 
Demlronessa, SwAiNsojy, F. B. Am. 1831. Type, Anas sponsa, L. 
Ch.—B ill very high at the base, where the upper lateral angle runs back much behind the lower edge of the bili. Nostrils 
very large, and scarcely enveloped by membrane ; the feathers of the forehead reaching to their posterior edge. Nail very large 
and much hooked, occupying the entire tip of bill. Lamellae depressed, broad, and distant. Bill, from feathers of forehead, 
shorter than the head, and equal to the tarsus. Head crested ; claws short, much curved, and very sharp. Tail about half the 
wings, vaulted, cuneate, but truncate at the tip ; the coverts nearly as long as the feathers. 
This genus, embracing the most beautiful of American ducks, is very different from all our 
others, and almost entitled to rank as the type of a separate sub-family. A great peculiarity in 
Anatinae is the very large and much curved nail of the bill; which, in this respect, as well as 
in its height and narrowing to the tip, resembles that of the Anserinae. The second species of 
the genus is the celebrated mandarin duck of China, A. galericulata. The characters of A. 
sponsa, are as follows : 
Head green, glossed laterally with purple. A line from the upper corner of the bill, one 
from behind the eye, and two bars on the side of the head confluent with the chin and upper part 
of throat, white; jugulum and sides of tail purple; under parts white, the sides yellowish, banded 
with black, and behind, subterminally, with white; speculum bluish green; primaries 
silver white externally, at the tip ; back uniform, with various reflections. A. sponsa. 
AIX SPONSA, Boie . 
Summer Duck. 
Anas sponsa, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 17G6, 207.— Gm. 1, 539.— Lath. Ind. II, 1790, 876. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 
97 ; pi. Ixx.— Bon. Obs. No. 261.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 52 : V, 618; pi. 206 .—Ib. Syn. 280.— 
Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 271 ; pi. 391. 
Aix sponsa, Boie, Isis, 1828, 329.— Eyton, Mon. Anat 1838, 120. 
Dendronessa sponsa, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 446. 
Anas ( Boschas ) sponsa, Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 394. 
Summer duck, Penn. II, 562. 
August 19, 1858. 
99 b 
