Volume Ii Part 24 (1/2)

341. DENDROCYGNA VIDUATA (Linn.).

(WHITE-FACED TREE-DUCK.)

+Dendrocygna viduata+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 515 (Tuc.u.man); _id. P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 367; _Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S._ 1869, p.

160 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 376; _Durnford, Ibis_, 1878, p.

64 (Buenos Ayres).

_Description._--Face and spot on the throat white; nape, neck in front, middle of abdomen, tail, rump, and wings black; hind neck chestnut; middle of back and scapulars brown, the feathers margined with ochraceous; wing-coverts olivaceous black; flanks banded with black and white; bill and feet black: whole length 170 inches, wing 90, tail 25. _Female_ similar.

_Hab._ South America.

This Tree-Duck resembles that last described in size, form, and maroon-red plumage, but is of a darker tint, and may also be easily distinguished, even at a long distance, by its white face contrasted with the velvety black of the head and neck. Compared with _Dendrocygna fulva_ it is a rare species, being usually found in pairs in the Plata district, although sometimes as many as half a dozen are seen together.

When taking wing it also whistles, but differently from the allied species, having three long clear whistling notes, not unlike the three-syllabled cry of the Sandpiper, only the notes are more prolonged.

Of its breeding-habits I know nothing.

342. SARCIDIORNIS CARUNCULATA (Licht.).

(CRESTED DUCK.)

+Sarcidiornis regia+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 513 (Tuc.u.man); _id. P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 365. +Sarcidiornis carunculata+, _Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S._ 1876, p. 377; _Sclater, P. Z. S._ 1876, p. 695, pl. lxviii.

_Description._--Head and neck white, spotted with black, hind neck almost black; base of neck and body beneath white; flanks black; back and wings black; secondaries glossed with bronze, the scapulars with purple; lower back grey; tail brown; bill, with caruncle on the culmen, and feet black: whole length 300 inches, wing 150, tail 60. _Female_ similar, but rather smaller.

_Hab._ Brazil, Paraguay, and northern confines of Argentina.

Dr. Burmeister met with this Duck in the province of Tuc.u.man, and it probably occurs also in other places on the northern frontiers of the Republic.

343. CAIRINA MOSCHATA (Linn.).

(MUSCOVY DUCK.)

+Cairina moschata+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 514 (Parana, Santa Fe, Tuc.u.man); _id. P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 367; _Scl. et Salv.

Nomencl._ p. 120; _iid. P. Z. S._ 1876, p. 378; _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 625 (Salta).

_Description._--Whole head and neck and body beneath brownish black; belly closely banded with narrow white lines; back greenish purple, with the feathers edged with black; scapulars and elongated tertials and tail bright s.h.i.+ning green; secondaries edged with metallic blue; primaries black; upper and under wing-coverts and axillary plumes white; flanks slightly tinged with green; bill with caruncles red; feet black: whole length 290 inches, wing 150, tail 75. _Female_ similar, but smaller.

_Hab._ Central and South America.

Everyone is familiar with this species in its domestic state, called in the Argentine country _Pato creollo_ (Creole Duck); but the wild bird, called _Pato real_, is little known, although a few stragglers are seen as far south as Buenos Ayres, where I have met with eight or nine examples. Concerning the distribution and habits of this species Messrs.

Sclater and Salvin write:--”The Muscovy Duck, so well known in a domestic state nearly all over the world, is a native of the hottest portion of tropical America. It is usually found in lowland swampy districts; and where there are extensive forests it not unfrequently abounds. During the day the birds remain in the forest-swamps; but towards evening numbers may be seen sitting on the lower boughs of trees standing on the margin of a clearing.

”Its extreme northern limit seems to be N. W. Mexico. Its southern range extends to the upper Parana and Tuc.u.man. It is not uncommon in Paraguay, according to Azara, although not found on the La Plata. It is to be seen usually in pairs or singly, but also in flocks of twenty or thirty. It always roosts in trees, usually resorting to the same trees night after night. The nest, in which from ten to fourteen eggs are deposited, is made in a hole or fork of a large tree at some elevation from the ground. It seeks its food not only in the rivers, but on moonlight nights resorts to the maize and corn-fields, and also plucks up the roots of mandioca.

”The native habitat of the Muscovy Duck was known to some of the earliest writers. The date of its introduction as a domesticated species into Europe and elsewhere does not appear to have been recorded, but doubtless dates back to soon after the Spanish conquests in America.”

344. HETERONETTA MELANOCEPHALA (Vieill.).

(BLACK-HEADED DUCK.)