186 ANATID^. 



P. Z. S. 1864, p. 191, pi. xviii., 1880, p. 512 ; id. List Vert. An. 



8th ed. p. 429 (1883) ; Legge, Pr. R. Soc. Tasvi. 1886, p. 244 



(Tasmania) (1887) ; Tristr. Cat. Coll. B. p. 59 (1889) ; Hartert, 



Kat. Vogelsumnil. p. 228 (1891) ; Sharps, Cat. Osteol. Specim. Coll, 



Surg. iii. p. 298 (1891). 

 Vulpanser tadornoides, lichnw. Orn. Cetitralbl. 1882, p. 35 ; id. Vog, 



zool. Gdrt. p. 62 (1882). 

 Nettalopex tadornina, Heine 8f Rchmo. Nom. Mus. Hein. Orn. p. 343 



(1890). 



Adult male. Head and upper part of the neck glossy dark green ; 

 a white ring separates the upper part of the neck from the lower part, 

 which, together with the upper part of the back and breast, are of 

 a bright foxy-red ; back, scapulars, and lower parts black, finely 

 freckled and waved with fulvous ; upper and under tail-coverts and 

 tail black, glossed with green ; wing-coverts pure white ; primaries 

 and primary-coverts black ; secondaries with a glossy green 

 speculum ; tertiaries rich chestnut on their outer web and dark 

 grey on their inner webs : " irides dark brown ; bill black ; legs 

 greyish hl&ck" {Gould). Total length about 24 inches, wing 14, 

 tail 6, culmen 1*8, tarsus 2'25. 



Female. Smaller and duller than the male ; head and upper part 

 of the neck brown-black ; a ring of white or mottled feathers 

 surrounds the base of the bill. 



According to F. E. Blaauw, this bird is subject to a double moult. 

 " In May the first moult takes place of all the feathers, primaries 

 and tail-feathers included. The rich shining chestnut feathers of the 

 breast are then replaced by dull yellowish-brown feathers, and the 

 white neck-collar is replaced by another collar, also white, but not 

 so clearly defined, and not nearly so pure in colour." Mr. Blaauw 

 calls this the winter dress. 



"At the end of August generally, the second moult (of the 

 small feathers only) begins and produces the breeding-dress. The 

 dull yellowish breast-feathers are then shed and replaced by 

 the bright chestnut-coloured ones, while the shining white neck- 

 collar is also regained. These bright feathers also seem to have 

 a diff'erent structure from those of the winter dress, being much 

 more silky and hairy in appearance." 



Hah. Southern and AVestern Australia, and Tasmania. 



a-d. (S 5 ad. sk. Australia (Cockerell S/- Thorpe). Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 e,f.<S2 ^^- St. N. S. Wales. Australian Museum 



[E.]. 

 g. c? ad. st. S. Australia. Sir G. Grey [P.]. 



h. c? ad. sk, Tasmania. Victoria Museum 



[P.]. 

 i. 2 ad. St. Tasmania. Gould CoU. 



k. Skeleton. S. Australia. 



