24G ANSERES. 



239. ANAS CIRCIA. 

 (GARGANEY.) 



Anascireia, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 204 (17G6). 



The Gargancy and the Teal arc the only Japanese Ducks in 

 which the wingf from carpal joint measures less than 7^ inches. The 

 secondaries of the Gargancy are much paler than those of the Teal, 

 and have very little metallic gloss. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 427. 



The Gargancy is a winter visitor to all the Japanese Islands, but 

 appears to be nowhere common. It was first recorded as a Japanese 

 bird from an example procured in the Yokohama market (Blakiston 

 and Pryer, Ibis, 1878, p. 214). Captain Blakiston obtained an 

 example in Yezzo ; Mr. Owston procured several in the Yokohama 

 market (Blakiston and Pryer, Trans. As. Soc. Japan, 1882, p. 98), one 

 of which is in the Pryer collection ; and Mr. Ringer lias sent several 

 examples from Nagasaki (Seebohm, Ibis, 1884, p. 175). 



The breeding-range of the Gargancy extends across Europe and 

 Southern Siberia from tlie British Islands to the Pacific. 



240. ANAS ACUTA. 

 (PINTAIL.) 



Anas acuta, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 202 (17G6). 



The Pintail is one of tlie larger Ducks (wing from carpal joint 10 

 to 11 inches). Very few of the under wing-coverts are white. It 

 has a long bill (from frontal feathers If to 2^ inches). 



Figures: Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 431 (male), pi. 430 

 (female). 



The Pintail has long been known to visit the Kurilc Islands (Pallas, 

 Zoogr. Kosso-Asiat. ii. p. 280). It passes the coasts of Yezzo in spring 

 and autumn on migration, to winter in considerable numbers in 

 Southern Japan (Mlakiston and Pryer, Il)is, 1H78, p. 213). The 

 Perry Expedition obtained examples from Ilakodadi (Cassin, Exp. Am. 

 Squad. China Seas and Japan, ii. p. 231), In the Swinhoe collection 

 there are two examples from Awomori, on the main island opposite 



