ANATIDAE I 2 



to the white speculum and some brown on the belly. H. hrimiiea, 

 of South and East Africa, is browni, mottled with grey above, the 

 head and upper neck being dark purplish-chestnut, the lower neck 

 black, the speculum white with a black posterior baud. Some 

 white shows on the primaries, and the bill and feet are plumbeous. 

 The female has white at the base of the bill, on the throat, and 

 behind the eye. JSf. nationi, of Peru, is hardly distinct. 



The majority of these two genera are wary sea-birds, though 

 breeding inland ; they feed at dawn or dusk on aquatic plants 

 and seeds, molluscs, insects, and even small fish and frogs, chiefly 

 obtained by divang, wherein they are great adepts. Vcdlisneria 

 spiridis, a plant largely eaten by the Canvas-Back, accounts for its 

 specific name and possibly lor its flavour. The note is a grating or 

 guttural sound, varied by a low whistle ; the nest is generally close 

 to water, and contains from six to thirteen green eggs. jV. africana, 

 JV. australis, and Fuligula novae zealandiae are rather more 

 skulking species with weaker flight, rarely found at sea. 



Mctopiaiia pcposacd, of South America, northward to Chili and 

 South Brazil, is black with grey vermiculations above and on the 

 belly, the cheeks and upper neck are purplish, the speculum and 

 inner primaries chiefly white, the Ijill and its swollen base carmine, 

 the feet yellow. The female is brown, with whitish uiider parts and 

 grey on the wing. It frequents marshes on the Pampas, has a, rapid 

 heavy flight, utters a long hoarse note, and lays a dozen creamy eggs. 



Nrf.ta rn.fi na, the Eed-crested Duck, fouud from the Mediter- 

 ranean to the Caspian and Turkestan, or to India in winter, 

 rarely occurs in Britain or North Europe, and is recorded once 

 from America : it is chiefl}^ greyish-brown above and blacker below, 

 with a large crest on tlie chestnut head, white speculum and sides, 

 red beak and feet. The crestless female is duller, with whitish 

 cheeks and throat. 



Sub-fam. 5. AnatAnae or typical Ducks. — Heteronetta atri- 

 ca^nlla, of South Brazil, Uruguay, Chili, and Argentina, is dark 

 brown above witli black liead and rufous vermiculations, and white 

 below with dusky markings ; the tips of most of the wing-feathers 

 are white, the bill is Ijlackish with ])asi-lateral flesh-coloured spots, 

 the feet are brownish. The female's head is lirown. Stictonetta 

 nacrosa, of West and South Australia and Tasmania, is brown with 

 freckles and spots of white in either sex. MdDndronetta a)i(/i(sti- 

 roHiris, ranging from South Europe and North Africa to India, and 



