356 BIRDS OF SOUTH ArRICA. 



toe ; toes lengthened, the outer nearly as long as the middle 

 toe, and all the anterior ones united by a full web ; the hind 

 toe moderate, and strongly lobed. 



660. Thalassornis Leuconota. (A. Smith.) 



Ey Ion's Monograph Anat., I., 168; Clangula Leuco- 

 nota, Smith's Zool. S. Af., p. 107. 



Back white ; all the rest of the upper parts variegated with 

 fulvous, black, and rufous ; under parts fulvous, transversely 

 striped with dark-brown, least so in the centre of the breast 

 and belly; head and back of neck fulvous, profusely mottled 

 with black round spots ; front and sides of lower part of neck 

 bright- fulvous ; chin and spot on each side at the base of the 

 bill, white. Length, 18"; wing, 8"; tail, 2i". 



This singular Duck makes periodical visits to the vleys in the 

 neighbourhood of Cape Town. It is found in abundance to the 

 Northward, and was included in Mr. Chapman's collection. Dr. 

 Smith says it inhabits Verloren Vley, that great haunt of all water- 

 fowl, and other lakes on the Western Coast of South Africa, and that 

 it prefers diving to seeking safety by flight. I fancied I made out a 

 pair of these birds at Zoetendals Vley. I examined them for some 

 time with my binoculars, but they would not allow of a near approach; 

 still the yellow patch on the throat was very visible. 



Genus ERISMATURA, Pr. Bonap. 

 Bill nearly as long as the head, higher at the base than 

 broad, the culmen suddenly curved to the front of the nostrils, 

 and then depressed, straight, and the sides somewhat dilated 

 near the tip, which is armed with a narrow nail, enhirged 

 and hooked beneath ; the nostrils oval and placed nearly in 

 the middle of the bill ; wings short and concave, with the 

 first two qu Us the longest ; tail long, wedge-shaped, and 

 composed of narrow stiff feathers ; tarsi half the lent^th of 

 the middle toe, and corapre.-sed ; toes lengthened, the middle 

 and outer ones of equal length, and the three anterior ones 

 united by a full web ; the hind toe long, elevated, and 

 margined by a lobed membrane ; the claws short, curved, 

 and acute. 



661. Erismatura Maccoa. (a. Smith) Ey ton's 



Monogr. Anat., p. 169 ; Oxyiira Maccoa, Smith's 

 Zool., p. 108. 



Upper parts, chestnut-brown ; under parts and wings, brown ; 

 head and upper parts of neck, black ; bill blue ; tail-feathers 

 very narrow and rigid. Length, 17"; wing, b" 6"'; tail, 3^". 



