762 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
placed in thin rushes, just above the surface of the water, which 
was about two feet deep, and about ten yards from an island in the 
centre of a good-sized tank. It contained a single large greenish- 
white egg, quite fresh, and the surrounding rushes were broken 
across (no doubt by the old bird), and bent down over the nest, so 
as to conceal its contents. On revisiting the ‘vley’ on the 25th 
inst., I found another nest, precisely similar, about twenty yards off, 
containing three fresh eggs. This nest was probably built by the 
same pair of birds. The eggs were warm all day, and a small 
flock, consisting of three or four pairs of birds, remained close by 
constantly ; still we never saw the hen bird go to the nest, although 
there were feathers in it and scattered about on the water all round. 
I fancy they slip off the nest and dive, like the Grebes, the moment 
they see any one approaching. Legs and feet bluish plumbeous ; 
iris dark brown; bill dark brown, inconspicuously spotted on the 
sides of the upper mandible; lower mandible pale brownish-yellow, 
with base and tip dusky brown.” Mr. Ayres states that it is very 
scarce in the Transvaal. Mr. Andersson observes: ‘‘ This is a com- 
paratively scarce species in both Great Namaqua and Damara Land ; 
but during one season I found it tolerably abundant at the large 
marshy vley of Omanbondé, in the latter country. It is generally 
found singly or in pairs. When disturbed it takes wing unwillingly, 
and merely skims the surface of the water, settling again as soon as 
possible; it appears to prefer endeavouring to escape from danger 
by diving, in which it is very expert, being able to continue long 
under water.’ Mr. Monteiro found it in the fresh-water lakes of 
Benguela to the south of Mossamedes; and Senor Anchieta has 
procured it on the Coroca River. 
Back white; all the rest of the upper parts variegated with 
fulyous, black, and rufous; under parts fulvyous, 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, 24’. 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 107. 
736. Erismarura maccoa (Smith). Maccoa Duck. 
The singular rigid tail-feathers of this Duck will serve to 
