DENDROCYGNA VIDUATA. 



WHITE-FACED TREE-DUCK. 



(Plate 50.) 



Anas viduata, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., i, p. 205 (1766). 



Dendrocygna viduata, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 751 

 (1875-84) ; Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 126 

 (1892) ; Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 124 (1900-01) ; Woodward, 

 Natal Birds, p. 209 (1899) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 351 

 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 124 (1906). 



Local Names. " Idada " of the Matabele (Chubb) ; " Masked Duck " 

 of some authors. 



Description. The bird figured is a female. The sexes are alike, 

 and measure about 19 in. 



Distribution. Like the South African Pochard {N. erythropthalma), 

 this bird has a most remarkable range, and is found through the 

 greater part of South America, from the West Indies to the 

 Argentines, and in Africa from the Gambia and Khartoum south- 

 wards, as well as in Madagascar. 



Mr. Sclater states that this is a rare Duck in South Africa except 

 in the lake regions and on the Zambesi, and that up to the date 

 of his book (1906) it had not been met with within the limits of 

 Cape Colony or in Great Namaqualand or Damaraland. 



The specimen illustrated was obtained in Griqualand by Sergt. 

 C. G. Davies. 



This bird is a rare visitor to southern Africa, though common 

 enough in the Zambesi and Lake Ngami regions. These 

 are its strongholds, and it is to be found there in considerable 

 flocks, and sometimes when the rains have been very heavy, 

 in multitudes. 



It is said by the Woodwards not to perch on trees, but some 



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