DENDROCYGNA FULVA. 



WHISTLING TREE-DUCK. 



(Plate 51.) 



Anas fulva, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, p. 530 (1788). 



Dendrocycna julva, Salvador!, Gat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvn, p. 149 

 (1895) ; Sclater, Aim. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 351 (1905); Sclater 

 and Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 125 (1906). 



Dendrocygna fulva, Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 126 (1900-01). 



Description. The plate represents an adult male. The sexes are 

 alike. Length about 20 in. 



Distribution. The bird figured was killed in Griqualand. 



Mr. Sclater writes that this Duck has a very remarkable dis- 

 connected range, extending over four continents ; it is to be 

 found in the southern part of the United States and Mexico in 

 North America, from Venezulea and Peru to the Argentine in 

 South America, from Kordofan southwards along the Nile Valley 

 through Nyassaland to Lake Ngami in Africa, in Madagascar, 

 and finally in India, Burmah, and Ceylon. 



I HAVE not personally met with this bird in South Africa, 

 but have often shot it in Ceylon. There they inhabit all 

 the larger lakes, and have a curious whistling cry which is 

 uttered often when in flight, producing a wild effect when a 

 big flock is passing overhead. 



They perch freely on trees, and I believe make use of old 

 nests of crows and other birds during their breeding-season. 

 They fly fairly slowly and with much beatings of wings, 

 and are therefore easy to shoot. They are of little use when 

 shot, being rank and fishy in flavour. 



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