PAECILONETTA ERYTHRORHYNCHA. 



RED-BILLED PINTAIL or IlEDBILL. 



(Plate 59.) 



Anas erythrorhyncha, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, p. 517 (1788) ; Reichenow, 

 Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 118 (1900-01). 



Paecilonetta erythrorhyncha, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., i, 

 p. 754 (1875-84); Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., 

 p. 126 (1892); Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvn, p. 285 

 (1895); Woodward, Natal Birds, p. 211 (1899); Sclatcr, Ann. 

 S. Afr. Mus., Ill, p. 352 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., 

 IV, p. 141 (1906). 



Local Najies. " Smee Eendje " of the Dutch (the word "Smee" is 

 sometimes used in East Anglia for the Wigeon) ; " Semto Letata " 

 of Basutos (Murray). 



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

 except that the male has a slightly brighter coloured beak. 

 Length about 19 in. 



Distribution. The Red-bill is to be found all over South and East 

 Africa from Abyssinia to Cape Colony, and up to southern Angola 

 on the west ; it is also common in Madagascar. 



It is common at Matatiele and in most of the higher districts 

 in Griqualand, on the various dams and lakes, but I have not 

 heard of it in Pondoland. 



This beautiful little bird is generally found in small flocks 

 on reedy pans and lakes ; it is not often seen on rivers, 

 although when the water was low I have occasionally killed 

 a few on quiet pools on the rivers Modder and Vaal. StiU, 

 it is the exception to find it in such places. 



This is by no means a difficult bird to kill ; it falls to a 

 fairly light blow, and is often very tame. It is excellent- 

 eating. When shooting, I once wing-tipped a pair of these 



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