AVES ANATID/E. 459 



and the markings on the head and breast are not well defined in most 

 individuals. 



Geographical Range. — Southern Brazil, and southern Bolivia on the 

 north. Argentina, Chili, Patagonia, Straits of Magellan and the Falkland 

 Islands. 



This little duck appears to be common and resident throughout Argen- 

 tina; Mr. Hatcher secured it near Mount Tigre in August and not far 

 away on Rio Coy in January. At both places it seems to have been 

 abundant, though it was in flocks at each season and was evidently not 

 breeding from the plumage of the birds sent home with the collection. 

 From all that we know, the breeding season begins late in August and 

 continues through September and into October, in Argentina. The nests of 

 the birds are generally in holes in the clay banks of some stream and are 

 described by Mr. White in an appended extract from the Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society. Mr. Barrows found it in his expeditions in 

 northern Argentina as "the commoner teal of the pampas " in December. 



Dr. Sclater says that this duck is in the Zoological Gardens, "Obtained 

 from Chili in 1871, and again in 1874, but has not bred with us." (P. 

 L. Sclater, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 522.) 



"Male. Cosquin, Cordova, Arg. Rep., June 29, 1882. 



"Female. Cosquin, Cordova, Arg. Rep., June 23, 1882. 



"Iris brown. 



"This Duck flies in flocks of about twenty in winter, nesting during 

 August and September in holes on the clay banks of the river. The nest 

 is formed of a large quantity of down, in which I found six eggs of a dull 

 white colour. Dimensions: axis 54 millim., diam. 40 millim." (E. W. 

 White, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 42.) 



"Male: Port Gallant, west coast of Patagonia, February 1880. Iris 

 dark brown ; bill yellow on sides, black culmen ; legs and feet light grey. 



"Female : Cockle Cove, October 1879. Bill yellow, with black culmen ; 

 eyes yellow; legs and feet grey." (Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 14.) 



Genus DAFILA Steph. 



Type. 



Dafila, Leach, in Brit. Mus. ; Steph. Gen. Zool. XII. 2, p. 126 

 (1884) ; Salvadori, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. XXVII. p. 270 

 (1895) ; Sharpe, Hand-list Bds. i. p. 219 (1889) . . D. acuta. 



