130 ANATID/E. 



344. HETERONETTA MELANOCEPHALA (Vieffl.). 



(BLACK-HEADED DUCK.) 



Heteronetta melanocephala, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 382. Anas 

 melanocephala, Scl et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129 5 Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 64 

 (Buenos Ayres). 



Description. Above deep blackish brown, minutely vermiculated with rufous; 

 head and neck black ; narrow terminal band on the secondaries white ; beneath 

 dirty white, on the upper breast, flanks, and crissum freckled with rufous ; bill 

 blackish, with a basal spot on each side flesh-colour ; feet horny brown : whole 

 length 14-5 inches, wing 6-3, tail 2-3. Female similar, but head like the back ; 

 cheeks brown, freckled with black, and throat and superciliary stripe whitish. 



Hab. Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chili. 



This small, obscurely coloured Duck extends from Southern Brazil 

 over the pampas of Buenos Ayres into Chili. Near Buenos Ayres it is 

 scarce. Durnford shot a pair in September 1876, in the reed-beds of 

 Alvear, about twenty miles to the north-west of the city. 



345. QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA (Vieill.). 



(BLUE-WINGED TEAL.) 



Anas cyanoptera, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza, Parana). Quer- 

 quedula cyanoptera, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129 ; iid. P. Z. S. 1809, 

 p. 160 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 384 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos 

 Ayres), et 1878, p. 400 (Patagonia) ; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 625 (Cata- 

 marca) ; Barrows, Auk, 1 884, p. 273 (Pampas). Pterocyanea cyanoptera, 

 Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 368. 



Description. General plumage red ; top of head black; middle of back and 

 scapularies streaked with black ; lesser wing-coverts blue ; wing-speculum green, 

 margined above with white ; primary wing-feathers black, secondaries flammu- 

 lated with white and buff; bill black ; feet yellow : whole length 18'0 inches, 

 wing 7'6, tail 3'0. Female : above blackish, feathers margined with whitish : 

 beneath dirty white, variegated with brown; throat white, with blackish 

 freckles. 



Hab. North and South America. 



This Teal has an exceedingly wide distribution in America, being 

 found from California in the northern continent down to the Straits of 

 Magellan and the Falkland Islands in the south. Its fine, strongly 

 contrasted colours give it a very handsome appearance the wings being 

 clear grey-blue, the body deep maroon-red, the feet vivid yellow, beak 

 black, and iris gold-colour. On the pampas it is common, and almost 

 invariably seen in pairs at all seasons. Many of the Teals are quarrel- 

 some in disposition; but this species, I think, exceeds them all in 

 pugnacity, and when two pairs come together the males almost invariably 

 begin fighting. 



