MAEECA SIBILATRIX, 



135 



from the bosom of the sitting bird. The eggs are seven or eight in 

 number and of a deep cream-colour. 



351. DAFILA BAHAMENSIS (Linn.). 

 (BAHAMA PINTAIL.) 



Anas bahamensis, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 515 (Rio Uruguay). Dafila 

 bahamensis, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 130; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 140 

 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 393; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 192 (Buenos 

 Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 274 (Cai-hue", Pampas) ; Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, 



p. 367. 



Desertion. Above reddish brown ; feathers with their centres blackish ; 

 lower back blackish ; upper tail-coverts and tail fawn-colour ; wings dark slaty 

 black ; broad speculum bronzy green, margined above and below by a fawn- 

 coloured band, the lower band with an interior black margin ; edgings of the 

 external secondaries fawn-colour : beneath brownish fawn-colour, entirely 

 covered with obsolete black spots; throat and cheeks and front neck pure 

 white ; bill black, with a red spot at the base on each side ; feet brown : whole 

 length 18'0 inches, wing 8*4, tail 5'0. Female similar. 



Hab. South America. 



The Bahama Duck, as it is commonly called, though it is very doubt- 

 ful whether it really occurs in the Bahama Islands, is found throughout 

 South America from British Guiana to Patagonia; and Burmeister 

 says that it is spread over the whole of Brazil, and that it is nearly the 

 commonest species of Duck in that country. 



On the pampas of Buenos Ayres this Duck is not a common bird. 

 It is usually seen in pairs, or, on rare occasions, three or four together. 



352. MARECA SIBILATBIX (Poepp.). 

 (CHILOE WIGEON.) 



Anas chiloensis, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 517 (Mendoza). Mareca chilo- 

 ensis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 635 (Buenos Ayres) ; iid. Nomencl. p. 130. 

 Mareca sibilatrix, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 395 ; Durnford, lots, 

 1877, p. 41 (Chupat), p. 192 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Central Pata- 

 gonia) ; Narrows, Auk, 1884, p. 274 (Bahia Blanca). 



Desertion. Above black, on the neck barred across with white ; feathers of 

 the back and scapularies margined with white ; head above and cheeks pure 

 white ; nape and back of the neck shining greenish purple ; wings brown, lesser 

 wing-coverts white ; secondaries velvety black, white at the base : beneath 

 white, throat and fore neck blackish ; upper breast black, with narrow white 

 cross bands ; flanks stained with rusty rufous ; bill and feet black : whole length 

 20-0 inches, wing 10'3, tail 4-3. Female similar, but not so bright in colour. 



