ANSERES PCECILONETTA 141 



Habits. This, the smallest of South African Ducks, is found 

 singly or in pairs, in lagoons, but little is known of its habits as it 

 appears to be everywhere a scarce bird. 



There are two eggs of this species in the British Museum, 

 obtained by Andersson, in Ovampoland ; they are described as oval 

 in shape, smooth, moderately glossy, and of a pale cream colour. 

 They measure 1*7 x 1*3. 



Genus IX. POECILONETTA. 



Type. 

 Paecilonitta, Eyton, Hon. Anat. p. 32 (1838) P. bahamensis. 



This genus is also very closely allied to Anas, from which it 

 differs chiefly in the colour of the speculum, which is a fawn or 

 salmon colour, the narrow black band at its base perhaps represent- 

 ing the metallic speculum of Anas. 



Three species are assigned to this genus by Salvadori ; two of 

 them from South America and the Galapagos Isles respectively, the 

 third from Africa. This last species is included in the key on 

 p. 133. 



623. Poecilonetta erythrorhyncha. Bed-bill. 



Anas erythrorhyncha, Gmel, Syst. Nat. i, p. 517 (1788) ; Burchell, 

 Travels, i, p. 283, ii, p. 346 (1822-4) ; Pelz., Novara Reise, Vog.,p. 138 

 (1865) ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 351 (1867) ; Bryden, Gun and Camera, 

 p. 405 (1893) ; id. Nat. and Sport, p. 42 (1897) ; Fleck, Journ. Ornith. 

 1894, p. 380 ; Reichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 118 (1900). 



Querquedula erythrorhyncha, Smith, Cat. S. A. Mus. p.' 36 (1837) ; 

 Holub fr Pelzeln, Orn. Siid-Afr. p. 330 (1882). 



Poecilonetta erythrorhyncha, Smith, Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 104 

 (1845) ; Gurney, Ibis, 1859, p. 251, 1861, p. 134, 1862, p. 158, 1868, 

 p. 471 [Natal and Transvaal] ; id. in Andersson's B. Damaral. 

 p. 339 (1872) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1880, p. 272 ; Oates, Matabeleland,p. 328 

 (1881); Butler, Feilden & Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 427; Sharpe, ed. 

 Layard's }. S. Afr. p. 754 (1884) ; Nicolls and Eglington, Sportsm. 

 S. A. p. 126, pi. xii, fig. 62 (1892) ; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 285 

 (1895) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 172 (1896) ; Woodward Bros., Natal B. 

 p. 211 (1899); Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 269; Alexander, Ibis, 1900, 

 p. 443 ; Oates, Cat. B. Eggs, ii, p. 174 (1902) ; Whitehead, Ibis, 1903, 

 p. 238. 



" Smee Eendje" of the Dutch; the word Smee is sometimes used in 

 East Anglia for the Widgeon ; " Semto Letata " of Basutos (Murray). 



