GREEN-BACKED MALLARD. 399 



seen several in a state of domestication, allowed 

 to run in a yard at Kingston, but they had been 

 imported. 



GREEN-BACKED MALLARD.* 

 Anas maxima. MIHI. 



? Anas boschas et Cairina moschata ; hybrid. 



I HAVE ventured to give a name to the mag- 

 nificent Duck described below, notwithstanding the 

 opinion of so high an authority as Mr. G. R. Gray, 

 who, on inspecting my specimen, considered it a 

 hybrid. Though I have the greatest respect for 

 the judgment of that gentleman, I cannot feel 

 quite free from doubt on the subject for the fol- 

 lowing reasons. At Radonda water, near Savanna 

 le Mar, where my specimen was shot, it seemed 



* Length 30 inches, expanse 42, flexure 12|, tail 5, breadth of 

 beak 1, height at base 1, rictus 2f, tarsus 2f, middle toe 3|. Irides 

 dark brown ; feet orange, front of tarsus, of middle and of outer toe, and 

 claws, black ; beak blackish brown, with a bar of deeper hue. Head, 

 chin, throat, and upper neck, deep velvety purple, changeable to sea- 

 green. Lower neck and fore-back rich chocolate, with purple gloss, se- 

 parated from the purple of throat by a demi-collar of pure white. Back, 

 wings, rump, and tail deep purple brown, with brilliant green reflexions. 

 Secondaries and scapulars rich metallic green ; the secondaries tipped 

 with white ; primaries dull black ; first and fourth equal, second and 

 third equal, longest. Breast deep chestnut, paling to greyish white on 

 belly, sides, and vent ; the feathers on the upper belly and lower breast ^ 

 black-disked. Sides and vent minutely pencilled with dusky ; under 

 tail-coverts black, with green gloss. Weight 4 Ibs. 



