1864.] DR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE GENUS DENDROCYGNA. 299 
5. Nore on THE GEOGRAPHICAL DisTRIBUTION OF THE Ducks 
or THE GENUS DenprRocyGNA. By P. L. Scuater, M.A., 
Pu.D., F.R.S., SECRETARY TO THE SOCIETY. 
The presence in the Society’s collection of a fine series of living 
representatives of the genus Dendrocygna has necessitated some in- 
vestigation into the history of these birds, with the view of ascer- 
taining their correct specific names. In doing this I have drawn 
up some notes upon their geographical distribution, concerning 
which I have several new facts to record. 
I am acquainted, from personal observation of specimens, with eight 
distinct species of this group, only five being enumerated in Eyton’s 
‘Monograph of the Anatide.’ These are— 
1. DENDROCYGNA AUTUMNALIS. 
Anas autumnalis, Linn. 
Dendrocygna autumnalis, Eyt. Anat. p. 109; Schomb. Reis. iii. 
p- 762; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 770. 
Hab. Brit. Guiana (Schomd.) ; Para (received living from) ; Lake 
of Yojoa, Honduras (Taylor) ; Guatemala, lagoons on Pacific coast, 
tolerably abundant (Salvin) ; Valley of Rio Grande, Texas (Baird). 
Mus. Brit. 
We have specimens of this well-known bird received alive from 
Para, whence it seems to be distributed northwards through Guiana 
and up the Central-American isthmus to Texas. Lately we have 
received four Mexican examples of this species from Paris. These 
differ from the South-American examples, in having the breast grey 
instead of brown like the belly, but not sufficientiy to merit separa- 
tion. 
2. DENDROCYGNA VIDUATA. 
Anas viduata, Linn. S. N. i. 205; Licht. Doubl. p. 84; Max. 
Beitr. iv. 921. 
Dendrocygna viduata, Tsch. F. P. Orn. p. 54 ; Schomb. Reise, 
iii. 762; D’Orb. Voy. p. 448; Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 248 ; Eyton, 
Anat. p. 109. 
Hab. British Guiana (Schomburgk) ; Brazil, generally distributed 
over the inland waters (Burmeister); Paraguay (Azara); West 
Africa, Senegambia and Guinea (Harti.) ; Sennaar and Abyssinia, 
Meninga (Speke); Mozambique (Peters); Natal (Gurney). 
Mus. Brit. 
«Repeatedly compared, by Hartlaub, Cabanis, and others, with 
South-American examples, and no constant difference discovered ” 
(Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 248). 
The only suggestion I can make, with regard to the singular fact 
of this species being found in Africa and South America alike, is that 
it may have been an introduction into America of the early slavers, 
these birds being very tame and domestic, and often carried about on 
board ship. 
