1864. ] DR. P. L. SCLATER ON A NEW DUCK. 487 
10. Descriprion or a New Species or Duck From Mapa- 
GascarR. By P. L. Scuater, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S., Srcre- 
TARY TO THE SOCIETY. 
(Plate XXXIV.) 
In the ‘ Proceedings’ of this Society for 1863 (p. 160) I have 
given a list of the Mammals and Birds collected by Dr. C. Meller 
during his journey up to Antananarivo. I there included a species 
of Duck, of which two examples were obtained in the marshes near 
Analamazotra, under the name Dajila erythrorhyncha (Gm.). My. 
attention having been again called to this bird through meeting 
with fresh specimens in the collection of the Royal Institution at 
Woolwich, lately obtained in Madagascar by Mr. J. Caldwell, I 
have been induced to reexamine it. On comparing it with the fine 
series of Anatidz in the British Museum, I find it is certainly not 
Dafila erythrorhyncha; indeed it is very little like that species. As 
it is moreover not in the British Museum, and cannot be associated 
with any other species mentioned by Hartlaub in his work on the 
‘ Birds of Madagascar,’ I believe I am justified in considering it as 
probably new to science. I propose therefore to call it, after its 
discoverer, 
ANAS MELLERI, sp. nov. (Pl. XXXIV.) 
Supra nigra, plumis omnibus brunneo late marginatis; subtus 
brunnea, plumarum omnium macula mediali nigra: capite et 
cervice brunneis, nigro striolatis ; pileo obscurivre et crebrius 
striolato: alis fusco-nigris, tectricum marginibus brunnescen- 
tibus ; speculo alari eneo-viridi, supra et subtus nigro margi- 
nato; secundariorum apicibus et tectricibus subaluribus albis : 
caude rectricibus et tectricibus superioribus dorso concoloribus : 
rostro nigro: pedibus carneis. 
Long. tota 22:0, alee 9°25, caudee 3°5, rostria rictu 2-6, tarsi 1°75. 
Hab. In Madagascar. 
This Duck seems to belong to the group of true Anas, repre- 
sented by 4. superciliosa of Australia, 4. obscura of North America, 
and others, in which the sexes are alike. There is no trace of a 
superciliary mark, and the species is not very much like any other 
that I am acquainted with. Dr. Meller’s two specimens were, as I 
have already stated, obtained in the marshes near Analamazotra. 
The native name is said to be Harki. The iris is marked “ sienna- 
brown.” Mr. J. Caldwell’s example was procured at Antananarivo, 
in September 1862, and is marked “‘female.”’ Mr. A. Newton has 
likewise a specimen of the same Duck, obtained by Dr. Roch at 
Tamatave*. 
I may take this opportunity of mentioning that the collection of 
the Royal Institution at Woolwich also contains an example of Turtur 
semitorquatus, Sw., from Madagascar. This bird I have already 
* See Ibis, 1863, p. 174, where this bird is wrongly called dnas xanthorhyncha. 
