398 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON [Apt. 4, 



Subfamily IV. Fu ligulin jE. 



The Sea-ducks are essentially arctic in their distribution. One 

 peculiar form only {Micropterus) occurs on the coast of Antarctic 

 America. A second form (Meiopiana), though belonging to this 

 group, seems to be only met with on fresh water. 



Genus 1. Metopiana. 



Type. 



Metopiana, Bp. C. R. xUii. p. 146 (1856) M. peposaca. 



Some authors have been inclined to associate this peculiar Duck 

 with the Anatinse ; but though it is, we believe, strictly an inhabitant 

 of fresh water, and has not the lobated hind toe of the typical Fuli- 

 gulinse, it possesses their peculiarity in the structure of the trachea, 

 as mentioned by Burmeister (La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 518), and as 

 recently described and figured by Garrod (P. Z. S. 18/5, p. 154). 



Metopiana peposaca. 



Pato negrisco ala blanca, Az. Apunt. no. 430 (Paraguay and 

 Buenos Ayres), unde 



Anas peposaca, Vieill. N. D. v. p. 132 (1816), et Enc. Meth. 

 p. 357 (1823) ; Hartl. Ind. Az. p. 27; Burm. La Plata- Reise, ii. 

 p. 518, J. fiir Orn. 1860, p. 227 (Parana). 



Fuligula peposaca, Schl. Mus. des P.-B. Anseres, p. 31. 

 Anas metopias, Poppig, Fror. Notiz. no. 529, p. 9 (1829). 

 Fuligula metopias. Gay, Faun. Chil. p. 456 (1848); Hart!. 

 Naum. 1853, p. 217; Cassin, GiUiss's Exp. ii. p. 204, t. xxvii. 

 (1856) ChiU; Scl. P. Z. S. (1867), 335; Reich. Nat. t. cclxxxv. 

 f. 2350; Phil. & Landb. Cat. Av. Chil. p. 43. 



Metopiana peposaca, Bp. C. R. xliii. p. 146 (1856) ; Scl. & Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1868, p. 146 (Buenos Ayres), et Norn. Av. Neotr. p. 130 ; 

 Scl. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 666, t. 37; Garrod, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 154. 

 Anas albipetmis, Licht. MS. 



Nigra, in dor so minutissime albo irrorata, cervice postica et 



capite superiore toto nitore purpurea indutis ; secundariis 



albis, nigra terminatis et tectricibus nigris obtectis, speculum 



album efficientibus ; primariis grisescenti-albis, horum quatuor 



externis in pogonio exteriore et omnium apicibus nigris ; ventre 



toto griseo et ulho minutissime vermicidato ; crisso albo ; 



rostra rosacea, ad basin tumida ; pedibus jlavis : long, tota 



19'0, alee 9'4, cauda 28, tarsi 17, rostri a rictu 2'3. Feni. 



supra brunnea, campterio et specido atari albis; subtus alba, 



pectore et hypochondriis rufescenti-brmineis, rostra obscuro, 



pedibus carneis (Descr. exempl. ex Monte Video). 



Hab. Paraguay (Azara) ; Buenos Ayres (Hiidson) ; Monte Video 



Johnston in Mus. S.-G.) ; Parana (Burm.) ; Chili (Phil, et Landb.). 



This beautiful Duck was first obtained by Azara, who, however, 



gives no details respecting it ; but Burmeister tells us it is very 



common on the Parana ; and Mr. Hudson obtained specimens near 



Buenos Ayres. In the central part of Chili, Philippi raid Landbeck 



state that it is common, but rare in the southern provinces. 



