3/0 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON [Apr. 4^ 



Anser polycomus, Cuv. in Mus. Paris ; Less. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 

 627(1831); Schl. Mus. des P.-B. Anseres, p. 95. 

 Ansen pollicaris, Licht. in Mus. Berol. 

 Chenalopex pollicaris, Licht. Nomencl. p. 101. 

 Capite toto cum co/lo et pectore sordide albis, collo postico ob- 

 scuriore ; interscapidio fusco-nigro ; dorso antico, scapularibus 

 et hypochondriis castaneis ; dorso imo alis et cauda purpura- 

 scenti-nigris, secundariis quinque internis macula magna alba, 

 speculum alare formantibus, ornatis: tectricibus alarum majori- 

 bus viridescenti-nitentibus ; abdomine medio et crisso albis, ventre 

 imo utrinque nigro ; rostro nigro mandibula nisi in apicejlava; 

 pedibus jiavidis : long, tofce 20, alee 11 '5, caudce 3'7, tarsi 3'7, 

 dig. med. cum ungue 2*4 (Desc. spec, ex Amazonia Peruviana 

 in Mus. S. & G.). 

 Hab. Valley of the Amazons (Spix, Bartlett) ; Guiana (Schom- 

 burgk) ; Orinoco {Taylor) ; Cai^ara, Rio Guapore et Rio Negro 

 (Nat t ere?'). 



The range of the species is restricted to the low-lying districts of 

 the valley of the Amazons, and the adjoining countries of Guiana 

 and Venezuela on the Orinoco, where, however, especially in the 

 former region, it would appear to be abuudant. Natterer obtained 

 eight specimens during his journey, some on the head waters of the 

 Madeira in Matogrosso, others on the Rio Negro. 



Little has been recorded of the habits of this Goose. Schom- 

 burgk met with it in pairs frequenting sand banks ; and Natterer 

 states that the stomach of one he examined contained small seeds. 



This species has its nearest ally in C. eeggptiuca of the African 

 continent, with which it would appear to be strictly congeneric. 



Subfamily II. Cygnin^e. 



Genus 1. Cygnus. Type. 



Cygnus, Meyer, Tasch. d. d. Vbg. ii. p. 497 (1810) C. olor. 



Olor, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1234 C. mnsicus. 



Chenopsis, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1234 C. atratus. 



Coscoroba, Reich. Nat. Syst. d. Vog. p. x. (1852) C.coscoroba. 



Two species of Swan, both very distinct from any of their northern 

 congeners, are found in Antarctic America. 



1. Cygnus nigricollis. 



Anas nigricollis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 502 (1788), ex Bougainville. 



Anas melanocephala, Gm. S. N. i. p. 502 (1788), ex Molina. 



Anas melanocorypha, Mol. Saggio, ed. 2, p. 199 (1810). 



Anser melanocoryphus, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 108 (1823) ex 

 Molina. 



Cygnus nigricollis, Steph. Shaw's Zool. xii. p. 17 ; Eyton, Mon. 

 p. 98 (1838); Hartl. Ind. Az. p. 27 ; Gay, Faun. Chil. p. 445, t. 

 14(1848); Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 432; La Plata- Reise, ii. p. 

 512; Journ. fiir Orn. I860, p. 266, et P. Z. S. 1872, p. 365; 



