ANAS SPARSA. 



Form, &c. — Figure moderately robust ; head compressed and superiorly 

 rather flat ; wings pointed, and when folded reach beyond the first half of the 

 tail, the second quill feather rather the longest, the first a little shorter, the 

 third rather shorter than the first, and the fourth about half an inch shorter 

 than the tliird ; the tertiary quill feathers nearly as long as the seventh quill 

 feather, — the scapularies considerably shorter than the tertiaries. Tail rigid 

 and slightly rounded. Bill short and moderately broad, rather deep at the 

 base, but much depressed towards the tip. Tarsi and toes moderately long 

 and rather strong, the former posteriorly and laterally covered with reticulated 

 scales, anteriorly towards toes with small transverse plates, the web on each 

 side of middle toe, and on the insides of the outer and inner toes is covered 

 with several rows of rather large flat scales, and the parts between these 

 scales are studded with small detached somewhat granular scales. Claws 

 short, rather strong, slightly curved and obtuse at the point. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



tlic tipof the tall 22 



of the bill to the angle of the 



mouth 2 3 



of the wiugs when folded 11 6 



ofthetail 4 9 



Inches. Lines. 



Length of the tarsi 1 85 



of the outer toe 1 11^ 



of the middle toe 2 0| 



of the inner toe 1 6 



of the hinder toe 6 



Fem.\le. — As regards colours, the two sexes are nearly alike. The female 

 is slightly smaller than the male. 



This species occurs throughout the whole of South Afiica, but not abundantly in any dis- 

 trict. It is usually found on the waters of rivers, and most commonly in localities where the 

 banks are of a vegetable mould or where drift wood, &c., is accumulated in abundance. In 

 these situations it seeks its food, which consists of small Crustacea, &c., which are generally 

 found abundantly in situations circumstanced as above stated. 



In point of figure this differs considerably from the more typical species, its body being more 

 depressed and broader, its wings proportionally larger, its tail longer, and the web of the hinder 

 toe more developed. Besides differing in these respects, it also differs in some of its habits ; it 

 never congregates to form flocks, but is either observed solitary or in company with a second 

 specimen probably of the opposite sex. 



Some time ago I had an opportunity of examining a duck which was said to have been 

 brougiit from Abyssinia by Ruppej, and which at the time I was much disposed to regard 

 as identical with Anas Sparsa. Should such prove to be the case, I am inclined to believe 

 it has been named and described by that celebrated traveller; hence the name vvhicii I have 

 adopted will require to give place to that which has priority for its claim. 



