The Andamans and Nicobars. — V. Ball. 89 



I have no doubt^ was the original sent by Colonel Tytler^ and 

 reported to have been lost. Colonel Tytler writes : — 



" It was quite a new species, brown, with blue wings, and, 

 from the best of my recollection, somewhat like Q. ipecuteri, 

 (VieiUot) of South America.'-' 



The collection made recently by Dr. Dobson contained several 

 specimens, both of males and females; the former iq' non-breeding 

 plumage, which is very similar to that of the latter. Witti 

 Mareca punctata, as described and figured by Gould, they agree 

 very well, save that there is a small white patch surrounding the 

 eye in all our specimens. Two of the specimens show an inci- 

 pient stage towards the full breeding plumage (described below), 

 scattered patches of bright ferruginous or chesnut appearing on 

 the feathers of the breast and abdomen. 



As this bird has not been previously obtained in India, I give 

 Mr. Gould's description in full (H. B. A., 365) :—■" The adult 

 male in the spring of the year has the head and neck of a 

 rich deep changeable bronzy-green ; the whole of the upper 

 surface rich brown, narrowly margined with light reddish-brown ; 

 all the under surface chesnut, with a round spot of black 

 near the tip of each feather ; greater wing-coverts white, 

 outer webs of the secondaries deep rich velvety -black, two or 

 three of the central feathers margined with bronzy reflec- 

 tions ; remainder of the wings brown ; tail dark-brown ; on 

 either side of the vent a patch of white ; under tail-coverts 

 black, freckled with tawny and white ; bill bluish-lead colour ; 

 the nail and the edges of the upper mandible black, and the 

 under mandible crossed near the tip by a band of reddish flesh- 

 colour; irides hazel; feet lead colour, with the membranes of a 

 somewhat darker hue. 



" The female, the male in winter, and the young male of the 

 year, have the head and neck minutely striated with brown and 

 buffy white ; all the under surface brown, with a blotch of black 

 in the centre of each feather, and the upper surface wings and 

 tail similarly marked, but less brilliant than in the male. 



" There appear to be two very distinct races of this bird, one of 

 which is much larger than the other ; so great, in fact, is the 

 difierence in this respect, in specimens from various parts of the 

 country, that the idea presents itself of their being really distinct 

 species. The smaller race inhabits Tasmania; the larger, the 

 western and southern portion of Austraha." 



Measurements of Andaman birds : — 



$ Wing 7*5 ; tail 3-25; bill at front 1*5 ; tarse 1'3 inches. 

 P ? „ 71; „ 3-1; „ „ 1-4; „ IS „ 



