135 



[Vol. xliii. 



Types. S , Shuitang, S.E. Yunnan, 1 May, 1921. 

 ? , Mengtz, „ „ 3 Nov., 1920. 



Obs. This is the resident race in S.E, Yunnan. 



Mr. P. F. BcjNYARD exhibited mounted specimens of nest- 

 feathers and down, and also a clutch of ten eggs, of Lesser 

 Scaup Duck {Nyroca affinis) from Mirror, Alberta, Canada, 

 collected by Greo. L. Cook on 14th July, 1920, and made the 

 following remarks : — 



If confirmatory evidence is necessary, a comparative study 

 of the eggs, feathers, and down of two such closely allied 

 species as the Scaup and Lesser Scaup Ducks would certainly 

 and to a very great extent confirm the validity of the latter 

 species, considered by some Ornithologists as somewhat 

 doubtful. As is also its claim to be considered a British 

 Bird :— 



Scaup (iV. marila). 



Feathers : terminal portion white, 

 downy portion pale brown, 

 sometimes pale brown with 

 whitish centrum. 



Measurements 32 mm. 



Down chocolate-brown. 



Eggs, measurements : 35 eggs, 



67'9x45-6mm. (Tie?/). 

 Weights: 35eggs, o-795g. (J2ey). 



Lesser Scaup {N. affinis). 



Feathers : terminal portion white, 

 downy portion pale greyish 

 brown. 



Measurements 30 mm. 



Down brownish black, considerably 

 smaller than that of iV. marila. 



Eggs, measurements : 10 

 54-05 X 38-6 mm. [Bunyard) 



Weights : 10 eggs, 4*091 g. {Bun- 

 yard). 



Measurements ( Chapman) : 2"25 X 

 1-58 in. 



eggs, 



It will be seen from the above that the eggs and down of 

 N. affinis are smaller, the nest-feathers do not differ much in 

 size ; the eggs, however, are considerably lighter and paler 

 in colour. 



Mounted feathers and down of N. marila were also 

 exhibited. 



