-i 1 



Order ANSERES.] 



[Fam, ANATID^. 



QUEEQUEDULA GIBBEEIEEONS. 



(LITTLE TEAL.) 



Anas (Mareca) gihherifrons^ MuUer, Nat. Gesch. Land- en Vogelk. p. 159 (1841) 



Qiiergiiedida gihherifronSy Bonap. C. R. xliii. p. 650 (1856). 



Anas gihherifrons^ SchL Mus. Pays-Bas, Anseres^ p. 58 (1866). 



Anas gibbifrons^ Eyton, Synopsis Anat. p. 94 (1869). 



Anas gracilis, Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 41. 



Nettion gibberifrons, Gray, Hand-L of B. iii. p. 33 (1871). 



Native name, — Tete. 



/ 



Ad, supr^ brunneus^ dorsi plumis fulvescente marginatis : pileo saturatius brunneo fulvescente longitudinaliter 



notato, quasi striolato, occipite vix viridi nitente : facie laterali fiilvescenti-albida, minute brunneo 

 striolata : tectricibus alarum saturate cinerascenti-brunneis unicoloribus, majoribus ad apicem latis- 

 sime albisj fasciam conspicuam alarem exhibentibus : remigibus saturate brunneis^ secundariis extus 

 Isete velutinis^ anguste albo terminatis^ pennis duabus mediis extus nitenti-viridibus, secundariis dorsali- 

 bus intus brunncis dorso concoloribus : cauda brunnea^ rectricibus obsolete fulvescente marginatis : 

 gutture toto fulvescenti-albido^ unicolori : corpore reliquo subtus brunnescenti-fulvo^ plumis medialiter 

 satiu'ate brunncis_, quasi marmoratis^ hypochondriis magis distincte^ pectore medio et abdomine obsoletius 

 notatis : rostro pallide brunneo^ versiis apicem mandibulse flavicanti-albo : pedibus pallide brunneis : 

 iride saturate brunnea. 



Adult male. Upper surface dusky brown, with greenish reflexions; the feathers of the back and the scapu- 

 lars narowly margined with fulvous white ; crown and nape blackish brown, minutely marked with 

 fulvous white ; throat, fore neck, and sides of the head fulvous white, the latter marked with 

 sagittate spots of brown; underparts light fulvous-brown with obscure spots of a darker shade, 

 especially on the breast and sides of the body, each feather having a broad central mark of blackish 

 brown; throat and abdomen more or less tinged with cinnamon; primaries and tail-feathers dark 

 brown ; the outer portion of the upper wing-coverts pure white, forming a conspicuous bar across the 

 wing ; the secondaries velvety black, narrowly tipped with fulvous, and a speculum of shining green 

 occupying the outer webs of the three middle ones. Irides dark brown; bill pale brown, yellowish- 

 white towards the base of lower mandible; feet pale brown. Length 17 inches; extent of wings 25'5; 

 wing, from flexure, 8; tail 4 ; bill, along the ridge I'SJ" along the edge of lower mandible 1*75 ; tarsus 

 I'25 ; middle toe and claw 1*25. 



Female, Somewhat smaller than the male, and with the tints of the plumage paler. In other respects the 

 sexes are precisely alike. Length 15"5 inches; extent of wings 23'5 ; wing, from flexure, 7*5 ; tail 3'5. 



I OBTAINED my first specimens of this very rare Duck (in 1866) on the Oroiia stream, near its 



Manawatu* in the Province of Wellinsrton 



I observed that on being disturbed 



K^ 





I 



frod 



the 



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su 



ddenly 

 kept near 

 nd femal 



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a 



ye 



llow 



col< 



laftc 



>Iaiiawatu 



menin 



the 



The \ 



almost as « 

 Althc 



bution, ex 

 Australia, 



it is appr 

 species. - 

 distinct ra 

 difference 



itself of t 

 western a! 



species, i: 



with the t 



'Ibis'*; r 



several sp- 



^ ft. 



