144 





M1CROPTERCS BRACHYPTERCS. 



Mie. — Cinereus, subtus albus ; macula ferrugiuea gutttirc. 



SHORT-WINGED MICROPTERUS. 



Grey micropterus, with the helly white ; a ferruginous patch on the throat. 



IN. IN. IN. 



Length 27 Bill 2 Tarsi 2± 



Grey, with the head and neck lighter ; a ferruginous tinge on the throat ; belly and wing spot 

 white ; legs and bill orange ; nail black. 



^inas hrachyptera Lath. Syn. 6. 439. 



Voyage autour du mondc Frey, p. 39. 



Oiscaux ff rises, ou ois. deplein Pernet Voy. II. eh. xiw p. 21. 



The specimen from which the above description was taken is in the museum of the Zoological 

 Society, and was obtained from the Straits of Magellan ; they also inhabit the Falkland and 

 Staaten Islands. We have considerable doubts as to the propriety of making this and the preceding 

 distinct species. Both are destitute of the powers of flight, merely using their wings to flapper 

 over the surface of the sea. They are also bad divers, obtaining their living almost entirely by 

 breaking shell-fish along the water-mark : hence the head is so strong, that Mr. Danvin informs 

 us he had great difficulty in breaking one with his zoological hammer. 



The tube of the trachea much resembles that of a true pochard ; the inferior larynx approaches, 

 however, nearer to that of those geese which have bulbs on that part than to any other form with 

 which we are acquainted ; consequently also to the wading ducks, from which it may be distin- 

 guished by being much stronger. 



MELANITTA AMERICANA. 



Mel. Mas. — Sequent] similis, sed tubercula ad basim rostri aurantiaca. 



AMERICAN SCOTER. 

 Male, duck similar to the following, but with the tubercle at the base of the bill entirely orange. 



IN. IN. 



Length 19 Middle toe 3 



Bill If Outer toe 2| 



Tarsi 2f Inner toe 2f 



