Okdee ANSEKES.] [Fam. ANATID^. 



QUEKQUEDIILA GIBBEEIFKONS. 



(LITTLE TEAL.) 



Anas (Mareca) gibberifrons, Miiller, Nat. Gesch. Land- en Vogelk. p. 159 (1841). 



Querquedula gibberifrons, Bonap. C. B. xliii. p. 650 (1856). 



Anas gibberifrons, 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-1. of B. iii. p. 33 (1871). 



Native name. — Tete. 



Ad. supra brunneus, dorsi plumis fulvescente marginatis : pileo saturatius brunneo fulvescente longitudinaliter 

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

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

 sime albis, fasciam conspicuam alarem exbibentibus : remigibus saturate brunneis, secundariis extus 

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

 bus intus brunneis dorso concoloribus : cauda brunnea, rectricibus obsolete fulvescente marginatis : 

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

 saturate brunneis, quasi marmoratis, bypocbondriis magis distincte, pectore medio et abdomine obsoletius 

 notatis : rostro pallide brunneo, versus apicem mandibulse flavicanti-albo : pedibus pallide brunneis : 

 iride saturate brunne&. 



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 najie 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 1"5, along the edge of lower mandible 1*75 ; tarsus 

 1*25; middle toe and claw l - 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 Oroua stream, near its 

 junction with the Manawatu, in the Province of Wellington. I observed that on being disturbed 



