Order ANSERES.] [Fam. ANATID.E. 



HYMENOLiEMUS MAL ACORH YNCHUS. 



(BLUE DUCK.) 



Soft-billed Duck, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 522 (1785). 

 Anas malacorhynchus, Gin. Syst. Nat. i. p. 526 (1788, ex Lath.). 

 Malacorhynchus forsterorum, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1235. 

 Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1843, vol. xi. p. 370. 

 Anas malacorhyncha, Forster, Descr. Anim. p. 94 (1844). 



Native name. — Wio. 



Ad. ubique clare plutnbescens, pileo saturatiore, paullo brunnescente : interscapulii plumis mcdialiter nigri- 

 cantibus : gutture vix brunnescente : pectoris superioris et lateralis plumis pallide castaneo medialiter 

 notatis : subalaribus et subcaudalibus pallide castaneo lavatis : rostro albicauti-comeo, ad apicein nigro : 

 pedibus saturate bruuueis : iride lffite flava. 



Adult male. General plumage pale slate-blue, darker on tbe upper parts ; the crown of the head and nape, 

 as well as the scapulars and upper wing-coverts, olivaceous, with a slight metallic gloss ; the secondaries 

 with a narrow exterior margin of velvety black ; the breast thickly spotted with dark chestnut, of which 

 coloiu- there are also a few obscure spots on the under tail-coverts. Irides bright yellow ; bill white 

 horn-colour, the tip and the lateral membrane black ; legs and feet dark brown. Length 22 inches ; 

 extent of wings 29; wing, from flexure, 9 - 5 ; tail 4'5 ; bill, along the ridge 2, along the edge of lower 

 mandible 1*75; tarsus 2; middle toe and claw 275. 



Obs. I have observed that, as a rule, the specimens from the South Island have the pectoral markings more 

 numerous and conspicuous, and the velvety margins on the secondaries more distinct. 



Female. Slightly smaller than the male ; but similar in plumage, excepting that there is little or no metallic 

 gloss on the head and upper surface, less chestnut on the breast and more on the under tail-coverts. 



Young. General plumage lighter, and the underparts whitish; the green gloss which pervades the plumage 

 of the upper parts in the adult almost entirely absent ; hind head and nape dull cinereous brown ; 

 breast obscurely spotted with dusky and brown; under tail-coverts dull rufous brown. 



Nestling. " Bill horn-colour, lightest on the lower mandible, unguis rosy at the point ; membranous ap- 

 pendage slaty black, well overlapping the lower mandible, furnished with lamellae along its basal half, 

 which work against the finely serrated sides of the compressed basal half of the lower mandible ; body 

 covered with thick down, longest on the back ; upper surface dull green, brightest on the back ; over 

 and behind the eye irregular streaks of white; under surface white; wings and upper part of thighs 

 brownish ; tail green above, at each side a patch of chestnut; under surface of the tail chestnut; legs 

 and feet yellowish flesh-colour." — Potts. 



