208 ANATIU^.. 



The Mallard is found throughout the northern regions of hoth hemispheres, and in 

 the winter season visits more southern latitudes. 



It is found more often on inland waters than on the sea-coast, its food consisting 

 largely of grass-seeds, rice, roots of plants, &c., as well as worms, small shell-fish, 

 and insects. The nest is made of grasses, and generally placed on the ground not far 

 from water, though occasionally the bird will build in a tree. The eggs are from six 

 to eight in number, of a greenish- white colour. 



2. Anas diazi. 



Anas diazi, Ridgw. Auk, 1886, p. 332 ' ; Ferrari-Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 171 ' ; Salvad. 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 204 '. 



Supra brunnescenti-nigra, plumis singulis saturate fulvo marginatis ; pileo plumis nigricantibus, arenario 

 anguste marginatis ; fascia fusca oculum trarseunte ; genis cum capitis lateribus colloque arenariis, nigro 

 an<niste striolatis ; loris, mento et gutture albicanti-f olvis coneoloribus ; corpore subtus reliquo brunnes- 

 centi nigro, plumis singulis nigricantibus late fulvo marginatis ; tectricibns alarum minoribus dorso 

 coneoloribus, majoribus brunneis, fascia duplici alba nigraque terminatis ; primariis brunnescenti-nigris, 

 externe pallidioribus ; secundariis externe speculo saturate C3'anescenti-viridi omatis, fascia subterminali 

 nigra, altera apicali alba ; axiUaribus et subalaribus a] bis : rostro olivascenti-flavo, culmine saturatiore, 

 un^ue nigricante, mandibulee basi hand nigro maculata ; pedibus saturate aurantiacis ; iride saturate 

 brunnea. Long, tota circa 19'5, ate lO'O, caudae 4'0, culm. 2*05, tarsi 1-6. (Descr. maris adulti ex 

 Puebla. Mus. nostr.) 



(5 feminae similis, sed pauUo major. 



Hah. Mexico, Laguna del Eosario, Tlaxcala and San Ysidro, Puebla (Ferrari- 

 Perez ^ 2 ^). 



We possess an adult female of this Mexican Duck, obtained by Ferrari-Perez in 

 Puebla, where he also procured the type specimens. 



This species is said by Mr. Ridgway to be most like A. fulvigula from Florida, but 

 the last row of wing-coverts has a distinct subterminal band of white, and the 

 secondaries a broad terminal bar of the same. The general colour is also much less 

 fulvous, and the cheeks are streaked with dusky ; there is no black spot on the lower 

 basal angle of the upper mandible. 



3. Anas aberti. 



Anas ofocwra, Duges (nee Gm.), La Nat. i. p. 143^; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. ii. 



p. 314^ Sol. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 380' (part.) ; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 187, 328 



(1888) \ 

 Ams aberti, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 250 " ; ix. p. 173 " ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 



xxvii. p. 204''. 



A. diazi similis, sed multo minor, et secundariis fascia alba (0'35) distincta terminatis, sed tectricibus 

 secundariorum minime albo fasciatis ; tectricibus minoribus brunnescenti-schistaceis, sordide brunneo 

 marginatis, tectricibus medianis extus velutino-nigris, fasciam distinctam formantibus : rostro flavescenti- 

 brunueo, culmine saturatiore, ungue fuscescente ; pedibus flavis. Long, tota circa 16'0, alee 8'5 

 caudas 3-25, culm. 1-65, tarsi 1-3. (Descr. ex scriptis E. Ridgway.) 



