798 



U. 8. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPOET. 



Female with the entire head, neck, and upper parts almost black. An elongated patch behind and below the eye, (not 

 reaching it.) The outer webs of some secondaries, and the under parts, white ; the jugulum, sides, and anal region, plumbeous 

 gray. 



Length, 15; wing, 6.65; tarsus, 1.25; commissure, 1.44. 



The nostrils of this species are more posterior than in the two others described. 

 The name buffle head is a corruption of buffalo head, under which name it is mentioned by 

 Bartram, in 1791. 



List of specimens. 



HiSIRIONICUS, Lesson. 



Eiitrionims, Lesson, Man. d'Ornith. II, 1828, 415. Type Anas histrionica, L. 

 Clangvla, Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII, 1824. Not of Fleming, 1823. 

 Gosmonetta, Kahp, Entw. Europ. Thierw. 1829. 

 PhylaameOa, Brandt, Mem. Ac. St. Pet. VI, 1849. 



Ch. — Bill very small ; the culmea shorter than tarsus, tapering rapidly to the rounded tip, which is entirely occupied by the 

 nail. Nostrils small, in the anterior portion of posterior half of bill ; the centre about opposite the middle of commissure. A 

 well marked angle at the postero-superior corner of the bill. The lateral outline concave behind, the feathers on forehead 

 extending a little beyond it ; those of chin not reaching farther than those of the sides, and much posterior to the nostrils. 

 Lateral outline of edge of bill nearly straight. A membranous lobe at the base of the bill. Tertials bent outward, so as to 

 cross the edge of the wing. Tail more than half the wing ; considerably pointed ; of 14 feathers. 



This genus differs from Harelda in the more compressed, attenuated, and tapering bill; the 

 lateral outline straighter. The feathers of the sides of head and od chin do not extend so far 

 forward. The tertials are bent outwards, and the tail, though pointed^ lacks the elongation of 

 the middle feathers. The coloration is entirely different. The two, however, might, with 

 great propriety, be combined in the same genus. 



The membranous lobe at -the base of the bill is, as far as I know, peculiar among American 

 ducks. Thjs overhangs the basal portion of the commissure, and is an extension of the skin 

 of the cheeks near the base of the bill. 



The characters of the single species are as follows : 



Bluish ; the under parts mostly dull brownish. Two white spots on side of neck, two on 

 wings, and one on each side of the root of tail. Scapulars and tertials in part white ; 

 secondaries with a violet blue speculum. Sides of crown, and of body behind, chestnut. 

 Inside of wings and axillars dark brown; H. torquatus. 



