802 



U. S. p. E. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY— GENEHAL EEPOET. 



glossy dark green, with violet Mu» reflections, passing behind into Wue black, which extends along the middle of the back 

 to the tail. The body posterior to the tibial region is dull black, this including the crissum, and extending in a browner 

 shade along the under surface to the jugulum. Anterior to the tibia this brown is bordered laterally and anteriorly by reddish 

 brown passing gradually into brownish buff, and then almost into white. The greenish collar on the neck is bordered posteriorly 

 by white, which widens along the sides of the cervical portion. The wing coverts are white; the exposed portion of secondaries, 

 tertials, and outer scapulars, are silvery white ; the greater portion of outer webs violet blue, and terminated with white ; the 

 inner scapulars are black, streaked with white. The under wing coverts are mostly white, as are the axillars ; the sides of 

 breast under the wings are white, with a large spot of greenish black. 



The female is dusky throughout; Ae general tint reddish brown, but the belly and crissum blackish. The feathers of the 

 lower neck all round, jugulum, and fore part of back are banded with reddish brown and blaokisji ; those of the head less 

 conspicuously so. The white of the upper surface of body and wings is restricted to the ends of greater coverts and of seconda- 

 ries ; the speculum is less brilliant. 



Length, 18.00; wing, 8.00; tarsus, 1.50; commissure, 1.82. 



Hah. — North Eastern Asia. Accidental on northwest coast of America and in Europe. 



The occurrence of this beautiful duck on our shores is a matter of much uncertainty, no 

 specimens actually taken in North America having come to my knowledge. It appears to 

 inhabit northeastern Asia, especially Kamtschatka and the Kurile islands, and to extend 

 thence into northern and western Europe. It doubtless visits the northwest coast of America, 

 where it is said by Bonaparte to be abundant ; with what foundation I do not know. 



The pair described was obtained in Eorway by Mr. Wolley, the celebrated oologist, and 

 presented to the Smithsonian Institution by the Norwich Museum, England. 



List of specimens. 



LAMPRONETTA, Brandt. 



Lampronetta, Bkandt, M^m. Acad. St. Pet., 6th series ; Sc. Nat. VI, 1849, (Pub. 1847 ?) 5. Type L. fischeri, Brandt. 

 Ch. — Bill but little elevated at the base, and rather narrowed; shorter than the head. Nail moderate. Lamellae not 

 extending below the side of bill. Feathers extending on the base of the bill, so as to pass beyond the nostrils on the culmen, and 

 bounded by a straight line from this point to the angle of the mouth crossing the posterior portion of the nasal fossa. Nostrils 

 broad, open ; situated above the middle of commissure. Tertials curved outwards over the primaries. Tail short, of 14 

 feathers. 



The characters of this genus, as given by Brandt, indicate a form closely allied to Polysticta 

 and Somateria. From the former it differs in larger nasal fossae and the greater extension 

 along the culmen of the feathers of the forehead, and the obliteration of the upper posterior 

 angle of the bill. The nail appears much less prominent than in Somateria, and the bill more 

 depressed ; if, however, the frontal processes of the base of the bill in Somateria were covered 

 with feathers to a little beyond the nostrils, the resemblance would be very close. There are 

 also points of considerable affinity to both Harelda and Camptolaemus. 

 The single species is very similar to the eider and king duck. Its character is as follows: 

 Back, wing coverts, tertials, and throat, white ; under parts, rump, tail, and primaries^ black. 

 A large black circle or quadrangle round the eye ; the back of the head and nape green, .i. fischeri. 



