Plate XOIX. 



QUERQUEDULA PUNA. 



(PUNA DUCK). 



Anas puna 

 Querquedula puna 



Tsch. Eaun. Per. Aves, p. 309. 

 Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1869, p. 157. 



Supra pallide fuscescenti-cinerea, fusco variegata, plumis medialiter obscurioribus ; pileo toto et linea nuchali 

 nigris ; alis extus fuscescenti-cinereis ; tectricibus minoribus plumbeo tinctis, et margine lato albo terminatis : secundariis 

 in pogonio externo aeneo-viridibus, albo late terminatis : subtus ochraceo-alba, pectoris plumis fusco obsolete guttatis ; 

 ventre toto et crisso nigricante minute trans-radiolatis ; tectricibus subalaribus et plumis axillaribus albis : rostro (iu 

 ave viva) coeruleo, culmine nigricante ; pedibus ccerulescenti-scbistaceis : long, tota 18"0, alae 8'5, caudse 3, rostri a 

 rictu 2*1, tarsi 1*3, dig. med. cum ungue 19. 



The first examples of this fine Duck that attracted our notice were those in the gallery of 

 the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, one of which is marked as having been obtained in the 

 province of Cochabamba in Bolivia by d'Orbigny, and the other in Chili by M. Gay. The 

 specimens were not named, and we were at first inclined to regard them as undescribed. 

 Subsequently, however, we received Peruvian skins of the same bird from Mr. H. Whitely, 

 and were thus induced to make a more accurate examination of it. This led to the discovery 

 that it is the species described by Tschudi in his " Fauna Peruana" as Anas puna, from a 

 specimen obtained by Philippi in the highlands of Peru, and transmitted to the Berlin Museum. 

 We should add that Sclater has recently examined the typical example of Anas puna in that 

 collection, and is convinced of its identity with that which we now figure. 



Mr. Whitely obtained two examples of this Duck on the lagoon of Tungasuca, which is 

 situated in the Andes south-east of Cusco, at an elevation of about 12,000 feet above the sea- 

 level. The skins are both marked as " females/' but the male would hardly differ, except, 

 perhaps, in possessing rather brighter plumage. Mr. Whitely states that in the living bird the 

 bill is light blue, with a streak of black down the centre of the upper mandible, the eye dark 

 hazel, the legs and toes bluish slate-colour. He adds that he met with this Duck in pairs, but 

 found it rather rare. 



Querquedula puna is a very well-marked species, and can hardly be confounded with any 

 other member of the family. It seems most nearly allied to Q. versicolor, but is readily 

 distinguishable by its larger and uniformly coloured bill, blacker head, whiter throat, and 

 by the finer markings above. 



July, 1869. 



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