201 



BIMACULATED DUCK. 



Anas bimaculata, ..... Penhxjtt. 



Anas gJocitans, ...... G-jielin. 



Qaerqiiedula glocitans, ..... Selbt. 



Canarde ghusseur, ..... TEmrrxcK. 



Anas — A Duck. Bimaculata — Two-spotted. 



As far as we can ascertain, but six specimens of this handsome Duck have been 

 procured within the limits of these islands. Pennant mentions one as taken in a decoy, 

 in 1771. A pair in Mr. Tarrell's collection, were taken in a decoy near Maldon, in 

 Essex, in the winter of 1812-13. A fourth specimen, a male, was procured in the 

 London market, in the winter of 1842-3, by Mr. Bartlett. A fifth, a female, was 

 bought in the London market, by Mr. E. F. Tomes, of Weston, on the 9th. of December, 

 1846. The sixth and last specimen was seen in the flesh by Mr. E. Newman, in pos- 

 session of Mr. Gardener, of Oxford Street, London, on December 1st., 1849. It was a 

 male, and was taken in a decoy, but where is not mentioned. 



It has been seen in Iceland, by Mr. Procter. Mr. Thompson states that it inhabits 

 Xorthern Asia; and Mr. Tarrell says that there was a specimen "in the Chinese exhi- 

 bition, indicating that it is a bird of that country." We, however, as yet, know 

 very little as to its distribution. 



As may be judged from the above meagre records, its habits are entirely unknown, 

 and can only be conjectured to be probably somewhat similar to those of the Pintail; 

 the general form of the bird being lengthy, and the tail somewhat acuminated, as in 

 the Pintail. 



Of its note we know nothing. 



Of its food we are in equal ignorance; the only record as to the contents of the 

 stomach being that by Mr. Tomes, who says, of his specimen, "The stomach was half 

 filled with fine sand." 



Its habits of nidification, and its eggs, are also involved in obscurity. 



In the adult male the "bill is blackish grey, passing towards the base and edges into 

 orange yellow. Front, crown, and occiput, very deep reddish brown, glossed with 



