AVIFAUNA OF LATSAX. 



10 



10. ANAS LAYSANENSIS, Bothsch. 



LAYSAN TEAL. 



"Eine Art Ente," Kittlitz, Mus. Senck. i. p. 124 (1834). 



Anas laysanensis, Rothsch. Bull. B. O. C. no. iv. p. xvii (1893) ; id. Ibis, 1893, p. 250. 



Male. (Whether this is in full nuptial plumage or whether there is a different plumage 

 in winter and summer I do not yet know.) Forehead deep shining brown, almost black, 

 the black tips and margins of the feathers being quite abraded ; top of head and neck 

 similar, but showing more brown on the sides; the chin shows some white feathers, and 

 there is a somewhat irregular ring of white feathers round the eye. Feathers of 11k 1 

 upper surface deep blackish brown, with more or less irregular U-shaped or rather 

 i{ obomegoid " (Ridgw. Nomencl. Col. pi. xv. fig. 8) markings of a light rusty brown ; 

 scapulars and greater wing-coverts with several cross-markings, and all the feathers with 

 more or less abraded borders of the same colour ; rump and upper tail-coverts more 

 shining black; a large speculum of deep green, more velvety black behind and on the 

 upper margin, bordered below by a broad white line. Primaries pale brown, witli pale 

 almost whitish edges. Feathers of the lower surface very pale rusty brown, with irregular 

 darker bars and spots, somewhat whitish near the shaft and base. Under wing-coverts 

 brown and rusty with a good deal of white, axillarics white witli pale brown spots. 



Adult female. Differs from the male in having more white on the chin and upper throat, in 

 having much bolder and more patch-like rusty markings on the upper surface, and in 

 the speculum being only indicated. 



"Iris brown; upper mandible blackish, green towards the edges; lower mandible bluish 

 brown, with a dull orange mark at the base ; tarsus and toes dull orange, webs brown 

 with a bluish tinge." 



Total length about 15 to 17 inches, wing 7'5 to 7*7, tail 35, culmeu 1*6, tarsus 14 to 17, 

 middle toe with claw 2, hind toe with claw 0* 1 5. 



This Duck was found by my collector on Laysan Island only. The captain who told 

 Dr. Finsch that there was a flightless Duck on Laysan Island no doubt referred to this 

 species, but on account of its extraordinary tameness he was led to believe that it could not 

 fly. It flies, however, well enough. Kittlitz, in his article, says that it was observed on 

 Laysan and Lisiansky, but Palmer did not notice it on the latter island. 



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