ANAS SPARSA. 
Form, &c. — Figure moderately robust ; head compressed and superiorly 
rather flat ; wings pointed, and when folded reach beyond the first half of the 
tail, the second quill feather rather the longest, the first a little shorter, the 
third rather shorter than the first, and the fourth about half an inch shorter 
than the third ; the tertiary quill feathers nearly as long as the seventh quill 
feather, — the scapularies considerably shorter than the tertiaries. Tail rigid 
and slightly rounded. Bill short and moderately broad, rather deep at the 
base, but much depressed towards the tip. Tarsi and toes moderately long 
and rather strong, the former posteriorly and laterally covered with reticulated 
scales, anteriorly towards toes with small transverse plates, the web on each 
side of middle toe, and on the insides of the outer and inner toes is covered 
with several rows of rather large flat scales, and the parts between these 
scales are studded with small detached somewhat granular scales. Claws 
short, rather strong, slightly curved and obtuse at the point. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
the tip of the tail 22 0 
of the bill to the angle of the 
mouth 2 3 
of the wings when folded 11 6 
of the tail 4 9 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsi i si 
of the outer toe i n| 
of the middle toe 2 0| 
of the inner toe 1 g 
of the hinder toe o g 
Female. — As regards colours, the two sexes are nearly alike. The female 
is slightly smaller than the male. 
This species occurs throughout the whole of South Afiica, but not abundantly in any dis- 
trict. It is usually found on the waters of rivers, and most commonly in localities where the 
banks are of a vegetable mould or where drift wood, &c., is accumulated in abundance. In 
these situations it seeks its food, which consists of small Crustacea, &c., which are generally 
found abundantly in situations circumstanced as above stated. 
In point of figure this differs considerably from the more typical species, its body being more 
depressed and broader, its wings proportionally larger, its tail longer, and the web of the hinder 
toe more developed. Besides differing in these respects, it also differs in some of its habits ; it 
never congregates to form flocks, but is either observed solitary or in company with a second 
specimen probably of the opposite sex. 
Some time ago I had an opportunity of examining a duck which was said to have been 
brought from Abyssinia by Ruppel, and which at the time I was much disposed to regard 
as identical with Anas Sparsa. Should such prove to be the case, I am inclined to believe 
it has been named and described by that celebrated traveller ; hence the name which I have 
adopted will require to give place to that which has priority for its claim. 
