RHYNCHASPIS CAPENSIS. 
not quite so long as the third, the tertiary quill feathers about the same 
length as the fifth primary quill feather. Tail rather rigid and slightly 
rounded, the feathers generally pointed. Bill rather long, narrow, and at 
base of considerable depth, flat anteriorly, and broadest towards tip ; nail at 
apex of upper mandible well developed ; nostrils oval and rather large, 
ciliated processes on inner side of edges of upper mandible strongly deve- 
loped. Legs and toes short and rather slender ; the tarsi latterly and behind 
covered with small reticulated scales, anteriorly towards base of middle toe 
with rudimentary plates. Toes covered with oblique transverse plates ; the 
web reaches to the base of the claws, and on the inner side of the outer and 
inner toes, and on each side of the middle toe, is covered with several rows of 
small scales ; claws short, slightly curved, and rather blunt. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
the tip of the tail 21 0 
of the bill to the angle of the 
mouth 2 8 
of the wings when folded ... 1 0 6 
of the tail 4 0 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 6 
of the outer toe 1 7-J 
of the middle toe 1 8 
of the inner toe 1 3 
of the hinder toe 0 5 | 
Young . — The light colours of the head, neck and body are more rusty than 
those of the adult, and the brown lighter and with less lustre. The shoulder 
coverts are pale brownish red glossed with greyish blue, the secondary quill 
coverts only narrowly tipped with white ; the outer vanes of the secondary 
quill feathers only slightly glossed with shining blackish green, and hence no 
distinct wing speculum exists. Base and portion of bill towards apex umber- 
brown, centre light reddish brown, sides oil-green, finely powdered with 
umber-brown. 
This duck occurs abundantly in the marshes and on the small lakes which exist in the Cape 
district, but more sparingly in the interior, excepting in the neighbourhood of the towns of 
Worcester and Uiteuhage. 
