OXYURA MACCOA. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to the 
base of the tail 12 6 
of the bill to the angle of the 
mouth 2 0 
of the tail 3 6 
wines when folded 6 6 
D 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 3 
outer toe, without nail ... 
2 
6 
middle toe, 
do. 
2 
4 
inner toe, 
do. 
1 
8 
hinder toe, 
do. 
0 
8 
Plate CIX. a— F emale. 
The upper and lateral parts of the head umber-brown, each feather 
narrowly tipped with yellowish brown, the sides of the head crossed with 
a distinct white bar; back and sides of neck towards head greyish white 
freckled with light brown ; part of neck towards body, interscapulars, back, 
rump, upper tail coverts, and scapulars umber-brown, the feathers finely 
barred and tipped with sienna yellow; shoulder coverts and primary, 
secondary, and tertiary quill feathers pale umber-brown, the shoulder coverts 
and the tertiary quill feathers powdered with sienna-yellow. Chin and sides 
of head inferiorly clear white; throat and breast umber-brown, all the 
feathers tipped broadly with sienna-yellow. Belly, vent, and under tail 
coverts rusty white, clouded or freckled with umber-brown; each feather 
towards its base being of the latter colour. Tail feathers brownish red ; bill 
bluish green. 
Plate CIX. b . — Young Male. 
The male bird before he begins to acquire any of the colours characteristic 
of his sex exhibits those of the female. As the change advances the colours 
of the one sex yield to those of the other, and in the specimen represented 
in the plate, it will be seen, the colour of the plumage is nearly intermediate 
between that of a female and a mature and properly coloured male. 
Inhabits lakes and rivers having a weak current, and hanks edged with reeds. It is far 
from being a common bird, either in the Colony or in the country beyond it. I obtained speci- 
mens only at Yerlorn Vley, about 100 miles to the north-west of Cape Town, and at the mouth 
of the Orange River. At the latter, I procured a female only ; at the other locality, six or 
seven males. During a residence of ten days at Verlorn Vley, I never saw a female ; there- 
fore presumed they were sitting on their eggs at the time, and only left them to feed dir-ing 
the nioht. The males were abundant, but exceedingly shy, and were only to be seen by a 
person concealed in the reeds; as from the latter, to which they generally resorted, they never 
issued into the open water when they were aware of the existence of any danger. W hilc swim 
ming, the head, the neck, and the surface of the back only are above the water ; it seldom 
attempts to fly, but dives with great readiness, continues occasionally for a long time un cr 
water, rises at a great distance from where it descends, and so it generally makes its escape. 
