Ordee ANSEEES.] 
[Fam. ANATID^. 
NESONETTA AUCELANDICA. 
(AUCKLAND-ISLAND DUCK.) 
'Nesonetta aucMandica, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 16 (1844). 
Ad. brunneus, vix viridi nitens, plumis tergi nonnullis nigro irroratis : alis concoloribus brunneis, secundariis 
clariore viridi nitentibus : pileo saturatiore brunueo : facie laterali tot4 et gutture toto brunneis saturatiore 
brunneo maculatis : corpore reliquo subtus rufescenti-brunneo, indistincte saturatiore brunneo maculato, 
pectoris lateribus nigro irroratis : subcaudalibus brunneis nigro terminatis : rostro nigricanti-brunneo : 
pedibus rubescenti-brunneis : iride saturate brunned. 
Adult male. Head and neck warm umber-brown, slightly glossed with green on the vertex and nape, largely 
mottled with white on the chin, and less so on the fore neck ; entire upper surface dark umber-brown, the 
feathers composing the mantle margined with chestnut-brown, and the whole of the plumage glossed in 
certain lights with metallic green, which is brighter on the upper wing-coverts ; upper part of breast, sides 
of the body, flanks, and under tail-coverts dark chestnut-broAvn ; quills and tail-feathers blackish brown, 
with a ruddy glow on the former ; there is no speculum, but the secondaries are darker on their outer webs 
and are terminally margined outwardly with fulvous white ; lower part of breast and the abdomen fulvous 
white, varied more or less with brown, especially towards the vent. Irides dark hazel ; bill blackish brown ; 
legs and feet reddish brown. Total length 15 inches; wing, from flexure, 5‘2; tail 2‘5 ; bill, along the 
ridge 1'5, along the edge of lower mandible 1'75 ; tarsus 1'2 ; middle toe and claw 2. 
Obs. The type of this species in the British Museum (which was brought home by the Antarctic Expedition) is 
slightly larger, and difPers somewhat in^its coloration, the plumage of the shoulders and the sides of the 
body being more or less vermiculated. 
The above description and the accompanying figure are taken from the only specimen of this bird in 
my collection (an adult male), which was brought from the Auckland Islands by Mr. Burton, of the 
Colonial Museum, in May 1880. 
I have never met with this species in New Zealand proper, but there is a specimen in the British 
Museum, presented by Sir George Grey when Governor of the Colony, without, however, any infor- 
mation as to locality. 
Nothing is at present known of its habits, except that, owing to the abbreviated form of its wings, 
it is quite incapable of flight. 
