Okdee ANSERES.] 
[Eam. ANATID^ 
HYMENOLJIMUS MALACOEHTNCHTJS. 
(BLUE DUCK.) 
Soft-billed Duck, Lath. Gen. Syn. in. pt. 2, p. 522 (1785). 
Anas malacorhynchus, Gm. Syst. Nat, i. p. 526 (1788, ex Lath.). 
Malacorhynchus forsterorum, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1235. 
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus. Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1843, vol. xi. p. 370. 
Anas malacorhynchus, Forster, Descr. Anim. p. 94 (1844). 
Native name. — Wio. 
Ad. uhique dare plumbescens, pileo saturatiore, paullo brunnescente : interscapulii plumis medialiter nigricantibus, 
gutture vix brunnescente : pectoris superioris et lateralis plumis pallide castaneo medialiter notatis : subalari- 
bus et subcaudalibus pallide castaneo laratis : rostro albicanti-corneo, ad apicem nigro : pedibus saturate 
brunneis : iride late flavd. 
Adult male. General plumage pale slate-blue, darker on the upper parts ; the crown of the bead and nape, as 
well as the scapulars and upper wing-coverts, olivaceous, with a slight metallic gloss ; the secondaries with a 
narrow exterior margin of velvety black ; the breast thickly spotted with dark chestnut, of which colour 
there are also a few obscure spots on the under tail-coverts. Irides bright yellow ; bill white horn-colour, 
the tip and the lateral membrane black ; legs and feet dark brown. Length 32 inches ; extent of wings 39 •, 
wing, from flexure, 9'5 ; tail 4‘5 ; bill, along the ridge 2, along the edge of lower mandible 1'75; tarsus 3 ; 
middle toe and claw 2‘75. 
Obs. I have observed that, as a rule, the specimens from the South Island have the pectoral markings more 
numerous and conspicuous, and the velvety margins on the secondaries more distinct. 
Female. Slightly smaller than the male, but similar in plumage, excepting that there is little or no metallic 
gloss on the head and upper surface, less chestnut on the breast, and more on the under tail-coverts. 
Young. General plumage lighter, and the underparts whitish ; the green gloss which pervades the plumage ol 
the upper parts in the adult almost entirely absent ; hind head and nape dull cinereous brown ; breast 
obscurely spotted with dusky and brown, sometimes barred with chestnut at the insertion of the wings ; 
under tail-coverts dull rufous brown. 
Nestling. “ Bill horn-colour, lightest on the lower mandible, unguis rosy at the point, membraneous appendage 
slaty black, well overlapping the lower mandible, furnished with lamellse along its basal half, which work 
against the finely serrated sides of the compressed basal half of the lower mandible j body covered with thick 
down, longest on the back ; upper surface dull green, brightest on the back ; over and behind the eye 
irregular streaks of white ; under surface white ; wings and upper part of thighs brownish ; tail green above, 
at each side a patch of chestnut ; under surface of the tail chestnut ; legs and feet yellowish flesh-colour.^’ 
— Potts. 
Far up the mountain-gorge, where the foaming torrent, walled in on both sides, rushes impetuously 
over its shingle-bed, surging around the huge waterworn boulders that obstruct its course, and 
forming alternately shallow rapids and pools of deep water, there the Blue Duck is perfectly at home. 
