J. Delacour—Notes on Waterfowl



229



edition of a female Chestnut-breasted Teal, with reddish bill and legs.

It proved hardy and lived several years, but never could be paired up,

as no specimens ever came before or after. It is very scarce and local

indeed in its native island, being confined to a small area in the west.


At last the African Red-billed Pintail {A. erythrorhyncha) seems to

be well established. It is a pretty duck, reminding one of the Bahama

Pintail, but greyer. The lovely Versicolor Teal (A. versicolor) from

the Argentine, which had disappeared from live collections for a long

time, has been reimported during the last three years, and in 1935

and 1936 I have bred a good many ; they are quite easy to rear.

Hottentot Teal (A. punctata), from Africa and Madagascar, have been

brought over in fair numbers in 1929 and 1935 by Mr. C. S. Webb,

and it is to be hoped that this tiny and beautiful species will also be

estpblished, though it has not yet nested in captivity. But a drake on

Mr. Ezra’s pond crossed with a Carolina Duck, which reared two

hybrids, looking quite intermediate between the parents ; they

disappeared after a couple of years, being full-winged.


Two rare Shovellers have been introduced : the Red Shoveller

(A. platalea) from the Argentine, a pretty species now well established,

and the New Zealand Shoveller (A. rhynchotis), brought ovet by

Mr. Sydney Porter, who entrusted me with one drake and two ducks

a few have been bred last year and one again this year. They are

difficult to rear.


If we now turn to the true Geese, we are glad to say that, thanks*

to the Duke of Bedford, the lovely Red-breasted Goose ( Branta

ruficollis) is now well acclimatized ; a number are bred annually at

Woburn. The same thing can be said of the pretty Emperor Goose

(Anser canagica), which now breeds regularly with me.


The rarer American Geese, White-cheeked (. Branta occidentalis)

Hutchin’s (B. leucopareia), and Cackling ( B . minima ), are regularly

bred in captivity in America, and some have found their way into

Europe, while Wild Chinese Geese (Cygnopsis cygnoides), fine birds,

totally different from the ugly, domesticated breed, are in Messrs.

Stevens’ and my own possession.


Unfortunately, the almost extinct Sandwich Island Goose ( B.

sandvicensis) has disappeared from European collections, as also the.

curious African Black Duck ( Anas sparsa).



