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N. Wharton-Tigar—London Zoo Notes



The Abyssinian Blue-winged Goose ( Cyanochen cyanopterus ) from

north-east Africa, dull dun and buff shades, with slaty-blue shoulders

and green speculum. The Zoo have a pair of these. No doubt the

fact that they are said to be nocturnal accounts for the curious way j

they go about, looking very humped and ill at ease ; the female is a

little smaller and has a different call.


Among the Ducks, the South African Buddy Shelduck ( Casarca

cana) differs from the Common Shelduck chiefly in having a lavender

head and neck, neckband brown instead of black, eyes yellow. The

Australian Shelduck, Mr. Laidley describes the Drake of this species

“ as one of the most handsome of all waterfowl. His head and neck

are black, with white collar at base of neck. The breast is yellowish-

chestnut, bill, legs, feet, flight feathers, and tail black ; the rest of

the bird being an iron-grey almost black finely pencilled with white 55 .


The Common Pintail [Anas acuta) are found throughout the

Northern Hemisphere, but the Bahama Pintail [Anas bahamensis)

is a native of tropical South America, the West Indies, and the Bahamas.

The American Wigeon [Anas americana) winters in the United States,

and breeds in north-west America. It is distinguished from the

common Wigeon by its vinous back and flanks, its head is pale grey

with black spots, with a white stripe on the crown and two bronzy-

green stripes from the eye to the nape. The Chiloe Wigeon ( Anas

sibilatrix) from South America is hardy and prolific, and, thanks to

its amusing habits and pretty plumage all the year round, may be

considered one of our most ornamental waterfowl (Mr. Delacour,

Aviculture , vol. ii).


The Common Pochard ( Nyroca farina), native of Europe and

southwards to India, the Tufted Pochard ( Nyroea fuligula) from the

same regions, and the Bed-crested Pochard ( Netta rufina), this is an

easy species to breed, and has the same distribution. The Bosy-billed

Pochard ( Metopiana peposaga) is a native of South America. The

Bed-billed Duck (Anas erythrorhyncha), native of Africa and Mada¬

gascar, is rare in confinement.


The Zoo have two varieties of the Tree or Whistling Duck, the

Fulvous ( Dendrocygna fulva), a bird with a very wide distribution,

inhabiting parts of the old as well as the new world. The Black-billed



