64 
Mr. H. Durnford on the Birds of 
ground they stand in an exceedingly upright position. The 
Ducks supplied to the ships and steamboats in the port are 
principally of this species, and a large number are disposed 
of in this way. 
^ 30. Dendrocygna viduata (Linn.) ; Nomen cl. p. 129. 
I have never shot this bird; but it is brought into the 
market in the winter in large numbers from the south, where 
it must be numerous at this season. Beak and legs black. 
31. Anas melanocephala, Vieill.; Nomencl. p. 129. 
Rare : the only time I have met with this Duck was on 
the 9th September 1876, whilst shooting in the reed-beds at 
Alvear, about twenty miles to the N.W. of Buenos Ayres, 
where I flushed a male and female, and shot the latter. Iris 
wood-brown. 
32. Querquedula brasiliensis (Gm.); Ibis, 1877, p. 192. 
On the 29th October 1876, whilst endeavouring to get at 
a nest of Conurus patagonus in a steep barranca,’^ about 
twenty miles to the north-west of Buenos Ayres, two of these 
Ducks flew from a cleft in the cliff about eighteen feet from 
the ground. Though we were unable to reach the spot, I have 
no doubt they were nesting here, and I subsequently observed 
two more birds on the top of the cliflP. 
33. Dafila spinicauda (Vieill.); Ibis, 1877, p. 192. 
On the 19th November 1876 I met with a brood of these 
Ducks in the Las Conchas, near Moreno. On coming upon 
them unexpectedly, quietly reposing on the water with their 
mother, the latter immediately feigned lameness, to draw me 
away. I had to strip and plunge into the stream, and after 
hard work, swimming for nearly an hour, secured four; the 
brood consisted of about ten. 
Head above dull brown, lightest towards the base of the 
upper mandible, sides grey. Behind the eye is a short white 
streak, beneath this a rufous-brown streak, and lower still 
grey. Back and tail dull brown, tips of the feathery down 
on the wings white. Upper part of chest inclining to pale 
rufous, remainder of chest, throat, and stomach white. Flanks 
