OCR Text |
Show 372 MESSRS. SCLATER A N D SALVIN O N [Apr. 4, Ganso bianco, Az. Ap. no. 436 (La Plata), unde Anser candidus, Vieillot, N. D. xxiii. p. 331 (1816), et Enc. Meth. p. 351 (1823). Coscoroba Candida, Reich. Nat. Syst. d. Vog. p. x. Albus; primariorum apicibus nigris; loris phimosis; rostro lato anatiformi ruberrimo, ungue cameo; iridefere nigra; pedibus rubro-carneis(aveviva) : long, tota cire. 400, ala 17*5, cauda 5*8, rostri a rictu 3 0, tarsi 3*5, dig. med. cum. ungue 5*0 (Descr. exempl. ex Chilia in Mus. S. & G.). Hab. Chili (Molina, Gay, Philippi cy Landbeck) ; Straits of Magellan (King, Cunningham); Falkland Islands (Abbott) ; Buenos Ayres (Azara, Burmeister). Burmeister observed the Coscoroba Swan in large numbers on the rivers Parana and Salado, especially in the lagoons bordering the river near Santa Fe. During the winter, he says, it keeps in flocks like our Swan. He also observed it at Mendoza aud in the large lakes of the Pampas. Azara met with only two individuals of this species in Paraguay, and a small flock at about 28° S. lat. He says, however, that it abounds in enormous flocks in the lagoons bordering the La Plata. The Coscoroba Swan is rare in Chili, according to Philippi and Landbeck, who, however, give no details respecting its range on tbe western coast, though they mention a young one having been brought to them from the Straits of Magellan. Mare harbour is the only part of East Falkland where Capt. Abbott ever saw or heard of this species. At that spot there is usually a flock of eight or ten to be seen. They breed iu the neighbourhood, young birds of about a month old having been observed. Living specimens of this Swan were brought to England in 1870 and 1871, but as yet have not reproduced. A pair made a nest in the Society's Gardens ; and eggs were laid in 1872, but no young birds were hatched. Subfamily III. ANATIN^E. Genus 1. DENDROCYGNA. Type. Dendronessa, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 281 (nee Sw.). . D. arcuata. Dendrocyyna, Sw. Class. Birds, ii. p. 365 (1837). D. arcuata. Leptotarsis, Eyt. Mon. Anatinae, p. 29 (1838) . . D. eytoni. This genus is a good example of what may be called a Tropico-politan group, being represented nearly everywhere within the tropics. In America four very distinct species are found, besides another that is scarcely more than a representative form. 1. DENDROCYGNA FULVA. Penelope mexicana, Briss. vi. p. 390 (Mexico), unde Anas fulva, G m . S. N. i. p. 530 (1788); Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 136 (1823); Max. Beitr. iv. p. 918; Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 532 |