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Show 1876.] NEOTROPICAL ANATIDAE. 379 elongatis cum cauda leete viridi-nitentibus; secundariis chalybeo-caruleo indutis ; primariis nigris ; tectricibus alarum omnibus supra et subtus cum plumis axillaribus pure albis; hypochondriis viridi vix tinctis ; rostri carunculis rubris, pedibus nigris: long, tota 29*0, ala 15*0, cauda 7A, rostri a rictu 2*6, tarsi 2*3, dig. med. cum ungue 3*8 (Descr. maris ex Guatemala, in Mus. S. & G.). Fern, mari similis sed minor: long, tota 25*0, ala 12*5, cauda 5*5, rostri a rictu 2*3, tarsi 1*8, dig. med. cum ungue 2*9. Hab. Paraguay (Azara) ; Parana and Tucuman (Burmeister) ; Lagoa Santa (Reinhardt) ; Bolivia (D'Orbigng) ; Peru (Tschudi) ; Brazil (Maximilian, Burmeister) ; Amazonia (Bartlett, Hauxwell) ; Guiana (Schomburgk); Trinidad (Leotaud) ; Panama (M'Leannan); Honduras (Taylor); Guatemala (Salvin); Mexico (Grayson, Xantus). The Muscovy Duck, so well known in a domestic state nearly all over the world, is a native of the hottest portion of tropical America. It is usually found in lowland swampy districts ; and where, there are extensive forests it not unfrequently abounds. During the day the birds remain in the forest-swamps; but towards evening numbers may be seen sitting on the lower boughs of trees standing on the margin of a clearing. In Guatemala, Salvin found this Duck abundant on the Pacific coast in lagoons near Santana Mixtan and also at Huamuchal. It is likewise met with on the Atlantic side on the Rio Polochic, and also between Lake Peten and Lake Yax-ha. Its extreme northern limit seems to be N.W. Mexico, where Col. Grayson found it at Mazatlan, and Xantus at Rio Zacatula. Its southern range extends to the upper Parana and Tucuman. It is not uncommon in Paraguay, according to Azara, although not found on the La Plata. It is to be seen usually in pairs or singly, but also in flocks of twenty or thirty. It always roosts in trees, usually resorting to the same trees night after night. The nest, in which from ten to fourteen eggs are deposited, is made in a hole or fork of a large tree at some elevation from the ground. It seeks its food not only in the rivers, but on moonlight nights resorts to the maize and cornfields and also plucks up the roots of mandioca. The native habitat of the Muscovy Duck was known to some of the earliest writers. The date of its introduction as a domesticated species into Europe and elsewhere does not appear to have been recorded, but doubtless dates back to soon after the Spanish conquests in America. Genus 4. ANAS. Type. Anas, Linn. S. N. i. p. 194 (1766) A. boschas. Boschas, Sw. Class. B. ii. p. 367 (1857) A. boschas. Chauliodus, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Amer. p. 440 (1831) A. strepera. Ktinorhynchus, Eyton, Mon. Anat. p. 137 (1838) A. strepera. Chaulelasmus, G. R.Gray; Pr. Bonap. Geog. Comp. List of B. p. 58 (1838) A. strepera. Five species of true Anas (or, at least, not yet separated from the |