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Show 3/0 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON [Apr. 4^ Anser polycomus, Cuv. in Mus. Paris; Less. Traite d'Orn. i. 627 (1831); Schl. Mus. des P.-B. Anseres, p. 95. Ansev pollicaris, Licht. in Mus. Berol. Chenalopex pollicaris, Licht. Nomencl. p. 101. Capite toto cum collo et pectore sordide albis, collo postico interscapulio fusco-nigro ; dorso antico, scapularibus et hypochondriis castaneis ; dorso imo alis et cauda purpura-scenti- nigris, secundariis quinque internis macula magna speculum alare formantibus, ornatis: tectricibus alarum viridescenti-nitentibus; abdomine medio et crisso albis, imo utrinque nigro; rostro nigro mandibula nisi in apice pedibus flavidis: long, tota 20, ala 11*5, cauda 3*7, tarsi 3*7, dig. med,. cum ungue 2*4 (Desc. spec, ex Amazonia Peruviana in Mus. S. & G.). Hab. Valley of the Amazons (Spix, Bartlett) ; Guiana (Schom-burgk) ; Orinoco (Taylor) ; Caicara, Rio Guapore et Rio Negro (Natterer). The range of the species is restricted to the low-lying districts of the valley of the Amazons, and the adjoining countries of Guiana and Venezuela on the Orinoco, where, however, especially in the former region, it would appear to be abundant. Natterer obtained eight specimens during his journey, some on the head waters of the Madeira in Matogrosso, others on the Rio Negro. Little has been recorded of the habits of this Goose. Schom-burgk met with it in pairs frequenting sand banks ; and Natterer states that the stomach of one he examined contained small seeds. This species has its nearest ally in C. agyptiaca of the African continent, with which it would appear to be strictly congeneric. Subfamily II. CYGNIN^E. Genus 1. CYGNUS. Type. Cygnus, Meyer, Tasch. d. d. Vog. ii. p. 497 (1810) C. olor. Olor, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1234 C. musicus. Chenopsis, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1234 C. atratus. Coscoroba, Reich. Nat. Syst. d. Vog. p. x. (1852) C. coscoroba. Two species of Swan, both very distinct from any of their northern congeners, are found in Antarctic America. 1. CYGNUS NIGRICOLLIS. Anas nigricollis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 502 (1788), ex Bougainville. Anas melanocephala, Gm. S. N. i. p. 502 (1788), ex Molina. Anas melanocorypha, Mol. Saggio, ed. 2, p. 199 (1810). Anser melanocoryphus, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 108 (1823) ex Molina. Cygnus nigricollis, Steph. Shaw's Zool. xii. p. 17 ; Eyton, Mon. p. 98 (1838); Hartl. Ind. Az. p. 27 ; Gay, Faun. Chil. p. 445, t. 14(1848); Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 432; La Plata-Reise, ii. p. 512; Journ. fiir Orn. 1860, p. 266, et P. Z. S. 1872, p. 365 |