(MUSCOVY DUCK.)
Cairina moschata, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 514 (Paraná, Santa Fé, Tucuman); id. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 367; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 120; iid. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 378; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 625 (Salta).
Description.—Whole head and neck and body beneath brownish black; belly closely banded with narrow white lines; back greenish purple, with the feathers edged with black; scapulars and elongated tertials and tail bright shining green; secondaries edged with metallic blue; primaries black; upper and under wing-coverts and axillary plumes white; flanks slightly tinged with green; bill with caruncles red; feet black: whole length 29·0 inches, wing 15·0, tail 7·5. Female similar, but smaller.
Hab. Central and South America.
Everyone is familiar with this species in its domestic state, called in the Argentine country Pato creollo (Creole Duck); but the wild bird, called Pato real, is little known, although a few stragglers are seen as far south as Buenos Ayres, where I have met with eight or nine examples. Concerning the distribution and habits of this species Messrs. Sclater and Salvin write:—“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.
“Its extreme northern limit seems to be N. W. Mexico. Its southern range extends to the upper Paraná 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 corn-fields, 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.”
[344.] HETERONETTA MELANOCEPHALA (Vieill.).
(BLACK-HEADED DUCK.)
Heteronetta melanocephala, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 382. Anas melanocephala, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129; Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 64 (Buenos Ayres).