I
1.11
T a b . L X X V I I .
P A R R A SINENSIS.
T his species may be (lislingiiislied not less by tbe grace and beauty o f Its form than by Its adaptation to the
localities wliich nature lias allotted It. Formed for traversing the morass and the lotus-covered surface of
the water, it supports Itself upon the floating weeds and leaves hy the extraordinary span o f the toes, aided by
the tiniisiial lightness o f its body. Like the Moor-hcii, of wliose habits and iiiaiiiicrs It largely partakes. It is
doubtless capable o f swinioiing, the long and pendent tail-feathers being elevated, when in that act, so as
not to dip 111 the water. In powers of flight it appears deficient; the ivlngs being short, and tlie quills
teruilnatcd by a slender appendage proceeding from the tip o f the shafts. Tills singular bird has been long
hnowii iis a native of tbc low lands of India and China, but w.is not supposed, until Its recent Introdnctioii
from that quarter, to have been a native of the Himalaya, where It inhabits lakes and sivamps among tlic hills.
The head, fore p a rt of the neck, and chest, are white ; a black line runs from the occiput down the sides of
the neck, bordering n large oraiige-coloiircd patch, extending from the occiput down the back of the neck to
tlie top of the back ; the shoulders, wing-coverts, and a few o f tbe outer secondaries, are w h ite ; the rest of
the pltiiiiagc a fine chocolate brown ; beak and tarsi dull greenish olive. Its total length Is 22 Inches ; the
wing, 7 ; tlie tarsus, 2+; the naked ]iart of the tlilgli, U ; the expanse o f foot from the end of tlie hiiid-toc
to the end of the middle, 5.
The bird is figured of the natural size.