BP3ÖS
W H I T E - E Y E D o r C A S TA N EOU S DUCK.
Anas leucophthalmos, Bechst.
Fuligula leucophthalmos, Steph.
Le Canard it iris blanc.
T his interesting little Duck has been several times killed in England: its occurrence, however, in the British
Isles, which is generally during winter, must be considered accidental rather than as that of a regular
visitor. It is more abundant in France, Holland and Germany, in the latter of which countries it appears to
be a periodical bird of passage. We have received it in abundance from India, especially from the elevated
range o f the Himalaya, and it appears from the accounts of Buffon and Sonnini to be equally common in the
North of Africa.
It is much less in size than the Pochard, to which it bears a close affinity. I t * the Ferruginous Duck of
Pennant and Montagu, but not of Bewick, his figure and description applying to the Anas rutila Its habits
and mannera are strictly analogous to those o f the Pochard, being an expert diver and living upon aquatic
insects, water-plants, small shell-fish, &c. Like most of the pointed-winged Ducks, its power of flight is very
considerable.
M. Temminck informs us that it constructs its nest among reeds by the sides o f laige rivers and morasses •
that the eggs are eight or ten in number, of a white colour tinged with greenish.
The sexual diversity o f plumage is not so considerable in this species as in many others of the Duck tribe.
The male has the head, neck, breast and sides of a rich bright reddish chestnut; a slight collar of deep
brown encircles the neck; beneath the lower mandible there is a small triangular spot o f pure white ; the back
and wings are o f a blackish brown with purple reflections, covered with small reddish dots; speculum white,
banded with a line of black ; under parts pure white ; beak blueish black; irides clear pearl white ■ tarsi
blueish ash colour; webs black.
The female has the head, neck, breast and sides of a dull brown, inclining to chestnut; the under parts of
an obscure brown, each feather having a light brown termination; and is destitute of the dark brown collar
round the neck.
The young of the year have the top of the head blackish brown, all the feathers o f the upper parts edged
with reddish brown, and the white of the under part clouded with a lighter tinge of the same colour.
The trachea of the male is very narrow at the top, and also just, before its termination in the inferior
larynx, but of double the diameter at the middle : the inferior larynx is formed of an osseous wall on the
right side, and on the left presents a series of bony ramifications supporting an external membrane.
We have figured a male and female two thirds of their natural size.