722. N et tapus a o r ito s (Bodd.). African Dwarf Goose.
Nettapus madagascariensis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 348.
This lovely little Goose may at once be known by its brilliant
colouring, particularly by the green patch on each side of the neck
of the male. It is abundant at Natal, where a friend informs us it
swims in such large flocks, that he has killed from ten to fourteen in
m a single discharge of a common fowling-piece. Mr. Chapman
found it equally abundant in his travels to the northward. A fine
pair were killed by Mr. J. Nightingale* on a small vley near
Alexandria m 1868, and presented to the South African Museum ;
it has also been obtained at Grahamstown and beyond the Kei by
Mr. W. Bowker. Captain Trevelyan informs us that he saw the
skm of one of these birds which had been shot in British Caffraria
about seventeen miles from Kingwilliamstown.
In Natal Mr. Ayres says they are gregarious, frequenting the lakes
and rivers near the coast, but Majors Butler and Fielden and Capt.
Beid state that they were disappointed in not meeting with the
species, and it appears to be irregular in its visits to Natal. Mr.
Ayres states that a pair were shot on the Vaal Eiver in April, about
fourteen miles from Potchefstroom. Sir John Kirk writes concerning
its occurrence in the Zambesi district: “ Native name ‘ Sequin.'
This beautiful bird is confined to lagoons near the rivers and lakes,
being very seldom to be seen on the main waters. It occurs in pairs
and in flocks of from eight to ten. When disturbed, it flies along
the water, following all its windings, never crossing the country. Its
habits are entirely aquatic. ‘ It dives, and remains long under the
surface, and is very difficult to obtain when wounded, getting
entangled in tlie weeds at the bottom/*
Mr. Andersson says : “ I have only observed this handsome little
Goose on Lake N’gami and its watersheds, where it is not uncommon.
I t is met with in small flocks and is not very shy. It is
exceedingly fat at certain seasons, and is pretty good eating.”
Senor Anchieta has met with it at Humbe on the Cunene Eiver and
at Huilla in Benguela.
Adult male. Upper parts, shining black green, with a longitudinal
white stripe along the wing; under parts white; chest, flanks, and
sides rufous, the first transversely marked with narrow black bars;
front of head, cheeks, and throat, white; top of head shining black
green; on each side of the neck a large dead green patch, surrounded
by the black green of the head. Length, 14"; wing, 6"; tail, 2" 9".
The females and young males want the green patch on the sides
of the neck. According to Mr. Andersson the iris is “ bluish in the
male; the bill rich orange, inclining to livid on the edges of the
lower mandible, the ‘ nail ’ of the u p p e r mandible horn-colour; the
legs and toes are shining black, tinged with dusky yellowish on the
outer toes and the outer side of the legs. In the female the bill
differs from that of the male in the upper mandible being dusky olive,
with a greenish orange patch on the lower part of the base, and a
small livid spot on each side of the ‘ nail.5 ”
Fig. Daubent, PI. Enl. 770.
723. D e n d r o c y g n a v i d u a t a (L.). White-masked Duck.
This curiously marked Tree-Duck (which is easily distinguished
from all other species by its half-white face) is occasionally met with
in Natal, to which place it doubtless wanders from the Zambesi,
where it is common. We found it also abundant in Madagascar, in
the swamps and rice-fields, and very easy of approach. The habit
of perching on trees resembles that of the allied D. arcuata of
India.
In Natal, Mr. Ayres says, it is gregarious, frequenting the lakes
and rivers near the coast. Mr. Barratt shot one near Potchefstroom,
where, however, it is rare. Sir John Kirk states that it is very
abundant in all marshy lands in the Zambesi district, large flocks
arriving with the rains in November and December, but the
species never entirely deserts the Zambesi region: it breeds in the
marshes and on islands. Its favourite food is the seed of the
Nymphcea. During the night the various flocks pass to and fro,
uttering a frequently repeated clear whistling note. The flesh is
particularly fine; and settling in dense masses on the mud-banks,
they can be had in great numbers from a canoe while passing
the marshy regions, in which the large game are so difficult to
procure.
Mr. Andersson observes: “ This Duck, which congregates in
immense flocks, is exceedingly common in the Lake-regions and
on the Eiver OkavaDgo; in the latter locality it is seen most
abundantly during the annual inundation, when much of the
usually dry land which abuts upon the river is converted into