' - I f f
P l a t e XOIX.
QÜERQÜEDÜLA PUNA.
(PUNA DUCK).
An a s puna
Qucrquedula p u n a
Tsch. F a u n . P e r. Aves, p . 309.
Scl. e t Salv. P.Z.S. 1SG9, p. 157.
S u p rà p a llidè fuacescenti-cinerea, fusco variegata, p lumis med ialite r obscurioribus ; p ü eo to to e t lin e â n u ch ali
n ig ris • alis extùs fuscescenti-cinereis ; te ctric ib u s m inoribus plumbeo tin c tis , e t m argine lato albo te rm in a tis : se cundarus
in pogonio ex tern o æneo-viridibus, albo la te te rm in a tis : su b tù s ocliraceo-alba, p e ctoris plumis fusco obsolete g u tta tis ;
v e n tre to to e t crisso n ig ric an te min u té tran s -rad io la tis ; te c tric ib u s su b a larib u s e t plumia a iilla rib u s albis : ro s tro (lu
ave viva) coeruleo, culmine n ig ric a n te ; p ed ibu s coerulescenti-schistaceis : long, to tâ 18'0, al© 8 '5 , caud© 3, r o s tr i a
r ic tu 2 1 , ta rs i l '3 , dig. med. cum u n g u e l ’9.
The first examples o f this fino Duck that attracted onr notice were those in the gallery of
the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, one o f which is marked as having been obtained in the
province o f Cochahamha in Bolivia by d'Orbigny, and tbe otber in Chili b y M. Gay. The
speoimens were not named, and we were at first inclined to regard them as undescribed.
Subsequently, however, we received Peruvian skins o f the same bird from Mr. 11. Wliitely,
and wore thus indneod to make a more accurate examination o f it. This led to the discovery
tbat it is the species described by Tschudi in his “ Fauna Peruana” as A m s puna, from a
specimen obtainod by Philippi m the highlands o f Peru, and transmitted to the Berlin Museum.
We should add that Sclater has recently examined the typical example o f Anas puna in that
collection, and is oonvlnood o f its identity witb that which we now figm'e.
Mr. Whltoly obtained two examples o f this Duek on the lagoon o f Tungasnca, which is
situated in the Andes south-east o f Cusco, at an elevation o f about 12,000 feet above the sea-
level. The skins are both marked as “ females,” but the male would hardly differ, except,
perhaps, in possessing rather brighter plumage. Mr. Whitely states that in the living bird the
b ill is light blue, witli a stoeak o f black down tbe centre o f the upper mandible, the eye dark
hazel, the legs and toes bluish slate-colour. H e adds that he met with this Duck iu pairs, but
found it rather rare.
Querquedula pu na is a very -vvell-marked species, and can hardly be confounded with any
other member o t the family. It seems most nearly allied to Q. versicolor, but is readily
distinguishable by its larger and uniformly coloured bill, blacker head, whiter throat, and
by tbe finer markings above.
JULT, 1SG9.