_Anas maxima._—+Mihi.+
? _Anas boschas et Cairina moschata_; hybrid.
[124] Length 30¹⁄₄ inches, expanse 42, flexure 12¹⁄₂, tail 5¹⁄₂,
breadth of beak 1, height at base 1, rictus 2³⁄₄, tarsus 2³⁄₄,
middle toe 3¹⁄₄. Irides dark brown; feet orange, front of tarsus,
of middle and of outer toe, and claws, black; beak blackish brown,
with a bar of deeper hue. Head, chin, throat, and upper neck, deep
velvety purple, changeable to sea-green. Lower neck and fore-back
rich chocolate, with purple gloss, separated from the purple of
throat by a demi-collar of pure white. Back, wings, rump, and tail
deep purple brown, with brilliant green reflexions. Secondaries and
scapulars rich metallic green; the secondaries tipped with white;
primaries dull black; first and fourth equal, second and third
equal, longest. Breast deep chestnut, paling to greyish white on
belly, sides, and vent; the feathers on the upper belly and lower
breast, black-disked. Sides and vent minutely pencilled with dusky;
under tail-coverts black, with green gloss. Weight 4¹⁄₄ lbs.
I have ventured to give a name to the magnificent Duck described below,
notwithstanding the opinion of so high an authority as Mr. G. R. Gray,
who, on inspecting my specimen, considered it a hybrid. Though I have
the greatest respect for the judgment of that gentleman, I cannot
feel quite free from doubt on the subject for the following reasons.
At Radonda water, near Savanna le Mar, where my specimen was shot, it
seemed well known to the negro gunners, who had been accustomed to
call it _Wigeon_, and who stated that others had been lately (at the
end of February) seen in the neighbouring waters.
Robinson was acquainted with this identical species, (or variety?)
nearly a hundred years ago. “Mr. Thistlewood shot a Duck and Drake,
which he called the Wild Muscovy Duck and Drake, _not on account_ of
their resembling those birds in colour, but in size, for the Drake
equalled the Muscovy Drake, and the Duck the Muscovy Duck. The Wild
Muscovy Duck, Mr. T. says, was covered with a most elegant, beautiful
plumage, far surpassing that of any bird of this kind he ever saw.”
(MSS. ii. 86.) From an elaborate description and admeasurement, which
the Doctor afterwards gives, I find the male _agrees accurately_ with
mine, save that its expanse was 48 inches, and its tail 7¹⁄₂, the
extremity being curled upwards. _The female_ also was shot, but dived
and escaped: it was in the great pond at Egypt, (close to which mine
was obtained,) November 19th, 1753.
I leave the question thus; merely adding that the trachea of mine, (a
male) terminated in a large pear-shaped bony capsule, on the left side.
The stomach contained hard seeds of sedges, with some vegetable fibre.
The testes were comparatively small.