(YELLOW-BILLED TEAL.)
Anas flavirostris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza). Querquedula flavirostris, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 146 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 386; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Patagonia); White, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 42 (Cordova); Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 367.
Description.—Above pale slaty brown; whole head barred across with narrow blackish bands; middle of back rufescent, with the centres of the feathers black and narrowly margined with brownish ochraceous; rump paler; a broad wing-speculum black, with a margin of ochraceous above and below, and a bronzy-green blotch in the centre; wing-feathers slaty, margins of secondaries on each side pale rufous; abdomen whitish, breast and belly distinctly spotted with black; bill yellow; culmen and tip black; feet horn-colour: whole length 15·0 inches, wing 7·5, tail 7·5. Female similar.
Hab. Argentina, Chili, and Patagonia.
In the southern part of the Argentine Republic this is one of the commonest species, and is almost invariably found in every marsh, stream, and pool of water on the pampas. It is resident, and usually goes in flocks of from a dozen to thirty individuals. It has a rapid flight, and is restless, lively, and extremely pugnacious in its habits. When a flock is on the water the birds are perpetually quarrelling. They are also highly inquisitive, and I have often shot them by first showing myself to the flock, and then standing or sitting still, when they would soon come wheeling about, flying in very close order. They quack and chatter in a variety of tones, and the male has also a clear whistling note in the love-season.
The nest of this Duck is always made at a distance from the water, sometimes as far as one or two miles. It consists of a slight hollow in the ground under a thistle-bush or tussock of long grass, and is lined with dry grass and a great deal of down, which is increased in quantity during incubation. The eggs are reddish cream-colour, and five is the usual number laid; but I have also found nests with six and seven.
[347.] QUERQUEDULA VERSICOLOR (Vieill.).
(GREY TEAL.)
Querquedula versicolor, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 146 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 388; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Patagonia); Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 274 (Entrerios). Anas maculirostris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza). Querquedula maculirostris, Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 367.
Description.—Above grey, with narrow black cross bands, which are more numerous and narrower on the rump; top of head smoky brown, sides of head and throat white; abdomen whitish, tinged with ochraceous and spotted with black on the breast, more whitish and with numerous cross bands on the belly; wings externally greyish brown; speculum purplish green, margined, with white above and below, also with a subterminal black band; flanks distinctly barred across with black and white; bill black, with an orange blotch each side at the base of the mandible; feet hazel: whole length 16·5 inches, wing 7·6, tail 3·4. Female similar, but colour duller and wing-speculum not so bright.