EUROPEAN TEAL. 61 



inner secondaries, primary quills, and coverts, are brownish- 

 grey ; the outer secondary coverts are reddish-white toward 

 the end ; the speculum velvet-black externally, edged behind 

 with white, bright green, changing to purple internally, one 

 of the inner scapulars externally edged with black. The 

 upper tail-coverts are black, edged with yellowish-grey ; the 

 tail-feathers brownish-grey, edged with paler. A portion of 

 the low^er part of the neck is barred anteriorly as well as 

 behind, the rest, with part of the breast, yellowish-white, 

 with roundish black spots ; the hind part of the breast white ; 

 the sides and abdomen white, undulated with grey. Under 

 the tail are two lateral cream-coloured patches, and a medial 

 black space. The axillar feathers, and some of the lower 

 wing-coverts are white, the rest grey. 



Length to end of tail 14|- inches ; extent of wings 24 ; 

 wing from flexure 7^ ; tail 3^ ; bill along the ridge H ; along 

 the edge of lower mandible 1^ ; its height at the base -j^ ; 

 its breadth generally ^ ; near the end -^ ; tarsus 1^ ; hind 

 toe yVj its claw -j-\ ; second toe \^ ; its claw -^ ; third toe 

 1-^, its claw ^ ; fourth toe l-pj, its claw -^. 



Female. — The female has the bill blackish-green ; the 

 feet bluish-grey ; the head light brown, streaked with dusky ; 

 the back dark brown, each feather with two transverse bands 

 of brownish-yellow ; the speculum velvet-black externally, 

 bright green internally ; neck anteriorly yellowish-brown, 

 with darker transverse shades ; the breast white ; the rest of 

 the lower parts brownish-white, spotted with brown. 



Length to end of tail 13 inches ; extent of wings 22 ; 

 Tiding from flexure 1^ ; tail 3^ ; bill along the ridge 1-j^ ; 

 tarsus l-2j ; middle toe 1 j*-j, its claw -f-^. 



Habits. — The Teal frequents marshy places, the margins 

 of lakes and rivers, seldom betaking itself to estuaries, or the 

 open sea-coast, unless in time of frost. It walks with ease, 

 swims with the greatest dexterity, has a very rapid flight, 

 and is in every way remarkably active. Its food consists 

 of seeds of grasses, slender rhizomata, -which it pulls up from 

 the mud, insects, mollusca, and worms. It rises from the 



