120 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFOENIA 



that individuals of this species bred iu the marshes near Stockton. 

 But since this belief was based on sight determination, it can hardly 

 be given weight as conclusive evidence. This duck certainly cannot 

 be considered as more than an extremely rare straggler within the 

 borders of the state, if it now occurs here at all. 



In habits the European Teal doubtless so nearly resembles the 

 Green-winged Teal that the account of the latter will serve to give a 

 fair idea of the former. One of the peculiar habits for which the 

 European Teal is especiall}^ noted in England may be mentioned 

 however. "When startled it flies up almost perpendicularly to a con- 

 siderable height, then starts off in a straight line, afterwards return- 

 ing at a great height. When about to alight the birds dive down 

 almost perpendicularly from overhead. Their speed in flight is said 

 to be remarkable, and has been estimated at over a hundred miles an 

 hour. Millais (1902, p. 82) says: "Whilst on the wing the male 

 occasionalh^ utters his low double whistle, but Teal are silent birds 

 at all times, and the female rarely calls unless frightened, such as 

 when the brood is threatened, when she emits a subdued little quack." 



Blue-winged Teal 



Querquedida discors (Linnaeus) 



Other names — White-faced Teal; Anas discors. 



Description — Adult male: Head and neck dull lead color, slightly glossed 

 with purplish on the sides; top of head from base of bill to hind neck, black; 

 conspicuous crescent on side of head extending from above eye around in 

 front of eye and downwards and backwards past chin, white, bordered with 

 blackish; chin black; bill "bluish-black"; iris "dark hazel" (Audubon, 1843, 

 VI, p. 291); upper surface dark brown, the feathers lighter-edged, and those 

 of back and scapulars variegated with horseshoe-shaped markings of light 

 rusty brown; rump and tail nearly uniform dark brown, but with pale feather 

 edgings; forepart of outer surface of closed wing pale blue; flight feathers 

 dark brown; tertials long and narrow and striped with light rusty brown and 

 black; speculum metallic green, bordered in front by a white bar, above by a 

 blackish stripe, and behind by a very narrow white border; most of lining of 

 wing, and axillars, pure white; under surface of body and sides, reddish brown, 

 spotted with black; under tail coverts brownish black; spot at base of tail on 

 each side, white; under surface of tail feathers, ashy; feet "dull yellow," 

 webs "dusky," claws "brownish black" (Audubon, loc. cit.). Total length 

 (both sexes): "14.50-16.00" inches (368-407 mm.) (Eidgway, 1900, p. 92). 

 Males: folded wing 7.50 (190) (adult), 7.00 (178) (immature); bill along 

 culmen 1.55 (39.4) (adult), 1.52 (38.6) (immature) ; tarsus 1.22 (31.0) (adult), 

 1.17 (29.7) (immature); one specimen of each from California. Adult female: 

 Upper surface dark brown, with dull buff feather edgings; sides of head and 

 neck finely streaked with same color; stripe before and behind eye, dusky; 

 rest of head and neck pale brownish white; chin and throat almost pure 

 white; bill, iris, and outer surface of closed wing as in adult male, but green 

 of speculum much duller and tertials colored like back; under surface of body 



