THE



225



Bvtcultural fllbagastne,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCI ETY.



Third Series — VO L. II. — No 8 .—A U rights reserved. JUNE, 1911.


THE CINNAMON TEAL.


Querquedula cyanoptera.


By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.


During the summer of last year I had the great pleasure of

viewing the wonderful collection of Waterfowl at Woburn, and

amongst the smaller species of ducks the one that struck me

most was the very handsome and brilliantly-coloured Cinnamon

Teal. I had never before seen a living example of this species,

and promptly resolved that no stone should be left unturned to

secure specimens for the Zoological Gardens.


I was successful sooner than I anticipated, for, after writing

letters to both North and South America with a view to import¬

ing specimens, I received an offer of examples of this and other

desirable species from Holland, and was able to secure two good

pairs. The Cinnamon Teal has a wide distribution in America,

occurring from California to the Straits of Magellan, and in the

Falkland Islands. It is rare in Eastern America.


Writing of this Teal in the Argentine, Mr. W. H. Hudson

remarks: “On the pampas it is common, and almost invariably

seen in pairs at all seasons. Many of the Teals are quarrelsome

in disposition ; but this species, I think, exceeds them all in

pugnacity, and when two pairs come together the males almost

invariably begin fighting.’’


The two pairs now in the Zoological Gardens are kept on

separate ponds and appear to be perfectly peaceable with other

species. The male and female seem to be very affectionate and

are never more than a few yards apart. So far they have not

nested, but it is still early in the season and I imagine that they

are rather late breeders. I hope to be able to supplement these

notes later on with an account of the young birds. The nest is



