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Mr. H. Goodchild,



said to be placed on the ground, and to be composed of grass,

lined with feathers, the eggs, numbering from nine to fourteen to

the clutch, being pale bluish-white or cream-white in colour.


(Cory). . .


A description of this lovely Teal is unnecessary in view of


Mr. Goodcliild’s excellent plate which accompanys this paper.

It is about sixteen inches in length, and both sexes possess the

beautiful blue-grey wing-coverts, a character which they share

with the closely allied Blue-winged Teal (< 9 . disco/s') of North

America, and a few other ducks.


Ridgway describes the downy young as follows : “Above

dark olivaceous, varied by a spot of deep greenish buff on each

side of back (behind wings), and a spot of clear yellowish on

each side of rump, at base of tail ; top of head and hind neck

similar to back but darker; forehead, broad superciliary stripe,

sides of head and neck, and lower parts generally, deep buff

vellow, the sides of the head marked with a distinct narrow

stripe of dark brown.”


In the “Zoological Society’s Vertebrate List,” Q. cyanoptera

is given the trivial name of “ Blue-winged Teal,” a title that

is now universally applied to Q. discors. Between 1884 and 1893

five specimens were received at the Gardens, but no young

appear to have been bred.



WATER-COLOUR STUDIES OF BIRD LIFE.


By H. Goodchild.


Before these lines appear, some of our members will have

had the privilege of seeing the series of water-colour studies,

some thirty in number, of British Birds, by George E. Lodge,

that is being exhibited at the Rembrandt Gallery in Vigo Street,

London, W.


To those who have received invitations but who have not

yet gone, I should give the advice “ go,” especially if they have

been to the Royal Academy to look at such pictures of birds as

are to be seen there, and wish, as a relief, to see works by an

artist who is also an observer.


Mr. Lodge is probably more an outdoor student, and less

a museum worker, than anyone I know, who professes to be a



