144 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
It consists of a slight holl@® 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. 
GREY TEAL 
Querquedula versicolor 
Above grey with narrow black cross-bands; top of head blackish 
brown, sides of head and throat white; beneath whitish, tinged 
with ochraceous and spotted with black on the breast; wings greyish 
brown, speculum purplish green, margined with white above and 
below and a subterminal black band; flanks barred with black and 
white ; bill black with an orange patch on each side at the base of 
the mandible; feet dark; length 16.5, wing 7.6 inches. Female 
similar but colours less bright. 
Tuts prettily variegated blue-grey Teal with its 
strongly-marked black and orange bill is perhaps the 
most abundant of the genus in the Argentine Re- 
public, especially in the southern portion. It is 
resident, and unites in much larger flocks than any 
other bird of this group in the country. Its note 
when disturbed or flying is very peculiar, resembling 
in sound the muffled stridulating of the mole-cricket. 
