& 
36 THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 
occurrence of the European Q. crecca, or common Teal, in Ber- 
muda. It occurs as a straggler in North America. [Four were 
shot by Lieut. Tallents, of the 20th Regiment, in the autumn of 
1875.—H. D.] 
Querquedula discors, Blue-winged Teal.—A frequent visitor on its 
way south, but rarely seen on its northward’ journey; most 
numerous in October. Nine couple were killed in Pembroke 
Marsh after the gale of the 22nd October, 1854, and many more 
at St. David’s Island, where a native sportsman is said to have 
killed sixteen couple during the gale (Hurdis). I obtained several 
specimens in October and November, 1874, and saw two, one of 
which I knocked down, but unfortunately lost, in the mangrove 
swamp near the Sluice-gates, on April 30th, 1875. 
Spatula clypeata, Shoveller.—‘‘ A single female specimen was shot 
in December, 1844, by Mr. C. B. Fozard”’ (Nat. in B., p. 47). 
Aix sponsa, Summer Duck; Wood Duck.—‘‘A female bird of 
this species was shot by Dr. Cole, 20th Regiment, on the 16th 
December, 1846’ (Nat. in B., p. 48). 
Fuligula afinis, Lesser Scaup Duck.—To make matters clear, in 
treating of this species, I must call in the aid of Dr. Coues, who 
says, in his ‘‘ Birds of the North-West”’ (p. 574) :—‘‘ Authors are 
at variance concerning the relationship of the bird to the preceding 
(F. marila), and the question is not yet settled. For myself I am 
rather inclined to keep the two apart, notwithstanding their very 
close resemblance, and admitting the probability that intermediate 
examples may be found. There appears to be something differcnt 
in their range, the F. afiinis being the more southerly. Not that 
it does not in the breeding season reach as high latitudes as the 
other, but that its autumnal movement is pushed to the West 
Indies and Central America, where the true F. marila is not recorded 
as occurring. «It is improbable that two varieties, if they be really 
such, should preserve this difference.’’? Armed with this authority, 
I think I may safely refer the specimens of the Scaup chronicled in 
“The Naturalist in Bermuda,”’ all of which measured only 16 to 
163 inches in length, to this smaller species, F. afinis. The length 
of F. marila varies from 19 to 205 inches. The specimens alluded 
to are one killed by Mr. C. Abbott, 20th Regiment, on the 19th 
December, 1846, and two others by Major Wedderburn, at 
Warwick Pond, on the 8th January, 1849. [On the 25th 
February, 1876, I shot a female of this species at Tucker’s 
Town, which measured sixteen inches in length. ] 
Fuligula collaris, Ring-necked Duck.—One was captured, and 
kept for a short time alive, by Mr. Hurdis, on the 13th November, 
1850. He was.anxions to watch the change of the plumage, but 
the poor bird fell a victim to a cat (Nat. in B., p. 50). 
Fuligula vallisneria, Canvas-back.—Mr. Hurdis purchased a 
specimen of this Duck from some boys, by whom it was captured 
alive in a marsh near James’s Cottages, on the 50th October, 1851. 
It was destroyed by ants soon afterwards. On the 23rd November 
following he observed a very fine specimen in White’s Marsh. 
Bucephala clangula, Goldeneye.—‘‘ A male specimen was shot on 
the 10th April, 1854, in Pembroke Marshes” (Nat. in B., p. 49), 
