NETTION CAPENSE. 



CAPE TEAL. 



(Plate 57.) 



Alias capensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, p. 527 (1788) ; Reichenow, 

 Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 120 (1900-01). 



Querquedula capensis, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 758 

 (1875-84) ; Nicolls & Eglington. Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 127 

 (1892). 



Nettion capense, Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvii, p. 259 (1895) 

 Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., in, p. 352 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, 

 Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 138 (1906). 



Local Names. " Teal-eendje " of the Dutch (Sclater) ; " Cape 

 Wigeon " of Sclater. 



Description. The bird figured is a male, and was shot by Sergt. 

 Da vies, and careful notes taken of the colours of the soft parts 

 at once. The sexes are alike. Length about 19 in. The irides 

 of these birds vary from light hazel and yellow to deep orange 

 (Littledale). 



Distribution. The Cape Teal seems to be a rare bird everywhere. 

 Its range extends from Cape Colony northwards through Nyassa- 

 land and Uganda to Shoa, but in South Africa it has not been 

 hitherto met with in the eastern portion of the Cape Colony, 

 Natal, or Rhodesia. 



A few flocks have been observed in the Dordrecht District of 

 Cape Colony, and a single bird was seen on the Utumvumu River 

 in December, 1909. 



I should not be surprised if the Cape Teal were not so rare after 

 all; it is probably often confused with the Red-bill, and is put 

 into the bag as such. 



I HAVE never met with the Cape Tea], and very Httle was 

 known of its nesting and other habits until Lieut. 

 H. A. P. Littledale, 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 



132 



