THE BROWN DUCK 327 



Genus Nettion. 



Bill rather compressed and shorter than the head. Centra] 

 tail feathers more or less acuminate, and extending somewhat 

 beyond the lateral ones. Cosmopolitan. 



The Grey Teal. — Tete. 

 Nettion casta neuni. 



Greyish brown, the lower surface spotted with dark brown. Sides of the 

 head, broAvnish white. Greater, wing coverts, white; the speculum, black, 

 tipped with white. Bill, legs, and feet, bluish black. Eye, yellowish 

 brown. Length of the wing, 8 inches; of the tarsus, 1.3 inches. Egg — 

 Cream colour; length, 1.95 inch. Java to Australia and New Zealand. 



The grey teal breeds in the North Island, but seems to be only 

 an occasional visitant to the South, where specimens have been 

 obtained even in Otago. Very little is known about its habits. 



Genus Elasmonetta. 



Bill compressed ; soft on the edges of the apical part of the 

 upper mandible; lamellaj extremely developed. Wings well 

 developed. New Zealand only. 



The Brown Duck. — Pateke. 



Elasmonetta chlorotis. 



Above greyish brown, varied with rufous; breast, rufous; abdomen, 

 yellowish brown spotted with black. Speculum, greenish black, bordered 

 above and below Avith rufous white. In the male, the head is tinged with 

 green, and usually there is a white band on the fore part of the neck. 

 Eye, black. Length of the wing, 8 inches; of the tarsus, 1.5 inches. Egg — 

 Cream colour; length, 2.25 inches. 



According to Sir W. Buller, it is a poor flier, but dives well. 

 The nest is made of grass, thickly lined with down, sometimes 

 close to the edge of a swampy creek, or beneath the shelter of a 

 large Maori head {Car ex virgata). 



