( 393° ) 
is about 27 inches in length ; tail long, having centre feathers nar- 
row and lengthened ; neck long ; bill elevated at the base and nar- 
rowish ; bill black, bluish on the sides ; irides dark brown ; legs 
dark grey, male, the back is marked with wavy lines of black and 
whitish ; scapulars black ; top of the head umber brown, face and 
throat dark brown, a purplish gloss behind the ears, two white lines 
round the upper neck ; upper tail-coverts ashy brown ; tail brown, 
with two long black central feathers ; primaries and coverts brown ; 
lesser coverts grey ; wing patch or speculum dark glossy purplish 
ereen, tertiaries long of velvety black with whitish edges; breast 
and beneath white with black and white lines on the sides ; under 
tail-coverts black. These birds are readily distinguished on the 
wing by their long brown necks. 
(963) MARECA PENELOPE, The Widgeon, or Whew is not nearly so 
plentiful as Pintail Duck. Smallish flocks are occasionally met with 
in the Terai in winter. They are rarely seen in the district, except- 
ing when they fly over Darjeeling on their migratory journeys, when 
their shrill whistles are frequently heard. Widgeons have a strong 
flight. They travel far into the interior of Thibet, to breed. In 
size it is 185 inches long ; bill short and raised, narrower at the tip ; 
lamelle short, fairly well developed ; tail short ; hind toe small and 
bordered with a web; bill bluish black at the tip; irides reddish 
brown ; colour of plumage of the male is, above, back, black and 
white wavy lines on the back; scapulars black ; tail dark grey ; 
wing-coverts white ; wings barred with green and black ; top of the 
head light yellow ; sides of the head and neck chestnut, cheeks 
speckled ; breast reddish, underparts white, flanks with wavy lines, 
under tail-coverts black. 
(964) QUERQUEDULA CRECCA, Common Teal. This small duck 
differs, from the true ducks. Bill is uniform in width raised at the 
base ; lamellee undeveloped ; nail small; tip dilated a bit ; wings 
long and pointed ; tail cuneate. Common Teal or Ring Pet, as it is 
sometimes called, visits the plains in September and returns home 
about March. Flocks of these Teals are seen at dusk passing over 
Darjeeling, occasionally. They fly fairly low, and can be easily dis- 
tinguished. Their cheerful calls and merry flutter of their wings 
can be heard ; but they soon pass over the crest of the hill, as their 
progress through the air is rapid. When once fairly on the wing, 
the flight of these teals is swift. They are distinguished without 
much difficulty, partly by their ferruginous heads, and a long patch 
of dark glossy green behind the eyes. In size this Teal is 143 
inches in long ; bill black ; irides hazel. Male is prettily marked on 
the back by wavy black and white lines ; head and sides of the neck 
