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probably, it only frequents the above two mentioned places as 

 a general rule, though I have seen single individuals near 

 Bilbeis in April, and it is stated to have bred near Marg. 



Length about 18 inches. Entire plumage pale whitey 

 brown mottled on the upper parts with darker brown and 

 spangled with whitish spots or " mirrors." Under parts finely 

 streaked with dark brown. The male has a somewhat un- 

 developed crest. The wing quills are slightly glossed with pale 

 lavender on the outer webs. 



309. Sho velar. Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). 



Rhynchaspis clypeata. Shelley, p. 285. 



A very abundant visitor from October to March, and a 

 few stay until even later. 



Length about 20 inches. Head and upper neck glossy 

 green ; lower neck and scapulars white ; centre of back dark 

 brown with pale edges to the feathers ; shoulders pale blue ; 

 greater wing coverts white ; wing sjDcculum green ; primaries, 

 rump, and tail black; under parts chestnut; flanks chestnut red. 



The female is brown mottled with black. The bill of both 

 sexes is long and spatule in shape. Some males do not assume 

 full plumage until they are nearly a year old. 



310. TeaL Nettion crecca (Linnaeus). 



Querquedida crecca. Shelley, p. 286. 



Very abundant from September to March. 



Length about 14|^ inches. Male, crown, nape, cheeks, 

 and throat dull chestnut ; round and below eye a large patch of 

 metallic green narrowly bordered with buff ; upper parts 

 vermiculated with black and white ; wing speculum green 

 and purple black tipped with buff ; rump blackish ; tail brown ; 

 chin black ; throat and fore neck buff spotted with black, rest 

 of under parts white, with finely vermiculated black-and-white 

 flanks ; under tail coverts black with a rufous buff border. 



Some specimens have the white belly stained with rufous 

 buff, and this is probably caused by a sojourn in a locality 

 where the water is impregnated with chemicals. 



Females and young birds lack the chestnut and green on 

 the head. The wing patch is less brilliant, and the upper parts 

 are mottled with dull black and brown, the under parts being 

 more buff and grey than white. After the breeding season 

 the male assumes a plumage somewhat similar to that of the 

 female, and the first arrivals in this country usually consist of 

 birds in this plumage or in process of transition. 



