154 Brewster, Records of Cinnamon Teal. [ April 



CONCERNING CERTAIN SUPPOSED INSTANCES OF 

 THE OCCURRENCE OF THE CINNAMON TEAL 

 IN FLORIDA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 



BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 



It is by no means easy to distinguish females and young males 

 of the Red-breasted or Cinnamon Teal (Querquedula cyanoptera) 

 from those of the Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula discors), even 

 when accurately named skins of both species are available for com- 

 parison. Without the aid of such material no ornithologist, how- 

 ever experienced, should attempt to positively determine any but 

 fully adult male birds unless his specimens were obtained in regions 

 where the species to which he is inclined to refer them is known 

 or likely to occur and the other bird is almost certainly not to be 

 found. The impression — rather generally entertained it would 

 seem — that the Cinnamon Teal is always red-breasted is wholly 

 without foundation, for as a rule — if not invariably — only males 

 in full nuptial plumage are thus characterized. On the other 

 hand Blue-winged Teal of both sexes and of various ages are often 

 conspicuously tinged on the breast, belly and flanks, with reddish 

 brown or rusty. This appears to be merely a superficial stain — 

 perhaps derived from contact with mineral matter held in solution 

 in water or in semi-liquid mud. It is too nearly indelible, how- 

 ever, to be removed by vigorous and repeated washing, and it 

 probably persists until the plumage is changed at the next regular 

 moult. It is by no means peculiar to Blue-winged Teal, for it 

 may be noted in occasional specimens of most of the ducks which, 

 in autumn and winter, frequent the fresh and brackish waters of 

 our South Atlantic States. I am not aware that it ever occurs in 

 the Red-breasted Teal, but that it may do so occasionally is not 

 improbable. Females and males of the species last named are 

 said to differ from those of the Blue- winged Teal in having coarser 

 and more pronounced dark markings on the under parts. There 

 may be a tendency to dissimilarity of this kind, but I have not found 

 that it is either pronounced or constant. A better character in 

 my opinion is that afforded by the bill, which is almost invariably 



