QUERQUEDULA VERSICOLOR. 



131 



346. QUERQUEDULA FLAVIROSTRIS (VieilL). 

 (YELLOW-BILLED TEAL.) 



Anas flavirostris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza). Querquedula 

 flavirostris, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 146 

 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 386; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos 

 Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Patagonia) ; White, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 42 (Cordova) ; 

 Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 367. 



Description. Above pale slaty brown ; whole head barred across with narrow 

 blackish bands ; middle of back mfescent, with the centres of the feathers black 

 and narrowly margined with brownish ochraceous ; rump paler ; a broad wing- 

 speculum black, with a margin of ochraceous above and below, and a bronzy- 

 green blotch in the centre ; wing-feathers slaty, margins of secondaries on each 

 side pale rufous; abdomen whitish, breast and belly distinctly spotted with 

 black ; bill yellow ; culmen and tip black ; feet horn-colour : whole length 

 15*0 inches, wing 7'5, tail 7'5. Female similar. 



Hob. Argentina, Chili, and Patagonia. 



In the southern part of the Argentine Republic this is one of the 

 commonest species, and is almost invariably found in every marsh, 

 stream, and pool of water on the pampas. It is resident, and usually 

 goes in flocks of from a dozen to thirty individuals. It has a rapid 

 flight, and is restless, lively, and extremely pugnacious in its habits. 

 When a flock is on the water the birds are perpetually quarrelling. 

 They are also highly inquisitive, and I have often shot them by first 

 showing myself to the flock, and then standing or sitting still, when 

 they would soon come wheeling about, flying in very close order. They 

 quack and chatter in a variety of tones, and the male has also a clear 

 whistling note in the love-season. 



The nest of this Duck is always made at a distance from the water, 

 sometimes as far as one or two miles. It consists of a slight hollow in 

 the ground under a thistle-bush or tussock of long grass, and is lined 

 with dry grass and a great deal of down, which is increased in quantity 

 during incubation. The eggs are reddish cream-colour, and five is the 

 usual number laid ; but I have also found nests with six and seven. 



347. QUERQUEDULA VERSICOLOR (VieilL). 

 (GREY TEAL.) 



Querquedula versicolor, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 129; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, 

 p. 146 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 388; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos 

 Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Patagonia) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 274 (Entrerios). 

 Anas maculirostris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza). Quer- 

 quedula maculirostris, Burm. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 367. 



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