ANATID^E. 491 



black ; the feathers of the back, scapulars, rump and 

 tail- coverts dark dusky, almost black, edged and 

 marked with yellowish brown ; the lesser wing- 

 coverts uniform greyish brown, the greater are 

 tipped with white ; the rest of the wing is much the 

 same as in the male ; the tail-feathers are yellowish 

 brown, marked with black and edged with dirty 

 white ; the chin is uniform yellowish brown, without 

 marks ; the breast, belly and the rest of the under 

 parts yellowish brown, marked with black; under 

 wing-coverts white; legs, toes and webs reddish 

 orange. The young in their down plumage vary a 

 little, some being mottled dark brown and pale 

 yellowish brown on the upper parts, and others are 

 nearly uniform black on the back. I am rather dis- 

 posed to think that the dark ones are the drakes, 

 but I have not been able to prove it satisfactorily. 



The eggs are of a uniform dull pale greenish hue. 



GARGANEY, Anas Querquedula. The Garganey or 

 " Summer Teal," as it is often called, must be con- 

 sidered rather a rare spring and summer visitor to 

 this county; the specimens which I have seen here 

 have generally been killed about the end of March 

 or beginning of April in the marsh, and brought to 

 the market and bird-stuffer's shop at Taunton. 

 Montagu says he has received these birds from the 

 decoys in Somersetshire in the month of April. 

 Yarrell seems to be of opinion that the specimens 

 that occur in the spring are on their way to breed in 



