BRITISH BIRDS. 149 



greyish-white, with fine blackish vermiculations ; specu- 

 lum metallic-green shading into purple, bordered above 

 with black and below with white ; rump dark brown ; 

 breast buff, marked with round black spots ; centre of 

 belly white ; under tail-coverts black, bordered each 

 side with buff ; bill blackish ; iris hazel ; feet slate- 

 brown. Length 14*25. Female : feathers of body 

 chiefly dark brown in centre, with pale margins ; 

 speculum green and black ; green patch on side of 

 head absent. 



Most common in winter, but breeds in small numbers 

 in all parts of British Isles. Nest : near water in heather, 

 rushes, rank grass, etc., or in morasses, bogs and damp 

 places generally. Eggs : 8 or 9 ; cream-colour, tinged 

 with green ; 175 by 1*30. 



224. Querquedula earolinensis (Gmel.). AMERICAN 

 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 



Hab. North America. In winter migratory. 



Has occurred in Hants (prior to 1840), near Scarborough 

 (1851), and in South Devon (1879). 



GENUS CXXI. SPATULA, Boie (1822). 



Bill considerably longer than head, narrow at base, 

 much widened near tip ; laminae projecting. 



226. Spatula elypeata (Linn.). SHOVELLER. 



Hab. Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. 



Male : head and upper neck dark green ; lower neck, 

 scapulars and tips of greater wing-coverts white, rest of 

 coverts being light greyish-blue ; speculum green ; quills 

 dusky ; upper back brown ; rump and tail blackish ; belly 

 chestnut ; vent white ; under tail-coverts black ; bill 



