1920.] Cape San Anfonw, Buenos Ay res. 21 



twelve (n* fifteen feet f'rotii the ground. Tliat this situutiun 

 was of an abnormally hazardous nature is proved hy the fact 

 that, in the eourse of my investigations, T found the denizens 

 to be a pair of truculent opossums, with the result that I 

 was nearly startled into falling off my ladder. Away back 

 in the 'seventies, when the Parrakeet nested solely in the 

 tala trees, 1 have frequently been able to take a Teal's eggs 

 by simply drawing down the pendent nest of the former 

 with a walking-stick, guided in my quest either by the Teal 

 flying out, or the presence of its down at the entrance. 

 But these simple days passed away when I drove the 

 Parrakeet to take refuge in the loftiest eucalyptus trees 

 (as described elsewhere) and the Teal followed it. 



The Yellow-billed Teal nests early in the season. On the 

 26th of August I have taken the first eggs, and during all 

 the month of September and until the end of October it 

 is still laying. The first eggs laid are merely placed on 

 the rough twig Hoor of the Parrakeet's chamber ; but as 

 they increase in number a lining is formed (jf down, ultimately 

 to such an extent as to ap[)ear in the entrance to the nest 

 and thereby betray the occupant. The clutch varies in 

 number ; I have found the bird incubating five eggs, and 

 taken uests of eight and even nine. 



Hudson describes the eggs as of a " reddish cream-colour ": 

 Claude Grant as '' pale cream-colour and slightly glossed." 

 The latter is the more correct definition. The shape is of 

 the Teal type, but individual specimens vary, from the 

 elongated with a large and small end, to the more strictly 

 oval or rounder form. 



Two clutches of six and seven average respectively 

 52x38 mm. and 51x89 mm. Amongst the former are 

 such extremes as 49 x 37 mm. and 54 x 38 mm. 



347. dnerquedula versicolor A-'ieill. Grey Teal. 



I regret being unable to add any further notes to 

 Hudson's short account of this species. Beyond the fact 

 that it is fairly abundant, the Grey Teal would seem to have 

 presented no salient features for my observation. 



