22 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornitholof/i/ of [Ibis, 



Of its breeding-babits I have only one solitary record (of 

 forty years ago) when, on 10 October, 1877, I trapped a 

 sitting-bird in a Incerne patcli at the head-station, in the 

 garden. The nest itselfj amongst weeds, etc., was composed 

 entirely of down, and contained a fine clntch of nine eggs, 

 somewhat incubated. Unfortunately, I liave no note of 

 the said eggs and tlieir ultimate destination, nor does the 

 Britisli Museum seem to ])ossess any specimens. From the 

 foregoing exceptional case, it is to be judged that tlie Grey 

 Teal is not in the habit of nesting in our district. 



348. Querquedula torqiiata Vieill. Ring-necked Teal. 



Mult and feniale. Iris dark brown ; bill slate-blue; legs 

 and feet pale ])ink or fiesh-colonr. {Note — Hudson describes 

 the bill as " leddish '' and feet '" brown, ^' which is obviously 

 at variance with my own notes.) 



Tlic pretty Ring-necked Teal is not a frequent visitor to 

 our district, generally appearing in September in the shape 

 of an occasional pair. During that month in the big flood 

 year of iyi.'5, I noted A^nrious pairs and one small Hock ; 

 after the beginning of October and until my departure at 

 the end of March, absolutely none Avere seen ; and in the 

 following spring (flood-conditions still prevailing), I failed 

 entirely to chronicle its appearance. It is not therefore 

 surprising that Claude Grant makes no allusion to the 

 species, his visits to the Yngleses taking place when the 

 great drought was in its inception. 



On arrival any individual pair shows a preference for an 

 isolated pond or pool, even though in the vicinity of traffic 

 or close to human dwellings, and it is therefore more likely 

 to come under observation and be lecorded than various 

 of its congeners — say, Q. brasiliensis. 



Like Hudson, I am ignorant of the breeding-habits of the 

 species. No information on the subject has come my way, 

 nor, it would appear, are there any eggs in the Britisli 

 Museum. 



319. Querqiiedula brasiliensis Gm, Brazilian Teal. 



This beautifnlly-colouicd Teal is only a visitor to our 



