1920.] Cape San Antonio, Bvenos Ayres. 23 



district; and that only in flood-years. Hence it is known 

 as sucli, under the name of " Patite de creciente" — little 

 duck of the flood. In normal seasons it is not to be looked 

 for, but should one of our periodic inundations lay the 

 country under Avater, the advent of the Brazilian Teal ma\^ 

 be confidently expected. 



The spring and summer of 1913-14 specially bore out the 

 previous dictum, when various pairs were observed by myself 

 and others, from the middle of October to early in March. 

 One one occasion I saw two pairs together on some marshy 

 ground ; and on another date no less than three pairs at a 

 pond iri the Yngieses garden. Only in rare cases have I seen 

 the species a-sociating with any other Teal. The open water 

 it is to be found upon is always in the vicinity of woods or 

 trees, and it is still more partial to a pond situated in a wood — 

 or even a garden^ as mentioned above. It is surprisingly 

 tame, and may be passed at close quarters in its favourite 

 haunts near the head-station — quiescent on a pond, where I 

 frequently passed within ten yards of a pair — or perched on 

 a tree or the shears of a cattle- well. Again, when on the 

 wing, no member of its family — not even excepting the 

 other Tree-Teal {Q. finvirostris) — will show such disregard 

 for the gunner, as it threads its way through the trees, or 

 glides down into the water close in front of him. 



During my brief visit to the Yngieses in the spring of 

 191-i, with a still heavy Hood, 1 only noted one pair — in 

 the garden. 



Both Hudson and Claude Grant particularise the flight — 

 with depressed wings, by which the spectator is gratified 

 with a full view of their beautiful colouring. Otherwise, I 

 agree with the hitter's pronouncement that the flight is 

 " low and swift," not " slow " as judged by Hiulson. 



Our people do not call it the " Pate Portugues" as quoted 

 by the last-named writer — " to signify that it comes from 

 Brazil" — but, as previously stated, "Pate de creciente,'^ 

 which means in the vernacular, "Duck of the rise in water," 

 i. e., flood. 



It was on tiie 4th of November, 1913, that a gang of 



