316 Mr. F. Finn,


bird, as it has been done recently. I may, however, mention a

curious variation I have observed in the colouration of the feet

in different specimens : in some they are grey — the normal colour

apparently — in others olive. Differences of this kind are very

rare in birds, but I have seen a similar case in the small Indian

Hemipode (Tumix dussumieri) in which some specimens have

blue-grey and others fleshy-white feet.



The Brazilian Teal.

(Nettium brasiliense).

This bird has brown plumage and a spotted breast ; the

wings are mostly of a beautiful metallic green. The feet are

rosy red, and the drake has also a red bill, that of the duck being

black. There is not much sex- difference in plumage, and I

believe there is no seasonal change, but am not sure of this.



The Andaman Teal.

(Nettium albigulare).

This is a sombrely-coloured Teal, chocolate with narrow

buff edgings to the feathers. Except in young birds, there is a

white patch surrounding the eye, which white tends to spread all

over the face, and even to appear on the back of the neck. This

is a variation which has become much more common of recent

years — a curious case of evolution actually in progress. The

wing bar in this Teal is a velvety-black with a bronze streak

through it, and there is also a large white patch on the wing.

The Andaman Teal is about the most active duck I ever saw : it

is constantly on the move, running briskly and easily, swims and

dives well, flies lightly, and perches freely. Unlike most perch-

ing ducks, however, it nests on the ground. It bred in the Zoo.

last year, and I observed the drake accompanied the brood as

well as the duck.



The Chilian Teal.


(Nettium flavirostre).

This Teal closely resembles the Chilian Pintail in colour-

ation, being a plain mottled-brown duck, with a bill yellow at

the base and bluish at the tip, with a central black streak. Its



