GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 225 



black below, under which is a white line, which before the eye meets an- 

 other that curves forward and downward to the angle of the mouth ; chin 

 brownish-black, as are the feathers at the base of the upper mandible. 

 Upper parts and flanks beautifully undulated, with narrow brownish-black 

 and white bars ; anterior to the wings is a short broad transverse band of 

 white. Wings brownish-grey ; the speculum in its lower half velvet- 

 black, the upper bright green, changing to purple, and edged above with 

 black, behind margined with white, before with reddish-white. Tail 

 brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler ; the upper coverts brown- 

 ish-black, edged with light yellowish-grey. Lower part of neck anteriorly 

 barred as behind ; breast yellowish- white, spotted with black, its lower 

 part white ; abdomen white, faintly barred with grey ; a patch of black 

 under the tail, the lateral tail-coverts cream coloured, the larger black, 

 with broad white margins and tips. 



Length to end of tail 14| inches, to end of claws 15;^; extent of 

 wings 24; wing from flexure 7| ; tail 3^; bill along the back 1 ^'^^ , along 

 the edge of lower mandible 1/^ ; tarsus 1/g ; middle toe lj%, its claw /g. 

 Weight 10 oz. 



Adult Female. Plate CCXXVIII. Fig. 2. 



The Female wants the elongated crest, and differs greatly in colouring. 

 The head and neck are streaked with dark brown and hght red, the fore 

 neck whitish ; the upper parts mottled with dark brown, the anterior fea- 

 thers barred, the posterior margined with yellowish-white. The wings are 

 nearly as in the male, but the green of the speculum is less extensive ; the 

 lower part of the fore neck is tinged Avith yellowish-red, and mottled with 

 dark brown, as are the sides ; the rest of the lower parts white. 



Length to end of tail 13| ; to end of claws 1^ ; extent of wings 22^. 

 Weight 10 oz. 



The differences between the American and European specimens are so 

 small that I can find no good reason for considering the birds of the two 

 continents distinct. The American Teal has a white band before the 

 wing, which the European bird has not, while the latter has the greater 

 part of the outer webs of most of the scapulars white, there being none 

 of that colour on those of our bird. The proportions and size are similar ; 

 and if the two birds are really distinct species, I do not know upon what 

 circumstances specific distinctions, are to be founded. 



VOL. III. \ I' 



