CLUCKING TEAL. ' 113 



thirty-five millemetres (or one incli and two fifths, English) in its 

 lesser diameter." 



"In whatever numbers collected together, these birds were very 

 shy, but less so, however, when paired. They make a horrible noise, 

 while they uninterruptedly cause their loud quacking (clucking?) 

 notes to be heard." 



I have much pleasure in giving a copy of one of the eggs alluded 

 to by MiddendoriF in the above extract from his interesting work. 



The adult male in breeding plumage has the forehead, vertex, and 

 occiput of a rich purple brown, the feathers forming a distinct crest; 

 this crest is bounded on each side by a white narrow band from the 

 anterior angle of the eye to the occiput; beyond this white band 

 there is a rich glossy green band, extending round the nape, and 

 thus forming a demi-coUar; the cheeks and sides of the head are 

 occupied by two quadrangular patches of fawn-coloured feathers, sepa- 

 rated by a black white-bordered band, which extends obliquely from 

 the lower eyelid to the posterior border of the large oval black patch 

 on the throat; another black band extends from the posterior angle 

 of the green collar to the side of the neck obliquely, being parallel 

 to the anterior band, and forming the posterior border of the second 

 fawn-coloured patch, which latter extends broadly in front of the 

 gular black spot, and separates it from the breast; posteriorly 

 the green demi-coUar is also bounded by a black band, mingled 

 laterally with silver-white feathers, which separates it from the neck 

 posteriorly. From the nuchal black band to the scapularies, the neck 

 posteriorly is marked by very finely-marbled grey with a line of darker 

 brown feathers down the centre; the scapularies, which are long and 

 dependant, are above rich hair brown, becoming below darker, bordered 

 more or less with white or brown, the outer feather on each side being 

 long and pointed, — its outer web velvet black, bordered with russet 

 brown, and its inner web pure silvery white; upper tail coverts brown, 

 flanked on each side by a broad silvery band; tail dark brown. Between 

 the scapularies and the upper wing coverts there is a line of finely- 

 marbled grey, continuous with that on the posterior part of the neck; 

 upper wing coverts rich hair brown, the lowest being long, broad- 

 pointed, and dependant, having their outer webs edged with a 

 fawn-coloured streak, on the outside of which is a velyet black 

 border; the speculum formed by the secondary quills and lower 

 coverts has above an ochreous edging, then glossy green, in the middle 

 velvety black, and beneath silvery white; primaries, of which the 

 second is the longest, brown, darkest on their outer web and tips. 

 The throat is velvety black, and separated from the chest by the above- 



VOL. V. Q 



