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parrot and Teal is not apparent. These Parakeets have always been killed for food 
and by this time large colonies of them must be very uncommon (Barrows, 1884). 
The Yellow-bill’s clutch is unusually small for a duck, averaging about five eggs, 
both when the nest is on the ground and when in trees. E. Gibson (1920), however, 
says he has found as many as eight or nine in the Parakeet’s nest. This may have 
been the work of two birds. The eggs are of a pale cream-color, measuring 51-54 
by 37-39 mm. The incubation period is not known. Some of Mr. Wormald’s 
captive-laid eggs hatched in twenty-six days, but this seems rather long for so small 
a duck. 
Status. This Teal is one of the common Argentine ducks, but is everywhere 
greatly exceeded in numbers by the Brown Pintail, and in the west by the Chiloe 
Widgeon. Aplin (1894) says it is the commonest Teal in Uruguay, but in northwest- 
ern Patagonia, where it is not a particularly common resident, it was fourth or fifth 
in order of abundance among the ducks, representing only about 1% or 2% of the 
total. Its status in those parts seemed to be about the same as that of the Argentine 
Gray Teal, the Cinnamon Teal and the South American Shoveller (Peters, MS.). 
Enemies. The possible enemies of ducks in Patagonia have already been dis- 
cussed in the account of the Chilian Widgeon. The water-fowl in those regions seem 
to be particularly free from attacks by predatory beasts and birds. 
Food Value. This is evidently an excellent bird for the table. 
Behavior in Captivity. This Teal does not seem to have been imported into 
Europe till 1871, when the London Gardens procured some. So far as I know the 
species has never bred in London, and it cannot be classed as a bird which lends itself 
easily to propagation under artificial conditions. It has been often kept, but sel- 
dom bred. Among English amateurs Mr. Hugh Wormald {in litt.), Earl Grey of 
Falloden {in litt.) and Mr. W. H. St. Quintin have been successful. A pair of birds 
on the latter’s ponds raised their own young in 1918, but these all escaped (London 
Field, vol. 133, p. 12, 1919). In this country, so Mr. L. S. Crandall informs me, the 
species has been bred by Mr. John A. Cox at East Brewster, Massachusetts. 
They do fairly well in captivity. Eight specimens in the London Gardens lived 
an average of two years, eleven months, the maximum being seven years and three 
months (P. C. Mitchell, 1911). One specimen received in April, 1912, in the New 
York Gardens, died nearly nine years later (Crandall, in litt.). 
Hybrids. The only cross of which I know was one between this species and the 
Mallard, produced in the London Gardens (Salvadori, 1895). 
