398 
ANAS CYANOPTERA 
We have no definite knowledge of the breeding season in the Andean parts of 
South America. Presumably it is very irregular as with other ducks. At Sacaya, in 
northern Chile, they breed in January (Lane, 1897) and at San Carlos, central Chile, 
eggs were taken from the ovary of a female early in April (Lataste, 1895). In the 
Argentine and Patagonia the nesting begins about mid-October, later than with 
some other species. Most clutches are deposited in November, and some even in the 
first part of December (Peters, MS.; Wetmore, MS.; E. Gibson, 1920; Hartert and 
Venturi, 1909). 
Owing to its fondness for the tule swamps of our Southwest, some nests are placed 
among tules, sometimes above shallow water, but more often above damp ground. 
The nest is, however, usually on drier ground and may be placed in grassy fields or 
alfalfa patches, and in other situations some little distance from the water. It is 
made of grasses or rushes {Tule) compactly woven together and deeply saucer- 
shaped. 
In South America, the nests are sometimes in grassy hummocks in marshes 
(Peters, MS.), on islands amid swamps, or among thistles at the edge of swamps 
(E. Gibson, 1920). 
The clutch varies from six to thirteen eggs, but clutches of less than seven are 
very exceptional. The average is the same as in the Blue-wing, that is, between nine 
and ten. The eggs are creamy white or pale buff, indistinguishable from those of the 
Blue-wing, but slightly larger than those of the Green-wing. They measure 44-53 
by 30-35 mm., averaging 47.5 by 34.5 (Grinnell, Bryant and Storer, 1918). The 
nest-down is very dark and similar to that of the Blue-wing. 
The incubation period is supposed to be twenty -five or twenty-six days (Heinroth, 
1908; H. Wormald, in litt.) and if so it is several days longer than in other Teal, 
which is a point of some interest in comparing relationships. The behavior of the 
males during and after this period is of peculiar interest in this species, because the 
published observations are so contradictory. At least w'e can say that at times the 
male does remain about the nest throughout the incubation period and is seen with 
the brood. The evidence for this statement is as follows: Mr. A. M. Shields (F. A. 
Schneider, 1893) is quoted as saying that after hatching her eggs, the female is 
joined by the male who assists in the defense of the family; furthermore H. C. 
Brj'ant (1914) says he found a brood on the lower Klamath Lake which was accom- 
panied by both parents; finally F. M. Chapman (1908) speaking of the San Joaquin 
Valley, says that he paid especial attention to this point and found that the drake 
was always within a few feet of the duck when she was off the nest (during incuba- 
tion) and that he invariably sprang into the air a foot or two behind her when she 
took wing. On the other hand Wetmore (1921) who had unique opportunity to 
observe hundreds of Cinnamon Teal breeding at Bear River, Utah, says nothing of 
the male accompanying the brood. During his stay at Lake Burford, New Mexico, 
