400 
ANAS CYANOPTERA 
surface and the food possibilities, it has also increased the risks of nesting birds, so 
that accidents from flooding of the nest site or its destruction by mowing machines 
are rather too common. 
Its status in South America is by no means clear. It seems to be nowhere a really 
abundant duck. It is certainly not found in great numbers on the Andean plateau, 
where it is sedentary, and has developed into a larger race {Anas cyanoptera orinomus ) . 
In Rio Negro Province of Argentina, Peters (MS.) estimated them at 1 % to 2% of 
the total number of the eleven species of ducks found there. It was about as com- 
mon as the Red Shoveller and the Yellow-billed Teal. Neither P. L. Sclater and 
Hudson (1889) nor E. Gibson (1920) speak of its occurrence in any considerable 
numbers in the Argentine. 
Enemies. Nesting Cinnamon Teal seem to be particularly exposed to the attack 
of predaceous animals, but this destruction has not been traced to any particular 
species of mammal or bird. In Washington, W. L. Dawson and Bowles (1909) 
found that only four out of twenty-eight nests which they observed remained un- 
molested during their tw'o w'eeks’ visit, and they tell of finding a female which had 
been killed on or near the nest. H. C. Bryant (1914) states that out of twenty-three 
nests found near Los Banos, California, eighteen were destroyed by some predaceous 
animal. The probable culprits are racoons, weasels and perhaps coyotes. Although 
the clutches are large, broods of more than four or five are rarely seen (Tyler, 1916) 
and probably not more than three or four birds are, on the average, reared to matu- 
rity. 
Damage. None mentioned. 
Food Value. In California the flesh of this species is rated as inferior to that of 
other Teal. Its “keeping” qualities are said to be poor (Grinnell, Bryant and Storer, 
1918). This is partly because it takes much animal matter, and also because it is, or 
rather was before the law prevented, shot in warm September weather. 
Behavior in Captivity. It is a curious fact that this bird, though not abun- 
dant, is much better known in European bird collections than in our own. Here it 
has always been scarce and high-priced. The London Gardens received five speci- 
mens between the years 1884-93. These lived on the average 13)/^ months, the 
maximum being three years, seven months (P. C. Mitchell, 1911). Two more pairs, 
probably hand-reared, were received from Holland in 1910 (Seth-Smith, 1911) but, 
so far as I know, the species has never bred in the London Gardens. Several broods 
are said to have been reared in the Kew Gardens (Seth-Smith, London Field, vol. 129, 
p. 920, 1917) and Mr. St. Quintin (London Field, vol. 133, p. 12, 1919) had young 
