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ANAS VERSICOLOR 
GENERAL HABITS 
This Teal, which is usually placed with the true Blue-winged Teals (under the name 
Querquedula) has, except for the bluish outer wing-coverts, really very little in com- 
mon with them. The dowmy young are so entirely un-Mallardlike and differ so widely 
from the young of the Blue-winged, Cinnamon and Garganey Teals that any close 
relationship seems unlikely. 
The Gray Teal is perhaps more of a seasonal visitor at the northern and southern 
extremities of its range than are other South American ducks. In Uruguay it is 
almost entirely migratory (Barrows, 1884; Aplin, 1894) and in Tierra del Fuego it 
must be very rare in winter, although Beck (Brewster-Sanford collection) took a 
specimen on March 18 (late autumn) and another on July 3 (mid-winter). A single 
specimen was seen with a flock of migrating Brown Pintails flying north on March 
28 near Tunuyan, Mendoza, presumably to its winter quarters (Peters, MS.). 
There is nothing worthy of note concerning the type of country inhabited by this 
Teal. It is a strictly fresh-water bird, frequenting shallow open pools in the marshes 
and reed-beds, particularly in the breeding season. It is a quiet retiring little duck 
and even when flying it stays clo.se to the ground or water. It is easily distinguished 
from the other Teal of the Argentine by the black cap, cream-colored cheeks and 
barred flanks, while the blue on the angle of the wings forms a good field-mark. 
Wariness. This is one of the tamer, if not the tamest of the ducks in the Argen- 
tine and in Uruguay (Barrows, 1884). In northwestern Patagonia, where they are 
little disturbed, Mr. J. L. Peters (MS.) found them fairly tame, permitting approach 
to within easy gunshot in the open, provided of course that the collector advance 
slowly and quietly. When put up from a favorite reed-bed they would circle about, 
generally within range. Other naturalists (Crawshay, 1907) have also noticed their 
habit of circling about low, quite unlike the Chiloe Widgeon or Brown Pintail. 
They seem to be sluggish and loath to go far from their chosen haunts. 
Swimming, Diving. These birds appear to be entirely surface-feeders, that is, 
they do not even “tip up” as so many other shoal-water ducks do (Peters, MS.). 
Flight. Wlien flushed they fly with swift darting flight and always low, as 
already remarked (Wetmore, MS.). Ordinarily they do not seem to gather in large 
flocks, but pairs or groups of five or six are most commonly seen (A. H. Holland, 
1892; Crawshay, 1907). Rarely they form large aggregations like those of Brown 
Pintail, Chiloe Widgeon or Crested Duck. P. L. Sclater and Hudson (1889) speak 
of them as occurring in larger flocks than any other Argentine duck. But unless its 
status has greatly changed in recent years this statement can hardly be correct, as 
