PUNA TEAL 
409 
about Lake Titicaca it is also a fairly common bird, as well as a breeder (J. A. Allen, 1875; Menegaux, 
1910; Brewster-Sanford collection). In Bolivia it is found only about Lake Titicaca. 
The records for Chile are all for the northern parts, notably for Tarapaca, where it breeds, at 
Sitana, Sacaya and Cancoso (P. L. Sclater, 1886; James, 1892; Lane, 1897). Philippi (1888) has 
recorded it from as far south as Antofagasta. 
GENERAL HABITS 
This Andean species, which is closely related to the Argentine Gray Teal {Anas 
versicolor), is practically unknown so far as its life-history is concerned. It inhabits 
the high Andean plateaus (12,000 feet) of Peru and northern Chile, living chiefly in 
pairs. It is most abundant about the great lakes of Peru, notably Junin and Titicaca, 
beingatthe former the commonest duck (Jelski,^deTaczanowski, 1886). The breed- 
ing season is extremely irregular, as with all Anatidoe inhabiting these same regions. 
Jelski found them nesting at Lake Junin in September, and a large series taken there 
by R. M. Beck (Brewster-Sanford collection) in spring shows three males with large 
sex organs on March 31; one taken on March 23 labeled “not large”; one taken on 
March 26 with slightly swollen testes; one March 27 with small testes. Among the 
females in March two had organs classed as small, two as “distinct,” one as “swell- 
ing,” and one was immature. Birds taken in late July and August were either breed- 
ing or sexually mature. In northern Chile Lane (1897) found them breeding in 
January and Eebruary. 
Concerning the nest Jelski {fide Taczanowski, 1886) says it is placed in dry situa- 
tions somewhat removed from the water among tufts of grass called surado. The 
nest is of the usual duck type, and the clutch, he says, numbers ordinarily only five. 
The eggs, according to Sclater (1886) are larger and more pointed than those of the 
Sharp-winged Teal {Anas oxyptera) and of a pale fulvous-white color. They measure 
58.4 by 44.4 mm. 
The stomachs of three Puna Teal collected by Lord William Percy at Lake Junin 
in April were examined by Mr. W. L. McAtee of the U.S. Biological Survey (MS.). 
They contained mostly vegetable substance, seeds of pond-weeds and sedges with 
a few egg-cases of water beetles and insect cocoons. 
Lord Percy told me that the male’s voice reminded him somewhat of the male 
Gadwall’s but it was less harsh. He did not hear the female quack. 
No Puna Teal have ever been brought to other countries in a live state so far as I 
have discovered. 
END OF VOLUME II 
