THE GAEGANEY TEAL 149 



Nest sometimes on the ground in long grass and lined with 

 down and a little grass, but they generallj^ lay in a hollow in a 

 tree. From eight to ten cream-coloured eggs are laid, and they 

 measvTre about 2.06 x 1.46 inch. 



This bird is most plentiful near the southern coasts of 

 Australia, as well as on the islands in Bass Strait and in 

 Tasmania, where it is often locally called the King Teal. 



The Grey Teal. 



Nettion gibhcrifrons. 



Celebes, Greater and Lesser Sunda, New Guinea, New Caledonia, New 

 Zealand and Australia. 



Upper part of the head dark brown, with the edges of the feathers 

 greyish; sides of the head paler and streaked with dark brown; ehin and 

 throat white; upper parts brown, edges of feathers lighter; lower back 

 almost uniform; underparts light fulvous, and with brown spots in the 

 centre; each feather having a broad central mark of dark brown; white 

 band on wing; wing-speculum metallic green, and velvety black, tipped 

 with a white band. Total length 17 inches, wing 8, tail 4, bill 1..5, tarsus 

 1.25. Female almost the same, but smaller. 



Nest occasionally on the gTound, but generally in a hollow 

 in a tree, lined with down. Clutch eight to thirteen, creamy- 

 white in colour, and measure about 1.92 x 1.03 inch. 



This teal is not so large as the preceding species. 



Genus Querquedula. 

 Bill a third longer than tarsvis. 



The Garganey Teal. 



Querquedula querquedula. 



From Europe and Asia to Africa and Austro-Malayan regions in 

 winter, accidental in Australia. 



Grown brown-black; whitish band above the eyes; sides of head and 

 upper neck brown, streaked with white; back blackish, edges of feathers 

 lighter; scapulars elongated, black with central white stripe; breast with 

 brown and black crescent bands; lower breast white; narrow black lines 

 on abdomen and sides; long feathers on flank with bluish grey ends; 

 upper wing-coverts bluish grey; speculum green with a white band each 

 side. Total length 16 inches, wing 7.75, tail 2.75, culmen 1.62, tarsus 1.2. 

 Female has the chin and throat white, as well as the abdomen and breast. 



Nest on the ground in long grass, lined with down. The 

 clutch from eight to twelve cream coloured eggs, which measure 

 about 1.78 X 1.31 inch. 



