144 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



It consists of a slight hollow in the ground under a 

 thistle-bush or tussock of long grass, and is lined with 

 dry grass and a great deal of down, which is increased 

 in quantity during incubation. The eggs are reddish 

 cream-colour, and five is the usual number laid j but 

 I have also found nests with six and seven. 



GREY TEAL 



Querquedula versicolor 



Above grey with narrow black cross-bands ; top of head blackish 

 brown, sides of head and throat white; beneath whitish, tinged 

 with ochraceotis and spotted with black on the breast ; wings greyish 

 brown, speculum purplish green, margined with white above and 

 below and a subterminal black band ; flanks barred with black and 

 white ; bill black with an orange patch on each side at the base of 

 the mandible ; feet dark ; length 16.5, wing 7.6 inches. Female 

 similar but colours less bright. 



This prettily variegated blue-grey Teal with its 

 strongly-marked black and orange bill is perhaps the 

 most abundant of the genus in the Argentine Re- 

 public, especially in the southern portion. It is 

 resident, and unites in much larger flocks than any 

 other bird of this group in the country. Its note 

 when disturbed or flying is very peculiar, resembling 

 in sound the muffled stridulating of the mole-cricket. 



