ZOOLOGY — BIKDS. 69 



DAFILA ACUTA, L i n n .—Pintail Duck. 



Anas acuta, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 528.— Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 266, pi. 390.— Nctt. Orn. vol. II 



p. 386. 

 Dafila acuta, Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 776. 



Plentiful^ especially so in spring, when they collect in large flocks on the open plains and 

 ahout the fresh water ponds previous to migrating northward. 



ANAS BOSOHAS, Linn .—Mallard. 



Anas boschas, Gmei.. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 538. — Ndtt. Orn. vol. II, p. 379. — Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, 

 p. 236, pi. 385. 



Ahundant ; breeding wherever a suitable and secure locality offers, having found its nest in 

 the marshes, on the edges of small iresh water ponds, and once also in a wild oat field at some 

 distance from water. The Indians entrap these as well as other ducks in a weir constructed of 

 willow branches and shoot them with arrows from ambushes built on the shore. 



QUEKQUEDULA CAEOLINENSIS, G m e 1 .—Green Winged Teal. 



Anas caroUnmsis, Gni. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 533. — Atjd, B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 281, pi. 392. 

 Nettion crecca, Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 778. 



Abundant in California, having procured it as far south as Carissa creek on the borders of the 

 Colorado desert. 



QUEEQUEDULA CYANOPTEEA, Vieill .— Eed-breasted Teal. 



Querquedula cyanoptera, Cassin's IUus. of B. of Cal. & Tex. p. 82. pi. 15. — Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 780. 

 Anas cyanoptera, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. vol. V, p. 104. 

 Anas Tafflesii, King, Zool. Journ. vol. IV, p. 97. 



This beautiful teal is abundant in California during spring and summer, incubating on the 

 marshes and migrating south on the approach of winter. Its nest is composed of coarse grasses, 

 lined with the down taken from its own breast, and contains from twelve to fourteen eggs of a 

 faint green color. I found this species in January near San Diego and at a later period in 

 Texas near Fort Thorne, where Dr. C. Henry, United States army, informed me that it was 

 quite a common bird. Its habits and flight, as far as observed, are similar to those of our blue 

 wing teal, [Q. discors.) 



CHAULELASMUS STEEPEEA, Linn .— Gadwall Duck. 



Anas strepera, Gmel, Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 520.— Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 254, pi. 388. 



Not rare, and some few pair incubate in the country, as I have procured the eggs in the marshy 

 districts of Sacramento valley during the spring. 



SPATULA CLYPEATA, L i n n .—Shoveller Duck. 



Rynchaspis clypeata, Gould. B. of Eur. vol. V, pi. 360. 



Anas dypeaia, Gmel, Syst. Nat. vol. 1, part II, p. 518.— Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VIII, p. 65, pi, 67, fig. 7.— Nutt. Orn. vol. 

 n, p. 375.— Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 292, pi. 394. 



Plentiful, preferring the fresh water ponds and streams, where it is found associated with the 

 teal and mallard. I procured it as far south as the Big Lagoon of the Colorado desert. 



