374 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



Habits. — The habits of the Blue-winged Garganey are not known to 

 differ in any important respect from those of alhed species already described. 



Nidification. — in its nidification the Blue-winged Garganey resembles 

 its congeners ; the nest, site, number of eggs, are all similar in every respect. 

 The eggs are creamy- white in colour, and measure on an average 1'9 inch 

 in length by 1'3 inch in breadth. The down is apparently undescribed. 



Diagnostic characters. — (Nuptial plumage), Querquedula, with the 

 under tail coverts black, with a white crescent between the eye and the bill, and 

 with the shoulders or wing coverts bright blue (male) ; with a green speculum, 

 and dull blue shoulders (female). Length, 16 inches. 



