168 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 
Male.—Upper part of head very dark brown, almost 
uniform, passing below the eye into the white of the lower 
cheeks, chin, throat, and fore-neck ; round the eye is a ring of 
white feathers, much broader in some specimens than in others ; 
upper parts, wings, and tail dark brown, the edges of the dorsal 
feathers and scapulars slightly paler; alar-speculum formed by 
the outer web of the secondaries ; these are velvety-black, except 
two or three, the seventh to the ninth, in the middle, which are 
greenish-bronze, all except the last two or three tipped with 
buffy-white, the first broadly bordered with the same; greater 
secondary coverts also white or buff; lower parts from the 
neck dull brown with broad pale edges to the feathers. 
Female.—The same, except that the bronze of the 
speculum is more coppery in the female. Bill greenish to 
plumbeous lilac ; nail black ; irides reddish-brown ; legs and feet 
greenish-blue to plumbeous (Hume). 
Egg.—Cream-coloured, close-grained, and smooth. July 
—August. 
CAPE TEAL. 
(Nettium capense. Querguedula capensis ). 
This Teal, which, as its name implies, is a native of 
Southern Africa, was brought home by Sir Andrew Smith, by 
whom it has been figured in his work on South African Zoology. 
As is the case with all the waterfowl of South Africa, very little 
has as yet been learned respecting its habits. 
Male.——Head ashy-grey, streaked with dark marks ; lower 
part of neck and breast of the same colour, profusely dashed 
with short bars of reddish-brown, giving the plumage a scaley 
appearance ; feathers of back, dark reddish-brown, each feather 
edged with a lighter shade ; alar-bar brilliant green, edged with 
a black and white band; throat white; shoulders grey; legs 
