ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 169 
reddish ; wing-coverts, quills, and tail blueish slate colour ; bill 
crimson, edges and base black. 
Female.—Similar to male, but smaller. 
Young.—No information. 
Egg.—Dirty buffish-white. Probably June—September. 
YELLOW-BILLED OR CHILIAN TEAL. 
(Nettium flavirostre.  Querquedula flavirostris. Querguedula 
creccotdes ). 
This Teal, which is a native of Antarctic America, is found 
in Argentina, Chili, and Patagonia, and was first acquired by 
the Zoological Society in October, 1871, since which time 
the collection has been augmented by several other specimens. 
I extract from Sclater and Hudson’s “Argentine Orni- 
thology,” the following :— 
‘(In the southern part of the Argentine Republic this is one of the 
commonest species, and is almost invariably found in every marsh, stream, 
and pool of water on the pampas. _It is resident, and usually goes in flocks 
of from a dozen to thirty individuals. It has a rapid flight, and is restless, 
lively, and extremely pugnacious in its habits. When a flock is on the 
water, the birds are perpetually quarrelling. They are also highly inquisi- 
tive, and I have often shot them by first showing myself to the flock, and 
then standing or sitting still, when they would soon come wheeling about, 
flying in very close order. They quack and chatter in a variety of tones, 
and the male has also a clear whistling note in the love-season. The nest of 
this Duck is always made at a distance from the water, sometimes as far as 
one or two miles. 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.” 
On ornamental waters it is distinguishable from other 
Teal by the brilliant gamboge-yellow bill, the only Duck with 
which it may be confounded being Wettium oxypterum, identifica- 
tion of which may be based upon its superior size, and longer 
bill, with the deeper chestnut-coloured shoulders. 
