218 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Descriptions. 



waving lines. The rump, and feathers under the 

 tail, are black, so that the tail, which is of a sort 

 of a greyish colour, and about TWO inches long, 

 appears encircled with a blackish ring. The 

 middle part of the breast, and lower part of the 

 belly, very much resemble the colour of the back, 

 only the lines and points are of a more pale co- 

 lour. The quill-feathers are of a dark ash-co- 

 lour; and it is remarkable, all the feathers on the 

 middle of the wings of this bird, are of one uni- 

 form colour, without the different variations com- 

 monly found in others of the kind. The feet are 

 of a lead colour, and the membranes that connect 

 the toes more dark and blackish. 



THE TEAL 



IS the smallest bird of the duck kind, and 

 does not usually weigh more than twelve or four- 

 teen ounces ; it is about sixteen inches from the 

 point of the bill to the end of the tail, and from 

 the extremity of each wing, when extended, near 

 two feet. The bill is of a dark brown colour, the 

 head is considerably lighter, inclining to a bay, 

 with a large white stripe over each eye, bending 

 downwards, towards the back part of the head : 

 the neck, back, and tail, are of a more dusky 

 colour. The breast is of a dirty-coloured yellow, 

 nterspersed with dusky transverse lines; the 

 belly more bright, with yellowish brown spots : 



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