282 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



303. Anas crecca carolinensis Gm. — THE AMERICAN GREEN- 

 WINGED TEAL. 



Anas carolinensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1, ii, p. 533 (1789 — Carolina to 



Hudson Bay). 



Nettion carolinense (J. F. Gmelin), Saunders, p. 433. 



Description. — Adult male. Winter and summer. — like A. c. 

 crecca but sides of face with only one cream line which extends from 

 front of eye (not from side of chin as in A. c. crecca) below green area 

 towards nape (no cream line above green area as in A. c. crecca), in 

 some line from side of chin to eye faintly indicated by paler chest- 

 nut line ; mantle and scapulars more finely vermiculated dark grey 

 and cream, scapulars with no uniform cream, some with black bands 

 on outer web ; broad white crescent on side of breast in front of 

 shoulder ; sides of body and flanks more finely vermiculated than 

 A. c. crecca ; black border on outer web of innermost secondary 

 bordering speculum narrower and not extending so far towards 

 tip. Moult presumably as in A. c. crecca. 



Adult male. Eclipse. — (Not examined.) 



Adult female. Eclipse and winter and summer. — Apparently 

 not to be distinguished from female A. c. crecca and moults as in 

 A. c. crecca. Hardly any females in winter -summer plumage 

 examined. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. Male. — Not to be distinguished from males of A. c. 

 crecca. Female. — (Not examined.) 



First winter and summer. Male. — As males of A. c. crecca, but 

 distinguished by same characters as in adults. As in A. c. crecca 

 coarsely vermiculated feathers (subsequently shed) appear on sides 

 of body and flanks. Female. — Not to be distinguished from A. c. 

 crecca. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 179-191 mm., tail 65-73, 

 tarsus 27-30, bill from feathers 34-37 (12 measured). <j> wing 172- 

 183, bill 33-36. Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed and about half 

 longest primary- covert, 2nd and 3rd about equal and longest, 4th 

 5-7 mm. shorter, 5th 14-18 shorter, 6th 22-30 shorter. Other 

 structure as in A. c. crecca. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad. <J) black, (ad. $) brownish ; legs and feet 

 (ad. <J and $) light flesh ; iris brown. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in open near marshes or lakes. Nest. — 

 Hollow in ground or tussock, lined grasses and down. Eggs.-—! to 

 12, creamy-buff. Average size, 44.4 x 33 to 46.9 x 34.3 mm. Breed- 

 ing-season. — Even in Alaska full clutches have been found by 

 May 20. Incubation. — By female alone. 



Food. — Only vegetable food recorded : rice, wild oats, berries, 

 fallen grapes, nuts, etc. 



Distribution. — England. — Two or three. Adult male Kingsbridge 

 estuary (Devon), Nov. 23, 1879 (H. Nicholls, Zool, 1880, p. 70). 



