TEAL 
127 
TEAL 
Virago castanea casianea 
There is still doubt whether there are two kinds of 
Teal — chestnut breasted and grey respectively — or 
only one with plumage which varies in colour with the 
age and sex of the individual. Hall gives the length of 
the male Chestnut-breasted bird as i8i inches, female 
16 inches, and states that the male of the Grey Teal 
is 2 inches longer than the Chestnut-breasted male. 
That, if based upon a sufficient series of skins, would 
seem to conclude the matter, for it is not questioned 
that the male which exhibits the rich chestnut breast 
and shining metallic green head and neck is an adult 
phase, and birds do not grow smaller as they grow 
older. Keartland, on the other hand, gives the 
average weights as follows : Chestnut male, i lb. 9 oz. ; 
female, i lb. 8 oz. ; Grey male, i lb. 2 oz. ; female, 
I lb. I oz. Salvadori, however, considered, and at 
the time of writing Mathews is disposed to agree 
with him, that both sexes of the Grey Teal were 
absolutely similar both in colour and dimensions to 
the female of the Chestnut-breasted bird. 
Connewarre shooters recognise two kinds : they 
say the Grey Teal is the commonest Duck on the 
Lakes, but that the Mountain Teal (so they call the 
Chestnut-breasted birds) are much rarer, only coming 
occasionally. In size they say there is little difference, 
but maintain that they can tell the female Mountain 
